AN: Sorry it has taken such a long time to update but to be honest we have been lazy :D Hope you like the chapter R&R
End Two towers
Begin Return of the king
One battle had ended and yet all knew there was still a bigger one to come. The company had wasted little time in leaving Helms Deep to continue on their journey.
The company were now riding through Fangorn forest accompanied by the King of Rohan, his man Gamling and Eomer, Bee and Celandine were at the back of the line sharing a horse. Celandine held Bee tightly again, stealing glances down at the ground that seemed very, very far away.
"Celandine if you don't loosen your grip around my waist, you will crush the life out of me!" Bee said chastising, wheezing a little. Celandine apologised and loosened her grip, if only a little. She looked no more at the ground but squeezed her eyes shut, trying to pretend she was somewhere else. The wind whistling gloomily through the trees did not aid this and when she opened her eyes again she noticed that the others were looking at the trees in nervous agitation.
However, Legolas's eyes shone when he looked around, as if he was in awe of the place.
Bee glanced around not at all finding the trees as interesting as Legolas seemed to, the idea of giant trees walking and talking seemed rather strange to her. Taught from a young age that trees could feel she had some form of respect for them but walking trees? Really?
"Eh Bee?"
"What?"
"Why are THEY here?" Celandine questioned pointing a small chubby finger towards the King of Rohan in quite an accusing manner. Bee looked forward at the King and had to admit even she had no idea why he had decided to join them. She would have thought he would have stayed at Helms Deep with his people as they tried to recover from the battle for their lives.
"How am I supposed to know? Why don't you ask him?"
Celandine didn't seem to understand that her friend was being sarcastic, thinking that it would be a great idea to question why Theoden had decided to join them that day.
"EH, KING!" she yelled trying to get his attention.
The yell reverberated in the closeness of the forest, causing everyone to stop and look back at the two women in bewilderment. Except Aragorn who was trying to conceal a smirk. Blood rushed into Bee's face, causing it to burn in embarrassment.
"Something wrong, Beriadanwen?" Legolas asked, voice holding genuine concern.
"No" Bee said through a clenched, forced smile. "We're fine; Celandine was just…playing a game."
"No we weren't we were…" Celandine was silenced as Bee dug her elbow in.
"Game?" Theoden asked, brow furrowed
"Ah… yes a game" Bee said, aware the situation was rapidly becoming awkward. She struggled desperately to explain. "the game is…. That the first one to say king wins?" her voice tailed off limply and her smile became even more clenched as she inwardly cursed herself. She was usually so good at talking her way out of situations like this but her brain had completely let her down. She could tell this explanation was not understood by the others but thankfully they seemed to accept it and they turned away and set off once again. Bee breathed a sigh of relief.
"Why did ya tell dem dat fir?" Celandine asked petulantly "why deed'ent ya jist arsk?"
Bee ground her teeth in annoyance "By the Valar Celandine, you are so embarrassing sometimes!"
"What?" Celandine asked "what deed I do?"
Bee rolled her eyes "never mind"
The rest of the ride was in silence, leaving Celandine wondering what she had done, and the rest of the company not understanding the concept of the so called game.
After what seemed like hours the forests path seemed to open up before them, as they reached the open two small figures could be seen perched upon a very broken looking wall. Upon seeing the approaching horses one stood taking his pipe from his mouth and stretching his arm wide apart in welcome.
"Welcome my lords…and lady" he added tilting his head slightly to get a better look at Bee, not yet seeing the small she-hobbit at the rear end of the saddle "to Isengard!" he finished gesturing behind him rather clumsily as if he was a little tipsy.
The horses came to a stop, Legolas turning his horse slightly so the dwarf could see their long lost friends.
"You young rascals!" Gimli exclaimed happy to see they were well. "A merry hunt you've led us on…and now we find you feasting and…and smoking!"
Celandine's ears pricked up and she craned to look round Bee. She could not see but heard a voice, a young male hobbit voice declare, mouth full "we are sitting on a field of victory… enjoying a few well earned comforts"
Bee watched as the one who had spoken earlier leaned forward and blew a few cheeky smoke rings in their direction while the other continued on to say "the salted pork is particularly good"
"Salted pork?" Gimli asked a glint in his eye and a small smile on his face. Normally Celandine's interest would have been captured at the mention of food. But she had other things on her mind "I know dat voice!" she declared leaning further off the horse to try and see. She leaned so far she slipped off completely and landed with a thud.
