Disclaimer: I do not own thy inventians written by thy most fabtabulaious J.R.R. Tolkin. Sad really...
I edited the entire part up to the TTT, so if anyone doesnt mine me posting it up, instead of the last chapeter before TTT starts, say so.
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The day was overcast and dreary as they started off. Fangorn grew closer, and larger, getting darker as the sun crossed the sky. According to Aragorn, there was no trail, only dead orcs pinned with arrows.
As the afternood slowly passed, they came to the edge of the forest. A huge pile of armor, bows, and other war weapons. In the middle, a goblin head stood. Shuddering, Antonia followed the other three, looking for any sign of hobbits. But night came quickly, and not one footprint, item of clothing, or mushroom (Antonia's idea) was to be found.
"We can do no more." Gimli sighed sadly. "We have been set many riddles since we came to Tol Brandir, but this is the hardest to unravel. I would guess hobbit bones burned with orcs. Frodo will find it hard news, if he lives to hear it, and hard for the old hobbit in Rivendel."
"My, arn't we feeling positive today?" Antonia glared at him.
"Elrond was against their coming." Gimli looked at her.
"But Gandalf was not."
"But Gandalf chose to come himself, and he was the first to be lost. His foresight failed him." Gimli sighed glumly again.
"The counsel of Gandalf was not founded on foreknowlede of safty for him or for others." Aragorn spoke up. "But I shall not depart yet. We must wait for morning-light."
Some way from the battle-field, they made their camp under a spreading tree. It's limbs reminded Antonia of dry hands with long sprayed fingers.
Gimli shivered.
"Let us start a fire. I care no longer for danger, let the orcs come."
"If those hobbits are in the woods, it might draw them here."
"And it might draw other things." Aragorn looked up at the tree. "It is perilous to touch the trees of that wood."
Gimli stood. "Then let us use dead wood." He walked off, and gathered wood. Soon Gimli came back, and started the fire.
Soon there was a bright fire burning, and the four sat close to it. Antonia smiled dreamly, and drifted into sleep, in Legolas's lap.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
Gimli's yell woke them all, and Antonia found herself being launched ungracefully out of Legola's lap, as he sprung up.
"Well, father, what can we do for you?" Aragorn asked, standing. "Come and be warm, if you are cold!" He took a step foward, but the old man was gone. There was no trace of him.
Legolas cried out. "The horses! The horses!"
The horses were gone.
"Great. We are leauges away from the men of Rohan. No horses." Antonia grumbled.
"Well, they are gone." Aragorn sighed. "We cannot find, or catch them, so if they don't retun of their own will, we must do without. We started on our feet, and we have those still."
"So says you." Antonia glared at him.
"Feet!" Gimli looked just as enthusatic as Antonia. "But we cannot eat them, as well as walk on them!" He threw wood at the fire, and slumped down.
"Eat?!" Antonia glared at him then.
"Only a few hours ago, you were unwilling to ride a horse." Legolas laughed at Gimli. "We'll make a rider out of you yet."
Gimli growled. "It seems unliky that I'll have the chance."
They stayed like that for a while, unill Gimli contunied.
"If you wish to know what I think, I think it was Saruman. He has gone off with our horses, or scared them away, and here we are! There is more trouble for us, mark my words."
Antonia rolled her eyes. "Of course it was Saruman. Who else would resort to something so low and stupid?"
"This old man did not have a hood. Jomer said he walked around like an old man, hooded and clocked. Still, I do not doubt that you guess right and we are in peril here, day or night. But now, all we can do is rest. I will watch now Gimli, I need to think more than sleep."
Gimli nodded off, and started snoring. Antonia came and sat next to Aragorn.
"You ok?"
"I am fine." He smiled.
Antonia hugged him, and snuggled up to Legolas.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
Antonia was woke the next moring by her three tense companions. They craweld around the battle field, searching for anything to do with hobbits. After a while, Aragorn stood and called to the others, who came running.
"Here at last we find news!" Aragorn held up a broken leaf for them to see, a large pale golden leaf, turning brown, complete with crumbs. "Here is a mallorn-leaf of Lurien and there are crumbs on it, and on the grass. And see! There are some pieces of cut cord lying nearby!"
"And here is the knife that cut them!" Gimli bent down, and pulled a hidden knife out of grass and dirt. The carved handle was hideous, a head with squinting eyes and a leering mouth. "It was an orc weapon."
Antonia took it, and pushed it into a little leather bag on her belt. "I know have their weapon. I will kill many orcs with this..."
