Haraldur returns for the next leg of his journey. The Fellowship has broken apart, and Merry and Pippin have been captured. Haraldur, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, and Legolas are in pursuit of the Uruk-Hai. Determined to save their friends, the remaining Fellowship cross into Rohan, where their aid will soon be needed to defend its people against the forces of Isengard.
Along their journey, they will make new friends and encounter old ones. But will the fellowship be enough to stand up against the might of both Mordor and Isengard? Will Haraldur's magic make a difference? Read and find out.
I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR LORD OF THE RINGS. THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.
SLOW UPDATES!
Running, that's what the remainder of the fellowship had been doing for the past three days, no food nor rest. Aragorn led Haraldur, Gimli, Legolas, and Boromir after the Uruk-Hai that had taken Merry and Pippin. If it had not been for Haraldur's Pepper Up potions, The Fellowship would have collapsed from exhaustion. Currently, Aragorn was lying with his head resting on a boulder listening, "Their pace has quickened; they must have caught our scent. Hurry."
Aragorn rushed off in the direction the Uruk-Hai were heading with Legolas and Boromir behind him, "Come on, Gimli," Legolas shouted, while he ignored Haraldur.
Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, Haraldur, and Gimli, trailing behind, are seen running along the top of the mountains and hills.
Aragorn's suddenly stopped and picked up the brooch that Pippin had dropped, "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall."
"They may still be alive," Boromir told Aragorn.
"Less than a day ahead."
Haraldur flicked his wrist, and his wand falls into his hand, "Point me, to Merry and Pippin."
His wand spins and points in the direction the Uruk-Hai are headed, "The Uruks turn Northeast," Haraldur told the others.
"They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard," Legolas exclaimed.
They take off running, with Gimli falling behind. "Come on, Gimli, we're gaining on them."
Gimli huffs, "I'm wasted on cross-country. We Dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances."
"You've never had an Orc pack on your tail before, cousin. You would be surprised how well we Dwarves do over cross-country then," Haraldur told him and handed him another Pepper Up potion. Gimli downs the potion and shivers, but it does its job, and Gimli's pace increases.
They arrive at a brow of a hill looking down on the plains below, "Rohan. Home of the Horse-lords. There's something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures; sets its will against us."
"It must be Saruman's magic," Boromir told Aragorn, "There can be no other explanation."
They continue to run throughout the day and night. Legolas suddenly stops running and looks back to where they have come from. The sun is rising, and the sky is pink.
"A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night." Legolas murmured.
The five hunters continue running. Aragorn paused to look at tracks on the ground, and they hear the sounds of neighing and thundering hooves. He beckoned to the others to follow him as they hide behind some rocks. A large group of horses and horsemen thundered past them over the brow of the hill. Aragorn comes out of hiding, followed by the others.
"Riders of Rohan, what news from the Mark?"
Eomer raises his spear, and the horsemen circled and galloped back to the Hunters and circled them, spears drawn. Eomer rides through the men and stops in front of them.
"What business does an Elf, two Men and two Dwarves have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!"
"Give me your name, horse-master, and I shall give you mine," Gimli told Eomer.
Eomer dismounted from his horse and walked towards Gimli.
"
I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
Haraldur stepped in front of Gimli, but Legolas drew his bow first, "You would die before your stroke fell."
The Rohirrim point their spears at Legolas. Aragorn stepped between him and Eomer and held Legolas' arm down.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, Boromir, son of Denethor, Haraldur, son of Thorin, and Legolas of the Woodland Realm."
Eomer's eyes stared over the Fellowship but stayed on Haraldur, "The Dwarf wizard."
Haraldur looked at Eomer, surprised that he was known this far, "You know of me?"
"The tale of Thorin Oakenshield and his Company reclaiming the Lonely Mountain is known far and wide, Master Dwarf, as is the tale of the young wizard that was with him."
Aragorn looked at Haraldur. How is it that he never heard the tale?
"We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king," Aragorn said after a moment.
