PART 14
The sun was just rising as the Company and the Rohan contingent left the Golden Halls. As they rode, the wind was soft against their cheeks and the grass firm under their horses' feet. They were going to Lothlorien, and in everyone's minds, the very name of that sweet realm was peace enough for them. First, however, they had to pass Fangorn, where all sorts of magical creatures lived, including orcs. They were on their guard, even as their hearts sang with the morning.
Legolas spurred Arod on so that he and Gimli were riding next to Gandalf, who while staying atop Shadowfax easily was also gazing into his palantir as they cantered along. Gandalf's face was lit greenly from the magical orb and every so often, he would mutter something in the old language, to change the image. He didn't notice Legolas and Gimli until Legolas spoke to him. "Mithrandir?"
The old man looked up. "Legolas. Our route is blocked, it seems. We will not be able to get through Fangorn easily. Zycrah has sent Uruk-hai to bar our paths. Will you let Elrond and Nuhision know so that they can prepare the Riders?"
Legolas nodded. "Of course." He slowed Arod until Elrond, on Asfaloth, was riding alongside him. Gimli got the elven-king's attention. "Elrond! Gandalf said to tell you that there are Uruk-hai. Prepare yourself for action."
Elrond looked up, startled. "Uruk-hai? And I was hoping we'd be able to get through Fangorn unnoticed. I will alert Nuhision." They watched him gallop ahead to the front of the group to where Nuhision was galloping majestically on Telperonwen, leading the way. His black hair was streaming out behind him as he sat very straight on the centaur's back. They watched his proud face fall as he heard the news and then all of the sudden, he called a halt. The assembly stopped in a flurry of dust and flicking tails.
"I have been alerted by Elrond to tell you that there are Uruk-hai lying ahead. Keep your bows ready and your swords sharp. We will triumph or we will fall, but we will do so bravely. Onward!"
Halfway through the morning they had not seen any sight of Uruk-hai, but Gandalf and Nuhision cautioned the Riders that just because they weren't seen, didn't mean that they weren't lying in wait. The assembly trod cautiously as they came upon the edges of the dark forest of Fangorn. Aragorn especially was tense, on Gilgalad. His hand was on his sword and his eyes cast around quickly. Elrond felt a strange sense of sadness that his happy little Estel from long ago was now this hardened, brave, cautious warrior king, tall on his steed with his hand at his sword. He turned away and cast his sharp elven-eyes into the shadows.
The sun was high overhead and still they had not come upon Uruk-hai. Elrohir was puzzled. "Mithrandir," he whispered, his voice barely audible, "is your palantir always correct?"
Gandalf looked at him sharply. "Nine times out of ten, yes. Just because you don't see them, Elrohir, doesn't mean that they are --"
"Not there, I know. But I can normally sense these things, and I have not sensed anything. We are a half a day already through Fangorn and I do not smell the stench of goblins at all."
Gandalf looked puzzled. "Well, the palantir did warn me against them. And unless Zycrah has the power to enchant things that are far beyond her reach and make, it is right. We shall see what the night brings us."
The afternoon passed tensely, with every member of the troupe on his highest alert. They stopped as the sun dipped below the horizon, at a small clearing in the dense woods. A few Rohan riders began to build fires and set up tents while the Company and Nuhision conferenced to the side.
"The watches will have to be carefully set. We should have two watchers, one to fend off the intruders, the other to rouse the others." Gandalf brought out a small metal circle. "This is a gong. Its sound is so much that it can bring down an army. Whoever is the lesser fighter will carry this, and tap it lightly once. The noise will awaken the other warriors and we will have our vengeance. We must choose the watchers carefully." His eyes cast around. "Aragorn. And Legolas. Legolas, you will carry the gong. After a third of the night has passed, Gimli and Elrohir. Gimli will carry the gong. After two-thirds, myself and Elrond. Elrond, you will carry the gong. It is settled." Gandalf turned wearily towards the warm light of the fire.
Legolas looked at the little gong in his hand. He had its doubts that it could rouse more than a sleeping mouse, but he trusted Gandalf, as he always did. He and Aragorn took their places by the fire and went onto their guard. Legolas was tired, but he kept his mind on the task at hand.
The night passed slowly, and clouds blocked the moon so they measured time by the dying of the fire. The forest lay in sleeping silence, with the song of the wind through the leaves its only sound. Aragorn got up from the fire and walked towards the forest, leaving Legolas by himself. He could feel his eyelids getting heavy, but he forcefully kept them open. Just when he thought he couldn't hold out any longer, he heard a thumping, followed by a violent rustling. He sat bolt upright, his hand on his bow. Aragorn came back from the other direction and took one look at Legolas. He drew his sword.
The thumping grew louder, and now a low guttural sound could be heard through the trees. Legolas quivered, his bow drawn, his finger on the gong, ready to wake up the assembly at a second's notice. The thumping was now impossibly loud, and the leaves of the brush moved as something pushed through them.
