Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
27/01/2013
This story is now up to 100 'Favourites' too. Thanks readers! My apologies for only being able to answer a handful of reviews in each chapter.
Some have asked me about them writing a LOTR/Avengers crossover. As I don't own any of the source material for either of them my advice is – go for it!
Mikoto-chan92: A very astute observation about Stark, Romanoff and Barton.
Dan man: I am still puzzled by that bit of dialogue in the film. Given his paranoia, I think Saruman would have told the Uruks to capture the hobbits but not the reason why. Even if he did, I think the Uruks would never feel they had to explain their actions to their Mordor kin.
elmoisemo6: Bummer I know!
Chapter 15 – Acquaintances New and Old
Aragorn may have allowed himself and his companions a few more hours of precious sleep if he'd known what had befallen Ugluk's company. That not being the case, the Fellowship maintained the schedule it had lived by over the last few days. Thor, Rogers and Legolas kept watch overnight until their companions roused at dawn. Aragorn's first order of business was checking Boromir's wound before placing a fresh bandage on it. The good news was the wound was continuing to heal.
"A few more days," an upbeat Aragorn told the Gondorian, "and you can proudly show your latest battle wound for all to see."
All present smiled at this with one exception. Legolas's attention was on the eastern skies.
"A red sun rises," he commented to no one in particular.
Rogers had compared Legolas to an early warning radar. But like all radars, the Elf was sometimes hard to read.
"Sorry, Legolas," Rogers told him. "I'm not following."
Legolas turned to his companions and spoke in an ominous tone, "I fear blood has been split this past night."
Legolas's observation caused more than a few jitters. As they continued their pursuit throughout the early morning, its members did not even engage in any light-hearted banter or cajoling to keep up their spirits. They came to their first stop of the day when Aragorn bent down to examine the ground for tracks.
It was a fine and still morning. One thing that Rogers had noticed since coming to Middle-earth was how much quieter it was compared to his own world. There were becoming fewer inhabited places on Earth one could escape even a background hum of artificial noises. Given Middle-earth's lack of mass heavy industry and resulting pollution, the air was much cleaner as well. Rogers imagined the plains of Rohan to be like how the Great Plains must've looked and felt to the first Europeans who had journeyed there. Just like the Great Plains more than one hundred and thirty years ago, horses were an essential part of life for Rohan's native inhabitants.
The whole Fellowship's attention was turned south at the sound of a horse's whinny. Aragorn stopped examining tracks and walked to join the rest of the Fellowship to observe a dust cloud heading their way from the same direction. Legolas relayed what his Elven eyes saw through the dust cloud.
"A hundred heavily armoured horsemen head in our direction," he reported. "But not because they've seen us."
"Rohirrim?" Thor both guessed and concluded.
"Yes, Thor," Boromir answered. "Servants of Sauron don't use horses this far west of Mordor. And Saruman would only use horses as fodder for his orcs."
Before Rogers could ask what mounts that the enemies of the Free Peoples used, he instead learned the Rohirrim went by another name.
"The Eorlingas may have no love for the Enemy," Aragorn remarked. "But they also do not lightly suffer incursions into their lands – even by supposed friends."
At a quick signal of Aragorn's, the group hurried and hid behind a small clump of boulders just to their right. As the Rohirrim and their steeds rode past them unawares, the Fellowship felt the ground vibrate beneath them. They smelt the horses' sweaty odour and heard the clatter made by their rider's armour and weapons. Once the last of the Rohirrim had rode past the Fellowship, Aragorn moved out from behind the boulders into plain sight.
"What are you doing Aragorn?!" Rogers asked in a concerned whisper.
"Do not be alarmed, Steve," Legolas assured him. "Aragorn merely wishes to speak with the Horse-lords, not engage them in battle."
"None of you reach for your weapons until they know we can be trusted," Boromir added.
Rogers thought there must be some strange codes of conduct in Middle-earth as Aragorn cried out to the Rohirrim at the top of his voice.
"Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"
The rider at the front of the Rohirrim's formation, obviously their leader, raised his spear with his right arm. At this signal, the Rohirrim turned sharply to their left in a manner that reminded Rogers of a school of fish. Rogers' Super Soldier sight noticed the riders had weapons and armour of varying quality. Rogers guessed the Rohirrim was like many armies on Earth during feudal times. Men spent part of the year in the military service as duty to their lord who gave them land to reside on. Usually these men had to pay for their own equipment. In practical terms this meant a conscripted peasant was more likely to die on the battlefield than a wealthy knight was. That said, the way these Rohirrim precisely manoeuvred into an ever-tightening circle around the Fellowship indicated they were still a well-trained unit. They eventually surrounded the Fellowship in a tight mass. Thor shared Rogers' sense of admiration of the Rohirrim but for a different reason.
"These horsemen's armour," Thor whispered to Rogers's ear from behind. "Their weapons, even their physical appearance remind me of the Norse a millennia ago."
"Then hopefully they also worship you as the God of Thunder," Rogers wryly replied. "If they do, they'll give us whatever help we need and then some."
The leader of these Rohirrim moved through their compact ranks until none stood between him and Rogers, Gimli and Aragorn who faced him. Rogers noted the leader had well made scale armour with it being covered by a thick leather pad across his broad chest. The helmet the leader wore had what appeared to be a long plume of gold horse hair that fell down the back of his neck as well as its nose-guard being crafted in the shape of a horse's head. The Avengers' education continued as they learnt how the Rohirrim commonly referred to their homeland.
"What business does an Elf, a Dwarf and strangely garbed Men have in the Riddermark?" the leader sharply asked the Fellowship.
Boromir was standing behind Aragorn, partially hidden from the leader's line of sight. At the leader's first words, Boromir immediately knew which Rohirrim was speaking to the Fellowship. He quickly moved out from behind Aragorn.
"Third Marshal Eomer, do you remember me?" Boromir addressed the leader. "It is I, Lord Boromir."
The Rohirrim began murmuring to each other when they realised they were in the presence of the Son of the Steward of Gondor.
Eomer, son of Eomund was the high ranking Third Marshal of the Riddermark. He was also the nephew and adopted son of Theoden, the current King of Rohan. Inwardly, Eomer cursed himself for not recognising the Captain-General of Rohan's most important ally. Eomer first met Boromir when he spent a summer in Gondor just before entering into manhood. He had accompanied his cousin Theodred, the only child and heir of Theoden. Boromir selflessly took Eomer and Theodred under his wing during their visit as well as being a good military mentor. The summer stay in Gondor by the pair of Rohirrim royalty was a diplomatic gesture to help stop the widening rift in relations between Theoden and Denethor. On that basis, the visit was a failure. While Rohan and Gondor were still technically allies, their rulers were barely on speaking terms for a number of reasons. Boromir, Theodred and Eomer had privately confirmed to each other though their mutual commitment to the Oath of Eorl during the later two's stay in Gondor. No matter the animosity between their fathers (his uncle in Eomer's case) they would always try to assist each other in their respective country's struggles.
Eomer handed his spear to a subordinate to his right before he dismounting off his trusted steed, Firefoot. He walked up to Boromir and took off his helmet before both men gave each other a short but sincerely felt bow. Rogers and Thor saw that Eomer was perhaps not much more than half an inch taller than Boromir. The Third Marshal had dirty blond shoulder length hair as well as a similar coloured short beard that clung to his face.
Eomer gave a resolute sounding apology. "Please forgive me for not recognising you at first, Lord Boromir." His eyes widened at Boromir's bandage. "Especially as you are wounded!"
"Thank you for your concern, milord," Boromir graciously replied. "But I'm advised that my wound shall soon heal." Boromir then made an apology of his own. "O behalf of my friends and I, we ask your pardon for entering the Mark without so much as the King's leave."
