The Second Book

Part, the First

Things That Hunt

The four companions ran, unceasingly tracking their friends, the kidnapped Merry and Pippin. When the Uruk-hai's pace had quickened, Kagome motioned for Kirara to carry a lagging Gimli. The Dwarf had sputtered indignantly at the idea that he couldn't keep up with the others. After a while, however, his aching legs forced him to swallow his pride. He and the fire cat grew quite close on the journey and Gimli became very fond of her.

Rocks and sheer drops scattered the land and after a while, Aragorn's sharp tracking skills found something almost buried in the muck. It was the leaf clasp of one of the cloaks the Galadhrim had given the Fellowship. Kagome looked to Aragorn with surprise.

"Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall," he whispered, almost to himself.

The miko grinned, her eyes turning to Legolas when he appeared beside her.

"They may yet be alive," the Elf said, hope blossoming in his chest.

Aragon's lips twitched in a small smile. "Less than a day ahead of us. Come."

The two took off after them, Legolas turning to see Gimli trying to remount Kirara. "Come, Gimli, Kirara! We're gaining on them!"

"I'm wasted on cross-country," Gimli grumbled, finally succeeding in mounting the neko with her help. "We Dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances. Come on, cat, let's show them who the faster creature is."

Kirara roared her agreement, catching up with the group. Hours later, however, they had to make the decision to continue on, or rest by night. Some debate rose between them, but they eventually decided it would be a better course of action to briefly rest in the evening.

Before dawn, Aragorn woke and glanced to his companions. Gimli was still snoring, but Legolas was standing, silhouetted against the darkness and barely lit with fading starlight. Kagome was beside him, her head cast down as the Elf watched her silently. She seemed to say something, for the male shifted to bring his hands to her cheeks.

"Tirelen," he halted her with a tender whisper that stung at Aragorn's heart. He shouldn't be watching this, he thought as his hand drifted to the Elfstone. But, his own light was so far from him now.

Kagome blinked bright, blue eyes up at him, making Legolas smile gently. "Long have I chased your light. Do you think I would be so foolish as to deny it when it is finally within my reach? I told you I will not leave."

Choking a laugh, she shook her head and let him draw her into a tight embrace. "Your True Self isn't even trying to be subtle," she muttered, making his chest reverberate with amusement.

Aragorn arched a brow at that, finally understanding a few of the things he'd seen between the two. He often forgot that Kagome walked in both worlds as well, even with her recent showing in Lothlórien. Reluctantly, he stirred enough to alert them to his waking, giving them time to step apart and Kagome to recover herself.

Kirara purred before roughly nosing the Dwarf awake. She didn't know how the two-legs managed any sleep with that racket.

Later, between some large rocks, Legolas leapt upon a ledge and stared out across the land.

"Rohan," Kagome said, recognizing the territory, "home of the horse-lords." Looking at Aragorn, she arched a brow. "Brings back some good memories, doesn't it?"

He nodded, but then frowned in confusion. "There's something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures; sets its will against us. Legolas! What do your Elf-eyes see?"

The blonde narrowed his eyes in concentration before calling back worriedly. "The Uruks turn northeast. They are taking the hobbits to Isengard!"

Aragorn's face paled. "Saruman."

Kagome nudged him. "Come on, we'll need to get to them before they can make it there." She paused, meeting the Ranger's eyes. "Though, Kirara and I could catch them if we took to the air."

"No," he denied sharply, not having to see Legolas' face to know how the Elf felt about that. "There are too many of them for you alone and after Pippin managed to escape long enough to leave his broach, they will be doubly on their guard. We face them together."

Gimli grunted as Kagome sighed and nodded. Legolas touched her shoulder as she passed, a silent message exchanged. Facing forward, she braced herself.

"Well, then, perhaps I can ease this force against us. Hold on, boys; I've never gone up against Saruman before. This might get nasty."

Closing her eyes, she centered herself and then flung her hands out, a wave of power rushing before them. Sweat glistened her brow as she met fierce resistance and the very ground beneath their feet rumbled ominously.

"Oh, no you don't," she gritted, closing her hands into fists.

