Disclaimer: I do not now, have not and unfortunately will not ever own Lord of the Rings. (I am a bit obsessed though, with the story not individual people)

26.

Fangorn was even darker and more foreboding once we entered, the air was dense and seemed far heavier than it should have been. The air was weighted down with the hostility of the trees, they did not want us to be here…we were unwelcome and the trees would not let us pass unharmed if we angered them any further. I listened as the trees talked and sang to one another—occasionally I would have to shake myself in order to keep up with the others and not become lost in this ancient forest full of hostility. Aragorn followed the trail which the hobbits had left, following things that hardly any other person would have seen.

As we walked past a bush, Gimli spotted a blackish substance upon some of its leaves. He swiped a finger over one of the leaves, sniffed it and then licked the substance off of his finger; Gimli spat it out and growled.

"Orc blood."

I shuddered involuntarily…I had no desire to know how Gimli would know that it was orc blood from the taste, especially since the only reason was that he had tasted it before—enough times that he instantly knew what orc blood tasted like. We traversed over stream, rock, and fallen trees; watching the ground for any sign of the hobbit's passing, moving steadily up-hill, and always in the dark gloom of the forest. We had been travelling in the forest for quite some time when Aragorn crouched on the ground and stared at an odd indentation upon the ground, he muttered something almost to himself though it was heard by all of us.

"These are strange tracks."

For tracks they were. Large indentations spaced every fifty or so feet away, whatever had made them must have been larger than even the Balrog. Had this creature found the hobbits first…were they even still alive if things of this size wandered in this forest? Gimli took out his ax and attempted to whisper.

"The air is so close in here."

Legolas looked around at the surrounding trees and said warily. "The forest is old. Very old. Full of memory…and anger." Legolas's eyes widened as the trees began groaning more loudly; Gimli lifted his ax and grunted, holding his ax ready to strike anything that came near. Legolas became surprised and wondrous as he listened and then spoke again. "The trees are speaking to each other."

I looked at Legolas curiously; I walked next to a tree and asked quietly. "You can hear them speak to each other as well, you can hear their songs?"

Legolas looked at me in confusion, before he could say anything Aragorn hissed at Gimli who had been growling and hefting his ax at the surrounding trees.

"Gimli! Lower your ax." Aragorn was looking at Gimli as though this should have been obvious to the dwarf. Gimli's eyes widened—as though he had only just now realized the way that a tree might think about any ax raised against it, then he lowered his ax to his side and raised his other hand as Legolas spoke gently.

"They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."

Legolas's words stirred something within me, sharpened some vital part of me that I had not noticed before. My ears seemed to sharpen, to catch things which I had never been able to hear before…sounds of distant animals moving silently through the forest, every crack and rustle of the trees. For a moment everything became brighter, more musical, and lighter than it had been before; Legolas stared at me, and then the light was gone and everything was as it had been before and whatever had sharpened within me…vanished back into nothingness. Legolas opened his mouth to say something, but Gimli spoke first.

"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings." He looked around more warily than before, as though he was worried that the trees would suddenly spring to life and attack him.

Legolas looked at him as though he had thoroughly insulted both him and the trees, then he walked ahead to put some distance between himself and the dwarf. Legolas sped up to catch Aragorn, speaking in elvish as he moved. The air felt different here, more tense as though it was waiting for something to happen. Aragorn and Legolas walked cautiously forward a little ways and whispered together in elvish; Legolas spoke in common tongue in what must have been an answer to Aragorn's question.

"The White Wizard approaches." All of us became more wary at this announcement, our eyes darting around the clearing to find the location of the wizard. Aragorn looked at us and whispered urgent instructions.

"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us." He grasped the hilt of his sword and began to draw the blade as silently as possible. Gimli tightened his hold on his ax, Legolas drew his bow at hip height in order to keep it hidden for as long as possible and I drew my bow—ready to use it as soon as it was needed. Aragorn continued to give us whispered instruction. "We must be quick."

Aragorn took in a deep breath before he turned and let it out in a yell, his sword swinging at the shape of a man hidden in a sphere of light, a man clothed entirely in white. The White Wizard has come. Gimli threw his ax, only to have it deflected by the wizard's staff. Legolas and my arrows were blocked in the same way, and Aragorn's sword became too hot for him to keep a hold of…he dropped it to the ground before it burned his hand. The light surrounding the wizard grew brighter, so bright we had to shield our eyes against it, or else risk being blinded. For a moment there was silence, then the White Wizard spoke in a voice which was deep and resonated with power; the voice which we had heard on Caradhras.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits."

"Where are they?" Demanded Aragorn.

