A/n: O-M-G! That is all I can say. Has everyone seen RotK??? If you
haven't. . .WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? Lmao! It was really great,
does everyone agree? I was very satisfied with how things were tied up and
how it all went. And now I can start writing some more so that it's based
on the movie. Whoo whoo! I should be able to update at least once a week
now instead of every two weeks so expect updates more often. Unfortunately,
I don't have a script for RotK and so I am having to write all this from my
memory alone. (I've seen RotK 3 times but I can't memorize what they say!)
It is bound to have holes in it so I apologize in advance. Does anyone know
where I can get the script?? Well. thanks for checking out this chapter!
Please read and review! *hugz* Merry Christmas (late, I know) and have a
safe and happy New Year!
Oh, btw. . .If you've read the books, you're safe to read because whatever happens in this chapter happened at the end of the Two Towers book. If you haven't seen the movie and don't want spoilers, you better hold off, though this isn't a very exciting or particularly revealing chapter anyway.
--
Aurora rode swiftly through a dark forest, glancing bleakly at the canopied sky as her horse trudged after Legolas and Gimli. Scott rode his own horse behind her and was peering forlornly through the thick branches of the trees, flinching at any sound of movement.
Both of them felt the same, along with Gimli, why must they come back to trees? Fangorn Forest seemed forever ago but the thought of it still managed to instill fear in Aurora's heart. These trees felt the same as the ones in Fangorn, if indeed they weren't the same in the first place. They felt so alive, restless, and somehow seemed to cackle with intensity, much like the sky after a lightening storm.
"Remind me where we're going again," Dan said softly from the left of her. He rode alone and was eyeing the forest around him wearily. Hanalee had waited at the edge of the trees where everyone else was camped, but not because she wanted to. Dan wouldn't allow her to come and Hanalee had reluctantly stayed behind. Aurora could still see her face, standing next to Éowyn, as they gazed unblinkingly at the retreating backs of the group.
"To Saruman's tower," Aurora whispered back. She didn't know why she whispered but she somehow felt it unwise to raise her voice among all these trees.
"Saruman?" Dan yelped, looking frightened. "The fiery eye that everyone is afraid of?"
Aurora rolled her eyes. "No. That's SAURON you idiot. He's in Mordor, where Frodo's going. We are going to see SARUMAN. The wizard, the one that Gandalf has become more powerful over."
Dan immediately relaxed. "Why do all these people sound the same?"
"Well, I'm sure it wasn't intentional," Aurora muttered, pulling the reins of her horse slightly to keep it from bolting away.
"What's going on?" Scott asked from behind them, snapping out of his reverie.
"Dan's just being an idiot," Aurora called back.
"Again?" Scott asked, grinning.
Dan glared back at his friend but chose not to comment as his horse plopped along the narrow, single file trail they all followed.
Just when Aurora thought they would never reach the end of the endless expanse of trees, they parted, revealing a rather astonishing sight. Saruman's tall, black tower stood motionless in the middle of a lake. Debris floated by, edging away from tall trees that seemed to have managed to evade the annihilation of everything else. But this is not what held Aurora's attention for long. It was two hobbits, eating and smoking on a rock, that caused Aurora's heart to quicken in her chest.
"Merry? Pippin?" she called, clearly astonished. What on earth were they doing here of all places?
Merry and Pippin's faces lighted up immediately, they called out to Gandalf and then stood, it seemed to Aurora, drunkenly on a rock.
"Welcome to Isengard," Pippin called raising his glass to the group.
"Argh!" Gimli growled. "We've been searching across the entire countryside for you and you're here drinking and. . .and. . .smoking!"
"We sit," Merry said in that same, drunken demeanor, "upon a field of victory."
Pippin nodded and blew smoke rings at Gimli who looked as though he would strangle someone if he didn't get a pipe as well. "The salty pork is especially good."
"S-salty pork?" Gimli asked wistfully.
