'Black and as evil as Sauron himself,' Anna explained as they headed to the stables.

'You know of Sauron?' Legolas asked, realizing they had never explained the full story to her of their quest.

'I was absent from, the world, not ignorant.'

They were at the front gate when Legolas said, 'Are you sure you can handle such a beast?' He still held on to the reins. With her passionate fury and languages she learned from her master, she put her hands on the horse's muzzle and closed her eyes, communicating she had control.

'Yes, I can,' she responded once done with speaking to the horse. Anna hopped onto the horse and looked out through the gate, across the land along the horizon. She took a moment to catch the feel in the air. 'It will rain today,' she said gravely. 'The heavens will cry for those that will fall this night.' She grabbed the reins, stopping when their hands touched.

The moment was interrupted when Aragorn called out behind them. 'Legolas, what is she doing?' Anna released the touch and clicked her horse through the gate and out onto the plains. 'Legolas, why didn't you stop her?'

'I let her go, I had to,' he responded not exactly knowing why he trusted her but just knowing he did.

'Fool! You'll get us all killed!' Aragorn fumed and left Legolas standing in front of the gates.

Anna did not know of his thoughts or any others. She was watching league after league pass underneath the black horse's feet. She was leaving a trap of uselessness to run into a castle of torture. At least now, with the wind flying her hair behind her and the beat of the horse's hooves setting her heart's rhythm, she was free.

She reached the gates of Isengard in time to see the Ents tearing the place apart. She did not stop to see what creatures were against her master but raced further on to the steps of Orthanc, leaving the horse at the foot of the steps and crawled up. What with the attacks behind her and the power beyond the doors, her shoulders were raised in anticipation of something horrid.

She went inside as if it was her own home, and it might as well have been. She did not take a second look at the faces in the trees or the surprises that were held in one of their branches.

The foyer was dark and only the outlines to the doorways could be seen. Anna walked to the middle and stayed there, not knowing what to do.

'Well, well, well, the traitor comes back,' a voice mocked from somewhere in the darkness. 'Tired of seeing your friends about to be defeated I see.' The voice slithered around the walls, echoing while the source moved around her. 'Putting on a new dress to meet your master, asking him to take you back?'

Suddenly, the voice was behind her. 'What is your business here?' Anna whipped around. Wormtongue's pale complexion looked like a light in the dark hallway and his greasy hair shone in the pale light.

Anna closed her mouth. 'I mean to speak with my master.'

'Yes, yes,' Wormtongue's head bobbed up and down, 'because he will take you back easily after making such reputable friends.'

'I know not what you speak of-'

'But your master does.' Wormtongue's sunken eyes held Anna's own. 'May I remind you that he abandoned you?'

Anna's teeth chattered in anger. 'And he sent you away to Edoras. I have information for master better than you could have found at Edoras.'

Wormtongue brought his face away from her. 'You knew I was at Edoras?' then to himself, 'Well, of course, you were with those meddling creatures.' His pale gaze went back to Anna. 'Do what you wish; he is just within those doors.'

Anna turned and walked steadfastly until she came to the doorway. She stood just outside the gleam of light. 'Go on,' Wormtongue hissed from beside her. Anna took a sharp look at Wormtongue, then snapped at him just before entering the room.

It was lighter here, but not by much. The black stone reflected harshly the torchlight and sunlight peeking through the windows. The only other source of light came from the throne carved into the black stone. Saruman sat there, robed in white and looking down at his past servant, recent spy.

'Master,' she uttered and dropped to the floor in praise of his power. 'Forgive me, for we have spent too long apart. Please take me back; I cannot go on without you orders. I know not what to do. Please, tell me what I should do.' She dared not to look up for the sight of him was what brought her to her knees.

'What would you do for me; for you know first hand I do not keep those things that are no longer useful.' His deep voice made her tremble. All those long years apart had done nothing to quail her fear of him, though neither her bond to him.

'I- I have information on a fellowship. The- the ring- the ring you wanted, it's with them. I could get it for you.'

'You saw the ring,' Saruman's interest seen in the raising of his voice.

'Yes, but- but they- they took it away before I could take it. T- It was with one of the hobbits. Someone else might have it now, maybe the man in the group. I could get it for you, after the orcs, th- they kill all at Helm's Deep. You know I am s- skilled at that.'

'And what would you want?' Saruman asked, once again calm, thinking the elf-child stupid.

Anna looked up at him and then crawled to him, grasping the ends of his cloak as she spoke. 'Only to protect you, master. The- there are, creatures outside, ruining you glorious land. Let me bring back some of the orcs, just a portion, to protect you. There are less than a thousand men and they are backed up into a corner. They will dies before the dew hits the bloodied grass. A few less Uruk-hai will not change that.'

'Get up,' Saruman said as he shipped his multi-colored cloak away from her. She stood, head down and shoulders up as her hands wrung themselves. She took a tentative look up. Saruman saw she spoke true and she could not have been using the Voice with him since he had not taught it to her. Only Wormtongue was taught that to deal with the King of Rohan. 'Very well,' Saruman said slowly. 'Come here, Wanderlust, and I will teach you the words to command the Uruk-hai. You will only take a thousand, no more, to Isengard.'

Anna smiled and looked up at her master, though the evil circulating within her made it looked like she was baring her teeth. Wormtongue had sent that look before; it was an often seen battlecry fro Wanderlust.