Disclaimer: I have not passed through fire and death to write another witless disclaimer. (I don't own lord of the rings, ok?)
Chapter 8
The White Wizard
The four entered the ancient forest. There was a strange sort of atmosphere in there. Some sort of thick, black liquid was on the leaves. Gimli tasted it and spat it out.
"Orc blood," he said.
"Something stinks in here," said Tigerlily. Aragorn was looking at some tracks, Tigerlily joined him.
"These are strange tracks," she said, "They aren't Hobbit or Orc. What are they?"
"I don't know," said Aragorn.
"The air is so close in here," said Gimli, looking up at the trees.
"This forest is old," said Tigerlily.
"Very old," whispered Legolas, "Full of memory and anger." The trees groaned. Gimli raised his ax in alarm.
"The trees are speaking to each other," said Legolas
"Gimli," hissed Aragorn, "Lower your ax." Gimli lowered his ax slowly.
"They have feelings, my friend," said Legolas, "The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."
"Talking trees?" said Gimli, "What so trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings."
Tigerlily laughed and whispered to Legolas, "Talking trees? That is the strangest thing I've heard, my love." Legolas smiled as Tigerlily called him, her 'love'. He couldn't help it. He had never felt the way he felt for Tigerlily. A rustling nearby wiped the smile from his face.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" he hissed.
"Man cenich?" asked Aragorn.
"The White Wizard approaches," said Legolas. Fear coursed through Tigerlily's veins. She slowly moved her hand to her sword.
"Do not let him speak," whispered Aragorn, "He will put a spell on us. We must be quick." He quickly drew his sword and turned to face the wizard, Legolas fitted his bow with an arrow and fired it, Tigerlily drew her sword and faced the wizard and Gimli threw his ax. Legolas' arrow shattered when it hit the light surrounding the wizard and Gimli's ax was flung back at them. Tigerlily suddenly found her sword too hot to hold onto. She dropped it, feeling her skin burn.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," said a voice.
"Where are they?" shouted Tigerlily, ignoring the pain in her hand.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect," said the voice, "Does that comfort you?"
"Who are you?" shouted Aragorn, "Show yourself!" The bright light faded and wizard was revealed. The sight brought Tigerlily to her knees.
"It cannot be," said Aragorn.
"Gandalf," said Tigerlily, "I don't believe it." Legolas went down on his knees as well.
"Forgive me," he said, "I mistook you for Saruman."
"I am Saruman," said Gandalf, "Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
"You fell," said Tigerlily, feeling utterly confused.
"Through fire and water," said Gandalf, "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought with the Balroq 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." Aragorn stepped closer to Gandalf.
"Gandalf," he started.
"Gandalf?" repeated the wizard, "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." He led the way out of Fangorn, through the tall, old trees.
"One stage of your journey is over. Another begins," said Gandalf, "War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"We hear of trouble in Rohan," said Aragorn, "It goes ill with the king."
"Yes," said Gandalf, "And it will not be easily cured."
"Then we have run all this way for nothing?" said Gimli, "Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here, in this horrid, dank, tree-infested...," the trees groaned at Gimli's words, "I mean charming, quite charming forest."
"It was more then mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn," said Gandalf, "A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," said Aragorn.
Gandalf frowned.
"You still speak in riddles," said Tigerlily. Gandalf smiled and looked around.
"A thing is about to happen here that has not happened since the Elder days," said Gandalf, "The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong."
"Strong?!" said Gimli, "Oh that's good."
"So stop your fretting, master dwarf," added Gandalf angrily, "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."
"This new Gandalf's as grumpy as the old one," muttered Gimli
"I just remembered something," said Tigerlily.
Gandalf looked at her.
"Aragorn. It's his eighty-seventh birthday today," said Tigerlily
"Don't remind me," said Aragorn, "You make me feel old."
"Aragorn," said Tigerlily, "I make everyone feel old. I'm the baby of the group."
"Enough already," said Gandalf, "We must get to Edoras."
Hasufel and Arod were awaiting them at the edge of the forest. Gandalf whistled. A white stallion approached.
"That is one of the Mearas," said Legolas, "Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
"Shadowfax," said Gandalf, patting the horse, "He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers."
Gandalf mounted Shadowfax.
"Gimli," whispered Tigerlily, "Do you want to switch horses?"
"You want to ride with the elf?" asked Gimli. Tigerlily nodded.
