Disclaimer: I don't own anything from lotr although I often dream.
A/N: There are a few explanations to what happened and why the wish came true here. It might not help you understand but it's worth a try. I hope this doesn't confuse you more. Enjoy.
Ch 31 Understanding
Bob was walking around her cell again. It was so frustrating not being able to get out or even see what was going on behind the door. Her pacing was beginning to wear her out but she couldn't think of anything else to do and she was sure that she would go crazy if she didn't do something other than sit around waiting for something to happen. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the penknife Ned had given her before she left Earth. Bob felt strangely comforted by it; she liked the thought of having something potentially dangerous so close to her even though it was only a small knife. It was better than nothing.
For a while she had been thinking about how to get herself and Fred out of Orthanc and break the spell at the same time. Maybe when someone put her and Fred in the same room together she could ask Fred if she knew where the spell was being controlled. She had assumed that it was some kind of physical thing that could be destroyed to break the spell. Or at least that's what she hoped. If not there would be no chance of them getting back to Earth and getting the Hobbits and the rest of the Fellowship back to Middle Earth.
She knew that she couldn't let that happen. It was vital that she get the Fellowship back to Middle Earth otherwise the whole Lord of the Rings story could be ruined and it would change not only the future of Middle Earth but also the future of her own home. She couldn't fail.
After some time she sat back down on the bed feeling inexplicably tired. She lay down and told herself that she would just rest her eyes. Unfortunately she fell asleep despite her efforts to keep awake, she didn't want to miss anything but she couldn't keep her eyes open. Almost as if someone was forcing her to sleep. In fact someone was.
As she slept soundly she dreamed about everything that had happened and suddenly she saw something new. A big swirling red ball. Deep beyond her comprehension. She could see the patterns forming and swiftly disappearing in it. There was something more but she didn't know what it was or how to describe it.
She suddenly understood why she was there. She knew that she was looking at the thing inside Orthanc that was controlling the spell. The swirling red ball was the thing that Saruman had used to transport the Fellowship to Earth. She seemed to know exactly how it worked as well even though she had never seen it before and had no idea what it was called. But none of that mattered. Suddenly she knew how to break the spell.
To break the spell all she had to do was break the ball. Then it would all be over. That was easier said than done because she now knew where it was kept. Saruman's private chambers.
**
Gandalf sat in the middle of the magic store surrounded by candles and incense. He had ordered the owner of the shop to fetch him certain ingredients that he would need to send a message encrypted in dreams to someone in Middle Earth. He had been into the mind of a young woman in Orthanc already but that was just to offer support and assistance. Her mind had been strong but he could feel that she was not capable of carrying out the task of breaking the spell.
It had taken many hours of silently thinking to understand how the spell had worked and eventually he thought of an old wizard who had found something of great power. Something that could make wishes come true. He had quickly tried to remember everything about the thing and had finally come up with the answer.
He knew he had to reach someone who had access to it. That person had been the second to arrive in Middle Earth. Bob. He had immediately created a spell that would allow her to see what to do with the ball when she found it. He just hoped that she had received and understood his message. He had the feeling that she had understood everything he had told her. Now he just hoped she could do it.
Bob had been a strong mind but he also felt determination in her, that was a good point and he was sure that she could do what he had instructed.
His job now was to get all of the Fellowship into one place and he knew exactly where to go. The New Forest. Where Frodo was. He had sensed early on that that was where Frodo and Sam had gone and now all he needed to do was round up the rest of the Fellowship and somehow get them all to the New Forest before Bob broke the spell. That wasn't going to be easy seeing as he had no idea where the New Forest was or where the other members of the Fellowship were.
**
Fred was still sleeping soundly against David as she had been doing for several hours. Every so often David would also drift into a light sleep but he always woke himself up, he didn't want to take his eyes off Fred and every time she moved or made the slightest noise he checked that she was alright being careful not to wake her up.
He had been thinking about Bob and how Fred was convinced that she was going to save them. They had already failed at one attempt and Fred had suffered greatly. He didn't want her going through that again. Even so he couldn't help but feel a hint of excitement at the thought of getting out of Orthanc and getting to spend the rest of his life with Fred on her world.
