Author's Note: Hello, Earthlings! I am really, really sorry about the tremendously long wait! I've been soo busy and this chapter.. I just couldn't write it :/. This is the end result but I'm not entirely happy with it. I may go back and rewrite it if I get the time :/. It's quite long and - maybe - boring, but I did my best. That's all you can really ask of me :). Forewarning guys, there will be little interaction between Amelia and Éomer, Rae and Legolas, as I'm trying to focus more on Rae and Amelia and how they got into Middle Earth, why they were sent away, etc. Sorry guys! Maybe next chapter :D. Read and Review, please :D!

Thanks to;

Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967
gleek2
Abzter
aliben
Lady of Sign
Your (my ;]) biggest fan - Really sorry for making you wait that long! I'll try and make sure it doesn't happen again. Promise :)!

I do not own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Isengard

As the Rohan people returned to Edoras, Gandalf and his company rode to Isengard.

Neither Rae nor Amelia had ever seen Isengard before but they couldn't say they looked forward to it. They rode in a V-formation, Gandalf at the tip, Théoden and Aragorn at his side. Rae was anxious with nerves, her stomach doing flips. Finally confronting Saruman was going to be absolutely terrifying.

It took just under two hours to ride over the plains of Rohan before they were finally able to catch a glimpse of Isengard. Or what was left of it. Fangorn Forest now completely surrounded it and the tower and surrounding grounds had been flooded. Gandalf led the way into the forest and the group followed him, thought Rae was sure she heard Amelia and Gimli grumbling about the trees.

There was groaning sounds around them; the trees were talking to each other. Gandalf seemed to be the only one who wasn't gazing around him warily. Amelia guided Hasufel closer to her sister and Rae glanced over, smiling softly.

"D'you reckon Gandalf will finally tell us how we got here?" The older sister questioned quietly. Despite how low her voice was, Rae was sure Legolas had probably managed to hear.

"I'd imagine so," the younger murmured back. "But perhaps we should wait until we are back within Edoras' walls?" Amelia nodded.

"Yes, perhaps that is a good idea." Then she grinned. "Look at you. Talking all fancy. Aren't I supposed to be the older one?" Rae laughed heartily.

"Hardly," she said. "Four hundred years old, remember?"

"Damn," Amelia replied. "Forgot that one."

The two girls laughed and it seemed that Rae was the only one aware of a certain horse lord's eyes never leaving her sister. She nudged Amelia's arm, about to tell her, when the sound of distant laughing was heard. Rae immediately straightened. She knew that laugh but it had been so long since she'd heard it. Dreyne and Hasufel sped up, stopping only when they were behind Gandalf and Théoden. They just had to know whether or not it was true.

At last, they emerged from the forest and Rae grinned broadly. There, sitting on the wall ahead of them, was two very distinguishable Halflings. They were smoking their pipes, mugs of what Rae could only guess was ale in their hands. Pippin laughed upon seeing them and lifted his mug into the air in a kind of salute. Merry stood, raising his arms to gesture about him. Drunk, Rae realised. Completely and utterly drunk.

"Welcome, my lords and ladies!" Merry cried. "To Isengard!"

"You young rascals!" Gimli growled from behind her. "A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and- and smoking!" Pippin grinned.

"We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well earned comforts," he slurred. "The salted pork is particularly good." Gimli's mouth dropped as he gaped at the two hobbits.

"Salted pork?" He repeated dumbly.

"Hobbits," Amelia muttered lightly, rolling her eyes. "They're all the same. Obsessed with food and smoking…"

As soon as Merry and Pippin had gotten organised, the group had set on their way again, Gandalf taking the lead. Merry had mentioned to Amelia and Rae that an Ent named Treebeard had taken over management of Isengard and so Gandalf was leading them on a search to find him.

Rae had taken Pippin on Dreyne with her and the hobbit was sitting in front of her, stroking Dreyne's dark mane. Merry and Amelia were chuckling beside them. As they approached the black tower in the centre, they peeled away, Rae and Pippin moving over to stand next to Aragorn and Gandalf, Amelia and Merry over to Éomer and Legolas and Gimli.