Aragorn yelled and went running towards the thing, as Legolas strung an arrow and let go. The arrow sailed toward its target perfectly, until it was knocked from midair by a branch-like arm. Aragorn stopped in mid-run, his mouth still open. The thing that had pushed through the bushes now stopped dead in the clearing, its arms folded.
It was an Ent, a tree-like creature that lived deep in the forests of Fangorn. This Ent was a younger one, with a barely notched trunk and fluttering green leaves. It frowned and then spoke in a low, bubbling voice.
"Ohohohoho, what's this, what's this I ask? An Elf and a Human, firing at an Ent? What, oh what, oh what I say is the world coming to?"
Legolas dropped his bow. "We meant you no harm, friend. We are keyed to our highest pitch, as we have been warned of enemies in your fair wood."
The Ent frowned harder and squinted at Legolas. "The Prince of Mirkwood? Is that you? I thought you never left your forest nowadays. I, oh yes, I always meant to go to Mirkwood, so I did, but I never, oh no, I never had the inclination after the great, oh so very great, war of the Ring, so it was."
Legolas looked at the Ent again. "Willowfoot? Is that you?" He came a little closer to the tree-like creature and suddenly smiled. "It is you! My father knew you from long ago. He told me to keep an eye out, when he left, for you."
Willowfoot's hard face cracked into a smile. "I well remember, so I do. Your father, ohoho, your brave father, yes, he was kind to me, so he was. I am pleased, oh yes so very pleased, so I am, to meet his son." The Ent stretched out a twiggy hand and Legolas shook it.
Then the Ent turned to Aragorn. "You be the King of Gondor, ohoho, that fair region indeed. I am very glad, that I am, to make your acquaintance at last too, ohoho."
Aragorn smiled at the Ent. "We may be in need of your strong kindred again. There is a new enemy in these parts."
Willowfoot nodded gravely. "Yes, so there is. We Ents have seen her goblins, yes indeed, and have had quite the troubles, oh so many troubles, keeping them at bay, so we have. I heard you, so I did, cantering through Fangorn earlier today. I will warn you now that there are goblins, so there are, heading your way."
Legolas nodded. "Thank you, you've been quite the help, Willowfoot, I'm glad we ran into you. Will you help us?"
Willowfoot balked a little, but finally agreed. "For only tonight, so it is. Just for tonight," and he followed them back to the fire.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
The sun was just rising as the Company and the Rohan contingent left the Golden Halls. As they rode, the wind was soft against their cheeks and the grass firm under their horses' feet. They were going to Lothlorien, and in everyone's minds, the very name of that sweet realm was peace enough for them. First, however, they had to pass Fangorn, where all sorts of magical creatures lived, including orcs. They were on their guard, even as their hearts sang with the morning.
Legolas spurred Arod on so that he and Gimli were riding next to Gandalf, who while staying atop Shadowfax easily was also gazing into his palantir as they cantered along. Gandalf's face was lit greenly from the magical orb and every so often, he would mutter something in the old language, to change the image. He didn't notice Legolas and Gimli until Legolas spoke to him. "Mithrandir?"
The old man looked up. "Legolas. Our route is blocked, it seems. We will not be able to get through Fangorn easily. Zycrah has sent Uruk-hai to bar our paths. Will you let Elrond and Nuhision know so that they can prepare the Riders?"
Legolas nodded. "Of course." He slowed Arod until Elrond, on Asfaloth, was riding alongside him. Gimli got the elven-king's attention. "Elrond! Gandalf said to tell you that there are Uruk-hai. Prepare yourself for action."
Elrond looked up, startled. "Uruk-hai? And I was hoping we'd be able to get through Fangorn unnoticed. I will alert Nuhision." They watched him gallop ahead to the front of the group to where Nuhision was galloping majestically on Telperonwen, leading the way. His black hair was streaming out behind him as he sat very straight on the centaur's back. They watched his proud face fall as he heard the news and then all of the sudden, he called a halt. The assembly stopped in a flurry of dust and flicking tails.
"I have been alerted by Elrond to tell you that there are Uruk-hai lying ahead. Keep your bows ready and your swords sharp. We will triumph or we will fall, but we will do so bravely. Onward!"
Halfway through the morning they had not seen any sight of Uruk-hai, but Gandalf and Nuhision cautioned the Riders that just because they weren't seen, didn't mean that they weren't lying in wait. The assembly trod cautiously as they came upon the edges of the dark forest of Fangorn. Aragorn especially was tense, on Gilgalad. His hand was on his sword and his eyes cast around quickly. Elrond felt a strange sense of sadness that his happy little Estel from long ago was now this hardened, brave, cautious warrior king, tall on his steed with his hand at his sword. He turned away and cast his sharp elven-eyes into the shadows.