David had been in love before, long ago. But she had left him and even then he did not feel the same kind of love for her as he did for Fred and he didn't want anything to happen to her. She trusted Bob and truly believed that she would save them so he had no choice but to go along with it and hope that Bob was going to succeed just as Fred had said. He prayed that it wouldn't go wrong and that nothing bad would happen to her or her friend. Strangely he didn't care about himself and realised that he would probably sacrifice himself to save her. Hardly a new concept to him but this made it all the more likely.
He looked down at the sleeping form and smiled at the thought of them being together for the rest of their lives without wondering about how to escape and when they were next going to be tortured. He couldn't wait and suddenly wanted to tell Bob to hurry up and get them out of Isengard. He was nervous about what was going to happen but felt comforted by Fred's faith in her friend.
He hoped this would work. He didn't want to think about what would happen if it didn't. Having to spend the rest of his life in Isengard under Saruman's rule would be awful and he didn't even want to consider that that might happen.
He stroked Fred's hair when she stirred slightly, he forced himself not to wake her and tell her that he trusted her and Bob. He knew what Fred had been through and that was probably the last thing she wanted to hear. He decided to let her sleep, at least then she would be ready if an escape was attempted. That was the best thing that he could think to do to help her at that exact moment.
**
Bob was woken up suddenly by something pulling her up off the bed. She opened her eyes and looked around annoyingly to find out what had woken her from her peaceful sleep. She came face to face with an Orc that was sneering down at her and waiting for her to get up. It was about to come back again and pull her up when she held out her hand to stop him and forced herself to sit up.
"Come." Was all the Orc said and Bob thought it best not to argue with him, it looked like it could kill her in a second so she did as she was instructed. The Orc went to put chains on her legs.
"I'm not going anywhere. I don't need those." She pointed at the heavy chains. "They'll just slow me down." The Orc looked unsure. "Where am I going to go? I can't escape from here can I?" The Orc finally nodded and stood up.
He grabbed Bob's arm and pulled her roughly behind him through the corridor. When she was absolutely sure he wasn't watching she smiled. It had worked; no chains meant she had a better chance of escaping. She could feel that her plan was going to work. All that pacing had been useful. She felt inside her pocket and touched the penknife that she was still carrying. With the knife and the armoured vest she was sure that she could get out of the tower.
Bob's only problem was how to get Fred. She knew she couldn't break into the cells, at least not without being spotted which was no good to her at all. She needed to think of something else. She tried desperately to come up with an idea but she could think of nothing. She didn't realise that she wouldn't even have to think about that. Saruman was inadvertently doing her work for her. He had already called for Fred to be brought to the room as well.
**
Fred and David were still together when the big Orc came storming into their cell. Fred immediately woke up and looked at David who didn't know what was going on either. He noticed the terrified look in Fred's eyes. He hadn't seen that look since he had first seen her on her first day of torture in Orthanc. He grabbed her hand whilst the Orc tried to pull her away from David. He wanted to keep her with him but the Orc wouldn't have it.
Fred reluctantly let go of David's hand, much to his surprise.
The Orc dragged her through the door and through the cold, dark corridors. He didn't even bother putting chains on her knowing that there was no way she was going to escape after what happened last time. Fred calmed down after a while and even managed to do a bit of the walking on her own without the Orc roughly holding her up. She stumbled through the corridors with the Orc having a fairly good idea where they were heading. She recognised this corridor. Saruman's torture room.
Fred hoped he hadn't ordered Bob there as well, she didn't want a repeat of what happened last time they were hurt together. Fred wanted to know what was happening but knew better than to ask the Orc. She knew he wouldn't tell her anything.
Eventually, after what seemed the longest walk through the corridors ever they reached that big heavy door that Fred recognised as Saruman's torture chamber. She was suddenly filled with dread and knew that she had to get away. She tried to pull herself free but the Orc's grip was too strong and she couldn't go anywhere.
