Disclaimer in chapter 1
Chapter 12: Isengard
I rode silently next to Aragorn, my borrowed horse walking under the tree branches of the dark forest of Fangorn. "The trees are angry at Saruman, they trusted him and he let them down; cutting down their people." I whisper listening to the talk of the trees. "I'm afraid they will attack anything in sight." He nodded in understanding.
Aye, but there is no cause for fear. I believe we are well protected." He replied softly. I sighed and looked back at my brother and his Dwarfish friend, giving them both a small smile before turning back ahead and thinking of the dreams I've been having since reunited with Aragorn.
As we began to make our way out of the forest, familiar voices met my ears. Pippin and Merry? What on Arda where they doing here? Aragorn and Legolas had yet to tell me about the Fellowship's adventure so maybe that explained why I didn't know.
"Welcome, my Lords, to Isengard!" Merry said happily and I arched an eyebrow and cleared my throat, making my presence known. Pippin nudged Merry in the ribs, almost making him fall of the wall. "I think you forgot the lady."
"Ah, forgive me. And welcome as well, Princess Aranel of the Mirkwood realm." Merry welcomed -exaggerating just a bit- as I rolled my eyes.
"You young rascals!" Gimli exclaimed and I looked to the dwarf. "A merry hunt you've lead us on, and now we find you feasting and . . . and smoking!" They smirked, and smoked their pipe.
"We are sitting on the field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts," Pippin said and Merry blew out a huff of smoke in agreement. "The salted pork is particularly good." I heard Gimli lick his lips and she smiled. I groaned mentally when I realized I was really growing to like this dwarf.
"Salted pork?" Gimli stuttered. "Hobbits," I heard Gandalf utter.
"We're under orders! From Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard," Merry said as he pointed to the flooded area before them. Soon Merry was riding behind Éomer, the nephew of King Theoden who was beside Gandalf before they attacked the Uruk-hai. Pippin rode behind Aragorn.
Then a moving tree walked up to us. An Ent. "Treebeard!" I whisper shocked.
"Young master, Gandalf. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there's a wizard to manage here; locked in his tower," Treebeard said.
"Show yourself," Aragorn whispered and Ana's eyes scanned the high tower and the various windows that dotted it, looking for a glimpse of Saruman. "Be careful," Gandalf warned. "Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous."
"Well, let's just have his head and be done with it," Gimli said in his gruff voice. "No. We need him alive. We need him to talk," Gandalf said and I nodded.
"Hopefully he has something to share worth our time wasted here." I muttered and Aragorn glanced at me then back at the tower.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King, and made peace afterwards," a new voice said, one that was almost distant but very near at the same time. I looked to the tallest tower to see an old man in white robes, just as Gandalf wore. The only difference in attire was that Saruman had a black staff instead of white. "Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?" he asked.
"We shall have peace," Theoden said as he looked down and then his eyes slowly moved up to where the man stood. Aragorn and I looked over to the king to see what he had to say. "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 soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg are avenged!" I bowed my head, remembering the Elven friends I had that died there along with Theoden's men. "When you have from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace." I and the others looked back at the wizard to see what he had to say.
"Gibbets and crows?" Saruman asked anger clear in his voice. "Dotard!" he snapped. "What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad-dur itself, along with crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!"
"Your treachery has already costs many lives. Thousands more are now at risk," Gandalf said. "But you could save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel."
"So you have come here for information," Saruman said smugly. "I have some for you." He reached into his cloak and pulled out a globe that seemed to have a fire burning on the inside of it. Gandalf frowned.
"Princess Aranel, how nice to see you." The cruel wizard turned to me. Legolas and Aragorn nudged their horses to stand beside mine. "You have been wondering about your dreams, have you not?" he asked as my eyes narrowed.
"How do you know about that?" "Ah, so Gandalf never told you about the dark lord did he, why you couldn't go on your quest with the Fellowship. Sauron is after you." My eyes widened and Aragorn took a sharp intake of breath.
