Gandalf and Caunwen rode through the daylight until they reached Isengard. They were greeted by Saruman, himself, when they dismounted by the gates made with nature.
"What brings you here, Gandalf the Grey?" Saruman asked as he looked upon the pair, "And you have brought a guest. How are you Lady Caunwen?"
"I am well, Saruman. We have come on urgent business that Gandalf will inform you of," she replied as they began walking across the grounds to the entrance of the tower.
"What is it, Gandalf?" Saruman asked once more.
Gandalf cleared his throat, "I come on two different issues, Saruman. The first regards Lady Caunwen and it is the reason why she is here. Lord Elrond was told a prophecy which states that his daughter," he gestured at Caunwen, "and a wizard would find love and struggle. The prophecy states that she and I are to unite. What do you think of this?"
Saruman nodded while listening to Gandalf's words as they entered the tower, "Elrond's prophecy is correct. You and I are the last of our kind and the line is destined to go on. It makes sense that the prophecy would pair you with a lady of such high stature and genes. You must act on this prophecy as soon as possible before it is too late. What was the second matter?"
Caunwen found herself suppressing a slight smile at Saruman's blessing of their union. Gandalf replied once more, "The great ring of power has resurfaced and it has been under my nose in the Shire for years. What am I to have done with it?"
Saruman looked at Gandalf, his eyes very serious, "It is too late for anyone to do anything. As we sit here and speak, Nazgul are on their way to retrieve the great ring of power and give it to Sauron. We have no hope in defeating the dark lord so we may as well join forces with him," he explained causing both Caunwen and Gandalf to exchange a worried glance.
Gandalf grabbed her hand and began pulling her toward the door out so they could prevent this madness but Saruman used his powers to slam all the doors around them, trapping them in the room with him.
"What are you doing?" Gandalf asked, his face fully conveying the shock he felt in his heart at his friend's betrayal.
Saruman shook his head, "It is too late. If you can not join then you choose death," he stated before pointing his staff and Gandalf, thrusting him into the wall behind them and then flat on the floor.
Caunwen pulled her sword and charged Saruman while he was distracted, she knicked his arm but she wasn't quick enough to do more damage as his staff became pointed at her.
"How will you stand against me, lady elf? The power of your people have nothing this far away from your land," Saruman gloated before lifting her from the ground.
Caunwen felt her stomach leave the ground first as she was flung up into the air before being dropped face first on the ground, bloodying her nose.
Gandalf and Saruman were now in a heated battle of magics while Caunwen laid on the floor, barely conscious. Eventually she faded and when she awoke water was slowly dropping on her and she shivered from the sudden cold. She opened her yes more clearly to reveal that she was on top of the tower, Gandalf looking over her on his knees and rain falling from the sky on top of them.
"I'm taking it that we didn't win," she tried to joke as she pushed up with her arms to sit.
Gandalf grasped her arms in concern, "Take it easy. You took quite a beating. I am quite sorry for Saruman's behavior. I had no idea that he would ever betray our order."
Caunwen sat up and finally got a clear look at Gandalf's bloodied face. She raised her hand up into the rain to gently place it on his cheek, "You look like you got a good beating as well. Are you alright?"
"These wounds will heal. Are you still cold?" he asked as he stood from the ground, offering her his hand to help her up.
She gladly took it as she stood and got a terrifying view of how high off the ground they were. Her body trembled, involuntarily, from both fear and cold. All she could do was nod at Gandalf's inquiry.
He smiled softly as he grabbed a hold of her hand once more and pulled her down into a corner of the tower beside him, wrapping her body into his side as tightly as he could. "Do not fear," he whispered, "Gwaihir will soon come."
Caunwen had no idea what he was speaking of but she faded again from the extant of her injuries. When she came to once more, Saruman was with them once more ready to finish them off.
"I will give you one more chance, Gandalf. Do you choose power or death?" Saruman yelled as Caunwen noticed a small moth fly into view. Gandalf grabbed her hand and pulled her closely to his body.
"I choose neither," he said, his tone calm as he turned with Caunwen held to his side and he flung them off of the tower into a freefall.
Caunwen held her breath, unsure of what could come next but to her surprise, they were caught by a great eagle. "Where is it going to take us?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"Keep your head down. We'll be in Rivendell by morning," he instructed.
