Brother's Keeper
Part 15

Disclaimer: The plotbunny is mine. Mine, I say! BACK! Get your own!!! Everthing else is owned by...not me.

I hate horses. I didn't before today, never really thought about them before, but I hate horses...now and forever.

The object of my ire bucked lightly, and my thoughts were obscured by hot pain.

"Stop digging in your heels, Master Todd," commanded Eomer. Eomer didn't seem to like babysitting me on his horse.

I sure as hell didn't like going for a ride when I should have been back at Helm's Deep with the other wounded. Yet, here I was...sitting behind a guy wearing ridiculous amounts of metal, clutching on for dear life lest I should fall off, and really hating the damn horse who preferred trotting, bouncing, and bucking to a simple walk.

"Your horse needs to stop trying to throw me off, then I'll stop needing to dig in my heels."

He sighed angrily. "Why are you here, Master Todd? Should you not have remained at the Keep, or been taken to Edoras for healing?"

I snorted. "Good question...Ask the dead guy." I moved my head vaguely in the direction of Gandalf.

The last time I had seen the old man, he was a dingy grey speck falling to his death with a living bonfire for company. Yesterday morning he shows up with Eomer, the cavalry, and newly washed robes.

"Is that Gandalf's brother?" I had asked Haldir at the time, more than a little confused.

He had smiled. "That is Gandalf, my friend. Even a balrog could not so easily kill one of the Istari."

"One of the who?"

"The Istari... 'Wizards' in the common tongue, though it is an overly simple term for their true nature."

I had left it at that because I was fairly certain a full explanation would fry my brain. Legs had mentioned Istari before. They had something to do with Valar/Maiar/Manwë /Manwich. Ah hell, it all sounded alike to me. My "simple" explanation for Gandalf: he's an immortal wizard with a lot of bleach stashed somewhere.

Back in the present, Eomer and his horse still didn't like me. "Was he truly dead?"

"How the hell should I know?" I griped. "Last I saw, he was falling down a bottomless pit, and now he's Mr. ShinySparkles with the cavalry in tow and making me ride with you for God-only-knows-what reason to an orc tank!"

I could practically hear Eomer rolling his eyes. "Orthanc," he corrected. "The Tower of Orthanc."

"Whatever," I mumbled, thinking about my injuries. My knee had been twisted in the fall, and the rest of my body was one giant bruise. I wasn't a medic, but long trips on horseback couldn't be good. "Are we there yet?"

I knew I sounded like a whiny brat, but I was injured, tired, and cranky. No reason I should suffer alone.

"How fare you, Todd?" Legolas rode up with Gimli clutching to his back like a life preserver.

I glared at him. "Peachy."

"Worry not, friend Todd. Gandalf will have good reason for you coming with us."

I grunted. "Well, if he doesn't, we'll find out how skillfully he can wield that staff after it's been shoved up his ass."

"Todd!" Legs was incensed at my threat. "Gandalf is worthy of great respect, and he would not have you in pain needlessly. I assure you, if you should try such an act upon him, I will be the first to stop you."

"I assure you, Legs, if I'm actually well enough to try such an act upon him, I've probably gotten over this foul mood and don't want to try it anymore." The horse bucked lightly again. "GODDAMMIT!!! Let me off! I'll walk the rest of the way!"

"Can you walk, Master Todd?" asked Eomer.

"I don't care...walk, limp, crawl, whatever. At least I won't be blaming your horse, will I?"

He raised an eyebrow, and he and Legolas helped me down. Gimli also took his chance for escape and got off of Legolas's horse.

"Be wary of the trees, Master Todd," Gimli said. "They've a mind of their own, and 'tisn't friendly to the likes of us."

"Man-eating trees...right, got it," I said as I sat on a large root. I patted it like a faithful old hound. "Good tree...niiiiiiiiiice tree."

We had been traveling through this forest since we left the fort. I didn't remember it being there when I arrived, but then I'd been on Haldir's death march, and I didn't remember much except being exhausted. Eomer had said that these trees had attacked and killed the last of the Uruks as they retreated. I smiled, So technically, they're Uruk-eating trees.

I shook my head. Damn, I'm getting punchy now.

"I would not rest there, Master Todd," said Aragorn. He eyed the tree warily. "We must press on."

"Nope." I leaned back and tried getting comfortable on the tree.

"'Nope'?"

"That's right, nope."

"And what is 'nope'?"

I laughed quietly. "It means that 'we' must do absolutely nothing, because 'we' should have been left behind instead of being dragged off to some old tower that 'we' don't give a shit about in the first place and 'we' are just a little fed up with being told where to go and what to do so 'we' are staying right here for a little recuperation and 'we' can be picked up on the way back to Edoras , thank you!" I snuggled against the tree and closed my eyes to nap.

