A/N: Sorry it has taken me so long for the update AGAIN. I have been on
vacation (or holiday as those of you in Europe call it) and then I had to
write it. Please R & R and thanks to those of you who have done so.
R/N:
Mojo: Thanks for your review! You're in Detroit? Fun! I haven't been anywhere near there *sob* all I've seen of the U.S. is the west coast. I hope your having fun and I'm glad that you enjoy my story so far!
Tafi: Yay! You reviewed. Even though you haven't finished yet, it's all good. Thanks for starting. Aurora was supposed to be a hateful character at first, but hopefully she isn't too bad now.
Noa: Don't worry about not reviewing! Thanks for coming back. I'm glad you liked the idea of Dan coming into the story. I wasn't really sure if I should or not, but its worked out okay so far. Thank you so much!
KnowInsight: Thank you so much for your review. I'm glad you've liked it so far. Thanks a bil!
Discordia: Thanks, as always, for your advice and opinions. I've learned much about writing because of you, so thank you a thousand times over!
Hello Kitty: Thanks for your review! I really appreciate it! I'm glad u liked my "wee twist" there. Lol!
Alida: Wow! Your review was enormous and I can't thank you enough for it. I never knew ANY of that stuff and now I hope that in this chapter I will be able to put the knowledge to use. Knowing me, I will probably do all the wrong things, but at least I'll be trying, right? I am so glad you like my story so far and thank you, thank you, thank you, a thousand times for your help and wonderful, encouraging opinions and insights. ~~~
It was with renewed hearts and replenished strength that the company walked through the darkness of Fangorn forest. Aragorn still led them, pausing sometimes to look at the soil or various leaves, always knowing where to turn and which way to go.
Aurora could only feel great hope. There was a very real chance that Merry and Pippin were still alive, though she shuddered to think of them alone in such a forbidding forest as this. The forest scared Aurora and she wasn't exactly sure why. Just that it did. It was so dark and so silent. It was like she had died and been put into a coffin that was sealed away from all the other sounds of the world. The only thing that filled her ears was the swaying of the trees that, if one listened hard enough, almost sounded like voices, warning them that they should not be there. But she spoke naught a word as she followed her friends into the ever darkening trees that blocked all sunlight from the path that only Aragorn could see.
The silence that had filled the members of the company was broken by Gimli who had tasted something on a leaf and spit out crying, "Orc blood!"
Aurora looked at the dark stain on the leaf in distaste, "They were followed by Orcs?"
Aragorn nodded before bending down to look at the soil once more. He frowned in doing so and he looked slightly confused. "These are strange tracks that I am following," he muttered to no one in particular.
Aurora glanced down and even she could see a faint imprint of a gigantic foot. That couldn't be the hobbits, that's for sure. And even the wretched little Orc's were no where near that size. Aurora couldn't help but feel a little scared. Had Merry and Pippin been followed by something more dangerous and terrifying, something that dwelled within these trees?
"The air is so close here," Scott muttered, pulling at his shirt near the neck that had never bothered him before.
Legolas was looking at the forest in unhidden awe. "This forest is old. Very old. Filled with memory and-" he paused for a moment, trying to find the word before he finished, "anger."
Almost as soon as he spoke these words, groans reverberated around the forest. It started distantly and then moved in closer. Aurora gasped and dashed forward so she was behind Scott. Hesitating for only a moment, he reached back and grabbed her hand, entwining his fingers with hers.
Aurora's heart skipped a beat and she held onto him as well, liking the feeling but not thinking about it too much. She was too scared to be thinking of her feelings for Scott right now and all she wanted was his comfort. Had she been looking at her brother, she would have seen the look of pure venom that flashed upon his face. But as luck would have it, she kept her fearful eyes scanning through the forest.
Gimli raised his axe and began spinning around. He was plainly as terrified as Aurora and instead of running to someone for aide, he chose to defend himself if the occasion called for it.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas whispered, plainly amazed and in wonder of it all.
