Chapter Six.
Gimli's hunting skills, encounters of the white kind and more companions...eep....
Gimli followed Aragorn, Angela and Legolas, as the foursome made their way through the forest of Fangorn. He looked to a leaf, noticing some black liquid. The touched it with his right index finger, placing it on his lips. He spits in disgust.
"Orc blood," the dwarf growled.
"And you know the taste of orc blood?" Angela asked, both with curiosity and disgust, the dwarf glancing at her, unsure of how to answer the question.
"Is it your hunting skills coming into play?" Legolas spoke up, asking curiosly, mocking the dwarf.
"Yes, indeed it is, my elf princely friend," the dwarf nodded. "Of course we all know that dwarfs are superior in both tracking and hunting," Angela and Legolas rolled their eyes at the dwarf, who continued to speak about the superiority of dwarves over all other races, especially elves, which made the two zone out and pay no attention to the dwarf's rambling.
The four slowly make their way over roots of the gigantic trees which are situated in the forest. Aragorn halted briefly, observing the ground where some strange tracks were embedded in the soil.
"These are strange tracks," the ranger announced to the group, investigating the direction of which they led off too.
"The air is so close in here," Gimli whispered.
"This forest is old," Legolas announced. "Very old. Full of memory, and anger,"
"The trees are giving off some bad vibes," Angela said, shuddering.
Suddenly, a loud groan echoes throughout the forest.
"Please tell me that was your stomach, Gimli," Angela said, anxiously, turning and glaring at the dwarf who shook his head. He picked his axe up, and looked around, alert.
"The trees are speaking to each other," Legolas said, striding a few steps forward, and looking around at the trees.
"Gimli, lower your axe!" Aragorn sneered at the dwarf.
"Oh," he replied, looking at his axe and lowering it, putting his hands up in defense.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" Legolas announced to Aragorn, the dwarf looking at Angela for a translation.
"Something's out there," the elf whispered to the dwarf, the dwarf nodding.
"Man cenich?" Aragorn asked Legolas, intrigued.
Gimli looked at Angela again, who rolled her eyes.
"What do you see," she stated.
"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas whispered in response to Aragorn.
"White wizard..." Angela muttered, starting to panic. She wasn't in any hurry to meet Saruman anytime soon.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us," Aragorn whispered, drawing his sword. "We must be quick,"
Legolas and Angela drew their bows, readying themselves for an attack. Gimli manned his axe, also readying himself. Aragorn nodded, the group using this signal to turn to attack. Gimli threw his axe, which is knocked to the side from the White Wizard, cloaked with a light almost piercing to the eyes. Legolas and Angela both lose their bows, also being knocked to the side. Aragorn let out a yelp, as his sword turns orange from being heated, dropping it to the ground. The four shielded their eyes from the bright light being emitted by the wizard.
"You are tracking the footsteps of an elf and two young hobbits," the wizard spoke, his voice low and distorted.
"Where are they?" Aragorn yelled, demanding the whereabouts of the other Fellowship members.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday," the wizard continued. "They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"Who are you?" Aragorn yelled. "Show yourself!"
The light around the wizard faded, and the four companions recognized the person as soon as he stepped forward towards them.
"It cannot be," Aragorn said in shock.
"Gandalf!" Angela cheered, as her, Legolas and Gimli looked on in amazement, bowing at the presence of their friend.
"You fell," Aragorn muttered, still amazed at the sight of the wizard.
"Through fire, and water," began Gandalf. Angela felt a flashback approaching, but there was no sign of Sarah or a magical TV screen appearing anywhere.
"On the lowest dungeon, on the highest peak I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth," Gandalf narrated the story of the victory against the fiery demon. He continued. "Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. The stars field of end, and everyday was as long as a life age on the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done,"
"Gandalf," Aragorn cooed, bringing the wizard back from a trance of his flashback.
"Gandalf?" the wizard asked, coming out of his trance. "Yes, that was what they used to call me," Aragorn nodded as the wizard smiled, remembering his name, and continuing with what he was saying. "Gandalf the Great. That was my name,"
"Gandalf," Gimli grinned, happy to see the wizard.
