**Reunion**

As the company rode closer, Miranda could see two small figures resting on a large pile of rocks next to the gate.  One seemed to be sleeping, and the other was smoking a long pipe that was similar to the pipe Gandalf liked to use.  As they approached, Miranda recognized them…Merry and Pippin.  They were resting and had obviously just had a fine meal as there were empty plates and glasses around them.  She smiled broadly, but waited to see what the others would say when they realized just who was guarding the gate.  Merry looked up and saw them and reached over and nudged Pip to wake him.  He climbed off the rubble and bowed politely before the king.

"Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!" he said graciously.  "We are the door wardens.  I am Meriadoc, son of Saradoc, and my companion, who, alas! -is exhausted, is Peregrin, son of Paladin.  Far north in the Shire is our home.  Saruman is within entertaining a guest, a gentleman named Wormtongue; otherwise, I'm sure he would be here himself to receive such noble and excellent guests."

"No doubt he would," Gandalf said with a chuckle.  "And was it Saruman who sent you to guard his broken gates and welcome guests when you could spare a moment from your feast?"

"No, Saruman has been too busy to remember his manners.  The order came from Treebeard, who has taken over the management of Isengard.  He ordered us to greet the King of Rohan.  I have done my best."

"And what of your friends?  What of Legolas and me?" Gimli said, in mock annoyance.  "You wooly footed rascals!  What a fine chase you have led us, through field and forest, battle and death, to rescue you!  And here we find you with your bellies full and smoking, -Smoking!  Where did you come by the weed, you villains?  I can't decide whether to be happy or angry."

"And that goes for me as well," Legolas agreed, "but I'd sooner know how they came by the wine."

Pippin gave half a frown and spoke up, "I'd have thought you had brighter wits to see we are sitting on the field of victory and the plunder of armies.  And you wonder how we came by a few well earned comforts."

"Well earned?" Gimli said humorously.  "I cannot believe that!"

Théoden laughed heartily at the exchange and commented.  "Well, it is obvious that we are witness to a long waited reunion of good friends.  So here we see the legend in truth, Halflings."

"Hobbits if you please, Lord," Pippin said.

"Hobbits?" Théoden repeated thoughtfully.  "The name seems fitting.  No stories have I heard that do you justice."

Merry and Pippin both bowed.

Ẻomer turned to Miranda and asked, "Are these the friends you were seeking?"

Miranda just stared at the two hobbits and smiled.  "Oh, yes.  That's them."

Haldir remembered the two hobbits from the fellowship's visit to Lothlorien and exchanged a smile with Miranda as well. 

Ẻomer noticed their smiles and turned back to the road with a scowl.  It was obvious that the Lady was friends with the elf captain.  She did not seem to show a special interest in any of the companions beyond friendship, but the elf was keeping too close of an eye on her and Ẻomer didn't like it.

"It is past noon," Gandalf interrupted the two hobbits, "and we have not eaten.  Yet I wish to speak to Treebeard as soon as possible.  Didn't he leave a message, or has your luncheon driven it from your mind?"

"He left a message," Merry said.  "I was just coming to that.  Treebeard has said that if The Lord of the Mark and Gandalf will ride to the north wall, he will greet them there.  And they will find food there as well, of the best quality, chosen by your humble servants." Merry and Pippin both bowed low again.

"Well, that is better," Gandalf laughed.  "Théoden, will you ride with me to meet our host, Treebeard?  It is worth the ride, for Treebeard is the oldest and wisest of the ents."

"My men and I will come with you," Théoden agreed.  "Farewell young hobbits."

Gandalf and the company rode through the gate to meet with Treebeard, but Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Miranda remained behind to speak to their friends.  They all dismounted and went to greet the hobbits.

  "So, our search is over, and we finally meet again, where none would have thought to look," Aragorn said.

"Now that Gandalf and the King have gone to discuss weighty matters," Legolas said to them, "the hunters can get an accounting of your journey."

 "There is much that we want to know about your chase as well," Merry said.

"Yes, but you first," Legolas said with a smile, "For we have been hunting you."

"Or them second, after a meal," Gimli suggested.  "Stories go better on a full belly."

"Of course," Pippin said brightly.  "We have saved the best of the plunder for our companions, in what's left of the guardhouse just inside the gates."

"It is a bit more comfortable in there and we can get a fire going to chase away the chill," Merry added.

"Very good, master hobbit," Aragorn said. "Lead the way."

The six companions led the horses through the gate and found the guardhouse.  Merry and Pippin immediately went to work to get the fire going and set the food on the table.  The food didn't look like it had been intended for orcs, and Gimli was curious as to where they had found it.

"Saruman treated his orcs well," Gimli commented.

"Oh, no. These provisions were for men," Pippin said.  "Saruman didn't trust the guarding of his gates to orcs."

Merry and Pippin brought out wine and offered beer as well, serving their lost companions with the best of their found provisions.  After everyone had eaten their fill, and they had all lit their pipes for an after dinner smoke, it was story time.

"Let's have the story then," Aragorn said as he blew a long puff of pipe smoke out.  "We know you were captives until the forest, but after that, we lost track of you."

"One moment," Miranda said.  "Here is a lost treasure." Miranda pulled the Leaf brooch from her pocket and gave it back to Pippin. 

"Oh, thank you," Pippin said as he put it back on.  "I hated to part with it, but it was all I could think of."

"It was a good plan," Aragorn said. "It gave us renewed hope in our pursuit.  Anyway, do begin your tale, from Fangorn Forest." Aragorn also returned their weapons.