The Orc opened the door and threw her inside quickly slamming the door behind him; Fred looked quickly around and saw exactly what she had been expecting. Saruman and Bob talking quietly in the corner of the room. When Fred arrived they stopped and looked at her. Bob certainly looked angry but Saruman looked surprisingly calm. They seemed to be quite angry that Fred had interrupted their conversation and they quickly said a few more words to each other before Saruman walked swiftly over to Fred who was still stood by the door trying to stand straight and look at least a little respectable. It wasn't working well because both wizard and friend could see through her.
Saruman reached out his hand towards Fred who began walking backwards. She turned to run knowing that there was no escaping from this room but it was an impulse she had no desire to get rid of. Saruman took a few large strides forward and grabbed Fred's arm pulling her close to him. She looked over at Bob who was remarkably calm.
Fred didn't understand it. Bob didn't look at all concerned about what was happening to her and for an instant Fred wondered if Saruman had done something to her. After a second of staring into Saruman's eyes Bob seemed snap out of her thoughts and confidently walked forwards. Fred had never seen her friend so calm in a bad situation, which they were used to because of Ned.
"Let her go. I said I would negotiate." Bob said in a steady voice although Fred could hear the very slight tremble in it. Saruman apparently didn't.
"There is no negotiation. Do you not know who I am? I am far more powerful than you. Remember I hold your friend's life in the palm of my hand if you do anything I will kill her." He threatened.
Fred was suddenly even more afraid. She hoped Bob had some kind of plan for getting them out of this because she couldn't think of anything.
"Then kill her. I don't care any more. I know your secret and there is no way you can stop me from doing what I came here to do. I will destroy that spell."
Fred couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her best friend had just told an evil wizard that he could kill her if he wanted and she didn't care. That wasn't the Bob she knew. She knew something strange was going on but she couldn't quite grasp what it was. She just hoped that Bob did know what was going on.
"You are nothing but a child. There is nothing you could do to stop the most powerful wizard of my Order."
"Really? What did you mean child?" That was Bob.
Fred just stood there watching what was going on around her; it was the most amazing sight. Bob talking to Saruman and threatening him. None of it seemed real. Then again nothing that had happened over the past few days seemed real. Was it days? She had no idea of the time at all. It could have been years for all she knew. It certainly felt that way.
"I think you know what I mean. You're no more likely to defeat me than this." He shook Fred in emphasis. "Although she is slightly more immune to torture than I would have expected." He smiled down at her.
"Yeah. Fred's like that." Bob said. "You're wrong though. I'm a lot more powerful than you think. You see I have certain friends that are far more powerful than you. Gandalf the Grey. Does that name mean anything to you? Of course it does. You tried to kill him didn't you? Well it looks as if he's still holding a grudge. He leant me some of his powers, I think that makes us about even." She smiled.
Saruman looked completely surprised by this, Fred even felt that iron grip loosen slightly. He was genuinely shocked to hear this although he tried not to show it.
"You're lying." He stated bluntly.
"You think?" Bob asked, almost as if she was teasing him, knowing that she would get to prove herself to him and also prove him wrong. That was so Bob.
"I beat Gandalf once I can beat a little girl trying to wield his powers."
"Why don't you come and try?" She asked.
Saruman looked doubtful and Fred wondered whether there was a touch of fear there as well. She couldn't imagine that cruel monster ever feeling anything but hate. Fred couldn't take her eyes off Bob who was standing ready waiting for Saruman to take up her challenge. She did seem far more powerful than usual. It was very odd to watch.
Saruman nodded and suddenly let Fred go allowing her to fall to the floor from the unexpected movement. He didn't look down though. Bob did and smiled silently at Fred as if telling her that everything was going to be alright. There was something else in her eyes though. It wasn't fear like Fred would have expected but confidence. Real, genuine confidence. Fred couldn't help but think that there was no way that Bob could defeat Saruman even if she did have Gandalf's powers as she claimed. Fred hoped Bob knew what she was doing.
Bob and Saruman met in the middle of the room and stared at each other for a while as if they were checking out what the other was capable of. There was absolute silence in the room. Not even the normal sounds from outside. Both Saruman and Bob said nothing but seemed to be talking to each other through their eyes. Fred couldn't believe what she was seeing. Bob, a student from Salisbury, and a great Wizard from Isengard coming to face to face to challenge each other to a duel in magic. It was insane.
