A/N Okay, drowning a bit in exposition but we're getting there. I'm almost done with the chapter after this and we get some good shit in that one so...hang tight people.
They rode for another couple of hours and Josephine started feeling the drag from their four day journey now that she wasn't having to run. Not thinking she'd be able to fall asleep while they rode, she let her head rest against Aragorn's back and watched the plains roll by. She wasn't as worried about Merry and Pippin as she would've thought before. Nothing they'd seen so far led her to think they weren't on the right path and if her guess was right, they'd probably already seen Gandalf. Until she was given reason to think otherwise, they were fine.
She was jarred awake by Aragorn's hand grabbing for her leg and she tightened her arms around his waist when she realized she'd been leaning to the side. Apparently riding or not, she could manage to sleep through a lot nowadays.
"You were slipping." He told her. "We are nearly there. Then if the Hobbits are well as you seem to trust, we will rest."
A half hour later they came to the mound and she grimaced. The smell coming off the smoldering pile was enough to make her stomach churn. It was the worst barbecue she'd ever smelled and she seriously hoped it was something she could forget.
She slid off the horse and looked around as the others did the same. "Well, I don't see why I can't spoil this bit for everyone." Pointing to the forest edge she looked at Aragorn. "There should be tracks from the Hobbits leading into the forest, just to the left of the pile." If there weren't tracks she'd have to tell them anyway and this way they could get past thinking the two were dead as quickly as possible.
He stooped, starting beside the pile and scanning the ground. "You speak the truth, a Hobbit lay here." He brushed his hands over the dirt and kicked up grass. "And another." He stood and kept along the trail. "They crawled, and their hands were bound." Then he held up a length of rope. "Their bonds were cut." Getting closer and closer he paused just under the eves of the forest. "They lead straight into the forest just as you say, but they were followed."
"Only by one, right?" She checked. Any more orcs than that and it was a bad sign.
"I only see the tracks of one, an orc."
"This is fell new indeed." Boromir said in a low tone. "I have heard only warnings of these woods."
They stared at the tangled trees, no one ready to be the first to step into the gnarled roots. The only reason she wasn't worried was because Gandalf was the most dangerous thing they'd meet in there so long as Gimli didn't try to chop down any trees.
"Well," Boromir said finally. "I suppose we should picket the horses and…" he trailed off as he looked behind them and saw nothing but the mound. "They're gone."
Aragorn spun and looked across the plains worriedly. "I heard no sound, they were not frightened away. It is strange, especially for horses of Rohan to run off like this." He looked back at the forest accusingly. "Something strange is at work here."
"Will it make you all feel better if I tell you I've kind of got a surprise, but we've gotta head in there to get it?" She offered, getting giddy to finally be able to offer them some good news.
"I could do with some of that." Gimli chuckled.
Hoping to avoid losing their way in the forest after dark they made camp a bit up wind from the pile and spent the night. Early the next morning they set out again. They lost sight of the edge of the forest after five minutes and with the creaking, Josephine wasn't entirely sure it was done to them on purpose.
Glimli ran his finger along a leaf, held it to his tongue, and then spat it back out. "Orc blood."
Josephine made a face. Why did he have to lick it?
Further on, Aragorn paused and bent to look at the ground. "These are strange tracks."
"The air is so close in here." Gimli remarked.
She agreed with him, it was more stifling than Moria even.
Legolas looked around. "This forest is old. Full of memory, and anger." A deep groaning came from the trunks around them and they all looked around trying to find the source of it. "The trees are speaking to each other."
"Stories of Fangorn are told to children in Gondor to frighten them." Boromir said bitterly.
"Gimli!" Aragorn whispered. "Lower your axe!"
He froze and slowly brought it back to his side with awkward glances around him.
"They have feelings, my friend." Legolas told him. "The Elves began it, waking up the trees, teaching them to speak.
"Talking trees." He grumbled. "What do trees have to talk about, hm? Except for the consistency of squirrel droppings?"
Curiously she pressed her palm against one of the trunks as they passed. Above her leaves rustled but there was no other sound. These were the Hurons that would walk from Fangorn to Helms Deep. They would swallow what was left of Saruman's forces and get their revenge. And it would happen soon.
