A/N: I do not own LOTR, its characters or settings. Anything new is mine!
While the Riders rode across the land to the Fords, Athan soared through the air. The sky, which had once been free and clean, now was crowded with the presence of black-winged birds. And yet they fled at her approach, though the braver among them circled around her and called out with jeering cries, none dared bar her path. Below her, the waters of Isen ran dry, and she knew anger and sorrow to see the land so twisted.
She watched as Gandalf and the Riders paused beside a mound piled high with spears and stones, and she kept one eye on the wolves that crawled about in the darkness, driven back by Mithrandir's shining presence but still prowling. The Riders paused to give farewell to the fallen, and then crossed the river.
Onward they rode for many leagues, until they drew into the shadow of the Misty Mountains. Athan could see a dark smoke ahead, and because it had been an age since she had come to this part of Middle Earth, she was outraged by it. But before she could fly onward to investigate, she heard a sharp whistle from Gandalf, and she glanced down to see him gazing up at her.
With reluctance she descended, wanting to see what awaited them in the vale, but as she alighted upon Mithrandir's arm, she heard the words of the Men as they tried to discover what the wizard Saruman was about.
She agreed with Aragorn when he said it seemed as if the entire Wizard's Vale was burning. She dismissed Eomer's theory that Curunir might be boiling the waters. Certainly the Istari would never do such a thing…
She settled down to rest for the night, but did not sleep, and when the watchmen cried out, she was already aware of the approaching darkness that had frightened the guards. Black it was and full of voices, but Athan felt no fear.
Still, she took to the sky once and scanned the countryside, but found no evidence of a threat to the Riders.
Later that night, the Isen was restored in a rush of water until it swelled back to its original sate, as it had ever been.
She heard the men whisper in fear, and sensed their unease, and she wondered at their lack of faith in their guide, for few could match the Istari in might, and even among themselves the wizards were evenly matched.
At dawn, the Riders rose and made ready to leave. The air was heavy with fog, and yet Athan could see through it clearly, and what she beheld in the Wizard's Vale stunned and angered her. Where once the land had been lush and green, now it was dark and riddled with brambles, the only remains of the trees were blackened stumps. The land itself seemed to weep with pain, and in her heart Athan felt despair and wrath, and she shrieked to the heavens in her outrage.
As if in answer to her call, the mists cleared and she could see the silhouette of Isengard and before the Riders there rose the pillar of the Hand. Gandalf rode beyond it without pause and Athan circled round the Hand in disdain. She was caught off guard when it turned from purest white to foulest red, but unafraid, knowing it was only the truth revealing itself.
And onward they rode until at last they came to the doors of Isengard, and beheld the ruin of the land. The doors were shattered, the great arch that served as the only entrance stood, but the tunnel beyond it was decimated. The ring beyond the gate was seething with water that covered the roads and carried with it the remains of Isengard. Athan knew that somehow Saruman had been brought low, but how she could not say, and yet in the distance the tower of Orthanc yet stood.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a bright voice below, and her attention was turned back to the Riders. A child was facing them, his voice full of laughter and mischief, and she had to wonder what he was doing out here alone. She swooped down for a closer look and then drew up short in surprise, for it was no child that Gandalf addressed.
She listened as he introduced himself and his companion and then proceeded to laugh and joke with Mithrandir and the Riders. So these were Hobbits, then? They looked like children of Man and behaved in a similar fashion, with ready smiles and quick wit. Yet when they spoke of Treebeard, she was immediately pleased, for she had known the great Ent in the past, and had enjoyed his company.
She was not surprised to hear Gandalf mention he wished to see Treebeard as well, but once the Hobbit known as Merry said the Ent was at the northern wall, she immediately flew in that direction, longing to have a moment of privacy with the Herdsman so that she might greet him freely and he would not reveal her secret by mistake.
The Ent was standing watch by the wall, his ancient gaze sadly perusing the land, when she caught sight of him.
"Hail Treebeard of the Ents," she called out in his native tongue.
He looked up to the sky in surprise. "Hoom! How is it a bird of the skies knows how to speak in the words of my people?"
She drifted around his head and said, "Your people are well known to me, as I am known to them."
"I do not recall hearing of a shining bird on our list of friends," he guardedly replied.
And then she descended until she was of a height with his eyes, and their gazes met, and he laughed in delight. "It is you, child! It has been an age since I have seen you, and never in this guise. What brings you to this desolate place?"
"I have come with the wizard Mithrandir," she replied. "Might I land?"
"Oh, hrum hum, of course," he answered, gesturing at his broad shoulders. "Gandalf has returned then?"
Athan alighted upon his sturdy shoulder. "He is on his way to you even now, and he is not alone. Men are with him."
"What times these are," Treebeard mused as he stared down at her with his ancient eyes. "I never thought to see the day you would journey in the company of Men."
"I journey in the company of Mithrandir," Athan replied. "The Men I tolerate because I must, but I do not travel among them. They have not seen my true nature nor do they know of it, to them I am but a bird, Athan the Shining."
Treebeard chuckled deeply to himself. "You are still traveling under disguise, Liathandrial? It has ever been your way."
She inclined her head in agreement. "It is something I must do; you know that, Old One. Remember, I am Athan to them."
"You need never fear betrayal from me," the Ent assured her.
"I know that, old friend," she returned. "But deception is not in your nature, and yet secrecy is of utmost importance to me. I felt I must warn you of my presence before you discovered it by chance and perhaps revealed the truth of my identity."
"I understand. Lo, here comes the White Rider and his companions now," Treebeard called out.
And over the rise came Gandalf astride Shadowfax, and behind him rode Théoden and his men. The Istari bowed his head in greeting to the Ent, but his eyes were for Athan as he said, "Oh friend of the skies, I ask that you go and watch over the rest of my Company and give warning should they require assistance."
Though she wished to speak with Treebeard a while longer, she knew it would be impossible now, and so for the moment she complied with Mithrandir's wishes, taking to the sky and flying to where Aragorn and the rest of the Riders sat talking by the ruined gates of Isengard.
They looked up as she drew near, and she heard the Hobbits shout in surprise.
"Do not fear, little ones, she is a friend," Aragorn assured them. "She is Athan the Shining, friend of Gwaihir the Windlord, sent to aid our cause."
"She is beautiful," the Hobbit called Pippin said.
Athan turned then in his direction and slowly descended from the sky.
"What is she doing?" Pippin called out.
"Apparently she heard you and has taken a liking to you," Aragorn laughed. "She seeks to land on your arm."
Pippin's eyes widened and then he held up his arm. Athan gracefully alighted upon it and then stared down at him with her endless eyes. From close range, he exuded an innocence she had not thought possible.
"May I pet her?" he wondered aloud.
Athan was startled by his wanting to do so, but she gave a low cry and then lowered her head down so he might stroke her feathers.
"It seems so," Aragorn answered, though his eyes were puzzled. He had not known the bird could understand everything being said to it. He had thought it could understand Gandalf because of the wizard's magic, yet Gandalf was not here and the bird could still understand Pippin.
Legolas, too, was eyeing the great bird in curiosity.
Gimli, who had seen a great many strange things in the passing days, was more interested in speaking with his long lost friends rather then studying a bird. He quickly picked up the conversation once more, turning their thoughts to food.