Fred sat on the floor looking utterly confused. Bob noticed this and smiled. Saruman also looked around at Fred who was still not understanding anything that was going on.
"I think perhaps we should explain what's going on to Fred, she looks a little confused and you have had her locked up in a cell all this time. I think she deserves an explanation, wouldn't you say?" Bob said never letting her eyes stray from Saruman in case he tried something.
He nodded.
"I guess I should start as that must be the most confusing part." Bob smiled. "I allowed myself to get caught by one of those Ring Wraiths that Saruman so kindly sent down to Earth. It brought me here. My plan was to simply rescue you and get out but then I knew I had to also break the spell. Saruman will come to that in a minute. Anyway I came here and that box and bug thing happened. He locked me away in a cell and presumably did the same to you later.
"This is where to have to listen because it gets a little confusing. I was in my cell pacing around trying to think of where Saruman would keep his precious spell. I suddenly felt sleepy so decided to rest for a while. I had a dream that explained everything I had wanted to know. Why I was here. How Saruman was controlling the spell and more importantly where it was being kept. I got another gift besides knowledge. Gandalf loaned me his powers for a while and told me that I had to get you and me in the same room. He came up with quite a good plan really. Kill Saruman, destroy the thing that's making the spell and get out of Isengard. He gave me everything I would need to do all that.
"Fred you still look confused. You yourself have seen him before. He wore a bright white gown and glows slightly. He rescued you from that Orc the day." Bob didn't need to continue. "He helped you with your problem and he helped me with mine. Now do you understand better?"
"No not really." Fred was still confused. "What did you mean destroy the spell?"
"Ah, that's my part. I must say Gandalf was very clever to figure it out, I thought it would take him much longer. You see the spell is made through an artefact found many ages ago. It was made by a great wizard of his time. He found a ball of pure crystal and took it to his home. At that time crystal was no use to anyone and he could do nothing with it. He decided to make something that no one would ever forget. A device that could grant any wish and make it come true. He planted it in a town of men but no one took any notice of it as it was of no value.
"One day a great warrior came along and picked up the ball. As soon as he did it began to glow a deep red colour and he soon realised that it was not just a ball of worthless crystal. It was taken through many places and saved the man's life many times. He used countless wishes and changed many things. Mostly he used the Crystal for good but one day he had a chance to kill a relative that had disgraced his family many times. He knew that to do so would mean his own death so he wished that the relative was dead and the next day he was.
"Over the years he found that he could do many deeds that were considered too horrific for a man of his stature to do. The Crystal soon became good for only one thing. Evil. Eventually the man died but before he did he hid the crystal where he thought no one could find it. Until Isengard was made. Here the crystal has stayed for many years and now it has come under my command. I made sure that Frodo wished what he did and then the entrance to your world was opened and creatures from Middle Earth could pass freely through the porthole. I was not anticipating that you would come and ruin my plans. It seems both Gandalf and your friend were slightly more clever than I first thought."
Bob nodded as is thanking him for the complement.
"I know it's a little hard to follow but just agree with whatever he says. I'm not sure I understand everything either." Bob smiled as if nothing was happening.
"Bob what are you going to do?" Fred was unusually worried about her friend.
"Don't worry Fred. You know that I'm going to win right?" She smiled again.
Fred looked at Saruman who had turned back around to face his opponent. She got the feeling that they both wanted to get started rather than telling Fred about everything that had happened. They stared at each other again; Fred assumed this was some kind of preparation for what was about to happen. Strangely Bob had a slight smile on her face almost as if she was enjoying the stand off. This made no sense to Fred; maybe Saruman didn't scare Bob as much as he did her.
After a while Saruman let out a yell that sounded a lot like a battle cry and the fight between the Wizard and the human began.
Fred didn't know what to do so she ran for cover not wanting to get involved. She thought it best not to get in the way of Bob and Saruman. She just hoped that it was her friend that won and not Saruman. She waited patiently for the first strike and when it came it caught her completely unprepared. This was also true of Bob.
