Chapter 20: Surprising Growth

I woke up very early seeing Merry sprawled out on the ground sleeping soundly turning to eye Pippin beside the stream as I got up walking towards him.

"You're up early." I said while he smiled saying, "I'm better rested now than I have been in days."

I laughed lightly hearing Merry start to stir while Pippin sipped happily at the water in the plate seeing Merry stand.

"Hello, Treebeard? Where has he gone?" Merry asked turning towards us as Pippin sighed happily saying, "I had the loveliest dream last night. There was a large barrel, full of pipe-weed, and we smoked all of it. And then you were sick. I'd give anything for a whiff of Old Toby."

He leaned against the large tree looking up happily as I smiled towards him suddenly hearing a strange guttural growl.

"Did you hear that?" Merry said looking towards me while I nodded watching Pippin stand up hearing the noise again saying, "There it is again… something isn't right…"

I eyed Pippin for a moment looking him up and down when we realized the noise was coming from him as Merry said, "You just said something… treeish."

Pippin gave him an uneasy look saying, "No I didn't I was just stretching."

Merry eyed him up and down looking towards me for a moment saying, "You're taller."

"Who?" Pippin asked as I looked at him saying, "You!"

"Then what?" he asked innocently while Merry and I both yelled, "Then me!"

"Merry I've always been taller than you." Pippin said brushing it off while Merry eyed him saying, "Pippin, everyone knows I'm the tall one and you're the short one."

"Please, Merry, you're what three-foot-six at the most? Whereas me I'm pushing three-seven…" he began but I heard the weird guttural noise from him again as he finished saying, "three eight."

"Three-foot-eight? You did something!" Merry said accusingly eyeing the pot of water in Pippin's hands smirking as he grabbed it quickly.

"Merry don't drink it!" Pippin said chasing after him while I said, "It could be dangerous."

"I want some though." He said smirking mischievously walking away from us both as I stepped over a root feeling it tighten around my leg.

"What's happening?" Pippin said fearfully noticing the roots were wrapped around us hearing Merry fall saying, "It's got my leg, I'm stuck."

I tried to reach for my daggers but felt my arms get pulled down muffling a cry for help as I heard Pippin call out towards me and for help but it must have gone on death ears feeling my body become constricted.

Suddenly the roots began to let go pushing us back out as I breathed deeply falling out of the ground while Pippin put a comforting hand on my back but I assured him I was fine.

"Come, the forest is waking, it isn't safe." Treebeard said helping us up as we began making our trek again to the council.


The rest of the way was silent for the most part as we finally came to a large opening in the forest looking around to find it empty.

"Where is everyone?" I asked hearing Treebeard say, "They will be along shortly, have patience little elf."

I gave an uneasy nod as he helped us down hearing the ground below us start to shake signaling they were starting to arrive.

"You three shall wait here as we begin discussing among one another." Treebeard said as we all nodded watching all the different Ents approach one another.

I eyed towards Pippin for a moment using my hand to measure us seeing him look towards me saying, "What are you doing?"

"You're as tall as me now…" I said slightly offended a hobbit could reach my height while he smiled playfully saying, "I'm not a Pipsqueak anymore."

I snorted a laugh placing a hand on his shoulder saying, "You'll always be a Pipsqueak to me."

Slowly the sun had fallen in the sky as I stood against a tree patiently while Merry began pacing saying, "What's taking them so long?"

"They are thousands of years old you can't expect them to go fast." Pippin said while Merry eyed him replying, "Still I hate just sitting here doing nothing."

"Have patience Merry, going to war is not something anyone should take lightly." I said crossing my arms as I looked up seeing Treebeard begin to approach us.

"We have come to a decision." He said staring towards us while I looked at them saying, "Yes?"

Treebeard seemed to snap out of his trance replying, "We have been talking it over and have decided you two are not orcs."

I saw the smile on Treebeard's face seeing some of the other Ents nod in agreement hearing Pippin say, "Well that's something."

"What about Saruman?" Merry asked as Treebeard put his hand up saying, "Now don't be hasty, Master Meriadoc."

Merry stepped forward saying, "Hasty? Our friends are out there and they could be in trouble we can't just sit and wait for the war to come to us."

"War yes… it affects us many but you must understand it takes a long time to speak in our language and we do not speak unless it is necessary. However the Ents cannot hold back this storm, we must weather such things just as we always have." He said as I pushed off the tree as Merry said angrily, "How can this be your decision?"

"This is not our war." He said as I stepped forward looking at all of them saying, "But you are part of this world aren't you? We cannot do this alone, we need your help please reconsider."

They all looked at one another as Treebeard bent down saying, "You three are young and brave but your part in his tale is over, go back to your home."

I walked away defeated feeling Merry and Pippin follow me as we began packing up our stuff while Pippin went over to Merry saying, "Maybe Treebeard is right… we don't belong here, this is all too big for us and what could we do in the end. We still have the Shire so all three of us can go home."

"You don't understand Pippin…" I began walking towards him saying, "The fires and war from Isengard will spread and should it not end soon there won't be home anymore… for any of us."

"We don't know that the others could still pull through." Pippin said hopefully while Merry sighed saying, "She's right Pippin, even if they slow it down unless all this ends and the ring is destroyed it won't be over."

He put a hand on his shoulder as I stood by him saying, "If only we could convince him to help us… he seems to be blind to it all."

He looked at me for a moment about to say something but stopped himself as Treebeard came over to us saying, "It is time to depart, and I shall bring you as close as I can before you're on your own."