"Talking to each other?" Aurora hissed, tightening her grip on Scott's hand. "N-no their not! There is probably just a wind somewhere. . ." Her voice trailed off because she knew she wasn't right. Legolas knew these things and she knew she didn't. She felt her blood turn to ice. What would it be like to see a giant tree with its enormous, thick branches talking with its neighbor. She shuddered. All she wanted to do was find Merry and Pippin and get out of this forest as fast as her legs would carry her.
Aragorn looked slightly nervous as he whispered, "Gimli!"
Gimli replied with a tense, "Huh?"
"Lower your axe!" Aragorn said, gesturing with his hand.
"Oh," he replied and very slowly, as though it was taking his entire will to do so, he dropped it slowly down. He was still looking in every direction and Aurora noticed that he did not put the axe away.
Suddenly Legolas stepped forward. "Aragorn, nad nâ ennas!" he said in an urgent voice filled with tense and almost frightened passion.
"What?" Aurora asked quickly. "What did you say?"
Legolas didn't answer and Aurora cursed him silently. She was going to have to learn Elvish one of these days.
"Aragorn!" she shrieked. "What did he say?" She knew she was starting to sound like her old bossy self that she hated so much but she was scared and she didn't know how else to convey this fear.
"Something is out there," Aragorn answered impatiently before turning to Legolas. "Man cenich?"
Aurora didn't even want to ask what that meant. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought she might pass out right then and there.
Legolas turned to them, his blue eyes wide and slightly fearful. "The white wizard approaches."
Aurora choked back a cry, knowing full well that the "white wizard" was Saruman, one of their greatest enemies and the leader of the Uruk-Hai; the one responsible for taking Merry and Pippin.. She quickly let go of Scott's hand and yanked her bow and a feathered arrow from the quiver strung onto her back, as everyone else tightened their hold on their weapons or drew them out like she did.
"Don't let him speak," Aragorn said. "He will put a spell on us." Aurora couldn't believe how calm he looked. She had no doubt in her mind that she was going to die and yet Aragorn looked as though this happened everyday.
"We must be quick," Aragorn said.
Taking the hint all the members of the company spun around with loud cries. Dan, Scott, Aurora , and Legolas all shot arrows that were deflected by an intensely bright white light. Gimli's axe, which he had flung with all his strength, was likewise diverted and Aragorn let go of his sword which had turned a bright red and was too hot to hold onto.
The members of the company stepped back, shielding their eyes from the light that had to be brighter than the sun, only burning with white intensity instead of yellow.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits." a voice said matter- of-factly. It sounded distant and yet so powerful. The voice of a God.
"Where are they?" Aragorn called, trying to see through the blinding blaze.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday and met someone they did not expect. Does this comfort you?" the voice asked, almost amused.
Aurora was having a hard time understanding all of this. Although she had no doubt seen a great many number of odd things, nothing compared to this. Why was Saruman talking to them instead of doing away with them as quickly as possible? And there was something familiar, vaguely familiar, about the voice.
"Who are you?" Aragorn cried, voicing Aurora's own question. "Show yourself!"
Aurora wasn't sure she wanted to see her soon to be killer but her eyes stayed glued to the light, her being unable to pull them away.
And then the light dimmed and Aurora saw a wizard. A wizard she had seen fall into darkness, cloaked in gray. A wizard who had led them in the beginning of their journey and had saved them at the cost of his own life. It was Gandalf.
Aurora dropped to her knees, having lost all feeling in her legs. She stared at Gandalf not daring to believe her eyes, not understanding how he could be here. She had seen him tumble into darkness, lit only by the fiery glow of the Balrog. She rubbed her eyes, not sure whether they were playing a disgusting and unfair trick on her. But no, it was Gandalf. No longer the gray fellow he had once been but now glowing an ethereal white.
Scott had also dropped to his knees and his mouth was agape and his eyes wide in shock as he looked upon the man standing tall above him. Gimli and Legolas had only hesitated a moment before bowing their heads in deference.
