Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings.
Chapter 15: The Return of the Wizards
Harry woke up to Legolas' shaking him. "Whassa matter?' he asked sleepily.
"Come," replied the elf, "We have to keep moving!"
Harry got up, and Legolas handed him some lembas. "Any sign of the Uruk-hai?"
"No, but I don't like the look of the sky."
"Why? What's wrong with it?" It looked like a beautiful sunrise, with deep red shadows casting over the clouds as the sun came up.
"Whenever a red sun rises, blood has been spilt the night before," explained Legolas.
"Okaaay," said Harry as Legolas walked over to Aragorn and the two started conversing in Elvish.
"I don't understand him either lad," said Gimli.
They had not run far when there was a low rumbling noise. Aragorn looked ahead and saw a troop riding closer and closer towards them. He motioned to the others to hide behind a rock on the hill where they were standing. Sure enough, the Riders of Rohan went past, but did not see them.
Aragorn got up and yelled out to them, "Riders of Rohan! What news from the North!"
The Riders heard and the leader signaled to them. In seconds Harry and the others found themselves surrounded with spears pointed at them from all sides. Their leader spoke first, "What business does an Elf, a Man, a Dwarf, and a boy have in the Riddermark?"
One of the riders nudged his horse forward and it walked up to the captain's side. "Eomer," muttered the soldier, tugging at his sleeve.
"Not now," said the leader, obviously Eomer. He looked at the others harshly. "Speak quickly!"
Harry looked at Aragorn, who started to say something, but was cut off by Gimli, "Give me your name horse-master and I shall give you mine!"
Eomer got off his horse and walked slowly towards them. "Uh-oh," muttered Harry.
Again, the soldier tugged at Eomer's sleeve. "Uh, Eomer?"
"Not now!"
"But Eomer…"
"Silence!" Eomer turned, glowering, back to Gimli. "I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground!"
Legolas whipped out his bow in retaliation, but Harry held him back. "Now would not be a good time," he muttered. Legolas nodded and put down his bow.
Aragorn shot Harry a look of gratitude before turning to Eomer. "I am Aragorn son of Arathorn," he said, "This is Gimli son of Gloin, Legolas of the Woodland Realm, and Harry Potter."
Eomer did a double take. "Harry Potter!" he asked, sounding amazed, "You're Harry Potter?"
"Yes Eomer!" said the soldier, unable to contain himself any longer. "That's what I've been trying to tell you! These guys aren't spies; that's my best friend!" And the soldier stepped off the horse and removed the helmet so Harry could clearly see his face.
"R-Ron?" he stuttered.
"Hey Harry," said Ron, grinning. For it was indeed Ron. He may've grown a little taller since they'd last seen each other, his hair was a little longer, and he had more freckles, but there was no mistaking Harry's best friend.
"How…how've you been?" Harry managed to ask.
"Not too good at the moment. I just got banished along with Eomer here and the other Riders, because we didn't trust this Wormtounge bloke, and we were right, he's working for this guy called Saruman…"
"We know who Saruman is. What's he doing? He's not nearby is he?"
"No," said Eomer, stepping into the conversation, "But he's got spies everywhere…" His voice trailed off as he stared at Legolas, since he had threatened to shoot him in a way. The elf responded with a death glare.
"Eomer, I don't know how many times I have to tell you, they're not spies! I know them!" exclaimed Ron.
"All of them?" asked Eomer.
"Well, no, but I trust Harry!"
Eomer looked at them all carefully. He turned to Ron, who nodded encouragingly, and then lifted off his helmet. This was a signal to the other soldiers to put down their spears, which they did.
"So, what've you been up to? Where're Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny?" asked Ron.
"I don't know where Ginny is, I was kind of hoping you did. Hermione's on a little quest that I can't really discuss right now in the open, and Fred and George are, well…" He hesitated, not sure how to give Ron the bad news.
"I'm sorry, but they were captured by Uruk-hai, along with two other companions of ours," said Aragorn.
"WHAT!" thundered Ron. He had gone pale. "But…but that's impossible! We just killed a whole bunch of those bloody monsters last night and I didn't see them anywhere!"
"No one?" asked Harry desperately.
"Did you see two hobbits with them?" asked Gimli.
"What are hobbits?" asked Ron.
"I guess you didn't," said Harry miserably. "They're really small, about up to hear," he said, putting his hand about level with his waist, "And they have furry feet."
