A/N: Sorry this part took so long. I ran out of ideas for it. I'm going to end this story soon, most probably in the next chapter. Please R/R. Thanks. And hey, is this chapter even funny at all? Please tell me.
The Fellowship Of The…Baby?
Fourteen: What A Shock!
Legolas, Boromir, Aragorn and Gimli followed the faint tracks of two Hobbits and a babe into Fangorn; Legolas tracked the signs for they were too faint even for a Ranger such as Aragorn. They hesitated briefly at the border of the forest, until Gimli gave a snort and plunged in.
The tracks came to an end soon, and were replaced by long, snake-like ones, and the four were left staring at the ground in wonderment.
"These look like the trails of many snakes, or worms," Gimli said. (Remember, Treebeard's "legs" are roots).
"Maybe snakes took the Halflings and the babe?" Boromir suggested.
"Nay," Legolas answered, bending down and brushing the soil lightly with his fingers. "There seems to be no sign of any scuffle here."
"Maybe they turned into snakes or worms?"
Aragorn turned sharp eyes on the Son of Gondor. "The Halflings would be very great, fat worms, if they did become any, Boromir! Is the air of Fangorn too stifling, that you think of things of no logic?"
"I know not, Ranger." Boromir shrugged and fixed a glare on Aragorn. "But it is said that sorcery fills this forest. If they did turn into worms, I would not be surprised."
"And mayhap they were turned into earthworms, and had burrowed into the ground ere we came, ready to crawl out and give us a scare," Legolas said, half-sarcastically.
All of them then became silent, shuddering a little at the thought of the Hobbits and Gaelin turned into huge earthworms with Halfling and human heads, grinning and playing pranks on them.
"Come now!" Gimli shook himself. "The air of this forest must be affecting us indeed, if we think these thoughts of changing. Let us go on!"
"You are right, Master Dwarf," Boromir said. "Though maybe they were really—"
"Say no more of that, Son of—ai! Elbereth!" Legolas cried.
"Legolas?" Aragorn asked. "What is the matter?"
"Gaelin! Merry and Pippin!"
The other three turned and gaped, for standing before them were hundreds of tree-like creatures, and their friends were sitting on the shoulders of the one that was leading.
But what astounded them was the size of their friends. The Hobbits had grown larger, but for people their age, that was quite all right. Gaelin, on the other hand…
"Hoom!" said the tree creature the Hobbits and Gaelin were sitting on. "Are these your friends?"
"Yes, yes, Treebeard!" Pippin exclaimed.
The Ent let them down, and Gaelin ran instantly to Gimli, who stared in a mixture of horror and surprise. Beside him, Legolas swallowed.
"We have lost them for less than two weeks, and they have grown?" The Elf whispered. "So quickly?" He reached out a hand to Gaelin, and the babe grabbed it and tugged. Legolas, startled, gave a cry as he almost stumbled on his feet, not expecting that assault. "'Tis a monster!"
Treebeard gave a laugh. "Nay! Ho! A monster? I only gave them my draught to drink."
Gaelin giggled, gave a "Gaga," and proceeded to chase Legolas about, who quickly searched for a tree and climbed onto it with deftness. The babe gave a sad face.
"Come down, Legolas!" Merry called.
"Nay! He had drooled on me for many days since our journey." The Elf scowled. "Now that he has grown, I may drown in his drool."
The rest laughed, until Gaelin came to Aragorn. The normally calm and dignified Ranger backed away, into Boromir, and the two backed away together, Boromir keeping his king-to-be in front of him.
"What are you doing, Boromir?" Aragorn hissed. "Should you not stand with me?"
"Give me a hundred Orcs, Aragorn, and more, and still I would stand with you," Boromir said. "But I will not have Gaelin near me. If you claim yourself to be the King of Gondor, defend your people."
There was silence for a moment ere Gaelin tottered forward. Aragorn glanced by at Treebeard. "You have gathered your people, I see. Where are you going?"
"Our merry young friends here have told me of Curúnir's betrayal." Treebeard hoomed! "He has sent those foul creatures into my forest to cut down trees, many of whom were my friends, becoming tree-ish. We go to Orthanc to make war!"
Aragorn and Boromir glanced at each other. "We go to make war on Sauron!" They turned and ran.
"Ai! And I will help!" Legolas leapt out of the tree nimbly and chased after them.
Gimli, Merry, Pippin and Treebeard stared at one another. "What might they fear?" The Ent asked.
The Dwarf chuckled. "They go to make war on Sauron."