Rae was surprised to see what resembled a large, walking tree standing in front of them. His features were assembled to look like a beard and scruffy eyebrows but he didn't seem at all dangerous.

"Huroom - Young Master Gandalf," the tree said. Treebeard, obviously. Rae couldn't help leaning down to whisper in Pippin's ear:

"Young? Did he just call Gandalf young?" She and Pippin began to laugh but were quickly silenced by a glare from Aragorn. While they had been busy laughing, the elleth and the hobbit had missed all that Treebeard had said. It was only when Gandalf spoke that they were truly focussed.

"Be careful," he ordered. "Even in defeat Saruman is dangerous."

"Well," Gimli grumbled, "then let's have his head and be done with it."

"No," Gandalf said. "We need him alive. We need him to talk."

Rae nodded but she was fully prepared to use her weapons should she need them. Pippin looked around him curiously and Dreyne seemed on edge. Rae clung to Pippin's cloak when a voice rang out above them, deep and commanding.

"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden-King," the voice of Saruman boomed. "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?"

Her chocolate Elf eyes darted upwards where a white cloaked figure stood. Her beard, which must've been creamy white before was now greying and he was leaning heavily on a black staff. Théoden had yet to look at him but when he did, Rae was surprised to see nothing but anger in his eyes.

"We shall have peace," he muttered to himself and then, louder, and directly to Saruman, "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!"

Rae glanced over at Amelia only to find her sisters eyes were not on the evil wizard. A small smile came to her lips as she noticed Amelia glancing at Éomer every so often. Damn, Amelia had it bad. Rae was about to turn back to the evil wizard when Legolas glanced over at her. She bit her lip and smiled a little, suddenly feeling very awkward. She had yet to speak with him about the events on the Deeping Wall; the only conversation they'd had had been when Rae revealed she had won their competition.

A blush crept onto her cheeks and she at last gazed back at the evil wizard, just as he pulled out a crystal sphere. The Palantir. Rae straightened, suddenly very awake.

"Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth," Saruman said, his eyes never leaving the Palantir. "Something you have failed to see but the Great Eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon." Rae's eyes fell to Gandalf as he rode forward, raising an eyebrow. Saruman continued, "You are all going to die! But you know this, don't you, Gandalf?" Saruman looked at each of the company, sneering especially at Aragorn. "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." Aragorn looked at Gandalf then back to Saruman. Rae couldn't decide if Aragorn was taking the wizard seriously or not. Anger was stirring inside her and she ached to shoot him and watch as the last of his life disappeared from his eyes. "Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are closest to him; those he professes to love!" He looked pointedly at Gandalf as he said, "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."

Rae had finally had enough of him. So fast that she shocked Pippin, Rae had knocked an arrow and aimed it at Saruman, preparing to end his life right there. She didn't count on him turning to her with an almost disappointed look on his face. She hesitated as he turned back to Gandalf.

"Tell me, Gandalf," the evil wizard said lightly, looking at the White Wizard again. "What have you told your female companions? Have you told them anything?" Saruman turned to stare at Rae again, the latter felt as though her insides had frozen. She lowered her bow, never turning away from the evil wizard. Before she could stop herself, she ushered Dreyne forward a few steps.

"What do you know, Saruman?" She asked in the strongest voice she could muster.

"Be silent, Rae!" Gandalf hissed at her. She ignored him, giving Saruman her complete attention.

"Tell me," she urged.

There was movement behind her but Rae dared not take her eyes away from the wizard in front of her. The sound of a horse manoeuvring through the water reached her ears before a hand landed on her arm. When she didn't look round, the hand tightened slightly.

"Rae," Amelia whispered. "Stop this. Gandalf told us he would tell us as soon as he could."