"Well, here is the strangest riddle we have found yet!" Legolas rolled his eyes at Antonia. "A bound prisener escapes both from orcs and from horsemen. He then stops in the open, cuts the bonds with a orc-knife. But how? Why? How did he walk if his legs were tied? And if his arms were tied, how did he cut the cord? Being pleased with his skill, he sat and ate some waybread. That at least shows that he was a hobbit, without the mallon-leaf."
"There was sorcery here." Gimli nodded. "What was that old man doing? What have you to say, Aragorn, to Legolas? Can you better it?"
"Maybe I could." Aragorn smiled at Legolas. "There are other signs that were not concidered. I agree it was a hobbit, and he must have legs or hands free, before he came here. I guess it was hands, because the riddle is easer, and because he was carried to this point by a orc."
"Why?" Antonia asked.
"Blood was spilled there, a few paces away, orc-blood. There are deep prints of hoofs about this spot, and signs that a heavy thing was dragged away. The orc was slain by horsemen, and dragged away to the fire. But the hobbit was not seen, it was night and he was wearing a elven-cloak. He was hungry, and exauseted, and after cutting the bonds ate lembas, before he snuck away."
Antonia scratched her head. "Oh..."
"It is a comfort to know he had lembas still, concidering he lacked a pack or supplies. I say he, but I hope that both Merry and Pippin were here together...but there is nothing here to prove that."
"And how do you suppose that eaither of our friends came to have a hand free?"
"I do not know." Aragorn answered. "Nor do I know why a orc carried them away."
Again Antonia sat down, with a book. Damm this conversation thing, she could read it later.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
They found fresh sighs near the bank of the Entwash. At one point, fresh hobbit-prints, but too light for much to be made of them. Then more, beneath the bole of a great tree. Again, the ground was bare and dirt.
"One hobbit stood here, and looked back, at least, then turned into the forset."
"Then we must go too." Gimli gripped his axe handle. "But I do not like the look of this Fangorn. I wish the chase had led anywhere else!"
Legolas smiled. "I do not think the wood fells evil." He stepped foward. "No, it is not evil. I catch only the faintest echos of dark places where the trees hearts are black. There is no malice near us; but there is watchfulness and anger."
"Well it has no reason to be angry with me." Gimli looked into the forset. "I have done it no harm."
"That is good. But it has suffered. There is something happening inside, or is going to happen. Do you feel the tenseness? It takes my breath."
Antonia wrapped her arms around him. "It isn't the only thing that can..."
"It is musty and shabby." Gimli snorted.
"It is old, very old." Legolas sighed, smiling. "So old I almost feel young again, as I have not felt since I jorneyed with you children. It is old and full of memeory. I could have been happy here, if I had come in days of peace."
"I dare say you could. You are a wood-elf, anyway, though any elves are strange." Gimli snorted. "But you comfort me. Where you go, I will go."
With that, they started into the woods, leaving the tracking to Aragorn. There wasn't much for him to see, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Finally they came to two sets of hobbit footprints, one smaller than the other.
"This is good." Aragorn nodded. "But they are two days old. The hobbits left the waterside at this point.
"What can we do now? If we do not find them soon, we shall be no use to them, except for sitting down beside them and starving together." Gimli glumly noted.
"We will do that if we need to." Aragorn replied quickly. "Let us go."
They came to a rock-hill, with rough steps leading up. Sun gleamed down over it, making the forest seem less gray.
"Lets go up." Legolas asked. "I would like to taste freer air for a while."
They climbed up, and found more hobbit prints, with strange prints alongside.
"Look!" Legolas whispered, after a while of looking around.
"Look at what?" Gimli asked, and Antonia stepped foward.
"There in the trees." Legolas pointed.
"Where? I havnt got elf-eyes."
"Speak more sofly." Legolas hushed him. "Down in the wood, back in the way that we have just come. It is he. Cannot you see him passing from tree to tree?"
"I see!" Gimli hissed. "I warned you Aragorn! There is the old man, in dirty grey rags!"
They looked, and saw a bent figure moving towards them. It was like an old begger man, walking wearly, leaning on a rough staff. His head was bowed, and he did not look at them. Legolas took his bow, but did not put the arrow in the string.
"Why are you waiting?" Gimli hissed.
"Legolas is right." Aragorn answere quietly. "We cannot shoot an old man, who is at unawares and unchallaned. Watch and wait."
The old man quickened his pace, and came to the foot of the rock-wall. He looked up, his face shadowed. Keen eyes gleamed from inside.