Luckily, Saruman's attention was divided because he soon gave way at the intensity of her attack. The ground that had been blackened and trampled by the Orc host now flourished in the wake of her purity. Swaying, she released her assault and felt herself slump against Legolas.

"Bastard," she panted, swiping her forehead. "It won't stop them, but that should keep us from being pushed back."

Legolas tightened his arms around her before settling her on Kirara. Aragorn nodded gratefully.

"Then, onward."

Before long, a great thundering of hooves came roaring over the hilltop. The Fellowship dove behind large stones and watched as a company of Rohirrim riders rode past. Aragorn nodded to his friends and strolled out to call to the riders.

"Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"

Kagome swallowed as the cavalry turned and began surrounding the Fellowship. "Hoo boy," she muttered, fingering her katana and sharing a look with Kirara.

When the riders stopped, they were completely circling the group and had their spears lowered in their faces. Aragorn held his hands up passively as the commander addressed them.

"What business do an Elf, a Man, a Dwarf, and a woman have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly," he demanded.

Gimli leaned on his axe nonchalantly. "Give me your name, horse-master, and I shall give you mine."

The man dismounted, the air around him shimmering with tension. "I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

This close, Kagome could see the man's face. Sighing, she grabbed Legolas' arm before he could retaliate against the threat of his friend.

"Éomer, you've gotten nasty in your old age," the miko chastised, throwing off the hood of her cloak.

Éomer started when he saw her, but shook his head with a reluctant smile. "I should have known the Guardian would be walking. Strange happenings heralded your arrival." Vaguely, he wondered if his weariness had finally dulled his senses. How in Arda had he missed the two tailed cat?

Kagome snorted and shook his hand, feeling his weariness. "This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Gimli, son of Glóin, and Legolas, prince of Greenwood the Great. They are friends of Théoden." Studying him, she placed a hand on his brow. "What has wearied you so?"

The Third Marshal removed his helmet and caught her hand. "Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe, not even his own kin." He released her and ran a hand through his hair. "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands."

The miko covered her mouth as Kirara mewed in anger. Éomer gave a wan smile of thanks and motioned to the army around them.

"My company are those loyal to Rohan, and for that, we are banished." Looking hard at the short woman, he said, "The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say as an old man hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

"Oh, Éomer, no," Kagome said, worried at the happenings in the Riddermark. "We are tracking a party Uruk-hai west, across the plain. They kidnapped two of our friends," she explained.

Eómer's face darkened. "The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

Gimli spoke up urgently. "But there were two hobbits. Did you see two hobbits with them?"

Aragorn nodded. "They would be small, only children to your eyes."

Shaking his head, the horse-lord said, "We left none alive." Pointing, he motioned to the large cloud of smoke rising in the distance. "We piled the carcasses and burned them."

Kagome felt tears in her eyes as she stepped back into Legolas' side. He wrapped a steadying arm around her, looking worried himself.

"Dead?" Gimli whispered with disbelief.

Éomer nodded and looked at Kagome. "I am sorry," he said genuinely. Turning, he whistled. "Hasufel! Arod!" Two horses trotted forward to the man. Taking the reins, he handed them to Aragorn and Legolas. "May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell," he said, mounting his stead. "Look for your friends, But do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands." Giving one last look to Kagome, he took off with his men. "We ride north!"

The Fellowship watched the troops depart before swallowing and facing the rising smoke. Kagome mounted Kirara as Aragorn mounted his horse and Legolas and Gimli mounted the other. Exchanging looks, they raced across the earth to the fire. Kirara hissed and began sniffing the ground urgently as soon as they arrived and Kagome got off.

Gimli dug through the fire and pulled out a bit of charred remains. "It's one of their wee belts."

Aragorn looked at the belt-Merry's-and kicked a nearby helmet, sending it flying. Roaring in anguish, the heir sank to his knees, his head in his hands.

"We failed them," Gimli realized, his heart aching at the thought of his small friends.

Legolas felt sorrow rise in him as he began saying a prayer for the little ones' spirits. Looking around for Kagome, he saw her following a sniffing Kirara.

"Um, guys," she said as she neared the forest. "Kirara thinks they went this way."

