Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Thanks to all my great reviewers!
CHAPTER 14
Enellewyn trudged behind Legolas, taking in her surroundings. The leaves of the trees swayed to the music of the breeze, and goose bumps were rising on her arms. Everywhere around her she could hear the whispering of trees, which seemed much louder than usual, murmuring about these trespassers, two elves, a ranger, and a dwarf with an axe.
"These are strange tracks," Aragorn said, bending down to finger the large footprint indented into the soil.
Looking around, Gimli fingered a black substance that was splattered on a leaf. Enellewyn knew what it was right when she saw it. Gimli licked his finger.
"Orc blood," Enellewyn said before he could say anything.
"This forest is old, very old. Full of memory, and anger," Legolas said, listening intently as the wind carried the voices of the trees to his sensitive ears.
The trees moaned, remembering the terrible axes that had cut down so many of their kin. Gimli wielded his axe like a madman. The trees seemed to shift, closing in around the small group.
"The trees are speaking to each other!" Enellewyn exclaimed, spinning around, to look at the cluster of trees and then Gimli.
"Gimli!" Aragorn whispered loudly. "Lower your axe!" He motioned to bring the axe down by his side. Gimli, shifted so the sharp head of the axe was resting on the ground. He grunted.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas (Something is out there)!" Legolas said, looking around shiftily, his azure eyes searching the area fixatedly.
"The White Wizard approaches," Enellewyn said knowingly, feeling a powerful presence and magic filling the air.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us," Aragorn said, gripping the hilt of his sword. "We must be quick." Legolas took out his bow and fitted it with an arrow, bending the bowstring taut. Enellewyn did the same thing while Gimli held his axe in front of him protectively. Aragorn unsheathed his sword with deadly silence and precision.
The four whipped around, Aragorn and Gimli wielding their weapons. Enellewyn was nearly blinded by a bright light. Aragorn's sword glowed red with heat and he dropped it hurriedly. Something similar happened to Gimli. Legolas fired his arrow but it merely ricocheted off the white light and broke into shards of wood.'
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," a deep and ominous voice said.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" Saruman said. Enellewyn thought this whole ordeal was a bit odd. If this person was Saruman the White, in allegiance with Sauron, wouldn't he have cast a spell on them already?
"Who are you?" Aragorn said, squinting through the blinding light. "Show yourself!" Aragorn said, sounding both brave and frightened at the same time. Slowly, the light faded and a figure cloaked in white was discerned.
"Gandalf?" Enellewyn said, in awe.
"It cannot be. You fell," Aragorn said disbelievingly.
"Through fire, and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought the Balrog of Morgoth," Gandalf said, gripping his long glowing white staff in his hand. Legolas, Enellewyn, Aragorn, and Gimli listened intently as he told his story. "Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin on the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead. And every day felt like a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I had life in me again. I have been sent back, until my task is complete."
"Gandalf," Aragorn said in relief.
"Gandalf? Yes that is what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey, that was my name."
"Gandalf," Gimli said happily.
"I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide," Gandalf said. "One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride with all speed," Gandalf said as he walked at a brisk pace through Fangorn.
Before long they were at the edge of the forest and Gandalf motioned for them to come to a halt. He let out a shrill whistle that seemed to pierce the atmosphere. All of a sudden, three horses could be seen cantering towards the small group of travelers. Enellewyn recognized two of them as Arod and Hasufel, but the third one was unfamiliar.
"That is one of the mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas said, in awe.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf said, rubbing the horse on the nose affectionately. "He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers." Legolas spared another fleeting glance at the magnificent horse before mounting Arod gracefully, Gimli and Aragorn following suit. But Enellewyn cautiously approached the regal snowy white horse.
She reached out the hand with her grandmother's ring on it towards Shadowfax's neck. His neck tensed and his large blue eyes rolled madly, the whites showing.
"Vanimle sila tiri (Your beauty shines bright)," Enellewyn whispered soothingly. Somehow, it felt like she could hear the thoughts of the great horse in her mind. It sent chills ricocheting up her spine.
Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli watched silently. Gandalf just stared from Enellewyn's ring to Shadowfax with a knowing smile on his wizened face.
Gradually, Shadowfax's body ceased its trembling, and his eyes returned to normal. Enellewyn was snapped out of her reverie when Gandalf placed a gentle arm on her shoulder.