The sun was high overhead and still they had not come upon Uruk-hai. Elrohir was puzzled. "Mithrandir," he whispered, his voice barely audible, "is your palantir always correct?"
Gandalf looked at him sharply. "Nine times out of ten, yes. Just because you don't see them, Elrohir, doesn't mean that they are --"
"Not there, I know. But I can normally sense these things, and I have not sensed anything. We are a half a day already through Fangorn and I do not smell the stench of goblins at all."
Gandalf looked puzzled. "Well, the palantir did warn me against them. And unless Zycrah has the power to enchant things that are far beyond her reach and make, it is right. We shall see what the night brings us."
The afternoon passed tensely, with every member of the troupe on his highest alert. They stopped as the sun dipped below the horizon, at a small clearing in the dense woods. A few Rohan riders began to build fires and set up tents while the Company and Nuhision conferenced to the side.
"The watches will have to be carefully set. We should have two watchers, one to fend off the intruders, the other to rouse the others." Gandalf brought out a small metal circle. "This is a gong. Its sound is so much that it can bring down an army. Whoever is the lesser fighter will carry this, and tap it lightly once. The noise will awaken the other warriors and we will have our vengeance. We must choose the watchers carefully." His eyes cast around. "Aragorn. And Legolas. Legolas, you will carry the gong. After a third of the night has passed, Gimli and Elrohir. Gimli will carry the gong. After two-thirds, myself and Elrond. Elrond, you will carry the gong. It is settled." Gandalf turned wearily towards the warm light of the fire.
Legolas looked at the little gong in his hand. He had its doubts that it could rouse more than a sleeping mouse, but he trusted Gandalf, as he always did. He and Aragorn took their places by the fire and went onto their guard. Legolas was tired, but he kept his mind on the task at hand.
The night passed slowly, and clouds blocked the moon so they measured time by the dying of the fire. The forest lay in sleeping silence, with the song of the wind through the leaves its only sound. Aragorn got up from the fire and walked towards the forest, leaving Legolas by himself. He could feel his eyelids getting heavy, but he forcefully kept them open. Just when he thought he couldn't hold out any longer, he heard a thumping, followed by a violent rustling. He sat bolt upright, his hand on his bow. Aragorn came back from the other direction and took one look at Legolas. He drew his sword.
The thumping grew louder, and now a low guttural sound could be heard through the trees. Legolas quivered, his bow drawn, his finger on the gong, ready to wake up the assembly at a second's notice. The thumping was now impossibly loud, and the leaves of the brush moved as something pushed through them.
Aragorn yelled and went running towards the thing, as Legolas strung an arrow and let go. The arrow sailed toward its target perfectly, until it was knocked from midair by a branch-like arm. Aragorn stopped in mid-run, his mouth still open. The thing that had pushed through the bushes now stopped dead in the clearing, its arms folded.
It was an Ent, a tree-like creature that lived deep in the forests of Fangorn. This Ent was a younger one, with a barely notched trunk and fluttering green leaves. It frowned and then spoke in a low, bubbling voice.
"Ohohohoho, what's this, what's this I ask? An Elf and a Human, firing at an Ent? What, oh what, oh what I say is the world coming to?"
Legolas dropped his bow. "We meant you no harm, friend. We are keyed to our highest pitch, as we have been warned of enemies in your fair wood."
The Ent frowned harder and squinted at Legolas. "The Prince of Mirkwood? Is that you? I thought you never left your forest nowadays. I, oh yes, I always meant to go to Mirkwood, so I did, but I never, oh no, I never had the inclination after the great, oh so very great, war of the Ring, so it was."
Legolas looked at the Ent again. "Willowfoot? Is that you?" He came a little closer to the tree-like creature and suddenly smiled. "It is you! My father knew you from long ago. He told me to keep an eye out, when he left, for you."
Willowfoot's hard face cracked into a smile. "I well remember, so I do. Your father, ohoho, your brave father, yes, he was kind to me, so he was. I am pleased, oh yes so very pleased, so I am, to meet his son." The Ent stretched out a twiggy hand and Legolas shook it.
Then the Ent turned to Aragorn. "You be the King of Gondor, ohoho, that fair region indeed. I am very glad, that I am, to make your acquaintance at last too, ohoho."
Aragorn smiled at the Ent. "We may be in need of your strong kindred again. There is a new enemy in these parts."
Willowfoot nodded gravely. "Yes, so there is. We Ents have seen her goblins, yes indeed, and have had quite the troubles, oh so many troubles, keeping them at bay, so we have. I heard you, so I did, cantering through Fangorn earlier today. I will warn you now that there are goblins, so there are, heading your way."
Legolas nodded. "Thank you, you've been quite the help, Willowfoot, I'm glad we ran into you. Will you help us?"
Willowfoot balked a little, but finally agreed. "For only tonight, so it is. Just for tonight," and he followed them back to the fire.
~TO BE CONTINUED~