"And when is that, Amelia, daughter of Húrin?" Saruman suddenly asked. The hand on Rae's arm was gone and Amelia was now staring at Saruman, shocked. Saruman nodded, slowly, then said in a falsely sincere voice, "I can tell you everything. How he gave up your life to save his own. How your mother encouraged him to do so. How they willingly left you here, as payment-"

"Lies!" Rae shrieked, all eyes again falling on her. She was looking down at the murky water below, Dreyne was shifting uncomfortably. Amelia, despite having received news of her real parentage, was strangely calm. She, unlike her sibling, had known Gandalf for longer, having met him on her travels with Aragorn. She trusted the wizard and was willing to wait for when he was ready to tell them.

"Rae, calm down," said Amelia in a soft voice. "Are you really willing to believe what Saruman says? Think this through, Rae. You're smarter than this."

Saruman laughed, a long, booming sound that seemed to ring in Rae's ears. The elleth was impatient, that was her problem, but she knew she was. She just couldn't see how Amelia could wait a little longer. If Saruman was to be trusted (which, she reasoned internally, he probably wasn't) he could tell her why she had been separated from Middle Earth in the first place. She'd missed many - hundreds, in fact - years with her real family and she had the chance to find out why now.

But, on the other hand, Amelia was right. Gandalf was the more trustworthy of the two wizards and was more likely to tell them the truth, no matter how hurtful it was to them. But he was also more likely to wait until the right moment, something she hated. She wanted to know now. Saruman spoke again but Rae wasn't listening. Amelia was watching her sister, worried, when Rae met her eyes. An unspoken agreement passed between them and, as Amelia nodded her head ever so slightly, Rae placed her bow back in the quiver.

"I can wait," Rae mumbled, more to herself than anyone, but Amelia had heard. Pippin grinned up at her and she smiled softly. Saruman's voice was still thundering out above them and Gandalf was oddly silent.

"I've heard enough," Gimli grumbled loudly. "Shoot him," he told Legolas. "Stick an arrow in his gob."

Surprisingly enough, Legolas did as Gimli said. When Rae looked at him with a questioning look, all she received when he looked at her was anger. Rae winced and quickly turned away, swallowing slowly. Whether the anger was directed at her or Saruman, she couldn't tell. She hoped it was the latter.

"No!" Gandalf snapped in Gimli's direction. Then he turned back to Saruman. "Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."

"Save your pity and your mercy," Saruman spat. "I have no use for it!"

Without any kind of warning, Gandalf and Shadowfax were engulfed in flames. Rae gasped and clung to Pippin, eyes wide and terrified. Pippin grabbed her arm, fingers digging into the skin, as the pair watched the scene unfolding.

As quickly as the fire had began, it had stopped. Gandalf and Shadowfax stood where they had been before but the fire had not touched them. Gandalf lifted his staff, eyes narrowed in rage.

"Saruman," he stated. "Your staff is broken." The black staff Saruman had been leaning on shattered underneath him and he swayed on the spot. From behind him, Rae could just make out another figure, clad completely in black.

"Grima," Théoden called out, his voice gentle. "You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down."

Rae allowed a small smile to come to her lips as she saw Grima bow slightly and back away, as though he were about to come down to them. She could try and put up with him, despite how much she disliked being around him.

"A man of Rohan?" Saruman questioned, incredulous. "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, Théoden, Horse Master. You are a lesser son of greater sires!"

Théoden was silent, obviously trying to ignore Saruman's words. Amelia felt great sympathy for him. It was enough to possess him and make him completely unaware of all going on around him, but to say it so bluntly… She shook her head, deciding it was time to help the King.

"Grima," she called out, causing both said man and Éomer to look at her. "Please, be free of him. Come down."

"Free?" Saruman mocked, shaking his head. "He will never be free."

Grima must've have said something as Saruman turned and slapped him and Grima disappeared from their line of vision. Amelia straightened, suddenly worried for the snake like man.

"Saruman," said Gandalf, trying to bring attention back to the matter at hand. "You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Saruman turned back to the small company, standing taller than before.

