Part Three: The white wizard & The Ent
Date: 7/17/03 3:58:33 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Edited: 12/30/06 1:57AM (Estern Daylight Time)
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Lyrics from the Two Towers are property of its respective owners. All rights reserved.
Earth shakes,
Stone breaks
The forest is at your door
The dark sleep is broken
The woods have awoken
The trees have gone to war
Roots rend, wood bends
The Ents have answered the call
Through branches now the wind sings
Feel the power of living things
The trees have gone to war
A shiver went up Merry's spine as he stood alongside Samwise Gamgee. Their eyes currently fixated on the pile of burning corpses, smoke rising from their charcoal bones and ashes. It had been several long days and they had yet to catch up with the band of Uruk Hai who had captured Peregrin and Frodo. With the aid of horsemen -- the exiled Riders of Rohan -- the remainder of the fellowship set out to where the Rider made their attack on the Uruk Hai party not too long ago. It all seemed so surreal now that they reached their destination. The sheer thought of the Halflings among the dead was enough to rob Aragorn of every ounce of his strength.
The Hobbits watched as the tiro of warriors shoveled through the bodies with their weapons, searching for any sign Frodo and Pippin might've been killed in the raid. Merry certainly hoped they would no trace of his cousins' remains in the horrid back of corpses. They aren't dead, I know they aren't, the Brandybuck thought with wavering determination. His looping string of thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt by a gasp from Gimli. His head snapped up in a rather frantic manner, he made his closer to the Dwarf, Samwise close behind him. "What, what is it? What've you found!" He proclaimed, nervously.
It took the Dwarf a moment to recompose himself before handing Merry a burnt piece of Pippin's belt. Sam locked gazes with very pale Merry who was stared blankly at the piece of belt, as if he did not recognize it for what it was. Tears streamed down Merry's face unheeded, he tossed the ruined belt buckle aside in a fit of fleeting rage which overcame him. "It can't be! They can't be dead," The gardener cried in anguish. Merry used the back of his grimmy hand to whipe the tears from his face. "It's alright Sam," He replied, barely above the howl of the wind. "Their alive. They have to be." The tone in Merry's voice left no room for argument, Sam blinked against his tears in an futile attempt to clear his vision. "If you say so," Sam answered lamely, whiping his face.
Aragorn sank to his knees overcome with grief. So many of his comrades had fallen at the hand of allies and enemy alike. It was almost too much! He had failed Gandalf; The Ringbearer had been taken, and the ring was most likely on the way to the enemy if it hadn't already found its way in the hands of its master. He couldn't even protect the foolish, Peregrin Took. He ran his hands through his filthy hair, barely listening to the prayer being uttered from Legolas' mouth. He regarded his area with squinted eyes before surveying the ground beneath him. The pale and wilted grass had been matted down, almost as if someone had laid here, and there were footprints present as well. Aragorn's breath became hitched in his throat as he recongized the owners of the foot prints. Regaining his posture, his watched his fingers trail the spot where a Hobbit once laid.
"What is it, Aragorn?" Legolas inquired, finally taking notice of his comrade's slow and sure movement. "A Hobbit lay here," Was the quiet reply. Legolas' blue eyes shifted toward Gimli, who too wore the faint traces of hope upon his face. The Mirkwood prince watched the Ranger crawl across the ground, mindful of the markings he tracked. Sam and Merry took notice of their friends moving away from the burning pile of corpses and followed suit, keeping their distance. Merry listened to the near inaduiable murmurs that escaped Aragorn's lips as he regarded the ground beneath him in a frantic manner. ". . . The tracks lead away from the battle!" Aragorn's voice rose, shaky with disbelief as he climbed to his feet. They followed the ranger a short distance from the the bodies, Legolas and Gimli came to an abrupt halt when their comrade stopped at the very entrance of a haggard looking forest. " . . . They stop here." Aragorn spoke breathlessly.
"Fangorn Forest. What evil would lead them there?" Gimli hissed, gripping the handle of his axe tighter. An uncomfortable silnce befell the warriors. Fangorn forest was no stranger to Merry or Sam; Horrible tales of evil that lurked in the forest, resonated all through the Shire. It was an excellent way of scaring most adventurous younglings away from such places, but they could only venture there in their minds. Merry and Sam stood before the supposedly horrid forest for real and prayed it was not as bad as they had heard. The five sprinted into the forest, with Aragorn and Legolas at the head, Gimli in the rear.