Pippin nodded, smiling, and then said, "We are the door guards for Treebeard, who has taken over the fortress."
Treebeard? Aurora had no idea who that was but he must be one hell of a warrior. Isengard was an enormous fortress. It was black and narrow, standing like a cylinder in the middle of a lake. Treebeard must be a very strong man indeed to defeat a wizard such as Saruman.
"Will you lead us to him?" Gandalf asked the small hobbits.
The hobbits reluctantly agreed and found themselves being lifted onto Gandalf and Aragorn's horses. They rode forward, Aurora, Scott, and Dan not far behind, and made their way through the shallow lake slowly and carefully. Aurora could hear the sound of trees swaying and the sound of something enormous being moved. She stole a quick, nervous glance at Scott who gave her an encouraging smile as they rode forward, gazing around in unabashed awe.
And then Aurora saw a tree. But it wasn't any ordinary tree. No, this tree was moving. It was walking upon its roots which soaked into the ground and it's limbs stretched to the heavens, swaying with every step it took. Aurora stopped breathing when she could discern a face on the trunk, complete with a knobby nose, a gashed mouth, and two big, lopsided green eyes. She heard a choking noise behind her and could tell that Scott was in as much shock and surprise as she was.
"Treebeard, my friend," Gandalf called warmly to the tree.
"Ho hum," the tree said. Aurora gaped like a fish out of water. This tree could talk. It could talk and walk like a man. It's voice was deep and full of life and somehow the endless expanse of the ages. "I am the keeper of Isengard now, Master Gandalf."
"And Saruman?" Gandalf asked, craning his neck to look into the trees enormous eyes.
"He is a prisoner in his own keep," Treebeard said, raising a limb to the top of the black tower. Was that a flicker of movement from inside the walls? Was that a candle moving away from the window?
Aurora didn't look for too long, she was enthralled with the tree. How was it possible? How could a tree possibly talk and walk and move as it did? Monsters she could handle, crazed King's she could deal with, even freaky little creatures named Gollum was alright. But a tree, something she had in her own world, was beyond her comprehension.
"An Ent," Legolas whispered to her, probably seeing her astonished look.
"A. . .an Ent?" Aurora asked.
Legolas nodded but gave her no further explanation. Aurora wasn't sure she wanted to know anyway. It might be too big of an overload on her already filled mind.
Pippin, who was sitting with Gandalf, slid off the horse and went forward to something in the water. Aurora watched him carefully, wondering what the little hobbit was up to. When Pippin reemerged, he carried a black orb. Aurora could feel a chill creep up her spine. She didn't know why but the orb somehow didn't feel right, she felt a power in the air that she hadn't felt before.
"Peregrin Took," Gandalf said slowly. Aurora was surprised to see fear etched into his eyes.
"Pippin!" Aragorn cried nervously. What was that thing? Why was everyone, including Aurora herself, so scared to see it?
Gandalf rode over to Pippin who was gazing into the ball, his eyes wide and sweat trickling down his brow. "Give it here, Pippin."
Reluctantly, Pippin handed Gandalf the orb, never taking his eyes from its midnight darkness. Gandalf didn't touch the orb, rather, he wrapped in his robe and held onto it, covering it. As soon as the orb was gone from sight, Aurora felt the tension leave the air and immediately her nerves relaxed. Whatever that thing was she had no desire to see it again.
Gandalf turned again to Treebeard. "I leave Saruman in your care, guard him and never allow him to leave his black walls of stone."
Treebeard nodded his assent and walked with them to the gate. "Farewell my friends."
Aurora gave him a little half wave, feeling rather foolish, and darted into the trees that lined the outside of Isengard. Immediately she had the feeling of being watched again and now she could blame it on the trees because she didn't doubt that Treebeard was the only one who could walk and talk.
--
"Where'd they go?" Aurora asked Hanalee, gazing away from the bright flames of the fire into the darkness of the night.
