The next morning proved cloudy and bleak as Aragorn, Legolas, Alanna, and
Meridelle assembled to see the trio off. Last goodbyes were said quickly,
as no time could be wasted.
Harry transformed into a raven, while Hermione and Ron mounted the Firebolt. They waved, one last time, then took off toward Isengard.
*****Later that day******
They reached Isengard before they expected to, due to good winds and fast flying. Gandalf was there to meet them at the foot of the gigantic tower Hermione assumed must be Orthanc. Only, there was something wrong with it. When Legolas had described it, he had said it was black. The tower she gazed upon was pure white.
As Hermione and Ron dismounted in front of the tower, Harry transformed back into a human. They walked up the steps to meet a smiling Gandalf.
"Good evening, my friends. Glad to see you at last," he said warmly.
"What do you mean at last," Ron asked.
"Well, I knew you would be coming," Gandalf answered nonchalantly.
Ron's mouth dropped open, "Y-you did?"
"Yes. I do see sometimes into the future, but Aragorn also sent a message you were coming," Gandalf explained.
Without further ado, they went Orthanc and got settled in their rooms. They were called for dinner half an hour later. Dinner passed without much conversation, the trio were busy stuffing their mouths with the delicious food (they hadn't eaten that day, too busy flying) to talk. After dinner, Hermione asked, "Why is the tower white? Legolas told me it was black." Gandalf answered, "When Orthanc was Saruman's, it was black because his intentions and loyalties were black and evil. Mine, however are not, so the Orthanc is white, like it should be.
Then he commanded, "Now up to your rooms for a good night's sleep. You must be very tired from your journey and we can wait until tomorrow to talk."
"I am tired from our journey, and not only this part of it," Hermione thought. "This whole journey beyond time. The Ring, battles, saving Legolas. In such a short time, we have done more than many back home will do in their life."
So it was with a sense of accomplishment that Hermione settled into bed to rest."
The next day
After they finished a nice breakfast on a terrace overlooking a garden, Gandalf summoned them to his library.
Each sat in a comfortable armchair facing Gandalf.
"Now," he began, "when Aragorn told me of your dilemma, I thought about it long and hard. When I was about to give up, I remembered this."
He pulled out a small, dark red book that bore the crest also on Harry's clothing.
"It was delivered to me a long time ago, the sender is unknown to this very day. I remembered it, and read through it. I think it just might have the answer to your problem."
Gandalf flipped to a marked page. Hermione noticed the title: "The Sand of White Light."
"After a little more research, I have concluded that this is indeed the sand which you need for your Time Turner," Gandalf said.
"Great!" Harry said. "Where is it?"
"That's the only thing," Gandalf said gravely, though with a twinkle in his eye, Harry's reaction had amused him. "The Sand of White Light is made up of four different types of sand."
When Harry's face fell, Gandalf continued, "They're not that hard to get, although it will take you a while. The first part is lafrovsyn, Elven sand. It is hidden in a secret location, known only by Galadriel.
The second part is drognufk, sand of the Dwarves. I don't know who has it, so you have to seek out the Dwarves and ask them.
The third part is, hopblimn, Hobbit's sand. I do believe Frodo Baggins knows where it is hidden, so you must ask him.
The last part, the most difficult, is grahpanhserd, the sand... of Mordor. This is the most difficult because this sand comprises of three different sands, each hidden at a different point in Mordor. No one knows where they are hidden, not even Sauron knew, so you will have to travel to Mordor and search yourselves."
Having finished a speech of sorts, Gandalf sat back.
