Jane held on to the ranger's waist as he pulled Hasfufel's reins to a stop.
Aragorn looked around at the scene that lay before him. From the piled Orc carcasses, to the severed Uruk-hai head on a stick, frozen in a grotesque expression.
Behind her, Jane heard the other horses come to a stop.
"Not to be insensitive or anything," Carla said loudly as Gimli jumped off their horse, " but it kinda stinks-"
Niori cleared her throat loudly, and Carla quickly realized her error.
Aragorn dismounted Hasfufel, almost causing Jane to fall off, and Legolas followed him. Then the three began to search through the rubble for the signs of the Hobbits.
Back on the horses, the girls were beginning to feel useless. "Let's go over and ," Niori said loudly enough for the two girls to hear her, and they nodded in reply.
They watched silently as Gimli continued to sifting through the pile. Aragorn and Legolas had wandered off, and they both were staring out on the horizon.
A sharp intake of breath brought everyone back to reality.
" It's their little belt," Gimli said sadly, holding up a little charred belt.
Legolas bowed his head. " Hiro hyn hidn ab wannath" (May they find peace in death)
" What did he say?" Carla whispered to Jane, who shrugged.
Aragorn, over come with anger and disbelief, kicked a near by helmet and let out an inhuman cry. He fell to his knees on the grassy earth.
" We failed them," Gimli whispered softly.
The girls and Legolas bowed their heads in respect until Aragorn broke the silence.
" A Hobbit lay the other."
The lot turned to look at the ranger, who was sprawled on the ground on all fours seemly talking to himself.
" Ohhh.. he's reading the ground!" Jane squealed excitedly.
" They hands were bound,"
Aragorn moved ahead a few more feet, followed closely by Legolas, Gimli and the girls.
" Their bounds were cut." Aragorn held up a small piece of cut rope, and continued his search.
" They ran over here and were followed," he traced the earth with his hand, " Tracks lead away from the Fangorn forest!"
" Fangorn forest!?" Gimli exclaimed, " what madness drove them in there!?"
The six companions trudged through the thick vegetation of Fangorn quietly; looking for any indication Merry and Pippin had been there.
All of the sudden, Gimli stopped them all. " It's Orc blood!" the Dwarf exclaimed, pointing at a leaf.
Aragorn nodded towards Gimli and then pointed towards the odd tracks that lead deeper into the forest. " And these are strange tracks,"
From behind, Carla, Jane and Niori stood watching as Aragorn examined the tracks closely.
" As interesting as this is," Niori mumbled, " do you think we can be moving along some time soon!"
Aragorn nodded and they started forward again. They had traveled no further than twenty minutes before Aragorn again stopped them.
" We can go on further tonight," he spoke, " for we all are weary with toil and need rest,"
" You mean," Jane looked at him with wide and gleeful eyes, " that we can actually rest!"
" No more running?!" Carla cried happily.
Aragorn rolled his eyes and shook his head. " Yes you three, no more running!"
The three girls gave cries of joy and fell to the ground.
"Happy much!" Niori exclaimed.
" We should have left them in Lothlorien!" Gimli muttered under his breath.
" We heard that!" the three girls cried in unison.
After an hour, the temperature had dropped and all six sat shivering around a very small fire that wasn't producing much heat. Not to mention they had only one small blanket to share among the six of them.
" Who's idea was it to only bring one blanket?!" Carla asked harshly, rubbing her arms, " Tell me now so I can beat the person now!"
" Carla, calm down," Jane muttered, " we're all cold!"
" I can think of a good way to keep warm," Niori said, smirking at Legolas.
" NIORI!" Carla and Jane cried in mock voices.
" What?" Niori asked in an innocent voice, looking at the other two with an innocent face.
" How about," Aragorn shook his head, " we try to get some sleep. Who shall take first watch?"
" I shall!" Gimli replied gruffly.
"Night!" Jane, Niori and Carla cried, lying down to sleep.
" Gimli," Aragorn cautioned the Dwarf, " remember, perilous it is to cut bough or twig from a living tree in Fangorn. But do not stray far in search of dead wood. Let the fire die rather! It goes for you girls too! Call me at need!"