"Come, we have wasted much time." Enellewyn looked at Gandalf apologetically, rubbing her slender hand down Shadowfax's neck once more before hurriedly mounting Arod's back. Gimli was now riding behind Aragorn and Enellewyn allowed herself a small grin. Immediately, she regretted doing so as Gimli was smirking madly.
Enellewyn just gave him a murderous glare before holding onto Legolas's waist. This only caused Gimli to chuckle a bit too loudly, but it ceased once Hasufel lurched forward at Aragorn's request.
Enellewyn laughed as Legolas spurred Arod into a canter. As they rode on, Enellewyn pondered over the properties of her ring. Gandalf was not the only one who had noticed that Shadowfax had significantly become calmer when he caught sight of the ring on the index finger of Enellewyn's right hand.
"Enellewyn?" Legolas said, his voice slightly muffled over the din of the wailing winds. But Enellewyn heard his smooth voice easily. He did not wait for her to answer, but launched into his question.
"Shadowfax is one of the mearas, so how did he warm up to you so quickly? When Gimli went near him, he nearly tore his beard off," Legolas said, curious, albeit he was laughing at the aspect of Gimli's snarled beard ripped from his face by a horse.
"I'm not sure," Enellewyn said. "But I think it had to do with my ring," Enellewyn said, marveling at the fine craftsmanship of the emerald green leaves on the ring.
"Didn't Galadriel tell you the properties of that ring?" Gandalf asked somewhat skeptically, slowing so that the horses could have a short rest, though Shadowfax seemed nonchalant.
"No. She just said that it used to be my grandmother's and she had made Galadriel promise to give it to me," Enellewyn said, staring at the ring again, trying to see if there was anything that could be peculiar about it. She looked at Gandalf expectantly.
"Well, I knew your grandmother. Not very well, but we had been acquainted and she got along surprisingly well with Shadowfax (I suppose he remembered the ring and warmed up to you.) She lived in Doriath when the kingdom was still in its prime years. Quickly, she became fast friends with Galadriel who was only about one thousand five hundred years old at the time. The same age your grandmother was.
"And one day, the two of them took a trip to Nargothrond (A/N: I think it was a dwarf settlement ruled by an elf that was destroyed during the time of the Silmarillion, but I'm not sure. I just know there were dwarves there) and the dwarves were so enchanted with Voronwë, that they gave her one of their finest pieces. That ring," Gandalf said, looking at Enellewyn with a small grin on his face.
Legolas and Enellewyn had been listening silently and intently until now.
"I will let you figure out the rest." Gandalf grinned and gave Enellewyn a small smile before riding ahead next to Aragorn and Gimli.
For the rest of the way to Edoras, Enellewyn pondered quietly to herself.
Soon, a large settlement could be seen perched on the very peak of a hill that seemed touch the clouds.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over the king is now very strong," Gandalf stated as they halted in front of Rohan's capital.
The three horses cantered up to the Golden Hall, slowing the horses as they went through the village. Most of the people were elderly, dressed in dull grays, browns, and blacks.
"You'd find more cheer in a grave yard," Gimli commented, glancing at the villagers' miserable expressions. They tied their horses to a fence and trekked up the stone stairs to the majestic Golden Hall of Rohan.
Two guards met them at the top.
"I cannot allow you before Thedoen King so armed, Gandalf Grayhame—by order of Grima Wormtongue," a stocky guard said. Gandalf nodded at the three of his companions.
Aragorn handed over his sword, and Gimli passed his axe over reluctantly. Legolas flicked his wrists and handed over his elvish twin knives, bow, and quiver of arrows. Enellewyn handed over her sword, quiver, and bow, but not without a comment.
"If you touch any of my weapons, you will be on the floor before you can even try to react," she said with a threatening edge. The guard nodded in response, leaning the weapons on the wall.
"Your staff," the guard said, eyeing Gandalf expectantly.
"You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf asked. The guard let them pass hesitantly. Gandalf gave Legolas and Aragorn a reassuring glance. The look on Aragorn's face screamed 'This isn't going to work!'
The heavy doors were heaved open and the four travelers entered. At the end of the oblong room was a figure sitting in a throne, the hunched and bent figure of Theoden, King of Rohan.
Good? Bad? I'm kind of nervous on this chapter. And I am really sorry that it took so long for me to post this chapter! Spring Break is in three days and I'm going to Florida for vacation. I'll only be gone for one week though!