Frodo and Pippin rushed through the forest, with a relentless Uglli hot on their trail. Making their way across uneven ground, Frodo and Pippin ducked behind the tree nearest to them in order to catch their breath. His chest still heaving, Frodo peered around the tree to see if the Orc was still on their trail. The bushes rustled violently and Uglli emerged from the foilage, his haggard face contorted with rage, Frodo ducked back quickly as the Orc's gaze neared their location. Pippin tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Did we loose him?" Peregrin inquired. The elder cousin shook his head and without hesitation they took flight across the forest once more.
Uglli stumbled along the path he suspected the Halflings to have taken, envisioning their deaths at his hands when he got them around their necks.
Frodo leapt over a tree stump, hurrying to catch up with nimble his cousin. Their eyes searched frantically for a place to stop and hide until Uglli lost their tracks. Pippin skidded to a halt in front of huge but climbable tree. Frodo joined him at his side without a second to loose. "Up the tree, quickly," Frodo hissed. Pippin gave a short nod, and minor assistance from his cousin, he began to scale the tree. Frodo followed suit once Pippin on a high enough perch. Faintly, memories of his time in Hobbiton floated aimlessly through his mind. Batting them away, he scurried up the tree halfway, proceeding to search for Uglli. After a moment he sighed; There was no sign of him anywhere.
Frodo allowed himself to relax, his grip on the tree branch laxing a bit. "He's gone," Frodo mumbled. Pippin glanced down at Frodo in question --- he had not completely heard what Frodo had said --- when Frodo was grabbed the ankle and yanked at. Frodo's gaze was downcast, to his dismay Uglli was below him and looking none too happy. His hand searched frantically for something to grab hold of. Uglli pulled Frodo down from the tree before Pippin had any real chance to climb back down to assist his cousin.
Uglli watched with pleasure as the curly haired vermin scramble across the ground, trying to escape. Without resistance he pulled Frodo back in his original place. Frodo twisted around onto his back and sent a foot into Uglli's face. The Orc reeled back in half-surprise, his anger gripped the rest of his composure as he righted himself. He glowered at the Hobbit. "You little maggot, I'm gonna enjoy killing you!" He hissed, clamping his hands around Frodo's neck. Frodo's hands pawed at his attacker's, trying in vain to pry them from around his neck. His air supply was running out.
Pippin cried out for his cousin, struggling to climb back down the tree. Grabbing hold of apart of the tree, Pippin sough to lower himself down to the branch closest to the ground when it a low and gutteral sound emitted from the very tree itself.
"Hooramumm. . . ."
Pippin looked back at the tree finding nothing out of the unsual, that is until, a pair of large golden eyes appeared before him. His heart thudded wildly in his chest; Giving the face of the tree another once-over, he also discovered his hand was clutching onto a nose. His heart felt like it wanted to break free of his chest. The eyes shifted toward him, watching him a certain bleariness found in a waking person's gaze. Pippin could not hold back a shout of surprise. His fingers fell away from the tree's 'nose' and as he fell, possibly to his death, he found himself reaching out for something to grab onto again. The tree raised his hand and caught Pippin in its large palm, wrapping its gangly fingers around him. Pippin was too afraid to even struggle as it pulled its roots (later to be recognized for legs) from the ground.
Frodo's struggles against the Orc ceased as his blue eyes fell upon the tree which was growing rapidly from its original height. The three Pippin was still hiding in! What in the name of the shire! He though frantically. Upon noticing the Halfling's gaze was not on him, Uglli found himself turning around to see what was so facisinating. Frodo scrambled out from under him and began to move as far away as he could. The last thing the Uglli saw was the huge tree stump coming down on him.
Frodo was struck into a state of awe and fear. His gaze fell on right arm of the supernatural tree, Pippin twisted in the tree's grasp. "Frodo, run!" Pippin cried. Frodo's legs acted on automatic pilot; He soon found himself spirnting across the grounds as fast he could, however, in vain. Before he knew what was happening he too, was captured in the grasp of the large tree's hand.
"Hooramumm. . . . small Orcs. What are ye' doing in the forest?" The tree boomed. He thundered across the ground, the very foundation of the fangorn forest shuddered in his wake. The tree's youngest captive blanched; There was a voice coming from the tree! "Frodo, the tree is Talking!" Pippin whispered. "Tree?! I am no tree! I am a Ent!" The tree corrected Pippin. In spite of himself, the young Hobbit shrugged helplessly. How was he to know? "Tree-herder," Frodo's voice commanded that the Ent listen to him. "We meant you no harm. We not enemies, but Hobbits! Shire folk! Alies to your kind." Pippin saw Frodo's talking to the tree as bad idea. "Don't talk to the tree Frodo, don't encourage it!" He hissed. The Ent sqeezed tightened his grip on Pippin considerably, the Halfling winced in momentary pain which splinted through his entire body like knives.
