Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin befriended an ent called Treebeard. He took the hobbits to the ent moot where the other ents gathered to discuss whether they would go to war or not. To Merry's disappointment, the ents refused and Treebeard to take the hobbits home. Pippin talked Treebeard to go south to Isengard so that he could witness the deforestation Saruman caused. As a result, the ents with the hobbits participating laid siege on Isengard and destroyed the dam flooding the place killing all the orcs. Afterwards, the hobbits took out whatever they could find in the storeroom.
Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Theoden, Eomer, another captain of Rohan, Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Kerrigan, Dehaka, Stukov, Zagara, Artanis, Alarak, Karax, and Talandar traveled through the forest to Isengard.
"Hierarch, there are a two hostiles left in Isengard," Rohana informed Artanis.
"How come?"
"During the battle of Helm's Deep, Isengard was under siege."
"I wonder who would dare to attack Isengard."
"My queen, you will not find a lot of enemies in Isengard," Iszha informed Kerrigan.
"I don't think Saruman would have that place unguarded."
"After he sent his army of 100,000 against you and your allies; Isengard was attacked unexpectedly."
"We'll find out who."
The leaders were nearing the wall and found two hobbits near the gap in the wall. There were food, mugs, and crate near the two. "Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!" said Merry holding a pipe.
"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and smoking!" Gimli spoke in an angry tone.
"We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good," said Pippin holding his pipe.
"Salted pork?" said the dwarf.
"Hobbits," Gandalf muttered with disbelief.
"I'm glad you two are safe. It's looks like you have found something to make you think of home," said Jim.
"Don't you two think it is too early to celebrate?" asked Artanis.
"Of course not, we're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard," Merry replied.
"I take it you two have a new friend," Kerrigan commented and Merry nodded.
They entered Isengard that was recently flooded and overrun by creatures that the Terrans and aliens had never seen before. "What are they?" Karax asked.
"Walking trees, this is getting interesting," said Swann.
"They are called Ents, those are the humanoid trees," Stetmann stated the fact.
"I'm glad that the Ents are on our side. It's too bad that we could not see what they're capable of," said Jim.
"The wizard who just sent an army against us is caught off guard," said Alarak.
"That's really nice of the ents to lay siege on Isengard. That would save us the trouble," said Kerrigan.
"Young Master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there is a wizard to manage here, locked in his tower," a bearded ent that the leaders guessed as Treebeard informed.
"Show yourself," Aragorn muttered.
"It pains me to see Saruman again after 60 years," Jim muttered.
"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous," Gandalf warned.
"Tell me, what else is that wizard capable of besides casting an avalanche on us?" Alarak asked.
"Well, let's just have his head and be done with it," Gimli spoke impatiently.
"No. We need him alive. We need him talk," Gandalf countered the dwarf's statement.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King, and made peace afterwards," Saruman appeared at the top of the tower. "Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?"
"We shall have peace. 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!" Theoden shouted angrily.
"Gibbets and crows? Dotard!" the enemy leader hissed. "What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The Key of Orthanc or perhaps the Keys of Barad-dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!"
"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel," Gandalf stated the fact.
"So you have come here for information. I have some for you," Saruman took out a sphere that Gandalf recognized as a palantir. "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 and his ally press their advantages. Their attacks will come soon. You're all going to die," he put back the palantir when Gandalf had Shadowfax stood forward. "But you know this, don't you, Gandalf? 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," the enemy leader eyed Aragorn. "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? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death," Saruman made a reference to Frodo.
"I've heard enough!" Gimli spoke impatiently. "Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob," he said to Legolas.
"We have enough of his poisonous tongue. Let's take him down together," Kerrigan agreed.
"No," Gandalf held his hand to his friends. "Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."
"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" the enemy leader rebuffed and casted a fireball at Gandalf. The man in big suit of armor lowered his visor and the cover then jumped so that the fireball could hit instead shocking everybody. The fire was quenched when the man landed onto the water and got up on his feet.
"Saruman!" Jim shouted after lifting his visor and cover. "At the first time we met! You were an honorable wizard like Gandalf! But now look at what you've become if you can see yourself from the mirror! A traitorous butcher! A puppet of the Dark Lord! As well as a minion of the Dark God!"
"James Raynor, we meet again after 60 years. It does not matter whether age have change you or not, you and your new friends will meet your demise at the hands of the Dark God you spoke of and Dark Lord Sauron," Saruman turned to Jim while eying the other men in suits of armor and the strange creatures.
"Let them try. We will have a score to settle," Jim glared at the enemy leader.
Saruman attempted to cast another fireball but his staff malfunctioned. "Saruman, your staff is broken," said Gandalf when at the time the enemy leader's staff shattered and Wormtongue appeared behind them.
"Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come down," Theoden called out.
"A Man of Rohan? 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?" Saruman spoke insultingly. "The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Theoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires."
"Grima, come down. Be free of him," Theoden ignored the enemy leader while speaking to Wormtongue.
"Free? He will never be free," said Saruman.
"No," Wormtongue muttered.
"Get down, cur!" the enemy leader smacked his spy on the cheek.
"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf shouted.
"You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here," Saruman spoke his last words before being backstabbed by his spy who used a dagger.
Jim used the Commando Rifle like he did in the Battle on Char during the Second Great War of the Korprulu Sector and fired a Mark-12 Penetrator Round. The bullet punctured through Saruman's body and killed Wormtongue during the process. The enemy leader fell dead and impaled onto a spiked wheel. "Not everybody gets a second chance," Jim muttered.
"Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle-earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike," said Gandalf.
The wheel turned causing the palantir to fell off from Saruman's body before it was sunk. "The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees," Treebeard muttered.
"Pippin!" Aragorn shouted when the hobbit dismounted from the horse they shared.
"Bless my bark!" said the ent when Pippin took the palantir from the water.
"Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad. Quickly, now," Gandalf took the palantir and wrapped it into a piece of cloth.
Author's Note
The next chapter will be on the campaign in the North.