Author's Notes: Lovely reviews, I bask in their warmth!!!!!!
To ForsakenOn3: Thanks you sooooooo much for the feedback!!!! I know, I really shouldn't be sorry for all the sappy parts. But, it's a personal flaw. I love humor and really don't like sad, "oh, I love you but we can't be together" romance sappy stuff. So I really can't help it, but I don't know why. Enjoy this chapter!!!!!
To Kiki: Thanks so much for the review!! Enjoy the chapter!!
To Legolas19: I'm so glad you liked the chapter!!! Hope you enjoy this one!!!
To earthdanser: Like your name! Very cool. Again, I'm really sorry about the sappy crap. I really don't know why I wrote it like that. Hope this chapter's better!!!
To Isildwen: I'm so happy you like both stories!! Hope this chapter meets your expectations!!!
To Star Wars Forever: Oh, good!!! I'd hate to lose a reader because I'm an idiot!!! Lol. Hope this is soon enough and you're still alive and kicking!!!
To Zelda Saturn Mistress: Oh, that's good, everyone's happy and healthy!!! (I hope, or else things just got reeeeeeally awkward!) I'm glad you liked the first bit!!! And although can be a shit head server sometimes, this was not one of those times. The chapter really did end with "Show yourself!" Hope you like this chapter as well!!!!!
To bradleigh: I'm glad you didn't think it was too sappy. That was one of the things I was worried about. ::squeak:: I love getting reviews like yours. They totally make my day!!!
To Elf-Formally-Known-as-Legolas: Thanks so much for your email!!! I nearly died when I saw the pictures. I definitely can't wait to see this scene now!!!! The theater version of the movie comes out May 25. I think I might just wait until the extended version comes out. But, knowing me, I won't be able to help myself and I'll be forced to go out and buy it and watch it a bazillion times!!! About your review: I'm really sorry that chapter followed so closely to the movie. I'm really afraid the next few are going to do that, mainly because of the timeline depicted in the movie and all of the battle sequences and stuff. I'm really trying my best to add in a ton of stuff that's not in the movie, but again, it's really hard. Hope this chapter measures up!!! Please let me know if it doesn't so I can make all the necessary modifications and stuff to future chapters!!!
Chapter 3: Surprise!
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," came a deep voice from within the light.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded. Legolas prayed he wouldn't do anything foolish.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday," the voice answered. "They met someone they did not expect," he continued with an amused tone in his voice. "Does that comfort you?"
"Who are you?" Aragorn shouted, edging forward slightly. "Show yourself!"
The glaringly bright light dimmed suddenly, revealing an impossibility. Legolas blinked once, then several more times as the now subtler glow shined around their old friend. Their friend that had fallen . . .
"It cannot be," Aragorn whispered, taking another step forward.
Gandalf stood before them, leaning on his staff, clad all in a dazzling white. He smiled at Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn as they stood there gaping. Legolas bowed, Gimli quickly following his example.
"Forgive me!" the Elf said, his head bowed as well. "I mistook you for Saruman."
"I am Saruman," came the unexpected reply. Legolas looked up sharply and glanced at Aragorn. The ranger returned the puzzled look before shifting his attention back to Gandalf as he continued. "Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
"You fell . . .?" Aragorn half-asked. Legolas and Gimli rose and walked forward to stand next to their comrade and, in Legolas' case, lover.
"Through fire," Gandalf replied, his blue eyes wide and bright, "and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth."
Gandalf seemed to be reliving the experience, which would, no doubt, be forever burned in the forefront of his memory.
"Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me," he continued. Legolas felt a great sense of compassion mixed with pity for his old friend for all he had endured . . . and for all he had sacrificed. "And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again."
Legolas and Gimli exchanged uneasy glances.
"My mother would be very disappointed if she could see me now, associating with all sorts of magic people," Gimli whispered half to himself and half to Legolas. Either way, Legolas smirked at the thought of a Dwarf mother reprimanding the great warrior Gimli.
"I've been sent back until my task is done," Gandalf finished. Aragorn stared at him for a moment before a smile spread to his handsome features.
"Gandalf!" he said.
"Gandalf?" the wizard asked, confused. Legolas felt a tremor of worry streak through his body. He felt eyes on him and glanced sideways to see Aragorn looking worriedly at him. Legolas allowed himself a little smile to appease Aragorn's obvious concern. He could almost see some of the tension leave Aragorn's body.
"Yes . . . That was what they used to call me," Gandalf continued, smiling crookedly. "Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." He smiled at the three hunters before him.
"Gandalf!" Gimli cried, laughing. Gandalf looked at the Dwarf with a twinkle in his eye.
"I am Gandalf the White," he stated, standing erect. Legolas smiled as a strange, yet melodic music soared through his soul. "And I come back to you at the turn of the tide."
Legolas followed behind Aragorn and Gandalf with Gimli behind him. Gandalf had donned a grey Elvish cloak, much like those of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.
"One stage of your journey is over, another begins," Gandalf told them, speaking over his shoulder as they moved swiftly through the forest. "We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras?" Gimli asked, surprised, from behind Legolas. "That is no short distance!"
"We hear of trouble in Rohan," Aragorn told Gandalf as he sidestepped a protruding tree root. "It goes ill with the king."