This side of Boromir that he had not seen before fascinated Rogers. One of the main reasons the pair had become friends was because they were both polite, plain-speaking military men. Yet here was Boromir demonstrating he was well versed in the diplomatic arts. In both the time periods of Earth that Rogers had lived in, saluting and respectfully speaking to each other was generally considered a sufficient display of etiquette between soldiers of allied nations. But here in Middle-earth things seemed more complex, where Eomer and Boromir had to exchange a series of gallant pleasantries before getting down to business.
"Milord, of course you're welcome," Eomer said before casting his eye over other Fellowship members, especially Rogers and Thor. "Though I must say, your choice of travelling companions is interesting to say the least."
"Our Fellowship may be an interesting collection of representatives of the Free Peoples," Boromir advised. "But you have my word they are as much a friend to Rohan as I."
"I meant no offence, milord," Eomer quickly reassured Boromir. "I'm nonetheless curious as to why you wear an Elven cloak."
Of the Fellowship present, only Rogers and Thor weren't wearing their said cloaks. Rogers' bloody cloak was discarded by Amon Hen after Aragorn had used it to staunch Boromir's bleeding. Thor had offered Rogers his unused Galadhrim cloak as a replacement. Captain America politely declined it by telling him, "I know Galadriel won't mind me saying it doesn't really go with the uniform."
"Our Fellowship left Lothlorien just over a week ago," Boromir informed Eomer. "Our cloaks are a gift from the Lady who rules it with her Lord."
Eomer's eyes narrowed after what Boromir had said.
"Then there is a Lady in the Golden Wood, as old tales tell!" Eomer calmly exclaimed before commenting, "You must've had no choice but to enter it and risk the Lady's attentions and her dark, sorcerous ways."
For the first time in centuries, a Dwarf spoke to defend the honour of a member of Elven royalty.
"You speak the words of fools, Lord Eomer," Gimli told him in an insulting and patronising manner. "You speak evil of that which is fair beyond the reach of your thought, and only little wit can excuse you."
Eomer's eyes blazed at the insult. He firmly stepped towards Gimli.
"If you were not accompanying Lord Boromir, Dwarf," the Third Marshal coldly threatened him. "I would cut off your head if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
At this, the two Crown Princes in this strange gathering of warriors drew their weapons in a blink of an eye.
"He stands not alone!" Thor bellowed with Mjolnir raised in an aggressive fighting stance.
Pointing an arrow at Eomer with his bow, Legolas quickly added, "You would die before your stroke fell!"
"Stand down!" Rogers berated the pair over his shoulder.
Thor and Legolas slowly lowered their weapons. Such was the power of Captain America's voice; some of the Rohirrim who had raised their weapons in Eomer's defence involuntarily lowered theirs as well. Rogers was annoyed at Thor and Legolas who, despite-knowing better, opted to inflame a tense situation. Not to mention disregarding Boromir's earlier advice about the Fellowship not raising their weapons. Inwardly, Aragorn thanked Rogers for his actions before joining the negotiations.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn," he introduced himself before others in the Fellowship Eomer was unfamiliar with. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin and Legolas of the Woodland Realm."
At a look from Aragorn, the two Avengers stated their names.
"Captain Steve Rogers, United States Army."
"Thor Odinson, Crown Prince of Asgard".
"As Boromir said," Aragorn resumed "All of us are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king."
Boromir firmly nodded to Eomer as if to verify his companions identities and intent. The looks the Fellowship was receiving was similar to the one they (with the exception of Gandalf) gave the Avengers at their first introduction.
"By your leave, milord?" interrupted Eomer's second-in-command.
"Of course, Captain Eothain," Eomer politely answered his subordinate and friend.
Eothain was slightly older and shorter than Eomer and wore a helmet with a nose-guard a visor that covered just his eyes. His straw-coloured hair was of a greater length than the Third Marshal's was.
"Like you, milord," Eothain prefaced his argument, "I welcome the Son of the Steward to the Mark as if he were one of the Eorlingas." Eothain then continued, "But with agents of the White Hand everywhere, should we extend the same welcome to his Lordship's companions? May it not be wiser if we first take them into custody for questioning before deciding if we should trust them? Especially as two of them claim to come from lands that I suspect none of us have ever heard of!"