"To collect firewood," Hanalee replied, following her gaze.
The two of them sat on the outskirts of camp around a blazing fire. There was only a few tents left from the destruction of Helm's Deep and the only big tent was being used for the wounded. The rest of the survivors were sitting around various campfires scattered randomly about the countryside. They were one day's ride from Edoras and could probably have made it during the night but Théoden didn't want to risk endangering the wounded. Plus, everyone was exhausted. One more day couldn't hurt anyone.
"So how'd you meet Dan anyway?" Aurora asked, leaning back against her elbows.
Hanalee smiled and looked at Aurora. "On our way to Helm's Deep. He was walking near me and something about him caught me."
Aurora raised her eyebrows but said nothing. Whatever it was that had drawn the two together, they were very close now. Aurora had never seen her brother look at someone the way he looked at Hanalee. Maybe it was the 'love at first sight' thing that Aurora read about in books and saw in movies. She wouldn't doubt it anymore because here, in Middle Earth, one had to expect the unexpected.
"Where are you from?" Hanalee asked. "I've never heard your accent before."
Aurora smiled. Hanalee wouldn't believe her if she told the truth. "Far away," was her only response. Hanalee seemed to accept this because she said nothing else. The two of them sat in a comfortable silence, waiting for the other two members of their group to return.
--
Scott and Dan picked up stray bits of branches and twigs to feed the fire. They stayed as far away from the trees as they possibly could and didn't speak until they started making their way back to camp.
"What'd you think about the talking trees?" Scott asked nonchalantly, picking up a branch that fell from his arms.
Dan shook his head. "It's crazy but nothing seems to amaze me here anymore. I've seen it all."
Scot nodded in agreement. "I agree wholeheartedly with that."
Dan frowned. "Wholeheartedly? That's a big word."
"I think my vocabulary has improved here. Notice how proper everyone talks?"
"Aye," Dan laughed. "Now I sound like a Pirate."
"Do you ever miss being home?" Scott asked suddenly.
Dan shook his head. "No. I like it here. There was nothing left for any of us back home. Here there is mystery everyday and I like that."
Scott smiled. "Me too."
--
A/n: Uuum. . .so the last part was boring, this I know. I felt like I should develop some of the relationships a little so uh. . .yah. Please review and let me know what you think *hugz*
Oh, btw. . .If you've read the books, you're safe to read because whatever happens in this chapter happened at the end of the Two Towers book. If you haven't seen the movie and don't want spoilers, you better hold off, though this isn't a very exciting or particularly revealing chapter anyway.
--
Aurora rode swiftly through a dark forest, glancing bleakly at the canopied sky as her horse trudged after Legolas and Gimli. Scott rode his own horse behind her and was peering forlornly through the thick branches of the trees, flinching at any sound of movement.
Both of them felt the same, along with Gimli, why must they come back to trees? Fangorn Forest seemed forever ago but the thought of it still managed to instill fear in Aurora's heart. These trees felt the same as the ones in Fangorn, if indeed they weren't the same in the first place. They felt so alive, restless, and somehow seemed to cackle with intensity, much like the sky after a lightening storm.
"Remind me where we're going again," Dan said softly from the left of her. He rode alone and was eyeing the forest around him wearily. Hanalee had waited at the edge of the trees where everyone else was camped, but not because she wanted to. Dan wouldn't allow her to come and Hanalee had reluctantly stayed behind. Aurora could still see her face, standing next to Éowyn, as they gazed unblinkingly at the retreating backs of the group.
"To Saruman's tower," Aurora whispered back. She didn't know why she whispered but she somehow felt it unwise to raise her voice among all these trees.
"Saruman?" Dan yelped, looking frightened. "The fiery eye that everyone is afraid of?"
Aurora rolled her eyes. "No. That's SAURON you idiot. He's in Mordor, where Frodo's going. We are going to see SARUMAN. The wizard, the one that Gandalf has become more powerful over."