Gandalf nodded wearily.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured," the wizard replied. Gimli looked outraged.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing?" the Dwarf cried. "Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree-infested --"
Suddenly, angry groans reverberated through the forest. Gimli looked around, half-frightened, before trying to appease the forest. "I mean, charming, quite charming forest!"
Legolas smirked to himself.
"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn," Gandalf said pointedly. "A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."
Aragorn grinned at Legolas before leaning forward to speak to Gandalf.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," Aragorn told him, his eyes twinkling. Gandalf looked at him.
"Hm?"
"You still speak in riddles."
Gandalf stared at Aragorn for a moment before breaking out in light laughter. Aragorn joined him after a moment. Legolas couldn't help but smile.
"A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days," Gandalf informed the three. "The Ents are going to wake up . . . and find that they are strong."
"Strong?!" Gimli asked, surprised, gaping. He glanced around uneasily as the massive trees groaned again. "Oh, that's good."
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf," Gandalf snapped. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."
They continued walking, quickly striding through the forest.
"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one," Legolas heard Gimli mutter.
Legolas looked at the Dwarf and laughed.
Gimli was walking next to Gandalf, talking about something very animatedly. Legolas strolled with Aragorn several feet behind them, their fingers laced and Aragorn's thumb unconsciously tracing gentle circles on the back of Legolas' hand.
"So, what do you think they're talking about?" Aragorn asked, leaning close to whisper in Legolas' ear.
"Knowing Gimli, he's probably ranting about the trees," Legolas whispered back. Aragorn smirked. He glanced around quickly before pulling Legolas away from Gandalf's and Gimli's eyesight. Legolas looked into Aragorn's eyes, startled, as Aragorn smiled softly.
"I just wanted to feel you in my arms again, even if it's only for a moment," Aragorn whispered, almost inaudibly, as he stared intensely into Legolas' Elvish blue eyes. The Elf looked intently right back for a moment before wrapping his arms around Aragorn's neck and kissing him tenderly. As they pulled away, Legolas placed a small kiss on Aragorn's lower lip and another on his cheek. Aragorn lightly traced a finger across Legolas' cheekbone and down his jaw line before gently caressing the Elf's cheek. He bestowed upon Legolas a chaste kiss.
"We should get back to Gimli and Gandalf before they realize we're missing," he mumbled in between kisses to the Elf's neck, cheeks, and lips. Legolas nodded reluctantly before taking hold of Aragorn's chin and pulling his up for a light kiss.
"Come, my love," he said quietly before starting off after Gimli and Gandalf.
The four companions soon reached the edge of the forest. They found their horses standing benignly in the field, waiting for them. Legolas and Gimli glanced at each other, both wondering the same thing: What would Gandalf ride? Their question was soon answered, as the old wizard walked in front of all of them and whistled a strange, piercing tune. Legolas soon heard an answering neigh and turned in the direction of the sound. He stared at a growing speck, until it could be easily identified as a beautiful white horse.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," he said disbelievingly, blinking. The horse rode right up to them, then slowed to a walk as it approached Gandalf.
"Shadowfax," the wizard said fondly. "He's the lord of all horses, and he's been my friend through many dangers," Gandalf continued. He mounted Shadowfax as Gimli and Legolas mounted Arod and Aragorn mounted Hasufel. With Gandalf in the lead, the three horses turned and galloped in the direction of Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld.
Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn rode all day without stopping, but once night fell, they were forced to set up camp. It was after midnight and Legolas was softly humming the tune to an old Elvish song as he fixed several of the shafts on his arrows. He happened to glance up and see two figures standing, talking, outlined the moonlight. Curiosity overcame his sense of privacy and he stood up, walking silently over to the figures. It was Gandalf and Aragorn. Legolas crept closer so he could hear what they were conversing about.
"Do not regret your decision to leave him," Gandalf was reassuring Aragorn, looking at him. After a moment, the ranger turned back with a look of uneasiness resting in his eyes. "Frodo must finish this task alone."
Aragorn shook his head slightly.
"He's not alone," he said quietly, glancing over at Gandalf. "Sam went with him."
Gandalf looked at Aragorn with a sense of surprise and pleasing.
"Did he? Did he indeed?" the old wizard asked, smiling. Aragorn looked at him a moment longer before gazing back out into the distance. "Good. Yes, very good."
Legolas watched the two for a few more minutes, crouched several feet behind them when a sudden, stern voice called out.
"Legolas Greenleaf, if you insist on eavesdropping you might as well stand with us instead of kneeling on the ground behind us," Gandalf remarked, surprising Legolas and causing him to fall onto his rear.
Aragorn half-turned and grinned when he saw Legolas sitting in shock on the ground. He extended a hand to help Legolas up, which the Elf accepted gratefully. Aragorn, still smiling, gently pulled Legolas close to himself as he caressed his cheek gently. Unnoticed by Legolas, Aragorn reached around the Elf and brushed the dirt off his leggings. Legolas started at the touch and immediately burned bright red, dropping his head onto Aragorn's shoulder and nuzzling the exposed skin of his neck. After a moment, Aragorn pulled away and lightly tugged on his lover's hand. They stepped next to Gandalf and just stood, gazing out over the plains. Then . . .
"Congratulations, you two. How long have you been sneaking around together?"