AN Sorry sorry sorry! Please forgive me! Study is wrecking everything! I'll try my best to update more. Also WARNING – one slightly graphic description
Chapter 10
Emerging from the mists, Eragon got his first proper look at Isengard. The wall they had just walked through continued around in a giant ring, which Eragon guessed to be about a mile wide. On the inside edge of the ring were many buildings, most of which looked to be barracks. There were also store houses, armouries and what appeared to be some types of living quarters.
In the very centre of Isengard was a tower. A black tower that radiated power and seemed impregnable. Unlike the rest of Isengard, the stone tower didn't have a scratch on it.
The great plain within the walls was divided into quadrants and criss-crossed with roads, with many deep holes going down into the earth. Everything was in ruin though, as if some terrible fury of nature had come through, destroying everything it could and flooding everything that was left. Steam was rising from the shafts in the ground, obscuring the view and giving the area a mysterious feel.
Eragon spotted the group heading towards one of the store houses. He trotted to catch up, Saphira following at a slower pace, taking in everything around her.
Just as he reached them, he heard Gimli say loudly, "Well, well, well. We've been chasing you two rascals across half of Middle Earth, fighting orcs every step of the way! I have not rested my poor legs since we left Rivendell so long ago, and here we find you two," he struggled for a moment to find the right word, "ragamuffins, feasting and smoking from Saruman's personal stores! Explain yourselves!"
"We two hobbits," said a young voice, "were kidnapped from our friends and dragged by an orc pack across the land, until we escaped after nearly being killed in an ambush. Escaping into Fangorn we found some…unusual friends. They are the ones who have…redecorated Isengard, I suppose you could say. We are merely enjoying the spoils of war, dear Gimli. It seems that Saruman has a fancy for Longbottom Leaf, and there's enough for you all to fill your pouches!"
As he rounded the group, he saw who Gimli was talking to. They were the size of children, although they had particularly large and hairy feet. Of course, Eragon knew they were not children. They were hobbits, by the names of Pippin and Merry.
One of the hobbits – Eragon thought it was Pippin, from how Aragorn had described them – added, "The salted pork is particularly good!"
"Well," Gimli grumbled.
"Who are these friends of yours?" Legolas asked them. "I would very much like to know what creature has the power to destroy Isengard."
Merry laughed. "I think you will like our friends the most, Legolas. And we will meet them, soon in fact. Gandalf," Merry turned to talk to the old wizard, "Treebeard knew you were coming. He is on the other side of Isengard. He asked you to go to him when you arrived."
"Very well," Gandalf agreed, "but first you need to meet some of our friends. This is Eomer, captain of the Rohirrim. It was they who slayed the orc pack that captured you."
"My thanks to you," said Pippin, "I thought I would die there, and we almost did, but you saved us."
"Yes, yes," Gandalf said impatiently. "Now, this is King Theoden, the King of Rohan."
"I am glad to find you both unharmed," Theoden said, "I admit, I did not think we would find you so."
"And this is Eragon," Gandalf said quickly, before Pippin or Merry could reply. "He's not from Alagaesia, but he saved the people of Rohan from certain death. He did not come alone however, he has a companion."
Saphira?
He could tell from the expressions on the faces of the two hobbits in front of him that Saphira had just stepped out of the mists behind them.
From his right, he heard Gandalf laugh, clearly enjoying Saphira's dramatic entrance. Aragorn and Legolas were chuckling as well, while Gimli was smirking at the hobbits expense.
"Is that?..." Pippin squeaked, clearly terrified.
"Yes Peregrin Took. That is a dragon, and her name is Saphira."
Hello, little two-legs.
"Aghhh! Merry groaned, clutching his head. "What was that? What was that voice?"
Eragon decided to tell him himself. "That was Saphira. She is able to talk to you as easily as I am talking to you now, but only through her mind. She can hear you if you speak out loud, but she will reply in your head."
"Saphira is the reason we are still alive," Aragorn said to the hobbits. "She almost single-handedly killed 10,000 Uruk'hai. Even if we had survived without her being there, our dead would have been many more."
Merry stood up. "I am forever grateful to you, Saphira," he said, voice shaking slightly, "for saving my friends. I do not know what I would have done without them."
"Me too!" Pippin said quickly, hurriedly standing up to join Merry.
You are very welcome, little hobbits.
"Well, now that the greetings are over, it's time we met Treebeard. Merry, you come with me, Pippin go with Aragorn," said Gandalf. He rode up to the wall that the hobbits were sitting on and placed Merry in front of him, Aragorn doing the same with Pippin.
They turned around and started walking towards Orthanc, the black tower looming over them all.
They were within a stone's throw of tower when Pippin pointed and said, "There's Treebeard."
They looked in the direction he was pointing and Eragon gasped aloud, along with the entirety of the group except Gandalf.
Walking towards them was a thirty foot –
Tree? asked Saphira. Is that a tree?
I think so, Eragon said disbelievingly, not quite trusting his eyes. He laughed suddenly.
What is it?
Can you imagine Arya's face if she could see this? Or Oromis or Brom? The elves would never stop singing! He tried very hard to contain his mirth, but a few chuckles still escaped, earning him a sideways glance from Eomer.
