So I got no reviews for the previous chapter and I was hesitant to upload this but oh well. Here goes! Enjoy lovelies!
Anolindë dangled her small feet in the river as it made its course through Mirkwood. Not far from her, a small group of little ellons were swimming in the cool waters at the base of a waterfall, splashing each other furiously. Anolindë leaned back on her palms, tilting her head towards the sun. It was beautifully warm on her face. Her Ada had allowed her to go to the river today as he was going to spend the day with King Thranduil. A shadow covered the sun above her face. Her eyes sprang open, only to be greeted by the sight of Legolas. The small ellon looked slightly nervous as he stood above her. Anolindë stayed quiet out of respect for the royal ellon even though she wanted to know why he had come. Her Ada had taught her to always be respectful.
"I was hoping to join you on this fine day," Legolas said quietly.
The two turned their heads to the young ellons playing in the river. Would Legolas even like this sort of thing? Playing in the river? A thought crossed Anolindë's mind, causing her to smile.
"You can, IF…" she began, standing.
"…you can jump off the edge of the waterfall."
She pointed to the rocky ledge jutting out over the falls way up high. Legolas stared up at it, his face blank of any emotion.
"I will, IF…" he said, turning to her, a smile breaking out across his face.
"…you jump with me."
Anolindë froze slightly. She had never been off it. Only a couple of the young Elves had done it. Her Ada's voice rang sharply through her head, warning her to stay away from the ledge. She nodded slowly, despite her father's warning. The small prince let out a small laugh and grabbed her hand, pulling her in the direction of the waterfall. The two climbed the mossy rocks. Legolas never let go of Anolindë's hand, making sure she made it safely to the top. They stood on the edge, peering over at the clear pool below where the other ellons had stopped their splashing and were now looking up at them in awe. Anolindë looked sideways at Legolas who smiled in return and nodded his head. She squeezed his hand tightly and together they leapt from the ledge. The wind sang in their ears as they fell downwards and mist from the falls covered their scrunched faces. With a large splash, they hit the pool of water, sinking below the surface. Opening their eyes, they looked to each other underneath the water as their feet touched the bottom. Legolas launched himself up off the ground, dragging Anolindë to the surface with him. Laughter ensued as they breached the surface, clothes and hair absolutely soaked. Both sets of blue eyes sparkled with mirth and neither cared for anything except for the thrill of the moment. And Anolindë's hand never left the tight grasp of the prince's hand.
~:✿:~
"Gandalf?" Anolindë whispered in disbelief.
"It cannot be," Aragorn said, astounded.
Instantly, both Elves dropped to their knees, bowing and placing their hands over their hearts.
"Forgive us," Legolas apologized for the both of them. "We mistook you for Saruman."
"I am Saruman," Gandalf explained as the two Elves stood. "Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
"You fell," Aragorn said, still dumbfounded.
"Through fire. And water," Gandalf replied. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth."
The Balrog. Anolindë shuddered inwardly as she remembered Moria. They had been fleeing the Goblins when the foul beast appeared. Gandalf had held it at bay as the others got to safety. Her hand reached out for Legolas as the memory of Gandalf falling played in her mind. Legolas held it tightly, stroking her knuckles with his thumb.
"Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside," Gandalf continued. "Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and every day was as long as a life age of the Earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf," Aragorn repeated, happiness in his voice.
The Wizard looked utterly confused for a moment.
"Gandalf?"
Then a smile of recognition crossed his features.
"Yes. That is what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name. I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide."
Anolindë smiled, feeling her lovers hand close around her fingers. The Wizard motioned for them to follow him.
"One stage of the journey is over, another begins!" he called out. "We must travel to Edoras with all speed!"
"Edoras? That is no short distance," Gimli grumbled.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan," Aragorn told the Wizard. "It goes ill with the king."
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured," Gandalf said.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing," Gimli complained. "Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree infested-"
A loud rumble reverberated through the trees at the Dwarf's poor choice of words.
"I mean charming!" Gimli corrected himself. "Quite charming forest!"
The rumbling stopped.
"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn," Gandalf said to the companions. "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."
Aragorn leaned towards Gandalf.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," he said lowly. "You still speak in riddles."
The two laughed.
"A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder days," Gandalf continued. "The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong."
"Strong?" Gimli asked. "Oh, that's good."
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf," Gandalf chastised. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be!"
Anolindë couldn't contain her laughter as Gimli grumbled to himself.
"This new Gandalf is more grumpy than the old one."
They finally reached the edge of the forest, greeted by sunshine and the two horses, Hasufel and Arod, that Éomer had given to them. Anolindë walked up to Hasufel, the horse she had shared with Aragorn as they rode to the burning pyre of Uruks. The horse pressed his nose into her shoulder and whickered gently in greeting. Gandalf let out two whistles, the noise echoing through the plains. The second was answered with a neigh. Moments later, a beautiful white horse galloped into sight, coming towards them with speed and grace. Anolindë gasped.
"That is one of the Mearas," Legolas said in awe. "Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
The magnificent creature came to a halt in front of Gandalf, nostrils flaring.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf introduced the horse. "He is the lord of all horses. And has been my friend through many dangers."
The horse bowed his head and Gandalf reached out to stroke his neck before mounting him. Aragorn mounted Hasufel, reaching down to help Anolindë up behind him. Gimli sat behind Legolas on Arod. All three horses took off, galloping across the plains towards Edoras and the ill king.
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