"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" The wizard's voice changed as he spoke, turning from a deep commanding voice, to one that was kinder…more gentle, and oddly familiar.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn queried with mounting confusion which masked the growing hope in his voice. The light faded from around the wizard, revealing not Saruman, but Gandalf.

Silence permeated through the forest, disbelief, amazement, and wonder coursing through each of us as we stood in the presence of our friend who we thought had died. Aragorn was the first to recover enough to voice what we were all thinking.

"It cannot be."

Legolas spoke next, his voice filled with reverence and remorse as he knelt before the wizard. "Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman."

The White Wizard looked at us and said gently. "I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."

Aragorn looked as though he still could not believe that Gandalf was standing before us. His voice shook as he spoke again. "You fell."

The White Wizard looked as though he were far away when he spoke. "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 mountainside. Darkness took me…and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead…and every day 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."

Aragorn stepped towards the wizard, his voice filled with wonder as he called the wizard by name. "Gandalf."

The wizard looked at Aragorn in confusion. "Gandalf? Yes. That was what they used to call me." Aragorn nodded in affirmation, the wizard smiled and continued. "Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." His smile widened.

"Gandalf." Gimli nearly whispered, a smile brightening his face.

"I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide." Gandalf wrapped his old grey cloak around him and we followed him through Fangorn. I was amazed that the trees were less hostile towards us after Gandalf joined us, for their songs and their speech were far more amiable, thoughnot exactly friendly.

As we walked through part of the forest which was close to the edge, Gandalf began speaking to us in an authoritative voice. "One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed."

"Edoras?" Gimli sputtered in surprise. "That is no short distance!"

"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Aragorn quietly informed Gandalf.

Gandalf stopped and said gravely. "Yes, and it will not be easily cured."

"Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor hobbits here…in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested-?" The trees began to grown more angrily as the dwarf spoke, becoming angry and threatening once more. "I mean, charming…quite charming forest." Gimli hastily added.

I smiled reassuringly at the dwarf, listening as the trees were appeased and settled back down. Gandalf turned and spoke to us once more.

"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones…that starts an avalanche in the mountains."

The trees songs became excited at the words which Gandalf spake. They seemed to be straining to rip themselves from the ground to see what it was that these hobbits were going to do. Aragorn smiled and leaned towards Gandalf.

"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Gandalf turned and leaned his head closer, so as not to miss Aragorn's next words. "You still speak in riddles." Both Gandalf and Aragorn chuckled for a moment, then Gandalf looked to the trees.

"A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." These words made the trees even more excited. They began whispering to each other, speaking in groans and leaning towards one another. I too grew excited, his words reawakening something inside me that Legolas's words had previously awoken. I know not what it was, for it was quickly extinguished by Gimli's startled exclamation which brought the trees to an abrupt and hostile silence.

"Strong?! Oh, that's good." He looked nervously at the trees, no doubt wanting to get out of the forest as soon as he could. Gandalf appeared to think so as well, for he was more chastising than reassuring the dwarf with his next words.

"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf." Gandalf turned and walked swiftly away, continuing to speak as he did so. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be." Gandalf walked out of sight with Aragorn at his side.

"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one." Grumbled Gimli, then he followed after Aragorn and Gandalf. Leaving Legolas and I to bring up the rear as we exited the forest, leaving the trees waiting in anticipation for something which Gandalf had called an "Ent."

Once we stepped out of the gloom of Fangorn and into the bright light of day—our horses had somehow known where we would emerge and were there waiting for us, Gandalf let out a long and melodious whistle. A horse whinnied and came running up the hill towards him, yet it was a horse more graceful than any which I had previously seen. It was of the purest white—white to match the whiteness of Gandalf's new robes, and it seemed more noble than any other horse possibly could. Legolas looked at the horse in awe bordering reverence and said softly.

"That is one of the Mearas…unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." He watched the horse run up to Gandalf who held out his hand to the horse as it came to a halt before him.

"Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers." Gandalf reached up and stroked the neck of the majestic horse. Then we all mounted the horses and rode off at a swift gallop, towards Edoras. We rode hard across the land of Rohan, urging the horses onwards and with all haste, for we hoped to make Edoras by mid-day on the morrow.

Early the following day we crested a hill and halted the horses, for there ahead of us lay the city of Edoras. It sat high upon a lone hill, the various buildings sprawled across the surface—some precariously placed on the sides, high above the other buildings sat what could only be the home of the king. Edoras did not appear to be a place which would easily fall to invaders, yet apparently it had fallen to one who had invaded the king himself. Gandalf spoke, informing us that we had indeed reached our destination.

