A/N: Jebb – Oh, he'll get his chance. I just hope he takes it this time!
Sarah – a new reviewer! Welcome! Hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Orangeblossom07 – Another new reviewer! Thank you. I'm glad you find the story original.
I have a confession of ignorance to make – during the movie I couldn't figure out why the three didn't catch up to Merry and Pippin after they met Gandalf. And how did Gandalf know to go to Edoras? The book answers those questions completely and I've used it here for my own purposes.
Disclaimer: I still don't own any of this.
Everleaf paused just south of Lorien and seemed to be listening to or for something. The dryads sensed his mood and grew quiet and still. Deka had to whisper to Annowe what he was doing and advised her not to move or speak until Everleaf spoke to them.
For several long minutes, they remained quiet with only the sound of his leaves rustling in the wind. Finally, he began to walk again in his slow but steady gait.
"Hm, hmm, word has come from Fangorn. He has agreed to see you, hoom!" Everleaf told them.
"Who has agreed to see us?" Annowe asked curiously.
"Hroom! Who? Fangorn!" Everleaf shook his branches.
Annowe and Deka exchanged puzzled glances.
"I thought Fangorn was the name of a forest," Deka said.
"Hmm, yes. Fangorn is the name of his forest. Hoom!" Everleaf informed them.
Annowe smiled and thanked Everleaf for his help. She did not know how they would have managed without him.
"How long will it take to reach Isengard?" Annowe tentatively asked after remaining silent for several moments.
"Why so hasty, little one? Hroom! You said yourself hasty was bad! Hoom, yes! Bad, Hoom!" Everleaf dodged the question.
"Well, yes," she admitted, not sure if he were joking with her or not. "But I am concerned about a friend of mine." That was mostly the truth, anyway. She rationalized.
"Hmm, hoom, how long to Isengard?" He repeated. "Perhaps tomorrow. Hoom, hmm."
Annowe's heart leapt at the thought and she squirmed happily, anxious to get to Isengard and start her own mission. Legolas would be well on his way to Mordor now and she hated not being able to help him or at least do her part to bring about the destruction of the evil forces massing against them.
She fleetingly wondered if they could stop and speak to Galadriel but decided against it. Certainly the White Lady would have seen the danger and would already be preparing for war. She would not need Annowe to warn her.
Everleaf continued walking south until dusk settled and then he stopped for the night. They could see the darker outline of Fangorn in the distance. Annowe knew they could reach it early the next day and she was anxious to meet with Fangorn and ask for his help.
Far off near the forest, she thought she glimpsed a blur of white. She tapped Deka on the shoulder.
"Did you see that?" She asked tensely and pointed toward the blur.
"That white thing?" Deka answered in a low voice, nodding toward the forest. "Yes. It might be Curunir." She strung her bow in anticipation.
Annowe bit her lip nervously. What was Curunir doing roaming about Fangorn? Could he have discerned their plans? He was a white wizard, after all and no one actually knew the extent of his power. It was possible that he had gleaned enough information from various sources to know of their intent and the thought made her nervous. But what else would he be doing roaming about if not to try and stop them? She wondered.
"Do you think he knows?" Deka's question cut through her thoughts.
"I don't know," Annowe answered nervously. "I hope not."
"Everleaf," Deka asked. "Can you see that white blur near Fangorn Forest?"
"Hmmm. Hoom, hoom," Everleaf murmured as he stared into the increasing darkness toward the forest.
Deka and Annowe waited anxiously for him to respond.
"Hmm, yes. Hroom! It is Mithrandir! Hoom! Fangorn said he was about. Hmm," Everleaf rumbled happily.
The cousins exchanged glances, both of them thinking the same thought. Mithrandir was a grey wizard. Not a white wizard.
"Are you sure?" Annowe questioned.
"Mithrandir is not a white wizard," Deka finished.
"Hoom, hoom, he is now," Everleaf informed her.
Annowe frowned. What was Mithrandir doing here in Fangorn? Was Legolas with him? What about The Ring? And what had happened to transform Mithrandir into a white wizard? Something serious must have happened and she fervently hoped that Legolas was still safe.
"Hm, you may ask him yourself, hoom!" Everleaf said. "Mithrandir approaches."
Deka and Annowe scrambled to the ground. Deka notched an arrow and Annowe drew her scimitar. Apprehensively they waited for the wizard to approach. Annowe did not believe it was Mithrandir. Either Curunir was operating under some spell or Everleaf had been mistaken. The other nymphs were quiet and still, all they could hear was the rustling of leaves and the rush of the river.
Time seemed to pass for Annowe but she remained frozen in it, unable to move or speak as the white wizard appeared before them. She gasped in recognition and lowered her sword. Deka dropped her bow to her side. It was Mithrandir! As if in a dream, she and Deka moved toward him, pulled forward by some strange power. He seemed to be glowing from the inside out and his beard and hair had turned completely white along with his robes. His radiance engulfed them, making the evening bright as midday in their small world.
He said not a word to them but answered all of their questions. The entire exchange took only minutes but it seemed like hours. Mithrandir showed her all, much like Galadriel's mirror could. Everything seemed to be moving in a slow motion of pictures and feelings without any words but it was too intense to be a dream.
Legolas was safe and Mithrandir would be rejoining him shortly. The Ring was still on the way to Mordor and Sauron suspected nothing thus far. The Ents were preparing to meet them and Curunir was unaware of their plans.
As for his transformation, he remained vague, only showing them glimpses of his fall in Moria and the Balrog. Annowe was thankful that he kept the most terrifying parts to himself. Then he showed them his rescue by the Eagle and his subsequent visit to Edoras to warn the Rohirrim of Curunir's defection. But their king was under some sort of evil spell and Mithrandir was determined to release him. Annowe shivered. Events were beginning to progress rapidly, driving toward the last great battle. She hoped they were all prepared for the horrors to come.
She looked to Deka who was gazing upon the wizard with a mixture of awe and fear.
As suddenly as it happened, the spell was broken. The wizard was gone and the darkness of the night settled in on them. Annowe exhaled, unaware that she had been holding her breath. She and Deka looked at each other to confirm the experience.
"It was truly Mithrandir," Deka confirmed in an awed voice. "Very strange."
Annowe did not answer but looked toward Fangorn. The wizard had given her a wonderful gift – the knowledge that Legolas was safe and Curunir was oblivious to their plans.
Deka slowly climbed back up into Everleaf's branches but Annowe remained on the ground, pacing in the soft grass and thinking of the dangers that still lie ahead.