"Master Blackburn."

Oh, crap.

I opened one eye. The end of Gandalf's staff was directly in front of it.

"You will accompany us to Orthanc even if I must mount you atop my staff and carry you as my personal banner. Should you prefer to ride on horseback, I will be most understanding."

Every word was calm and precise, and I knew that as much as my earlier threat was flippant, this threat was absolutely sincere. I looked at Legolas. His smirk said it all, Told you so.

"It's alright, lad." Gimli patted my uninjured knee. "What say ye to a trade?"

"Trade?"

"Aye." He hooked a thumb at Legolas. "You ride with the pointy; I'll ride with the Man."

I sighed. "Deal."

After a bit of help, both Gimli and I were with our new riding partners. Gimli didn't look any better off with Eomer, but I felt better with Legolas. He wasn't wearing armor, so I didn't have to worry about getting pinched or poked by metal plates. The arrows were a bit of a pain, but the horse knew how to walk without jarring me. Overall, the remainder of the trip was...well, it was still unpleasant, but not as unpleasant as it could have been.

When we did arrive, I was once again ready to bail and let them pick me up on the way back. Then I heard a cheery voice:

"Welcome, my lords! To Isengard!"

I looked up and Merry and Pippin were sitting on a ruined wall, smoking their pipes and stuffing their faces.

Gimli sputtered indignantly. "You young rascals! A merry hunt ye've led us on, and now we find you feasting and - and smoking!"

Pippin only grinned around his sandwich. "We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts."

Gimli glowered.

"The salted pork is particularly good," Pippin continued.

Gimli perked up hopefully. "Salted pork?"

Legs and I shook our heads, bemused at the exchange. Aragorn offered a chuckle. Gandalf simply muttered "hobbits".

Merry piped in, "We're under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard."

I laughed. "Orders to do what exactly?"

The two perked up at me, and their smiles widened.

"Mister Todd!" shouted Merry. "'Tis fine to see you again."

"Aye, that it is," agreed Pippin. "And so much easier to tell you from your brother now."

They both laughed. Legs and I looked at each other. He glanced at my chin and arched an eyebrow. I ran my hand over my face and realized I hadn't had a shave since I left Lothlórien over two weeks ago.

I shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a Ranger, not an elf."

They beamed and laughed...until I asked the question.

"Are Frodo, Sam, and Boromir out patrolling the perimeter?"

I had thought it to be a simple joke, but all merriment suddenly stopped. A tension rose in the air as people exchanged glances.

Gandalf turned around to address me. "My apologies, Master Todd. We forget that you have not traveled with us." He bowed his head in remorse. "Frodo and Sam have struck out on their own. They remain part of the quest, but it takes them on a path we cannot follow. Boromir...has fallen. He died protecting our two small friends here from a band of Uruk-hai."

"Oh..." I looked at Gandalf hopefully. "Will he come back too?"

He smiled at me sorrowfully. "Todd, there is no coming back for Boromir...but weep not, for his death was not in vain."

I nodded understanding. He had saved Merry and Pippin. It was a hero's death.

The hobbits climbed on horseback with Aragorn and a Rohan soldier, and we continued to the black tower ahead of us. The horses trudged through murky water that had bits of machinery poking through the surface.

I closed my eyes against the pain as Legolas's horse danced around something-or-other sticking out of the water. When the horse seemed settled, I sighed and drooped my forehead onto Legs's quiver.

"HROOOM! Young Master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come!"

My eyes shot open at the booming voice directly in front of us. Standing in front of us, wading in the water, was a large tree. It had eyes, a face, a beard of twiggy vines, and was currently conversing with Gandalf. Despite the sheer volume of the tree's voice, I barely heard it as I glanced around and saw other trees milling about in the water or on the far edges of the wall.

"Man-eating trees?" I squeaked fearfully in Legolas's ear.

He chuckled. "Nay, Todd. These are not trees at all. They are Tree Shepherds - Ents."

I wasn't totally convinced...It fucking looked like a walking talking tree...but Aragorn intruded into my thoughts when he shouted up at the tower.

"Show yourself!"

"Be careful," Gandalf admonished. "Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous."

"Then let's just have his head and be done with it," Gimli gruffed.

"No, we need him alive," said Gandalf, scrutinizing the tower's pinnacle. "We need him to talk."

I was still quietly freaking about the trees, so when I felt a tickle near my ear, I nearly jumped off of the horse.

"Todd?" Legolas queried.