"Well met indeed my friends." The old man called in a soft voice. "I wish to speak to you. Will you come down, or will I come up?" He started to climb it.
"Stop him Legolas!" Gimli hissed again.
"Did I not say that I wished to speak to you?" The old man asked. "Put down that bow, master elf!"
Legolas dropped the bow, and his arms hung loosly beside him.
"And you, master dwarf, take that hand away from the axe-half, till I am up!"
Gimli started and then stood as still as stone, staring as the old man sprang up the rough stairs like a mountian goat. He stopped at the top, and they noticed the white under the grey rags.
"Well met, I say!" He came towards them. "And what may you be doing in these parts? A Elf, A man, A woman, and a Dwarf. All in elvish fashion. No doubt there is a good tale there!"
"Might we know your name and hear what you want to say to us?" Aragorn asked. "The moring runs away, and we need to see to an errend."
"As for what I wished to say, I said it! What may you be doing, and what tale can you tell of yourselves? As for my name!" The old man laughed, sending chills through the four. "My name! Have you not guessed it? You have heard it before...and I belive the woman already knows. Yes, you have heard it before. But come now, what of your tale?"
The four companions stood quietly.
"There are some who would doubt whether your errand is fit to tell." The old man chuckled. "I know something of it. You are tracking the footsteps of two hobbits. Don't stare, as if you have never heard of a hobbit! You have, and so have I. They climbed up here a few days ago, and met someone they did not expect. And now, would you like to know where they were taken?"
He sat down, and as if broken from a spell, Aragorn drew his sword, Legolas picked up his bow, and Gimli took out his axe.
"Saruman!" Gimli cried. "Speak! Tell us where you have hidden our friends! What have you done with them? Speak!"
The old man quickly jumped to the top of a rock, towering over them. His grey rags fell of, showing white garments that shone. He lifted up his staff, and Gimli's axe fell. Aragorn's sword blazed with a sudden fire, and Legolas shot a arrow into the air, and it burst into flames.
"Mithramdir! Mithramdir!" He looked down. "Well met, I say again to you Legolas."
They stared at him. His hair was white, his eyes bright, power was in his hand.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn cried. "Beyond all hope, you return to us!"
"Yes...I was Gandalf." The old man smiled, as if recalling an old memory. "Yes, you may still call me Gandalf. Get up my good Gimli! No blame to you, and no harm could you do to me. Indeed, none of you have anything which could hurt me. Be merry! We meet again."
Gimli looked up. "But you are all in white now."
"Yes. Indeed, I am Saruman, one might almost say! But tell me of yourselves! I have passed through fire and water, since we parted. I have forgotten much, and learned much that I have forgotten."
Antonia sighed again. She hated telling stories. She leaned back, against Legola's legs, and fell asleep.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
They woke her late, and followed Gandalf down the steps, through the forest, to the banks of the Entwash. No words were spoken, until they reached the edge of the woods. Still no horses were to be seen. Gandalf let out a long whistle, and they heard a whinny from far away. Before long, there came the sound of hoofs, and soon four horses came.
"Arod, and Hasufel, and Phion! But there is another that is ahead, a very great horse. I have not seen his like before."
"Nor will you again." Gandalf nodded. "He is Shadowfax, cheif of the Mearas, lords of horses, and not even Thjoden, King of Rohan has looked on a better. He has come for me, the horse of the white rider. We are going to battle together."
Shadowfax saw Gandalf, and let out a long whinny. He came over, and nuzzled Gandalf's neck.
Gandalf carresed him. "It is a long way from Rivendel, friend. But you are wise and swift. Let us ride together!"
Soon the other horses came, and stood quietly. After quick instructions from Gandalf, Legolas mounted Arod, Aragorn mounted Hasufel, and Antonia Phion. Gandalf and Gimli shared Shadowfax, and from some words from Gandalf they set off at a good pace, following no tracks, only Shadowfax.
"He is steering a corse for the halls of Thjoden under the slopes of the white mountian." Gandalf called. "It will be quicker so."
For many hours they traveled through meads and riverlands. Often the grass was so high, it reached the knees of the riders, and their steeds seemed to be swiming in a grey-green sea. They came across many hidden pools, and treacherous bogs, but Shadowfax found the way and the other horses followed. Slowly the sun set. Looking over the plain, the riders saw the mountians grow red, and smoke rising from Isenard.
"I see a great smoke." Legolas called. "What is it?"
