Author's Note: I'm not particularly happy with some aspects of this chapter, but I rushed a little bit trying to get it done. I'm going out of town tomorrow and I really wanted to update before I go. I'm going to be gone for two weeks, so it might be a while before the next update.
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O'Neill glanced around at the motley crew surrounding him, mentally assessing the current situation.
The Tok'ra. Everyone's favorite snakeheads, he thought dryly. Six of them had come through the Gate; Jacob and Martouf he recognized immediately. A third, Aldwin, was vaguely familiar. They all tended to look the same after a while, in those oh-so-fashionable leathery outfits of theirs, but O'Neill was relatively sure that Aldwin was the one who had nearly blown him, Carter and Daniel all to smithereens on that mission to Netu.
He was following the orders of the Tok'ra Council, an inner voice reminded him.
Yeah, whatever, O'Neill retorted. Doesn't mean I have to like him.
The other three Tok'ra were all unfamiliar. Jacob had introduced them when they'd first arrived, but their names had slipped O'Neill's mind. Teal'c would probably remember them.
"We must assess the situation and determine a plan of action," Lantesh was saying. "Samantha and Dr. Jackson's time may be limited."
"Why, yes, Lantesh. Thank you for the reminder," O'Neill said. He pretended not to see the annoyed glance the Tok'ra shot him and looked over at the group of natives. "You all seem to be pretty familiar with Saruman's territory. If there's any information you guys might be willing to share..."
"We would be most appreciative," Teal'c put in.
"For example, how many of those Uruk Jaffa are we talking about here?"
"It is difficult to give you an exact number," Aragorn replied, "but hundreds, if not thousands of Orcs guard Isengard.".
What about Saruman's fortress?" O'Neill asked. "I assume it's the usual huge, gaudy mothership."
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli exchanged confused glances. O'Neill recognized the look he had received when the Stargate had first been mentioned.
Jacob shook his head. "Saruman is probably too minor a Goa'uld to have a mothership."
"His fortress is a tower called Orthanc," Gandalf informed them. "Your companions are most likely trapped on the roof, where Saruman likes to keep his prisoners."
Silence fell as O'Neill considered this. "All right," he said after a moment. "How far is it from here?"
"A day's journey through the forest, to the southwest," Gandalf answered.
O'Neill nodded. "Okay. Let's go check it out." He motioned to Ferretti. "Earlier, we found one of those Jaffa here in the forest, so I want someone here guarding the Gate."
"Understood," Ferretti said. He turned to his team. "Clark and Adamson, you'll remain here at the Gate. Stay in radio contact."
"Jadek and Reesin will remain as well," Selmak intoned, naming two of the other Tok'ra.
"And...what about you guys?" O'Neill inquired, raising an eyebrow at Gandalf, Aragorn and the others.
Aragorn looked to Gandalf, who replied, "We must return to Rohan and assist King Théoden in defending his country against Saruman."
"We wish you luck in aiding your friends," Aragorn said formally.
Teal'c inclined his head, answering for all of them. "Thank you."
O'Neill shouldered his rifle. "Let's move out."
"So, Jacob, do you guys know anything about this Saruman?" O'Neill asked.
Jacob shook his head. "He's new to us. I don't think we know anything more than you do."
"Which is not much," O'Neill said dryly.
"He is obviously a minor Goa'uld," Teal'c observed. "His Jaffa do not even possess staff weapons."
"Yeah, what's up with that?" O'Neill wondered, frowning.
"Staff weapons require naquadah in order to function," Teal'c explained. "Most likely, Saruman does not control worlds with sufficient naquadah deposits."
"And, what, his boss is too stingy to give him any?" O'Neill quipped.
"His boss?" Jacob broke in before Teal'c could respond. "Do you know who Saruman works for?"
O'Neill pursed his lips. "Some Goa'uld I've never heard of. The names were really similar."
"Sauron," Teal'c supplied.
"Yeah, Sauron. That was it," O'Neill said. "I mean, Saruman and Sauron? He doesn't score any points for originality..." He trailed off. "Jacob?"
Jacob had stopped dead in his tracks. "Sauron?" He repeated, as though making sure he had heard correctly.
"Yeah..." O'Neill said slowly. "What?"
Jacob shook his head grimly. "This is worse than I thought."
The journey back to Edoras was silent, save for the huffing of the horses' breath and the dull pounding of their hooves on the terrain. Each person was lost in his own thoughts, contemplating what he had seen. The mysterious circle of stone, able to transport people to Middle Earth--but from where? Did the strangers all come from one place? From many different places? Who were these people? What did they really want? And why had no one ever come through the circle before?
Legolas guided Arod next to Hasufel, Aragorn's horse, until the two were cantering side by side.
"What are you thinking?" the Elf asked.
Aragorn was silent a moment before answering. "As many Orcs inhabit Isengard, I fear O'Neill and the others are going to their deaths."
