Hereby a new chapter… I hope you enjoy it...
21. Isengard.
Ginny woke up in bright light. One glance through her lashes told her she wasn't in the cot anymore. She was upright and in somebody's arms. She shook her head to clear it. Suddenly she noticed that she was constantly moving. She glanced down to see she was on a horse.
With a shock she sat completely up right.
"Easy." A soft voice behind her said and the arm she only now noticed tightened around her waist. "Don't move too much."
She turned her head to see the elf smiling at her.
"Welcome back to the land of the living." He said with a soft smile.
"I slept?" She asked quite stunned.
"Apparently so, though Gandalf had to confirm you were still breathing. We were very worried when you didn't even woke up when I pulled you up on the horse."
"I slept." Ginny deadpanned. "Though all this noise? Through you moving me? Through riding for how many hours?"
"Four hours to be exact. After you collapsed when you healed yourself we let you sleep for two hours. I tried to wake you up but it seemed like you were completely unconscious. Gandalf and King Théoden really wanted to move. They debated that they should leave you with Èowyn but Aragorn, Gimli and I didn't want to face your anger." Legolas chuckled as if he remembered some fun discussion. "I honestly thought you would wake up as soon as we carried you out of the room but you slept through it all."
Ginny thought about what she remembered. She remembered the pain in her leg and that she tried to heal it. She couldn't even remember if she had succeeded. Based on the pain that she wasn't feeling she guess it had healed but it had taken a lot from her.
"I guess I used up too much energy." She whispered.
"It's okay. You did a lot before collapsing. Everybody needs to sleep sometimes." Legolas told her with a smile.
She nodded and looked around properly. She was sitting in front of Legolas. Gimly was riding on her horse. He nodded friendly at her. Behind them road the man she knew was Èomer. He looked like Éowyn. She looked around for Éowyn but couldn't find her.
"Where is Éowyn?" She asked.
"The shield maiden is leading her people back to Edoras."
"I guess Éowyn wasn't too happy about that charge." Ginny muttered. The soft chuckle from Legolas behind her confirmed her statement.
Ginny continued to look around. They were riding through a forest. It's had the same old feeling as Fangorn forest but she was pretty sure that Fangorn wasn't just a few hours on a horse away from Helm's deep. More a few days.
"Where are we?" She asked.
"I think we are close to Isengard." Gimli said as he road up next to them.
"But you aren't sure?"
"No. The forest has moved." He muttered.
"Yes I remember that. Moving trees!" Ginny sighed as she shook her head. Legolas laughed out loud. To Ginny it was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. Like the song of the birds on a fresh spring morning. It was soothing and enjoyable at the same time.
As Legolas's laugh died Ginny heard new laughter. In the far distant she heard happy voices.
Gandalf lead the group around the corner. An opening in the trees revealed a broken wall and on top off it two young Hobbits.
Ginny was happy to see the two Hobbits in healthy condition but watching them reminded her of her brothers. The way Merry and Pippin interacted was very similar to how Fred and George behaved. Memories of her brothers lingered in her mind. Never again would she see her brothers joking around again. The only thing that lifted her spirit was that they were together where ever they were.
"Welcome, my Lords and lady, to Isengard." Merry spoke loudly and slightly tipsy.
"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you, feasting and smoking." Gimli growled at them.
"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good." Pippin defended himself.
"Salted pork!" Gimli yelped.
"We're under orders, from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard." Merry explained as Gandalf looked at them in confusion.
Ginny groaned and close her eyes. More talking trees!
"Come young Hobbits!" Gandalf called them down. "Let's find Treebeard."
Merry and Pippin gathered their food and pipes before climbing down the wall. Gandalf quickly directed them to ride with Éomer and Gimli. Carefully they started to make their way through the water and towards the creepy looking tower that stood in the center of a large empty circle.
Ginny looked around her. "Merlin!" she muttered as she saw the destruction the trees had caused. Her shock was increased by the fact that there were many of these walking and talking trees. "Bloody hell."
"Burarum ... Young Master Gandalf. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone, I can master, but there's a Wizard to be managed here ... locked in his tower." The voice of Treebeard fell over them.
Ginny was happy that she wasn't the only one in a state of shock. Éomer, Hama and the rest of the guard were just as pale with shock as she was. She was sure they had never seen this strange type of trees before.
"And there Saruman must remain, under your guard, Treebeard." Gandalf answered.
"Let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli growled. Though it was Ginny's thought exactly, in her heart she wasn't a killer. She never ever wanted to be the one that could kill but a living dark wizard was a dangerous wizard. Maybe too dangerous to be allowed to live.
"No. He has no power any more." Gandalf muttered to them.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away ... Trees will come back to live here, young trees ... wild trees." Treebeard said as he seemed to agree with Gandalf.
While Ginny did trust that assessment she knew one's powers couldn't be just washed away by water. Not even in this world.
"A dark wizard alive will always be a dangerous one, Gandalf. Think before you decide, please." Ginny spoke up.
Galdalf's eyes met hers. The piercing blue filled with unanswered questions. Ginny wondered if he was finding answered in her dark brown.
"I won't, Ginevra, don't worry."
Ginny nodded but still worried as they rode up to the tower. As she was sitting in front of Legolas she had a good view of the tower but she didn't see the wizard.
"Show yourself." Aragorn growled as they stopped at a safe distance from the tower.
"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf told him.
"Well then let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli echoed his thoughts.
Ginny turned her head around to see what Legolas thought. He was normally the most reasonable from the men. However his eyes were only on the tower. Carefully scanning it for any danger.