The Ent's tone was one of disbelief. "Hobbits? Ive never heard of your kind. Sounds like Orc's mischief to me!" He paused, staring at the two small creatures before him. "Orc's come to our forest chopping and burning down our homes. We do not like your kind!" He squeeze his captives to empathize on his meaning, causing them to whimper in pain. Frodo's hand searched the Ent's barky hands for a way he could pry open the beast's death grip, but found none.
"Must I repeat myself? We're Hobbits; There is no relation to us or Orcs! We do wish to harm anyone!" Frodo cried, hoping it was not all in vain.
"Frodo---!" Pippin whimpered, when the Ent squeezed him, silencing him a second time. "Who side are you on, anyay?" Pippin grunted, mildly irritated. The Ent glowered at the Halfling, did this creature mean to mock him? "Side? I am on noboby's side, because nobody is on my side little Orc," The Ent answered crossly. Pippin doubled over in pain as the Ent squeezed him once more. Pippin did and said nothing afterward, wanting no more of the creature's torture. "Please! You must believe me when I say that we are not Orcs," Frodo's voice borderlined on pleading. "Maybe your Orc's and maybe your not," The Ent growled. "That is for White Wizard to decide."
"The white wizard?" Frodo asked, truly perplexed. Then it dawned on him.
"Saruman!" Pippin whispered, pushing against The Ent's huge hands. Without warnning, they were suddenly released and fell to the ground. Frodo barely had time to collect his thoughts when his cousin's frantic cry alerted to him to someone else's presence. "Frodo!" Pippin gasped as he looked up at the looming figure before them. Frodo was in complete awe.
Sam, Merry, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli trudged through the Fangorn forest, searching still for their missig comrades. Aragorn kept a close eye on the two Hobbit's before him as the dreary forest area began to groan with whispers and mournful cries. Legolas halted in his tracks atop of a boulder, his piercing gaze scanning the forest environment. Aragorn trudged up the small slope to join his friend, he turned briefly toward Gimli, gesturing towards Merry and Sam. Gimli gave a silent nod before making his way over to the conversating companions. Focusing his attention back on Legolas, he inquired, "What is it, Legolas?" But the Elf did not answer. The ranger guestured toward to the others to join him and they came jogging up the slope.
Merry watched the two warriors, with knitted eyebrows. "What is it, Aragorn?" He whispered, leaning toward the man. Aragorn looked down at the blond halfling with pursed lips. "I do not know," He answered returning his attention to Legolas. "The trees are speaking," Legolas whispered finally, turning to his smallest companions. A grim smile graced his thin lips. "The White Wizard approaches, they say."
Gimli gripped his double bladed axe in antcipation. ears. "I should hope you are not hearing things, Master Elf!" The Dwarf said curtly. "My axe aches for combat!" Aragorn was not so pleased at his friend's solution to the approaching problem. "Nay, Gimli. We do not attack an old man unaware of challeng---." Aragorn's words died on his tongue when a bright light blinded them all. Sam's eyes stung immediately, whilst protecting them from further exposure, he rubbed at them in an attempt to stop the stinging. "Hoy!" He cried aloud.
The light began to die out gradually, thus becoming easier to bare. Aragorn lowered his arm away from his eyes to gaze up at the figure enshrouded in light. Acting out on impluse, he drew his sword from his scabbard aiming it in man's direction. "Who are you!? Show yourself!" He demanded. Legolas drew an arrow and cocked his bow, aiming it toward the blurred figured, who supposedly was the old man in rags that they had seen before.
"Quickly, Legolas, fire!" Gimli shouted, wheilding his axe. Legolas' fingers which held the end of his arrow twitched uneasily. As he readied himself to fire, the man spoke, "You'll do no such thing, Legolas Greenleaf!" in such a commanding voice it stayed Legolas' hand. This proved to be a fatal mistake; The warrior's weapons began to burn red hot. Pain raced up their arms, loosening their powerful grips. They dropped their weapons, their fingers tingling from heat. "Is that, any way to treat an old friend?" The deep wizened voice asked, stepping out of the light.
