Hey sorry this chapter has taken a little longer than it normally would, Zoe and i have just finished our school exams and haven't really had that much time to write.

Chapter 7

The company started into Fangorn cautiously, Bee and Celandine lagging slightly behind in no hurry to head into the terrifying dark forest before them.

"Well this is cosy" Bee said sarcastically, pretending she wasn't freaking out. She felt Celandine draw close to her, a small warm presence at her side, the hobbits voice low as she sang quietly to herself "Upon da hearth da fire is red… Beneath da roof der is a bed" her voice shook slightly as she continued to glance around nervously. "But nut yet weary are our feet…"

The rest of the company looked around them, clutching their weapons defensively. Their eyes darted around, ravenously consuming their surroundings. Gimli's eyes caught on something and he hurried over. A leaf, soiled with a black oily sheen. Gimli slid his finger over the foul looking liquid and tasted it. Instantly his eyes narrowed and he spat in furious disgust, trying to rid his mouth from the terrible flavour.

"Orc blood" he said gruffly.

This revelation made the fear in everyone's hearts heavier. Bee glanced round nervously, her hand grazing her swords hilt ready to draw it at a moment's notice, Celandine clinging to her singing a little faster now as if it would drive away anything bad lurking around them "Still round the corner we may meet…". Aragorn's attention was captured by markings on the ground. He dropped to his knees, running his hands over them as if seeking assurance they were real. He looked up and whispered to himself. "These are strange tracks" he said, voice and face sombre. Bee glanced nervously around this forest made her feel uneasy as if there was something out there watching them all.

Gimli looked around the trees "The air is so close in here" he stated.

"This forest is old… very old… full of memory…and anger." Legolas replied his sharp eyes glancing around. He could almost sense the angst in the atmosphere.

Suddenly loud groaning sounds erupted from around them, making them all leap in surprise. The dwarfs axe rose quickly as if to fight off some unspeakable evil that could be hiding in the trees. The company glanced around in wonder.

"Gimli! Lower your axe!" Aragorn demanded signalling for him to do so. Gimli loosened his grip on his weapon, gazing reverently at the tree. Both elves had switched their attention to the once groaning forest, eyes glancing around every few seconds expecting to see something emerge.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas! (There's something out there)" Legolas said suddenly, lurching forward. He hurriedly clambered to a higher point and gazed out. Aragorn hurried to his side, his face an anxious knot.

"Man cenich? (What do you see?)" He questioned nervously, as the rest of their party caught up to them.

"The white wizard approaches" The two elves said simultaneously, Celandine did not seem to notice the severity of those words and was too amazed that the elves had spoken in sync. But neither Aragorn nor Gimli felt any amazement. They knew who the white wizard was and knew well to fear his power. Celandine's song dwindled into silence. Aragorn looked around at them, hand clenched over his sword. "Do not let him speak" he whispered urgently "he will put a spell on us."

"We must be quick!" he adds; at this command the party draw their weapons spinning to face their foe. Their eyes were almost over powered with a brilliant flash of white light that obscured the wizard's face. He towered over them all, a terrifying force. Legolas and Bee loosed an arrow each but both proved ineffective as their foe easily deflected them. Gimli threw his axe with enough force to cleave the heads off ten orcs but this two was easily deflected. Aragorn had not even raised his sword before it burned in his hands and he was forced to drop it with a cry of pain. Celandine simply stood, too stunned to move. The company raised their hands to their eyes, shielding them from the blinding light. As they backed away, the wizard began to speak.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits" he said simply, his voice indefinable.

"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded angrily, fighting to hide his fear.

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

This threw the company off. What was he talking about?
"Who are you?" Aragorn asked, fear giving rise to more anger

The wizard offered no answer. The white radiance masking his face beamed painfully bright.

"Show yourself!" Aragorn stepped forward brazenly, refusing to be intimidated.

At his order, the air seemed to ring and the light dwindled. Out of it, the wizard stepped forward and revealed himself. The company staggered back, beholding the face of not Saruman, but Gandalf. Celandine stood mouth agape. Gandalf! The grey clad stranger who waked the shire borders, delighting the young and worrying the old? This could not be him! This wizard was brilliant and majestic, swathed in majesty. And yet she knew it to be true.

Bee was tense at the sight of the white wizard, knowing it was not the evil Saruman but still not knowing if this old man was friend or foe. She glanced down at her young hobbit friend who seemed to be in awe, suddenly the young hobbits face lit up causing the she-elf to frown slightly. She looked back at the wizard, looking upon his face for the first time. Something about him made her pause. He had no evil in his eyes. His features held a certain formidability that was true but no malice. That and the rest of the company's joyous reaction led here to believe he was no foe. But she was not ready yet to accept him as friend. She turned away while everyone continued to stare. The others fell to their knees in reverence but Aragorn couldn't take it in. he staggered back, face streaked in confusion.

"You fell…" confusion made him breathless

"Through fire and water. On the lowest dungeon of the highest peak I fought him. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin on the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled past and every day was as long as a life age on earth. … But it was not the end. I felt life in me again I'd been sent back until my task is done." Gandalf said, striding forward.

"Gandalf…" Aragorn said simply, finally coming to understand.

"Gandalf? Yes… that was what they used to call me" Gandalf said, peering away as he began to remember slowly.

Bee raised an eyebrow at the sight of her excited companions, Celandine was nearly jumping at the sight of the wizard, and Bee could not understand why one wizard could cause such a reaction.

Gandalf the grey? That was my name" Gandalf stated slightly in wonder of his past, Bee eyebrow rose again, was this old man crazy she wondered glancing around to see if anyone else thought as she did, finding it was indeed only her who felt this way. Suddenly Gimli erupted in excitement "Gandalf!" he said gruffly.

Gandalf smiled "I am Gandalf the white and I come back to you now"