Of Saruman and Ents

The air was cooling quickly when Gandalf suggested we go find Theoden and his men, but he sun was still hot on our backs. The others gasped and gaped at the desolation, and I thanked my blindness once again. There was constant dropping from remnants of the Isen's water left behind, but the most of it was a labyrinth of fallen rocks, holes and slime that many a time we slipped on. All except Legolas of course, with his irritating elvish balance. I could hear the stamping and grunting of the king's horses from miles away, but the echoes off the valley were disconcerting. "There is Theoden and his men." Legolas cried. "Watch out," Merry warned as we got to an exceptionally rough surface, "There are loose slabs that may tilt up and throw you into a pit." I made special care to step in the exact places they did.

We came to the company and walked alongside them. We had left our horses behind. We walked until the chill of Orthanc's shadow made us stop and stand rigid. The horses whinnied in fear, and I could detect the faint sound of pacing coming from the top of the tower. Someone was up there.

Gandalf stepped forward, the rest of us staying put. "Be careful. Even in defeat Saruman is dangerous." He warned us. "Well let's just have his head and be done with it!" Gimli whisper/shouted. If only Gandalf's ways were that simple. "No. We need him alive. We need him to talk." The footsteps approached what I think was the balcony of Orthanc.

"You have fought many wars, and slain many men Theoden king" Saruman addressed "And then made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did? Can we not have peace?" His voice was deep and melodious, enchanting as the ocean. I felt myself believing him, being submerged in his speech. I was the right thing to do, I told myself. Why can't we have peace? Then I realised the stupidity of these thoughts and snapped out of it.

"We shall have peace!" Shouted Theoden, and for a moment I thought he had come under Saruman's spell as well. "We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We will have peace when the soldiers bodies strewn over the gates of the Hornburg are avenged! When you hang for your own Crebian to feed on, there will be peace." I was brilliantly worded, in my opinion. But Saruman was sly and tricky, and once again I felt myself falling into his voice.

"Crebian you say?" Saruman mocked. "And what do you want Olorin?" I gave a most uncharacteristic gasp at this. He had dared use his name, his true name. I myself had only found out after several centuries, and I was one of his closest friends. This was Gandalf, Mithrandir, Tharkun, who had been brought back to life by Illuvatar himself. You couldn't just through about his true identity to any old noble! "Yes, let me guess," He continued "The key to Orthanc. Or perhaps the key to Barad-dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and staffs of the five wizards?" His words no longer had sway on me, so great was my anger. I fought to keep my face straight and clenched and unclenched my fists. Legolas put a hand on mine to stop me.

Yet Gandalf still replied. "Your treachery had already cost many lives. Thousands more are at risk. But you can save them Saruman. You were the enemies counsel." It was a smart argument, making Saruman seem like he could be a heroe, but he didn't fall for it.

"So you have come for information." Saruman said voice softening in attempt to make the Rohirrim feel pity. "Well I have some for you." There was a clink and a roll? What was going on up there? I didn't want to have to ask. "Something festers in the heart of Arda. Something you have failed to see, but the great eye has. Even now he presses it to his advantage. He will attack soon. You will all die." I could hear the sneer grow into his voice as he said that. He had given up persuasion tactics it seemed. Gandalf's robe slithered along the ground as he paced forward. "But you know this Olorin? You cannot think this ranger would ever sit upon the throne of Gondor? The exile from the shadows crowned king. Or a friendship between an elf and a dwarf, both secretly harbouring hate, did you think it would work? Or even the little known roamer, finally coming into the open? The great Gandalf doesn't hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes love for. Tell me, what comfort did you send the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path you have set him on can only lead to death."

My hands shook in rage, not even Legolas attempting to stay my hands could stop it. I reached for a dart, one of my last out of twelve. The rest had been used in the battle. 'I can't get a dart to hit him from here,' I thought to myself, 'but by the Valar I can try.' Gimli was thinking along the same lines. "I've had enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!" Legolas strung his bow, but the hair on the back of my neck rose as Gandalf fixed us with a glare.

"No. Come down Saruman, and your life shall be spared."

"Save your pity and mercy, for I have no use for it!" A searing heat bore towards us from the sky, as if the sun was falling. It headed straight for Gandalf, but the crackling of fire died away instantly. He was fine.

"Your staff is broken!" A monumental crack echoed through the valley, pieces of wood littering the balcony. "You were deep within the enemies counsel!" But Saruman turned and walked away to the doors inside. "Come back Saruman!" Gandalf commanded. And to all of our amazement, I could hear him being dragged back towards us. "You- will never." He hissed attempting not to answer. He never got to. There was a short whistle as something plummeted through the air, bouncing off and iron railing and luckily- or unluckily- hit Saruman on the head. Pippin ran after it. I couldn't believe it with the incredibly loud and fast breathing, but I never forgot a breathing pattern. Grima had thrown something down at us, attempting to hit someone. Saruman swayed and fell over the railing, whilst Legolas brought up his bow and shot Grima. For about 30 seconds- it was a tall tower- the flapping of robes betrayed Saruman's falling. Then with a sickening crack and squelch Saruman was impaled on something that with a squeal turned and plunged him into the water underneath. Several riders groaned in disgust. Gandalf said his final words and we turned our backs to Orthanc.


Gandalf cautiously and hurriedly exchanged words with Pippin, taking something from him in the process. I heard Gandalf mutter to himself something about a 'Palantir' and needing to keep it out of reach. When he was finished I walked up to him, still angered at Saruman for throwing Gandalf's identity out to the world.

