hovath70, thank you so much for your review, your too kind and I'm so happy that you love Haldir and Solaris as much as I do and I'm glad Fen has made his way into your heart. He was a spur of the moment character that I thought up and I'm glad I did. And Channey, I'm so glad to have you with me on this adventure. Thank you both, your both amazing beyond belief and thank you so much for your support.

I'd also like to thank all those silent readers out there and writers who have reviewed this story along with my other stories. Without you I wouldn't be writing. So thank you all so much.

Love you all

Mayday xxx


Sight nor smell was pleasant as they reached the crackling pile of orc carcasses. Aragorn and Legolas gave their reins to Solaris who stood back with the horses while they and Gimli scanned for anything that might give them a clue as to whether the hobbits were there or not.

"Its one of their wee belts" Gimli said turning with a charred piece of leather in his hands. Legolas started to say a prayer and Aragorn turned and kicked one of the orc helmets into the air, he cried out and dropped to his knees. The sound he made would have made anyone think that he'd broken one of his toes from kicking the helmet so hard. Solaris watched the helmet fly and then come to land a little distance away; she then frowned as her eyes scanned the floor. She walked over leading the horses behind her.

"Two hobbits lay here" she said poking the dirt around. Aragorn came over and knelt by her side.

"They crawled" Aragorn said shuffling along. "Their hands were bound" he got up and started to follow the trail with Legolas and Gimli behind. "They're bonds were cut, they ran over here, they were followed. The tracks lead away from the battle and into Fangorn Forest"

"Fangorn, what madness drove them in there?" Gimli asked.


They'd been walking for what seemed like hours in the forest. Normally Solaris would have loved a hike through the trees but not here. These trees were different; they were dark and whispered to each other as the small fellowship passed. Aragorn had found a trail of orc blood to follow.

"These are strange tracks" he said bending down.

"The air is so close in here" Gimli said looking around.

"This forest is old, very old. Full of memory and anger" Legolas said. Around them the trees started to creek and groan. Gimli lifted his axe and Solaris quickly put a hand on his shoulder. "Lower your axe" she whispered "The trees do not like it"

"The trees are speaking to each other" Legolas said.

"They have been ever since we entered the forest, they are suspicious of our intentions" Solaris said looking around. A pair of orange eyes looked at her through the bushes and Solaris smiled as Fen came out and trotted to her side. He pushed himself right against her legs and huffed.

"Not a fan of Fangorn eh?" she asked tickling Fen behind his ear which reassured him.

"Aragorn, Laris, something's out there" Legolas said in Elvish.

Solaris joined him and Aragorn on a large piece of fallen branch.

"What do you see?" Aragorn asked in Elvish.

"The white wizard approaches" Legolas replied.

"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us" Aragorn said.

Solaris reached behind her and pulled an arrow from her quiver.

"We must be quick" Aragorn whispered.

They all whipped around and faced a burning white light. Gimli threw his axe which bounced back and Legolas and Solaris loosed arrows which splinted before making contact. Aragorn yelled out as his blade burned to hot to hold. Fen was the only one who did not try to attack the white light but stood looking at it intently.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits" a deep voice said.

"Where are they?" Aragorn yelled.

"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"

"Who are you?" Aragorn asked. "Show yourself!"

They watched as the blinding light faded and an old man in a white cloak stood before them. He had long white hair and a long white beard and used a tall, thin white staff to lean on.

"It cannot be" Aragorn said.

Solaris stared at the old man's face. He looked like Gandalf, but it couldn't be. Gandalf had fallen, they all saw him fall. Legolas and Gimli got to their knees but Aragorn and Solaris were too shocked to move.

"You fell" Aragorn said.

"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountain side. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done"

"Gandalf" Solaris whispered stepping forward. The old wizard looked down at her and smiled.

"Gandalf? Yes, that was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name. I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide"

Forgetting all Solaris leapt forward and pulled the wizard into her arms. Fen tilted his head; he had thought that the wizard had died. He hadn't seen him for at least three moons. But he smelled the same as the other wizard his master had been travelling with so Fen assumed that his she-elf had been wrong and the wizard hadn't died at all.

"I'm so glad you're not dead" she said and the wizard laughed and put a hand on the back of her head.

"My dear elf" he said "Come this way, I have something that I think you would like to see"


"One stage of your journey is over. Another begins" Gandalf said leading them out the forest. "War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed"

Once out the forest they stood on a hill and Gandalf pursed his lips together and whistled a high pitched whistle. Then from over the hill came a single horse whinny. Solaris's ears pricked and the hair on the back of her neck stood as she watched a pure white horse canter over the brow of the hill. It ran towards them and then stopped in-front of Gandalf.

"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell" Legolas said.

"Contain your excitement" Aragorn said patting a hand on Solaris's shoulder. She was almost bursting and a small squeal escaped her lips.

"Shadowfax, he is the lord of all horses and has been my friend though many dangers"


Together the small company rode with Gandalf in the lead on Shadowfax. The elves took it in turns to carry Gimli behind them as he wasn't tall enough to ride on his own. Fen also followed behind the company, the horses were unsure of him at first but they soon got used to the pad on his paws of the earth behind them. They came to a gradual stop on a hill; in front of them lay a small town that had a wall surrounding it. At the very top of the hill was a single hall that looked to be where the king resided.