"When the orcs were attacked," Merry said, "we had our chance to escape.  We ran for the cover of the forest, and met Treebeard who brought us to meet Gandalf.  After that meeting, Treebeard took us to his Ent house for the night, and we traveled the next day to Entmoot."

"At Entmoot, the Ents were meeting to decide if they would go to war against Saruman," Pippin said.  "They had decided not to get involved, until they saw the destruction of the trees."

"Yes," Merry added.  "That definitely made up their minds."

The two hobbits continued on with the details of the battle of the ents and their assault on Isengard.  The four companions listened with wonder at all the events they had missed.  Then Aragorn gave them an account of the battle at Helm's Deep and the events that the two hobbits had missed.  It was late afternoon, and their tales were done.  They lounged on the rubble outside the guardhouse, soaking up the sun and smoking pipe weed.  Miranda, who refrained from smoking, had found a few surviving wildflowers growing out of cracks in the wall, and was picking them for something to do.  Pippin noticed her thoughtful expression and was curious about her part in the journey.

"And what about lady Miranda?" Pippin asked Aragorn.  "How did she manage such a hasty pursuit and fierce battle?"

"Miranda kept up just fine," Legolas said.

"She saved my life," Aragorn said.  "After the Wolf riders attacked, it was she who found me."

 "Aye," Gimli said.  "She was strong in battle, and will bear a scar to mark her part in the conflict."

"I believe the lady has the interest of two captains, as well," Legolas said with a smile.  "Though, she does not seem to know it."

Merry laughed at that, "Who?"

"The King's nephew, Lord Ẻomer, and Haldir," Aragorn said, sparing a glance at Miranda, who was out of earshot of the conversation.  "She has had heavy matters on her mind of late, and seems not to notice."

"Last night she dreamed of Frodo and Sam," Gimli said.  "She told us they were safe, and still on their way to Mordor."

"That is good news, though Mordor is not the safest place to go," Merry said.

Miranda returned to her companions with a generous handful of colorful wildflowers, and sat down with her friends.  She leaned back against the rocks and closed her eyes.

"It is good to see you again, Miranda," Merry said. 

Miranda smiled, but didn't open her eyes.  "It is good to see the two of you as well."

They rested in silence for a while, and then Aragorn sighed heavily and spoke.  "We should go meet Gandalf, and pay Saruman a visit," he said.

"The water has subsided," Merry said, "and we can follow the main path to Orthanc."

The companions gathered their things and led the horses down the path to Saruman's tower.  Miranda didn't like it, the tall ominous tower reaching the sky like a great black obelisk.  It was dreary and foreboding.   Saruman would be there, and she didn't know why, but she was afraid of him.  Gandalf, Théoden and the other riders saw them coming up the road, and waited for them.

"I see you are all present," Gandalf said with a smile.  "I trust you have rested and refreshed yourselves?"

"Our young gatekeepers have tended to our needs well, and have brought us up to date on their activities," Aragorn said.

"Good," Gandalf said.  "I have learned much from my talk with Treebeard, but now I must visit Saruman.  It may be an unpleasant exchange, but it must be done," he added sadly.  "Anyone who wishes may join me, but I warn you to be on your guard."

"He is defeated," Merry said.  "What can he do, put a spell on us?"

"Saruman is still very powerful, and has many tricks," Gandalf warned.  "Beware his voice."

Miranda's expression was apprehensive.  She was staring ahead thoughtfully when Gandalf broke into her thoughts.

"Miranda," Gandalf said getting her and everyone else's attention.  "Pull up your hood and stay quiet and hidden.  I don't want Saruman to see you."

"Why?" Miranda asked nervously.

"Maybe Miranda should stay behind," Haldir said.  "I will wait with her."

"That is not necessary," Gandalf insisted.  "I simply don't want to draw Saruman's attention to her.  He is very clever and dangerous.  He will recognize her as a seer immediately; I would rather keep that a secret."

Miranda pulled her hood up and tucked her braid behind her, out of sight.  Gandalf nodded his approval, and the company continued down the road to the tower steps.  Haldir fell into step beside Miranda, and Ẻomer managed to find his way to her side as well.  Miranda was too deep in thought to really notice anything but the sight of the steps that led to Saruman's prison.  Miranda's footsteps started to slow the closer she got to the tower.

"It's all right," Ẻomer said quietly to her.

Miranda just nodded quietly and picked up her pace again.  When the company reached the steps, Miranda stayed near the back of the riders with her two guardians standing on either side of her.  Everyone left on horseback dismounted and looked to Gandalf.

"I must go speak to Saruman, and Théoden and Aragorn can come with me," Gandalf said.

"I will take Ẻomer with me," Théoden said.

"Legolas and I wish to come, as representatives of our people," Gimli said.

"Go ahead, Haldir," Miranda said quietly.

"No, Legolas can go," Haldir said as he looked into her troubled green eyes.  "I'll stay with you."

Miranda smiled and waited.  Gandalf, Théoden and their chosen companions climbed the stairs to the great doors.  Gandalf banged heavily on the door and shouted for Saruman to come out.  Miranda held her breath when she heard the shutters on the window above the door being unbolted and opened.  She had a bad feeling, and closed her eyes as she buried her face in Haldir's chest.  Haldir looked down at her trembling form and silently wrapped his arms protectively around her.  He could feel her fear, and could think of no other way to comfort her.  He looked up to the window and listened.