Chapter 3

The Ride to Isengard

Ruby sat on top of a broken wall alongside Merry and Pippin, each of them with their pipes in hand, taking a good long smoke while they ate the some of the delicious food they had found in Saruman's store room. Food fit for even the pickiest Hobbit. "It's good. Definitely from the Shire. Longbottom Leaf." Merry said in contentment after a particularly long and satisfying smoke from his pipe, and Pippin nodded eagerly in agreement though Ruby just rolled her eyes at the two of them smiling.

"I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon. A mug of ale in my hand. Putting my feet up on a settle after a hard day's work." Pippin sighed dreamily as he thought of home, and Ruby closed her eyes trying to picture it. The whole gang back home in the Shire, at their beloved Green Dragon Inn just lounging about (or singing and dancing more likely), drinking, and just having a good time socializing with one another. It almost brought tears to her eyes as she realized just how much she longed to be able to go back someday and have everything remain the same. Well almost everything. Some things she knew had irrevocably changed, and she was happy about that.

"Only you've never done a hard day's work." Merry teased him, and at that all three of them burst into gales of laughter all thoughts of sadness and homesickness gone as quickly as they had come. At that moment a small crew of weary travelers arrived on the scene, men who looked like they had survived a horrible battle of some sort and among them Ruby discovered her old friends gazing up at her and the boys in utter astonishment.

"Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!" She called out to them, giggling like a wee hobbit lass, feeling as if she were on top of the world.

"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you, feasting and …and smoking!" Gimli sputtered angrily at them only making her laugh even harder, which only made him scowl all the more.

"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts." Pippin told him smiling brilliantly as he did so.

"The salted pork is particularly good." Ruby chipped in, taking a bit of the delectable meat closing her eyes as if to savor it. "Mmmm… delightful!

"Salted pork?" Gimli said, his anger melting into a curious longing. Ruby nodded her head eagerly in response before tossing him a piece which he eagerly caught.

"Hobbits." Gandalf huffed shaking his head in disgust, though he turned and gave her a quick wink. She smiled at this knowing that Gandalf surely felt at least somewhat responsible to take care of her for Hazel's sake. Growing up she had always known that Hazel was his personal favorite between the sisters, though it wasn't a mean type that made her feel slighted in the least. It was more like that special connection a parent, or any adult really, may feel with a particular child usually over a particular thing. At the time Ruby had always figured it was because Hazel spent more time hanging out with Frodo who was probably the closest Hobbit to the Wizard aside from Bilbo. But over the years she had come to realize it was more than that, something much deeper and more personal. A simple connection that was just there, and truly needed no explanation (though if one looked close enough they might just discover what it was anyway). But Ruby was grateful for his kindness and friendship all the same.

"Oh we've missed you Gimli!" Ruby finally said, throwing herself into the dwarf's arms, catching him (and I very well think everyone else) completely by surprise. "And you too Gandalf. All of you." She continued rushing to give each of them a hug in turn.

"And we've missed you and your pretty little smile Ruby." Aragorn told her as he pulled out of her embrace and smiled down at her. "We could've used a bit of your sunshine." She giggled, shaking her head at their teasing.

"Now if only Hazel, Frodo and Sam were here everything would be perfect." She whispered, and she felt Aragorn take her hand and give it a quick comforting squeeze.

"We're under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard." Merry told them all quite proudly, breaking the moment and the group moved on toward Orthanc where Treebeard was waiting to greet them.

"Young Master Gandalf. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there is a Wizard to manage here, locked in his tower." He said, glancing up at the offending tower.

"Show yourself." Aragorn whispered.

"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf informed them all,

"Well, let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli suggested always the one to be yearning for battle and action.

"No. We need him alive. We need him to talk." Gandalf insisted, and Ruby nodded eager at the thought of hearing any news of her sister. Now that she had been reunited with her other friends and no longer had to worry about them, all her thoughts had turned to the trio headed to Mordor and all the sure dangers they were to face along the way.

"You have fought many wars slain many men, Théoden King," A voice said from above their heads, and they looked up to see Saruman reveal himself on top of the tower. "And made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?"

"We shall have peace. We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there!" Théoden King of Rohan cried out in rage to the horrid Wizard. "We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies are hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg, are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace." Ruby couldn't help but shiver at the visual image she got of everything he described, and almost immediately she felt Pip slip his hand into hers to comfort her.

