Hey krillball6, nice thinking, close...but no cigar, you'll get half of the answer here in this chap...It kind of has something to do with Valinor...but hey, I like surprises, so I'm dragging the reason out, it's no fun if I just say it right away. And don't worry, the ending won't be angsty, I'm no pessimist. But...it is possible you might want a box of kleenex handy...just maybe...ooooh look what I have done, I nearly gave the ending away...Okay I'm shutting my mouth now...
They found the pile of burning carcass with no trouble, it was producing thick columns of foul smoke into the air.
But there were no trace of their hobbit friends.
"No fXX way, we went all these way for them, they should at least be alive!" Elix cried in frustration, even Aragorn lost control of his cool and kicked at a helmet.
Surprisingly Shay felt no anger, or sadness, instead her head was turning its gears, no, the hobbits should be alive, we've seen no bodies, or even their blood, and they're not in the burning pile... Suddenly Aragorn's shout borke into her thought.
"A hobbit lay here, his hands were ties,..." the Company follow Aragorn as he followed the trail, "...they crawl, and here their bonds were off..." said Aragorn, and indeed out of the grass he picked up two lengths of cut off rope, "and than...they ran into this forest." He looked up at the dark forbidden forest while Gimli gasped, "What madness drove them here?"
"What is this place?" Elix asked, utterly confused, remember, he hates reading.
"Fangorn Forest." Shay said as she moved a gentle hand on the bark of a tree.
They went in of course, now that they were sure Merry and Pippin were still alive they couldn't desert them now. But it wasn't easy, the forest was dark, and stuffy. It was...
"This forest is old, very old, full of memories,...and anger." Legolas said as he looked around than he said, "Shay?" Shay turned around and looked him in question, "don't wander, stay near me." Shay shook her head at Legolas' new found protectiveness but she went to stood by him. Gimli was faring badly, he hates forest, especially tempermental forests.
"Orc blood," Aragorn said as he passed a blackened leaf, "yet these tracks are strange." he added as he looked down on the ground.
Suddenly Legolas' head snapped up and he made a small hand motion at Aragorn, the man immediately came over and asked in a lowered whisper, "What do you see?"
Legolas' eyes widened and said, "The White wizard approaches."
"Saruman." Elix hissed in anger, they had learned long ago from Gandalf of this traitorous Maia.
The five travellers set their hands on their weapon, than the light came and on instinct Legolas shot his arrows, but they were deflected, and the swords and axes that the others bear suddenly became immovable.
A voice came from the light, "You're looking for two hobbits."
"Who are you?" Aragorn asked.
"Your friends are safe." than suddenly the light dimmed, and a face they had mourned so much for, appeared.
"Gandalf!" Shay laughed and cried and propelled herself into the old wizard. The wizard laughed, and hugged Shay. Shay moved back to get a good look at her friend. He was different now, yet the same. His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the yesunder his ddep brows were bright as piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand.
"I have come to you at the turn of the tide." Gandalf said, "Yes, I suppose Gandalf was my name."
"We thought you were Saruman." Elix said in wonder.
"Indeed I am Saruman, or rather the Saruman he should have been." Gandalf said amusingly, "But you may call me Gandalf the White."
Shay laughed leaving his side and went over to give Legolas a hug too, "Gandalf's back, everything's fine now."
"Indeed, Merry and Pippin are safe, but we must hurry to Rohan. We have little to worry here, for Fangorn is awakening and they will find themselves stronger than before."
Aragorn laughed, "In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," said Aragorn: "You still speak in riddles."
"Come, and Master Gimli, lower your axe now, don't make the trees angry." Gandalf said and he turned toward the way they have come in, "To Endoras."
They rode again, Gandalf did not needed to share horse with them for with him came Shadowfax, one of Meara, lords of horses. They rode due south into a flat land, treeless and wide.
"Shay you will find danger in Endoras, becareful. Time has worn out the glory in Rohan." Gandalf sighed one time as they rode, but then he remained silent.
Soon they arrived at Endoras. It was not as Shay had remember, long has the joy been gone from the people's eyes. They had seen too many troubled times.
But when some of the older people saw her they begin to whisper, and a sense of life seemed to stirred...
"You'd find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli mumbled.
"It's changed so much." Shay whispered sorrowfully.
Legolas held her tightly against him, "Shh, it's okay melamin, all will end well." Shay leaned back against him and sighed, "I hope so."
They stopped at the door to the Golden Hall, one of the guards stepped forward and spoke in Common Speech, "I am the Doorward of Theoden," he said. "Hama is my name. Here I must bid you lay aside your weapons before you enter."
