A/N: Yep, everyone, I had time and inspiration to post another chapter today. I hope you'll enjoy it. Be happy, guys, because Gandalf is back :) By the way, sorry if I'm rude, but I'm pretty tired of reviews who urge me to change Sunglee's name, especially because they say this in a very rude way. Sorry, but I found the name in the internet and I loved it.
SmellofRoses-Thank you so much, I'm really happy you liked it. Of course I'll keep writing romantic moments between Legolas and Sunglee, don't worry :)
XxKicking Your AxX- Hahaha, thank you for urging me to update quickly. Actually, I owe it to you that the new chapter is up today.
Disclaimer: Ah, no, nothing has changed, I still don't own LOTR.
Aragorn, Legolas, Sunglee and Gimli walked into Fangorn Forest being very wary. Aragorn was looking around, Sunglee and Legolas were grabbing their bows and Gimli had his axe in his hand. The atmosphere was strange. It had changed immediately, from the sunny valley to the dark forest. Sunglee had the feeling of being watched by invisible creatures. Gimli saw a blood stained leaf. He put his finger on it and tasted it, but spitted it out the next moment.
'Orc blood' he said and Sunglee made a grimace of disgust.
They ran through the forest quietly, afraid they were not alone. Aragorn knelt down and examined the ground. He found some tracks that did not belong to the Hobbits and that increased his cautiousness. Gimli was breathing heavily, having the impression of suffocating, although he was sure that it was only because of his fear.
'The air is so close in here' he complained nevertheless.
'This forest is old' Legolas spoke. 'Very old. Full of memory and anger'
His voice was calm, for he was trying to sound comfortably, as if he was in a normal forest. But this expectation was belied, because a deep groaning was heard, making Gimli raising his axe.
'What is it?' Aragorn wondered.
Legolas looked at him, his youthful face being a mask of terror.
'The trees are speaking to each other' he answered startled and turned around. This forest was unknown to him and he was watching every step he was making.
Sunglee laid her hand on a bark in an attempt to listen to the tree. But the only thing she heard was silence. Despite her ability to speak with trees, this time she could not hear a word.
'Legolas, I am not hearing anything the tree is saying' she told him, with the groaning going on. 'I can not understand this'
With these statements, Gimli's fear became bigger and the grip around his axe tightened. But this caused the groaning getting louder. Aragorn turned towards his companion.
'Gimli' he hissed 'lower your axe'
The Dwarf understood immediately what Aragorn was meaning and did as he was told. The Rivendell princess put a hand on her forehead.
Very clever, Gimli, walking in a forest that is alive with an axe.
'They have feelings, my friend' Legolas said softly. 'The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak…'
His mind travelled to his dialogue with the tree at the base of the mountain of Caradhras. There the tree had consoled him and had given him courage to continue, to have faith. This one, though, was sending chills on his body.
'Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about except the consistency of squirrel droppings?' asked Gimli ironically and ignoring Aragorn's and Sunglee's reproachful look.
Suddenly Legolas felt something. He sensed a threat coming near. Now he could finally interpret at one point the fearful groaning of the trees.
'Aragorn, Sunglee, nad no ennas' he announced them sharply and moved forward, followed by the others.
'Man cenich, melamin?' Sunglee asked him.
'The White Wizard approaches' Legolas replied, his voice being so calm, almost mysterious, that it scared her.
'Saruman' Gimli whispered.
'Do not let him speak' Aragorn advised them. 'He will put a spell on us'
He gripped his sword silently, while Gimli was grasping his axe and Sunglee and Legolas were loading their bows with an arrow.
'We must be quick' Aragorn ended up.
The second he uttered the last word, they turned around and were greeted by a brilliant, white light. A figure could be seen in the middle of it. Gimli threw his axe, which was deflected. Then the two Elves fired their arrows, but they were blocked as well. The blade of Aragorn's sword became red hot, so that he dropped it. Sunglee opened her mouth in surprise and terror, not daring to wonder what would happen now.
'You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits' the White Wizard spoke. His voice was deep and clear and somehow it sounded familiar to Sunglee.
