They reach the to Ithilae familiar sight of the hill before the forest. The trees of Fangorn stretch their shadows towards them as the sun is still rising behind them.
The grass is splattered in dark blood, as Orcs and Uruks alike have been thrown upon a heap, not all of them in one piece and left to smolder on the fire started by the riders of Rohan.
Ithilae does not wish to be left behind and searches along side the others for a clue as to what happened to the two hobbits that were with her before.
Gimli rakes through the corpses with his axe before pulling something from it that looks awfully familiar. "It's one of their wee belts." he states, his voice wavering.
"Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath. (May they find peace in death)." Legolas whispers, his face downcast as he concludes the worst.
Ithilae shakes her head in disbelief as Aragorn kicks an Uruk's cut off head, still lodged in its helmet before unleashing a shout of defeat, falling to his knees. The scream shakes his companies' bones.
Gimli wipes at his eyes. "We failed them." he mutters sadly. Voicing the thought that runs through all of their minds.
Aragorn's eyes roam the stirred ground before them, reading the marks. "A Hobbit lay here. And the other." he pieces together as his fingers trail upon the markings. "They crawled." he adds, seeing the trail continue away from him. He spring to his feet and his companions follow after him.
"Their hands were bound." Aragorn continues retelling the story of that night. He picks up a discarded piece of rope further on ahead. "Their bonds were cut."
His movements are becoming more brisk as he continues. "They ran over here. They were followed." he explains, making Ithilae remembers how eager the Orcs were to get their hands on them.
"Tracks lead away from the battle..." Aragorn says before coming to an abrupt halt. The looming trees of Fangorn form a wall onto his path. "..into Fangorn Forest." he realizes.
Gimli's eyes widen. "Fangorn? What madness drove them in there?"
"Never mind that." Ithilae states, her heartbeat picking up at the glimmer of hope rising to the surface. "They could still be alive!" she calls before dashing into the cover of the trees, startling the men.
Aragorn glances at the other two before shrugging and following after.
"She's mad!" Gimli calls, making Legolas smile lightly before pulling the dwarf with him into the thicket. The sun is soon blocked from their sight by the thick canopy and the wrangled and ashened colored stems.
Gimli soon spots a dark liquid dripping from the leaves of an outstretched branch. He fingers it before laying a finger on his tongue. He grimaces. "Orc blood." he states before spitting out the wretches substance.
Ithilae comes up beside Aragorn who looks intently at the soil before him. "These are strange tracks." he mutters, making her tilt her head a she gazes at them as well. They look familiar.
"These are Ent tracks." Celebrimbor speaks in her mind, reviving an old memory of Ithilae. She has been in the forest before, a long time ago, even for Elvish standards. Maybe that is why she does not felt any trepidation in entering. She knows the trees are not out to harm her if she leaves them be.
She has come across an Ent at that time and it was one of her most memorable meetings. It was also a test to her youthful patience…
Amused at Aragorn's befuddlement on the tracks, she says nothing before continuing on ahead, now able to follow the clear trail of Ent footfalls.
"The air is so close in here." Gimli muses to himself as he eyes every dark corner within his sight. He does not feel comfortable at all.
Legolas nods in understanding, also eying the trees, but more with fascination than anything else. "This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory...and anger." he explains.
A loud groan echoes through the forest, not far off, making Gimli stiffen even further than he was, raising his axe to counter any threat that may come upon them.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas realizes, hearing more creaks and groans follow.
"They are very much aware of our presence." Ithilae tells him. "They are likely trying to tell if we mean them harm." she adds before their eyes simultaneously fall upon Gimli's gleaming axe.
"Gimli! Lower your axe." Aragorn whispers harshly. The dwarf reluctantly and slightly fearfully complies.
Legolas starts to explain, "They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."
Gimli shakes his head cynically in reply. "Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings." he scoffs before following after the others who have started to continue on in a single file, Ithilae at the head.
The sun must be high in the sky, though they can hardly tell before there is any sign of life other than the trees and the four companions.
Legolas suddenly halts before he whispers hurriedly, "Aragorn, nad nâ ennas! (Something is out there)."
Said man comes up behind him and they exchange words, making Gimli look quite confused, as he doesn't understand any Elvish. He looks up at a light touch, seeing Ithilae beside him.
"Prepare yourself. Saruman is upon us." she warns, making him grip his axe tighter. She herself has her bow already strung.
The very moment that Aragorn starts to whip around, so do the others, each brandishing their weapon of choice. But their attacks are easily deflected as a brilliant white light blinds them.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits." a voice states from its source, making them still squint to see anything.
Aragorn stands fast, though is cautious. "Where are they?" he questions.
The person answers, "They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" they question.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demands.
A moment passes and the person steps forward, the light dimming and they come to face someone they never expected to see again.
…
"One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed." Gandalf tells them after retelling his story of how he came to return.
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli remarks with his eyebrows nearly up to his hairline.
Aragorn speaks up as he walks beside the wizard, "We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king."
"He banished his greatest allies." Ithilae adds.
Gandalf nods. "Indeed. His illness will not be easily cured." he explains grimly.
Gimli huffs. "Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here... in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested-?" he cuts himself sort at the sound of disapproving groans. "I mean, charming... quite charming forest." he corrects himself quickly.
"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. 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." Gandalf explains vaguely.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn starts, making Gandalf look at him curiously. "You still speak in riddles." he laughs, making the wizard chuckle.
Gandalf gazes into the distance in thought. "A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up... and find that they are strong."
"Strong?! Oh, that's good." Gimli nods as the trees creak harshly at his tone of disbelief.
Gandalf leads them out of the forest, back to their horses before releasing a loud clear whistle that seems to carry on to great distances. A neigh answers his call and a great pure white steed comes to answer his call, followed by a familiar Palomino steed. Ithilae smiles to see that he has found his way to her once more.
"That is one of the Mearas... unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas openly gapes at the unfamiliar white steed.
Gandalf strokes the beast as it comes to a stop before him, stroking his mane. "Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses... and has been my friend through many dangers." Gandalf explains.
"Let us depart for Edoras." he urges, mounting the horse, leaving them to follow his example.
"Ithilae?" Legolas questions, making her glance over to see him looking quite worried. She still looks pretty awful and he is unsure if she will be able to ride such a long way by herself.
"I am fine. The pain has faded." she states, patting Randir lovingly. "And he will not let me fall in any case." she assures him, making him nod in reply.
They kick their horses' flanks gently before setting off after Gandalf who is rushing along like a gust of wind.
I'm officially out of reserves, so I'm not sure I'll be able to update every week any more. It all depends if I have time and if I'm not absorbed with writing on one of my other stories. But hang is there. I'm still keeping this going as best as I can.