A number of the Rohirrim murmured their assent to what Eothain had just said. Thor darkly furrowed his brow. The Asgardian may have gained a sense of humility in recent times, but he still possessed the volcanic temper he had inherited from his father.
"Openly disparage my word again, Horselord," Thor told Eothain in a manner reminiscent of how Eomer had threatened to Gimli. "And I'll give you a demonstration of just how real Asgard's power is!"
Aragorn, Boromir and Rogers either sighed or rolled their eyes in exasperation. The egos of the three non-Men threatened to destroy what chance the Fellowship had of securing aid from Eomer diplomatically. Rather than chastise Thor a second time, Rogers decided to speak to Eomer instead.
"Lord Eomer, I deeply apologise for our group's frayed tempers," Rogers politely began. "If you let us explain why we've entered Rohan, you'll see we're no threat to your people or king."
Eomer stared at the man in the strange, brightly coloured uniform. Eomer agreed with Eothain that the Rohirrim ought to be suspicious of any intruders, especially with the growing threat of Isengard. Despite Boromir vouching for his companions (and Boromir's great integrity was almost legendary), he had told Eomer that he and his companions had just come from Lothlorien. As the Lady who ruled it was supposedly a great wielder of magic, who could tell if she had cast a similar spell on Boromir as Saruman had currently cast on Theoden? On the other hand, the way this 'Rogers' ordered his companions to stand down was the voice of a military leader not a spy. Further, he'd apologised for their behaviour and had been nothing but respectful. Eomer decided to give Rogers the benefit of the doubt for now.
"I'm afraid Theoden no longer recognises friend from foe, Captain Rogers." Eomer said before regretfully adding, "Not even his own kin."
"What do you mean, milord?" asked Aragorn.
"Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands," Eomer said plainly. "My eored is part of the twenty hundred that remain loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished."
Eomer's news about Theoden's mind got Thor thinking about Loki's sceptre. But the Asgardian more wanted clarity about a term he'd never heard before.
"Eored?" Thor whispered to Legolas.
"It is what the Rohirrim call a company of their cavalry," Legolas similarly answered.
Troubled by what Eomer had just said, Boromir asked, "What position does your cousin Prince Theodred take on all this?"
At Boromir's question the Fellowship noticed that an awkward silence had come over Eomer and his men.
"Theodred was gravely wounded by an orc ambush at the Fords of the Isen," Eomer sadly informed. "I last saw him in Edoras where he was clinging to life. If you want to know the strength of Saruman's sorcery, the king didn't even acknowledge news of his son's injuries when my sister and I told him."
"Yours is sorrowful and troubling news, milord," Aragorn stated.
Eomer gave Aragon a nod of appreciation for his sympathetic remark. Eomer's voice then hardened as he expressed his anger at Saruman.
"The White Wizard is cunning," he said to Aragorn and Boromir. "He walks here and there, they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked". Eomer then gave Legolas and Thor a suspicious glance before adding, "And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."
"We are not spies," Aragorn quickly denied to prevent Legolas and Thor's tempers flaring again. "We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They've taken three of our friends captive."
"They are a Man and two Hobbits," Boromir detailed further.
"The Uruks you refer to are destroyed," Eomer promptly told them. "They were slaughtered during the course of last night."
"Did you and your men engage them in battle?" Rogers asked.
Eomer shook his head. "We were just about to take them by surprise, but something had attacked them first. From their remains, our only conclusion was they'd been killed by a wild troll of immense strength."
Thor and Rogers quickly exchanged a hopefully glance.
"Hulk," they silently mouthed to each other.
The four other Fellowship members silently shared the pair's conclusion about Banner. That still left the mystery of Merry and Pippin's whereabouts.
"Did you find any trace of the hobbits?" Gimli urgently asked Eomer, forgetting their previous animosity.
"Hobbits are small," Aragorn added. "They, their effects and even their tracks would appear child sized."
