Entmoot
In the early hours of morning before dawn, there was a lot of activity on the ship. Sailors brought up supplies for the travelers, and Ẻomer was already on his way ashore. Alcon was keeping the last watch and greeted him as he approached.
"Good morning," Alcon said. "You rise early."
"Yes, we must continue our errand. I am on my way to celebrate with Aragorn. I understand Miiriel is ready to deliver any day now."
"If she has not already," Alcon agreed. "That is my only regret in leaving so suddenly. I would like to have seen my new nephew."
"A son," Ẻomer said with a grin. "Aragorn will be quite proud of a grandson."
"I look forward to returning when this errand is through," Alcon said.
"The wood is not far," Ẻomer said. "You will be there before nightfall. With your charge delivered safely to the Ents, you can return to Gondor to visit your sister."
"My brother and I swore to protect Jamie," Alcon said. "I do not think that duty will be ended at Entmoot. Fangorn keeps his own council about the Voice of the Forest, but I believe he wants something from her."
Ẻomer looked across the camp to Treebeard. The Ents had helped to protect Edoras while they were in Gondor defending Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring. Ẻomer owed him much in gratitude and friendship. He did not think the Ents were capable of harm to anyone except in greatest need.
"Whatever he wants from her will cause her no harm," Ẻomer said. "Be at peace in this matter, and return to Gondor soon. I have brought you supplies for a long journey, just in case. I would not want you to be unprepared again. There are a few comforts for the lady."
"Thank you, Cousin," Alcon said.
The camp rose as the dawn brightened the eastern sky. Everyone busied themselves in packing the supplies, and Jamie rolled up her sleeping bag. Fangorn was making his farewells to the King, and everyone was mounting up. Polodrin rode over to Jamie.
"My lady, you would honor me if you rode with me today," he said.
Jamie glanced at Thelyn who was busy talking to Legolas. She didn't want to hurt Polodrin's feelings, so she decided it couldn't hurt.
"All right," she said.
Polodrin reached for her hand and helped her up behind him. She timidly wrapped her arms around his waist and he placed a hand on hers. Jamie bit her lip when she realized Thelyn was staring at her. She should never have stopped riding with Treebeard.
The sailors cast off the lines and Ẻomer and Gloorion waved from the deck as the ship drifted downstream. Treebeard turned north along the shore of the Entwash as it wound up toward Fangorn Forest. His pace seemed even more urgent today, and Jamie knew she'd be saddle sore when they finally stopped. They didn't stop for lunch, but kept going until finally the wood was in sight late that afternoon. Treebeard's pace quickened, and somewhere in the thick forest they heard the deep haunting call of another Ent. Treebeard answered, and disappeared into the wood with the riders following.
The first thing Jamie noticed about the forest was how big and old the trees looked. And then, as they passed under the canopy, she heard whispering. She looked around, but no one was speaking.
"What did you say?" she whispered to Polodrin, thinking he had spoken to her.
"I said nothing, my lady," he said.
Treebeard led them deep into the heart of Fangorn, and finally halted. He was met by another Ent who spoke to him in low rumbles. They seemed to speak for a long time before finally Treebeard turned to the riders and spoke.
"Quickbeam informs me that all are present and await us at Derndingle. Jamie will come with me now," he said. "You may follow, but must wait at the edge of the glen."
Polodrin helped Jamie down, and she walked over to Treebeard. Quickbeam looked down at her curiously. He spoke to Treebeard in his rumbly Entish speech and Jamie thought she could almost understand him. Treebeard raised a hand to silence Quickbeam and reached down for Jamie. She climbed up to his shoulder, and the two Ents went deeper into the wood.
Jamie heard the horses behind her. It was comforting to have them looking after her, but she wasn't afraid. The low murmur seemed to continue, and she just had to ask Treebeard what it was.
"What is that whispering?" she asked.
"The trees are greeting you," he said. "Can you understand them?"
"No," Jamie admitted, "but I hear their voices."
Treebeard smiled, "It is certain that you will be equal to your task. Look there," he said, "The Ents are gathered to meet you."
Jamie saw a sort of valley before them, with no trees in it save three tall trees at its center. Standing in a circle around the trees were a number of Ents. They all looked like walking trees, of varying varieties. Some looked like birch trees and willows and evergreens. Treebeard and Quickbeam went down to meet them. At the edge of the circle, Treebeard put Jamie down.
"Wait here," he said. "I will return for you."