"It cannot be!" Aragorn cried, just as shocked as everyone else. "You fell!"
Gandalf, for Aurora had convinced herself that it was indeed the Istari, nodded solemnly. "Through fire and water." he finished for Aragorn. He continued, " From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and every day was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done." He spoke all of this very slowly with his eyes shut and an occasional shudder flowing down his body. Aurora knew he was remembering all that had happened to him and while Aurora didn't understand exactly what did, she felt terror for him as well. She had seen that Balrog and she couldn't imagine having to battle with that monstrous beast.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn cried, as if the story only confirmed his beliefs.
Aurora looked up at the Istari, tears glistening on her cheeks and a small smile shining through her bewilderment.
Gandalf looked confused and his eyebrows knit together as if remembering something that had happened in the long ago past. "Gandalf. Yes! That is what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey." he smiled and then added with a twinkle in his eye, "I am Gandalf the White."
Aurora grinned at this. He was indeed very white now and she had no idea for the reason of it, but she didn't need to know. He was back, the intelligent and powerful member of their company that she had thought long dead.
"I come to you now at the turn of the tide." Gandalf said, hopping off his rock. Scott stood slowly up, his legs still shaking and helped Aurora to her feet.
Through all of this Dan had done nothing. He didn't know who this Gandalf was and he felt a little awkward being there. He was a little confused. First they had tried to attack the man and somehow that had failed, and now he was talking to them as if he was their friend. He sighed. He was going to have to have a talk with Aurora tonight so she could fill him in once more. And with Scott too, he thought, noticing as Scott reached over and wiped a tear from his sisters cheek.
Gandalf threw a gray cloak over his shoulders and he began leading the way out of the sinister forest. He spoke as he walked, the others trailing in his powerful wake.
"One stage of our journey is over and another begins. War has come upon Rohan. We must ride to Edoras as fast as we can."
Aurora did not question the fact that they were leaving. She knew that Gandalf would not leave Merry and Pippin if they were in harm's way and so she followed him with a light heart. She had no idea what Edoras was, but she could take a pretty good guess. According to what she had gathered from the riders they had encountered that morning, Rohan was like a country and Edoras was probably something like the capital of this country. She assumed it was here where the troubled King would be and she had no complaints about going there because Aragorn didn't. Plus, she had Gandalf back.
And then they were out of the forest. Aurora had to restrain herself from running away from the suffocating darkness of the trees and into the open grasslands that stretched before her.
Gandalf stepped forward and whistled piercingly. It echoed throughout the valley and they had only to wait a moment before four horses came neighing into view, led by one with a white, flowing mane.
Aurora stared at the horse in front. It was the most beautiful horse she had ever laid eyes upon. It shone white, much like Gandalf did and its thundering hooves could be heard even up here. She gaped as well when she saw that two of the other horses were none other then the two given to them by the Rohirrim.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas said, his eyes aglow and awe filling his voice once more.
Gandalf nodded in reply, smiling. "He is Shadowfax. The lord of all horses and my friend through many dangers."
With this said, he jumped upon the back of the magnificent horse and waited while the others situated themselves on the remaining three.
Legolas and Gimli were on one. Legolas in the front, holding the reins tall and proud, while Gimli sulked in the back, looking very frightened and muttering to himself. There was some controversy with the remaining members, however. Aurora and Scott were going to ride on one together but Dan had yelled that he would ride with one of them instead. Scott had yelled back and asked why it was such a big deal and this had led to a lot of yelling about lord knows what. Finally, impatient with anger, Aragorn had grabbed Aurora around the waist and plopped her on the saddle behind him. This left Scott and Dan, both angry with one another, riding together in uncomfortable silence.
It was in this way that the company galloped across the plains to the waiting town of Edoras.
~~~
A/N: Yes, I do know that Gandalf did not call anyone other than Shadowfax in the movie. In the book, however, if I recall right, Gandalf actually summoned three horses. I just added an extra one because I have a few extra members. Just thought I should let you know! Please review! Thanks!
