A/N: This chapter gave me so much trouble!! Hope you like it, please
review! Thank you so much for reviewing so far. especially Bina.
Ella's journey to the library for the second time was at a more sedate pace. She reached it within two days. She was given clean clothes and regular meals that she ate in the library. She hardly stirred from her studies. As instructed by Gandalf, she read many books of magic. She learned of the history of magic and of its first users, the elves. She learned spells for healing, invisibility, and strength among other things. Most importantly, she realized that magic has no limitations, besides that of the imagination. If you could dream it up, you could probably find a way to do it. She also learned of the greed and deceit of wizards of the past and of their downfalls.
She stayed there for almost a week, studying during the day and into most of the night. On the fifth evening, Ella was curled up in an oversize chair, wrapped in a blanket and staring into the fire, watching the smoke dance up the chimney with a mug of tea in hand. She had worried about Gandalf for the past several days. He should have been here by now, she thought apprehensively. Gradually, as she watched the flames bob up and down beside the blackened wood, her worry turned into alarm, and she decided that she must take action. What to do, however, she had no idea.
After hours of planning and scheming, she decided to make the journey to Isengard by shapeshifting. She would transform into a falcon, and ride the winds, expending minimal effort, but making much better time then she ever could on foot. Depending upon what she found at Isengard, she could either track Gandalf if he had left for Bree already, or she could join both Gandalf and Saruman at Isengard. Food and water was another problem. Ella was hoping she could cover the ground by air in one day, but if not, she could always use magic to revive herself. She resolved to leave the next morning at dawn, and soon after fell asleep in her snug armchair.
Ella awoke the next morning, changed into her traveling clothes and strapped her sword and scabbard around her waist. She took no provisions. She stepped outside the heavy wooden library doors and transformed into a falcon with warm brown feathers, the color of her hair. Her cat-like yellow eyes could now see even the smallest of movements from an incredible distance. The wind ruffled her feathers as she propelled herself into the air and flew for the first time.
She quickly mastered riding the winds, and flapping her wings just enough to stay aloft. The feeling was exhilarating, and she never wanted to walk anywhere again. She flew all morning, and spotted a small stream cutting through the green of the forest and glided down for a drink. She perched in a tree and transformed into her normal self. She hopped down from the tree, and cupped some of the water in her hands to drink. As she was sipping the water, a group of three orcs emerged from the trees on the other side of the forest. They spotted her before she was aware of them, and attacked as a group. Ella quickly drew her sword and parried the first blow. Fencing was much different from an actual fight, and Ella was out of practice and outnumbered. She just blocked their swings while she frantically thought of something she could do. Magic was out of the question because anyone with magic in the vicinity would detect her, and something told Ella that she shouldn't give away her presence just yet.
Well, there's a time to fight, and a time to run! She thought as she raced away from the stream. The orcs pursued her, and she transformed into a falcon while she ran, and flew away to safety. What orcs were doing so far away from Mordor puzzled her. There was no reason for them to be this far east. This worried Ella further, and she flew faster. She ate up ground, and perched in a tree just outside of Isengard. Gazing around, she was astonished to find there weren't many left. They had been hacked down, some pulled out by their roots. There were clouds of smoke emanating from deep holes jutting into the ground. Something was wrong. There was no way that a good wizard like Saruman would get rid of trees, and convert the ground around his tower into a mine. Ella didn't know how she was going to reach the tower unspotted, or even if she wanted to try. She looked around more, and her keen eyes eventually caught sight of a grey figure atop the tower-Gandalf! Realizing she couldn't possibly rescue Gandalf in her present form, she tried to think of another form, one that was inconspicuous and low profile. A moth! She thought, Perfect! Nobody will look twice, especially orcs. In her few encounters with them, she didn't hold a high opinion of their intelligence.
She quickly transformed and taking it as slow as she could. She had read about wizards who had the ability to sense magic use. Once she had transformed into a grey moth, she took off. Fluttering around, she tried to figure out what was going on. The trees supplied fires where orcs were creating enough armor to clothe an army of immense proportions. She was almost attacked by black birds circling around in one of the underground caverns, and she saw the pits of muck where orcs by the hundreds were being created. She eventually made her way up to Gandalf. He caught her, and caged her in his hands, and spoke to her in the moth language of whispers.
"I ask a favor of you, little one," he said.
"I'm here. it's Ella," she said.
"Good. Go find my friend, Gwaihir the Windlord, in his nest near the Lonely Mountain," he said, "Go!"
Ella fluttered down from the tower and made her way back to the forest. There, she transformed into her falcon shape and flew as fast as she could towards Mirkwood. She was never going to make it in a day, and she needed to rescue Gandalf from the clutches of Saruman as swiftly as possible. She flew down to an open field, and chanted,
Make me faster than the most fleet Take me to Mirkwood in a heartbeat.
