Loving Allegra
Chapter Ten: Gandalf Returns
Disclaimer: I own nothing!!
Authors Note: I feel very proud of myself, as this marks the beginning of the Two Towers.
And, as such, I really want to give at least a bit of credit to the Quintessential Lord of the Rings site for the online script I used; I couldn't have done it very easily without them. Thanks! Anyway, on with the show, for you have much to read!
They returned to the place where they found Boromir and looked around for signs of a large group of Orcs traveling together. It was not hard to find, for the prints left by their feet were three times the size of Allegra's. They cut a wide path through the moist forest floor, leaving a clear trail for miles. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Allegra set out at a run, traveling on and on. Allegra couldn't even feel it when the muscles in her legs began to burn horribly. All she could think about was how bad the situation was getting. Frodo and Sam off by themselves, Merry and Pippin captured by Orcs, Gandalf and Boromir both dead...who was next? Which one of her friends was this mission going to take from her next? Sweat dripped into her eyes, and she angrily wiped it away. She could not stop. She could not lose them.
They ran on until it became too dark to see the trail left by the Orcs. Allegra was reluctant to stop for a rest that night. Gimli, on the other hand, felt exactly the opposite.
"Dwarves aren't meant to run long distances," he said, still trying to catch his breath even after a half an hour.
"Neither are Hobbits, but Allegra seems to be doing well," said Aragorn.
"Well, when the lives of loved ones are at stake, it tends to make you run a little faster," said Allegra almost sarcastically.
"I know you want to go on, but take some food and rest," said Aragorn. "If we are to save Merry and Pippin, we cannot forget to care for ourselves." Allegra shifted her weight restlessly.
"I cannot sleep," she said sadly. "Not until I know they're safe."
"Please try," said Aragorn.
"It seems you have lied to me, Allegra," said Gimli.
"How so?" asked Allegra, alarmed that he would even suggest such a thing.
"You said before that you had no maternal instincts, yet here you are, sounding like a mother," said Gimli. Allegra smiled faintly. Now that she looked back on it, she did sound like a mother. She had been hoping to be a mother one day, but if things went wrong...She did not want to even think of it. The others fell asleep while Allegra sat up, vigilant throughout the night. Before dawn she nibbled on a corner of lambas and drank a sip of water. She watched the sun rise over the horizon in all its pink and orange glory. The light roused the rest and, after they took some refreshments, they got up and searched for the trail again. It was scarce in some parts, but they found it eventually and ran on.
Each day was similar to the one before it in their pursuit of Merry and Pippin. On the third day, Legolas, with his keen Elf eyes, could see the Urûk Hai in the distance, though he could not make out any Hobbits. The trail was getting harder and harder to find as the ground dried out. They had to keep stopping and letting Aragorn press his ear upon the ground to hear the sound of Orc feet against the earth. Later that day Allegra almost burst into tears when they found one of the leaf brooches Galadriel had given them smashed into the earth, but still fully intact, by great Orc footprints. Aragorn handed the brooch to Allegra, who clutched it in her hand sadly for the rest of the day.
Allegra got a little sleep that night, more than she had in a while, but it was full of miserable dreams. Near daybreak, she had a horribly vivid dream of Merry and Pippin being torn apart by the Orcs that held them captive. She woke up with cold tears streaming down her face. She gasped when she looked over and saw Legolas who had his eyes wide open. She calmed down when she reminded herself that all Elves slept with their eyes open. He could not see her crying. She wiped her tears away furiously and did not go back to sleep. At first light, their search resumed. Gimli was finding it harder and harder to keep up. He lagged considerably all that day. Allegra could see a mangled green forest ahead in the distance. She knew that it was Fangorn Forest from all the maps of Middle Earth she had seen.
The terrain became littered with boulders and small naked shrubs. The grass here was yellowish brown and dry. At times it poked painfully at Allegra's feet. The afternoon was growing old when Aragorn stop to listen, but not at the ground.
"Come on!" he said urgently, directing them behind a large boulder. Allegra could feel the vibrations through the earth. It felt like horses. Just then, a huge group of mounted soldiers came over the hill that had been to their left. There had to have been at least two thousand of them. As they passed, Aragorn stepped out from his hiding place.