R/N:
Mojo: Thanks for your review! You're in Detroit? Fun! I haven't been anywhere near there *sob* all I've seen of the U.S. is the west coast. I hope your having fun and I'm glad that you enjoy my story so far!
Tafi: Yay! You reviewed. Even though you haven't finished yet, it's all good. Thanks for starting. Aurora was supposed to be a hateful character at first, but hopefully she isn't too bad now.
Noa: Don't worry about not reviewing! Thanks for coming back. I'm glad you liked the idea of Dan coming into the story. I wasn't really sure if I should or not, but its worked out okay so far. Thank you so much!
KnowInsight: Thank you so much for your review. I'm glad you've liked it so far. Thanks a bil!
Discordia: Thanks, as always, for your advice and opinions. I've learned much about writing because of you, so thank you a thousand times over!
Hello Kitty: Thanks for your review! I really appreciate it! I'm glad u liked my "wee twist" there. Lol!
Alida: Wow! Your review was enormous and I can't thank you enough for it. I never knew ANY of that stuff and now I hope that in this chapter I will be able to put the knowledge to use. Knowing me, I will probably do all the wrong things, but at least I'll be trying, right? I am so glad you like my story so far and thank you, thank you, thank you, a thousand times for your help and wonderful, encouraging opinions and insights. ~~~
It was with renewed hearts and replenished strength that the company walked through the darkness of Fangorn forest. Aragorn still led them, pausing sometimes to look at the soil or various leaves, always knowing where to turn and which way to go.
Aurora could only feel great hope. There was a very real chance that Merry and Pippin were still alive, though she shuddered to think of them alone in such a forbidding forest as this. The forest scared Aurora and she wasn't exactly sure why. Just that it did. It was so dark and so silent. It was like she had died and been put into a coffin that was sealed away from all the other sounds of the world. The only thing that filled her ears was the swaying of the trees that, if one listened hard enough, almost sounded like voices, warning them that they should not be there. But she spoke naught a word as she followed her friends into the ever darkening trees that blocked all sunlight from the path that only Aragorn could see.
The silence that had filled the members of the company was broken by Gimli who had tasted something on a leaf and spit out crying, "Orc blood!"
Aurora looked at the dark stain on the leaf in distaste, "They were followed by Orcs?"
Aragorn nodded before bending down to look at the soil once more. He frowned in doing so and he looked slightly confused. "These are strange tracks that I am following," he muttered to no one in particular.
Aurora glanced down and even she could see a faint imprint of a gigantic foot. That couldn't be the hobbits, that's for sure. And even the wretched little Orc's were no where near that size. Aurora couldn't help but feel a little scared. Had Merry and Pippin been followed by something more dangerous and terrifying, something that dwelled within these trees?
"The air is so close here," Scott muttered, pulling at his shirt near the neck that had never bothered him before.
Legolas was looking at the forest in unhidden awe. "This forest is old. Very old. Filled with memory and-" he paused for a moment, trying to find the word before he finished, "anger."
Almost as soon as he spoke these words, groans reverberated around the forest. It started distantly and then moved in closer. Aurora gasped and dashed forward so she was behind Scott. Hesitating for only a moment, he reached back and grabbed her hand, entwining his fingers with hers.
Aurora's heart skipped a beat and she held onto him as well, liking the feeling but not thinking about it too much. She was too scared to be thinking of her feelings for Scott right now and all she wanted was his comfort. Had she been looking at her brother, she would have seen the look of pure venom that flashed upon his face. But as luck would have it, she kept her fearful eyes scanning through the forest.
Gimli raised his axe and began spinning around. He was plainly as terrified as Aurora and instead of running to someone for aide, he chose to defend himself if the occasion called for it.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas whispered, plainly amazed and in wonder of it all.