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

Aragorn and Legolas gazed grimly at the city of Edoras, then the horses were spurred forward and we crossed the last grassy expanse before entering the gates of the city. Just before we entered the city, a flag tore itself from the ramparts and fluttered down to the ground, landing a few feet away from the horse which Aragorn and I rode. There it fluttered, as though it was a symbol of the last hope which these people had, and it had just fallen to the ground. Aragorn glanced upwards in search of where it had come from, then we went through the gate and entered Edoras.

I looked around the city, and thought that it was a rather grim place. Perhaps the man who we had encountered earlier was right, perhaps there was no hope left in these lands. That is what the people here thought anyway, for they all wore looks of abandonment, sorrow, and hopelessness which I had never before seen on anyone. All of them were garbed in black, all save one woman who stood on the edge of a stone ledge outside of the Golden Hall; she alone was garbed in white. Gimli seemed to share this opinion, for he glanced around and muttered.

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

We dismounted at the foot of a stairway which led up to the Golden Hall. We reached the top of the stairs, only to be stopped by guards emerging from inside the hall itself. What appeared to be the head guard, spoke to Gandalf.

"I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame." Gandalf looked confused and so the man clarified. "By order of Grima Wormtongue." The man said the name as though it were something foul, nearly spitting it out of his mouth as though to rid himself of the taste.

Gandalf nodded in understanding and Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and I all handed over our weapons—Legolas and Aragorn did so most reluctantly and with much flourishing of their weapons. Gandalf smiled at the guard before us, expecting us to be let through to see the king.

"Your staff." The guard said, almost apologetically.

"You would not part an old man from his walking stick." Gandalf innocently said to the man.

The guard clearly did not believe him, however he let it go. Gandalf waited until the guard's back was turned, then he winked at Aragorn who smiled briefly. Legolas took Gandalf's arm to aid in the charade of needing a walking stick. We were led through the doors and into the hall where Theoden sat upon his throne.

The guard bowed to the king and stepped aside for us to approach him; while a slimy looking man leaned towards the decrepit king and whispered in his ear. The doors were shut and barred behind us—Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn exchanged worried glances, and men in dark clothing began to move alongside us, hidden in the shadows near the walls of the hall. Gandalf spoke loud enough to be heard by all who were present as he strode up the hall towards the king.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late…Theoden King."

The slimy looking man leaned forward and whispered once more in the king's ear. Then the king himself spoke in a feeble voice which was nearly devoid as devoid of life as it was emotion.

"Why should I welcome you…Gandalf Stormcrow?" the man at his side muttered something to him, before standing and speaking with more authority than the king had.

"Late is the hour…in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." He had moved forward as he spoke, coming to a stop right before Gandalf who spoke angrily.

"Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." Gandalf brought forth his staff and the man quickly backed up, backed towards the king.

"His staff. I told you to take the wizard's staff." As this man spoke, the men from the shadows lunged at Gandalf, only to be stopped by Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas who fought them without weapons and kept them from bothering Gandalf. I stayed at the wizard's side, keeping watch in case any of the men got through the others.

Gandalf strode forward amidst the chaos, speaking to the king and the king alone. "Theoden …son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the Shadows."

I watched as Legolas hit a man in the face with his raised fist, without even turning around. Gimli ran over to the struggling Wormtongue, placed his foot on the man's stomach and growled, with his ax raised above the man's head.

"I would stay still if I were you."

"Hearken to me!" commanded Gandalf.

Theoden simply glared at him, strange growling noises emitting from him. Gandalf raised his hand and stretched it out towards the king.

"I release you from the spell."

Theoden began to laugh, a loud demented sound which filled the entire hall and seemed to give his voice added strength. "You have no power here…Gandalf the Grey."

Gandalf threw off his grey cloak, standing before the king and all who were in the hall, in his white robes which shone with an ethereal light. The sight of Gandalf's new robes sent the king back against his throne, seemingly afraid of the wizard before him.

"I will draw you Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Gandalf thrust his staff forward, slamming the king back against his throne; he struggled to lean forward, to resist the power which Gandalf wielded.

A woman in white ran out of an archway, running towards the king. Aragorn caught hold of her and whispered. "Wait." Aragorn held onto her so she would not interfere with what Gandalf was doing.

Saruman snarled through the king's body. "If I go, Theoden dies."

Gandalf slammed the king once more into the back of his throne, his voice commanding as he spoke with Saruman. "You did not kill me…you will not kill him."

"Rohan is mine." Spat the king.

Theoden was slammed into his throne, Gandalf's staff pointed directly at the king's face. "Be gone." Theoden lunged off his throne towards Gandalf. Gandalf raised his staff and smacked the king on the head, sending him backwards and expelling Saruman from the body of the king.

Please review and I hope that you have enjoyed reading this so far.