"You withdraw your guard," he said, "and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!" Amelia frowned as her eyes fell on Grima, coming up behind Saruman again. Something was wrong though, and she narrowed her eyes. Then they widened.

"Look out!" She shrieked, unaware of what she had said until the words were out of her mouth. Saruman jumped slightly and Grima raised the knife in his hand, bringing it down on the once White Wizard.

Twice Grima struck before Legolas knocked an arrow and shot him in the heart. Grima dropped the knife and fell, dead. Saruman stumbled on the edge before losing his balance and falling to the ground below. Rae glanced away as a sickening crunch was heard, eyes squeezed tightly shut. When she turned, she inhaled sharply. Saruman's body was now impaled on the spiked water wheel that lay just ahead of them. If Grima had not killed him, then that certainly had.

"Send word to our allies," ordered Gandalf, eyes never leaving Saruman's dead body. "And to every corner of Middle Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us, we need to know where he will strike."

The water wheel began to turn and, slowly, Saruman disappeared beneath the murky water. The black crystal ball he had peered into dropped out of his sleeve, splashing into the water.

"The Palantir," Rae murmured. Treebeard began to speak again but the elleth was hardly paying attention. Pippin had dismounted, wading through the water towards the orb. "Pippin!" She exclaimed, shocked. She began to dismount herself, stopping as Aragorn placed a hand on her arm, shaking his head slightly. Gandalf was quick to get to Pippin, taking the Palantir from him and wrapping it in his robes.

Pippin looked over at Rae sheepishly but stopped to watch Gandalf as he headed back to Théoden. Dreyne stopped beside him and Rae heaved the Hobbit back onto the horse.

"Are you alright?" She asked him, concerned. Pippin seemed distant, still watching Gandalf as the group began to leave Isengard. Pippin jumped, realising she was talking to him.

"Oh? Yes, yes. I'm alright," he told her. Rae had the feeling he wasn't being entirely truthful but she didn't push him. They'd all had a long day.

"Why don't you get some sleep?" She said instead. Pippin didn't reply.

He didn't sleep either, his eyes still on Gandalf even as they arrived in Edoras. While Merry was looking around him, eagerly taking in the Rohirrim city, Pippin was doing his best to keep his sights on Gandalf. Growing doubly concerned, Rae stood in his line of sight, glowering at him.

"That's enough, Pippin," she snapped. "You need to take your mind of that thing." Pippin, eyes as wide as saucers, gazed up at her. She nodded smugly, saying, "Of course I noticed, Peregrin Took." Pippin opened and closed his mouth a few times, at a loss for words. Rae knelt down to his level, placing her hands on his shoulders. Pippin just looked at her. "Forget about it," she whispered.

"Hey, Pip-" Merry abruptly cut off, seeing the scene before him. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No," said Pippin quickly, pulling out of Rae's grasp. He grabbed Merry, muttered a goodbye to Rae, and the two Hobbits disappeared in the crowd.

Rae sighed, shaking her head lightly. She scratched the back of her neck, feeling rather awkward standing in the middle of the crowds. Where was Legolas? While she had time she could speak to him, check nothing had changed and move on with her life. Of course, things would be different but one could always hope.

She spun a little, trying to regain her bearings in the foreign territory, when Amelia pushed through the crowd to her, breathless and panting. Her chest was heaving and she was clutching her side as she brushed her hair from her eyes.

"Hello there," Rae said after a moment, chuckling. Amelia was still panting but couldn't wait to regain her breath.

"Gandalf - wants - to - see - us -" she gasped. Rae, feeling energetic, took off in the direction Amelia had just come in. She hoped she wouldn't get lost on the way to hte Golden Hall. Was he finally going to tell them how they had ended up in Middle Earth? Why they weren't there in the first place? Her heart beat picked up and it wasn't because of her running speed. The moment she had been waiting for since she arrived was possibly coming and she couldn't afford to wait. Behind her she could just make out Amelia groaning.

"Do we really have to run?"