Sorry it took so long to update. Anyway, this chapter is quite short. Again, sorry, but this isn't really a wonderful chapter for further explanation.
Chapter Eleven
Suddenly, Ilmare turned to look at Gandalf. They made eye contact for a single, meaningful second. She nodded and flipped her hood back up.
Just as abruptly, Gandalf began to walk. Ilmare fell into step beside him with ease. The other three hustled to follow as Gandalf said, "One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gilmi said.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," Aragorn said seriously.
"Yes, and he will not be easily cured," Gandalf said.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree-infested-" Gimli stopped here as the trees began to groan and creak.
Ilmare stopped beside one of them and put a hand gently on the trunk. The trees quieted down enough for Gimli to correct himself hastily, "I mean, charming, quite charming forest."
"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 explained as Ilmare easily caught up with them.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," Aragorn said, smiling.
"Hmm?" Gandalf asked.
"You still speak in riddles," he said.
Gandalf chuckled and said, "If you think I speak cryptically, wait until you hear more from Ilmare."
Ilmare smiled under her hood. As they continued to walk, she heard a slight breeze waft through the forest. On it were the whispers of the trees, so light and faint that none of the others could hear it, or even noticed the breeze. "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."
Gimli, overhearing her, said, "Strong? Oh, that's good."
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be!" Gandalf said, trying to make Gimli stop his annoying worrying.
"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one," Gimli said under his breath.
When he looked up, he instantly met with the darkness of Ilmare's hood staring straight at him. "Sorry," he said awkwardly.
She stared at him a second longer before turning to Gandalf as they reached the edge of the forest. Here, Gandalf stopped and whistled a high, piercing note.
Moments later, a neigh rang over the golden fields. A white horse trotted over a hill right to them.
"That is one of the Maeras, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas said in absolute awe.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf said. "He's the lord of all horses, and he has been my friend through many dangers."
Ilmare stepped up to the Maeras and held her hand up with her palm out to the horse. Shadowfax carefully sniffed her hand before apparently recognizing her. She began to stroke the muzzle appreciatively as she whispered in Quenya, "I knew you ancestors, my friend."
She smiled at Shadowfax before swinging herself up onto him. Gandalf swifted mounted behind her.
The other three quickly, except Gimli was slow, mounted their horses. And, they travelled.