Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. Hope you guys like this one.
Also, I've received several reviews regarding whether or not I'll be updating The Hobbit: An Unexpected Alliance. The answer: yes. I'm not feeling the motivation and inspiration I need at the moment, but I promise I will continue to update it.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 12- A Friend Returning
Jakan climbs over a massive tree root, looking around at the trees surrounding him. They've been walking through Fangorn for about an hour, searching for signs of Merry and Pippin.
Gimli notices a black substance on the leaves of a bush near him. He touches the substance and tastes it, before spitting it out and exclaiming, "Orc blood!"
"Did you really have to taste that, Gimli?" Jakan asks in slight exasperation and amusement.
"I've unfortunately come into contact with the stuff before," Gimli says. Jakan just rolls his eyes a bit.
Jakan scans the area around him, and his helmet shows a number of large, unusual tracks just up ahead. Pointing to the tracks, Jakan asks, "Aragorn, what are those?"
Aragorn walks over and takes a look at them. "These are strange tracks," he says, glancing around at more tracks in the area.
Gimli glances around as he says, "The air feels so close in here."
"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory…and anger," Legolas says.
As Legolas finishes, the Fellowship can hear a groaning around them. Then, the noise grows louder, echoing loudly. Gimli quickly raises his axe, spinning around looking for the source of the sound.
"The trees are speaking to each other," Legolas says.
Jakan sighs a bit. Honestly, at this point, such a revelation is not the weirdest thing he's seen on this world.
Aragorn looks over at Gimli and quickly says, "Gimli! Lower your axe!"
Gimli looks a little surprised and wary, and slowly and carefully lowers his axe.
"They have feelings my friend. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees. Teaching them to speak," Legolas says as he looks around at the trees.
"Talking trees. Hmm. What would trees have to talk about, hmm? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings," Gimli mutters.
"Thanks for providing me with that image, Gimli," Jakan says with an air of humor.
Legolas, no longer looking around at the trees, steps over a large root. His eyes seem to fix on something, and he calls, "Aragorn, nad no ennas!"
Aragorn hurries up behind Legolas, Jakan following close behind. "Man cenich?" Aragorn asks.
"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas says ominously, glancing sideways at Aragorn and Jakan.
Everyone freezes where they are. Jakan stares straight ahead, but his helmet's scanners are picking something up off to the right.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn says. He then grips his sword and draws it a few inches out of its scabbard, as does Boromir with his sword. Gimli grips his axes tightly. Legolas slowly fits an arrow to his bow. And Jakan's hands drift down to his blaster pistols.
"We must be quick," Aragorn says. Then, a few moments later, he whips around, drawing his sword.
A bright white light blooms on a boulder ahead of them as the Fellowship attacks. The figure in the light deflects both Legolas' arrow and Gimli's thrown axe. Aragorn and Boromir feel a searing hit in their sword hilts that make them drop them.
Jakan fires his blaster pistols several times, but the figure blocks the bolts before a wave of energy knocks him back and causes him to let go of his blasters.
Jakan gets back to his feet, looking at the light. Despite his helmet's abilities, he can't make out anything about the figure in the light.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," the figure says matter of factly in a deep baritone voice.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demands.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the figure says. As he speaks, his voice is changing, and something about it is strangely familiar.
"Who are you?" Aragorn demands.
"Show yourself, wizard, or I will make you," Jakan says, removing the Darksaber from his jetpack and ready to activate it.
The figure shifts his staff between his hands, and as he does, the light fades. And, to the shock of all five of them, the figure is revealed as a white-haired and robed Gandalf, smiling at his old friends.
"It cannot be," Aragorn says in shock.
Legolas' eyes widen, and he bows down on one knee as he says, "Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman." Gimli, Boromir, and Aragorn all get down on one knee as well, and a second later Jakan follows, knowing that there is something powerful about this old man.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been," Gandalf says.
"You fell," Aragorn says simply.
Gandalf's expression changes, and he says, "Through fire…and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. 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."
