1 Chapter 26
Michelle woke up to the shock of her life. She had six pairs of staring eyes. When she realised where she was, and who they were, she was curious as to why they were all staring at her.
"What?" she said slowly, deciding she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. She had a habit of sleep walking, and talking. "What have I done?"
"Nothing. We were just trying to work out whether you were asleep or dead." Said Gimli.
"You look dead." Said Tracey. "But you're not."
"Thanks Trace. Just full of compliments today, aren't you?" Michelle stood up and stretched. She may only have been asleep for about half an hour, but she certainly felt better for it.
"So, where are we off to?" she said cheerfully.
"We're going to find Gandalf and Treebeard. We want to know what is happening." Said Aragorn.
So, they passed through the ruined tunnel and stood upon a heap of stones, gazing at the dark rock of Orthanc, and its many windows, a menace still in the desolation that lay all about it. Across the waste they saw riders picking their way; they were coming from the north side, and already they were drawing near to Orthanc.
"There is Gandalf, and Théoden and his men!" said Legolas. "Let us go and meet them!"
"Walk warily!" said Merry. "There are loose slabs that may tilt up and throw you down into a pit, if you don't take care."
"Oh great!" said Michelle. "Another opportunity for me to totally shame myself. Is whoever's up there not content with me cutting my head open, falling down a big hole, having, what would have been, a broken nose, if it wasn't so already, and being kidnapped? I've also suffered a great trauma! It's just not fair!"
"Look, hold on to me." Said Legolas. "You not going anywhere except to meet Gandalf and Théoden."
They followed what was left of the road from the gates of Orthanc, going slowly, mainly for Michelle's sake, but also because the flagstones were cracked and slimed. She still managed to twist her ankle though. The riders, seeing them approach, halted under the shadow of the rock and waited for them. Gandalf rode forward to meet them.
Well, Treebeard and I have had some interesting discussions, and made a few plans," he said; "and we have all had some much needed rest. Now we must be going on again. I hope you companions have all rested, too, and refreshed yourselves?" Michelle and Legolas caught one another's eye and smiled, then they both turned their attention back to Gandalf.
"We have," said Merry. "But our discussions began and ended in smoke. Still we feel less ill-disposed towards Saruman than we did."
"You might but I don't." said Michelle. "I'll never forget that ordeal! My back still hurts, now!"
"I do not either. I have now a last task to do before I go: I must pay Saruman a farewell visit. Dangerous and probably useless; but it must be done. Those of you who wish may come with me – but beware! And do not jest! This is not the time for it."
"I will come," said Gimli.
"As will I." Said Legolas.
"And us!" squealed Pippin.
"Me too!" said Michelle.
"Me three!" Said Tracey.
"Be on your guard. There is no knowing what he can do, or may choose to try." Continued Gandalf. "A wild beast cornered is not safe to approach. And Saruman has powers you do not guess. Beware of his voice!"
They came to the foot of Orthanc. It was black, and the rock looked as if it were wet. A few scorings and small flake-like splinters near the base were all the marks that it bore of the fury of the Ents. At the foot of the stairs, Gandalf and the king dismounted.
"I will go up," said Gandalf. "I have been in Orthanc and I know my peril."
"And I too will go up." said Théoden. "I am old, and fear no peril anymore. I wish to speak with the enemy who has done me so much wrong. Éomer shall come with me, and see that my aged feet do not falter."
"As you will." Replied Gandalf. "Aragorn shall come with me. Let the others await us at the foot of the stairs. They will see and hear enough, if there is anything to hear or see."
"Nay," said Gimli. "Legolas and I wish for a closer view. We alone here represent our kindreds. We also will come behind."
"What about me?!" Michelle cried. "You ain't leaving me alone with her, and them!" she pointed at Tracey and the hobbits. "I'm coming with you."
"You can't. It's too dangerous." Said Legolas.
"Then, why are you going?"
"Because I have to represent my kindred."
"So do I!!!"
"No you don't. Aragorn is going."
"He represents 15-year old girls with a score to settle?"
"You can't go."
"If you loved me, you'd let me go."
"If you loved me, you'd stay behind."
"But-"
"Stay." Michelle had lost, again. She, angrily, turned her back to him and sat down on the steps. She crossed her arms and had a face like thunder. She did *not* like being beaten.
"Ooh, you've done it now, Legolas." Said Tracey. "I suggest you keep your distance for a couple of days, or it will be Lothlorien all over again." Legolas' face dropped.
"Michelle?" he said timidly.
"Don't bother, Legolas." She hissed. "Just don't bother."