A/N: There are a few explanations to what happened and why the wish came true here. It might not help you understand but it's worth a try. I hope this doesn't confuse you more. Enjoy.
Ch 31 Understanding
Bob was walking around her cell again. It was so frustrating not being able to get out or even see what was going on behind the door. Her pacing was beginning to wear her out but she couldn't think of anything else to do and she was sure that she would go crazy if she didn't do something other than sit around waiting for something to happen. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the penknife Ned had given her before she left Earth. Bob felt strangely comforted by it; she liked the thought of having something potentially dangerous so close to her even though it was only a small knife. It was better than nothing.
For a while she had been thinking about how to get herself and Fred out of Orthanc and break the spell at the same time. Maybe when someone put her and Fred in the same room together she could ask Fred if she knew where the spell was being controlled. She had assumed that it was some kind of physical thing that could be destroyed to break the spell. Or at least that's what she hoped. If not there would be no chance of them getting back to Earth and getting the Hobbits and the rest of the Fellowship back to Middle Earth.
She knew that she couldn't let that happen. It was vital that she get the Fellowship back to Middle Earth otherwise the whole Lord of the Rings story could be ruined and it would change not only the future of Middle Earth but also the future of her own home. She couldn't fail.
After some time she sat back down on the bed feeling inexplicably tired. She lay down and told herself that she would just rest her eyes. Unfortunately she fell asleep despite her efforts to keep awake, she didn't want to miss anything but she couldn't keep her eyes open. Almost as if someone was forcing her to sleep. In fact someone was.
As she slept soundly she dreamed about everything that had happened and suddenly she saw something new. A big swirling red ball. Deep beyond her comprehension. She could see the patterns forming and swiftly disappearing in it. There was something more but she didn't know what it was or how to describe it.
She suddenly understood why she was there. She knew that she was looking at the thing inside Orthanc that was controlling the spell. The swirling red ball was the thing that Saruman had used to transport the Fellowship to Earth. She seemed to know exactly how it worked as well even though she had never seen it before and had no idea what it was called. But none of that mattered. Suddenly she knew how to break the spell.
To break the spell all she had to do was break the ball. Then it would all be over. That was easier said than done because she now knew where it was kept. Saruman's private chambers.
**
Gandalf sat in the middle of the magic store surrounded by candles and incense. He had ordered the owner of the shop to fetch him certain ingredients that he would need to send a message encrypted in dreams to someone in Middle Earth. He had been into the mind of a young woman in Orthanc already but that was just to offer support and assistance. Her mind had been strong but he could feel that she was not capable of carrying out the task of breaking the spell.
It had taken many hours of silently thinking to understand how the spell had worked and eventually he thought of an old wizard who had found something of great power. Something that could make wishes come true. He had quickly tried to remember everything about the thing and had finally come up with the answer.
He knew he had to reach someone who had access to it. That person had been the second to arrive in Middle Earth. Bob. He had immediately created a spell that would allow her to see what to do with the ball when she found it. He just hoped that she had received and understood his message. He had the feeling that she had understood everything he had told her. Now he just hoped she could do it.
Bob had been a strong mind but he also felt determination in her, that was a good point and he was sure that she could do what he had instructed.
His job now was to get all of the Fellowship into one place and he knew exactly where to go. The New Forest. Where Frodo was. He had sensed early on that that was where Frodo and Sam had gone and now all he needed to do was round up the rest of the Fellowship and somehow get them all to the New Forest before Bob broke the spell. That wasn't going to be easy seeing as he had no idea where the New Forest was or where the other members of the Fellowship were.
**
Fred was still sleeping soundly against David as she had been doing for several hours. Every so often David would also drift into a light sleep but he always woke himself up, he didn't want to take his eyes off Fred and every time she moved or made the slightest noise he checked that she was alright being careful not to wake her up.
He had been thinking about Bob and how Fred was convinced that she was going to save them. They had already failed at one attempt and Fred had suffered greatly. He didn't want her going through that again. Even so he couldn't help but feel a hint of excitement at the thought of getting out of Orthanc and getting to spend the rest of his life with Fred on her world.
