Dark orbs
Demi and Boromir joined the circle now seated together, waiting patiently. Demi threw a sidewards glance to Boromir whom himself seemed deep in thought. She sighed as she made herself comfortable and looked towards Pippin who was standing to tell the story.
"It begins when I woke up. I was in an orc encampment nine days ago, although it does seem much longer. Like a bad dream it seemed, yet still so real. The smell, the whips, the pain, there was so much that made it so hard to remember." Pippin retold his point of view of what was supposed to be Boromir's last fight, all adding together for the other members. Aragorn returned Merry and Pippin's sheathed knives they had dropped and Pippin's leaf brooch.
"It was a wrench to let it go like that; but I had nothing else to lead you to us." Pip said.
"One who can cast away a treasure at need is in restraints. You chose well." Aragorn said.
"Now, pray tell little friends, did you cut your own bonds? You set us in a muck there, so much so that it almost seemed as though you had spurt wings and flown away!" Boromir said, chuckling.
"I could have only wished! But, there was Grishnákh." And Merry started explaining about Grishnákh, the orc of Barad-dúr who tried terribly hard to eat them.
"I feel uneasy, speaking of the Orcs of Mordor. Grishnákh would have sent word to the dark lord and he will be looking to Isengard." Aragorn said. It was a disturbing fact, but nevertheless true.
They spoke for a while longer as Merry continued with the hobbit's story. It had been very close the entire way, weaving in and out of danger stealthily. Demi seemed to pay special attention to the mentioned creatures called Ents. She found them and their ways magical, mysterious and rather odd. She had no idea that trees needed looking after at all, let alone that they had their own thoughts and voices. It was eerie to say the least.
The two hobbit's spoke of how they had ridden with Treebeard to Isengard, fought off the orcs and trapped Saruman in his own tower and how they had been sent to guard Isengard's gates, a noble job indeed. Yet again though, when the tale had been told, the topic of pipe weed was again aroused.
"Yes, the crop of 1417, two years ago I believe, a good year indeed!" Pippin said.
"I think you need to get your head out of the smoke clouds there Pip." Rhia said grinning. They all enjoyed a brief moment of laughter before a shadow was brought back to them.
"I can only hope that what evil was stirring has left us, at least for the present. But I shall mention all this to Gandalf, though as small as these affairs may be." Aragorn said.
"Then let us go find him, though the sight is not one for a warm welcome on any stance." Merry said getting to his feet, the group following him warily through the ruins of the once great Orthanc.
The eight companions carefully followed the road that was left slowly. Up ahead they could make out Théoden, his men and Gandalf who rode forward to meet them.
"You spoke with Tree-dude I guess?" Rhia asked.
"Yes...Treebeard and I have made plans and had the rest we so sorely needed but now we must go on. I trust you have all taken rest and food?" Gandalf said from atop Shadowfax.
"Of course Gandalf, you forget we have hobbits in our company!" Demi chipped in.
"We have also discussed many things, but they have concerned themselves with pipe weed. But we feel less ill-inclined towards Saruman than at first." Merry said.
"Indeed? My feelings remain the same. We must now pay Saruman farewell. Come if you like, but Vaira, I would prefer you to stay behind.
"No, I will go. I have to, and he can not do anything to me, not now at least." Demi said, putting her hands on her hips.
"I wish also to go. I want to see for myself how much alike he looks to you master Gandalf." Gimli said.
"Saruman could look like me for you if it is his purpose Gimli. Do you deem yourself wise enough to perceive all of his imitations?" Gandalf argued. "Well, in time we shall see for ourselves. Come, we must persuade him to come out of his hole."
At the foot of the Orthanc they stopped, looking up at the black pinnacle building.
"I will go up and retrieve our mislead friend. Aragorn come with me. The rest of you are to wait here." Gandalf said as he dismounted Shadowfax and began his climb.
"Nay, wait a minute there Gandalf. Legolas and I will join you as representatives of our kin." Gimli said, catching up to Gandalf, Legolas hot on his heels.
"Very well." Gandalf said with an air of irritation.
The girls, hobbits and Boromir sat on the stair and waited for the return of their friends. They felt unwanted, but knew better than to argue with a wizard.
"Well, this is interesting." Demi said, trying to break the awkward silence. Nobody replied, but the Riders of Rohan who waited for their king and Éomer who followed Gandalf, cast the girl queer looks. "Yes, so interesting I am talking to myself."
"It is better this way, for all our safety. We do not know what strength is left in Saruman. Vaira, you especially could be in danger." Boromir said, reassuringly.
"Its times like this that I thank god that I am not an elf witch." Rhia said with a smirk.
"And times like these I thank god I'm not related to you!" Demi muttered loud enough for Rhia to hear.
"Ha ha ha ha! Very funny." Rhia said sourly.
Up above they could hear someone banging on the door.
"I wounder what old Gandalf is up to?" Merry asked himself.
"I don't really mind, to be honest, I just hope he pounds Saruman's butt." Rhia commented.
Something black and crystal like came flying down the stairs, nearly taken Rhia out.
"And that my friends would be karma at work." She muttered. "It's not like I said anything majorly offensive." She said, throwing her hands up in defeat.
The thing, whatever it was bounded down into the pools, with Pipping running after it, then he picked it up and returned to his friends.
"What have you there master hobbit?" Boromir asked.
"I don't know Boromir." He said.
A while later after a much heated argument with Saruman, Gandalf and his small company came back down the stairs. The Riders cheers and saluted.
"I'll take that." Gandalf said to Pippin, taking the black orb and wrapping it up in his cloak. "Now that is done I must find Treebeard and inform him of what has just passed."
"I do not doubt that he has already guessed Gandalf. Is it likely to have ended any other way?" Merry asked.
"No, I do not doubt there was another way. Saruman is unhappy about it to say the least, but I cannot say what he will do now. I can neither say what will become of him, but I can only hope that good now rankles in that tower. It is strange how fortune works, yet we have found something even more precious than what Wormtounge threw at you." Gandalf said.
A loud and angry yell came from the tower.
"I guess that Saruman thought so too!" Demi laughed.
"So do I, now let us leave them to their own bidding." Gandalf said with mirth in his eyes.
The company left the Orthanc and travelled back to the gate where Treebeard and several other ents met them. Gandalf informed the Ent of what happened. Gandalf introduced Boromir, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Demi and Rhia to Treebeard, who spoke to each in turn. He was especially pleased to see elves amongst their companions. Legolas was the last spoken to and received Treebeard's permission to visit his woods. They eventually said their farewells, and left now with the Ents taking change of Orthanc, keeping it under constant watch.
AE: Hello again my friends. I'm sorry I have taken so long to post there chapters lately, but I hope I can make it up to you by having the next chapter in shortly. Navaer!
Levanna: My lips are sealed. I'm not going to give you any hints, you'll have to wait, but you are doing a good job guessing, I'll give you that. Yeah, I think the whole social scene takes up more time than the actual school work. Like, I have my school formal coming up in a couple weeks and the mayhem just to organise that sucks. Luckily though, I have no part in the planning, the lil' preps always get their way so there is no point pushing my luck. Good luck with your mids, but I'm sure you won't need it.
I just have to say that heels suck! I have to learn how to walk in a pair by the 22nd. Its killing me! I didn't think I was that un-co until resently. Oh well, wish me luck!