"Battle and War!" Gandalf called back. "Ride on!"
I edited the entire part up to the TTT, so if anyone doesnt mine me posting it up, instead of the last chapeter before TTT starts, say so.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The day was overcast and dreary as they started off. Fangorn grew closer, and larger, getting darker as the sun crossed the sky. According to Aragorn, there was no trail, only dead orcs pinned with arrows.
As the afternood slowly passed, they came to the edge of the forest. A huge pile of armor, bows, and other war weapons. In the middle, a goblin head stood. Shuddering, Antonia followed the other three, looking for any sign of hobbits. But night came quickly, and not one footprint, item of clothing, or mushroom (Antonia's idea) was to be found.
"We can do no more." Gimli sighed sadly. "We have been set many riddles since we came to Tol Brandir, but this is the hardest to unravel. I would guess hobbit bones burned with orcs. Frodo will find it hard news, if he lives to hear it, and hard for the old hobbit in Rivendel."
"My, arn't we feeling positive today?" Antonia glared at him.
"Elrond was against their coming." Gimli looked at her.
"But Gandalf was not."
"But Gandalf chose to come himself, and he was the first to be lost. His foresight failed him." Gimli sighed glumly again.
"The counsel of Gandalf was not founded on foreknowlede of safty for him or for others." Aragorn spoke up. "But I shall not depart yet. We must wait for morning-light."
Some way from the battle-field, they made their camp under a spreading tree. It's limbs reminded Antonia of dry hands with long sprayed fingers.
Gimli shivered.
"Let us start a fire. I care no longer for danger, let the orcs come."
"If those hobbits are in the woods, it might draw them here."
"And it might draw other things." Aragorn looked up at the tree. "It is perilous to touch the trees of that wood."
Gimli stood. "Then let us use dead wood." He walked off, and gathered wood. Soon Gimli came back, and started the fire.
Soon there was a bright fire burning, and the four sat close to it. Antonia smiled dreamly, and drifted into sleep, in Legolas's lap.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
Gimli's yell woke them all, and Antonia found herself being launched ungracefully out of Legola's lap, as he sprung up.
"Well, father, what can we do for you?" Aragorn asked, standing. "Come and be warm, if you are cold!" He took a step foward, but the old man was gone. There was no trace of him.
Legolas cried out. "The horses! The horses!"
The horses were gone.
"Great. We are leauges away from the men of Rohan. No horses." Antonia grumbled.
"Well, they are gone." Aragorn sighed. "We cannot find, or catch them, so if they don't retun of their own will, we must do without. We started on our feet, and we have those still."
"So says you." Antonia glared at him.
"Feet!" Gimli looked just as enthusatic as Antonia. "But we cannot eat them, as well as walk on them!" He threw wood at the fire, and slumped down.
"Eat?!" Antonia glared at him then.
"Only a few hours ago, you were unwilling to ride a horse." Legolas laughed at Gimli. "We'll make a rider out of you yet."
Gimli growled. "It seems unliky that I'll have the chance."
They stayed like that for a while, unill Gimli contunied.
"If you wish to know what I think, I think it was Saruman. He has gone off with our horses, or scared them away, and here we are! There is more trouble for us, mark my words."
Antonia rolled her eyes. "Of course it was Saruman. Who else would resort to something so low and stupid?"
"This old man did not have a hood. Jomer said he walked around like an old man, hooded and clocked. Still, I do not doubt that you guess right and we are in peril here, day or night. But now, all we can do is rest. I will watch now Gimli, I need to think more than sleep."
Gimli nodded off, and started snoring. Antonia came and sat next to Aragorn.
"You ok?"
"I am fine." He smiled.
Antonia hugged him, and snuggled up to Legolas.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
Antonia was woke the next moring by her three tense companions. They craweld around the battle field, searching for anything to do with hobbits. After a while, Aragorn stood and called to the others, who came running.
"Here at last we find news!" Aragorn held up a broken leaf for them to see, a large pale golden leaf, turning brown, complete with crumbs. "Here is a mallorn-leaf of Lurien and there are crumbs on it, and on the grass. And see! There are some pieces of cut cord lying nearby!"
"And here is the knife that cut them!" Gimli bent down, and pulled a hidden knife out of grass and dirt. The carved handle was hideous, a head with squinting eyes and a leering mouth. "It was an orc weapon."
Antonia took it, and pushed it into a little leather bag on her belt. "I know have their weapon. I will kill many orcs with this..."