"Hello, Hama." Shay greeted as she layed down her sword.
Hama bowed low in respect, "Lady Shay." he seemed to want to say more but a glance at the door stopped him, Shay nodded in understanding. The rest of Company followed Shay and set down their weapons.
"Your staff," Hama said when Gandalf only set down his sword.
Before Gandalf could speak, Shay already did, "Really, you wouldn't take that stick away from him? He needs it badly, he's falling all over the place, really." Shay said and made a puppy face, "Please, as a favor."
Hama sighed and nodded in consent.
The doors opened and they went in.
Even as they stepped into the hall, the door slammed shut behind them.
The hall was filled with reek of trouble and worries.
The King that sat on the crown was no longer recognizable by Shay as Theoden, in deed the man was so bent and frail he hardly looked human at all. And beside the kind stood a wizened figure of a man, with pale snake face and heavy lidded eyes.
"Hail, Theoden son of Thengel!" Gandalf called. At first the King made no movement, but than he stirred and he rasped, "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?"
The snake man whispered, "You speak justly, my lord," than he continued louder, "Why indeed should we welcome you, Master Stormcrow? Lathspell I name you, ill-news is ill guest."
"Hold your fork tongue behind your teeth, Wormtongue, I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls." Gandalf said, he flung off his grey cloak and raised his staff. There was a roll of thunder. The sunlight was blotted out from the eastern windows; the whole hall suddenly became more dark.
"Did I not order you to take his staff!" Wormtongue hissed.
Some of the man moved to attack them. One of them came toward Shay, but with a swift high kick, the man flew back toward a pillar and hit it with a loud thud. When she turned around the rest had already been taken care of by the other four.
There was a flash as if lightning had cloven the roof. Then all was silent. Wormtongue sprawled on his face.
"Begone Saruman!" Gandalf roared as he stepped forward.
A voice, twisted and evil suddenly came out of Theoden, "Rohan is mine! If I go, he dies."
Gandalf raised his staff and flung Theoden back into his throne, "You did not kill me before, and you will not kill him!" Gandalf yelled and suddenly Theoden slumped forward again. Than when he finally raised his head, his face was younger, and his once paste-like skin had a sheen of health to it. A blur of white flurried past and went to his side.
It was Eowyn, niece of Theoden.
Shay noted that Eowyn had changed...just like Endoras had. Gone, was the easy smiling face, and in its place was a cold and steel facade that shone with a cool fire. Her long hair trailed behind her like a golden river, tall and slender, she was in her white robe girt with silver; she was strong, this daughter of kings.
The rest is history of course, Theoden suddenly became young again, and full of spirit. Wormtongue got kicked out, pity that Aragorn prevented Theoden from slaying the s.o.b. He who had brough so much grief really do deserve to die.
Gandalf soon begin to talk to Theoden about the current crisis; Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli stood by his side listening and occasionally making inputs.
It took Eowyn awhile to realize Shay was there, but she did see her, after she tear her eyes away from Aragorn...
"Shay!" Eowyn cried in what seemed like relief as she walk towards the young girl in quick steps. Her once cold and impassive face had suddenly broken into warmth.
Shay walk to meet her and gave her a hug which Eowyn returned just as feverently.
"So, that bad, eh?" Shay asked.
Eowyn nodded, "Theodred had died just a few days ago. A forthnight before, a horse was sighted, carrying two children, they said their village had been attack."
"Ah, Isengard?" Shay supplied.
"Yes, Eomer spoke out for an attack against Saruman, but Grima called him a traitor and exiled him." Eowyn said almost tearfully.
Shay put her hand on Eowyn's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Eomer's fine, I've seen him before I came here."
Eowyn nodded, and Shay continued, "War is coming, but knowing King Theoden, he'll probably take his people to Helm's Deep. He won't risk open war with Isengard. He loves his people too much."
"Yes, I do believe even now he's telling this to Gandalf." Eowyn said as they both turn to look at the other group.
"The last time I check Theoden was Rohan's king, not Aragorn." the king said loudly.
"Yeah, he's going alright." Shay said, her eyes moved around the room, than suddenly her gaze caught Elix.
Elix had been standing quietly to the side, which was like an apocolypse, he is never quiet. But it isn't what he's doing that caught Shay's eyes, it's what he looked like, or to be more specific, what his hands look like.
Shay knew she needed to talk to Elix, fast, so she turned to Eowyn and said, "I suppose you've never met my brother?"
"No I have not, you said he loathes to travel." Eowyn said.
"Ah, but he came this time," Shay said than she called out, "Elix! Come here."
