Chapter 21: Victory Over Isengard

Merry, Pippin and I were silent as we began trekking in the direction of the Shire none of us ready to give up so easily on our friends but unsure how to change the Ent's minds.

Suddenly Pippin looked around saying, "Wait stop we should be going more south."

I eyed him for a moment about to protest seeing the light mischievous glint in his eyes while he said, "If we go south, we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It's the last thing he'll expect."

My smile grew seeing him wink towards me as I gave Merry a nod while Treebeard replied, "That doesn't make sense to me… but then you are very small so south it is."

I let out a small sigh, perhaps Pippin was much smarter than I gave him credit for, but then again going right towards Isengard could end up backfiring just as easily.

"You three will love Isengard, it has a large garden with trees as far as the eye can see." Treebeard said not knowing what damage Saruman had done hearing him continue to talk.

Suddenly he stopped talking as my eyes widened looking forward seeing the tall tower of Isengard and surrounding it nothing but fire and ash. The damn had been closed off seeing all the trees destroyed to dig through the earth for more fighters smelling nothing but decay.

Treebeard let out a large war cry and in just a few minutes more Ent's came from out of the tree line as he said, "They come with fire, they come with axes, gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, and burning. Destroyers and usurpers, curse them! We go to war!"

I gripped Treebeard's branch a little tighter looking towards Pippin and Merry saying, "Looks like our story isn't over yet."


Holding on tightly we watched as the Ents began to tear apart the orc army that had been building with great ease. The orcs never facing a foe like them could do nothing but flee or be tramped while others attempted to burn them down.

"Break the damn, let the water back in!" Treebeard ordered as some Ents did so watching the water came rushing towards us causing me to slip feeling a hand grasp me tightly.

I looked up seeing Pippin look towards me worried while Merry came over helping me up as I grasped onto Pippin and Treebeard tightly until the water began to die down to a settled stream. Once all the orcs were defeated and it was safe Treebeard let us down as we looked around smiling despite the water going to our waists.

"If only all wars were this simple." I said with a light laugh as they both looked towards me smiling agreeing.

We all looked up seeing a figure in white looking around as Merry laughed saying, "He doesn't look too happy does he?"

"Not too happy at all." Pippin said while I crossed my arms saying, "Still I bet the view must be awfully nice from up there."

Pippin nodded saying, "Oh yes, it's a quality establishment. I hear the staff is very good."

I turned my eyes seeing Merry try to measure himself against Pippin laughing lightly as Pippin turned to him saying, "What are you doing?"

Merry cleared his throat looking away saying, "Nothing. The word's back to normal, that's all."

"No, it isn't." Pippin said turning back to the tower looking at it sadly saying, "I'm starving."

I laughed lightly looking at the water around us saying, "Good luck finding anything decent enough to eat around here."

"Probably dead rats and moldy bread… or whatever orcs eat." Merry said as my eyes turned seeing Pippin pick up an apple that was floating.

He got super excited turning around following a trail of floating apples while Merry found a glass bottle with wine in it. I picked up a whole roasted chicken as Pippin grabbed it gleefully putting it in a basket while he walked into a room filled with lots of food and drink.

"It's Saruman's storeroom!" Merry said excitedly as Pippin stopped laughing watching them walk slowly to some barrels saying softly, "I don't believe it…"

"It can't be." Merry said as they grabbed one of the barrels opening it up as Pippin said breathlessly, "It is."

"Longbottom leaf." Merry said excitedly as they stared into the barrel at the dried-up leaves smelling it deeply.

"What is that?" I asked laughing lightly as they both turned to me quickly cradling the barrel while Merry said, "Only the finest pipe-weed in South Farthing."

"And it's perfect one barrel each." Pippin said grabbing another one off the shelf handing it to me than getting his own as Merry stared blissfully towards it.

"I've never had pipe-weed before…" I said examining the barrel as they both looked towards me shocked hearing Pippin say, "Well you should at least try it and if you don't I'll take the barrel from you.

"Why do you get the whole barrel if she doesn't like it?" Merry asked offended as he looked towards him saying, "Because I found it."

I laughed at them seeing Pippin suddenly stop saying, "Wait, do you think we should share with Treebeard?"

"Share it?" Merry said shocked looking towards the opening then back at him saying, "No…no… dead plant and all that, I don't think he'd understand. It could be a distant relative."

"Are you serious?" I said rolling my eyes but they ignored me seeing Pippin smile saying, "Oh I get it, don't be hasty."

Suddenly Merry wiped out a pipe saying, "Exactly."

They both began laughing gleefully as I sighed smiling leaning against the wall, "Hobbits…"