Harry spoke with a desperate light in his eyes, "But... how?" Gandalf contemplated Harry's question for a moment, then spoke. "I'll tell you how. Go get each of those sands, in that order, then come back to me and I will help you mix them correctly to form The Sand of White Light." "Okay," Harry answered, happy now that he had a goal set and in sight. "Well, then we better pack first." "Already taken care of," Gandalf said, "I have had clothes for each climate packed for you as well as first aid and other necessities." "Right. Thanks," Harry said, "then we better refresh our memory on some jinxes and other spells." Gandalf looked puzzled, "Jinxes?" Harry was about to explain, when Hermione elbowed him and whispered, "He probably does magic different." Then, turning to Gandalf, she said, "Can you just give us a fairly large room with some cushions to practice in, please?" "Of course," he answered. Standing up, he led them through many stone hallways decorated with ancient tapestries and gilded suits of Elven armor. Finally, they arrived in a large stone room with an incredibly high ceiling, many stained glass windows, and French doors leading out to a terrace overlooking the gardens. "Um, we could use some cushions if you have them," Hermione said timidly, she thought he had forgotten. "Of course, Princess. I was getting there," Gandalf replied graciously. He closed his eyes. The trio watched in amazement as all the furniture in the room zoomed to the edges and many large cushions appeared. The odd part was, Gandalf had not moved or spoken even once. Hermione made a mental note to ask him about it later before saying, "Thank you very much. We'll be done in time for midday." Gandalf nodded his approval, "After midday, you will set off on your quest." He left, and the trio commenced to practice their spells. ********after the midday meal********* Hermione adjusted her backpack as she climbed onto the Firebolt behind Ron. She wrapped an arm around his waist, saying, "Don't look down, don't look down." For this time, they were not on the ground taking off, they were on the top of Orthanc. Gandalf had pointed out that it would be easier for them to reach a higher altitude from a higher place. Hermione agreed it was more practical, but it didn't help that Orthanc was an incredibly high tower with no walls or barriers to keep someone from falling. The wind whipped harshly around the trio as they pushed off. Gandalf raised a hand in farewell, looking completely at ease on the top of Orthanc as Hermone noticed. They were moving slowly away when Gandalf's voice cut into Hermione's mind. "I forgot to tell you," he said quickly, "do not return before you have gathered all of the sands. This journey can only be made once. And return quickly, do not dally. For the Sand of White Light can only be made three days out of a year. The last day for this year will be in exactly a month. You must return or wait another year." Then the connection broke. "Interesting," Hermione thought, "I thought only Legolas could do that inside of my mind." Just then, her train of thought was interrupted as something whizzed by her head.
Harry transformed into a raven, while Hermione and Ron mounted the Firebolt. They waved, one last time, then took off toward Isengard.
*****Later that day******
They reached Isengard before they expected to, due to good winds and fast flying. Gandalf was there to meet them at the foot of the gigantic tower Hermione assumed must be Orthanc. Only, there was something wrong with it. When Legolas had described it, he had said it was black. The tower she gazed upon was pure white.
As Hermione and Ron dismounted in front of the tower, Harry transformed back into a human. They walked up the steps to meet a smiling Gandalf.
"Good evening, my friends. Glad to see you at last," he said warmly.
"What do you mean at last," Ron asked.
"Well, I knew you would be coming," Gandalf answered nonchalantly.
Ron's mouth dropped open, "Y-you did?"
"Yes. I do see sometimes into the future, but Aragorn also sent a message you were coming," Gandalf explained.
Without further ado, they went Orthanc and got settled in their rooms. They were called for dinner half an hour later. Dinner passed without much conversation, the trio were busy stuffing their mouths with the delicious food (they hadn't eaten that day, too busy flying) to talk. After dinner, Hermione asked, "Why is the tower white? Legolas told me it was black." Gandalf answered, "When Orthanc was Saruman's, it was black because his intentions and loyalties were black and evil. Mine, however are not, so the Orthanc is white, like it should be.
Then he commanded, "Now up to your rooms for a good night's sleep. You must be very tired from your journey and we can wait until tomorrow to talk."
"I am tired from our journey, and not only this part of it," Hermione thought. "This whole journey beyond time. The Ring, battles, saving Legolas. In such a short time, we have done more than many back home will do in their life."
So it was with a sense of accomplishment that Hermione settled into bed to rest."
The next day
After they finished a nice breakfast on a terrace overlooking a garden, Gandalf summoned them to his library.
Each sat in a comfortable armchair facing Gandalf.