David had been in love before, long ago. But she had left him and even then he did not feel the same kind of love for her as he did for Fred and he didn't want anything to happen to her. She trusted Bob and truly believed that she would save them so he had no choice but to go along with it and hope that Bob was going to succeed just as Fred had said. He prayed that it wouldn't go wrong and that nothing bad would happen to her or her friend. Strangely he didn't care about himself and realised that he would probably sacrifice himself to save her. Hardly a new concept to him but this made it all the more likely.
He looked down at the sleeping form and smiled at the thought of them being together for the rest of their lives without wondering about how to escape and when they were next going to be tortured. He couldn't wait and suddenly wanted to tell Bob to hurry up and get them out of Isengard. He was nervous about what was going to happen but felt comforted by Fred's faith in her friend.
He hoped this would work. He didn't want to think about what would happen if it didn't. Having to spend the rest of his life in Isengard under Saruman's rule would be awful and he didn't even want to consider that that might happen.
He stroked Fred's hair when she stirred slightly, he forced himself not to wake her and tell her that he trusted her and Bob. He knew what Fred had been through and that was probably the last thing she wanted to hear. He decided to let her sleep, at least then she would be ready if an escape was attempted. That was the best thing that he could think to do to help her at that exact moment.
**
Bob was woken up suddenly by something pulling her up off the bed. She opened her eyes and looked around annoyingly to find out what had woken her from her peaceful sleep. She came face to face with an Orc that was sneering down at her and waiting for her to get up. It was about to come back again and pull her up when she held out her hand to stop him and forced herself to sit up.
"Come." Was all the Orc said and Bob thought it best not to argue with him, it looked like it could kill her in a second so she did as she was instructed. The Orc went to put chains on her legs.
"I'm not going anywhere. I don't need those." She pointed at the heavy chains. "They'll just slow me down." The Orc looked unsure. "Where am I going to go? I can't escape from here can I?" The Orc finally nodded and stood up.
He grabbed Bob's arm and pulled her roughly behind him through the corridor. When she was absolutely sure he wasn't watching she smiled. It had worked; no chains meant she had a better chance of escaping. She could feel that her plan was going to work. All that pacing had been useful. She felt inside her pocket and touched the penknife that she was still carrying. With the knife and the armoured vest she was sure that she could get out of the tower.
Bob's only problem was how to get Fred. She knew she couldn't break into the cells, at least not without being spotted which was no good to her at all. She needed to think of something else. She tried desperately to come up with an idea but she could think of nothing. She didn't realise that she wouldn't even have to think about that. Saruman was inadvertently doing her work for her. He had already called for Fred to be brought to the room as well.
**
Fred and David were still together when the big Orc came storming into their cell. Fred immediately woke up and looked at David who didn't know what was going on either. He noticed the terrified look in Fred's eyes. He hadn't seen that look since he had first seen her on her first day of torture in Orthanc. He grabbed her hand whilst the Orc tried to pull her away from David. He wanted to keep her with him but the Orc wouldn't have it.
Fred reluctantly let go of David's hand, much to his surprise.
The Orc dragged her through the door and through the cold, dark corridors. He didn't even bother putting chains on her knowing that there was no way she was going to escape after what happened last time. Fred calmed down after a while and even managed to do a bit of the walking on her own without the Orc roughly holding her up. She stumbled through the corridors with the Orc having a fairly good idea where they were heading. She recognised this corridor. Saruman's torture room.
Fred hoped he hadn't ordered Bob there as well, she didn't want a repeat of what happened last time they were hurt together. Fred wanted to know what was happening but knew better than to ask the Orc. She knew he wouldn't tell her anything.
Eventually, after what seemed the longest walk through the corridors ever they reached that big heavy door that Fred recognised as Saruman's torture chamber. She was suddenly filled with dread and knew that she had to get away. She tried to pull herself free but the Orc's grip was too strong and she couldn't go anywhere.
