Chapter 14
Legolas's POV
I steered Arod right behind Hasufel, urging the horse to quicken its pace. The horse was well kept, fairly clean despite a few patches of dirt in its white coat. I gripped the reigns tightly with one hand while using the other to hold Adette steady in the front of the saddle. She was leaned forward, grasping Arod's mane. We were scared for our friends, wondering if they were alive. I knew that Aragorn and Gimli were thinking the same thing.
A cloud of black smoke was rising in the distance, signifying that we were coming closer to the battlefield. Hasufel started galloping faster and I knew that we were nearly there. The scent of death and rotting flesh filled my nose and I wished to cover it up with something more pleasant.
Something about Èomer's parting words bothered me. Before they had ridden away he had stopped Aragorn.
"Look for your friends, but do not trust the hope. It has forsaken these lands." He had muttered, almost lost in thought. I wondered if he had known if our friends were dead and had not the heart to tell us. I decided that he was referring to being banished instead, for I wanted our friends to be alive.
We rode up a hill and the first thing I saw was the back of an orc's head impaled on a spear. As we dismounted I saw that its face was frozen in an odd way – his mouth was open and his tongue hung out. I turned to see the others searching through the pile of their carcasses. Why they bothered I didn't know. The Hobbits wouldn't be hidden in the pile.
"It's one of their wee belts." Gimli said softly, turning. He held out a torn, black belt and I recognized it immediately. Adette stopped her search and closed her eyes, bowing her head. I did the same.
"Hiro hyn hîdh ab wanath." I murmured softly.
(May they find peace in death.)
Aragorn suddenly yelled angrily, kicking an orc helmet. Adette gasped quietly and jolted as he did this. I placed a hand on her back, watching helplessly as Aragorn fell to his knees.
"We failed them." Gimli said sadly, dropping the belt. As he said this I instantly felt guilt tugging at my heart. We had hunted them for days, only to have them slaughtered unjustly. They had never done any wrong, and yet Merry and Pippin had probably suffered greatly.
Suddenly, Aragorn's hands combed through the yellow grass. He touched certain spots carefully, his face lost in thought. Adette seemed to notice and squatted in front of him.
"What is it?" She asked softly.
"A Hobbit lay here." He continued to pet the grass. His eyes darted back and forth quickly from hand to hand. He stood hesitantly and Adette followed him close behind. "They crawled."
Gimli eyed me questioningly as we watched the two. Aragorn would take a step, but then change his mind and take a step back in a different direction. Adette was always mindful of his actions, moving swiftly to the side if he changed his mind. She had seen him like this before and knew exactly what to do.
"Their hands were bound." He reached for something hidden in a patch of tall grass and I saw torn rope in his hands. "Their bonds were cut."
Adette motioned for Gimli and I to follow as Aragorn continued on. I followed behind Adette, daring not to breathe a word fearing that I could break Aragorn's concentration. Gimli must have caught on for he said nothing as he followed behind me.
"They ran over here…and were followed." He quickened his steps, becoming surer and surer of his premonition. "The tracks lead away from the battle into…Fangorn Forest." He paused outside of the forest, staring up into the trees. Adette looked up as well, her eyes accessing the trees.
"Fangorn? What madness drove them in there?" Gimli asked.
"This is what I saw." Adette muttered. She looked away from the trees and down at Gimli. "I was sure that Merry and Pippin were fearful in my vision, I could sense it," she returned her eyes to the forest, "perhaps they were chased."
"Come." Aragorn entered the forest without a moment's hesitation. I looked up once more at the trees, seeing and feeling the darkness within. I could hear the trees whispering about the battle, complaining about the bloodshed and the noise. Their soft whispers entwined with the wind.
"Legolas?"
I blinked and saw Adette turned slightly, one foot in the forest. Gimli was gone from beside me. She reached out her hand and I took it, leading her into the dark trees.
I looked around and saw that hardly any of it was lit up by the sunlight. Only in places above where the foliage was scarce did the light pour through, lighting up certain spots with an eerie glow. The branches were bare and rotting along with the rest of the trees, colored an unhealthy shade of brown. Moss coated the parts of the ground that weren't slopped with mud, growing up into the bark of some of the trees and over their exposed roots.
