Chapter 2 – From Fangorn Forest to Edoras

I think entering Fangorn forest was even worse than the elf woods. This place gave me the jitters and I could tell that everyone else was on edge.

We made our way over gnarled tree roots and fallen trees and Tosha managed to trip only once. When we had been walking for about a half hour I started to wonder how far in we had to go. Aragorn and Legolas abruptly stopped.

I heard Legolas mutter something about the white wizard and I held back a smile.

"Do not look at him and do not let him speak." Aragorn commanded. I nodded but I didn't make a move for my bow and neither did Tosha. We watched as the four members of the fellowship turned around and attempted an attack.

Legolas's arrow just bounced off and Boromir and Aragorn dropped their swords as they glowed red. Though I didn't manage to catch what happened to Gimli. They held up their hands to block out the light, shying away from their friend-though they don't know that yet.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits." Gandalfs voice sounded a bit deeper

"Where are they?" asked Aragorn

"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"

"Who are you?" Dramatic pause… "Show yourself!"

The light around Gandalf faded revealing the white old wizard. He leaned on his new staff but this didn't make him seem any less powerful.

"It cannot be." Aragorn said, shaking his head.

I watched as Gimli bowed his head and Legolas got down on his knee, also bowing his head. The four of us turned to each other not knowing what to do. We quietly bowed our heads but looked up because we didn't want to miss what was happening.

"You fell." Aragorn still can't grasp the fact that he was there.

"Too far…" I kinda zoned out as Gandalf told the story. It was long and I already knew it. "I've been sent back, until my task is done." He finished

"Gandalf"

"Gandalf. That is what they used to call me." Aragorn nodded "Gandalf the grey. That was my name. I am Gandalf the white."

Legolas stood up, smiling.

"And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide." Gandalf turned to us and looked for a long moment. I felt small under his gaze and I wanted to turn around and walk away.

"You four are interesting children and we will have to talk when the time is right."

I felt my jaw drop. Did he find out we had lied? We were probably dead if he had.

Tosha elbowed me and I closed my mouth.

"Let us be on our way." commanded Gandalf

"What about the little ones?" asked Boromir

"They are in good hands; we need not worry about them now." Gandalf started back the way we had come.

We fell behind the others and I punched Jeffrey in the shoulder.

"What was that for?" he asked angrily

"Because Tosha elbowed me in the stomach."

"So I'm the one who gets retaliation?"

"Yep. You should know that I wouldn't hit Tosha." I said matter-of-factly.

Jeff mumbled something under his breath but I wasn't able to make it out.

The walk out of the forest was shorter than the walk in. I had never been happier to see an open field.

I listened as Gandalf's whistle echoed through the hills and his noble steed came galloping up.

Gandalf mounted and I watched as Aragorn struggled to get Gimli in the saddle. Tosha and Jeff had mounted easily and were talking. I almost laughed as Boromir picked Riley up by her shoulders and hoisted her onto the horse. Riley looked insulted and crossed her arms as Boromir turned to help Aragorn. I knew that Riley's used to being the shortest one but being hoisted up onto a horse is being treated like a child in her mind. I heard Legolas mount then call my name. I turned to face him and found he held his hand out.

"Come on." He said simply.

"I can mount by myself." I muttered. I grabbed the back of the saddle and pulled myself up; thank the Lord that I had gotten upper body strength from training. Boromir mounted his horse and we were off.

I sat quietly in the back of the saddle and watched the scenery go by. The rolling hills kinda reminded me of eastern Washington and I started to miss home a little more. I missed the evergreen forests and I almost missed the constant rain.

I sighed and leaned a little farther back in the saddle. I felt someone grab my wrist and my eyes shot open. Legolas was sitting half turned in the saddle and had his hand wrapped around my wrist, "Lean back any farther and you're going to fall off."

I glared daggers at his and pulled my wrist away from his hand. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

He shrugged and turned back around but I continued to glare daggers at his back. I get that he's older than me-okay a lot older- but that doesn't mean he has to treat me like a child. Now I know how Riley felt earlier.

Laughter broke my angry thoughts and I looked up to see Tosha and Jeffrey laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked, hoping they would hear me.

"Nothing." Tosha continued to laugh.

"Seriously tell me."

"I'll explain it to you later." Jeff said then went back to talking with Tosha.

I rubbed my temples. Today people were just making me angry.

When Edoras came into view I would have jumped for joy but then I remembered I was on a horse. So instead I let out a sigh of relief.

"What is it?" Legolas turned around in the saddle. I was surprised he had talked to me again. Either he was too above the human race to recognize my anger or he had forgotten it.

"The sigh? I'm just happy to see the town."

"Why is that?"

"Because I can only sit in a saddle for so long." I informed him "If I ride for much longer I won't be able to walk properly."

Legolas chuckled but turned back around our conversation seemingly over.

Yay! Another note from me :)

So I wanted to thank everyone who review chapter 1 (except Jeff…) and I want to give a big thanks to Tori of Lrien! I loved the review and that was amazing for me because I need that kind of feedback so that I can do better. Thanks again!

But wait! There's more!

So I feel like a lot of people have questions about the characters or the story so I'm going to do a Question and Answer section at the end of chapter 3 or 4 (depending on how fast I update). So please send in questions-they can be about anything related to the story- you can either PM me or leave it in the reviews and I-and if it involves the others then they will help-answer it.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ~Crystal