AN: Finally next part, I am sorry, it took me so long. But part of it was because I started to look thru the story. I made some corrections, and added part to the chapters. I suggest to read all the chapters once more, there are little new bits and maybe somethings you need to understand to read the story on.
I will post chapters now more frequently, because I wrote the eighteenth chapter almost on a one go and when I finished it I discovered it is seventeen pages long in Microsoft word and decided to make it three parter and when I took first part of it in front of me there were voices that demanded I wrote them more. I think the same will happen with the others. I hope to put up the next chapter in a week, but I am writing right now the nineteenth chapter so we will see how my time will be shared with those chapters.
Only part that is not rewritten just yet, is chapter seventeen, I going to look it thru also. But at the same time I will be writing this story on. Hopefully I finish it soon, lets hope life does not intervene again. This chapter is not beta-readed. I hope to trouble my beta-reader, to read it soon, but time will tell.
Thank you, all of you, who had sticked with this story for the last ten years.
Reviews would be appreciated.
Riding through Fangorn was much calmer and peaceful than the first time, when they had tried to find the hobbits. The forest itself was more at peace, the trees did not seem as threatening as before, but he felt their wrath towards the Uruk-Hai who had run into the forest, non knew what happened to them. Faramir felt the hate of the trees growing as they neared to Isengard.
The forest got thinner and Isengard lied ahead them, no one of them could imagine what waited them there, another battle, but something in Faramir told him, that it was not the faith for them Gandalf was to calm. The forest was ending they road over the line of trees and opened to their eyes to wasteland.
They neared Isengard, and they saw smoke rising, but it was not ominous, like you would suspect from a place that had foul plans. When they exit the forest ruins of Isengard stood before them and on the wall sat Merry and Pippin smoking pipes, drinking wine, and eating pork.
„Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!" he said. „We are the doorwardens. Meriadoc, son of Saradoc is my name; and my companion, who, alas! is overcome with weariness" - here he gave the other a dig with his foot – "is Peregrin, son of Paladin, of the house of Took. Far in the North is our home. The Lord Saruman is within; but at the moment he is closeted with one Wormtongue, or doubtless he would be here to welcome such honourable guests."
„Doubtless he would!" laughed Gandalf. „And was it Saruman that ordered you to guard his damaged doors, and watch for the arrival of guests, when your attention could be spared from plate and bottle?"
„No, good sir, the matter escaped him," answered Merry gravely „He has been much occupied. Our orders came from Treebeard, who has taken over the management of Isengard. He commanded me to welcome the Lord of Rohan with fitting words. I have done my best."
„And what about your companions? What about Legolas and me?" cried Gimli, unable to contain himself longer. „You rascals, you woolly-footed and wool-pated truants! A fine hunt you have led us! Two hundred leagues, through fen and forest, battle, and death, to rescue you! And here we find you feasting and idling-and smoking! Smoking! Where did you come by the weed, you villains? Hammer and tongs! I am so torn between rage and joy, that if I do not burst. it will be a marvel!"
„You speak for me, Gimli," laughed Legolas. „Though I would sooner learn how they came by the wine."
"My brothers, you speak about smoking, and drinking wine, I would like to know where they found the pork?" Faramir entered the conversation, leading his horse between Legolas's and Aragon's. He saw how the hobbits eyes grew larger at his words. "And speaking only for yourselves, Legolas and Gimli," He raised his eyebrows, "are I and Aragorn so bad companions that you forget us." There was chuckle all around, at their antics.
"Faramir you are alive." It was Merry whose voice said it in wonder. Faramir looked at them, of course they thought him to be dead, they had seen him shot by arrows and going down.
"You can't get that easily rid of me, my dear friends." He shot comforting smile at the hobbits.
"Now Theoden-king." Gandalf interrupted them, "You have your first glances at Hobbits, or as they are known in Gondor and Rohan Halflings."
"These are you companions, Gandalf. It is a marvel, I have seen many since we left home and here stands another legend, some in Rohan call them Holbytlan." Theoden's eyes had grown large.
"Wonders of Middle-Earth will never cease; you are about to meet one more. Treebeard is waiting us. Let our six companions reacquainted with each other and go to learn what the leader of the Ents will tell us."
Gandalf, Theoden and Eomer rode of taking the riders with them. Faramir and other left the horses to roam around and climbed onto the wall. As soon his feet touched the floor, his arms were full of Merry and Pippin.