They finally fell asleep, waking only for their time of watch. After Gimli, was Aragorn, then Legolas, Niori, Jane and then finally Carla.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, the six companions rose and again started to track Merry and Pippin.
" The air is so close here," Gimli complained in mock awe.
" This forest is old, Very old. It makes even I feel young again," Legolas spoke, running his hand smoothly over a branch, " this forest is so full of anger,"
" How old are you Elf-boy?" Carla asked, " because you know, you're probably like way too old to be dating my cousin!"
" We're not dating!" Niori cried, a small blush creeping over her face.
" Yet!" Jane muttered under her breath and rolling her eyes.
Suddenly, low, wispy voices could be heard all around them. The girls gasped in surprise and Gimli raised his axe instinctively.
" The trees are speaking to each other," Legolas informed them all in a low voice.
" Gimli!" Aragorn snapped, " lower your axe!"
" Oh!" Gimli spoke, reluctantly lowering his axe to his side.
Legolas suddenly took a few steps forward and looked out into the forest.
" Aragorn," Legolas spoke, " Nad no ennas!" (Something is out there!)
" He still has to teach me Elvish!" Niori muttered, crossing her arms.
" Man cenich?" Aragorn asked in Elvish (what do you see?).
Legolas squinted off through the trees and then spoke. " The white wizard approaches!"
" Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us!" Aragorn commanded, " You three (Jane, Niori and Carla), get in the front of us,"
Slowly, Aragorn wrapped his hand around the hilt of his sword, Gimli tightened his grip on his axe, and Legolas fingered an arrow. From behind (which was actually in front of them because they were facing the opposite way of the approaching wizard) them, Niori and Carla grabbed hold of their Elvish knives and Jane held the hilt of her own sword tightly.
" We must be quick!" Aragorn whispered to them.
Quickly, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas whirled around, quickly followed by Carla, Niori and Jane.
A bright flash of white light flashed before all of their eyes. Legolas's arrow and Gimli's axe were suddenly deflected and fell to the ground. All of the girls' weapons clattered to the ground and they shielded their eyes against the light and Aragorn's sword grew so hot in his hands that he let it drop.
" You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," the wizard spoke in a calm voice.
" Where are they?!" Aragorn demanded bravely.
" Oh my God!" Carla mumbled, " I'm blind!"
" They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met with someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
" Show yourself!" Aragorn cried.
Slowly, the light dimmed and the girls heard themselves gasp when the white wizard himself became visible.
" It cannot be!" Aragorn cried, his voice etched with surprise.
" I've been sent back until my task is done," the wizard spoke calmly.
" Gandalf!" Aragorn and the three girls cried at once.
" Holy shit!" Jane cried, "We thought you were like killed!"
" Gandalf?" Gandalf spoke in a just understanding voice, " oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the gray. That was my name,"
" Gandalf!" Gimli cried, more surprise in his voice than had been in Aragorn's.
" I am Gandalf the white," Gandalf replied.
" What has befallen you all this time?" Aragorn asked, his voice full of awe.
" Yeah," Niori asked, " why the heck didn't you fade with us?!"
" I appeared back in Middle-Earth from the other world half dead," Gandalf started, " and I laid injured at the top of a mountain for many a day. Then, the king of the eagles swooped down from the heavens and brought me to Lothlorien where the lady Galadriel healed me,"
" It's good to have you back," Jane smiled warmly.
" And I come back to you now," Gandalf the white smiled at them all, " at the turn of the tide,"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~ AN- Ok, this is Carla, and just to tell you all, Jane, Niori and I are all done fighting! Legolas: Finally!
Carla: Shut up Elf-boy!
Jane: Anywaz, that's it for this chapter! Tune in next time because Erin's back!
Carla: Oh, and Niori's looking for any guys who want to "keep her warm"
Niori: WHAT! I AM NOT! CARLA I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!
* More shouting *
Aragorn: * Shakes head * Oh God, not again! Would you all shut up!
Legolas: * Shakes head * until the next chapter!