"No, we need him alive. We need him to talk." Gandalf ordered.
It was silent for a few seconds. An eerie air hung around them as they waiting for the wizard to show himself. Ginny didn't like it one bit. She realized that she was completely depended on Legolas as long as she was on his horse. She couldn't move quickly enough if danger would come for her.
"Legolas, please let me down." She whispered. He looked down at her and shook his head.
"Your leg won't be strong enough yet." He whispered back.
"That's a lot of bull." Ginny muttered angrily. She tried to get down but he held her firmly on the horse. After a short struggle Ginny gave in. She didn't want to use any magic against her friends and was still too tired to struggle on. Though she was royally pissed off. "Fine have it your way than. You'll be sorry when my magic is needed and I couldn't move fast enough."
Suddenly a loud voice sounded around them.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men Théoden King and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace you and I?"
Ginny looked up to the tower and saw a wizard robed in white. Behind him stood Snape's little brother. The traitor.
A glance at Théoden told her that he was very angered by the words of the wizard. He sputtered a few times before finding the words he wanted to say against the wizard.
"We shall have peace…." The king yelled. "We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg… are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows… we shall have peace!" Théoden finished. He was close enough for Ginny to reach over and place a hand on his shoulder. She softly squeezed it in support. Théoden gave her a soft controlled smile but his eyes never felt Saruman.
"Gibbets and crows! Dotard! What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me guess… the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad Dûr itself? Along with the crowns of the seven Kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!" Saruman said. He sounded a lot more hostile.
Ginny took her wand and slowly raised it. Ready to defend or attack. Which ever came first.
"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel." Gandalf answered.
"Always diplomatic." Ginny muttered darkly. She had a feeling where this was going and she didn't like it one bit.
"So you have come here for information. I have some for you." Saruman spoke. He raised something that he held in his hand. To Ginny it looked like a ball but it was solid and looked like glass. She focused on the ball. It was something that she couldn't describe.
"Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the great eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon." Saruman continued. It sounded much like the old cock Trelawney told over and over again.
"It's bullshit." Ginny muttered but Gandalf didn't listen to her. Instead he rode forward.
"You are all going to die! But you know this don't you Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King." Saruman's words made Aragorn flinch.
"Don't listen to him, Aragorn. He is speaking bullshit." Ginny hissed.
"Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are closest to him… those he professes to love! Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death."
"And that's enough!" Ginny yelled at the wizard. She pointed her wand and silenced him. He moved his mouth but no sound came from it. "Don't listen to that demented idiot. He is only scaring you." Ginny raised her wand again, ready to curse the old cock to the next millennium.
"No! Come down Saruman and your life will be spared!" Gandalf said before turning to Ginny. "Please lift the spell. We need him to talk."
Ginny nodded and flicked her wrist.
"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" Saruman yelled at them. Just in time Ginny saw he was attacking them with magic. A bolt of fire shot towards them, the first one at Ginny and the second at Gandalf. She reacted on instinct and raised her strongest shield. The result wasn't what she had expected. It did stop the curse but also the staff in Saruman's hand completely exploded.
Seconds later the snake like man appeared behind Saruman again. Ginny wasn't sure if he had been gone or if she just hadn't noticed him for a while.
"Grima! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down." Théoden called.
Saruman couldn't help himself and sneered at the King. Ginny wonder in shock once more how similar her world was to this one. Surely this man was similar to a Malfoy. That sneer was perfected by the Malfoy's.
"A man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you Theoden Horse Master. You are a lesser son of greater sires!"
"Grima…. Come down! Be free of him!" Théoden spoke. He gave no indication he had heard Saruman but the wizard spoke again.
"Free? He will never be free!"
"No!" Grima roared. It was the first time that he spoke up for himself.
Saruman turned around to Grima!
"Get down cur!" He growled and slapped the man to the ground.
"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf called
Saruman turned around and looked down. Ginny noticed that Grima pulled a knife out behind Saruman. He slowly stalked towards the wizard. She raised her wand but wasn't sure what to do. The wizard was probably never going to give in. Him dead was the only option but still, Gandalf was trying.
"You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!" Saruman said but before anyone could reply Grima appeared close behind Saruman and attacked him. He stabbed him twice in the back. Lightning fast Legolas shot an arrow at Grima. It was straight in the heart. It didn't do anything for Saruman. Slowly he fell from the tower and to make his death even more final he landed on a spike of a great wheel below.
"Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." Gandalf said. Ginny could hear the worry in his voice.
With a heavy heart she watched the water wheel turn and Saruman disappearing beneath the water headfirst. The strange ball she had seen him holding in his hand dropped into the water.
The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here." Treebeard said again. "Young trees. Wild trees."
A yell from Aragorn drew their attention away from the strange tree.
"Pippin!"
They all watched as the small hobbit picked up the ball that Saruman had held. Ginny now saw that it was similar to those glass balls they had used for divination. The only difference was that this ball wasn't see-through. She wasn't sure what she saw but it wasn't nothing.
Pippin seemed to be taken by the orb as well. He just gazed into it.
"Bless my bark!" Treebeard spoke in shock.
"Peregrin Took. I'll take that my lad! Quickly now!" Gandalf commanded. Ginny looked at the old wizard. She was sure he had spoken too harshly to the hobbit. The small lad had done nothing wrong. It wasn't a deadly tool he held. It wasn't killing anybody but before she could speak the wizard took the orb from the hobbit and quickly covered it.
It confused her. Why was he treating this thing like a weapon of mass destruction?
"Come, let us get back to Edoras." The king spoke.