I figured it was just a bug, and tried to force myself to relax. I shook my head at Legs and tried to give him a reassuring grin. "Just jumpy," I whispered.

"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden-king, and made peace afterwards."

The voice that said those words was impossibly loud, especially since they seemed to have been said from atop the tower. I looked up and strained to see a white figure standing there. As loud as he was, he spoke as though he was standing next to us rather than shouting from a mile above us.

My ear tickled again.

"Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend?" he asked plaintively. "Can we not have peace, you and I?"

"We shall have peace..." Theoden said softly. He looked up, and anger burned in his eyes. "We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were 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!"

The tickle in my ear became an itch. I reached up to scratch it, and shook my head to combat a sudden dizziness.

The voice on the tower, once pleading and almost sad, came back to Theoden with coarse hatred. "Gibbets and crows?! Dotard!"

The voice shifted to open mockery next. "What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me guess... the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad Dûr itself? Along with the crowns of the seven Kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!"

Gandalf didn't rise to the bait. He replied calmly, "Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk." He became hopeful. "But you could save them, Saruman. You were deep in the Enemy's counsel."

"So you have come here for information...I have some for you." Saruman held up a bowling ball.

The itch in my ear suddenly stopped when I saw the bowling ball. I couldn't help chuckling a bit.

"Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth. Something that you have failed to see," Saruman said haughtily. "But the Great Eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon."

I snickered in Legolas ear. "What? He knows the secret to knocking down a 7-10 split?"

Legolas frowned in confusion.

"It's a freakin' bowling ball, Legs. What's he gonna do...arrange us in a triangular pattern and try to knock us all down on the first try?"

"I don't know what you think that is, Todd, but it is not a game."

Saruman called down to us, "You are all going to die!"

"Of laughter," I whispered. "People actually think this nutcase is a threat?"

"But you know that, don't you, Gandalf?" Saruman continued. "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."

Aragorn set his jaw, but kept his mouth shut. In hindsight, I wish I had done the same, but Aragorn was my friend, and that shitsack had not only insulted him, but also insulted the Rangers. True, they weren't Army Rangers, but a knee-jerk reaction had me shouting up to Saruman:

"RANGERS LEAD THE WAY, YOU GUTLESS ASS-STAIN!"

Saruman focused on me. The itch came back with a vengeance, and it felt like my skull was resonating with the sound of his voice. "And who is this? Some foreign excuse for a soldier?"

My vision blurred as I felt a pang in my chest. I may be foreign, but I'm a damn good soldier...So what if I'm a rookie...I fell out of a chopper, just fucking FELL!...I'm as green as it gets...What the fuck?...

"Why defend that uncouth pretender?" he challenged. "After all, is it not his intervention that pulled you into this war? You should be making your way home, not meddling in the affairs of others."

"Yeah..." I said numbly. "...home..." He's right. I wouldn't be fighting here if it weren't for Aragorn and his pals...not much of a soldier to begin with...none of my business anyway, right?...I need to get home...I'm gonna be in such deep shit for being AWOL...home...

"TODD!"

My skull stopped vibrating, my vision cleared, and Legolas was looking down at me from his horse. Wait...what?...looking down?

I looked down too, and somewhere during Saruman's speech, I had slid off of the horse and was currently knee-deep in the water. Legolas had a deathgrip around my bicep.

"Uh...what?"

"Do not listen to him, Todd," Legolas hissed at me. "His very voice will cast you under his spell. He would send you to your death!"

Saruman buzzed in my ear again, "You are nothing to these people. They would sacrifice you at the first opportunity. If I judge by your injuries, they have already tried."

"No...Legs wouldn't..." I had no idea confusion could be physically painful, and it hurt like a bitch. I clutched my head. "Shut up! Just shut up!! Get out of my fucking head! LEGOLAS!"

Legolas stood in the water next to me. He forced me to look at him, and started talking. I guess it was elvish language 'cause I didn't understand a word of it, but it was smooth and lyrical and drowned out the buzzing in my skull.

Saruman was undaunted by the interruption. "Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are 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."

Gimli was as sick of him as I was. "I've heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!"

I pulled my pistol and fired. Only then did I remember I was out of bullets. The gun clicked harmlessly in my hand. "Shit!" I hissed.

Legolas reached for an arrow, but Gandalf gave us warning looks. "No! Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."

Saruman sneered at the offer. "Save your pity and your mercy! I have no use for it!"

A ball of fire shot down from the tower and engulfed Gandalf. He and his horse were barely a shadow inside the writhing flames.

But just as suddenly as it had happened, the fire snuffed itself out, and Gandalf and the horse didn't have so much as a smudge of soot to show for it.