The Hobbits' eyes buldged out of their skulls, their mouths hanging open in surprise. "It cannot be!" Merry heard Aragorn voice his very thoughts. The ranger stepped forward, his legs wobbling with effort to stay errect. "Mr. Gandalf?" Samwise breathed, his voice thick with emotion. Gandalf --- who had changed considerably since they saw him --- looked down upon the hobbit's in curiously. His hair and skin were no longer a wrinkled and gray. His hair was white as snow, shorter too. His robe and cloak was a soft creme color and his staff -- once a bent and twisted stick -- was a graceful white staff adorned with a small spear shaped end. He stepped down from his place above them. "Gandalf?" The man murmured, his eyes wandered. He nodded as if comfirming information. "Yes, that is what they called me. I am Gandalf The White."
Though the name had changed (if only slightly), it was illusion; The fallen Gandalf, their comrade and wise advisor had truely returned! Gimli stared on in amazement, Legolas fell to one knee and bowed his head. Gandalf brought his staff forward, he leaned upon it a little. "I have returned to you . . . at the turn of the tide," Gandalf said.
Frodo examined the surrounding area of Fangorn forest; In the dead of night it was unappealing and ugly. In the light of day, however, the forest was unnaturally beautiful to an extent. If you looked hard enough, one could spot the dying patches sticking out like sore thumbs. Pippin, on the other hand, was took caught up in fears to notice the scenery. The Took stammered, "Did you know Gandalf?"
The Ent let out a great groan when he shifted it's arms, and Pippin's fear rised to new heights. He did his best to hide it from his cousin. "Yes, I do know him. The only wizard that really cares about trees, sadly," The tree replied. Frodo nodded sadly. "He was a great friend; he was our guide." He paused as something dawned on him. "What is your name? And do you plan to do with us?"
The Ent glanced sideways, as if he wasn't too sure on the small creature's motives by asking all these questions. "I am Treebeard; I am not going to do anything with you: not if you mean by that 'do something to you'. Not without your leave," Treebeard explained simply, lowering his arms down for the Hobbits. "What are your names?"
"I am Frodo Baggins. This is my cousin, Peregrin Took. We're Hobbits, as explained before," Frodo said. Treedbeard blinked in response. Pippin and Frodo greatfully let go of the ent's barky hands, their toes curled at the sensation of grass underneath their feet again. "I don't mean to sound rude, Treebeard, but, umm... you wouldn't happen to have anything to eat would you?" Pippin managed to say. Frodo's eye shifted toward his cousin. Peregrin was obviously still frightened by the Ent. He rested his hand on his young cousin's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Calm down Pippin, he means no harm," Frodo reassured him. Pippin nodded slowly and returned his attention back to treebeard.
"Indeed I do," Treebeard's barky finger pointed toward something behind them. They turned reluctantly and spotted a small river that looked it hadn't been used often. Pippin and were confused; Treebeard said he had food, and all they saw was a river of water, Frodo wasn't too sure. "What is this place?" Frodo asked, curious, staring at a awfully large supposedly stone table.
Treebeard chuckled, bringing his hand up to is leafy beard. Breaking his long silence he said: "I have brought you about seventy ent-strides. Part of the name of this place might be wellinghall, if it were turned into your language. We will stay here tonight," He said.
Frodo nodded and they followed the great ent across the leaf covered ground. The ringbearer's mind was more uneasy than ever; He feared the worst for his young cousin. And what of the rest of his friends? Were Sam and Merry alight? His mind raced with many unresolved fear, he could feel the Ring's power feeding off of it. He shivered slightly. Treebeard's voice snapped him out of his train of thought. "Your are thirsty, I expect, perhaps tired as well. Drink this!"
Frodo watched the ent go to the back of river, then he saw that several tall stone jars stood there with heavy lids. Treebeard removed one of the lids, and dipped in a great ladle. "This is an ent-house," Treebeard said. "And there are no seats, I fear. But you may sit on the table." Picking up the Hobbits he set them on the great stone slab, six feet above the ground. There they sat dangling their legs, drinking in sips. Frodo looked toward his cousin who was happily sipping the drink Treebeard had given them. "I feel like a insect," Frodo mumbled. Pippin nodded with raised eyebrows, then looked up to Treebeard. "What is this, again?" He asked.
"Ent-druaght, it shall make you grow green and strong," Treebeard explained partly. Pippin's brow furrowed misunderstanding. If I were a tree that is, He thought irritable. Treebeard responded to the boy's expression with deep chuckle, while Frodo smothered his own.
Frodo's mind felt at ease to the sensation in his entire being.
TBC
(More on the way. Sorry if was corny)