"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld" Gandalf said. "There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan. Whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Theoden is now very strong"

"He can't have been very strong minded in the first place to have been overthrown so easily" Solaris muttered and Gandalf hit the back of her head with his staff. "Don't judge so quickly, remember the last time I hit you on the head with my staff" Gandalf said nodding to her with knowing eyes. "Be careful what you say, do not look for welcome here" the wizard said spurring Shadowfax on. Legolas followed and Aragorn looked over at Solaris.

"What?" Solaris asked.

"Nothing" Aragorn said and tapped his horse.

"If it means anything I agree with you Lassie" Gimli said from behind the elf. Solaris turned and gave him a smile while pulling her hood up. "I think we'd better both keep our mouths shut" she said and Gimli chuckled. "Fen, stay on the borders" she called down to the wolf "I don't think these people will take too kindly to you"


Riding up to the main hall was foreboding as all the members of the village watched the new comers with apprehension.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard" Gimli said.

They came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and some young lads came and took their horses. Solaris reluctantly watched them go and followed the others towards the main door.

"I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed Gandalf Greyhame" a solider by the name of Hama said. "By order of Grima Wormtongue" he sounded not too impressed by having given this order by Wormtongue.

Gandalf nodded and looked to his company who started to de-weaponise themselves. The soldier taking Solaris things tried to get a look at her under her hood but she turned her head away.

"Your staff" Hama asked and Gandalf huffed.

"Oh you would not part an old man from his walking stick" he said and the solider nodded slowly. "Solaris my dear" Gandalf called and she weaved her way to his side. "Give me your arm" the wizard looped his arm around hers and held into her tightly as they started to walk forward.

"Trying to keep me out of harms way?" she whispered.

"They are yet unaware of your skill and I would rather keep it that way" Gandalf said.

Once inside the hall the doors were shut behind them and they were followed by a group of men as they walked down towards the king at the far end of the room. "The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late Theoden King" Gandalf said.

"Why should I welcome you Gandalf Stormcrow?" the King asked in a low, dreary voice. A slimy looking creature then stood next to the King and walked forward.

"Late, is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him, ill news is an ill guest" Wormtongue had now walked right up to them.

"Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth" Gandalf said. "I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm" he brought his staff up and Wormtongue jumped back.

"His staff, I told you to take the wizard' staff!" he yelled and the men who had been surrounding them leapt forwards. None of the men stood much of a change against, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Solaris. While they fought of the men Gandalf walked forwards to the king. Grabbing a hold of the front of the Worm's cloak Solaris twisted him around and threw him to the floor. He tried to wiggle away but the elf sat on top of him and held his cloak tightly in her hand.

"I would stay still if I were you" Gimli grumbled.

"I release you from the spell" Gandalf said holing his hand up.

The king let out a garbled laugh. "You have no power here Gandalf the Grey" he said.

Gandalf then let his grey cloak drop revealing his white attire. The king shifted back in his throne in surprise. "I will draw you Saruman as poison is drawn from a wound"

A lady with long, blonde hair rushed passed Solaris who was still pinning Wormtongue to the floor. Aragorn rushed and stopped her. "Wait" he said.

"If I go, Theoden dies" Saruman said through the king.

"You did not kill me" Gandalf said thrusting his staff forwards "You will not kill him, be gone!"

They both lunged towards each other but there was a bright light and the king collapsed back into his throne. Aragorn let the woman go and she ran to the king's aid. Solaris was so taken aback by the bright light that Grima had managed to reach a small blade that he kept in his cloak. With a twist he freed his arm and pushed the blade into the elf's side. Solaris cried out at the sudden pain and Grima pushed her from him and darted to the door but Gimli caught him and shoved him to the ground again.

"Laris" Legolas said rushing to her side.

Grunting Solaris pulled the blade from her side and threw it to the floor. "It's alright" she said "It was only the size of a toothpick"

"You will still let me take a look" Legolas insisted.

Solaris nodded and they both looked up at the king who now looked 100 years younger than he had when they first entered the hall.

"Breath the free air again my friend" Gandalf said.

"Dark have been my dreams of late" Theoden said.

"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword" Gandalf said and a soldier brought the kings sword forth. They watched as the King slowly unsheathed the sword and then looked at Grima cowering on the floor.


"Allow me your honour" Solaris said as she ran forward and kicked Grima as hard as she could in the ribs. He yelled out and rolled down the stairs at the front of the hall. Theoden then walked down the stairs one by one towards Grima with his blade.

"I have only ever served you, My Lord" the worm snivelled.

"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden said.

"Send me not from your sight" Grima whined.

The King raised his sword above his head with both hands but Aragorn rushed over to him.

"No, no My Lord" he said stopping the King. "Let him go, enough blood has been split on his account"

Without hesitation Grima got up and pushed his way through the crowd "Get out of my way!" he yelled, snatched a horse and fled from the gate.

"Hale Theoden King!" Aragorn yelled and the people got to their knees.