The Ents began to… sing? Yes, it sounded like singing. It reminded her of a men's choir, deep voices in strange harmonies. They swayed slightly, and continued like that for several hours while Jamie sat and watched.
Up on the hill at the edge of the woods, the riders waited and watched.
"Do you think she's alright?" Thelyn asked.
"She looks bored," Polodrin said. "They have been going for hours."
"The sun has set," Legolas said. "She looks tired and hungry, but we cannot enter without invitation."
Finally the song faded and Treebeard returned to Jamie.
"I have told them of you, and now you must sing," he said. "Come." He led her to the center of the circle and then lifted her into the branches of the tallest of the three trees. "Lift your voice, and let them hear your song."
"What song?" she asked, suddenly nervous.
"Listen to the trees, and it will come to you," Treebeard said, and then backed away.
Jamie watched his retreat to the circle of Ents. They were all looking at her with scrutiny. She had the feeling she was supposed to prove herself. Well, if they were going to be that way, she'd sure as hell sing. She didn't come all this way for nothing. She closed her eyes and listened. There was a light breeze that rustled the branches of the wood. And then she heard the murmur again, deep and secret whisperings that seemed to be calling to her. She tried to make out what was being said, but all she heard was sing, sing, sing…
And so she did. Jamie didn't even know the words that spilled out, but they came like a flood from her lips. It was a language like none she'd ever heard, yet somehow she knew it wasn't gibberish. A glorious melody pierced the night, and the Ents began to sway and they raised their rumbling voices with her. Her song continued for several hours. The words kept coming uncontrollably, and she sang with all she had until exhaustion crept into every fiber of her body. It was nearly dawn when she finally stopped. She swayed in the branches and then passed out, falling to the ground in a heap.
Up on the hill, the others had waited, listening to the magical voice. When they saw her fall, it was all Alcon and Legolas could do to hold back Polodrin and Thelyn.
"Wait!" Legolas ordered. "Don't insult the Ents now, look. They are already caring for her."
Quickbeam went to Jamie and gently picked her up. He carried her up the hill to her waiting companions and carefully laid her down.
"She is the one," he said. "She is weary, and needs rest and food. When she has recovered, we will speak with her again." And with that, he turned and went back to the Entmoot.
Thelyn was on his knees beside her checking for injuries. That had been quite a fall she'd taken. "Jamie," he said softly.
"Anything broken?" Legolas asked.
"No, but she won't wake," Thelyn said.
Polodrin rummaged through their supplies for a cask of water. "Here," he said, handing it to Thelyn.
Thelyn gently lifted her head and spilled a little water over her lips. Her eyes fluttered a little and she started to drink. Thelyn was so relieved he thought he would cry. After a long drink, she opened her eyes and started talking in Entish. Her voice was still soft and sweet, but the words were distinctly… Entish.
"Jamie," Thelyn interrupted.
Jamie looked at him curiously. "What?" she asked.
"Jamie, you were speaking entish," Thelyn said simply.
Jamie frowned. "No, that's impossible," she insisted hoarsely.
Legolas sighed. "Jamie, stop talking before you lose your voice completely," he said. He nodded to Polodrin, "Get her blanket; I'll get her something to eat."
In a few short minutes, Jamie found herself tucked into her sleeping bag with four concerned men trying to get her to eat just a little more.
"I'm fine," she croaked.
Polodrin knelt beside her, "Jamie, please, stop talking. If you're done eating, you need to go to sleep and rest."
Jamie looked at all their worried faces and finally nodded. She closed her eyes, and in minutes she was out cold. Down in the valley, the rumbles of the Ents continued through the dawn. Jamie's sleep seemed troubled, but she did not wake.
"What do they want from her?" Thelyn asked Legolas.
Legolas was also growing concerned. They had been here all night, and still had no answers. "We will just have to wait," he said.
Thelyn looked back at Jamie. What was happening to her? She sang in a strange language she didn't know, and then spoke entish. He knew there was magic at work here. He just hoped it wasn't harmful magic.
It was late afternoon when Jamie woke up. The Ents were still conversing, and Jamie sat up to see what was going on.
"Are you well?" Legolas asked.
"I feel fine," she whispered. Her hand flew to her throat and she tried to speak again. Her lips moved, but there was no sound.
"I see that you are not," Legolas said.
Jamie looked alarmed and Thelyn tried to comfort her. "You cannot sing for hours on end without straining your voice. You will be fine with rest, now stop trying to speak."