Eomer again answered in the negative. "We found no such traces or those of a Man. The only action we took was to pile the orc carcasses and burn them."
At a signal from Eomer, part of the eored opened up in their ranks. The Fellowship could see to the north-west a trail of rising smoke a few miles from where they stood. Inwardly, the Fellowship members were deeply unsettled by what Eomer had told them. Did it mean that Banner was alive only because Hulk was now on the loose in Middle-earth? Did that mean the Other Guy came out before or after Merry and Pippin had been killed? Or did both hobbits flee in fear from the battle between Hulk and the Uruks, thus fracturing the whole Fellowship even further? The non-Avengers also silently feared that maybe Hulk could have accidentally killed the hobbits, remembering how he lashed out in Moria in an enraged state. As he contemplated these thoughts, Legolas put his left hand on Gimli's right shoulder in order to steady himself.
"I'm sorry I've no better news of your friends," Eomer softly apologised before releasing a high pitched whistle.
At this, the Rohirrim brought forth four unmounted steeds. Two were chestnut in colour; one was white; and another ashen grey.
Eomer presented the horses to the Fellowship. "May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters".
The ashen grey horse seemed to take a liking to Thor.
"His name is 'Graegwind', milord," the Rohirrim who handled the horse told the Asgardian.
"It is a Rohirric name," Legolas advised while petting the white horse. "It means 'Grey Wind'."
Despite Asgard being centuries ahead of any realm technologically, horses were still its people's personal transport of choice. Thor had a magnificent white stallion as his personal steed, having learned to ride every since he was a small boy. The All-Father once told Thor that horses were one of the greatest gifts that Midgard had every given Asgard. Considering how much he loved his Asgardian steed, Thor had long resolved himself to never stop protecting Earth if only for that reason.
"Well met, Graegwind," Thor quietly commented to the said horse. "I'm sure your name is well deserved."
Graegwind gave Thor an unexpected kiss as if to thank him for his compliment. Aside from the four horses, Eomer also insisted in handing over to the Fellowship some fresh bandages and salve to treat Boromir's wound in the future.
"Our humble gratitude for your assistance, my friend," Boromir gracefully thanked Eomer as the latter made to depart. "May we all meet again under better circumstances."
"I wish you and your companions well as you search for your friends," Eomer replied before he mounted Firefoot. After placing his helmet back on Eomer said to the Fellowship, "But do trust to hope." Eomer's eyes focused on the distant horizon as he bitterly remarked, "It has forsaken these lands." The Third Marshal then firmly ordered his eored, "We ride north!"
At his command, Eomer and the rest of the Rohirrim spurred their horses and rapidly left the Fellowship behind. Left only with their new mounts, the Fellowship's eyes focused on the thin column of smoke to the north-west. Aragorn turned and spoke to them.
"Until we find incontrovertible evidence that says otherwise," he firmly stated, "we must assume our friends are still alive and need our aid. To that end, we must investigate yonder pyre."
"We all vowed to pursue them while we had strength," Thor steely resolved. "Mine is barely spent."
The other Fellowship members nodded their agreement at the sentiment. Despite their resolve, the Fellowship did have one small problem though. There were six of them but they only had four mounts to ride. Given Graegwind had taken a liking to him, it was no surprise that Thor was his rider. Gimli found himself having to hold Legolas from behind as the Elf took the reins of the white horse. That left how the three Men would ride the two remaining horses.
"You can ride with me if you like, Steve," Boromir offered as he mounted one of the horses.
"It's ok thanks, Boromir," Rogers replied. "I can't ride a horse anyway. I'll just run."
Having mounted the other chestnut horse, Aragorn said to Rogers, "Yours is a noble offer, Steve. But no man can keep up with a good horse!"
Rogers and Thor shared a knowing smile. Their friends had educated them greatly over the last few days about Rohan and its people. Now it was the Avengers' turn to again amaze their friends with what they were capable of.
"I'll race anyone who doesn't believe me to the dead orcs," Rogers happily offered. "The loser has to search the pyre."