"Well, here is the strangest riddle we have found yet!" Legolas rolled his eyes at Antonia. "A bound prisener escapes both from orcs and from horsemen. He then stops in the open, cuts the bonds with a orc-knife. But how? Why? How did he walk if his legs were tied? And if his arms were tied, how did he cut the cord? Being pleased with his skill, he sat and ate some waybread. That at least shows that he was a hobbit, without the mallon-leaf."
"There was sorcery here." Gimli nodded. "What was that old man doing? What have you to say, Aragorn, to Legolas? Can you better it?"
"Maybe I could." Aragorn smiled at Legolas. "There are other signs that were not concidered. I agree it was a hobbit, and he must have legs or hands free, before he came here. I guess it was hands, because the riddle is easer, and because he was carried to this point by a orc."
"Why?" Antonia asked.
"Blood was spilled there, a few paces away, orc-blood. There are deep prints of hoofs about this spot, and signs that a heavy thing was dragged away. The orc was slain by horsemen, and dragged away to the fire. But the hobbit was not seen, it was night and he was wearing a elven-cloak. He was hungry, and exauseted, and after cutting the bonds ate lembas, before he snuck away."
Antonia scratched her head. "Oh..."
"It is a comfort to know he had lembas still, concidering he lacked a pack or supplies. I say he, but I hope that both Merry and Pippin were here together...but there is nothing here to prove that."
"And how do you suppose that eaither of our friends came to have a hand free?"
"I do not know." Aragorn answered. "Nor do I know why a orc carried them away."
Again Antonia sat down, with a book. Damm this conversation thing, she could read it later.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
They found fresh sighs near the bank of the Entwash. At one point, fresh hobbit-prints, but too light for much to be made of them. Then more, beneath the bole of a great tree. Again, the ground was bare and dirt.
"One hobbit stood here, and looked back, at least, then turned into the forset."
"Then we must go too." Gimli gripped his axe handle. "But I do not like the look of this Fangorn. I wish the chase had led anywhere else!"
Legolas smiled. "I do not think the wood fells evil." He stepped foward. "No, it is not evil. I catch only the faintest echos of dark places where the trees hearts are black. There is no malice near us; but there is watchfulness and anger."
"Well it has no reason to be angry with me." Gimli looked into the forset. "I have done it no harm."
"That is good. But it has suffered. There is something happening inside, or is going to happen. Do you feel the tenseness? It takes my breath."
Antonia wrapped her arms around him. "It isn't the only thing that can..."
"It is musty and shabby." Gimli snorted.
"It is old, very old." Legolas sighed, smiling. "So old I almost feel young again, as I have not felt since I jorneyed with you children. It is old and full of memeory. I could have been happy here, if I had come in days of peace."
"I dare say you could. You are a wood-elf, anyway, though any elves are strange." Gimli snorted. "But you comfort me. Where you go, I will go."
With that, they started into the woods, leaving the tracking to Aragorn. There wasn't much for him to see, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Finally they came to two sets of hobbit footprints, one smaller than the other.
"This is good." Aragorn nodded. "But they are two days old. The hobbits left the waterside at this point.
"What can we do now? If we do not find them soon, we shall be no use to them, except for sitting down beside them and starving together." Gimli glumly noted.
"We will do that if we need to." Aragorn replied quickly. "Let us go."
They came to a rock-hill, with rough steps leading up. Sun gleamed down over it, making the forest seem less gray.
"Lets go up." Legolas asked. "I would like to taste freer air for a while."
They climbed up, and found more hobbit prints, with strange prints alongside.
"Look!" Legolas whispered, after a while of looking around.
"Look at what?" Gimli asked, and Antonia stepped foward.
"There in the trees." Legolas pointed.
"Where? I havnt got elf-eyes."
"Speak more sofly." Legolas hushed him. "Down in the wood, back in the way that we have just come. It is he. Cannot you see him passing from tree to tree?"
"I see!" Gimli hissed. "I warned you Aragorn! There is the old man, in dirty grey rags!"
They looked, and saw a bent figure moving towards them. It was like an old begger man, walking wearly, leaning on a rough staff. His head was bowed, and he did not look at them. Legolas took his bow, but did not put the arrow in the string.
"Why are you waiting?" Gimli hissed.
"Legolas is right." Aragorn answere quietly. "We cannot shoot an old man, who is at unawares and unchallaned. Watch and wait."
The old man quickened his pace, and came to the foot of the rock-wall. He looked up, his face shadowed. Keen eyes gleamed from inside.
