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Chapter 20: Together Again
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir rode to the burning pile and stopped their horses. They dismounted quickly and while Boromir, Legolas, and Aragorn stood back and surveyed the field, Gimli sifted through the smoldering pile to see if he could find any sign of the hobbits. He pulled back suddenly holding something in his hand. "It's one of their wee belts," Gimli said sadly. Boromir sighed and lowered his head. Legolas said a prayer for their fallen friends, and Aragorn kicked an Urk helmet and fell to his knees with a cry. Boromir looked to the man with a frown. It was his fault that they were taken, he wasn't strong enough in battle. "We failed them." Aragorn composed himself and looked to the side when a track caught his eye.
"A hobbit lay here, and the other," Aragorn said with concentration on his face. Boromir and the others moved closer to him as he looked at the track and followed it. "They crawled," he said as he stood from his crouching position. "Their hands were bound," he said as he moved more quickly along the trail. The others followed and hope came to Boromir and the others as they did so. He picked up a thick piece of rope. "Their bonds were cut." He looked about and followed the trial. "They ran over here. They were followed." The four started to run as Aragorn followed the trail. "The tracks lead away from the battle...," he trailed off as he stopped the others doing the same in a line as they looked up to the foreboding trees ahead of him, "and into Fangorn Forest," he finished.
"Fangorn. What madness drove them in there?" Gimli asked. Boromir took a deep breath as he looked at the trees. There journey was going to take them there, but he did not know what awaited them now.
They moved into the forest and followed the hobbits' tracks as quickly as Aragorn could find them. He kneeled down near one of the larger trees and looked at the ground with a look of slight confusion on his face. "These are strange tracks," Aragorn said quietly. Boromir moved in between where Aragorn knelt and where Legolas stood. The forest was dark and stuffy.
"The air is so close in here," Gimli said gruffly.
"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory... and anger," Legolas said quietly. Boromir looked about and took a deep breath when the trees seemed moan quietly and move. Gimli raised his axe ready to attack whatever came at him. "The trees are speaking to each other!" Aragorn looked to the dwarf.
"Gimli!" he said in a whisper and Gimli looked at him. "Lower your axe," he finished as he motioned with his hand. Boromir and Legolas both looked to Gimli as he lowered his axe.
"They have feelings my friend. The Elves began it; waking up the trees, teaching them to speak," Legolas said with a small smile. Gimli scoffed and looked around.
"Talking trees, what do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings?" Gimli asked. Boromir smiled and looked about the trees.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" Legolas said as he moved ahead quickly. Boromir frowned and followed Aragorn towards the elf with Gimli right behind him.
"Man cenich?" Aragorn asked in a whisper and Boromir sighed. He wished he knew elfish at that moment.
"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas said and Boromir put his hand on his sword as he slowly pulled the weapon from the sheath.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn said quietly. "Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us." Aragorn glanced at Boromir and Gimli and the two nodded at him before they whirled around brandishing their weapons. As a white light blinded them Boromir and Aragorn dropped their swords. The hilts became hot like they were placed into a fire. Legolas' arrow was deflected and as Gimli threw his axe it shattered and flew away. Boromir groaned and shook out his hands before he raised his hand to his eyes to shield them from the light.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," the voice behind the light said. Boromir felt his throat tighten at the thoughts of the small hobbits being harmed.
"Where are they?" Boromir asked and it seemed as though the figure's head flickered towards him.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the voice asked. Aragorn took a half a step forward and shielded his eyes.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demanded. The light dimmed and the figure stepped forward moving their white staff to the side. The two men, elf, and dwarf gasped when Gandalf was revealed. "It cannot be."
"Forgive me," Legolas said quietly as he bowed. "I mistook you for Saruman." Gimli bowed as well. Boromir just looked on with shock.
"I am Saruman, or rather, Saruman as he should have been," Gandalf said.
"You fell," Boromir said and Gandalf smiled at him.
"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 everyday 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 said as he looked at him.
"Gandalf," Aragorn said as he stepped up to the wizard.
"Gandalf? Yes... That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
"Gandalf," Gimli said and Boromir smiled.
"I am Gandalf the White, and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."
Ellethwen walked out of the Great Hall and found Éowyn standing and looking out. Ellethwen made her way to her friend and put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" Ellethwen asked and Éowyn looked to her with saddened eyes. She lowered her hand and frowned. "Grima?" she asked and Éowyn sighed and nodded before she turned from Ellethwen. Ellethwen followed her eyes to see four horses charging their way up the plains. "Let's go inside. There are things to be done." Éowyn nodded and followed Ellethwen inside. The two women made their way down the corridor to Thedored's chamber. They would be having his funeral the following morning, and there were final preparations to be made.
Boromir trotted his horse behind Aragorn and in front of Legolas and Gimli. Edoras was not as he remembered it. The people were looking at them oddly, and few looked at him with recognition. He dismounted and patted the horse's neck and followed the others up the steps towards the Golden Hall, but they were stopped by many guards, one Boromir knew as Hama. The man's eyes widened but a smile creped across his face before he pushed it aside and looked to Gandalf.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Gríma Wormtongue," Hama finished his words with slight venom in them. Boromir furrowed his brow. He remembered Grima; there was something about the man that was not quiet right. Gandalf nodded at the others. Boromir gave up his sword and the others gave up their weapons. "Your staff," Hama said as he gestured to Gandalf's staff.
"Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf asked as he looked at Hama innocently. Hama hesitated for a moment before he nodded and turned leading the group into the hall. Boromir took a deep breath when the coldness of the hall rushed around him. It was definitely not the same place he had left that summer. His eyes scanned the many faces in the hall, but did not find the blue-grey eyes he was searching for. "The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King."
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir fell back a bit and looked at the group of men that watched them with heated gazes. Boromir felt his stomach tighten. These were the people he left Ellethwen with? Darkness had taken over Rohan, and he left her right in their hands.
"Why should I… welcome you, Gandalf… Stormcrow?" came a strangled and old sounding voice. Boromir looked ahead and saw an old and weary man sitting on the throne with a slimy black haired man sitting next to him. King Theoden and Grima, but Theoden looked much different than he had remembered him being.
"A just question, my liege," Grima said as he stood and moved to stand in front of Gandalf. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." Gandalf glared at the man.
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf said before he moved his staff against Grima. The man coiled back and winced.
"His staff," he said quietly. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!" Men moved quickly to descend on Gandalf but the other four moved quickly and a fight broke out. Boromir winced when one man's blow connected with the wound on his stomach but he countered him easily. Soon the men that attacked them laid unconscious on the floor.
"Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows," Gandalf said. Grima tried to crawl away unnoticed, but Gimli caught him and pressed his heavy booted foot on his chest.
"I would stay still, if I were you," Gimli growled.
"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell," Gandalf said as he raised his hand and closed his eyes. When nothing happened Theoden began to laugh, an evil and menacing laugh.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey," Theoden said, but his voice was different. Gandalf threw back the grey cloak that covered him and a bright light filled the dark hall. Theoden let out a surprised cry and pushed back in his chair.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," Gandalf said as he pointed his staff at Theoden. Footsteps running caught Aragorn's ears. He looked down the corridor and saw a blonde haired woman dressed in white. She gasped and made to run to the throne, but he caught her.
"Wait," he told her quietly. Boromir saw Éowyn and his eyes immediately moved to the doorway to the corridor she had come from. A minute later Ellethwen emerged. Boromir's eyes widened when he saw the large round bump that was her stomach. She did her best to hide it in the layered dark green dress she wore, but it was obvious to all who looked at her that she was with child. Her cheeks were flushed from her little exertion and her eyes were glued to where Éowyn stood and where the king sat. She moved further into the hall and rested against one of the pillars with her hand on her stomach watching over the scene in confusion. He wanted to move to her, but he knew he had to wait.
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him!" Gandalf said firmly returning Boromir's attention ahead.
"Rohan is mine!" came a voice that was not that of the king.
"Be gone!" Gandalf shouted and the king flew back in his chair before he slumped forward. Éowyn worked free from Aragorn and ran to Theoden before he collapsed. Ellethwen moved forward and her eyes widened as the king transformed before all their eyes.
"I know your face. Éowyn… Éowyn," Theoden said with a smile. Éowyn looked happily at her uncle with tears in her eyes. Theoden looked up and Ellethwen caught his attention and his eyes widened. She looked at him with a teary eyed smile and Theoden laughed softly before he looked around him. "Gandalf?" Theoden asked in surprise.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf said with a nod. Theoden slowly stood from the throne and looked about him.
"Dark have been my dreams of late," he said as he scanned the room.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword," Gandalf said. Hama brought forth Théoden's sword and the man grasped the hilt and pulled it from its sheath. The king took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he looked at Grima with a sneer.
Hama and Gamling grasped the man in question and dragged him away. Ellethwen frowned and turned to watch them take the man from the hall when her heart felt as though it had stopped. Standing not ten feet from her was Boromir looking at her with a love and worry filled gaze. She found she could not move. She was stuck, rooted to the floor. The pair were oblivious to the commotion outside as Boromir slowly made his way over to her. Boromir stopped right in front of her.
"You're alive," she whispered with tears in her eyes. She dared not blink for fear that if she did he would disappear. His left hand reached out and tentatively touched her stomach. The warmth of his hand seeped into the fabric of her dress and she gasped. She stepped forward and raised her hand to his cheek, letting her tears fall. "You're alive," she said again with a slight laugh.
Boromir smiled down at her, tears in his own eyes as he looked down at her. She was so beautiful, it was as though he had forgotten just how beautiful she was. Her blue-grey eyes sparkled and her color no longer seemed pale, she now seemed to glow just as any woman with child would.
"I am alive," he whispered and moved his head slightly into her hand and closed his eyes. He slowly opened his eyes and moved his hand from her stomach to her face and ran his soiled calloused hands over her cheek. "I am alive, and you are with child." Ellethwen smiled and nodded.
"How could you tell?" she asked and Boromir chuckled. It was as if there was no darkness threatening them. The world was well and they could be free and happy without fear.
"I don't know," he said softly as he fingered her long hair.
"Kiss me," she practically begged in a whisper and Boromir sighed before he leaned in and claimed her lips gently. Ellethwen sighed softly against his lips and pulled him as close as she could get him. They pulled away after a moment and Boromir took a deep breath taking in her soft scent. She opened her eyes and smiled up at him both failing to see the group that watched them, some with confusion on their faces, others with small smiles knowing that even though tragedy would come the following day there was at least some happiness, for a moment anyway.