I watched curiously as Gimli reached out two fingers to a leaf dripping with a dark colored liquid. He raised his soiled fingertips to his lips and immediately spit the contents back out.
"Orc blood!" He snapped, looking up from his fingers. He smacked his lips, trying to rid his mouth of the foul taste. Aragorn was kneeling on the ground, studying certain indents in the ground.
"These are strange tracks." He commented, looking up from them.
"They couldn't have been made by orcs, they're too large. Something bigger made these tracks, and if we follow them, perhaps we'll find Merry and Pippin." Adette had been studying the tracks as well, but she had gotten up and traveled towards a tree, touching the bark. "There is orc blood here too."
"The air is so close here." Gimli said.
I closed my eyes to block out the others voices and tune into the trees. They spoke in bass voices, their words filled with anger and disgust.
"This is old. Very old. Full of memory…and anger." I said quietly. I noticed that they began to speak to each other in slightly worried tones. "The trees are speaking to each other."
"Gimli," Aragorn hissed, "lower your axe."
Gimli, who had raised his axe at my words, slowly lowered it. His eyes darted from tree to tree nervously, attempting to make the situation better. I shook my head.
"The trees have feelings my friend. The elves began it – waking up with the trees, teaching them to speak."
"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about, hmm? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings." Gimli retorted, stomping away to further investigate the area.
I came to stand beside Adette as she continued to finger the bark of a tree. She had her eyes closed, a look of frustration in her features. As I rubbed a thumb over the crease marks in her forehead she cracked an eye open, smiling sheepishly.
"I'm trying to hear the trees. What do they say?" She asked, taking her fingers from the bark. She turned towards me.
"They say…that you are the most beautiful woman they have ever seen." I grinned.
"No Legolas, what do the trees say?" She smiled, moving a hand through her hair to untangle the pieces. The wind and the many days of sleeping on the ground had tangled and dirtied her long hair.
I stopped to listen, hearing whispers of a wizard. I felt my eyes widen as I continued to listen, and Adette looked up at me, concerned. She was about to reach for me when I turned and darted towards Aragorn.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas." I heard him come up behind me and soon Adette and Gimli had rushed over as well.
(Aragorn, something is out there.)
"Man cenich?" He asked in a hushed voice near my ear.
(What do you see?)
"The White Wizard approaches." I murmured, my fists pumping. I was ready to grab my bow in an instant when the time came. I felt Aragorn tense, and watched from the corner of my eye as his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword. I saw Adette doing the same, and Gimli was ready with his axe.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us." I continued to listen as my fingers traveled along the end of an arrow. "We must be quick."
We all spun around at once to a blinding, white light. I could see the outline of a figure garbed in all white standing in the light. I released the arrow, only to watch as it snapped into pieces. Gimli's axe was deflected as well, and I watched as Adette's sword handle became red and she dropped it with a gasp of surprise. Aragorn had already dropped his sword, and stepped forward, covering his face slightly.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits." The figure said in an odd voice.
"Where are they?" Aragorn spat, stepping forward even further.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" The figure continued to speak. I didn't wish to hear him any longer, for he was one of the reasons our quest was made harder. I felt my anger building deep within me.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn thundered. Just as he finished his command, the light subsided and standing before us was someone we had thought dead. His eyes were shining in the light, twinkling like stars. His face was aged, yet it made him look all the more wiser and nobler. He was holding a pure white staff in his hands, matching his robes and his hair.
"Gandalf?" Adette breathed from beside me.
"It cannot be." Aragorn said in disbelief.
"Forgive me, I mistook you for Saruman." I apologized, dropping to my knees before the old man. Gimli and Adette followed my example, although Aragorn was still too stunned to move.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been." He answered as Aragorn slowly moved closer towards him.
"You fell!"
"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, 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 every day was as long as the life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt light in me again.
I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf." Aragorn was now face to face with him. Adette, Gimli, and I had slowly arisen from the ground during the old man's tale. I could see from the look on Adette's face that she was still in disbelief that Gandalf would be alive.