"Harry," said Eomer softly, "We left none alive."
"This is impossible!" cried Ron. He was now so white he looked like he was going to be sick. "No…no…it can't be!"
"It's ok mate, you didn't know. It's not your fault," said Harry.
Ron looked at him sadly. "But it is," he said.
Flashback
The yells and sounds of battle filled the air. But that was fine, Ron had done this a million times before ever since he had fallen in Rohan and had become a sort of assistant to Eomer. At first he'd had trouble learning to ride a horse, but it was easier to learn there then play Quidditch at home, because at least here he could mess up without everyone laughing at him. He got along great with his horse, a dapple grey called Telien. Together, the two made an almost unbeatable team.
Ron pulled out his sword and began slashing at the Uruk-hai in the darkness. He was very glad to be on horseback, it would be very dangerous on the ground with the stampeding horses and the swinging swords slicing at anything that moved.
Suddenly he heard, or thought he'd heard, a voice crying out, "Fred! George! Over here!"
Fred? George? he thought in shock, No, it can't be! But just in case, he yelled out, "Fred? George?"
No answer. Getting desperate, he continued to scream, "FRED? GEORGE?"
Nothing. Maybe he'd been imagining it. He turned Telien and began fighting again; beheading a huge Uruk that he later found out was the captain of the troop.
End of Flashback
"So you see, I think I heard them, and I could've done something, but I didn't!" Ron had told Harry everything. "It's all my fault!"
"No it isn't. You didn't know. It's been months since we last saw you, no wonder you thought you were imagining it!" said Harry, trying to comfort his friend.
"Are you sure you didn't see any bodies?" asked Aragorn.
"No," said Eomer, "We piled the carcasses and burned them." He pointed to a hill in the distance. Smoke was rising from a little black blur.
Eomer let out a sharp whistle. "Hasufel! Arod! Thalion!" Three horses came over, and Eomer gave them to the four companions. Aragorn took Hasufel, Legolas and Gimli would share Arod, and Harry took Thalion. Eomer got on his own horse and prepared to leave. Then he noticed that Ron hadn't budged. "Are you coming with us or staying?" he asked.
"I'll stay," said Ron.
"Alright. I hope to see you soon. Farewell." He raised his hand in salute to his former comrade, and Ron returned it. Then the Riders rode off.
Aragorn glanced as his companions, and their newest member. Together, led by Ron, they rode out to the campsite where the battle had taken place the night before. On the way, Harry explained the whole situation about the Ring to Ron, and Ron told them what had been happening in Rohan before he was banished.
"The king, Théoden, is an ok guy, but lately he's been acting weird. Doesn't look too good either. When I first arrived he looked like he was middle-aged, but now he looks a bit like Dumbledore, ancient, with a long white beard and withered skin. And his eyes are weird too, they're all pale and staring, it was creepy just to look at him!"
"Could he be cursed or something?" asked Harry.
"It's possible I suppose," said Aragorn thoughtfully, "Did he seem to recall anything about his life Ron? I mean would he recognize you if he saw you?"
"No. That was even weirder. His son, my friend Theodred, we found him a few days ago lying half-dead on the river bank. His whole army had been killed by orcs, I think he was the only one who survived, but he was in a bad way, bleeding and unconscious and everything. And King Théoden, he didn't even care. He didn't really seem to realize what was happening, and Eomer tried to explain to him, but his advisor, Grima Wormtounge, told us off and said we were just trying to upset the king. That's when Eomer realized that Wormtounge was a traitor and a spy of Saruman, but when he tried to confront the creepy bloke, he got banished. It was horrible, Wormtounge's thugs came out of nowhere and tackled Eomer and started dragging him out of the city. I took out my sword and started fighting them, but I ended up getting banished too."
There was a silence following his speech, broken only when they reached the site of the battle. Gimli leapt down and started searching the pile. Ron went over to help, but Harry felt like he couldn't do it. He still refused to believe that the twins and hobbits could be dead.
Suddenly Gimli stood up and held up a pouch. "It's got some powder in it," he said softly, "It's the one Lady Galadriel gave to Fred. It has his name on it."
"No!" cried Harry and he rushed over to look at it. But it was true, it was Fred's, it did have his name written on it.