"Why?" I ask, not trusting myself to say more. "You have a great power that could be used to win the war, for good or for bad. And for more personal reasons. I believe you know what I mean."
My eyes widened horrified when part of the dream came back to me. "My lovely wife, you shall be forever mine. Now that the people who used you are dead." A man said but I couldn't see his face. I watched Aragorn die in front of my eyes emotionless.
"His wife..." My voice trailed off scared as Saruman smirked. "Yes. But do not worry. You only come second to the Ring, once he finds it you and him will rule all of Middle-earth." I turned away and buried my head in the crook of Aragorn's neck, trembling as he held me but staying strong enough not to cry.
"Something festers in the heart of Middle-earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. He will find her, Gandalf. You're all going to die." Saruman smiled evilly as Gandalf rode his horse forward.
"But you know this, don't you, Gandalf?" Saruman asked. "You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor." I heard Aragorn's breath become heavier and feel the anger radiate off of him. I lifted my head and grabbed his hand, trailing my fingers over it in soothing motions, trying to calm him.
"This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those 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?" Gandalf lowered his head. It was obvious Saruman was using words to fight, and was winning. "The path that you have set him on can only lead to death."
"I've heard enough!" Gimli exclaimed, his own thoughts consumed for worry of his two other hobbit friends. "Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob," Gimli said to Legolas. Legolas reached for his bow and an arrow. "No," Gandalf said firmly. "Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."
"Save your pity and your mercy," Saruman hissed. "I have no use for it!" he exclaimed before he lifted his staff and shot a beam of fire down upon Gandalf. I gasped and shielded my face from the heat of the flames as my horse backed up a few steps.
As the heat dissipated no one was more surprised to see Gandalf alive and well then Saruman. "Saruman," Gandalf said firmly, "your staff is broken." Suddenly, Saruman's staff lit up and shattered in his hand; the pieces falling down and down until they fell in the water and sunk to the bottom. Another man suddenly appeared behind Saruman, a man I did not recognize, but didn't really care who he was.
"Grima," Theoden said and Ana looked to the King, "you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come down."
"A Man of Rohan?" Saruman asked. "What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Theoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires." Saruman said.
"Grima," Theoden said once more, "come down. Be free of him." "Free? He will never be free," Saruman said. Grima shook his head. "No," Grima said. Saruman turned to him and glared.
"Get down, cur!" he exclaimed before he hit Grima hard and the man fell to the floor. "Saruman!" Gandalf exclaimed and Saruman looked back to him. "You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf exclaimed.
"You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided," Saruman said. "I will not be held prisoner here." I watched shocked as Grima rushed up to Saruman and stabbed him in the back twice.
Legolas fired an arrow, shooting Grima. The man fell to the floor of the tower with a cry of pain. Saruman gasped and fell from the tower his body spinning as it fell only to be speared by steak on a wheel. I looked on with disgust and tried to cover Merry and Pippin's eyes as the wheel turned and lowered a now dead Saruman into the water head-first.
"Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle-earth that still stands free. The enemy is moving against us. We need to know where he will strike."
I released the Hobbits' eyes when Saruman was completely submerged.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away," Treebeard said. "Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees." "Pippin!" Aragorn called when Pippin got off the horse and wadded towards something in the water. It was the black globe Saruman had.
"Bless my bark!" Treebeard said slowly as Gandalf got behind Pippin. "Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad." Gandalf said, holding his hand out for the object. "Quickly now," he said as Pippin hesitantly handed it over. Then Gandalf quickly covered it with some of his robes. Aragorn picked Pippin back up and placed the hobbit behind him before we set off for Rohan.
A/N: Well this is chapter 12. At least we're over half-way done. I think there will be at least 20 chapters total. Now the chapters will be coming further apart because school is starting for me so you'll have to be patient, ok? Good. Please review!