Legolas broke off, seeing Aragorn blink and begin staring at the ground. The heir felt hope rise in him as he brushed his hands against the dirt. "Aye, a hobbit lay here," he stated, beginning his own track. He followed with his eyes the path Kirara had with her nose. The cut rope that had bound the hobbits was found and Aragorn came to stand beside Kagome.

"They went into Fangorn Forest," Kagome said, smiling with mischief now that she knew her friends weren't killed. Something else was tugging on her senses from within the forest as well. If she was right, Merry and Pippin were probably as safe as they could be.

Gimli gaped as he and Legolas came to stand beside their friends. "What madness drove them in there?"

Kagome looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. "Gee, let me think about that," she muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

The Dwarf narrowed his eyes and pointed his axe at her. "Watch it, lass."

The miko shrugged, unconcerned, and followed Kirara into the dark woods. The others were close behind, exchanging looks as the trees began groaning around them. Gimli moved to where a bush was covered in dark liquid. Touching his finger to it and then tasting it, he spat it out.

"Orc blood," he announced.

Aragorn nodded and motioned to the ground before him. Kagome scrunched her nose and stared at Gimli with disgust. Why was she the only one that found his actions remotely disgusting?

"These are strange tracks," the Ranger noted, interrupting the miko's musings.

Kagome examined them with confusion. "Weird." She shot him a mischievous look. "Maybe it's an Ent track."

Legolas arched a brow, though Aragorn merely rolled his eyes.

Gimli clutched his axe and looked around, not feeling easy in the woods. "The air is so close in here."

The Elf smiled and closed his eyes as he communed with the forest. "This forest is old." Opening his eyes, he saw Kagome with her hand on one of the trees. "So old, it makes me feel young again. It's full of memory…and anger."

Groaning echoed around them, making Gimli and Aragorn slightly nervous.

"The trees are speaking to each other."

Aragorn motioned urgently to the Dwarf. "Gimli! Lower your axe."

The Dwarf frowned, but quickly did as he said, the groaning lessening in intensity. Kagome was sending her reiki into the tree and listening to the woods talk. The tree leaned into her hand after a few moments. She blinked before smiling softly. These trees felt to her like the Goshinboku in Japan and that was a warming comfort. Legolas stared at her before shaking his head with amusement and looking back at Gimli.

"They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."

"Talking trees," Gimli muttered, eyeing the woods. "What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings."

Kagome removed her hand and stood beside the Elf. "The forest is fond of you," he stated, his eyes warm.

"These trees remind me of home," she admitted, before a tingling shot up her spine. Without warning, she turned and shot off into the woods.

"Lass!" Gimli called after her in warning.

Legolas was a step behind her, and caught her about her waist before she could disappear. She scowled at him before dragging him onto Kirara and taking to the air. Aragorn and Gimli yelled and then scrambled after them, climbing up a steep shelf.

"There!" Kagome cried in triumph, pointing to an old man on the other side, clothed in grey rags.

Aragorn's eyes narrowed. "What do you see?"

"It is but an old man," Gimli sputtered. "I would call a greeting in any other place, but cannot reason a grandfather so deep into this forest.

"Éomer warned against Saruman and his tricks," the Ranger hissed. "However, we cannot strike down an old man so-unawares and unchallenged-regardless of the threat we perceive."

Kagome laughed as the old man reached the bottom of the shelf and called up to them.

"Well met, my friends. Will you come down, or should I come up?"

"We've been a great deal further than you, you scoundrel," the miko called back. "Best you climb up and put the boys at ease."

Amusement radiated from the man as he climbed up the shelf as nimbly as a goat. A quick glint of white was for an instant revealed when he stepped onto the top.

"It is Saruman!" Gimli cried.

"Don't be stupid," Kagome admonished. "Don't you know him?"

The Elf focused. Gimli and Aragorn tensed, their grip on their weapons tightening. There was something familiar about the man that they couldn't grasp.

"We are tracking two of our friends," the Ranger gritted out.

"They passed this way the day before yesterday," the stranger nodded. "They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"

"Who are you?" Aragorn demanded. "Show yourself!"

A light blossomed around the man, revealing a white garbed Gandalf standing with one hand around his staff. His other was soon around a grinning Kagome as she hugged the wizard tightly.

"It cannot be," the Ranger mumbled.