"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. Not even his own kin." He motions for the Rohirrim to raise their spears. "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king...and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, 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."
"We are no spies. We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive." Aragorn explained.
"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."
"But there were two Hobbits. Did you see two Hobbits with them?" Gimli asked anxiously.
"They would be small. Only children to your eyes." Boromir clarified.
"We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them," Eomer pointed to a smoking pile behind them.
"Dead?" Haraldur questioned in disbelief.
Eomer nodded, "I am sorry."
Eomer whistled, "Hasufel! Arod! Brego!"
Three horses come forward, "May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell."
With that, Eomer mounted his horse, and the Rohirrim ride on, heading North.
Without a word, Aragorn got on Brego while the others follow his example. Boromir helped Haraldur onto his horse, while Legolas did the same for Gimli. They ride off towards the smoke; the Fellowship still has hope that Merry and Pippin got away. When they arrive at the burning pile, they dismount and begin searching through the smoldering bodies. Gimli finds one of the Hobbit's belts.
"It's one of their wee belts," Gimli said and handed it to Aragorn.
Aragorn kicked a helmet and screamed out his frustration, falling to his knees. Legolas stood by saying a prayer for the Hobbits. Haraldur refused to believe that Merry and Pippin were dead. When Aragorn told them that a Hobbit was lying where he was kneeling, Haraldur stepped in front of him and cast a tracking charm.
"Appare Vestigium."
The tracking charm lit up the footprints of the Hobbits. Boromir followed the tracks with his eyes and smiled, "The tracks lead away from the battle."
"And into Fangorn Forest," Aragorn noticed.
"Aye, and an Orc was also pursuing them," Haraldur pointed out.
Aragorn looked at Haraldur, "Can you track them in the forest?"
"Aye."
"Then let's go."
Haraldur led the way into the forest, with the others close behind. They continued to follow the tracks; Gimli spotted blood on a leaf and tasted it. He spits it out, "Orc blood."
"These are strange tracks," Boromir said as he looked ahead. He turned to Haraldur, "Can you tell what made them?"
"No, I cannot."
"Whatever it is, it's big," Aragorn added.
They continue deeper into the forest; Gimli took a deep breath, "The air is so close in here."
Legolas looked around, "This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory and anger."
A deep groaning is heard, and Gimli raised his axe.
"The trees are talking to each other."
"Gimli, lower your axe," Boromir whispered.
"Oh!" Gimli said, suddenly realizing what he meant.
"They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak." Legolas explained.
"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Except for the consistency of squirrel droppings." Gimli scoffed.
Suddenly, Haraldur stiffens. Aragorn noticed Haraldur's demeanor change, "What is it," He inquired.
"There's someone out there."
"How do you know," Boromir asked.
"I can feel his magic. It's familiar magic," Haraldur smiled.
"Gandalf."
"But he fell; we all saw him; how can this be," Legolas asked.
"I do not know, but I know what I sense. Magic recognizes Magic."
"We must be on our guard, in case you are mistaken," Aragorn warned.
Haraldur nodded, as did the others.
The five members whirl around and see a bright light behind them. Instantly, Legolas loosed an arrow while Gimli threw his axe. The stranger quickly blocked them. The stranger raised his staff, and Aragorn and Boromir sword hilts heated up, and they dropped them. Haraldur was about to cast a curse, but he lowered his hand.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," The stranger said in Saruman's voice.
"Where are they," Aragorn challenged.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"So yourself, Gandalf, I know it's you," Haraldur said.
Gandalf stepped out of the bright light. Legolas and Gimli bow, "Forgive me, I mistook you for Saruman."
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
"You fell," Aragorn whispered.
"Through fire...and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with 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 in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf," Aragorn said with a smile.
"Gandalf? Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name. I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide," Gandalf said and patted Aragorn on the shoulder, happy to see that the Fellowship had survived thus far.