The only challenger to Rogers' claim was Gimli. The Dwarf was was still smarting from Thor's earlier teasing about his endurance. Gimli spurred his and Legolas's horse forwards without the Elf's consent. The Dwarf's actions did not escape Thor's attention. Rogers watched as Legolas and Gimli's horse galloped past him.
Before Rogers ran to catch up, Thor told him with a raised eyebrow, "Remember it was Gimli, not Legolas, who took up your challenge."
Merry, Pippin and Banner had continued through Fangorn Forest feeling somewhat relieved their captors had been destroyed and the horses they heard the previous night seemed not to be following them. Banner's slow recovery from the effects of the vial's potion meant they were not able to travel quicker than normal walking pace.
Fangorn was unlike any forest the three of them had ever experienced. It was comprised of many varieties of trees. The trees' thick branches resulted in little sunlight penetrating onto the forest floor. Banner thought Fangorn resembled the typical 'dark and dank' forest that one found in a lot of fairy tales. He was also surprised at how humid the forest was given that Middle-earth seemed to be of a temperate climate. Fangorn also gave the eerie impression that someone or something was always watching you. The three Fellowship members distracted themselves by trying to figure out why Saruman' forces had captured them. Banner walked between the two hobbits.
"You remember when we were spying on the Council, Pip?" Merry reminded his cousin "How Elrond said Saruman had betrayed the Free Peoples and wanted the Ring for himself?"
"Mm," Pippin hummed his recollection.
"And remember Gandalf didn't meet us in Bree because Saruman was keeping him prisoner in Isengard?" Merry continued.
"That was because Gandalf wouldn't tell him that Frodo had the Ring," Pippin recounted. "But not before accidentally revealing the Ring was in the Shire." As soon as he spoke these words, Pippin's eyes flashed in understanding. "If we use some old-fashioned Hobbit sense - Saruman knew that hobbits lived in the Shire, and a hobbit had the Ring, but not which one!"
"You guys should consider becoming private investigators," Banner observed with a wry chuckle as he pondered an agency named 'Brandybuck & Took'.
"What are they, Bruce?" Merry asked.
"People pay PIs to solve mysteries for them," Banner simplified the role's complexities.
"Well, we hobbits do like answering a good riddle," Pippin agreed.
"Well, see if you can solve this one for me," Banner challenged them. "You figured out why Saruman wanted you. Why would he want me? I wasn't even in Middle-earth when you had that council."
The two hobbits pondered Banner's question for a few moments before Merry spoke.
"The only other thing I remember was Gandalf saying Saruman was creating a new breed of orc," Merry recalled Council discussions. "Saruman wanted these orcs to be bigger and stronger than anyone else's soldiers."
"The way Gandalf spoke," Pippin added, "Saruman was doing this by mixing orcs with other monsters."
At the words 'mixing', 'orcs' and 'monsters' the trio began slowing in pace as understanding broke on Saruman's plan for Banner.
"Bruce," Merry slowly spoke their common realisation. "I somehow think it wasn't you that Saruman was really after…"
At Merry's words, Banner felt a rising lump in his throat. He ran a few quick paces to a fourteen-foot tall tree. The tree had grey and brown coloured bark as well as a large patch of moss on the side that faced the three Fellowship members. Banner rested his left hand on the tree's trunk for support as he vomited at its base. Merry and Pippin ran up to support him.
"You should've told us how sick you really feel, Bruce!" a worried Pippin told him.
After his vomiting stopped, Banner replied, "I'm ok guys. It's a just the tranq coming out of my system."
Banner's friends weren't particularly assured by his diagnosis.
"Neither of us are a doctor like you, Bruce," Merry said. "But you need to stop and rest!"
"Trust me, Merry, I've felt worse," Banner dryly remarked.
Pippin glanced quickly up at the tree before looking back at Banner.
"It couldn't have been much worse, Bruce," Pippin casually commented. "You've already woken the tree."
