Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Kerrigan, Zagara, Dehaka, Stukov, Artanis, Karax, Talandar, and Alarak continued pursuing Merry and Pippin in Fangorn Forest. Stetmann took a sample of a black fluid that stained a leaf and checked, "Orc blood. It must have gone after Merry and Pippin before being killed."
"We're not alone in this forest," said Artanis.
"Merry and Pippin must have bumped into someone or something else," Alarak muttered.
"These are strange tracks," Aragorn spoke about large footprints.
"The air is so close in here," Gimli muttered.
"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory and anger," said Legolas.
"Did you hear that?" Zagara asked as there were groans causing Gimli to ready his axe.
"The trees are speaking to each other," the elf replied.
"That's weird," Kerrigan muttered.
"Gimli! Lower your axe," Aragorn said to the dwarf.
"They have feelings, my friends. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak," said Legolas.
"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings," Gimli muttered impatiently.
"This is indeed a fantasy world," Stukov muttered.
"Aragorn, something's out there," Legolas said in elvish.
"What do you see?"
"The White Wizard approaches," the elf spoke Common Tongue.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn readied to draw his sword. Legolas readied his bow and Gimli had a throwing axe. Jim and Swann turned off the safety of their guns. Artanis and Alarak activated their blades while Karax prepared his drones. "We must be quick."
The elf released an arrow and the dwarf hurled the axe at the luminous White Wizard, however he deflected the projectiles quickly.
The White Wizard pointed his staff at the guns seconds before Jim and Swann pulled the triggers. "Damn it!" Jim muttered as nothing came out when he pulled the trigger other than clacking sounds.
"The guns are jammed," said Swann as he could not fire a grenade from his gun.
Aragorn drew his sword but the White Wizard caused it to become blazing hot forcing the Dunedain to drop it. Zagara and Dehaka charged at the White Wizard; however he used his staff to create a force that swept the two like a broomstick. Kerrigan let out a psionic blast and Stukov hurled a corrosive bolt; however the White Wizard created a barrier to absorb the two projectiles.
The White Wizard pointed his staff at Artanis and Alarak causing their blades to disappear. "Our suits are malfunctioning," said the Hierarch.
"Can't move," said Talandar as the White Wizard pointed his staff at him.
"That White Wizard is quicker than I thought," Karax muttered as the drones malfunctioned.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," the White Wizard spoke and the light emitted was so bright that his identity was concealed.
"Where are they?!" Aragorn shouted.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"No more games! Show yourself!" Jim shouted.
"It cannot be," said Aragorn as a familiar face appeared.
"No way," Kerrigan muttered.
"Impossible," Artanis muttered.
"Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman," Legolas spoke in an apologetic tone as he and Gimli bowed.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been," said the White Wizard.
"Gandalf, how did you survive the Balrog? How come you're all white?" Jim asked as he recognized his old friend who now looked different from before.
"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 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 recalled.
"From Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White," Artanis muttered.
"Yes, you must have learned fast," Gandalf said to the hierarch before facing everyone. "And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide." He resumed leadership of the group, "One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli muttered impatiently.
"We had an unexpected run-in with a big battalion of Rohan riders. Their captain said that Saruman had corrupted the king and claimed lordship over that kingdom. This also caused those loyal men be banished," said Jim.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured," said Gandalf.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing. Are we to leave these poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested …" Gimli complained until angry groans cut him off. "I mean, charming, quite charming forest."
"Gimli, you should watch you say. You don't want to piss those trees off, do you?" Stetmann said to the dwarf.
"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. 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," Gandalf stated the fact.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend. You still speak in riddles," Aragorn. He and Gandalf laughed a bit.
"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," Gandalf stated another fact.
"Strong?! Oh, that's good," Gimli muttered.
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."
"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one."
"Um, guys. According to my research, the Ents are humanoid trees that live in these woods here," said Stetmann.
"Let's just hope the Ents will keep Merry and Pippin safe from the enemy," Jim muttered.
"Of course they will, no need to worry about them for now," said Gandalf.
The group got out of the forest and Gandalf whistled. "That is one of the Mearas unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas spoke as a white horse without a saddle and reins arrived.
"Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers," Gandalf recognized the horse and stroked it.
"I guess the rest of us are on foot from here," Jim muttered.
Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli rode on horses, but they had to adjust the speed so that Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Kerrigan, Zagara, Dehaka, Stukov, Artanis, Talandar, Karax, and Alarak could keep up with them.
At night, everyone had a resting point. Aragorn, Jim, Kerrigan, and Artanis joined Gandalf who was looking at the horizon. "The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dur, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reached him," said Gandalf before he turned to Aragorn. "The heir of Numenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become." The wizard turned to Jim, Kerrigan, and Artanis. "Amon had told Sauron about the Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss. Sauron fears all of you for what and who are you, Jim, Sarah, Artanis. He has anticipated your arrival and is getting reinforcements from Amon."
"We have been blind for all these years, fighting against each other," Artanis muttered.
"I've seen my true enemy. But never know that there is more," Kerrigan muttered.
Gandalf said to everyone, "Now they'll strike hard and fast at the world of Men. They will use their puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The king's mind is enslaved, it's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Theoden is now very strong. Sauron, Amon, and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning, we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest. Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone."
"He's not alone, Sam went with him," said Aragorn.
"Nothing can separate Frodo and Sam. Tosh and Vorazun went with them because they know about infiltration," Jim stated the fact.
"Yes, very good," said Gandalf.
Author's Note
The next chapter will be on Frodo's group.