Dan immediately relaxed. "Why do all these people sound the same?"
"Well, I'm sure it wasn't intentional," Aurora muttered, pulling the reins of her horse slightly to keep it from bolting away.
"What's going on?" Scott asked from behind them, snapping out of his reverie.
"Dan's just being an idiot," Aurora called back.
"Again?" Scott asked, grinning.
Dan glared back at his friend but chose not to comment as his horse plopped along the narrow, single file trail they all followed.
Just when Aurora thought they would never reach the end of the endless expanse of trees, they parted, revealing a rather astonishing sight. Saruman's tall, black tower stood motionless in the middle of a lake. Debris floated by, edging away from tall trees that seemed to have managed to evade the annihilation of everything else. But this is not what held Aurora's attention for long. It was two hobbits, eating and smoking on a rock, that caused Aurora's heart to quicken in her chest.
"Merry? Pippin?" she called, clearly astonished. What on earth were they doing here of all places?
Merry and Pippin's faces lighted up immediately, they called out to Gandalf and then stood, it seemed to Aurora, drunkenly on a rock.
"Welcome to Isengard," Pippin called raising his glass to the group.
"Argh!" Gimli growled. "We've been searching across the entire countryside for you and you're here drinking and. . .and. . .smoking!"
"We sit," Merry said in that same, drunken demeanor, "upon a field of victory."
Pippin nodded and blew smoke rings at Gimli who looked as though he would strangle someone if he didn't get a pipe as well. "The salty pork is especially good."
"S-salty pork?" Gimli asked wistfully.
Pippin nodded, smiling, and then said, "We are the door guards for Treebeard, who has taken over the fortress."
Treebeard? Aurora had no idea who that was but he must be one hell of a warrior. Isengard was an enormous fortress. It was black and narrow, standing like a cylinder in the middle of a lake. Treebeard must be a very strong man indeed to defeat a wizard such as Saruman.
"Will you lead us to him?" Gandalf asked the small hobbits.
The hobbits reluctantly agreed and found themselves being lifted onto Gandalf and Aragorn's horses. They rode forward, Aurora, Scott, and Dan not far behind, and made their way through the shallow lake slowly and carefully. Aurora could hear the sound of trees swaying and the sound of something enormous being moved. She stole a quick, nervous glance at Scott who gave her an encouraging smile as they rode forward, gazing around in unabashed awe.
And then Aurora saw a tree. But it wasn't any ordinary tree. No, this tree was moving. It was walking upon its roots which soaked into the ground and it's limbs stretched to the heavens, swaying with every step it took. Aurora stopped breathing when she could discern a face on the trunk, complete with a knobby nose, a gashed mouth, and two big, lopsided green eyes. She heard a choking noise behind her and could tell that Scott was in as much shock and surprise as she was.
"Treebeard, my friend," Gandalf called warmly to the tree.
"Ho hum," the tree said. Aurora gaped like a fish out of water. This tree could talk. It could talk and walk like a man. It's voice was deep and full of life and somehow the endless expanse of the ages. "I am the keeper of Isengard now, Master Gandalf."
"And Saruman?" Gandalf asked, craning his neck to look into the trees enormous eyes.
"He is a prisoner in his own keep," Treebeard said, raising a limb to the top of the black tower. Was that a flicker of movement from inside the walls? Was that a candle moving away from the window?
Aurora didn't look for too long, she was enthralled with the tree. How was it possible? How could a tree possibly talk and walk and move as it did? Monsters she could handle, crazed King's she could deal with, even freaky little creatures named Gollum was alright. But a tree, something she had in her own world, was beyond her comprehension.
"An Ent," Legolas whispered to her, probably seeing her astonished look.
"A. . .an Ent?" Aurora asked.
Legolas nodded but gave her no further explanation. Aurora wasn't sure she wanted to know anyway. It might be too big of an overload on her already filled mind.
