Daniel's Thoughts

Last Chapter

"Like a Valar or something?"

"Valar?"

"The Valar, they're the elven gods."

"Then no defiantly not, I came through the Stargate from a different planet, it's a big grey ring about as tall as Treebeard. Anyone can travel through it. It's just nicer if you chose to and are not dragged through kicking and screaming or unconscious."

"You make it sound like it happens a lot." Merry said.

"It does."

Chapter 5

Treebeard carried them through the forest telling them every poem he knew which Daniel found fascinating as it told him about the history and cultures of Middle Earth, Merry and Pippin on the other hand slept in Treebeard's branches.

"Treebeard is that a fire over there?" Daniel asked pointing to the south where he could see smoke rising over the treetops.

"No, that is Isengard. There is always smoke rising over Isengard these days."

"Isengard?" Merry asked then climbing higher into the Ents branches followed closely by Pippin.

"What's Isengard?" Daniel asked.

"It is the dwelling of Saruman." Treebeard told him, "There was a time when Saruman would walk in my woods, but now he has a mind of metal and wheels. He no longer cares for growing things."

"What is it?" Pippin asked his cousin, both hobbits looked over the treetops at something in the distance.

Daniel carefully climbed up to them with great difficulty so he could see also, because of his injuries he had to use the back of his right hand rather then gripping the branches as he had only managed to get the biggest bits of glass out of his hand so the gashes hadn't even started to heal and without his glasses to see the wound he was not even sure if he had all of the glass out. He also tried to keep as much weight off of his ankle as possible, what had started out as a simple sprain had gotten worst because of all the running he had been forced to do.

When he got to the same height as the Hobbits he lent back against one of the branches and look out in the same direction as the hobbits. It wasn't hard to work out what they were looking at. Starting at Isengard and disappearing into the horizon was line after line after line of soldiers, marching in formation like a huge trail of ants from their nest to their prey.

"It's Saruman's army. The war has started." Merry said solemnly.

"You were expecting this?"

"Hoping it wouldn't happen but yes we were expecting it to happen. Sauron will do anything to take back what was his and it would seem that he is using Saruman as a means to get what he wants."

"Who is Sauron and what does he want? I am sorry but you are going to have to explain this to me if I am going to understand any of what you are saying."

"You really aren't from around here are you," Merry stated.

Daniel shook his head in answer.

"Well I don't know the story very well myself but I am sure that between us we can give you a rough idea of what happened."

"The Ents have not troubled with the wars of men and wizards for a very long time. But now, something is about to happen that has not happened for an age." They entered a large clearing with a sloped rock in the centre. "Entmoot."

"What's that?" Merry and Daniel asked at the same time.

"'Tis a gathering."

"A gathering of what?" They asked again, perfectly synchronised. But Treebeard didn't need to explain as Ents started to appear in the clearing.

"Beech... Oak... Chestnut... Ash... good, good, good. Many have come." The air was filled with a low pitch groaning which seemed to be coming from the Ents, "Now we must decide if the Ents will go to war."

A hopeful smile flashed across Merry's face as Treebeard placed them under one of the trees on the edge of the clearing before going to meet the other tree herders.

Daniel used the time while the Ents were talking to quiz Merry and Pippin about Middle Earth, its people, cultures and history.

"So there are Men, Elves, Dwarves, Wizards and Hobbits?" he verified.

"Well as far as we know, there could be others. Hobbits are very educated about life outside The Shire." Pippin told him.

"That's alright. So the elves live in Rivendell, Mirkwood and Lórien. Men live in Bree, Dale, Rohan, Gondor, and Arnor?"

"Yes, but I think there are other men further east but they side with the enemy so we don't talk about them much."

"Alright so what's the difference between elves and men?" Daniel asked.

"Well…"

"It's been going for hours." Merry interrupted.

"They must have decided something by now." Pippin said annoyed by his cousin but also interested in what the Ents were talking about.

"Decided?" Treebeard said turning to them, "No, we've only just finished saying good morning."

"But it's night time already! You can't take forever."

"Don't be hasty."

"We're running out of time!" Merry complained.

"Come and sit down Merry," Daniel said trying to calm the Hobbit, "the longer you complain the longer it is going to take for them to finish."

A few hours later the Ents were still talking a Daniel had just about fallen asleep and would have if not for Merry's infernal pacing. He opened his mouth to tell the Hobbit to sit down but Pippin got in before him.

"Merry." Pippin was looking over at the Ents where Treebeard had turned away from the other Ents and was moving over to them.

Merry moved over to Pippin but Daniel choose to stay where he was.

"We have just agreed."

"Yes?" Merry asked impatiently.

"I have told your names to the Entmoot and... we have agreed... you are not Orcs."

"Oh for crying out loud." Daniel said quietly, surprising himself.

I have really been spending too much time with Jack he's rubbed of on me.

"Well that's good news." Pippin said trying to stay positive, he was the only one.

"And what about Saruman? Have you come to a decision about him?" Merry asked impatiently.

"Now don't be hasty, Master Meriadoc."

"Hasty? Our friends are out there. They need our help! They cannot fight this war on their own."

"War, yes! It affects us all...Tree, root and twig. But you must understand young hobbit... It takes a long time to say anything in old Entish... And we never say anything unless it is worth... taking a long time to say."

If not for his long practise in being diplomatic Daniel would have burst out into disbelieving laughter.

"I know over 25 languages from Earth and other planets but never have I come across one that takes so long to say. Why even bother to say anything?" Daniel asked no one in particular once the Ents had started their conversation again.

"25? I don't think there are even that many languages on Middle Earth to learn." Pippin exclaimed. "Can you teach me some?"

"Sure we've nothing else to do."

"The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done." Treebeard told them after many more hours of talking.

"How can that be your decision!" Merry demanded.

"This is not our war."

"But you're part of this world." Merry said looking over at the other Ents as well, "Aren't you? You must help. Please! You must do something."

"You are young and brave, Master Merry. But your part in this tale is over. Go back to your home."

Pippin tried to encourage his cousin that everything would be alright telling him that they could go back to The Shire and that others could deal with the problem but Merry would have none of it.

"The fires of Isengard will spread, and the woods of Tuckborough and Buckland will burn. And all that was once green and good in this world will be gone. There won't be a Shire, Pippin."

"Don't be so negative Merry," Daniel said, "I am sure that things will turn out in the end."

Treebeard carried them away from the Ent's meeting place and towards the edge of the forest. "I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can make your way north to your homeland from there." He told them.

"Wait! Stop! Stop! Turn around! Turn around. Take us south." Pippin said suddenly.

"South? But that would... lead you past Isengard." Treebeard said shocked just as Merry and Daniel were.

"Yes, exactly, if we go south we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the further we are from harm. It's the last thing he'll expect."

Oh yes very logical Daniel thought sarcastically but he didn't say anything hoping that wasn't the only thing that the hobbit had in mind.

"Well, that doesn't make sense to me, but then, you are very small. Perhaps you are right. South it is then. Hold on little Shirelings. I always like going south. Somehow, it feels like going downhill."

"Are you mad? We'll be caught!"

"No, we won't. Not this time."

I know a lot of that is just the movie script and I think it will be like that for awhile but I am still trying to work out the plot for this and will be for awhile so please bare with me.

Lov

JEDIBANT

PS. If you have any ideas on what I should do to Daniel they would be appreciated, also if I should have him marry some girl from Gondor or Rohan or not.