"You worried me, you jerk," Kagome said, stepping away from her friend and toward the others. "I told you he would find his way back."

Legolas smiled before addressing Gandalf. "Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman."

Gandalf cocked his head to the side. "I am Saruman. Or, rather, Saruman as he should have been."

Aragorn shook his head, still wanting an explanation. "You fell," he prompted the wizard.

"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me," he whispered, his eyes going deep, "and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and every day was a long as a life age of Arda. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again." Looking to his friends, he smiled. "I've been sent back until my task is done."

The Ranger took two steps and clasped the wizard on the shoulder. "Gandalf."

The old man seemed confused for a moment. "Gandalf?" searching his thoughts, his face cleared and he looked back at Aragorn. "Yes, that was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey, that was my name."

Gimli grinned. "Gandalf."

Kagome arched a brow and petted a purring Kirara. "But 'Grey' no longer," she pointed out.

The wizard nodded. "I am Gandalf the White. And I came back to you now at the turn of the tide. One stage of your journey is over. Another begins."

The Company sat and told him all of the events that had occurred to them since his fall. He mulled over their words long, his eyes going deep with thoughts they couldn't hope to chase.

"Indeed, in imagining war, Sauron has let loose war, believing that he has no time to waste. He believes that the Ring is going to Minas Tirith, for that is what he would have done. It has not crossed his mind that we would seek to destroy the Ring, to our good fortune. The forces he has been preparing he is now having to set in motion, sooner than he intended. And, with Merry and Pippin evading Isengard forces, the Dark Lord is now aware that they were being brought to Saruman against his will. He now fears both Minas Tirith and Isengard, for a treacherous weapon is ever a danger to the hand."

Motioning to them to rise and follow, he began moving through the woods. "We must travel to Edoras with all speed." Stopping, he looked to the men as Kagome stood beside him. "I almost forgot. I have messages for you from Galadriel. To Aragorn I was bidden to say this:

'Where are the Dunedain, Elessar, Elessar?

Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar?

Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth,

And the Grey Company ride from the North.

But dark is the path appointed for thee:

The Dead watch the road that leads to the Sea.'

To Legolas she sent this word:

'Legolas Greenleaf prince of the wood

Thou path awaits, a choice for ill or good

If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore,

Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.

And alone willst thou sail

Unless the Watchful Star prevails.'

She told me this as I left her realm," Gandalf finished, shutting his eyes.

Gimli frowned, his shoulders drooping. "Then, she sent me no message?"

Kagome put her hand on his shoulder, even as her heart thumped painfully against her ribs. Legolas said that her messages had been foreboding, his head turned toward his friend and away from the miko.

"Would you have her speak openly to you of your death?" Legolas asked, his eyes dark with what he'd been told.

"Yes," grumped the Dwarf, "if she had nothing else to say."

Gandalf opened his eyes and peered at the Dwarf. "Pardon, Gimli, she did indeed send word to you. 'To Gimli son of Gloin,' she said, 'give his Lady's greeting. Lock-bearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!'"

Aragorn laughed heartily at Gimli's pleasure of the message.

"Come on! Since Gandalf's head is now sacred, let us find one that it is right to cleave!" the Dwarf proclaimed, moving the group forward.

Shaking off the message, Kagome moved beside Gandalf. "We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king."

Gandalf nodded. "Yes, and it will not be easily cured."

Gimli scowled, his mood dampening at the reminder. "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 trailed off as the trees began groaning again in warning.

Kagome stumbled at the rush of power they emitted, catching herself on Aragorn. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Gimli rushing to appease the forest.

"I mean charming," he insisted, "quite charming forest."

Sighing, she looked back at Gandalf, taking in the twinkle in his eyes. "It wasn't chance that brought Merry and Pippin here, was it?"

Gandalf smiled. "No. 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 snorted. "In one thing you have not changed, dear friend."

The wizard looked at him in question.

"You still speak in riddles."

Gandalf grinned and cast his gaze around him. "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?" Gimli arched a brow and then looked uneasily at the nearest tree. "Oh, that's good."

"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf," the bearded man admonished. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."