"Gibbets and crows? Dotard! What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the Keys of Barad-dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the Five Wizards?!" Saruman accused with a quiet rage and cunning of his own.

"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are at risk. But you can save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel." Gandalf replied in what was meant to be a convincing tone.

"So you have come here for information. I have some for you." Saruman mused lifting up a strange ball gazing into it before continuing. "Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You're all going to die."

"But you know this, don't you, Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death." Saruman continued, and Ruby stiffened at the mention of Frodo, feeling fury and despair well up in her at the evil wizard's words. Frodo couldn't be going to his death could he? And if he was what would happen to her cousin and sister?

"I've heard enough! Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob." Gimli whispered to Legolas with the same fury.

"No." Gandalf said as Legolas reached for an arrow. "Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared." Gandalf insisted, though Saruman was just as stubborn.

"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" He yelled sending down a giant fire-ball at Gandalf, but before Ruby could scream or do anything to even try and help a huge flame surrounded Gandalf forming a shield around him until the fire finally died down.

"Saruman, your staff is broken." Gandalf pointed out to his onetime friend and superior, and indeed at that moment his staff shattered in his hands into a thousand pieces. Suddenly a strange almost snake looking (at least that was the impression he left upon all those who looked upon him), peered from behind Saruman.

"Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come down." Théoden called out to the man.

"A Man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Theoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires." Saruman spat at the King obviously trying to provoke him, but he simply paid him no mind.

"Grima, come down. Be free of him." Théoden insisted gently and yet insistently.

"Free? He will never be free." Saruman scoffed indignantly.

"No." Grima said seeming somewhat confused and despairing at his current situation and all the wrong choices he had made.

"Get down, cur!" Saruman shouted at him enraged, knocking him over in the process.

"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf tried once again to win the Wizards cooperation, though at this point Ruby wasn't sure she wanted his help even if the information he held truly was valuable. At that precise moment she caught sight of Grima getting up slowly and drawing something that glinted in the sunlight. A dagger. Grima seemed to catch her eye as well, and somehow a glint of almost recognition came into his eyes and he pulled something from within a secret pocket of his and discreetly threw it to the ground, before returning to the task at hand. Curious at the move, Ruby ever so gently removed her hand from Pippin's who was too wrapped up in what was going on to notice, and began wading out to where the object had fallen.

"You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here." Saruman said completely oblivious to his plight until it was too late and Grima had pounced, stabbing him several times only stopping when he was hit by one Legolas's arrows. Wincing he fell back, making Saruman plummet off the tower in the process, landing on top of a spear on one of his own contraptions. Ruby glanced up at the sound of several disgusted gasps and stared in absolute horror at the scene, before closing her eyes and trying to wash it from her memory but it was too late. The picture was already replaying in her minds-eye. She was not the only one to feel disgust at the sight. Shivering with disgust she grabbed the object and hurried back to the safety others as fast as she could.

"Send word to all our allies, and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." Gandalf said, dismayed at their defeat and this unfortunate (although well-deserved) demise. At that moment the wheel on which he had been spiked spun, and Saruman began to sink into the waters. The mysterious ball fell out of his robe and into the water.

"The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild tress." Treebeard informed Gandalf providing at least some happy news after the little disaster, but Pippin wasn't really paying attention anymore. Now it was he who had discovered something in the water, a strange orange glow. Overcome with his own curiosity he too waded into the water, picking up the strange ball and eyeing it.

"Pippin!" Aragorn cried out when he noticed him, and Pip started at the call.

"Bless my bark!" Treebeard gasped gaping at the young Hobbit and his dangerous 'prize'.

"Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad. Quickly now." Gandalf requested firmly, and reluctantly Pippin handed the object over to the Wizard who wrapped it up in his robe, careful not to touch it.

Ruby however was utterly oblivious to all of this, for she was still staring at her own prize from the shallows. The one Grima had tossed to her just before his assassination attempt, and murder. It is quite a miraculous thing to be sure, and you will not believe me when I tell you what it was, for it should have been destroyed with the rest of its package long ago, when Saruman tossed it into the fire after receiving it from his wretched spies. But it seems some act of fate stepped into to spare this remain that somehow putting it first into Grima's hands and then Ruby's.

Yes, you have guessed it. It was the cover from Hazel's old book.

It'll make more sense if you've read The Fellowship of the Ring, and the Two Towers. Or you can read them after this one. I hope you enjoyed. If any names were misspelled, please let me know, I would appreciateit.