"We thought you were dead." Merry muttered into his shoulder.
"We saw you..." Pippin looked him with despair in his eyes.
"I should have died, but Aragorn saved my life." Saying that Faramir rose and let the others greet their friends.
He looked the reunion and then frowned, he saw the same frown on Aragorn's face when he looked Merry and Pippin.
"Is it me or…" He asked Aragorn, who looked him with same wonder. Then older ranger turned to Legolas who just had let the hobbits go. "Legolas it seems in my old age," Legolas and Faramir made a disapproving voice, but Aragorn ignored them, "my eyes are failing me, and the hit to his head has had a little affect also to Faramir's. So do your elven eyes see what we see, that our friends have grown."
Legolas quirked his eyebrows and turned his eyes to Merry and Pippin, then corner of his lip rose. "You two are right, they have added at least two to three inches to their height."
"Well, you little rascals care to explain." Gimli smirked.
"It is a long story." Merry begins.
"It starts when the Uruks captured us." Pippin continues.
"Before you start, I have something that belongs one of you." Aragorn put his and under his coat and produced leaf of Lorien.
„It's mine, I dragged it off from my cloak with my teeth, I hoped, no I knew that you would come for us." Pippin accepted the broach from Aragon.
"We would never have left you behind." Faramir smiled, he placed his hand on Pippin shoulder, Aragon placed his on Pippin other shoulder, the youngest hobbit felt Legolas and Gimli standing behind him and Merry and he had never felt as protected. "Remember Hope never leaves thee behind." Faramir muttered.
Aragorn raised his eyes at him in surprise. Suspecting that it meant much more than the stewards son let on.
"I tell you later, now let us hear of the great deeds of our brave friends."
So, six friends sat, aet what had left, drank wine, smoked pipe – except Legolas – and listened Merry and Pippin's tale.
When the tale was done, and the small feast was finished they headed to search Theoden and Gandalf. Faramir placed Merry behind of him on Helden and Aragorn took Pippin with him on Hasufel. All Isengard was full of water, there were no trees, Faramir could see where the stumps stood, everything was in ruin except for the tower. It loomed tall and dark in the middle of the walls.
When they reached Orthanc, Gandalf, Theoden, Eomer were exchanging words with Saruman. Beside them stood an Ent, Treebeard Faramir guessed, it took all his self-control so his mouth would not fall open. He had read about them, he heard stories from Gandalf, but he had never expected to meet one in his lifetime. Treebeard looked just like – Faramir almost chuckled – a tree, but when you looked at him, the power, the wisdom, the knowledge shone far away, the Ent one of the oldest beings Faramir had ever met, he must have been older than Galadriel and Celeborn, but Faramir was not certain.
Faramir was brought out from his wonderment by Saruman's next words: "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." Then he felt how the wizards' eyes turned to him. "Even if he has support of the Stewards second son, the least loved one, the son who his own father banished and ordered to be imprisoned and executed when he steps his foot in Gondor or Minas Tirith."
Faramir did not hear no more, he was lesser, his father did not love him and if he returned with the king, his father would not welcome him, his sufficient son, and would not except the kings claim. Everything he had done was for naught.
"Faramir," he felt Merry's arms going tighter around his waist, and the hobbit whispered, "do not listen to him, as Gandalf said he is a false-hearted wizard, he tries to poison our minds. You are one of the best big-folk I have met, do not let him shadow your mind."
Faramir took a deep breath, Merry's word brought him back, the hobbit was right, Saruman's words were there to poison them all.
He looked over his shoulder to Merry and squeezed the hand around his waist. "Thank you, Merry, for bringing me back, you are a great and wise friend." Merry blushed at the words and started to answer when they were interrupted by Gimli words. "I've heard enough! Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob."
„No." Gandalf stopped Legolas, who had drawn his arrow. „Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."
„Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" Saruman raised his staff and stream of fire hit Gandalf.
The word "no," got stuck into Faramir's throat, Gandalf and Shadowfax were erupted into fire, he could not lose him again, his friend his mentor, they had been thru so much and now…
The flame died down and Gandalf was alive, he had survived the flames.
"Saruman, your staff is broken." As Gandalf said those words black staff in Saruman's hands shattered in to million pieces.