Legolas had clearly come to the same conclusion. "I wish there was something we could do to help them," he said softly, almost to himself.
Gimli was more cynical. "We have enough quandaries of our own without getting wrapped up in the problems of strangers whose motives are not entirely clear!"
Aragorn nodded reluctantly. As hopeless a situation as O'Neill and his friends appeared to be facing, Rohan's predicament was just as dire. Théoden needed as much support as possible, or his entire country could face disaster.
Time passed, and eventually Edoras came into view. The Golden Hall of Medusel, perched atop a rolling hill, rose majestically above the humbler buildings that made up the rest of the city.
Gandalf and Shadowfax led their small group towards the stables next to the Golden Hall. The riders dismounted and tended to their horses, who were eager for the comforts of their stalls.
Aragorn untacked Hasufel, giving him a well-deserved pat on the neck, and left him in the capable hands of a Rohirric groomer.
Leaving Hasufel's stall, he walked to the far end of the stable, where Gandalf was settling Shadowfax in his stall. No stablehands attended the headstrong Mearas; he allowed Gandalf alone to touch him.
Aragorn stopped outside the stall and knocked lightly on the wooden door to get the wizard's attention.
Gandalf looked over, cocking a shaggy eyebrow at his friend. "Aragorn?"
Aragorn took a deep breath. "Gandalf, you are obviously familiar with the...Stargate. Or, at least, you've heard of it before."
Gandalf inclined his head. "Yes." He stepped out of Shadowfax's stall and latched the door, then started down the aisle with Aragorn beside him.
Aragorn opened his mouth, then closed it again, unsure of where to start. Finally he simply asked, "What is it?"
Gandalf glanced quickly around the stable, then spoke in a low tone. "It is a piece of ancient technology, able to transport people and objects across great distances."
"How did it get here? What is it doing here? Why is it in Fangorn?"
Gandalf held up a hand to stall the flood of questions. "It was created by a powerful race that no longer exists on Middle Earth. It was not originally located in Fangorn, but was moved there thousands of years ago."
"Why?"
Gandalf was quiet for a moment before replying. "When Morgoth attempted to take control of Middle Earth, he used the Stargate to bring warriors here, amassing large armies. He was eventually defeated by the Valar, and shortly afterward they moved the Stargate to Fangorn so that it could not be used in that way again. Now, the Ents keep watch over it, making sure it is not discovered by Sauron. Ever since Morgoth's defeat, it has remained silent, dormant...until now."
"What do you mean, this is worse than you thought?" O'Neill asked, looking at Jacob with a touch of exasperation.
"You know something of Sauron," Teal'c stated.
Jacob resumed walking and glanced at Martouf, whose expression was equally grim.
"Not much," Jacob admitted. "But what we do know isn't good."
"Is anything ever good when it comes to the Goa'uld?" O'Neill pointed out.
"No," Martouf replied, either missing or overlooking O'Neill's sarcasm. "But this is worse than usual." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Sauron is working on the development of naquadria, and based on what our scouts have reported, he's been alarmingly successful so far."
"So," O'Neill began, "this is another one of those cases where one Goa'uld could become all-powerful, annihilate all the others and become head honcho of the entire galaxy?"
Martouf's mouth quirked. "You could put it that way, yes."
"If Sauron is such a threat, why haven't we heard of him before?" Ferretti spoke up, looking skeptical.
"Sauron has been quiet for millenia," Martouf explained. "He has probably been attempting to produce naquadria for quite some time, and has only recently made significant progress."
"Saruman is most likely serving Sauron in hopes that he'll be able to reap some of the benefits if Sauron does ascend to ultimate power," Selmak said. "He may not be powerful now, but if Sauron is not stopped..."
"Yeah," O'Neill said, sighing heavily. "Well, we'll deal with that after we've got Carter and Daniel back."
The journey continued in silence. Nearly everyone was on edge, and O'Neill could not shake the feeling that they were being watched. Then again, maybe it was just paranoia from having been in the dark, rather creepy atmosphere of the forest for so long.
Maybe.
When the forest finally thinned and daylight could be seen, it was none too soon. The group clustered at the edge of the trees and looked out over Isengard.
"Very inviting place," O'Neill commented.
The landscape was bleak, the ground dotted with gaping, smoky holes. The only remaining plant life was burned, jagged tree stumps. Orcs roamed freely, doing their master's will. In the middle of it all stood the black, sinister-looking tower that Gandalf had called Orthanc.
O'Neill pulled out his binoculars and pointed them at the top of the tower, squinting. Sure enough, he could make out two figures on the roof, huddled against one of the protruding spikes.
"The old guy was right," he said, handing the binoculars to Jacob. "They're on the roof."
"And Aragorn was correct about the number of Orcs," Aldwin said. "Several hundred, at least."
This was met with a grim silence. After a moment, O'Neill spoke up. "Anyone have any bright ideas?"