"Well met indeed my friends." The old man called in a soft voice. "I wish to speak to you. Will you come down, or will I come up?" He started to climb it.
"Stop him Legolas!" Gimli hissed again.
"Did I not say that I wished to speak to you?" The old man asked. "Put down that bow, master elf!"
Legolas dropped the bow, and his arms hung loosly beside him.
"And you, master dwarf, take that hand away from the axe-half, till I am up!"
Gimli started and then stood as still as stone, staring as the old man sprang up the rough stairs like a mountian goat. He stopped at the top, and they noticed the white under the grey rags.
"Well met, I say!" He came towards them. "And what may you be doing in these parts? A Elf, A man, A woman, and a Dwarf. All in elvish fashion. No doubt there is a good tale there!"
"Might we know your name and hear what you want to say to us?" Aragorn asked. "The moring runs away, and we need to see to an errend."
"As for what I wished to say, I said it! What may you be doing, and what tale can you tell of yourselves? As for my name!" The old man laughed, sending chills through the four. "My name! Have you not guessed it? You have heard it before...and I belive the woman already knows. Yes, you have heard it before. But come now, what of your tale?"
The four companions stood quietly.
"There are some who would doubt whether your errand is fit to tell." The old man chuckled. "I know something of it. You are tracking the footsteps of two hobbits. Don't stare, as if you have never heard of a hobbit! You have, and so have I. They climbed up here a few days ago, and met someone they did not expect. And now, would you like to know where they were taken?"
He sat down, and as if broken from a spell, Aragorn drew his sword, Legolas picked up his bow, and Gimli took out his axe.
"Saruman!" Gimli cried. "Speak! Tell us where you have hidden our friends! What have you done with them? Speak!"
The old man quickly jumped to the top of a rock, towering over them. His grey rags fell of, showing white garments that shone. He lifted up his staff, and Gimli's axe fell. Aragorn's sword blazed with a sudden fire, and Legolas shot a arrow into the air, and it burst into flames.
"Mithramdir! Mithramdir!" He looked down. "Well met, I say again to you Legolas."
They stared at him. His hair was white, his eyes bright, power was in his hand.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn cried. "Beyond all hope, you return to us!"
"Yes...I was Gandalf." The old man smiled, as if recalling an old memory. "Yes, you may still call me Gandalf. Get up my good Gimli! No blame to you, and no harm could you do to me. Indeed, none of you have anything which could hurt me. Be merry! We meet again."
Gimli looked up. "But you are all in white now."
"Yes. Indeed, I am Saruman, one might almost say! But tell me of yourselves! I have passed through fire and water, since we parted. I have forgotten much, and learned much that I have forgotten."
Antonia sighed again. She hated telling stories. She leaned back, against Legola's legs, and fell asleep.
~~~~*~~~*~~~~
They woke her late, and followed Gandalf down the steps, through the forest, to the banks of the Entwash. No words were spoken, until they reached the edge of the woods. Still no horses were to be seen. Gandalf let out a long whistle, and they heard a whinny from far away. Before long, there came the sound of hoofs, and soon four horses came.
"Arod, and Hasufel, and Phion! But there is another that is ahead, a very great horse. I have not seen his like before."
"Nor will you again." Gandalf nodded. "He is Shadowfax, cheif of the Mearas, lords of horses, and not even Thjoden, King of Rohan has looked on a better. He has come for me, the horse of the white rider. We are going to battle together."
Shadowfax saw Gandalf, and let out a long whinny. He came over, and nuzzled Gandalf's neck.
Gandalf carresed him. "It is a long way from Rivendel, friend. But you are wise and swift. Let us ride together!"
Soon the other horses came, and stood quietly. After quick instructions from Gandalf, Legolas mounted Arod, Aragorn mounted Hasufel, and Antonia Phion. Gandalf and Gimli shared Shadowfax, and from some words from Gandalf they set off at a good pace, following no tracks, only Shadowfax.
"He is steering a corse for the halls of Thjoden under the slopes of the white mountian." Gandalf called. "It will be quicker so."
For many hours they traveled through meads and riverlands. Often the grass was so high, it reached the knees of the riders, and their steeds seemed to be swiming in a grey-green sea. They came across many hidden pools, and treacherous bogs, but Shadowfax found the way and the other horses followed. Slowly the sun set. Looking over the plain, the riders saw the mountians grow red, and smoke rising from Isenard.
"I see a great smoke." Legolas called. "What is it?"
"Battle and War!" Gandalf called back. "Ride on!"