"Talking to each other?" Aurora hissed, tightening her grip on Scott's hand. "N-no their not! There is probably just a wind somewhere. . ." Her voice trailed off because she knew she wasn't right. Legolas knew these things and she knew she didn't. She felt her blood turn to ice. What would it be like to see a giant tree with its enormous, thick branches talking with its neighbor. She shuddered. All she wanted to do was find Merry and Pippin and get out of this forest as fast as her legs would carry her.
Aragorn looked slightly nervous as he whispered, "Gimli!"
Gimli replied with a tense, "Huh?"
"Lower your axe!" Aragorn said, gesturing with his hand.
"Oh," he replied and very slowly, as though it was taking his entire will to do so, he dropped it slowly down. He was still looking in every direction and Aurora noticed that he did not put the axe away.
Suddenly Legolas stepped forward. "Aragorn, nad nâ ennas!" he said in an urgent voice filled with tense and almost frightened passion.
"What?" Aurora asked quickly. "What did you say?"
Legolas didn't answer and Aurora cursed him silently. She was going to have to learn Elvish one of these days.
"Aragorn!" she shrieked. "What did he say?" She knew she was starting to sound like her old bossy self that she hated so much but she was scared and she didn't know how else to convey this fear.
"Something is out there," Aragorn answered impatiently before turning to Legolas. "Man cenich?"
Aurora didn't even want to ask what that meant. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought she might pass out right then and there.
Legolas turned to them, his blue eyes wide and slightly fearful. "The white wizard approaches."
Aurora choked back a cry, knowing full well that the "white wizard" was Saruman, one of their greatest enemies and the leader of the Uruk-Hai; the one responsible for taking Merry and Pippin.. She quickly let go of Scott's hand and yanked her bow and a feathered arrow from the quiver strung onto her back, as everyone else tightened their hold on their weapons or drew them out like she did.
"Don't let him speak," Aragorn said. "He will put a spell on us." Aurora couldn't believe how calm he looked. She had no doubt in her mind that she was going to die and yet Aragorn looked as though this happened everyday.
"We must be quick," Aragorn said.
Taking the hint all the members of the company spun around with loud cries. Dan, Scott, Aurora , and Legolas all shot arrows that were deflected by an intensely bright white light. Gimli's axe, which he had flung with all his strength, was likewise diverted and Aragorn let go of his sword which had turned a bright red and was too hot to hold onto.
The members of the company stepped back, shielding their eyes from the light that had to be brighter than the sun, only burning with white intensity instead of yellow.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits." a voice said matter- of-factly. It sounded distant and yet so powerful. The voice of a God.
"Where are they?" Aragorn called, trying to see through the blinding blaze.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday and met someone they did not expect. Does this comfort you?" the voice asked, almost amused.
Aurora was having a hard time understanding all of this. Although she had no doubt seen a great many number of odd things, nothing compared to this. Why was Saruman talking to them instead of doing away with them as quickly as possible? And there was something familiar, vaguely familiar, about the voice.
"Who are you?" Aragorn cried, voicing Aurora's own question. "Show yourself!"
Aurora wasn't sure she wanted to see her soon to be killer but her eyes stayed glued to the light, her being unable to pull them away.
And then the light dimmed and Aurora saw a wizard. A wizard she had seen fall into darkness, cloaked in gray. A wizard who had led them in the beginning of their journey and had saved them at the cost of his own life. It was Gandalf.
Aurora dropped to her knees, having lost all feeling in her legs. She stared at Gandalf not daring to believe her eyes, not understanding how he could be here. She had seen him tumble into darkness, lit only by the fiery glow of the Balrog. She rubbed her eyes, not sure whether they were playing a disgusting and unfair trick on her. But no, it was Gandalf. No longer the gray fellow he had once been but now glowing an ethereal white.
Scott had also dropped to his knees and his mouth was agape and his eyes wide in shock as he looked upon the man standing tall above him. Gimli and Legolas had only hesitated a moment before bowing their heads in deference.
"It cannot be!" Aragorn cried, just as shocked as everyone else. "You fell!"