Please review! ^___^ :o)
Thanks to all my great reviewers!
CHAPTER 14
Enellewyn trudged behind Legolas, taking in her surroundings. The leaves of the trees swayed to the music of the breeze, and goose bumps were rising on her arms. Everywhere around her she could hear the whispering of trees, which seemed much louder than usual, murmuring about these trespassers, two elves, a ranger, and a dwarf with an axe.
"These are strange tracks," Aragorn said, bending down to finger the large footprint indented into the soil.
Looking around, Gimli fingered a black substance that was splattered on a leaf. Enellewyn knew what it was right when she saw it. Gimli licked his finger.
"Orc blood," Enellewyn said before he could say anything.
"This forest is old, very old. Full of memory, and anger," Legolas said, listening intently as the wind carried the voices of the trees to his sensitive ears.
The trees moaned, remembering the terrible axes that had cut down so many of their kin. Gimli wielded his axe like a madman. The trees seemed to shift, closing in around the small group.
"The trees are speaking to each other!" Enellewyn exclaimed, spinning around, to look at the cluster of trees and then Gimli.
"Gimli!" Aragorn whispered loudly. "Lower your axe!" He motioned to bring the axe down by his side. Gimli, shifted so the sharp head of the axe was resting on the ground. He grunted.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas (Something is out there)!" Legolas said, looking around shiftily, his azure eyes searching the area fixatedly.
"The White Wizard approaches," Enellewyn said knowingly, feeling a powerful presence and magic filling the air.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us," Aragorn said, gripping the hilt of his sword. "We must be quick." Legolas took out his bow and fitted it with an arrow, bending the bowstring taut. Enellewyn did the same thing while Gimli held his axe in front of him protectively. Aragorn unsheathed his sword with deadly silence and precision.
The four whipped around, Aragorn and Gimli wielding their weapons. Enellewyn was nearly blinded by a bright light. Aragorn's sword glowed red with heat and he dropped it hurriedly. Something similar happened to Gimli. Legolas fired his arrow but it merely ricocheted off the white light and broke into shards of wood.'
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," a deep and ominous voice said.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" Saruman said. Enellewyn thought this whole ordeal was a bit odd. If this person was Saruman the White, in allegiance with Sauron, wouldn't he have cast a spell on them already?
"Who are you?" Aragorn said, squinting through the blinding light. "Show yourself!" Aragorn said, sounding both brave and frightened at the same time. Slowly, the light faded and a figure cloaked in white was discerned.
"Gandalf?" Enellewyn said, in awe.
"It cannot be. You fell," Aragorn said disbelievingly.
"Through fire, and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought the Balrog of Morgoth," Gandalf said, gripping his long glowing white staff in his hand. Legolas, Enellewyn, Aragorn, and Gimli listened intently as he told his story. "Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin on the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead. And every day felt like a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I had life in me again. I have been sent back, until my task is complete."
"Gandalf," Aragorn said in relief.
"Gandalf? Yes that is what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey, that was my name."
"Gandalf," Gimli said happily.
"I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide," Gandalf said. "One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride with all speed," Gandalf said as he walked at a brisk pace through Fangorn.
Before long they were at the edge of the forest and Gandalf motioned for them to come to a halt. He let out a shrill whistle that seemed to pierce the atmosphere. All of a sudden, three horses could be seen cantering towards the small group of travelers. Enellewyn recognized two of them as Arod and Hasufel, but the third one was unfamiliar.
"That is one of the mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas said, in awe.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf said, rubbing the horse on the nose affectionately. "He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers." Legolas spared another fleeting glance at the magnificent horse before mounting Arod gracefully, Gimli and Aragorn following suit. But Enellewyn cautiously approached the regal snowy white horse.
She reached out the hand with her grandmother's ring on it towards Shadowfax's neck. His neck tensed and his large blue eyes rolled madly, the whites showing.
"Vanimle sila tiri (Your beauty shines bright)," Enellewyn whispered soothingly. Somehow, it felt like she could hear the thoughts of the great horse in her mind. It sent chills ricocheting up her spine.
Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli watched silently. Gandalf just stared from Enellewyn's ring to Shadowfax with a knowing smile on his wizened face.
Gradually, Shadowfax's body ceased its trembling, and his eyes returned to normal. Enellewyn was snapped out of her reverie when Gandalf placed a gentle arm on her shoulder.