Harry didn't know what to do. He felt like there was a roaring in his ears. This is all my fault! he thought, It's my fault that they're dead! Nearby, he could hear Legolas chanting an Elvish prayer of the dead. Anguish seemed to fill him as he remembered all the fun times he'd had with the four of them, playing Quidditch, the twins giving him the Marauder's Map, setting off Gandalf's fireworks with Merry and Pippin. It seemed incredible to remember that night, long ago, and realize out of all four of those involved in what he called the Firework Fiasco, Gandalf, Merry, Pippin, and himself, only he was left alive.
Aragon seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Harry. He kicked a fallen helmet on the ground and let out an agonized cry, sinking to the ground. Gimli voiced their thoughts, "We failed them."
But the Ranger was now staring curiously at the ground. "Footprints," he muttered, "Two sets are the same size, and two are rather small."
Harry's head jerked up. Where was this headed?
"What's he doing?" hissed Ron.
"He's a ranger and an excellent tracker," explained Legolas, "He can certainly find out a thing or two about last night's events."
Sure enough, Aragorn was following the tracks, now running along here and there. The others followed him, until he stopped at the edge of Fangorn Forest. "They came in here," he said.
"Fangorn," whispered Gimli in fright, "What madness drove them in there?"
"A big scary battle," said Ron. Everyone stared at him. "What? I was just answering his question!"
Harry just laughed and shook his head. "I've missed you mate."
Ron looked extremely puzzled. "Uh, thanks, I missed you too."
Aragorn smiled. "Shall we go on?"
"What!" said Gimli, taking a step backwards.
"What's wrong? It's just a forest!" said Legolas with a slight smirk.
"Easy for you to say! You're an Elf!" said Gimli.
"What! Hang on," said Ron, "You're an Elf?"
"Yes," said Legolas, "Why?"
"Well, you sure don't look like one, at least not like one from my world!" said Ron.
"Shut up Ron," muttered Harry, stamping on his friend's foot.
"Why?" asked Legolas, "What's wrong with the elves in your world?"
"They're-OW!" yelped Ron as Harry elbowed him in the ribs. Legolas stared at them expectantly.
"Well, we're not going to leave our friends alone in that forest. We'd better go in and search for them," said Harry, trying to steer the conversation away from such an unsafe topic.
"Excellent idea Harry," said Aragorn. Striding forward, he led them all into the deep dark Forest.
"I don't like this place," said Ron for the thousandth time.
"Neither do I," said Gimli, "The sooner we leave the better!"
"For the last time, the trees are not going to hurt you!" said Legolas in an exasperated voice. Then he stiffened and looked straight ahead. He called out to Aragorn and the two started talking in Elvish.
"What are they saying?" asked Ron.
"I don't know," said Harry softly, "But I think someone's coming."
Sure enough, Legolas muttered to Aragorn, "The White Wizard approaches."
"Oh no," groaned Ron, "Not Saruman!"
"We must be quick," Aragorn whispered to them. He pulled out his sword, as did Harry and Ron. Legolas pulled out his bow, and Gimli pulled out his ax.
"NOW!" yelled Aragorn suddenly as a white figure leapt out at them. Legolas fired and Gimli flung his axe, but the wizard easily deflected them and then forced the other three to drop their swords by making them burn. Then he shone a white light in their eyes, blinding them as they stepped back and tried to squint.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two hobbits and boys," he said slowly.
"Where are they?" asked both Harry and Aragorn at the same time. Harry was trying to hide the panic that was rising in his voice, wondering what had befallen his poor friends.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
No, it bloody well does not! thought Ron angrily. "Where are my brothers?" he asked fiercely.
Harry couldn't see the old wizard's face, but he seemed to be studying Ron closely. "You must be Ron Weasley," he said, "I've heard so much about you!"
Ron eyed him warily. "Who told you about me?"
The old man stepped into view and revealed himself at last. "Harry did of course!"
Harry nearly fell over in shock. It couldn't be, just couldn't. He'd seen him fall, months ago, back in Moria. But it was true.
Gandalf was alive, and standing right in front of them.
Aragorn was staring at him, wide-eyed. "It cannot be," he whispered.
Harry was now staring at the wizard in awe. "Gandalf?" he asked in amazement.
"Gandalf?" said Ron, looking extremely confused. "Wasn't he that guy you said fell in Moria?"