Elix turned toward her, his eyes veiled, but he came walking over, his hands hid behind his back.
"This is Elix, my brother, he's a bit tired, I'm sure you won't might me taking him to wash up?"
"Oh, no, indeed, your room is still empty, I've kept it that way." Eowyn said as she nodded in greeting.
"Alright than, I will see you later, I assume Theoden will empty the city right away?"
Eowyn nodded, "Well, I'll be right down."
"Do not hurry, I fear your companions will need to rest too."
Shay nodded and left with Elix in tow. When they finally reached the room, Shay shut the door and turned on her brother and asked coolly, "How long?"
Elix lowered his head and mumbled, "Since yesterday."
"Why haven't you told me?" Shay said her face still impassive but a hint of tremble had enter her voice. She glanced at Elix's hand again, even in this dimmed light she could still see the translucent sheen, heck, she could see right across the room with Elix's hand in front of her sight.
Elix looked up, his eyes glistened with unshed tears and said hoarsely, "What am I suppose to FXXX say? I'm F XXX disappearing? Or maybe I should just walk through a wall in front of the Fellowship." Than suddenly he whip out a dagger and in one swift movement he slice open his arm...nothing happend.
No blood, nothing.
Shay winced.
"By Valar,I have less time than I thought.If it is happening to you, than that means, I'm not far behind either!" Shay said, her voice oddly high.
Elix shook his head, "No, you haven't finish what you came to do."
"And you have?"
"I don't know, I thought...oh never mind."
Shay started to knock her head against the wall, "Stupid, stupid..." she muttered.
Elix peered at her, "But that's not what you're worrying about is it? It's not the mission, it's Legolas. You think you'll hurt him too much."
Shay stopped the killing brain cells process and yelled, "Damn it Elix, I know how much he loves me, I've seen it everyday in his eyes, and it hurts me, it HURTS me! I don't want him to fade! It's not his fault he fell in love with me, of all the people in Middle-earth! I love him, I LOVE HIM! I can't let him die." Shay said the last part in a whisper as she slid down to the, sobbing.
"Have a little faith, sis. Uncle Manwe would never sent us on a heartbreak journey, Aunt Varda would hung him on a cloths line if he does that. Why not give love a chance, I mean are you saying that you regret loving mom? Dad?" Elix said as he sat down beside her.
Shay cried, "That's different, they won't die without me! And besides how do you know it isn't Iluvatar that's doing the ordering, Aunt Varda has no control over that!"
"How do you know mom won't give up? Mom always said she loved us more than anything, and she showed it, always fussing and all that. And besides you worry too much."
Shay hung her head in confusion, Elix continued, "I guess what I'm trying to say is, live life to the fullest, you know, eat, drink, go on adventures, fall in love and all that. I don't regret not doing those things, because you know what? I know you'll do them all and probably more."
"Hell, aren't you the Romantic one that told me, 'Even in the Darkest hour there is always hope?' Why not try that yourself, give yourself some hope."
Shay looked at him queerly, "Since when have you gotten so smart."
Instead of his usually inane remark to that sort of question Elix looked thoughtfully for a second than replied, "I guess that being on the brink changes your view of the world, it's a perspective that no matter how much books or scrolls you read you can never understand. Only Mr. Skeleton can bring it to you."
"I guess you really are dying." Shay said tearfully, "You've never sounded like this before."
Elix shrugged, "Hell won't be so bad, I hope it's Earth's hell. It's hot down there, and you know I'm a hot person, I'll probably bring down the house in a few seconds."
Shay gave a weak chuckle, "Yeah, you'll do that."
"Don't worry about me, even when I go I'll still watch over you and be like, hey dude, that's my sis, and she's being a shXX head again."
"So it's like that."
"Yeah it's like that, I'm sorry, but you know we have this complicate love and hate relationship, and it's just not working out, girl." Elix said in his best gangster manner.
Shay shook her head and said, "You know, I think Galadriel's wrong, I'm not unique, you are."
"Naw, I'm just way cooler and a lot more sexy than you."
"I'm sure."
"Look at us, I'm still alive and you're already crying up a storm. Don't be a party spoiler, the fat lady hasn't even sing yet, you know she's still putting make-up on that large aXX face of hers, she needs a lot of lip stick and rouge, and all that shXX."
"I know."
"So no more crying?"
Shay nodded drying her eyes, "Alright."
"Yeah, that's my sis. If I do go, I'll go out with a bang! Savvy?" Elix said, with his legs firmly apart and his head held high, doing his best Jack Sparrow imitation.
Shay laughed, "Well, wash yourself first, pirate boy."