"Gandalf? Oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Gray. That was my name." He smiled at Aragorn and I found myself smiling too. He may have changed his outer appearance, but Gandalf was still the same person.
"Gandalf." Gimli said joyously, a grin appearing beneath his beard.
"I am Gandalf the White and I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide."
We stood in silence for a moment, just staring at one another. With Gandalf, perhaps there would be new found hope for not only Merry and Pippin, but for our quest. Perhaps not all was lost in shadow, for there was a new light.
Adette slowly went forward, approaching Gandalf with caution. I watched as her eyes slowly accessed his new appearance, wondering if he was still really himself. She then pitched herself forward and threw her arms around the old man, earning a surprised face from him. It quickly changed into a smile, and he embraced her with one arm.
"I'm so glad you're alive Gandalf." She whispered as she pulled back from him. He simply nodded to her before beginning to speak to Aragorn as the two headed in the direction Gandalf led him. Gimli, Adette, and I followed close behind.
Adette's POV
Gandalf led the way to Edoras, riding atop his beautiful horse, Shadowfax. The creature, snowy white, was one of the fastest horses I had ever laid eyes on. Its grace was truly a wonderment. I watched its movements carefully from the front of the saddle as Legolas steered Arod.
We stopped in the middle of a valley tumbling with long grass. Ahead of us was a large, green hilltop adorned with a small village of which lied beneath a castle. It seemed to reach up and touch the sky, as though it were that tall.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Gandalf explained as I stared ahead. "Be careful what you say – do not look for welcome here."
"Saruman has poisoned this poor place." I spoke out loud, running my fingers carefully through Arod's mane. He tossed his head about and snorted happily as I did so. Legolas's fingers crept onto mine.
"We will help them." He assured me before we continued on. He kept his hand across my abdomen as if he thought I would simply slide off. I placed mine over his, keeping one on the saddle horn. I turned my head and smiled back at Legolas.
Gandalf had been right about not being welcomed, I discovered, as we rode into the village. The people looked at us as if we were orcs, their faces frozen in a look of fear and confusion. They pointed at us, whispering under their breaths about our intentions. I heard one man suggest that I was their hostage and felt Legolas stiffen behind me. I saw his hand sliding from the reigns but grabbed it, shaking my head without turning to look at him.
I saw that Aragorn was studying a young woman standing at the hall. She wore an emerald green dress that looked to be made of velvet. Her hair was nearly white blonde and fell down to her waist in messy waves. She had very fair skin which led me to believe that she didn't get out often. She caught my eyes and I looked away quickly, not wanting to start anything.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." I heard Gimli mutter as he too saw the faces of the people. I nodded in agreement, pitying those who had been affected by Saruman.
I helped Legolas to settle the horses in the stables when we arrived, while the others waited outside for us. Hasufel and Arod seemed restless in their stalls, and I figured that they had spent most of their time out in the open with no limits. I stroked Arod's ear affectionately, whispering words against his soft coat. Legolas did the same with Hasufel.
"They wish to be free." I told him, giving one last glance to Arod.
"As do the people."
I turned to him, frowning.
"They seem reluctant to want our help."
"Saruman has taken everything from them, they have lost faith." Legolas touched my cheek, guiding my face up to look at his. "Soon they will have it back."
We followed Aragorn, who was leading Gandalf by the arm, and Gimli up towards the castle. Many guards were outside, awaiting us I could only assume. They stopped their chatter when we got up the steps, and came towards us.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of… Gríma Wormtongue." The only man without a helmet spoke. He eyed our weapons, and with a nod from Gandalf, we began to disarm ourselves.
Legolas handed his bow and quiver over to one of the guards, his face pained. He then whipped out his knives in one movement, twisting them once around before also handing them over. The guards seemed taken aback when I pulled off my sheath and handed it over, along with my own bow and quiver. They did not notice my dagger, and so I left it. Aragorn handed over his sheath too, and Gimli his axe.
"Your staff." The same man who had spoken before nodded to Gandalf.
"Oh. No, you would not part an old man from his walking stick." The face Gandalf put on was so pitiful that even I believed it. I nearly laughed out loud when I caught him winking at Aragorn. As we walked past, a hand grabbed my wrist suddenly.