Gandalf nodded slowly. "Through fire and water," he said, and then went on to explain how he had fought the Balrog after they landed, all through Moria and eventually to the highest peak of Caradhas. Finally he defeated the evil demon, collapsed and died. But he'd been sent back to finish his task on Middle Earth.
Harry walked up to him, trying to take everything in. "Gandalf?" he asked, "Is it really you?"
"Gandalf?" said the old wizard, looking confused. Then he remembered. "Yes, that's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
"Yeah," said Harry, nodding.
Gandalf smiled suddenly. "I am Gandalf the White."
"The White? What's that mean? Are you more powerful or something?" asked Ron.
"You could say that," replied Gandalf, "I am the White Wizard now."
"So what happens to Saruman?" asked Ron.
"Oh he's still very powerful. Do not be mistaken in thinking that he is automatically defeated now that I have returned. Come. We have much to do."
"Where are we going?" asked Harry.
"Edoras, the home of the king of Rohan," replied Gandalf.
"Edoras!"cried Ron in alarm. "I can't go back there! I was banished!"
"Well, we'll just have to fix that," said Gandalf.
"You don't understand. They'll kill me!"
"They will do no such thing, at least while I'm around. Stop fretting Master Weasley, or we will never accomplish anything!"
"One question," said Harry, "Where are our friends?"
"They are safe with Treebeard," replied Gandalf.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," said Aragorn with a grin, "You still speak in riddles. Who is Treebeard?"
"Treebeard? Oh, he is one of the Ents."
"What's an Ent?" asked Harry.
"Aren't they tree-herders or something?" asked Ron, "They take care of the forest, and they look a lot like trees themselves."
"How do you know so much about Ents?" asked Legolas, looking impressed.
"I heard about them in Edoras. The people of Rohan consider them legends, at least that's what Eowyn told me."
"Who's Eowyn?" asked Harry.
"Eomer's sister. She reminds me a bit of Ginny."
"So what's Treebeard doing with Fred, George, Merry, and Pippin?" asked Harry.
"They are quite safe I assure you. They're coming here will have more of an impact then they can imagine. They are going to rouse the Ents."
"Is that good?" asked Harry.
"I hope so," said Gimli.
"You will see in due time," said Gandalf, "Don't worry about them, they are far safer than you are about to be!"
"Great," said Ron.
Their conversation had carried them all the way out of the forest. Gandalf walked ahead of them and whistled. A beautiful white horse galloped up, along with their other horses they'd left behind before entering Fangorn. The great white horse came up and nuzzled Gandalf affectionately. "Shadowfax," said Gandalf happily, "The lord of all horses. He has been my friend through many dangers."
Everyone mounted their horses, Gimli somewhat reluctantly, he hated horses, and they rode off as fast as they could towards Edoras, to free the king from the spell Saruman had him under.
A/N: MUHAHAHAHA! Now you know. And I'm sure you're all ready to kill me. But I had it planned from the beginning that Ron would be in Rohan. Sorry if any of you are disappointed!
To those dear, faithful, wonderful reviewers of mine:
Sauron the Destroyer: Me too! Helm's Deep rules! I can't wait to write it and put it up for you guys!
Infallallthingsaremadesplendid: Well, no. She'll come into play later. I would love to put her and Harry together if I can, and I think I know where to plant the seeds of their relationship!
Yanzen Uroloki: Well, Ron has appeared, and Ginny will come along soon! I'll update as soon as I can!
Joe Schmoe: Gandalf himself said that you could learn all the ways of hobbits in a month and yet after 100 years they can still surprise you. He may be wise and old and everything, but in order to learn the most about hobbits it'd probabaly be better to hear from a hobbit himself. That's the best explanation I can come up with.
Kaladelia Undomiel: Don't you mean "cliffhanger"? I hate them too, but I sure love to write them! ;) Good job, it was Ron! Ginny's not in Edoras though. If I can think of any way for Kal to be tempted by the cloak, I'll let you know so you can update your story faster!
Eclipse: Nope, not Ginny. You're right, they'd never let her fight, but since when has that stopped a girl like Ginny?
The Golden Snitch: I just love "99 Bottles"! And I loved writing that part the best! You've brought up an interesting question about Hogwarts, would you guys like me to write a sequel after this when the Fellowship goes to Hogwarts? Might as well know now so I can plan it!
darknesscomes: I'll try not to let you down! What I really want to do is show the impact this will all have on Harry and the choices he will make later in life.