Pippin, who was sitting with Gandalf, slid off the horse and went forward to something in the water. Aurora watched him carefully, wondering what the little hobbit was up to. When Pippin reemerged, he carried a black orb. Aurora could feel a chill creep up her spine. She didn't know why but the orb somehow didn't feel right, she felt a power in the air that she hadn't felt before.
"Peregrin Took," Gandalf said slowly. Aurora was surprised to see fear etched into his eyes.
"Pippin!" Aragorn cried nervously. What was that thing? Why was everyone, including Aurora herself, so scared to see it?
Gandalf rode over to Pippin who was gazing into the ball, his eyes wide and sweat trickling down his brow. "Give it here, Pippin."
Reluctantly, Pippin handed Gandalf the orb, never taking his eyes from its midnight darkness. Gandalf didn't touch the orb, rather, he wrapped in his robe and held onto it, covering it. As soon as the orb was gone from sight, Aurora felt the tension leave the air and immediately her nerves relaxed. Whatever that thing was she had no desire to see it again.
Gandalf turned again to Treebeard. "I leave Saruman in your care, guard him and never allow him to leave his black walls of stone."
Treebeard nodded his assent and walked with them to the gate. "Farewell my friends."
Aurora gave him a little half wave, feeling rather foolish, and darted into the trees that lined the outside of Isengard. Immediately she had the feeling of being watched again and now she could blame it on the trees because she didn't doubt that Treebeard was the only one who could walk and talk.
--
"Where'd they go?" Aurora asked Hanalee, gazing away from the bright flames of the fire into the darkness of the night.
"To collect firewood," Hanalee replied, following her gaze.
The two of them sat on the outskirts of camp around a blazing fire. There was only a few tents left from the destruction of Helm's Deep and the only big tent was being used for the wounded. The rest of the survivors were sitting around various campfires scattered randomly about the countryside. They were one day's ride from Edoras and could probably have made it during the night but Théoden didn't want to risk endangering the wounded. Plus, everyone was exhausted. One more day couldn't hurt anyone.
"So how'd you meet Dan anyway?" Aurora asked, leaning back against her elbows.
Hanalee smiled and looked at Aurora. "On our way to Helm's Deep. He was walking near me and something about him caught me."
Aurora raised her eyebrows but said nothing. Whatever it was that had drawn the two together, they were very close now. Aurora had never seen her brother look at someone the way he looked at Hanalee. Maybe it was the 'love at first sight' thing that Aurora read about in books and saw in movies. She wouldn't doubt it anymore because here, in Middle Earth, one had to expect the unexpected.
"Where are you from?" Hanalee asked. "I've never heard your accent before."
Aurora smiled. Hanalee wouldn't believe her if she told the truth. "Far away," was her only response. Hanalee seemed to accept this because she said nothing else. The two of them sat in a comfortable silence, waiting for the other two members of their group to return.
--
Scott and Dan picked up stray bits of branches and twigs to feed the fire. They stayed as far away from the trees as they possibly could and didn't speak until they started making their way back to camp.
"What'd you think about the talking trees?" Scott asked nonchalantly, picking up a branch that fell from his arms.
Dan shook his head. "It's crazy but nothing seems to amaze me here anymore. I've seen it all."
Scot nodded in agreement. "I agree wholeheartedly with that."
Dan frowned. "Wholeheartedly? That's a big word."
"I think my vocabulary has improved here. Notice how proper everyone talks?"
"Aye," Dan laughed. "Now I sound like a Pirate."
"Do you ever miss being home?" Scott asked suddenly.
Dan shook his head. "No. I like it here. There was nothing left for any of us back home. Here there is mystery everyday and I like that."
Scott smiled. "Me too."
--
A/n: Uuum. . .so the last part was boring, this I know. I felt like I should develop some of the relationships a little so uh. . .yah. Please review and let me know what you think *hugz*