Ch. 15: A Klingon Smoking?
After a short rest, Gandalf, along
with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Worf, Théoden and a small party of
his men, set out for Isengard. Behind Gandalf, they passed through
the wood, where an arched path took them through the wood. Coming
to Isengard, they found it in shambles, water receding from a flood.
At its gates, they saw a small figure
stand and greet them. There were bottles and plates scattered around
him, and another sat nearby, fast asleep. The hobbit spoke directly to
Éomer and Théoden. "Welcome, my lords, to Isengard.
We are the door-wardens. Meridoc, son of Saradoc is my name; and
my companion, who, alas! is overcome with weariness, is Peregrin, son of
Paladin, of the house of Took." As Merry spoke, he kicked Pippin
several times to try to wake him. "The Lord Saruman is within, but
unavailable. Our orders to guard the doors come from Treebeard, who
commanded me to welcome the Lord of Rohan with fitting words. I have
done my best." ¹
Gimli burst out, "And what about us?
Your rascals! We've followed you two hundred leagues, through battle
and death, and we find you feasting and smoking! I am so torn between
rage and joy, if I don't burst, it will be a marvel!"
Legolas laughed, and said, "You speak
for me, too, but I would sooner learn how they came by the wine!" ²
While they bandied words, Worf snuck
up quietly behind Pippin, who was not asleep, but still had his eyes closed.
Seeing his plan, the others kept the conversation going until he suddenly
laid his hands heavily on the hobbit's shoulders. Pippin gave a cry
and would have jumped a foot if Worf hadn't held him down. The whole
company burst into laughter, and Pippin aimed a mock punch at Worf's midsection
before hugging him.
"It's good to see you all, though
after that start, I'm not so sure!" Pippin laughed, seeing Worf's discomfort
at the hug.
Théoden, who had never seen
a hobbit, was amazed, smiling at the antics. He and Gandalf left
to find Treebeard, while the others took their rest.
Merry and Pippin took Aragorn, Legolas,
Gimli, and Worf into the guardhouse, where they ate better than they had
in a very long time. The simple fare tasted better than many a feast.
The hobbits were in excellent health, something Legolas attributed to the
Ent's draughts they had received from Treebeard.
Before swapping stories, the hobbits
and Gimli took a moment to light pipes. Merry had several stored
away, and the hobbits had found excellent pipe-weed there in Saruman's
stronghold. Worf had never used tobacco, but when the hobbits egged
him on, he tried a pull on Pippin's pipe. He coughed a bit, but managed
to not embarrass himself completely. A couple more puffs, and he
actually began to enjoy it, laughing to himself about what Dr. Bashir
would have said about it.
The small company walked back outside,
sharing pipes and stories. The Ents had attacked and flooded Isengard,
tearing the very rock and turning aside the River Isen to do their work.
The forest that aided the battle at Helm's Deep was also their work.
Wormtongue had arrived just that morning and was in the tower with Saruman.
After a bit, they went into the courtyard,
where they joined Gandalf and Théoden. Worf went with the
rest of the party to Orthanc speak with Saruman. Wormtongue was the
first to greet them, and he fetched Saruman. The moment Saruman began
to speak, it was as if a powerful telepath was trying to control Worf's
mind. A quick glance around showed that the others felt the same
effect. It was with great effort that Théoden remembered Saruman's
treachery, and would not be convinced that the wizard meant well.
Saruman tried to convince Gandalf to come into the tower, but the other
simply laughed. Saruman had imprisoned him to turn him over to Mordor;
Gandalf would not be so easily deceived. Saruman even tried to offer
Worf a way home, and the chance to change the past and save Jadzia and
their child. Worf knew it was all a lie, but it was with great difficulty
than he resisted. It was a far more difficult battle than any he
had fought before, fought on the battlefield of his mind and emotions.
Despite the treachery, Gandalf offered
Saruman the opportunity to leave the place free, asking for the Key of
Orthanc and his staff, but now Saruman laughed in his face and turned to
leave. At that moment, Gandalf spoke, "Come back, Saruman!" with
such authority the wizard was forced to turn back, as if against his will.
"Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf
the White, who has returned from death. You have no color now, and
I cast you from the order and from the Council. Saruman, your staff
is broken."
At Gandalf's word, Saruman's staff
broke in two. At that moment, a dark sphere flew down from the tower,
apparently a parting shot from Wormtongue. Pippin picked it up to
keep it from rolling in a pool, but Gandalf quickly took it from him, saying
"I'll take that, lad. I did not ask you to handle it."
He snatched it from the hobbit and wrapped it in his cloak quickly.³
Returning to the gates, all were introduced
to the treelike Ents. They were some of the most incredible beings
any of them, even Worf, had seen. The Ents remained to guard Orthanc,
and the riders set off. After riding all day, the company stopped
to rest. Worf chose a spot not far from the hobbits, close enough
to hear Pippin's restless motion. Worf had learned to sleep almost
anywhere and with whatever noise there might be, and he drifted off to
Pippin's complaining. A little later, he woke quietly to see Pippin
leaning over the sphere, then cry out.
Worf and the guards woke the camp,
and Gandalf rushed to the unconscious hobbit. Pippin abruptly sat
up and spoke something about Saruman and sending for something at once,
before Gandalf woke him. The little hobbit had seen some sort of
vision in the ball, and Gandalf managed to get the story out of him.
He had seen the Nazgûl and someone he referred to only as him,
and was questioned by this being. It didn't taken much insight to
realize the him was the Dark Lord himself.
Gandalf comforted him, "You have taken
no harm. Things have not turned out as evilly as they might."
He left the two hobbits and returned to the others.4
Gandalf gave the globe, a palantír
of old, to Aragorn, with great ceremony. He cautioned Aragorn to
not use it, nor be hasty. Aragorn's reply was "When have I been hasty
or unwary, who have waited and prepared for so many long years?"5
Worf began, for the first time, to
see the reason the man had not yet attempted to lay claim to his ancestral
throne. He was biding his time and waiting for the best moment to
make his move, not procrastinating out of cowardice.
The discussion turned to Pippin's
use of the stone. It may have saved them from a great mistake, because,
if not, Gandalf might have used it and revealed himself to the Enemy.
Pippin had served to confuse the enemy without revealing any strength of
the defenders.
As they stood talking, a shadow suddenly
fell over them; one of the Nazgûl on a great winged steed flew overhead.
The Rider's passage set the company into motion. Gandalf took Pippin
with him on Shadowfax and rode off as quickly as the great horse could
take him.
¹ pp. 190-191, The Two Towers
² p. 191, The Two Towers
³ pp. 222-223, The Two Towers
4 p. 235, The Two Towers
5 p. 236, The Two Towers