"Are you alright, tithen pen?" Bee asked.
Ignoring her Celandine scrambled to her feet and gawped at the two hobbits on the wall. Attracted by the noise she'd made, both of them looked to her. There was a moment as all of their eyes went wide and jaws dropped then it was suddenly broken when in unison they shouted each other's names. Celandine took off at a run towards them and them to her and the air was filled with happy hobbit voices, clamouring over each other. Bee, Legolas and Aragorn smiled at this reunion.
"Huh. Hobbits" Gandalf said, shaking his head a little.
After a few moments the hobbits had seemed to quieten down enough for them to realise that they were being watched intently by the other members of the company. Merry cleared his throat, one arm over Celandine's shoulder and in his other hand he held his pipe, on Celandine's other side stood Pippin whose arm also sat upon her shoulder as he smiled cheerfully.
"We're under orders from Treebeard" Merry spoke rather proudly "Who's taken over management of Isengard." He finished taking another puff of his pipe taking his time in blowing the smoke from his mouth. Celandine simply stood there smiling, happy to finally of been reunited with her friends.
"We have little time to dilly dally, (AN we don't know if Gandalf would say something like this but we liked it) what orders did Treebeard give you?"
"We were sent to wait for your arrival Gandalf" Pippin announced cheerfully, stuffing yet another slice of pork into his mouth, Celandine rolled her eyes, before rather sneakily reaching behind herself to find a piece, quick to shove it into her mouth, enjoying the taste of the salted pork as she chewed rather loudly.
Merry nodded in agreement "And to lead you to him" he added still taking puffs from his pipe.
"Well come on then!" Gandalf said gruffly. "There is no time to sit around like hobbits after harvest time! There is work still to be done. Food, drink and smoking can wait!"
Gimli looked crestfallen but did not protest. The hobbits reluctantly came down of the wall and were lifted into the saddle by Bee, Eomer and Aragorn. When everyone was ready they set off again, deeper into Isengard.
The ground began to get sodden as they progressed forward until their horses were wading through water. Isengard was strewn with ruins of it's former glory, broken wood and stone floating in the water. They heard Treebeard before they saw him, his old deep voice calling "young Master Gandalf!"
they looked up to find huge men made of wood looming over them. One looked at them with interest while the others threw chunks of rubble at Saruman's black tower. The one who was looking at them spoke again and they guessed he must be Treebeard.
"I'm glad you've come" he continued "Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there is a wizard to manage here…locked in his tower"
"show yourself" Aragorn hissed quietly to himself. He did not like when malevolence hide. His wished to know the face of evil, so he could confront it or at least know it.
"Be careful" Gandalf said to them all "Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous"
"Well, lets just have his head and be done with it!" Gimli said, becoming uneasy. Celandine was about to agree but Gandalf spoke first.
"No. We need him alive. We need him to talk"
Gandalf's face was grim and soon they knew why. Saruman's voice was heard, a deep frightful voice that froze their hearts
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden King, and made peace afterwards"
The company saw as Théoden's face went pale as Saruman stepped into view, looming over them at the top of his 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" Théoden said quietly. The other's turned to him astonished and suddenly afraid he had succumbed to Saruman's bewitchment. But the old king was not finished.
"We shall have peace!" he said louder "… 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!' His voice took on a more vicious bitter tone "when you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows… we shall have peace"
Pride swelled in the hearts of the men of Rohan, at the power and majesty of their king. But Saruman was not impressed. He was furious.
"Gibbets and crows?" he growled "Dotard!" his attention turned from Théoden to Gandalf. "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!" his voice dripped with scorn.
"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 answered
"So you have come for information. I have some for you" Saruman replied with a disconcerting glint in his eye. Seemingly from thin air he produced a globe of dark crystal inside which swam grey clouds and orange fire. He held it out to them, a frenzied look in his eye as he beheld it.