As Treebeard approached, the group stopped, Saphira staying beside Eragon. When he spoke, it was the oldest voice Eragon had ever heard, layered with time, memory and pain.
"Gandalf," Treebeard said in his slow, creaking voice, "You have come."
"I have. I see you have taken ownership of Isengard."
"The Ents decided," he answered, in his ancient voice, "that Saruman was no longer fit to rule. He let evil come into his heart, and he cut down much of my forest," he ended, his voice raising, and Eragon could sense the underlying fury, and knew immediately how Isengard came to be in the state it was in.
"Where is Saruman, Treebeard?" Gandalf asked.
"The wizard is hiding like a rat in its hole, and he will not come out. We have tried to break the tower down, but we cannot make even a single scratch," he said angrily.
Treebeard looked around the rest of their group, and his eyes landed on Saphira. He trumpeted, "You bring a dragon to my forest! Wood and fire do not mix!"
More Ents came running to his call, standing behind him, ready to attack if need be.
"Treebeard! Treebeard!" Gandalf shouted. "Please, my friend, do not attack! This dragon is not like any dragons you have met before! She is not of Middle Earth, and she is as intelligent as you and I! She saved us from Saruman's army and she has no cause to harm you unless you attack her! Please, calm yourselves!"
They quieted, and Treebeard said, "I am trusting you Gandalf, but if that dragon breathes fire, I will do anything to protect my forest!"
Are you ok, Saphira?
I'm fine. They couldn't hurt me even if they wanted to. They are made of wood, and I am a dragon, she said, but Eragon could tell that she was on edge.
"Come," Gandalf said to them, "we must speak with Saruman."
He led them closer to Orthanc, until they were looking up at a balcony.
"Saruman!" Gandalf called up, "Stop hiding like a coward! Come out and speak!"
A white figure emerged from within the tower, a hunched, dirty figure at his side.
"So, it is true," a slithering voice said, "Gandalf the Grey is no more. You old fool, if you think to take my place, you are mistaken. I am Saruman the White, and none can match me!"
"You are more deluded than I thought," Gandalf said matter-of-factly. "None can match you, you say. What about your master? He who resides in Mordor? You think yourself more powerful than Sauron? Bah. You are nothing. Your army is destroyed, the Men of Rohan still live. Even nature has turned against you, Saruman. Isengard is a ruin."
Saruman's expression soured, and the man beside him came into the light.
"Gríma," Theoden called out, "Gríma, come down. Come back with us. You were a man of Rohan once, you can be again."
"A man of Rohan?" Saruman laughed. He backhanded Gríma across the face, knocking him to the floor. "He is no more than a dog." He spat on the man at his feet.
"You have no power here, old man. Your trees cannot harm Orthanc, and no man may breach its walls."
Now it was Gandalf's turn to laugh. "You are right, Saruman. Orthanc is a fortress no man may enter. But there are more than men with me."
Saphira, would you be so kind as to let our dear friend here know what a dragon is capable of? Gandalf asked.
Still hidden from Saruman's view by the mists, Saphira roared. It echoed around Isengard, coming back at them again and again, each wave amplifying the sound. Eragon glanced up at Saruman to see terror on his face, and then his face turned the same shade of white as his cloak, all the colour draining away when Saphira revealed herself, roaring once more for good measure.
Suddenly Saruman raised his staff and shouted something in a strange language, a bolt of dark energy streaking towards Saphira.
"SAPHIRA!" Eragon screamed, preparing to throw all his energy in front of her to stop the bolt. Before he could react however, it was caught on what appeared to be a white shield of energy, the bolt dissipating into nothingness, while the blinding whiteness slowly faded away to reveal Gandalf, sitting majestically upon Shadowfax, staff held aloft.
"Saruman, you have lost. Surrender yourself."
"Never," the wizard spat.
"In that case, you have left me no choice. Saruman, your staff is broken." It crumbled to dust in his hands. "I Gandalf the White, strip you of your powers. You can no longer call yourself wizard, now leave Orthanc and be gone."
"You have no control over me!" Saruman screamed maniacally. Suddenly, he started choking, clutching at his chest. When he moved his hands they could see a blood-stained knife emerge from between his ribs. It slid out and Gríma appeared , raising the knife above his head, ready to plunge it into Saruman's body once more. Just as the knife started to descend, Gríma jolted, an arrow embedded in his neck. He collapsed, disappearing from view.
Looking left, Eragon saw Legolas with his bow out, nocking another arrow.
Returning his attention to the drama above, Eragon watched, as if time had slowed down, as Saruman swayed to one side, then the other, before slowly tipping forward and falling face-first off the balcony.
They all watched, silently, as the body fell, turning over and over until its descent ended sickeningly, spearing itself upon broken wheel spoke.
There was silence among the group for several moments. Something fell out of Saruman's pocket into the water, and Pippin jumped off Aragorn's horse, quickly picking up. To Eragon it just seemed like a glass ball, but Pippin was entranced, staring into into.
"I'll take that, my lad," Gandalf said, holding out his hand.