Polodrin brought her some water. "Here, Jamie," he said.
Alcon had been keeping watch on Entmoot and suddenly interrupted.
"Quickbeam is returning," he said.
Everyone turned and Quickbeam spoke. "Our decision has been made," he said. "All that remains is for he singer to agree. Has she recovered?"
"She is rested, but her voice is gone," Legolas said with a hint of annoyance.
Quickbeam nodded. "There is a remedy for that," he said. "I will return." He disappeared into the wood. Less than five minutes later he returned with a large basin of water. He set it down beside Jamie. "Drink," Quickbeam said. "It will refresh you and restore your voice."
"What is it?" Legolas asked.
"Ent draught," Quickbeam said reassuringly. "A strong brew. It should strengthen her."
Jamie looked at Legolas and he gave her a nod. She sat up and filled her cupped hands with the cool clear liquid. It was like water, but different. She drank, and drank. She felt more thirsty than she'd ever felt before. She drank her fill and finally stopped.
Thelyn watched her with a cocked brow, "Well?" he asked.
"I feel much better," she said with a smile.
"Then come," Quickbeam said. "It is time that you addressed the Entmoot."
Jamie stood and Legolas looked at her curiously. He could swear her hair looked a little longer.
Jamie followed Quickbeam back to the circle of Ents. Treebeard met her and spoke.
"You are indeed the voice of the forest, Jamie," he said. "And so a task is laid before you. You are to journey into the east and find the Entwives that were lost to us in the first age."
"How? I know nothing of this world, or how to find anything," Jamie protested.
"Quickbeam has been chosen to go with you," Treebeard said. "Your song will lead you to them, and for you they will return."
"What must I do?" she asked.
"The Singer's quest begins here," Treebeard said. "If you wish, your escort may go with you, but you are the leader of this quest. Quickbeam has sworn to obey and protect you."
"I don't want to boss anyone around," Jamie said flatly. "I'm no leader."
"Your path will lead to the Entwives," Quickbeam said. "I will follow you."
"What is your answer?" Treebeard asked.
Jamie looked at the hopeful faces of the tree men that watched her. She realized they were all men. Entwives… girlfriends? She finally understood. They were lonely, and she was here to reunite them with the female Ents. How could she refuse them?
"I will do as you ask. If I can find your Entwives, I will do everything I can to bring them back to you," she said.
Treebeard broke into a song. His deep voice rose over the treetops and was quickly joined by the other Ents' voices. They sang of the spring and of gardens and the Entwives and Entings. It was the sound of joy and hope. Jamie had no idea what she was doing. She hoped she wouldn't let them down.
Back at the edge of Derndingle, up on the hill, three Elves and a man stared in disbelief.
"What did they say," Polodrin asked Legolas.
"I do not know," he said.
"I thought elves could hear things far off," Polodrin said.
"We can," Legolas said, "But they were all speaking Entish."
"Even Jamie?" he asked.
"Yes."
"How is that possible?" Alcon asked.
"I do not know," Legolas said.
"Now what?" Thelyn asked.
"Ask the lady," Legolas said. "Here she comes."
Jamie reached the top of the hill and looked at them all nervously. She shifted from foot to foot and tried to think of what to tell them.
"I have to leave," she said. "Quickbeam and I are traveling east in search of the Entwives."
"You're going on a quest, just like that?" Polodrin asked.
"The Singer's Quest," Jamie said. "Yes, I agreed to go."
"Then I will go with you," Legolas said.
"You don't have to," Jamie said.
"You have nothing to say in the matter," Legolas said firmly. He didn't trust the ent to look after her properly. Jamie was not a tree.
"We will be going as well," Alcon said.
"And me too," Polodrin said.
Jamie didn't know what to say. She'd hoped they would come along, but wouldn't ask. They'd done enough already. "But your families," she said, giving them one final out.
"Do not need us," Polodrin finished for her.
Jamie suddenly smiled. "Thank you. I'm to leave in the morning," she said.
"Then get some rest," Legolas said.
The Ents broke up and all disappeared into the woods. Legolas kept watch while everyone slept. He sighed as he gazed across the glen to the distant trees. He loved this forest. How strange to find himself here again at the beginning of another quest. Jamie had him intrigued. The singing was impressive, but her understanding and use of an ancient language like Entish was perplexing. He had a feeling that this was going to be a very interesting journey.