"The dagger milady?" A guard asked, eyeing my ankle.
"Oh, of course." Before I could even bend down to pull the sheath off myself, the guard was stooping to do it for me. When his hand went around my ankle, my foot knocked him backwards. I had not wanted to get kicked out and so I had only kicked his shoulder. He fell on his back with a thud.
"Baw glaer mabs bo nin le gwaur firion." I spat, feeling Legolas's hand around my arm.
(Don't lay hands on me you dirty man.)
"Forgive her, she has been taught not to let other men touch her." He lied quickly as the guards looked ready to take me away. The guard I had kicked got slowly to his feet, grumbling as I handed the man without a helmet my dagger.
"Very well. Go inside." He nodded.
Legolas didn't let go of my arm as we continued inside behind Gandalf, still being led by Aragorn, and Gimli. He glanced sideways at me, frowning.
"I'm not going to apologize. He had no right to-"
"Adette, I would have done it had you not already." He changed the way he held my arm and instead looped mine through his. "Although I can't promise that I would have been as nice."
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King." Gandalf's voice echoed through the nearly empty room. I looked ahead to see a ghastly looking man sitting on the throne. His skin was as white as Gandalf's robes, his hair scraggly and unkempt. He looked to be millions of years old with all of his wrinkles and slumped over shoulders.
The man kneeling beside him was just as ghastly looking. He was dressed in all black with greasy, black hair. His skin was nearly the same color as King Théoden's. I could only assume the man to be Gríma Wormtongue.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" King Théoden asked in a weak voice. He appeared to be looking at Gríma for his next actions and it sickened me. I would kill that man for what he had done to this village, this kingdom.
"A just question my liege." Gríma said smoothly, standing up. He came forward towards our group. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is in ill guest."
"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 commanded in a fierce tone. Gríma instantly shut his mouth, but opened it when Gandalf raised his staff.
"His staff? I told you to take the wizard's staff!" He moaned. As the guards moved forward to disarm Gandalf, we jumped into action.
I leaped at a guard, punching him square in the face as I had done to Gimli once before. He fell backward onto the ground, blood trickling from his left nostril and pooling down into his mouth. Another guard attempted to take his place, but I grabbed him around the neck and threw him against a pillar.
"Théoden, Son of Théngel. Too long have you sat in the shadows." I heard Gandalf say.
The guard I had thrown against the pillar, I noticed, was the same one that had grabbed my ankle. The distraction of Gandalf's voice caused me to forget myself for a moment, and the guard backhanded me hard across the face. I nearly fell to the ground in surprise, but caught myself. I gritted my teeth angrily and held the guard's shoulders fast, aiming my knee.
"I told you," I brought my knee up into his privates and heard him groan loudly at contact, "never to touch me."
"Harken to me! I release you from the spell." Gandalf said, moving his hand about. By that time we had stopped the guards, and Legolas rushed to my side.
"Are you alright? I saw him hit you." He nearly snarled at the man without the helmet, whom I had overheard being called Háma, when he came to stand beside us. He looked at Legolas with surprise. I was about to tell Legolas I was fine when I heard Théoden's grotesque laughter.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Gray." He laughed.
Gandalf instantly threw off his gray cloak, and the room illuminated with the sudden brightness of his robes. He looked so powerful, so different with the purity of the white surrounding him. I saw Legolas raise his chin, the light filling his blue eyes with an extra sparkle.
"I will draw you Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." He promised, stepping closer.
Suddenly, the woman I had seen in the hall, appeared. She went to rush forward to help the king when Aragorn grabbed her arm and held her back, muttering something to her. She looked greatly distressed as she looked on.
"If I go, Théoden dies." The king rasped.
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him." Gandalf stepped ever closer.
"Rohan is mine!"
"Be gone!" Gandalf raised his staff, and as Théoden jumped up from his throne, he flew back with a great force of power. The woman rushed forward and helped him back into his throne, watching as his face regained its normal look. His face became much younger looking, his eyes not so tired and lifeless.
"I know your face. Èowyn — Èowyn." He smiled at her, and she smiled back. It truly was a heartwarming sight, a new ray of hope for us.