Pippin seemed reluctant to hand it over, keeping it for a few more moments, before gently placing it into Gandalf's outstretched palm.
Gandalf quickly covered the sphere with his cloak, hiding it from view.
"Now what?" Gimli asked.
"Now, Master Dwarf, we leave," replied Gandalf.
"We leave?" Eragon wondered. "You don't want to go in?"
"Unfortunately Eragon, Saruman was telling the truth. The door to Orthanc is barred, and we have no way of entering."
"Except by dragon," Eragon said, grinning. "Saphira can fly us up to the balcony and we can get in that way."
"Would you allow us?"
Of course. You are friends.
"I think I will stay down here," Gimli said, "dwarves are meant to keep their two feet on the ground."
"So are hobbits," Merry added.
"I too will remain here," Theoden said, "flying is not for old kings."
"I shall keep you company," Eomer told him.
It took Saphira two trips to bring the four of them up. First she took Gandalf and Legolas, then Eragon and Aragorn.
Eragon leaped from Saphira's back onto the balcony, Aragorn following him.
Straightening up, Eragon looked down to see Gríma lying in a pool of his own blood, the arrow shaft glistening red. He turned his gaze to the darkened doorway, seeing Gandalf and Legolas examining the room ahead.
"There are some books I would like to find, tomes on the history of Middle Earth and ancient lore. Come, there is nothing of value in here."
Gandalf led them to a central, spiralling staircase and brought them up several levels, until they reached a closed door. Opening it revealed an old, musty library. While Gandalf searched the shelves, Aragorn, Legolas and Eragon stayed by the doorway. Every few minutes Gandalf would return to them and give each of them a book to hold. When he was finally finished, the three of them had five or six big, heavy books each, while Gandalf's arms were empty.
"That is it. Everything else in this tower is tainted with evil. Now come, quickly, we must return to the others."
Three of them shared an amused look as the old wizard led them down the stairs. Eragon expected Gandalf to lead them to the balcony once more, but instead he continued down the stairs until they reached the very bottom.
Seeing Eragon's confused expression, he said, "The front door can only be opened from the inside, and now that we are inside, I feel that it is certainly safer to leave this way than by jumping on to the back of a dragon."
Reaching the solid stone door, Gandalf wordlessly tapped it twice with his staff, and it swung inward without a sound, light streaming into the dark tunnel.
The four stepped out into the misty light, walking over to their surprised companions.
"I see you could not pass up a chance of more knowledge," Theoden said knowingly to Gandalf.
"You are right, but I did not them of how to carry them with me," Gandalf said ruefully.
I can take them, if you wish, Saphira said to him. There is plenty of room in the saddle-bags.
So it was that Eragon soon had all of the books carefully stored away. As they mounted their horses to leave, Gandalf said, "What will you do now, Treebeard?"
"The Ents will return this valley to the way it once was," he said slowly. "Isengard will be no more, except for Saruman's tower. We cannot break it."
Eragon carefully probed the tower with his mind, trying to see what made it so strong. To his surprise and shock, he found it was held together with an unbelievable amount of energy. The men of old who had built the tower must have been strong magic users, he realised.
"Treebeard," he said. Treebeard looked at him, as did the rest of the group. "This tower is unbreakable, because it is strengthened and protected with magic, but I can remove it if you wish."
Treebeard stared intently at him for several minutes, and Eragon stared right back. Finally, he simply said, "Yes."
"I don't know what will happen when I remove the energy. The tower may stay standing, or it could collapse. We should move back just to be safe."
They retreated until they would be in no danger, and then Eragon began.
He joined his mind with Saphira's, and together they stripped the tower of its protection.
It seemed as if each stone was imbued with energy, as well as the mortar between them, and the whole tower had a protective layer over it, as if it had been painted on.
This is what Saphira and Eragon worked on first. They slowly but surely removed the protection, channelling the energy into the gems Eragon had gathered from Helm's Deep. After half an hour, the last bit of the protective layer was removed, and it seemed as if a ripple passed over the tower's surface.
"Is it done?" Legolas asked.
"Not quite yet," Eragon replied.
Together he and Saphira reached out once more, and as soon as their minds accessed the unprotected energy, it raced through them and into the gem, saturating it and filling the sapphire in Brisingr's pommel as well. The pair felt energised, as if they had slept for days.
"Now it is done," Eragon said.
Beside him Treebeard bellowed, and it sounded as if nature itself roaring. He picked up a boulder and flung it at Orthanc as a man would throw a pebble. It sailed through the air before crashing into the top of the tower, turning it into rubble.
He bellowed again, and the rest of the Ents joined him, the sound shaking Eragon's bones. The ancient trees loped towards the tower – which by now was starting to crumble.
The group turned their horses around and walked the half mile towards the gates, listening to the sounds of destruction behind them. Before they passed through the broken outer wall of Isengard, they stopped to check what remained of Orthanc.
It was gone. The Ents had avenged their forest.
They turned back around and continued on, setting their course for Edoras.
The reign of Saruman was over.
AN Hope you liked it. Again, really sorry for the lack of updates but on the bright side, Game of Thrones is tonight! Please leave some feedback! Nym x