"Something festers in the heart of middle earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great eye has seen it" he put the orb away, to somewhere they could not see "Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon."
Gandalf strode forward, grim and unafraid
"You are all going to die" Saruman hissed in malicious glee.
The hobbits looked to each other in anxious fear.
"But you know this don't you Gandalf?" Saruman continued "you cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor" He said looking to Aragorn with disdain "this exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king." He looked to them all now and spoke a little louder, leaning on his staff "Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him… those he professes to love"
Gimli looked to Gandalf as if suddenly doubting his friendship
"Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling… before you sent to his doom?"
Gandalf gave a pained sigh and cast his eyes down.
"the path that you have set him on can only lead to death." Saruman growled at Gandalf, as if twisting a knife in his back.
"I've heard enough!" Gimli declared abruptly, very uneasy. "Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob" He urged Legolas, anxious to stop Saruman from speaking any longer. Legolas moved to comply but Gandalf stopped him
"No" he said firmly. He called up to the top of the tower 'Come down Saruman… and your life will be spared"
"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" Saruman called back and, thrusting his staff forward, hurled fire down upon them. It shot down the tower and appeared to consume Gandalf for a moment, burning fiercely. But Gandalf emerged unhurt and entirely unaffected and the fire dissipated. Saruman's eyes widened with new fear
"Saruman… your staff is broken." Gandalf said. At once the centre of Saruman's black staff burnt with bright fire and seemed to burst in his hands. He drew his hand back with a cry and leant over it, as if in pain. From behind him another figure stood forward, face screwed in torment. As Théoden looked upon him he recognised him and called to him.
"Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan"
Grima looked to the king, tears in his eyes.
"Come down" The king called compassionately. Grima gasps with grateful relief at this offer of mercy and moved as if to take up the offer. But before he could Saruman spoke again.
"A man of Rohan?" he questioned in contempt
Grima looked up to him
"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?"
Théoden seethed in anger at his derision and Saruman spoke again to him "the victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you, Théoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires."
Grima looked from Saruman to Théoden, despair wrought on his features. He could not comprehend being free when still Saruman seemed to hold so much power. Théoden saw this but would not give up
"Grima… come down." He urged "Be free of him"
"Free?" Saruman exclaimed. "He will never be free"
"No." Grima said quietly. Saruman turned to him in anger
"Get down, Cur!" he spat, striking Grima so hard he fell to the floor with a grunt of pain.
"Saruman!" Gandalf shouted in urgency "You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!"
"You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here.
Suddenly a black arm appeared at Saruman's neck and Grima stood behind him, knife raised. He plunged it into Saruman's back over and over again. Legolas drew his bow and shot, hitting Grima in the heart. He fell away from Saruman's limp body, falling dead to the floor. Saruman toppled forward, plunging down until he reached the bottom impaling himself on a broken spinning wheel. Merry's hand flew to his mouth. Pippin's eyes went wide in disgust and horror. Celandine shut her eyes and turned away. Bee pulled her horse back slightly in shock; she had not expected to see that.
"You ok?" she questioned quietly glancing over her shoulder at the she-hobbits, whose eyes were still firmly shut, Celandine nodded slowly still not willing to open her eyes.
Gandalf was the first to recover form seeing his former friend fall to his death "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." With a creak the spiked wheel began to turn sending Saruman beneath the water.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away" Treebeard began "Trees will come back to live here. Young trees, Wild trees" he continued.
From upon Aragorn's horse Pippin had noticed something glowing orange in the water and curiously leaped from the horse.
"Pippin" Aragorn called wondering what the hobbit was doing. Leaning down Pippin retrieved the black orb, that had been in Saruman's grasp minutes before, he looked it over curiously.
"Peregrin Took!" Gandalf called coming up behind the hobbit, Pippin turned suddenly to look up at Gandalf as if he had been pulled out of some form of trance.
"I'll take that my lad. Quickly now" Without argument Pippin began to hand over the orb slowly as if not as willing as he seemed to give it to the wizard, seeing the reluctance Gandalf quickly snatched the orb from the hobbits hands and wrapped it securely in his robes. With a warning glance Gandalf turned away from Pippin who looked as if he was boy who had been told off by his parents.