"Rohirrim!" he shouted. Allegra thought at first that they didn't hear his call until the rider at the head of the group turned, leading the rest back towards them. A knot formed in Allegra's stomach. They were going to run them down! Just before the horses crashed into them, they turned, forming a circle around them. Allegra jumped as every one of them pointed spears down at them.
"What news from the mark?" asked Aragorn, seeming unafraid.
"What business does and Elf, a Man, a child, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!" said one of them, thrusting his spear at them.
"I am no child!" cried Allegra angrily. "I am a Hobbit of the Shire!"
"You will do well to hold your tongue, Miss Hobbit of the Shire," said the rider testily. "Or you will lose it. Now, I'll ask of you again. What business have you here?" he asked.
"Give me your name, Horsemaster, and I shall give you mine," said Gimli stubbornly. The Horsemaster dismounted and glared down at Gimli.
"I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood a little higher from the ground," he said. Legolas, quicker than any other them could see, knocked an arrow in his bow and aimed it at the Horsemaster. Allegra, who only reached Gimli's chest, felt very offended and drew her sword.
"You would die before your stroke fell!" cried Legolas angrily.
"I second that!" cried Allegra. The spears were pointed even closer to them. Aragorn pushed down Legolas's hand, Legolas resisting only slightly. Aragorn looked sternly down at Allegra, who reluctantly put her sword back in its sheath.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, Legolas of the Woodland realm, and Allegra Burrows of the Shire. We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your King," Aragorn announced.
"Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe," said the rider, removing his helmet that blocked most of his handsome features (or at least Allegra thought so...) "Not even his own kin," he said almost sadly. He waved his hand and the other riders withdrew their spears. "Saruman has imprisoned the mind of the King and holds lordship over his lands. We are those loyal to Rohan, and therefore, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked, and everywhere his spies slip past our nets," he explained.
"We are not spies. We are presently tracking a large group of Uruk Hai across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive," said Aragorn.
"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them all during the night. None were left alive," said the rider.
"But did you see two Hobbits? Like Allegra?" asked Gimli urgently.
"Like I said, we left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them," he said, gazing over at the smoke that was rising near the forest.
"They are dead?" asked Gimli quietly. Legolas put a hand on Gimli's shoulder sadly. Allegra's heart skipped a beat.
"I am sorry," said the rider.
"No!" cried Allegra. "No, they can't be dead!" It took all her might not to collapse onto the ground. "They were my friends," she said helplessly, tears rolling down her cheeks in despair. The rider looked down on her with sympathy in his eyes. Allegra was beginning to tremble with anger and misery.
"Hasufel! Arod!" he called. Two horses baring no riders approached them. "May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell." He put his helmet back on his head and mounted his horse.
"Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands," said the rider. "We ride north!" he shouted to his men. They all turned at once and sped away at a steady gallop. Allegra by now could not hold her own weight with her shaky legs. She fell to the ground and coughed miserably through her sobs.
"I loved him," muttered Allegra as the riders disappeared in the distance. "I loved both of them, and now...now they're..."
"Come on, Allegra. They may be alive," said Aragorn, lifting her onto one of the horses. He climbed onto the back of the saddle as Gimli and Legolas did the same. Aragorn kicked at the horse's sides. It whinnied and galloped toward the smoking pile of Orc cadavers. When they drew close enough, Allegra could see a severed Orc head, its mouth open, pierced through a pike that was stuck in the ground. Aragorn jumped down off the horse and lifted Allegra down. She managed to stand up and stagger towards the stinking, smoldering pile. She dropped on her knees before it, unable to help herself and cried. Gimli began digging through the dead Orcs with his axe, trying to find a trace of Merry and Pippin. He paused for a moment and wrenched out a charred belt and a dagger sheath.
"It's one of their wee belts," he said quietly. Allegra felt her heart shatter in her chest. After a moment, she screamed in anger and despair, beating a fist on the ground. This can't be happening! She thought frantically. They can't be dead! They can't! Aragorn became angry and kicked a discarded helmet and shouted in anger. Not dead, not dead, not dead!! Legolas bowed his head, saying
"Hiro îth ab 'wanath..." Aragorn fell to his knees.
"We failed them," said Gimli. Allegra sobbed louder at this, muttering incoherently to herself. Not dead, no...not Merry and Pippin...my best friends! They can't be dead! Aragorn suddenly looked up and touched the grass beside him.