The days had been so single minded towards reaching the Hobbits she hadn't even realized the date. If they were about to find Gandalf, it was a lot closer than she'd thought. And so was her vision from the mirror.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" Legolas hissed, bolting forward.
"Man cenich?" He whispered from behind him.
"The White Wizard approaches."
Boromir froze, drawing his sword and positioning himself next to Gimli.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us."
Aragorn's hand slipped behind him and brushed her arm as if making sure he knew where she was before he reached for his sword. She was just trying not to smile and ruin the moment.
"We must be quick."
The four spun, Gimli's throwing axe was shattered, Legolas' arrow snapped, and Boromir and Aragorn dropped their swords.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits."
"Where are they!" Aragorn demanded.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
Josephine squinted in the bright sunlight hiding his face and folded her arms.
"Who are you? Show yourself!"
He stepped forward to block the sun behind him and they were finally able to make out that it was Gandalf. His eyes flicked up to her with a wink and she shook her head and smirked. It had been a long time since they'd had so much good luck and it was a relief to see Gandalf again.
"It cannot be…" Aragorn said breathlessly.
Legolas sank to his knees. "Forgive me, I mistook you for Saruman.
Gimli followed, and Boromir even bent to his knee, looking up at him in shock.
"I am Saruman. Or rather Saruman as she should've been."
"You fell."
"Through fire, and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin on the mountainside. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. The 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 up to him. "Gandalf?"
"Gandalf? Yes, that was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Gray, that was my name. I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide."
Gimli gave a deep, craggy laugh and clapped his hands together. "When the lass promised a surprise I would never have thought this!"
"Indeed, I am certain that was her plan in days past." Gandalf agreed. "And by the smug look in her eye, she enjoyed your surprise."
"I'll take the good news where I can get it." There wouldn't be much more of it in the future either.
Cloaking himself in gray he bid them follow and started leading them out of the forest. He and the others discussed Edoras and the news of the king. Reaching the edge of the trees he paused thoughtfully. "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 one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn said, drawing Gandalf's eye.
"Hm?" The wizard hummed.
"You still speak in riddles."
Gandalf chuckled. "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."
"Strong?!" The trees groaned and Gimli's eyes shifted nervously. "Oh, that's good."
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."
Back out in the sun they all took deep breaths of the open air and waited as Gandalf let out a shrill whistle. Horses whinnied in the distance and their three came from down the plain, following a white horse."
Legolas stepped forward slowly. "That is one of the mearas unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
"Shadowfax." Gandalf said, petting the horse's mane. "He's the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers."
They rode for hours, their horses didn't tire quickly with Shadowfax leading them and Gandalf didn't let them stop until well after night fell. She slid off the back of Hasufel stiffly and even Aragorn gave a groan as he hit the ground.
They lit a small fire and tried to catch a few hours of sleep but she couldn't find any. She pretended to well enough, but her mind was spinning. They would arrive for Edoras tomorrow, then leave for Helm's Deep the next morning and then…then it was time for the battle. The vision from Galadriel's mirror was still seared in her mind. How could it even occur? What could happen to cause it? The only time he was separated from them would be…the gorge, when he fell. It was the only time he could've fallen into the hands of the Uruk-hai that would have brought him to Saruman's army. Unless he was captured in the battle with the wargs but they didn't come to take prisoners that day. Maybe it didn't matter at all and they'd already circumvented what she was shown in the mirror?
She rolled over and pressed her face into the crook of her arm. Whether it was still lined up or not didn't matter if she didn't have assurance he was safe. He was over with Gandalf, speaking quietly and looking towards the red glow of Mordor in the east.
It was only getting worse since Cerin Amroth, there was no fading of the clear surety of her feelings. When they were on foot she was always right behind him, while riding she was holding him. Being in step with him was becoming as commonplace as breathing and the thought of having to let him go hurt more than she cared to imagine.
Maybe…no. It might be better to risk his rejection after the story was over. But one day, she would have to tell him. Keeping it quiet would eat away at her one way or another.