"Now," he began, "when Aragorn told me of your dilemma, I thought about it long and hard. When I was about to give up, I remembered this."
He pulled out a small, dark red book that bore the crest also on Harry's clothing.
"It was delivered to me a long time ago, the sender is unknown to this very day. I remembered it, and read through it. I think it just might have the answer to your problem."
Gandalf flipped to a marked page. Hermione noticed the title: "The Sand of White Light."
"After a little more research, I have concluded that this is indeed the sand which you need for your Time Turner," Gandalf said.
"Great!" Harry said. "Where is it?"
"That's the only thing," Gandalf said gravely, though with a twinkle in his eye, Harry's reaction had amused him. "The Sand of White Light is made up of four different types of sand."
When Harry's face fell, Gandalf continued, "They're not that hard to get, although it will take you a while. The first part is lafrovsyn, Elven sand. It is hidden in a secret location, known only by Galadriel.
The second part is drognufk, sand of the Dwarves. I don't know who has it, so you have to seek out the Dwarves and ask them.
The third part is, hopblimn, Hobbit's sand. I do believe Frodo Baggins knows where it is hidden, so you must ask him.
The last part, the most difficult, is grahpanhserd, the sand... of Mordor. This is the most difficult because this sand comprises of three different sands, each hidden at a different point in Mordor. No one knows where they are hidden, not even Sauron knew, so you will have to travel to Mordor and search yourselves."
Having finished a speech of sorts, Gandalf sat back.
Harry spoke with a desperate light in his eyes, "But... how?" Gandalf contemplated Harry's question for a moment, then spoke. "I'll tell you how. Go get each of those sands, in that order, then come back to me and I will help you mix them correctly to form The Sand of White Light." "Okay," Harry answered, happy now that he had a goal set and in sight. "Well, then we better pack first." "Already taken care of," Gandalf said, "I have had clothes for each climate packed for you as well as first aid and other necessities." "Right. Thanks," Harry said, "then we better refresh our memory on some jinxes and other spells." Gandalf looked puzzled, "Jinxes?" Harry was about to explain, when Hermione elbowed him and whispered, "He probably does magic different." Then, turning to Gandalf, she said, "Can you just give us a fairly large room with some cushions to practice in, please?" "Of course," he answered. Standing up, he led them through many stone hallways decorated with ancient tapestries and gilded suits of Elven armor. Finally, they arrived in a large stone room with an incredibly high ceiling, many stained glass windows, and French doors leading out to a terrace overlooking the gardens. "Um, we could use some cushions if you have them," Hermione said timidly, she thought he had forgotten. "Of course, Princess. I was getting there," Gandalf replied graciously. He closed his eyes. The trio watched in amazement as all the furniture in the room zoomed to the edges and many large cushions appeared. The odd part was, Gandalf had not moved or spoken even once. Hermione made a mental note to ask him about it later before saying, "Thank you very much. We'll be done in time for midday." Gandalf nodded his approval, "After midday, you will set off on your quest." He left, and the trio commenced to practice their spells. ********after the midday meal********* Hermione adjusted her backpack as she climbed onto the Firebolt behind Ron. She wrapped an arm around his waist, saying, "Don't look down, don't look down." For this time, they were not on the ground taking off, they were on the top of Orthanc. Gandalf had pointed out that it would be easier for them to reach a higher altitude from a higher place. Hermione agreed it was more practical, but it didn't help that Orthanc was an incredibly high tower with no walls or barriers to keep someone from falling. The wind whipped harshly around the trio as they pushed off. Gandalf raised a hand in farewell, looking completely at ease on the top of Orthanc as Hermone noticed. They were moving slowly away when Gandalf's voice cut into Hermione's mind. "I forgot to tell you," he said quickly, "do not return before you have gathered all of the sands. This journey can only be made once. And return quickly, do not dally. For the Sand of White Light can only be made three days out of a year. The last day for this year will be in exactly a month. You must return or wait another year." Then the connection broke. "Interesting," Hermione thought, "I thought only Legolas could do that inside of my mind." Just then, her train of thought was interrupted as something whizzed by her head.