She was in Mirkwood in an instant. She transformed into her falcon once more, and set out to find Gwaihir. She circled around until she found the nest of eagles. She flew down to the ground, and transformed into her human shape. Eagles descended upon her, but she froze them in midair.
"I am here to speak to Gwaihir," she loudly declared.
"I am he," a golden brown eagle replied, high up in his tree. Ella pleaded with him to rescue Gandalf, and she explained of Saruman's betrayal. He finally consented, and allowed her to ride on his back to Isengard. Gwaihir flew down to a tree in the forest outside of Isengard. They decided that Ella as moth would go and tell Gandalf of the plan she and the eagle had devised. As she made her way to the pinnacle of the tower on her fragile wings, she saw Saruman at the top. About to turn around, Ella decided that the plan could still work, and fluttered over to Gandalf and whispered, "Jump off the north side in a moment," and flew back to the forest, where the eagle would take Gandalf after the rescue. She transformed into her human form and awaited their return, exhaustedly leaning against a tree.
Soon, Gandalf and the eagle flew over the trees, and Gandalf jumped down from the eagle's back and landed next to Ella.
"I was correct about you learning quickly. Thank you, Ella. You are truly turning into a formidable witch." Gandalf said.
"Stop the flattery," Ella exclaimed, "Are you okay? Where are we off to now?" she asked, still leaning heavily upon the tree.
"Yes to the first question, and for the second, we must go to Rivendell. Hopefully the hobbits were able to find their way to the elvish city."
Gandalf changed into an eagle and winged off into the sky. Ella followed suit. They flew for the remainder of the day and most of the night. They arrived at Rivendell late that night. The intricate architecture amazed Ella. Columns and turrets alike were carved with delicate characters, and the buildings were in harmony with the forest around it, lending the city an untamed yet delicate cast. Silent elves met Gandalf and Ella at the entrance to the aesthetic city.
"Ella, you have pushed your magical limits again. Get food first. I must see Lord Elrond, and find out if Frodo has made his way here. I will see you tomorrow," Gandalf told Ella.
Ella was taken to an airy room draped with cool colored silks and veils. Luminescent lamps in the walls lit the room giving it an eerie look at this hour. Ella didn't even stop to change or bathe. She found the kitchens by following her nose, and begged one of the helpers to give her some food. Her face looked ashen and stretched, so they piled Ella with mounds of food. Full and wearied, she found her way back to her rooms and collapsed upon her bed, her eyes closing before she hit the bed.
Ella's journey to the library for the second time was at a more sedate pace. She reached it within two days. She was given clean clothes and regular meals that she ate in the library. She hardly stirred from her studies. As instructed by Gandalf, she read many books of magic. She learned of the history of magic and of its first users, the elves. She learned spells for healing, invisibility, and strength among other things. Most importantly, she realized that magic has no limitations, besides that of the imagination. If you could dream it up, you could probably find a way to do it. She also learned of the greed and deceit of wizards of the past and of their downfalls.
She stayed there for almost a week, studying during the day and into most of the night. On the fifth evening, Ella was curled up in an oversize chair, wrapped in a blanket and staring into the fire, watching the smoke dance up the chimney with a mug of tea in hand. She had worried about Gandalf for the past several days. He should have been here by now, she thought apprehensively. Gradually, as she watched the flames bob up and down beside the blackened wood, her worry turned into alarm, and she decided that she must take action. What to do, however, she had no idea.
After hours of planning and scheming, she decided to make the journey to Isengard by shapeshifting. She would transform into a falcon, and ride the winds, expending minimal effort, but making much better time then she ever could on foot. Depending upon what she found at Isengard, she could either track Gandalf if he had left for Bree already, or she could join both Gandalf and Saruman at Isengard. Food and water was another problem. Ella was hoping she could cover the ground by air in one day, but if not, she could always use magic to revive herself. She resolved to leave the next morning at dawn, and soon after fell asleep in her snug armchair.
Ella awoke the next morning, changed into her traveling clothes and strapped her sword and scabbard around her waist. She took no provisions. She stepped outside the heavy wooden library doors and transformed into a falcon with warm brown feathers, the color of her hair. Her cat-like yellow eyes could now see even the smallest of movements from an incredible distance. The wind ruffled her feathers as she propelled herself into the air and flew for the first time.
She quickly mastered riding the winds, and flapping her wings just enough to stay aloft. The feeling was exhilarating, and she never wanted to walk anywhere again. She flew all morning, and spotted a small stream cutting through the green of the forest and glided down for a drink. She perched in a tree and transformed into her normal self. She hopped down from the tree, and cupped some of the water in her hands to drink. As she was sipping the water, a group of three orcs emerged from the trees on the other side of the forest. They spotted her before she was aware of them, and attacked as a group. Ella quickly drew her sword and parried the first blow. Fencing was much different from an actual fight, and Ella was out of practice and outnumbered. She just blocked their swings while she frantically thought of something she could do. Magic was out of the question because anyone with magic in the vicinity would detect her, and something told Ella that she shouldn't give away her presence just yet.