"A Hobbit lay here...and the other," said Aragorn. Allegra looked up, her mouth slightly ajar, her eyes bloodshot and watery. She sniffed and wiped her eyes so she could see better and got up to look over his shoulder. She saw two barely visible signs that someone might have lain there. "They crawled...," said Aragorn, watching the earth carefully. "but their hands were bound." He dug around in the grass and pulled out a severed piece of rope. "Their bonds we cut...they ran over here, and were followed," he said, walking Merry and Pippin's path. Allegra paid close attention as she walked directly behind Aragorn, her heart and mind racing. They could still be alive!! "The tracks lead away from the battle," he said, breaking into a jog as he followed their tracks. Allegra ran with him, her heart racing. Please still be alive! She thought hopefully. Aragorn stopped before the forest's edge. Strange trees tangled around one another, making it look very dense. Just looking at it made Allegra claustrophobic. "And into Fangorn Forest."
"Fangorn...what madness drove them in there?" Gimli wondered aloud. They entered Fangorn, still following Merry and Pippin's trail. Gimli found some black liquid dripping from a tree. He put his fingers to it and tasted it. He spat it out. "Orc blood!" he growled.
"These are strange tracks," observed Aragorn, looking at the large, round footprints in the soil.
"The air in here is so close!" cried Gimli.
"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory...and anger," said Legolas. Allegra heard a distinct groan issue from the trees around them. Their trunks and branches shifted slightly. Gimli held up his axe in defense. "The trees are speaking to each other," said Legolas.
"Gimli!" Aragorn whispered.
"Huh?" he asked.
"Lower your axe!" he instructed.
"Oh," said Gimli nervously, lowing his axe.
"Aragorn, nad nâ ennas!" said Legolas. Something is out there! Allegra heard.
"Man ceich?" asked Aragorn. What do you see?
"The White Wizard approaches," he responded. Adrenaline was pumped into Allegra's veins. If losing Merry and Pippin wasn't enough... she thought. Now Saruman has found us!
"Do not let him speak," Aragorn commanded. "He will put a spell on us." He grasped the hilt of his sword tightly. Allegra did the same. Legolas readied his bow while Gimli gripped an axe made for throwing. "We must be quick," breathed Aragorn. Allegra could hear someone approaching them from behind. With a yell, the four of them turned around to attack. At the same time, Gimli threw his axe and Legolas let his arrow fly. Both were deflected, and the swords of Aragorn and Allegra grew hotter than flames in their hands. They dropped their swords just as a blast of white light blinded them.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," said the wizard in a voice that was alien, yet almost familiar to Allegra's ears.
"Where are they?" demanded Aragorn.
"They passed through here the day before last. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" he asked, his voice becoming more like one she recognized from long ago, yet she still did not trust it.
"Nothing will comfort me except for seeing them with my own eyes!" cried Allegra, still shielding her eyes.
"Calm down, my child, there is no need for anger," said the Wizard.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demanded. All at once, the blinding white light dimmed, exposing the face of an old friend. He was completely clad in pure white. His hair matched his robes. The only thing that had not changed was the forever-wise expression upon his face.
"It cannot be...," said Aragorn in amazement. Legolas and Gimli both bowed down. Allegra stood still, shocked by what she saw.
"Gandalf?" she asked hopefully.
"Gandalf," he said thoughtfully. "Yes, that's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." Allegra smiled and laughed out loud. She ran to hug him. He seemed surprised by the impact of her little body, but he patted her on the back and smiled just the same.
"Oh, Gandalf, everything's gone so horribly wrong!" she cried. "But at least you're back!"
"How can this be? You fell," said Aragorn.
"Yes. Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought the Balrog of Morgoth. 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. Stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life within me again. I have been sent back until my task is done," he said. Gimli smiled.
"Gandalf!" he said, relieved.
"I am Gandalf the White," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."
"Do you know where Merry and Pippin are?" asked Allegra urgently.
"They are with a friend. Do not worry so, Allegra," he said reassuringly.
"Are you sure?" asked Allegra.