The Orc opened the door and threw her inside quickly slamming the door behind him; Fred looked quickly around and saw exactly what she had been expecting. Saruman and Bob talking quietly in the corner of the room. When Fred arrived they stopped and looked at her. Bob certainly looked angry but Saruman looked surprisingly calm. They seemed to be quite angry that Fred had interrupted their conversation and they quickly said a few more words to each other before Saruman walked swiftly over to Fred who was still stood by the door trying to stand straight and look at least a little respectable. It wasn't working well because both wizard and friend could see through her.
Saruman reached out his hand towards Fred who began walking backwards. She turned to run knowing that there was no escaping from this room but it was an impulse she had no desire to get rid of. Saruman took a few large strides forward and grabbed Fred's arm pulling her close to him. She looked over at Bob who was remarkably calm.
Fred didn't understand it. Bob didn't look at all concerned about what was happening to her and for an instant Fred wondered if Saruman had done something to her. After a second of staring into Saruman's eyes Bob seemed snap out of her thoughts and confidently walked forwards. Fred had never seen her friend so calm in a bad situation, which they were used to because of Ned.
"Let her go. I said I would negotiate." Bob said in a steady voice although Fred could hear the very slight tremble in it. Saruman apparently didn't.
"There is no negotiation. Do you not know who I am? I am far more powerful than you. Remember I hold your friend's life in the palm of my hand if you do anything I will kill her." He threatened.
Fred was suddenly even more afraid. She hoped Bob had some kind of plan for getting them out of this because she couldn't think of anything.
"Then kill her. I don't care any more. I know your secret and there is no way you can stop me from doing what I came here to do. I will destroy that spell."
Fred couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her best friend had just told an evil wizard that he could kill her if he wanted and she didn't care. That wasn't the Bob she knew. She knew something strange was going on but she couldn't quite grasp what it was. She just hoped that Bob did know what was going on.
"You are nothing but a child. There is nothing you could do to stop the most powerful wizard of my Order."
"Really? What did you mean child?" That was Bob.
Fred just stood there watching what was going on around her; it was the most amazing sight. Bob talking to Saruman and threatening him. None of it seemed real. Then again nothing that had happened over the past few days seemed real. Was it days? She had no idea of the time at all. It could have been years for all she knew. It certainly felt that way.
"I think you know what I mean. You're no more likely to defeat me than this." He shook Fred in emphasis. "Although she is slightly more immune to torture than I would have expected." He smiled down at her.
"Yeah. Fred's like that." Bob said. "You're wrong though. I'm a lot more powerful than you think. You see I have certain friends that are far more powerful than you. Gandalf the Grey. Does that name mean anything to you? Of course it does. You tried to kill him didn't you? Well it looks as if he's still holding a grudge. He leant me some of his powers, I think that makes us about even." She smiled.
Saruman looked completely surprised by this, Fred even felt that iron grip loosen slightly. He was genuinely shocked to hear this although he tried not to show it.
"You're lying." He stated bluntly.
"You think?" Bob asked, almost as if she was teasing him, knowing that she would get to prove herself to him and also prove him wrong. That was so Bob.
"I beat Gandalf once I can beat a little girl trying to wield his powers."
"Why don't you come and try?" She asked.
Saruman looked doubtful and Fred wondered whether there was a touch of fear there as well. She couldn't imagine that cruel monster ever feeling anything but hate. Fred couldn't take her eyes off Bob who was standing ready waiting for Saruman to take up her challenge. She did seem far more powerful than usual. It was very odd to watch.
Saruman nodded and suddenly let Fred go allowing her to fall to the floor from the unexpected movement. He didn't look down though. Bob did and smiled silently at Fred as if telling her that everything was going to be alright. There was something else in her eyes though. It wasn't fear like Fred would have expected but confidence. Real, genuine confidence. Fred couldn't help but think that there was no way that Bob could defeat Saruman even if she did have Gandalf's powers as she claimed. Fred hoped Bob knew what she was doing.
Bob and Saruman met in the middle of the room and stared at each other for a while as if they were checking out what the other was capable of. There was absolute silence in the room. Not even the normal sounds from outside. Both Saruman and Bob said nothing but seemed to be talking to each other through their eyes. Fred couldn't believe what she was seeing. Bob, a student from Salisbury, and a great Wizard from Isengard coming to face to face to challenge each other to a duel in magic. It was insane.