Gandalf, for Aurora had convinced herself that it was indeed the Istari, nodded solemnly. "Through fire and water." he finished for Aragorn. He continued, " From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and every day was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done." He spoke all of this very slowly with his eyes shut and an occasional shudder flowing down his body. Aurora knew he was remembering all that had happened to him and while Aurora didn't understand exactly what did, she felt terror for him as well. She had seen that Balrog and she couldn't imagine having to battle with that monstrous beast.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn cried, as if the story only confirmed his beliefs.
Aurora looked up at the Istari, tears glistening on her cheeks and a small smile shining through her bewilderment.
Gandalf looked confused and his eyebrows knit together as if remembering something that had happened in the long ago past. "Gandalf. Yes! That is what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey." he smiled and then added with a twinkle in his eye, "I am Gandalf the White."
Aurora grinned at this. He was indeed very white now and she had no idea for the reason of it, but she didn't need to know. He was back, the intelligent and powerful member of their company that she had thought long dead.
"I come to you now at the turn of the tide." Gandalf said, hopping off his rock. Scott stood slowly up, his legs still shaking and helped Aurora to her feet.
Through all of this Dan had done nothing. He didn't know who this Gandalf was and he felt a little awkward being there. He was a little confused. First they had tried to attack the man and somehow that had failed, and now he was talking to them as if he was their friend. He sighed. He was going to have to have a talk with Aurora tonight so she could fill him in once more. And with Scott too, he thought, noticing as Scott reached over and wiped a tear from his sisters cheek.
Gandalf threw a gray cloak over his shoulders and he began leading the way out of the sinister forest. He spoke as he walked, the others trailing in his powerful wake.
"One stage of our journey is over and another begins. War has come upon Rohan. We must ride to Edoras as fast as we can."
Aurora did not question the fact that they were leaving. She knew that Gandalf would not leave Merry and Pippin if they were in harm's way and so she followed him with a light heart. She had no idea what Edoras was, but she could take a pretty good guess. According to what she had gathered from the riders they had encountered that morning, Rohan was like a country and Edoras was probably something like the capital of this country. She assumed it was here where the troubled King would be and she had no complaints about going there because Aragorn didn't. Plus, she had Gandalf back.
And then they were out of the forest. Aurora had to restrain herself from running away from the suffocating darkness of the trees and into the open grasslands that stretched before her.
Gandalf stepped forward and whistled piercingly. It echoed throughout the valley and they had only to wait a moment before four horses came neighing into view, led by one with a white, flowing mane.
Aurora stared at the horse in front. It was the most beautiful horse she had ever laid eyes upon. It shone white, much like Gandalf did and its thundering hooves could be heard even up here. She gaped as well when she saw that two of the other horses were none other then the two given to them by the Rohirrim.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas said, his eyes aglow and awe filling his voice once more.
Gandalf nodded in reply, smiling. "He is Shadowfax. The lord of all horses and my friend through many dangers."
With this said, he jumped upon the back of the magnificent horse and waited while the others situated themselves on the remaining three.
Legolas and Gimli were on one. Legolas in the front, holding the reins tall and proud, while Gimli sulked in the back, looking very frightened and muttering to himself. There was some controversy with the remaining members, however. Aurora and Scott were going to ride on one together but Dan had yelled that he would ride with one of them instead. Scott had yelled back and asked why it was such a big deal and this had led to a lot of yelling about lord knows what. Finally, impatient with anger, Aragorn had grabbed Aurora around the waist and plopped her on the saddle behind him. This left Scott and Dan, both angry with one another, riding together in uncomfortable silence.
It was in this way that the company galloped across the plains to the waiting town of Edoras.
~~~
A/N: Yes, I do know that Gandalf did not call anyone other than Shadowfax in the movie. In the book, however, if I recall right, Gandalf actually summoned three horses. I just added an extra one because I have a few extra members. Just thought I should let you know! Please review! Thanks!