'Where are they?' she yelled before she could stop herself.
'They passed this way the day before yesterday' was the answer. 'They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?'
'Who are you? Show yourself!' Aragorn ordered with bravery.
The light disappeared, revealing the person it was covering. The four friends gasped loudly at this sight, Aragorn was even wondering if this was some sort of spell. For the White Wizard was no one else than Gandalf. Gandalf, who had fallen from the bridge of Khazad-dum fighting the Balrog, whose death everybody had mourned, was standing in front of them, dressed in white robes and with the same friendly smile.
'It can not be' whispered Aragorn.
Gimli, Legolas and Sunglee bowed down with respect, not daring to look upon Gandalf.
'Forgive me' Legolas apologized. 'I mistook you for Saruman'
'I am Saruman' Gandalf replied. 'Or rather, Saruman as he should have been'
'You fell' Aragorn commented, still not believing that Gandalf was among them again.
'Through fire and water' the wizard confirmed. '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 on the Earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I have been sent back until my task is done'
'Gandalf' the Ranger mumbled and made a few steps towards him.
'Gandalf?' he repeated. 'Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name'
But now you are dressed in white, thought Sunglee. And that means that…that Gandalf has become…a White Wizard!
'I am Gandalf the White!' he announced seriously. 'And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide'
The five of them walked through the forest, which seemed now friendlier and not so threatening anymore. Gandalf was now wearing a grey cloak over his white robes.
'One stage of your journey is over' he told them. 'Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed'
'That is no short distance!' Gimli growled.
'We hear of trouble in Rohan' Aragorn informed the wizard. 'It goes ill with the king'
Gandalf nodded and his smile faded from his face.
'Yes and it will not be easily cured'
'Then we have run all this way for nothing?' Gimli asked disappointed. 'Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here, in this horrid, dark, dank, tree-infested…'
Sunglee threw him an angry look and at the same time the trees started groaning again. Gimli stopped at once, having understood.
'I mean charming…quite charming forest' he tried to make it better.
'It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn' Gandalf said. 'A great power has been sleeping here for many years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains'
Hearing this, Legolas looked around in astonishment and he felt, finally, the magic of the forest inside his soul.
'In one thing you have not changed, dear friend' Aragorn's voice had found its mocking tone again. 'You still speak in riddles'
They all laughed at this statement. Sunglee, although still worried for Pippin and Merry, was feeling happy. Despite the dangers and the risks, they were all together and they were still teasing each other. She smiled widely and this made her face shine.
'A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days' Gandalf returned to their conversation. 'The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong'
'Strong?' Gimli repeated, having his doubts. Sunglee sighed heavily and rolled her eyes.
Have you not learned your lesson, my friend?
This time, though, it was not necessary for her to look warningly at him, for the groaning coming from the trees was much louder than the other times. Gimli's face became deep red.
'Oh, that is good' he quickly added.
'So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf' said Gandalf impatiently. 'Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be'
And he moved forward. Gimli continued looking at his back.
'This new Gandalf is more grumpy than the old one' he mumbled. Sunglee, who was the only one who had heard him, bursted out laughing, so hysterically, that she had to try very hard to breathe rhythmically again.
Outside the forest, Gandalf whistled a long, high whistle. Some minutes later, a majestic, white horse appeared in the distance and galloped towards them. Everybody gasped at its beauty.
'This is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell' Legolas said impressed.
'Shadowfax' Gandalf explained while caressing the horse. 'He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers'
'Look!' Sunglee exclaimed. 'Our horses are coming as well. Surely they had met Shadowfax!'
Indeed, Hasufel, Arod and Aliyana galloped to them and stood in front of their masters. Aliyana neighed happily seeing Sunglee, who stroke her nose gently, for she was already feeling a bond with that horse.
They mounted their horses quickly and started riding with great speed to Edoras, praying that it was not too late to save the king.
Elvish words/phrases used:
Nad no ennas- Something is out there.
Man cenich?- What do you see?
Melamin- My love
A/N: Alright, my friends, that was it. Can't wait for your reviews :) Tomorrow evening you'll have the next chapter. Until then...Namaarie :D