After a moment, the three of them realised the logical impossibility of what Pippin had just said. The Fellowship members looked up at the tree to see a pair of yellow eyes blinking at them. With its eyes open, the long strip of moss on 'tree' resembled a beard that grew from a wooden nose. The trio was too transfixed by what they were seeing to avoid the two branches the tree used like hands. Merry and Pippin were scooped up in one hand and Banner in the other. As they were pulled up from the ground, the three of them felt the tree beginning to move forward.
The tree fixed a suspicious gaze on the trio before saying in a deep, earthy voice, "Little Orcs! Burarum…"
Banner found it odd that, for some reason, the Other Guy didn't feel particularly threatened by this tree. The shock, however, did make Banner feel a flush of delirium.
"I'm in the grip of a walking, talking tree," he incredulously observed, mostly to himself. "This tranq's now making me trip out."
"Tree?!" the tree' indignantly repeated Banner's description of it. "I am no tree. I am an Ent."
The Ent did not understand Banner's idiom that described the tranquilliser effects though. Neither did Banner's two companions.
"A treeherder!" Merry quietly exclaimed. "A shepherd of the forest!" he added in wonder at realising the tales about the Old Forest must be based on fact.
"Don't talk to it, Merry, don't encourage it!" Pippin urged.
The Ent revealed its name. "Treebeard, some call me."
Pippin finally plucked up enough courage to ask where Treebeard stood on things. "And whose side are you on?"
"Side?" Treebeard repeated back. "I am on nobody's side because nobody's on my side, little Orc." The Ent then lamented. "Nobody cares for the woods anymore."
"Get your facts right about us," an annoyed Banner replied. "You didn't like us calling you a tree."
"We're not Orcs," Merry indignantly corrected Treebeard. "We're Hobbits!"
Treebeard turned his gaze at Banner before observing, "A Man, I know. But I've never heard of a Hobbit before. Sounds like Orc mischief to me!"
Merry and Pippin began grimacing in pain as Treebeard tightened his grip on them. They and Banner felt the vibrations from Treebeard's stomping feet as the Ent launched into an angry rant about recent events in Fangorn.
"They come with fire, they come with axes," Treebeard seethed. "Gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning! Destroyers and usurpers, curse them!"
Banner noticed Merry and Pippin squirming throughout this tirade.
"Hey, hey!" Banner slurred in anger at Treebeard. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size? I'd be happy to introduce to another guy."
Even the Other Guy appeared to ignore Banner's drug-induced bravo.
"No, you don't understand!" a pained Merry corrected Treebeard. "We're Hobbits! Halflings! Shirefolk!"
Treebeard slightly loosened his grip before conceding, "Maybe you are and maybe you aren't." Treebeard ominously then decided, "The White Wizard will know."
"The White Wizard?" Pippin nervously asked.
Merry's eyes widened in horror as he realised to whom Treebeard was referring too.
"Saruman!" he gasped.
Hearing that name, Banner began arguing with Treebeard, "That's a bad idea, your mossiness, for a whole lot of reasons!"
Almost immediately, Treebeard gently dropped the trio on the ground. They were at the feet of the White Wizard who was clad in a bright white robe. The three Fellowship members looked up into the wizard's face.
Banner dryly observed, "No debate - this is the weirdest trip I've ever had."
This chapter was a bit longer in length than I first planned as it only had two scenes in it. I hope no one finds any of the dialogue irrelevant to the story. It is important for plot development that both sets of Fellowship members figured out Saruman's intentions.
I stand to be corrected, but I can't recall in any of the movies if Captain America's running speed was given. From what research I have done, the consensus appears to be somewhere between 38mph to over 70mph. Given the stamina effects of Erskine's serum and that a well trained thoroughbred can run between 35mph to 40mph, I don't think Steve shall have much problem keeping up with riders in the Fellowship.
I am aware how the name 'Bruce Banner' is used in the context of drug abuse. Be advised I have not based any humour in this chapter on this metaphor.
[RD: I know Cap's technically employed by SHIELD at this stage of the Earth-199999 timeline. But I've a hunch his spiritual home lies elsewhere.]