"Quite sure," Gandalf promised her as he threw a grey cloak over his white robes. "When one part of the journey ends, another begins," he said as he began to lead them out of the forest. "War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with haste." When they reached the edge of the forest, the clouds had cleared. The sun felt warm on Allegra's cold cheeks. Gandalf looked around the plain for a moment, and then let out a high pitched whistle. The strange, unearthly tune carried far over the land, and it nearly hurt Allegra's ears. A few minutes later, Allegra heard the whinny of a horse nearby. It came at a steady gallop over the hill to their left. Allegra had never seen a more beautiful horse. Its coat was a brilliant white, as was its mane and tail. It slowed to a trot before Gandalf, who stroked its neck.
"Shadowfax," said Gandalf. Gimli bowed, holding his axe over his breast. "He is the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers." Gandalf mounted the horse. "Come! We ride to Edoras!" Aragorn lifted Allegra onto the horse before mounting. Legolas did the same with Gimli. Aragorn kicked the horse's sides and rode off the catch up with Gandalf, who already had a significant head start. Allegra didn't want to leave Fangorn behind. She would rather be left there to try and find Merry and Pippin than go further away from them. She wished so much to see Pippin again that her heart ached.
The sun set that night, and the Company took some rest. Allegra leaped off the horse by herself, feeling quite silly making Aragorn pick her up and put her down all the time. She rolled out her blanket in the softest patch of grass she could find and curled up on it. She sat and did some thinking before she fell asleep as she did most nights. She noticed that the date was the first of Rethe (or March, on the calendars of Men.) She had a feeling that much was going to happen during this time. The plot seemed to be thickening considerably, after all. War was brewing in every land, it seemed, and every race seemed to be involved. The thought of war made Allegra think about Frodo and Sam. She felt guilty that for the past week she had done nothing but worry about Merry and Pippin. She wondered where Frodo and Sam were. She wondered if they were still alive, or if she would ever see them again. She knew that Merry and Pippin were safe with whomever Gandalf had left them, but she did not even know the road that Frodo and Sam were taking. Oh, I hate not knowing things! She thought to herself angrily. All this worrying and not knowing is going to make me an old woman faster than I'm comfortable with! All the worrying she was doing had made her tired. She took the leaf brooch they had found earlier and clutched it with both hands as she fell asleep, feeling very alone.
The next day, they set out again, their horses rested and energized for another half a day's run. The terrain became hillier. However, the boulders did not cease to litter the land. The last of the Misty Mountains loomed nearby. A little later that morning, Allegra spotted a large village ahead on a hill.
"That is Edoras," Aragorn told her. "And the large building in the center is Meduseld. The Golden Hall." They halted before they got any closer.
"There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's power over him is very strong," said Gandalf. They rode the rest of the way to the gates of Edoras. It took around an hour, and by then Allegra's rear end ached from riding on a horse for so many hours with no rests in between. Although they were allowed to enter Edoras, they were not greeted warmly. In fact, people seemed almost scared. Upon seeing them, mothers with children fled into their homes, shooting nasty looks at the strangers. Allegra felt uncomfortable with all the stares they were attracting. Gandalf lead them through the village that by now seemed almost deserted, up to the Golden Hall, Meduseld. Allegra looked up at the building looming over them and saw a woman in a white dress looking down at them. She turned and left after a moment. When they reached the great doors of Meduseld, several guards met them. They were all armed with spears. One of them came forward.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so heavily armed, Gandalf Greyhame," said the guard. Then he sighed and nearly rolled his eyes. "By order of Grima Wormtongue..." Gandalf nodded and unfastened his sword from his belt and gave it to the guard. He signaled for the others to give up their weapons as well. Allegra sighed and uncomfortably parted with Namárie. Aragorn handed the guards his sword and his knives, as did Legolas, who twirled his into the hands of the guard. He also gave them his bow and quiver. Gimli grunted as he disarmed himself, handing over his large axe and the two for throwing.
"Your staff," said the head guard.
"Oh," said Gandalf quietly, now leaning some of his weight onto his staff. "No, you would not part an old man from his walking stick..." he said gingerly to the guard, as innocently as possible. The guard sighed, slightly annoyed, and let them pass. Legolas acted as if he were helping Gandalf to walk to add extra emphasis. Gandalf looked down at Allegra and gave her a tiny wink. She had to try not to let a smile show on her lips.