"Come, we have wasted much time." Enellewyn looked at Gandalf apologetically, rubbing her slender hand down Shadowfax's neck once more before hurriedly mounting Arod's back. Gimli was now riding behind Aragorn and Enellewyn allowed herself a small grin. Immediately, she regretted doing so as Gimli was smirking madly.
Enellewyn just gave him a murderous glare before holding onto Legolas's waist. This only caused Gimli to chuckle a bit too loudly, but it ceased once Hasufel lurched forward at Aragorn's request.
Enellewyn laughed as Legolas spurred Arod into a canter. As they rode on, Enellewyn pondered over the properties of her ring. Gandalf was not the only one who had noticed that Shadowfax had significantly become calmer when he caught sight of the ring on the index finger of Enellewyn's right hand.
"Enellewyn?" Legolas said, his voice slightly muffled over the din of the wailing winds. But Enellewyn heard his smooth voice easily. He did not wait for her to answer, but launched into his question.
"Shadowfax is one of the mearas, so how did he warm up to you so quickly? When Gimli went near him, he nearly tore his beard off," Legolas said, curious, albeit he was laughing at the aspect of Gimli's snarled beard ripped from his face by a horse.
"I'm not sure," Enellewyn said. "But I think it had to do with my ring," Enellewyn said, marveling at the fine craftsmanship of the emerald green leaves on the ring.
"Didn't Galadriel tell you the properties of that ring?" Gandalf asked somewhat skeptically, slowing so that the horses could have a short rest, though Shadowfax seemed nonchalant.
"No. She just said that it used to be my grandmother's and she had made Galadriel promise to give it to me," Enellewyn said, staring at the ring again, trying to see if there was anything that could be peculiar about it. She looked at Gandalf expectantly.
"Well, I knew your grandmother. Not very well, but we had been acquainted and she got along surprisingly well with Shadowfax (I suppose he remembered the ring and warmed up to you.) She lived in Doriath when the kingdom was still in its prime years. Quickly, she became fast friends with Galadriel who was only about one thousand five hundred years old at the time. The same age your grandmother was.
"And one day, the two of them took a trip to Nargothrond (A/N: I think it was a dwarf settlement ruled by an elf that was destroyed during the time of the Silmarillion, but I'm not sure. I just know there were dwarves there) and the dwarves were so enchanted with Voronwë, that they gave her one of their finest pieces. That ring," Gandalf said, looking at Enellewyn with a small grin on his face.
Legolas and Enellewyn had been listening silently and intently until now.
"I will let you figure out the rest." Gandalf grinned and gave Enellewyn a small smile before riding ahead next to Aragorn and Gimli.
For the rest of the way to Edoras, Enellewyn pondered quietly to herself.
Soon, a large settlement could be seen perched on the very peak of a hill that seemed touch the clouds.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over the king is now very strong," Gandalf stated as they halted in front of Rohan's capital.
The three horses cantered up to the Golden Hall, slowing the horses as they went through the village. Most of the people were elderly, dressed in dull grays, browns, and blacks.
"You'd find more cheer in a grave yard," Gimli commented, glancing at the villagers' miserable expressions. They tied their horses to a fence and trekked up the stone stairs to the majestic Golden Hall of Rohan.
Two guards met them at the top.
"I cannot allow you before Thedoen King so armed, Gandalf Grayhame—by order of Grima Wormtongue," a stocky guard said. Gandalf nodded at the three of his companions.
Aragorn handed over his sword, and Gimli passed his axe over reluctantly. Legolas flicked his wrists and handed over his elvish twin knives, bow, and quiver of arrows. Enellewyn handed over her sword, quiver, and bow, but not without a comment.
"If you touch any of my weapons, you will be on the floor before you can even try to react," she said with a threatening edge. The guard nodded in response, leaning the weapons on the wall.
"Your staff," the guard said, eyeing Gandalf expectantly.
"You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf asked. The guard let them pass hesitantly. Gandalf gave Legolas and Aragorn a reassuring glance. The look on Aragorn's face screamed 'This isn't going to work!'
The heavy doors were heaved open and the four travelers entered. At the end of the oblong room was a figure sitting in a throne, the hunched and bent figure of Theoden, King of Rohan.
Good? Bad? I'm kind of nervous on this chapter. And I am really sorry that it took so long for me to post this chapter! Spring Break is in three days and I'm going to Florida for vacation. I'll only be gone for one week though!
Please review! ^___^ :o)