"Saruman," Gandalf said gravely. "Your staff is broken!" The staff in Saruman's hand shattered and burned, the ashes of it floating away in the wind.

I was more concerned with sudden empty feeling in my head, and a strange longing for the buzzing to come back. One hand clutching Legolas, the other the horse's mane, I suddenly felt absolutely lonely, and wanted nothing else but to hear Saruman's voice again.

"All is well, Todd," Legolas soothed. "'Tis the aftereffects of his spell. You will feel yourself in a moment."

I nodded. His presence eased the lonely ache.

I turned back to the group when I heard Theoden shouting up again. Some miserable fellow was skulking behind Saruman.

"Grima! Come down...be free of him," Theoden urged.

Grima bowed to Theoden and moved away from Saruman.

"Free?" Saruman mocked. "He will never be free!"

Grima gave an anguished cry as Saruman slapped him to the ground.

"Saruman!" Gandalf pressed. "You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!"

"You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!"

In a blur, Grima came up, stabbing Saruman in the back. He fell, whirling like an acrobat, before falling onto a giant wheel. The impact shifted the wheel and it turned, burying Saruman in the filthy water.

I laughed humorlessly, "Go, Grimy."

Legolas only gave me a quizzical glance. Pippin dashed into the water to pick up Saruman's bowling ball.

"Peregrin Took," Gandalf caught his attention. "I'll take that, my lad."

Pippin paused a moment.

"Quickly now!"

Pippin handed over the ball, and Gandalf wrapped it in his cloak.

The talking tree came forward. "The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees..."

The tree went on a bit. Gandalf, Aragorn, Eomer, and Theoden were talking battle strategy.

I was the first to spot our visitor. "That was quick," I muttered, looking up at the top of the tower then down where Grima was standing at the entrance.

The others followed my gaze. Theoden rode up to the tower's steps. "Have you a horse, Grima?"

Grima stepped out of the entrance, glancing nervously at everyone. "N-Nay, your majesty. It was drowned."

"Pity," Eomer growled at him. "Then 'twould seem you have a long walk ahead of you." He turned his horse sharply, nearly unseating Gimli, and started off.

Grima gave a decent kicked-puppy impression and simply nodded. He began to trudge through the water in his heavy robes.

Legolas helped me remount his horse, then hopped on in front of me. Something made me think it would be unwise to point out that Gandalf didn't have anyone riding with him. For Grima's sake, we walked the horses slowly, but it was still rough on him.

"Yo, Grims," I called to him.

He looked up at me questioning but wary.

"It'd probably be easier if you lost the embroidery."

Outrage flashed in his eyes for the barest of moments, then he simply seemed resigned as he took off the heavy layers of cloth, letting them drop into the water. In nothing but a tunic and breeches, he trudged towards Theoden.

Eomer eyed him closely.

Not daring to look the king in the face, Grima took a pendant from around his neck and offered it to Theoden.

Theoden nodded civilly and pocketed the proffered jewelry.

Grima slunk away from him again, avoiding Eomer's hostile gaze.

Something also made me think there was a story to be told about those two, but I didn't wonder too much about it...Legolas's horse decided to dance again, and I tried to bite back the groan of pain.

I hate horses.

Notes: BK lives!!! Seriously, it's been a year and a half since the last chapter. I shall blame plotbunnies, crackbunnies, work, cats, and my own laziness. That aside, I think it took so long mostly because I hated writing this chapter. It was going fairly well until they got to Orthanc, then...bleh. I wasn't writing my story anymore. I was writing around the existing script. Hate it, hate it, HATE IT! At least I got the story to where I wanted. Next chapter, kegger at Edoras!...eventually.

Given my current interest levels in certain fandoms, I'll say that if you're itching for more Todd & Co, you're in for another long wait. Other plotbunnies are running rampant in my head.

Here there be ranting: Reviews are always appreciated. I treasure each and every one, be they signed or anonymous, from the review button or an email server. They are as precious as Silmarils and often get me revved to write more, be it for this story or another one. However, a "review" consisting of a one-word demand is not a review at all. That's someone who thinks I write to cater to him/her, or to garner that most precious feedback. FYI, I don't. I write because it's what I want to write. My knee-jerk reaction to seeing that was "Well, sucks to be you." It's my stubborn nature. If you ask me nicely, I'll bend over backwards to please. Demand the tiniest thing, and the best you can hope for is a glare in your general direction. Sorry...but I think there's a great deal of difference between "Please update" and just "Update". Amazing how one word makes a change in perception, ain't it?

Or maybe it's the PMS...meh.