Author's Notes: As promised! Here is chapter one, it's a little short and kind of boring but the next chapter will be much more interesting! Promise!
Chapter One
Isengard certainly had gotten a facelift. It looked more like a moat surrounding the citadel. There were large stones scattered sporadically and the smell of doused fires were everywhere. Around the outskirts I noticed the Ents wondering around the walls. Some were smashing various structures down, others were acting as lookouts for any sort of retaliation. Sauron would be very much angry to have lost Isengard. It was one of the few active footholds that he had out in Middle-Earth. Now that it was pretty much destroyed, the main forces would have to come out of Mordor itself. Personally not much of a better situation, the Mordor enemies were their own breed of creature.
The trip was quiet, save for the sound of moving water and the muted clopping of horse hooves on stone. As we approached Isengard familiar jovial laughter could be heard and I could smell tobacco burning. Someone was smoking something, the smell reminded me of the Shire. Turning the corner we saw the very two hobbits we had been roaming the plains for the better part of forever. Their cloaks were rolled and behind them as they both sat on the remnants of a broken stone watchtower. Both had a mug of something and their pipes packed and smoking.
"Welcome, my lords to Isengard!" Merry said ceremoniously.
I heard Gimli fluster with anger.
"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and smoking!"
Pippin tipped his mug at Gimli in unashamed acknowledgment and leaned forward.
"We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well-earned comforts…the salted pork is particularly good." Pipping slurred while stuffing his face with a sandwich.
From my spot on Arod I could see Gimli practically salivating.
"Salted…pork?"
I heard Gandalf mutter something and he looked a little irritated.
"We're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard," said Merry who was pointing back towards the citadel.
Merry took up a seat behind the horse Lord, whom was still giving me the side-eye every now and again. I would have to mention this to Gandalf, I was tired of being looked at like a beast. There were very few soldiers that gave me that look, most didn't mind my ability. Pippin took up the seat behind Gandalf as Gimli was seated behind Aragorn. We approached possibly the largest Ent I had laid eyes upon, he rippled with power as he strode to us, and he was old…very old.
"Hoooom, young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. "
Gandalf gave me a sideline look when I snorted at the title that was bestowed. He looked upset but I saw the familiar twinkle in his eyes.
"Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there is a Wizard to manage here, locked in his tower." Treebeard continued.
Aragorn looked up at the citadel.
"Show yourself," he called.
Gandalf too was looking up at the citadel.
"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf cautioned.
Gimli looked nervous.
"Well then, let's have his head and be done with it."
"No, we need him alive. We need him to talk." Gandalf stated staring at the citadel.
Coming forward at the top of the tower a man cloaked in white stood, leaning heavily on a black staff. A face I was familiar with, a face that had burned itself in my memory. It was no secret that the older of the two white wizards held distaste for me. He hated what I was and what I represented, that I wasn't his apprentice. He gave me the chills, even now at a distance. His voice was like ice down my back.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men Théoden King and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace you and I?" Saruman cooed.
I shivered involuntarily, I felt Legolas tighten his hold on me. The Horse Lord looked up to the white wizard from under his helm, his eyes stony and cold.
"We shall have peace. We shall have peace 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! When you have from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace!" The Horse Lord bellowed.
Saruman's face grew angry and cold again.
"Gibbets and crows! Dotard! What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me gess, 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!" He raged.
Gandalf seem unfazed by Saruman's tantrum.
"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."
Saruman straightened his face eerily blank.
"So you have come for information. I have some for you."
He reveals a Palantir. I flinched, those were dangerous in anyone's hands.
"Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the great eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon."
Gandalf pushes Shadowfax ahead slightly.
"You are all going to die! But you know this don't you, Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King!"
I bristled at that, who was he? Some kind of Seer to see the future. Aragorn looked up at the white wizard with little interest.
"Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are closest to him, those he professes to love! Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death."
I glared venomously at the old wizard.
"Nay, you speak of yourself," I hissed at him.
"I've heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!" Gimli cried.
I felt Legolas reach for an arrow. Honestly you'd see no tears from me if he had shot him.
"No! Come down Saruman, and your life will be spared!" Gandalf pleaded.
Saruman's face grew dark again.
"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!"
A bolt of fire comes flying at Gandalf, when the flames whither Gandalf and Shadowfax remained untouched.
"Saruman, your staff is broken!"
A splintering sound could be heard and it burst into tiny little pieces. A staff was a focus for a wizard, much of their power resides there. To have it broken was the same crippling the man, although he was not without other power he was still dangerous. Whimpering I could see the black smudge on the earth that was Grima Wormtongue, he was cowering behind Saruman.
"Grima! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down." Théoden said to the slimy man.
From my point of view I held little pity for the greasy haired man, he was leach and will follow anyone who would spare his life.
"A man of Rohan? 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? The victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you Théoden Horse Master. You are a lesser son of greater sires!" Saruman barked at the Horse Lord.
Théoden looked at Grima, pity etched on his face.
"Grima, come down! Be free of him!"
Saruman laughs with no emotion in his voice.
"Free? He will never be free!"
"No!" Grima yells at him.
Saruman spins on his heel and slaps Grima to the ground.
"Get down cur!"
I flinched as unwanted memories flow through my head, I felt Legolas's hands on my arms, trying to rub warmth in them.
"Saruman, you were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf bellows.
Saruman spins on Gandalf. I noticed something silver and glittering from the sunlight.
"You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!"
Before anyone had the chance to respond, Grima rises up behind Saruman and stabs the old wizard twice in the back, behind me Legolas placed a well-aimed arrow and it pierces Grima in the heart. Saruman fall from the tower, and is impaled on the great wheel below. The water turn red with blood. An ill-fated end, not the way Saruman intended to go at any rate. Gandalf turns to Théoden.
"Send word to all our allies and every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike."
Something was glittering in the water below.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here," Treebeard states.
"Pippin!" Aragorn called out.
Pippin pulls the Palantir from the water and stares into it. It holds his gaze.
"Bless my bark!" Treebeard exclaims.
"Peregrin Took!"
Pippin looks up at Gandalf suddenly.
"I'll take that my lad! Quickly!"
Pippin looks rather sheepish as he hands it Gandalf, he wraps it quickly in his robe. Gandalf stares at Pippin for a few moments before he turns away from him.
Did Pippin see something? Something tells me were going to find out.