"I am Gandalf the White," the wizard smiled, proudly. "And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide,"
Suddenly, a twig snapping came from behind Gandalf. Everyone looked to see who it was.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" the shadowy figure muttered, stepping up next to Gandalf.
"Sarah!!!" Angela smirked, happy to see her friend again.
"Never fear, I am here. Did you miss me, Legolas?" the elf cooed, blinking her eyes in admiration at the elf. Legolas shifted uncomfortably.
"You've scared him," another voice came from behind.
"Typical fan girl," a second voice snickered.
"Hey, did that tree just blinked at me?" a third voice, recognizably male, followed.
"What is this devilry?" Gimli asked, threateningly holding his axe up, ready to attack.
"Oo, he has an axe," a fourth voice came, as the group stepped forward.
Aragorn shook his head. They had just gone from six travelers, to ten, fearing the logistics involved in having so many travelers accompanying them.
"They're friends from my world," Sarah shrugged as three hobbits and a human stepped forward. "That's Mac, Dave, Steph and Ally," Sarah continued, gesturing to each person as she introduced them.
"Oh my gosh!" the human squealed. "Is that really Aragorn? I bags being on his team,"
"There's no teams, Allyson, we're traveling in a group," Steph rolled her eyes. "You're just as bad as Sarah with Legolas,"
"Legolas is here?!" the human squealed.
"Keep your hands off!" Sarah growled, the two sending each other glares of daggers.
"What is a Legolas?" Dave asked, receiving a glare off Mac.
"You're going to regret asking that," she said, slapping her hand to her forehead at the facial expression Sarah had on hearing Dave ask what a Legolas was.
"He is an Elven Prince from Mirkwood," she nodded, smirking at the elf.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Gandalf cleared his throat, glaring at the group. "We must be moving on, there is much to do,"
Everyone followed Gandalf, as they made their way quickly through the forest.
"One stage of your journey is over, another begins," Gandalf stated, philosophically. "War has come to Rohan we must ride to Edoras with all speed,"
"Gandalf, we spoke to Éomer," Angela said, the group suddenly halting. "He told us of the misfortune of the Rohan people,"
Gandalf nodded, having knowledge of the current situation. The group emerged from the forest, and stand on the beginning of a plain, the land stretching as far as the eye could see, coating with gold grass blanketing the ground, heading off into the horizon.
"So, did you miss me?" Sarah pressed Legolas, determined for an answer. The elf looked at her long and hard as the other elf stepped next to him, looking deep into his eyes to make sure he told the truth.
"Yes, I did," he said, extending his hand out, brushing her cheek. Angela rolled her eyes at the two, surprised Sarah didn't scream out with join, or say 'Guh,' which was, apparently, the word to describe Legolas completely.
"That is definitely a 'Guh' moment," Steph stated, wondering where Pippin was at that particular moment.
"What's a 'Guh' moment?" Dave asked, confused.
"Nevermind," Steph shook her head.
"Ooh! By the way, Angela, this is the gang. The gang, this is Angela. I'm sure you're all capable of introducing yourselves and such," Sarah shrugged, grinning.
Gandalf, annoyed with the reunion taking place, stepped forward from the group, whistling into the plains, the sound resonating in the area. Suddenly, the sound of a horse's neigh is heard as a white horse is seen galloping over the plain, coming towards the group.
"That is one of the mearas unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," cooed Legolas.
"Wow, it's sure...white," Sarah commented on the horse, as it strode towards them.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf said, nodding his head, greeting the horse. "He's the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers,"
"Ooh, can I pat it?" Sarah squealed, patting the horse's mane gently. She smirked, stepping back. Everyone mounted their horses, and began to ride through the plains. Sarah had never ridden a horse before, and was finding it difficult to control the horse which Gandalf had assigned her.
"I thought elves were supposed to know how to ride horses?" Angela teased Sarah, rider passed her.
"Hey! Wait...whoa," Sarah called after Angela, trying to keep up.
"Learn to ride a horse, Mobbs," Allyson scoffed at the elf which almost lost her balance sitting on the horse.
"Ha ha," Sarah laughed, riding off.