Fred sat on the floor looking utterly confused. Bob noticed this and smiled. Saruman also looked around at Fred who was still not understanding anything that was going on.
"I think perhaps we should explain what's going on to Fred, she looks a little confused and you have had her locked up in a cell all this time. I think she deserves an explanation, wouldn't you say?" Bob said never letting her eyes stray from Saruman in case he tried something.
He nodded.
"I guess I should start as that must be the most confusing part." Bob smiled. "I allowed myself to get caught by one of those Ring Wraiths that Saruman so kindly sent down to Earth. It brought me here. My plan was to simply rescue you and get out but then I knew I had to also break the spell. Saruman will come to that in a minute. Anyway I came here and that box and bug thing happened. He locked me away in a cell and presumably did the same to you later.
"This is where to have to listen because it gets a little confusing. I was in my cell pacing around trying to think of where Saruman would keep his precious spell. I suddenly felt sleepy so decided to rest for a while. I had a dream that explained everything I had wanted to know. Why I was here. How Saruman was controlling the spell and more importantly where it was being kept. I got another gift besides knowledge. Gandalf loaned me his powers for a while and told me that I had to get you and me in the same room. He came up with quite a good plan really. Kill Saruman, destroy the thing that's making the spell and get out of Isengard. He gave me everything I would need to do all that.
"Fred you still look confused. You yourself have seen him before. He wore a bright white gown and glows slightly. He rescued you from that Orc the day." Bob didn't need to continue. "He helped you with your problem and he helped me with mine. Now do you understand better?"
"No not really." Fred was still confused. "What did you mean destroy the spell?"
"Ah, that's my part. I must say Gandalf was very clever to figure it out, I thought it would take him much longer. You see the spell is made through an artefact found many ages ago. It was made by a great wizard of his time. He found a ball of pure crystal and took it to his home. At that time crystal was no use to anyone and he could do nothing with it. He decided to make something that no one would ever forget. A device that could grant any wish and make it come true. He planted it in a town of men but no one took any notice of it as it was of no value.
"One day a great warrior came along and picked up the ball. As soon as he did it began to glow a deep red colour and he soon realised that it was not just a ball of worthless crystal. It was taken through many places and saved the man's life many times. He used countless wishes and changed many things. Mostly he used the Crystal for good but one day he had a chance to kill a relative that had disgraced his family many times. He knew that to do so would mean his own death so he wished that the relative was dead and the next day he was.
"Over the years he found that he could do many deeds that were considered too horrific for a man of his stature to do. The Crystal soon became good for only one thing. Evil. Eventually the man died but before he did he hid the crystal where he thought no one could find it. Until Isengard was made. Here the crystal has stayed for many years and now it has come under my command. I made sure that Frodo wished what he did and then the entrance to your world was opened and creatures from Middle Earth could pass freely through the porthole. I was not anticipating that you would come and ruin my plans. It seems both Gandalf and your friend were slightly more clever than I first thought."
Bob nodded as is thanking him for the complement.
"I know it's a little hard to follow but just agree with whatever he says. I'm not sure I understand everything either." Bob smiled as if nothing was happening.
"Bob what are you going to do?" Fred was unusually worried about her friend.
"Don't worry Fred. You know that I'm going to win right?" She smiled again.
Fred looked at Saruman who had turned back around to face his opponent. She got the feeling that they both wanted to get started rather than telling Fred about everything that had happened. They stared at each other again; Fred assumed this was some kind of preparation for what was about to happen. Strangely Bob had a slight smile on her face almost as if she was enjoying the stand off. This made no sense to Fred; maybe Saruman didn't scare Bob as much as he did her.
After a while Saruman let out a yell that sounded a lot like a battle cry and the fight between the Wizard and the human began.
Fred didn't know what to do so she ran for cover not wanting to get involved. She thought it best not to get in the way of Bob and Saruman. She just hoped that it was her friend that won and not Saruman. She waited patiently for the first strike and when it came it caught her completely unprepared. This was also true of Bob.