The group exited the forest and heard Gandalf give three musical whistles. Shadowfax, the lord of all horses answered the call, bringing with him Hasufel and Arod for Aragorn and Legolas. When the horses reached the travelers, Kagome smiled and mounted Kirara. Gandalf sat astride Shadowfax, with Gimli before him. Legolas whispered to Arod as Aragorn patted Hasufel. Nodding to the group, Gandalf set out at a swift pace toward the city of Edoras, home of Rohan's ruler, King Théoden.

Later, after the group had made camp and were bedding down to sleep, Kagome watched the stars appear. Aragorn was talking to Gandalf quietly and Gimli was snoring loud enough to wake the dead. Kirara growled softly and, having enough, nosed the Dwarf onto his side, silencing most of the noise. Smiling, the miko heard the cat's breaths even out in sleep. Rolling her head to the side, Kagome saw Legolas leaning against a log, absently running his hand over his bow. Rolling to her feet, she moved to sit beside him.

"Something's bothering you?" she said softly, suppressing a yawn.

The Elf hesitated, but then nodded. "The Lady of Light speaks dark words."

At the reminder, blue eyes sharpened and then turned away. The Elf watched her as she turned the words over in her mind. It was obvious the message had been to both of them.

Kagome blew out a sharp breath and drew up her knees. "They could mean many things."

He made a noise of agreement. "The answer is hidden from me."

"I haven't Seen you fall." She whispered as she watched the stars again to keep the tears at bay. "Others, but not you."

"Your friends," he asked.

She nodded. "I warned them, but we'll have to wait and see. Some things are inevitable, no matter how you try to prevent them."

Legolas studied her a moment before glancing at their companions. Seeing them otherwise occupied and paying no attention to him and Kagome, he asked her a question that had long been growing in his mind.

"You're not from any part of Arda, are you?" he asked quietly.

Kagome blinked and turned her blue eyes to meet his. "I'm impressed. You're the only person to have figured that out and call me on it." With a small smile, she shook her head. "But, to answer you, no, I'm not from Arda."

That explained so many things about her. Legolas wondered why no one else had ever entertained the idea. It was so obvious if one thought about it; especially the way she talked. His father had been close, and the Elf still wondered at the similarity between her power and the Maia's.

"What brought you here?"

With a sigh, the miko shifted to get more comfortable against the log. "It is a very, very long story."

Legolas took her small hand in his own and gave her a soft look. "I have time."

Swallowing, she gathered her thoughts and mellifluously began her tale for the second time in her life. Legolas sat with her through it all, squeezing her hand when emotion threatened to close her throat and stop her voice. It felt good to finally tell someone because she wanted to, not because they needed to know for her survival. It was almost freeing, because this had been her guarded secret for over a millennium.

"And so Midoriko sent me to Rivendell in Third Age 1300, where I met Elrond and Gandalf. I've been fighting against Sauron ever since," she finished, her head at some point having made its way to his shoulder.

Closing her eyes, she felt the emotion and the day's tolls on her. Green power had begun creeping up her arm from the hand that was nestled within the Elf's. It gave her a sense of comfort and home that she hadn't felt in a lifetime. His True Self wrapped around her protectively, making the seal against her own flex. Shifting, she forced her tears back and allowed Legolas to untangle their hands to wrap his arm around her.

"Sleep, Tirelen. I'll watch over you tonight," he whispered to her.

Kagome smiled and relaxed against him, enjoying the woodsy scent radiating from both his body and his powers enfolding her. Her heart, so heavy and tired after living for too long, lifted just a bit and that was enough to send her the rest of the way to sleep.

Legolas watched as the woman leaning against him succumbed to her exhaustion. She was beyond his expectations and so small to have gone through so much. What started out as friendship and a slight fascination had grown into something much more. He wasn't sure what to make of it, or her. Still, from the first brush of her aura against him so very long ago, he'd known that he was meant to find her. She made him feel young again, as if all of Arda brightened in her presence.

His thoughts were cut off when he noticed that her powers were wrapping warmly around his, offering protection even in her slumber. Chuckling softly, he brushed the hair away from her face and continued to run his fingers through the inky silk. He only hoped that Galadriel's words did not hold more than a warning.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Legolas held his light until the stars began to wink out and dawn began to cover the earth.