"How could you let him say that?" I whisper-shouted to him. "Your true identity has been revealed to the king of Rohan himself no less? Why didn't you stop him?" I sensed his surprise. "How do you know?" He whispered, almost afraid. "Randi (my friend), I have known you for the past 1000 years and research extensively. I put the puzzle together that's all." I reassured him, though still angered. "However, I don't think that you would want your name to be broadcasted all over middle earth with disregard. I didn't think you would want the whole of Arda to know you were a Maia or I would have told them. It's what I did, remember?" Did, not do. Everything had changed now that I was known, had played a part in courts and so on.

"Yes," Gandalf replied "That is true. But no-one will think anything of it. I have many names don't I?" It was a valid point. I began to walk away before he grabbed my shoulder. "Thank-you." He whispered "For not telling." It was unneeded. I had nobody to tell it to before anyway.

"Well that is done." Gandalf addressed us a minute later. "Now we must find Treebeard and tell him how things have gone." We returned to the gate, getting our horses on the way. Then at the gates the stamping and creaking told me of the arrival of the Ents- my oldest and dearest friends. I heard Legolas, Aragorn and Giml's mouths fall open with simultaneous clops. "Close your mouths." I told them after a minute or two. "It makes a bad impression, so I've heard."

"Here are my companions Treebeard." Gandalf introduced, naming Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. But there was no need to introduce me, as Quickbeam had already scooped me up with one great hand. "Wanliy!" (Quickbeam) I cried. I heard the others mouths clop open again, then quickly close. Treebeard spoke briefly to Gimli and Aragorn while I conversed with Wanliy. "Salatunasa hin cloulese Saruman garer Orthanc."(Literal translation: congratulations on moving Saruman into Orthanc) I told him. After several months I got to converse in my first language again, putting my strange accent to use. "Thanks" He replied in Treeish. We listened to Treebeard again.

"So you have come all the way from Mirkwood my good elf? A very great forest it used to be!" He addressed Legolas.

"And still is," Legolas replied "But not so great that we tire of seeing new trees. I would love to journey in Fangorn's wood. I scarcely passed through it, but did not wish to turn back."

Ho, ho hum! Treebeard laughed. "I hope that you may have your wish! Maybe young Urwen here can guide you through." I jumped off Wanliy's shoulder, paying no attention to the twinge in my leg. I gave Treebeard a cuff on the hip, just below my head height. "El drinno bab paln rek thrin honno!" (I haven't been called that in centuries!). He just chortled. "I'm sorry," He said in Westron "Darke."I bet the company had almost forgotten my original names.

"Well," Legolas answered Treebeard "I have made a bargain with her and Gimli here that if all goes well we will visit Fangorn together- by your leave of course."

"Any elf, or those who come with you are welcome." Said Treebeard. "But if you come with Darke you will be welcome anyway. She is our young sister in a sense- as much one of us as I am."

I felt the others fixing me with queer stares. "I told you I fled Beleriand with friends, and these are them; the first people I met after I left Angband. They practically raised me, taught me how to use my senses when I went blind and cared for me as one of their own. I am alive because of them." That answered their queer gazes.

"Well now!" Gandalf said "Day is ending and we must leave by nightfall. No doubt the Lord of Mark wishes to get to his own house. I think the journey will be much quicker now that the Isen is back to normal and Saruman's devilry is ended."

"Hmm" hummed Treebeard in agreement. "Yes, you must go. But I shall regret losing my gatekeepers" referring to Pippin and Merry "We have become friends in such a short while that I think I am becoming hasty; maybe I'm growing backwards towards youth. But then, they are the first new thing I have seen for many a long day. I won't forget you; I will put your names on the list."

"Ent's the earthborn, old as mountains,

The wide walkers water drinking;

And hungry hunters the hobbit children,

The laughing folk, the little people."

"And you better not forget," I told him "Or I shall set you on fire." He shivered then cried "Fare well and send me news of the Shire. And if you hear word or sight of the Entwives come if you can!"

"We will!" exclaimed Merry and Pippin in unison. "But walk with us for a while longer before you must go!" Treebeard agreed.

The sun had almost set when we and the king and his riders set out from Isengard. Gandalf took Merry behind him and Aragorn took Pippin; Legolas already had Gimli and I was such an incompetent rider that I couldn't have coped with it. The kings men rode ahead and we trailed behind. We were almost at the end of the valley, but not before I managed to get a parting conversation with Treebeard.

"Why don't you take to the air like you always do young Lalaith? I can tell that you are injured ,ho hum, but you are healing. Why it must be 4 days old today at least!"

I sighed. "I don't know. When my side got slashed my diaphragm and some alveoli may have been mangled beyond repair. Another possibility is that some of my nerves where severed, or a combination of both. All I know is that whenever I stretch my wing out too far incredible pain shoots through me and I can't breathe."

"Hmm, ho hum. Poor young Darke, injured and lost in the world. Have you tried again?"

"No," I said "But I can't run either."

"Have you any Ent draught? I shall get you some before I leave you; I may not see you again for some time."

"Thank-you my friend. I hope that we will meet again soon enough."

And so after having my small water-skin filled with Ent-draught, I left my oldest and most dear friend.

"Goodbye Fangorn. Don't you ever find it funny that that's also what they call the forest?"

"Not at all. Fare well Darke. Stay close to young Greenleaf. He will take care of you."

"What makes you so sure about that? And why do you call both of us young when there is about a 4000 year difference?"

"I just know these things. And whether it is 400 or 4000 it makes no difference to us. You should know that by now."

After mentally scolding myself, I sadly heard my brother lope back to Isengard. I then wondered what Fangorn meant about 'just knowing things.' It had never cropped up before in the past 5000 years. But I couldn't help the small flutter in my stomach every time I heard the elven prince's name. What did it mean?


Thank-you! :) The relationship is finally panning out. Hope you all liked the involvement in Darkes past that the Ents had. Follow fave and review:)