"Fine with me," said Gimli, "He can make jokes about you." Tigerlily went over to Legolas who was stroking Hasufel.
"I'm riding with you," she said, "The dwarf says you've been laughing at him."
"Only a little," said Legolas. He climbed onto Hasufel and pulled Tigerlily up in front of him. He wound his arms around her waist and seized the reins.
"How come I'm stuck with Gimli?" asked Aragorn.
"I think it's only fair that I get a chance to ride with the beautiful women," said Legolas, "You've had your turn, birthday boy." Aragorn sighed and spurred Arod onward after Gandalf. Legolas bent down and kissed Tigerlily on the cheek. Tigerlily closed her eyes and savored the closeness of Legolas. She was no fool; she knew that the next time orcs attacked one of them could be killed. She couldn't take him for granted; she had to enjoy him while she had him. She turned her head and kissed him back. Hasufel had obediently followed Arod and Shadowfax while his new master was preoccupied.
Gandalf took a quick look behind to check on everyone and saw Legolas and Tigerlily kissing. He smiled. He had seen that coming. Those two were destined to be together but their path was blurred by the war. He remembered the day he had told Thranduil and Legolas of Galadriel's prophecy. Legolas had laughed at the idea of marrying the daughter of a farmer. He laughed at the idea of marriage full stop. He had been an arrogant, spoilt womanizer who had a nasty habit of charming his way into the bed of any woman he wanted. Thranduil too had laughed at the notion of his son marrying a 'brainless, ugly peasant' as he had put it. Then Galadriel had spoken some angry words in elvish and they had stopped laughing. 'Besides,' he thought, 'Tigerlily isn't brainless or ugly.' But she was born a peasant. Nothing would change that. She was a good person born into a large family. A diamond in the rough. Gandalf didn't mention anything to Aragorn or Gimli. They would find out when the time was right.
Tigerlily pulled out of the kiss. His lips tasted of the lembas bread they had been given in Lothlorien. One of his hands let go of the reins and he placed it on her stomach and held her tightly. Tigerlily closed her eyes and leaned back against him.
"Gentlemen," said Gandalf, "We must pick up our pace." Legolas' hand took hold of the rein again.
That night as they rested, Gandalf knew he wasn't the only one awake. Aragorn and Gimli were asleep but the other two weren't. Tigerlily was lying on her back with Legolas next to her on his side. They weren't kissing, just whispering to each other. Gandalf could see adoration in Legolas' eyes. Had Tigerlily been any other maiden Gandalf was willing to bet he'd have seen nothing but lust. There was a hint of lust in Legolas' eyes. It had been there since Rivendell. Gandalf could tell Legolas longed to have one night alone with Tigerlily.
'Ahh!' he thought, 'to be young and in love. I hope we can get Meryn to her by her birthday.' He heard Tigerlily let out a small laugh. He looked away and closed his eyes.
"You can't ask me that!" said Tigerlily in surprise.
"Why not?" asked Legolas, "You asked me."
"Well, in case you've forgotten you're more than two thousand years old," said Tigerlily, "You've bound to have had a few lovers. You can't ask me how many I have had."
"Go on, tell me," said Legolas. Tigerlily hesitated and then told the absolute truth.
"None," she said.
"None!?" said Legolas in surprise, "I find that hard to believe."
"Seriously," said Tigerlily, "I have never had a lover."
"Fine, I've told you about my family, what about yours?" said Legolas.
"Well, my father Meryn is the leader of our village. He is a hard-worker and always willing to lend a hand to anyone who seeks it," said Tigerlily, "My mother's name is Rose. All the children who live in the village call her Mama Rose. She is the kindest, sweetest person you've ever met."
"What about these brothers of yours?"
"All six of them?" said Tigerlily, "Alright, Pimpernel. He is the eldest. Twenty years older than me. Milo is two years younger than him. Then there's Fosco, then Togo, Till and finally Olo who is two years older than me."
"If they are older than surely they have families," said Legolas
"Yes they do," said Tigerlily, "When I left ten years ago, I had six nephews, two nieces and another one coming. My favorite nephew has to Pimpernel's eldest. His name is Scott. He's only three years younger than me." She looked at Legolas.
"Have you been listening?" she asked
"Only to your voice," replied Legolas. He smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Goodnight, Legolas of Mirkwood," she whispered.
"Quel kaima, Tigerlily," replied Legolas