How could this all be, Saruman was the strongest of Istari, he was the leader of their order, how could Gandalf over power him. Faramir was confused, and then he understood something clearly at last. He remembered Gandalf words when they met again in Fangorn forest: "Yes I am Saruman, or rather, Saruman as he should have been." He remembered how once grey pilgrim had driven out Saruman from Theoden. Gandalf was now the most powerful wizard in the Middle-Earth.
He was brought out from his musings when Grima stepped next to Saruman, Theoden tried to talk the man down promised forgiveness freedom, but Saruman mock Grima. Next the Wormtongue grabbed his knife and stabbed once mighty Maia. Beside him Legolas shot arrow and Grima fell. Saruman staggered and then fell from the Orthanc onto the wheel full of spears. Faramir saw something slip from the wizards' ropes, but his eyes were fixed on the body once great wizard, Maia who had lived many generations of men on the Middle-Earth and had corrupted by greed and power lust.
"Pippin!" Aragorn call guided his eyes to the hobbit, who was splashing thru the water to something in it. He gasped when youngest of the hobbits picked up palantír, he was ready call out a warning, but Gandalf as quicker. "Peregrin Took! I will take that, my lad. Quickly now." Pippin was hesitant when he handed it over to the wizard. Gandalf took it, then offered his hand to Pippin end placed him onto Shadowfax.
"Treebeard, we leave Isengard onto your capable branches." Gandalf bowed to the Ent and turned to his companions.
"The words of Saruman have made me uneasy. Sauron must have turned his sight on Gondor, we must go to Edoras, rest a night there, then head to Dunharrow."
Saying that Gandalf looked at Theoden, Faramir held his breath, what would the king say. Theoden-king had said many things against Gondor and Rohan friendship.
"Your plan is sound. In Edoras we will have feast and next morning we will head to Dunharrow. I will send out messengers as soon we reach to the keep."
Aragorn and Faramir exchanged smiles, Gondor still had friends. Rohan will not leave them. They headed again thru Fangorn to Edoras. There was little hope, for Arda, for them all.
They had ridden half a way to Edoras when Pippin who was riding behind Aragorn asked: "Edoras? What place is Edoras."
"Pippin did you forget everything what Faramir told us in Rivendell?" Merry asked in exasperation.
"I did not, but..." Pippin blushed and hide his face in Aragorn's back.
"Merry, people sometimes forget," Aragorn admonished gently, "Pippin Edoras is the capital of Rohan, there king Theoden sits on his thrown."
"Aa, yes I remember." Pippin smiled, "the horse lords kingdom."
"Faramir?" Merry asked.
"Yes, Merry?" The Stewards son smiled and looked over his shoulder.
"Remember we talked about Lady Arwen, Rosie and Lady Eowyn in Rivendell?" Merry Question made Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas sharpen their ears.
"Yes, Merry?" Faramir asked warily.
"Now when you have met her, to you still think her as the most beautiful maiden among men."
Faramir chuckled. "Yes, I still think she is the most beautiful maiden among men." he felt how blush crept on his cheeks when his gwedeir* looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Then I really want to meet her." Pippin declared.
"You will, soon enough. There are only few miles to Edoras." Mischievous smile played on Aragorn face. Faramir knew that there was going to be a time when he would have his revenge and Aragorn would not see it coming. He was a patient man.
When they walked into the hall of Meduseld Eowyn was standing in the middle of it looking over the preparations for the feast. Aragorn guided the two hobbits to her. Faramir could not to anything to stop him. "Lady Eowyn, I like you to meet Masters Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. My friends meet Shield maiden of Rohan Lady Eowyn."
Eowyn smiled. "It is my pleasure Masters Brandybuck and Took."
"As it is ours, Lady Eowyn. Call us Merry and Pippin." Merry bowed.
It was Pippin, as it usually was, Faramir thought, who did just as Aragorn had expected. "Faramir is right." He muttered in awe.
"How so, Master Pippin?" Eowyn inquired.
"Just Pippin, Lady Eowyn. He said you are the most beautiful maidens among men."
"You little rascal." Faramir ruffled Pippin head and turner around so not to see Eowyn's face or his friends' pleased ones, Legolas and Gimli were as much satisfied with Pippin actions as Aragorn. Right that moment he wished he could be standing before his father and not be there. That revenge would come, it only would take time and patients.
*gwedeir - sworn brothers, brothers in arms.