"Gandalf," Aragorn says simply.
Gandalf looks at Aragorn, a little intrigued looking. "Gandalf? Yes. That is what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey," he says. He then smiles and says, "I am Gandalf the White."
"We're glad to have you back no matter your color," Jakan says, grinning broadly under his helmet.
Gandalf smiles, then says, "I now come back to you at the turn of the tide." He then picks up a grey cloak and slings it around him, then motions for the Fellowship to follow him.
"One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed," Gandalf says.
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli exclaims.
"How far?" Jakan asks.
"A day or two by horseback," Boromir responds.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," Aragorn says to Gandalf.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured," Gandalf replies.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing! Are we to leave those poor hobbits in this hard, dark, dank, tree-infested-" Gimli begins to say, but is cut off by a series of groanings from the trees as if they're warning him against speaking further in such a way. Gimli quickly smiles and says, "I mean, charming, quite charming, forest."
"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 the mountains," Gandalf says.
Aragorn leans in and whispers in Gandalf's ear, "In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Gandalf looks at him curiously, and Aragorn finishes, "You still speak in riddles." Aragorn and Gandalf share a few chuckles.
Gandalf then looks back around at the trees as he says, "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? Oh, that's good," Gimli says a little nervously.
Gandalf looks right at Gimli and says, "So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf." He starts walking away as he says, "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."
Gimli groans a bit as he says, "This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one."
"Come on, Gimli. You know you're just as excited to have him back as the rest of us," Jakan says before patting Gimli's shoulder and following Gandalf.
Gandalf leads the five of them out of the forest and back to where their horses are. Looking around at the surroundings, Gandalf releases a piercing whistle that echoes over the hills.
After a very long whistle, Gandalf stops. Then, just a moment later, the Fellowship hears a horse's whinny echoing over the hills before a pure white horse gallops over a hill a short distance away.
"That is one of the Mearas. Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas says with an air of respect as the horse comes closer.
The horse slows as it approaches the group, and finally comes to a stop right in front of Gandalf. "Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses. And has been my friend through many dangers," Gandalf says, reaching out to stroke the horse's neck.
Gandalf quickly mounts Shadowfax, and the rest of the Fellowship get on their horses. Gandalf spurs Shadowfax into a gallop, and the other five do the same for their four horses, and the five horses begin galloping across the plains of Rohan.
Jakan sets down his helmet, as well as his blaster rifle. He then stands up and sees Aragorn and Gandalf standing on a slight ridge, looking towards the east.
Jakan walks over to them, and catches Gandalf saying, "Sauron fears you Aragorn. He fears what you may become."
"I will stand against Sauron, but I do not wish to do so as King of Gondor. I have never desired the throne," Aragorn responds.
"I understand your hesitancy, Aragorn," Jakan says as he walks up, drawing their attention, "But don't deceive yourself that you're doing anybody any favors by staying away from your heritage. I've told you some of the story of what has happened in the wider galaxy. The galaxy has descended into oppression because of the Emperor taking power. But, when good people were in charge of the government, people prospered. Those who are good bring good to those they rule. From what I hear from my discussions with Boromir, the people of Gondor need hope. For centuries, they have waited for the return of the heir to the throne. Your return could unify them when such unity is needed the most."
Both Gandalf and Aragorn look at Jakan, who looks back at them for a few moments before looking to the red glow to the east.
"That's Mount Doom, isn't it?" he asks.
"Yes, indeed, Jakan. And the weapon of the enemy is now moving towards it in the hands of hobbit," Gandalf says. He pauses, then says, "We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest."
Gandalf looks at Aragorn and Jakan, and hoping to soothe their consciences a little, says, "Neither of you should regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone."
"He's not alone. Sam went with him," Aragorn replies.
Gandalf looks a tiny bit surprised. "Did he? Did he indeed?" he asks. He then smiles as says, "Good," as he looks again to the east.
And, I'll end there. Hope you guys liked this chapter.
So, next chapter will feature the arrival at Edoras. It'll be up within a week. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!