The six companions made their way out of Fangorn Forest to where they tied their horses, "One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras? That is not a short distance," Gimli pointed out.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," Boromir informed Gandalf.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured. Do not worry about Merry and Pippin; I left them in good hands. It is far more important that we make our way to Edoras," Then Gandalf looked at Haraldur, "The faster, the better."
"You know I cannot apparate to a place I have never been to before."
"Yes, I know, but I heard that you finally completed your little project," Gandalf said with a smirk.
"Oh, no," Gimli groaned.
The others looked between the Dwarves and Gandalf, confused. Haraldur smirked and walked towards the horse and took his pack down. He reached in and rummaged around for a moment, then Haraldur pulled out a broom from the bag and a trunk?
"A broom? How is a broom supposed to help us get to Edoras any faster," Boromir asked.
"This is not any broom, my friend. It is a magical broom that I can fly on."
They all looked at the broom, surprised, except for Gimli and Gandalf, "Alright, so it is a flying broom. Unless you have more in that bag of yours, I do not see how that will help us," Aragorn said.
"That is what the trunk is for."
"I do not understand," Aragorn said.
Haraldur waved his hand over the trunk, and the latches came undone, and the lid opened. He walked over to the chest and swung his leg over the side, and jumped in, disappearing. Everyone gasped and raced towards the chest. Just then, Haraldur popped his head out, "Come on, you lot, get in."
The two men and the Elf hesitated, while Gandalf and Gimli did as Haraldur said and disappeared as well. Boromir looked at his companions and shrugged. He followed Gandalf and Gimli into the box and did as they had done. A little while later, so did Aragorn, but Legolas still hesitated.
"Come on, Legolas, this is something you must see!" Aragorn called out.
Legolas cursed then jumped in. He landed on a landing where there were stairs that led further down, "What in Eru is this?"
Legolas climbed down the stairs until he reached the lowermost level. His eyes widened when he saw a sitting room with plush chairs and a coffee table in the center with a tea set upon it. The others were sitting around it drinking tea.
"I do not understand. How is this possible?"
"As Haraldur is so fond of saying, magic," Gandalf said to the Elven Prince.
"I have never heard or seen magic like this in all of my life."
"Haraldur's magic is uniquely his. There is no one in Arda like him," Gandalf affirmed.
"Well, perhaps my children will inherit my magic. Otherwise, Gandalf is correct."
"I still do not understand; what are we doing in here?"
"You, my dear Elf, and the others will wait in here while I fly us to Edoras with Gandalf," Haraldur explained.
"Oh, thank Mahal. I thought you were going to ask me to sit with you," Gimli confessed.
Haraldur chuckled, "Not this time, Gimli, I would like to ride with Haraldur," Gandalf told him.
"Why did you not do this earlier when we were chasing the Uruk-Hai," Boromir questioned.
"This broom is not perfect and can only be used for a limited amount of time. I had a feeling we would need it later."
"What of the horses," Aragorn inquired.
"I will do to them what I did to the ponies when we first arrived in Rivendell. Transfigure them into rocks and carry them with me."
Aragorn nodded, then he became alarmed, "And what will you do with this trunk?"
"Shrink it down and put it back in my bag, but do not worry; you will not feel the difference."
After that was settled, Gandalf and Haraldur left the others in the chest and went back out. Haraldur shrank the trunk and put it in his bag, while Gandalf called for his old friend Shadowfax the lord of all horses. He patted the white horse and explained to him what their plan was. Shadowfax whinnied and tossed his head in agreement. Haraldur thanked the horse and transfigured him and the other horses into stone. He scooped them up and put them in his pocket.
"Alright, let us be off," Gandalf said.
"Before we go, let me cast a warming charm on you, Gandalf. It will be cold in the air."
Gandalf agreed, and Haraldur waved his hand over Gandalf, then himself. Once they were warm, Haraldur mounted his broom and kicked off, hovering slightly above the ground. Gandalf smiled and got on behind Haraldur. He held onto the Dwarf's waist, and Haraldur urged the broom higher into the sky, "Which way, Gandalf?"
"Southeast."
Haraldur nodded and sped off towards Edoras.