Part 4

The four runners made their way across another grassy hill before Aragorn raised his hand in signal that they should stop. There was a sound like thunder that caused Willow to look to the skies but she didn't notice any storm clouds.

"What's that noise? Is it thunder?"

Seeing the cloud of dust Legolas answered her, "No, my lady. I suspect it is the Horsemen of Rohan."

"Rohan? Isn't that the name of the town you mentioned?" Willow had been eager to get there but that was before she had made friends with Gimli and Legolas. Now she felt like she was being ripped from everything that was familiar again.

Aragorn motioned for the three to crouch behind a rock outcropping. They watched as dozens of riders rode past, all dressed in chain mail and armed with spears.

When most had passed, Aragorn stood, with the others following him. Turning to the riders he said, "What news from the north, Riders of Rohan?"

As a unit the riders stopped and came charging back. Before anyone could move the four travelers were completely surrounded with spears aimed at them. One rider approached the group and he handed his spear to a companion before dismounting.

Must be the leader, Willow thought.

"Who are you and what brings a Dwarf, an Elf and Two humans to this land?"

Gimli bristled and said, "Give me your name horse-master and I'll give you mine and a lot more."

The leader's eyes narrowed and he approached Gimli, "I am Eomer and I would cut off your head, Dwarf if it stood a little higher off the ground."

Willow's eyes narrowed and she raised her hands, "Back!"

The leader was thrown back and Legolas raised his bow with arrow pointing to the leader's heart, "He stands not alone and you would die before your stroke fell."

The riders closed in on them as Aragorn put an arm on Willow and Legolas' shoulder. "We mean you no harm, Eomer. We are in search of friends."

"You would be wise to be less haughty, tell me your names."

"First tell us who you serve. Are you friend or foe of Sauron?"

"I serve only Theoden though he can no longer tell friend from foe."

"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, this is Gimli son of Gloin, Legolas prince of Mirkwood and Willow daughter of menel naar."

Willow stole a glance at Aragorn. Daughter of Heaven's Fire? Okay, she could live with that. She caught Gimli's eyes and he winked at her.

"We are pursuing Orcs that have taken our friends. What can you tell us?"

"The Orcs are destroyed." Eomer turns and points to a large mass where smoke is slowly rising to the sky.

"And the Hobbits, what can you tell us of the Hobbits? They would appear as children to your eyes."

"We found nothing but Orcs. I am sorry. You can look through the bodies but I fear there is no hope."

A small smile spread across Aragorn's face, "There is always hope."

Eomer smiled in response. "Is there any aid in which we can give?"

"Thank you, Lord Eomer. We have need of mounts and my lady lost her bow in our travels if you have any to spare."

Eomer nodded and then turned to motion for horses and bow to be brought forth.

A man led two riderless horses to the center of the circle. "May these horses bring you better luck than their last Orc masters."

Eomer said as he handed Willow a bow and quiver, "Be careful of Fangorn forest nearby. There are rumors of a white wizard that travels through there."

Aragorn nodded before he and Legolas leapt lightly onto the mounts. The Elf leaned down and grasped Gimli on the forearm as he quickly placed him behind him. With a smirk Legolas looked at Aragorn and waited.

Willow was rethinking her friendship with the Elf. With resignation she turned toward Aragorn and held her arm up.

Aragorn didn't know what game Legolas was playing but after Willow's defense of Gimli he had no doubt she was who she said she was. A lost traveler. With a smile he leaned down and grasped her forearm and lightly swung her behind him.

A small smile spread across Legolas' face as he saw Willow place her arms around Aragorn and cuddle closer. He knew that Aragorn loved Arwen but she had left with her people to the Undying lands. Soon both will pass out of each other's memories and Legolas thought that Willow would make a great friend to Aragorn.

~~~

At last they finally came to the pile that Eomer had showed them. The bodies of the Orcs were still smoking. The four travelers quickly dismounted and surveyed the area. They saw no signs in the smoldering pile of either Merry or Pippin except for a small sheath in which they kept their knives.

Legolas bowed his head and said a prayer of goodbye in Elvish. Aragorn knelt on the ground and bowed his head. He had failed to protect the little ones. Gimli threw back his head and gave a yell.

Willow stood off to the side not wanting to intrude on their pain and grief. She knew what it was like to lose friends. She quietly approached Aragorn who was the closest to her and softly laid a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up into glistening green eyes and offered her a small smile when she whispered, "there is always hope."

Aragorn looked to his left and saw a tiny impression. Slowly making his way to it he softly caressed the Earth. "A hobbit lay here."

He quickly followed the tracks that he found with Legolas, Gimli and Willow following him. He was mumbling, "They were tied but they were cut free." He reached down and picked up a piece of cut rope.

Moving quickly he followed their tracks. "Something or someone was chasing them  . . ." He stopped beside a tree and looked up. "Right into Fangorn."

"What could have been so bad that it drove them into Fangorn? And the White Wizard."

 

The four cautiously entered the dark wood. Legolas stopped and listened. "Listen, the trees speak. They are very ancient and full of memory."

Willow whispered to Aragorn, "He can hear the trees?"

He smiled, "Yes, Legolas is a Wood Elf."

Like that explained anything, Willow thought.

Suddenly Legolas tensed and whispered to Aragorn. "Nad na ennas" Something's out there.

"Man cenich?" What is it?

"The White Wizard."

"Get ready, strike fast and hard. Do no let him speak or put a spell on us. This is our only chance, shoot first."

Willow wasn't comfortable enough with the bow and arrow to go against the wizard. This would be a good time to find out just how powerful this Saruman was.

"Now!"

Legolas let his arrows fly, Aragorn threw his sword and Gimili swung his axe into the bright white light. They were all quickly blocked by the wizard in the light.

Willow concentrated and mumbled an incantation. The white light disappeared and Willow crumpled.

Aragorn was the first to reach Willow.

"Willow!" Gimli cried quickly reaching her side.

Before she could answer a white light began to glow behind them. Legolas armed his bow and turned.

"Well met, travelers. You come in search of your friends. Would it relieve you to know that they met up with someone unexpectedly?"

"Who are you?" Aragorn asked as he helped Willow to her feet and shielded his eyes from the glow.

The glow began to fade and the gasp of surprise from Gimli and Legolas could be heard in the silence. They both fell to their knees with their heads bowed.

"Gandalf? How can it be? We saw you fall."

"Gandalf? Yes, I was once called Gandalf, the grey." With a small half smile he continued, "I guess I am now Gandalf, the white."

Gandalf approached them, "Willow, welcome to Endor. Very nice translocation spell my dear."

Eight pairs of shocked eyes turned to Gandalf. Willow was the first to speak, "You know me?"

With a kind smile Gandalf lay a hand on Willow's shoulder. "Yes, my dear. Do you remember the words you spoke that brought you here?"

"Not really."

"Tulla yelde ned naar o manduloomi entuulda Endor ar sanganelya balnna uluk."

Both Legolas and Aragorn turned shocked eyes from Gandalf to Willow.

Finally it was Legolas that spoke. "She is the one foretold to us by Galadriel?"

"Yes. This is the daughter of fire from Hell shadows."

Willow shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Wait. Buffy is the one that the prophecies are about, not me."

"She is from a place called Sunnydale in California." Gimli spoke up for the first time. "Not hell shadows."

A sickening feeling was beginning to overcome Willow. Oh god, Hell shadows can't mean Hellmouth can it?

Gandalf watched as the realization hit Willow.