Well, there's a time to fight, and a time to run! She thought as she raced away from the stream. The orcs pursued her, and she transformed into a falcon while she ran, and flew away to safety. What orcs were doing so far away from Mordor puzzled her. There was no reason for them to be this far east. This worried Ella further, and she flew faster. She ate up ground, and perched in a tree just outside of Isengard. Gazing around, she was astonished to find there weren't many left. They had been hacked down, some pulled out by their roots. There were clouds of smoke emanating from deep holes jutting into the ground. Something was wrong. There was no way that a good wizard like Saruman would get rid of trees, and convert the ground around his tower into a mine. Ella didn't know how she was going to reach the tower unspotted, or even if she wanted to try. She looked around more, and her keen eyes eventually caught sight of a grey figure atop the tower-Gandalf! Realizing she couldn't possibly rescue Gandalf in her present form, she tried to think of another form, one that was inconspicuous and low profile. A moth! She thought, Perfect! Nobody will look twice, especially orcs. In her few encounters with them, she didn't hold a high opinion of their intelligence.
She quickly transformed and taking it as slow as she could. She had read about wizards who had the ability to sense magic use. Once she had transformed into a grey moth, she took off. Fluttering around, she tried to figure out what was going on. The trees supplied fires where orcs were creating enough armor to clothe an army of immense proportions. She was almost attacked by black birds circling around in one of the underground caverns, and she saw the pits of muck where orcs by the hundreds were being created. She eventually made her way up to Gandalf. He caught her, and caged her in his hands, and spoke to her in the moth language of whispers.
"I ask a favor of you, little one," he said.
"I'm here. it's Ella," she said.
"Good. Go find my friend, Gwaihir the Windlord, in his nest near the Lonely Mountain," he said, "Go!"
Ella fluttered down from the tower and made her way back to the forest. There, she transformed into her falcon shape and flew as fast as she could towards Mirkwood. She was never going to make it in a day, and she needed to rescue Gandalf from the clutches of Saruman as swiftly as possible. She flew down to an open field, and chanted,
Make me faster than the most fleet Take me to Mirkwood in a heartbeat.
She was in Mirkwood in an instant. She transformed into her falcon once more, and set out to find Gwaihir. She circled around until she found the nest of eagles. She flew down to the ground, and transformed into her human shape. Eagles descended upon her, but she froze them in midair.
"I am here to speak to Gwaihir," she loudly declared.
"I am he," a golden brown eagle replied, high up in his tree. Ella pleaded with him to rescue Gandalf, and she explained of Saruman's betrayal. He finally consented, and allowed her to ride on his back to Isengard. Gwaihir flew down to a tree in the forest outside of Isengard. They decided that Ella as moth would go and tell Gandalf of the plan she and the eagle had devised. As she made her way to the pinnacle of the tower on her fragile wings, she saw Saruman at the top. About to turn around, Ella decided that the plan could still work, and fluttered over to Gandalf and whispered, "Jump off the north side in a moment," and flew back to the forest, where the eagle would take Gandalf after the rescue. She transformed into her human form and awaited their return, exhaustedly leaning against a tree.
Soon, Gandalf and the eagle flew over the trees, and Gandalf jumped down from the eagle's back and landed next to Ella.
"I was correct about you learning quickly. Thank you, Ella. You are truly turning into a formidable witch." Gandalf said.
"Stop the flattery," Ella exclaimed, "Are you okay? Where are we off to now?" she asked, still leaning heavily upon the tree.
"Yes to the first question, and for the second, we must go to Rivendell. Hopefully the hobbits were able to find their way to the elvish city."
Gandalf changed into an eagle and winged off into the sky. Ella followed suit. They flew for the remainder of the day and most of the night. They arrived at Rivendell late that night. The intricate architecture amazed Ella. Columns and turrets alike were carved with delicate characters, and the buildings were in harmony with the forest around it, lending the city an untamed yet delicate cast. Silent elves met Gandalf and Ella at the entrance to the aesthetic city.
"Ella, you have pushed your magical limits again. Get food first. I must see Lord Elrond, and find out if Frodo has made his way here. I will see you tomorrow," Gandalf told Ella.
Ella was taken to an airy room draped with cool colored silks and veils. Luminescent lamps in the walls lit the room giving it an eerie look at this hour. Ella didn't even stop to change or bathe. She found the kitchens by following her nose, and begged one of the helpers to give her some food. Her face looked ashen and stretched, so they piled Ella with mounds of food. Full and wearied, she found her way back to her rooms and collapsed upon her bed, her eyes closing before she hit the bed.