Michelle woke up to the shock of her life. She had six pairs of staring eyes. When she realised where she was, and who they were, she was curious as to why they were all staring at her.
"What?" she said slowly, deciding she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. She had a habit of sleep walking, and talking. "What have I done?"
"Nothing. We were just trying to work out whether you were asleep or dead." Said Gimli.
"You look dead." Said Tracey. "But you're not."
"Thanks Trace. Just full of compliments today, aren't you?" Michelle stood up and stretched. She may only have been asleep for about half an hour, but she certainly felt better for it.
"So, where are we off to?" she said cheerfully.
"We're going to find Gandalf and Treebeard. We want to know what is happening." Said Aragorn.
So, they passed through the ruined tunnel and stood upon a heap of stones, gazing at the dark rock of Orthanc, and its many windows, a menace still in the desolation that lay all about it. Across the waste they saw riders picking their way; they were coming from the north side, and already they were drawing near to Orthanc.
"There is Gandalf, and Théoden and his men!" said Legolas. "Let us go and meet them!"
"Walk warily!" said Merry. "There are loose slabs that may tilt up and throw you down into a pit, if you don't take care."
"Oh great!" said Michelle. "Another opportunity for me to totally shame myself. Is whoever's up there not content with me cutting my head open, falling down a big hole, having, what would have been, a broken nose, if it wasn't so already, and being kidnapped? I've also suffered a great trauma! It's just not fair!"
"Look, hold on to me." Said Legolas. "You not going anywhere except to meet Gandalf and Théoden."
They followed what was left of the road from the gates of Orthanc, going slowly, mainly for Michelle's sake, but also because the flagstones were cracked and slimed. She still managed to twist her ankle though. The riders, seeing them approach, halted under the shadow of the rock and waited for them. Gandalf rode forward to meet them.
Well, Treebeard and I have had some interesting discussions, and made a few plans," he said; "and we have all had some much needed rest. Now we must be going on again. I hope you companions have all rested, too, and refreshed yourselves?" Michelle and Legolas caught one another's eye and smiled, then they both turned their attention back to Gandalf.
"We have," said Merry. "But our discussions began and ended in smoke. Still we feel less ill-disposed towards Saruman than we did."
"You might but I don't." said Michelle. "I'll never forget that ordeal! My back still hurts, now!"
"I do not either. I have now a last task to do before I go: I must pay Saruman a farewell visit. Dangerous and probably useless; but it must be done. Those of you who wish may come with me – but beware! And do not jest! This is not the time for it."
"I will come," said Gimli.
"As will I." Said Legolas.
"And us!" squealed Pippin.
"Me too!" said Michelle.
"Me three!" Said Tracey.
"Be on your guard. There is no knowing what he can do, or may choose to try." Continued Gandalf. "A wild beast cornered is not safe to approach. And Saruman has powers you do not guess. Beware of his voice!"
They came to the foot of Orthanc. It was black, and the rock looked as if it were wet. A few scorings and small flake-like splinters near the base were all the marks that it bore of the fury of the Ents. At the foot of the stairs, Gandalf and the king dismounted.
"I will go up," said Gandalf. "I have been in Orthanc and I know my peril."
"And I too will go up." said Théoden. "I am old, and fear no peril anymore. I wish to speak with the enemy who has done me so much wrong. Éomer shall come with me, and see that my aged feet do not falter."
"As you will." Replied Gandalf. "Aragorn shall come with me. Let the others await us at the foot of the stairs. They will see and hear enough, if there is anything to hear or see."
"Nay," said Gimli. "Legolas and I wish for a closer view. We alone here represent our kindreds. We also will come behind."
"What about me?!" Michelle cried. "You ain't leaving me alone with her, and them!" she pointed at Tracey and the hobbits. "I'm coming with you."
"You can't. It's too dangerous." Said Legolas.
"Then, why are you going?"
"Because I have to represent my kindred."
"So do I!!!"
"No you don't. Aragorn is going."
"He represents 15-year old girls with a score to settle?"
"You can't go."
"If you loved me, you'd let me go."
"If you loved me, you'd stay behind."
"But-"
"Stay." Michelle had lost, again. She, angrily, turned her back to him and sat down on the steps. She crossed her arms and had a face like thunder. She did *not* like being beaten.
"Ooh, you've done it now, Legolas." Said Tracey. "I suggest you keep your distance for a couple of days, or it will be Lothlorien all over again." Legolas' face dropped.
"Michelle?" he said timidly.
"Don't bother, Legolas." She hissed. "Just don't bother."