The second trek through Fangorn was far more pleasant than the last, for one, nobody was missing or presumed dead. Sabine an Ezra were on Markth, while Hera and Kanan shared Vadam, Zeb and Chopper on Kalluth, Gimli and Legolas shared Hasufel, Aragorn rode Brego, Gandalf on Shadowfax, and Theoden on Snowmane. Ezra still seemed a bit wary of the woods, seeing as the last time he saw them they had killed an entire army of Uruk-hai.
Ezra was talking to Sabine as Aragorn rode by, he heard the word "Lothal" and asked suddenly, "Ezra, you often all speak of a 'Lothal', what is it?" while continuing to ride through the woods. Ezra laughed and said "It's my home planet, or, eh, 'realm'", "Oh" contributed Theoden "What is your home like?". "Well" said Ezra "It's mostly grassland, kinda like Rohan, we have lots of giant rocky mounds, lakes, rivers, and Lothcats everywhere!" Sabine laughed and Legolas asked "What in the name of Yavanna is a Lothcat?" Hera answered this time, saying "Their small, cute, have adorable faces, and with those two cuts on his face Erza looks a little like one!" Everyone laughed and Ezra blushed, "Well, at least…at least…urgh!" stuttered Ezra, unable to create a comeback. So they continued through the woods.
At length they found themselves approaching the shattered gates of Isenguard, where two small and very familiar figures were sitting and talking. Upon seeing Gandalf and the others they raised their mugs and laughed with delight, "Welcome my lords and ladies, to Isenguarrd!" Merry says as he stands, pipe clutched in one hand.
Gimli yells "A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you feasting, an-and smoking!". Pippen replies "We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well earned comforts." Merry adds "The salted pork is particularly good…" "Salted Pork" replies Gimli, whose mouth mirrors Zebs, both are watering.
Gandalf shakes his head and says "Hobbits" while everyone else smiles, Merry then continues "We're under orders, from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isenguard." Then they notice Ezra sitting behind Sabine, and both yell out "Ezra!" clambering down from the gate "You got away!" evidently happy to see their fellow escapee safe and sound, "Yeah, apparently I killed the orc following us and blacked out in the brush, Hera found me the next morning." The hobbits laughed and Merry slapped Pippen on the shoulder.
They passed through the ruined gate and saw an incredible sight! Trees! Walking about and talking. Ezra and Sabine couldn't help but stare, and Zeb only pretended like it wasn't the most interesting or outlandish thing he'd ever seen. They approached a seemingly older Ent with a beard of moss and leaves who said "Hoooom, Young master Gandalf", Ezra whispering "Did he just call Gandalf young?", "I'm glad you've come, wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there's a wizard here, locked in his tower." They all looked at the tower whose appearance seemed to say "Evil inside". Gimli for one simply said "What do we care, let him rot!" "Show yourself" whispered Aragorn, then Gandalf said "Even in defeat Saruman is dangerous" Gmili now saying "Well, let's just have his head and be done with it" "No, we need him alive, we need him to talk" said Gandalf , seemingly disappointing Gimli, Ezra, Zeb, and Sabine, who had just about had enough of the traitorous White Wizard.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden King, and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel as we once did, can we not have peace you and I?" came a voice from a white figure emerging from the top of the tower. Kanan's eyes, however, went completely wide, that man sounded just like the Confederacy leader, Count Dooku! No one else noticed however and he shook his head and listened.
"We shall have peace…" said Théoden "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 hang from a gibbet, for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace."
From on high Saruman sneered and yelled out "Gibbets and crows! Dotard!", "And what of you Gandalf Greyhame, 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!"
"You're 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" said Gandalf, "You have come for information, I have some for you" said Saruman as he pulled out a black orb, whose mere sight seemed to give Kanan and Ezra visions of a blasted wasteland, and a mighty flaming eye. Ezra nursed his head. "Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth, something you have failed to see, but the Great Eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage, his attack will come soon. Saruman then said with certainty 'You are going to die." At that Sabine clutched Ezra's hand, remembering her vision in Lorien.
"But you know this, don't you Gandalf." Saruman continued "You cannot think that this ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor, this exile from the shadows will never be crowned king! Nor will your salvation come from the stars, our new ally will contact his former masters and bring legions beyond number to Middle-Earth and beyond, all shall fall under Sauron. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love! Tell me, what words of comfort did you tell the Halfling before you sent him to his doom, the path you have set him on can only lead to death."
"I have heard enough, shoot him stick an arrow in his gob" shouted Gimli, and Legolas reached for his quiver. "Yeah!" and "Do it!" came from Ezra and Sabine respectively.
"No!" yelled Gandalf "Come down Saruman, and your life will be spared" Saruman yelled back "Save your pity and your mercy, I have no use for it!" and proceeded to hurl a ball of fire at Gandalf, Ezra and Kanan however managed to grab the ball with the force and hurl it back, Saruman barely dodging.
"Saruman, your staff is broken." Gandalf said with an air of authority, and Sarumans staff shivered and shattered. Then the greasy man, Grima Wormtongue, crept out beside Saruman.
Theoden shouted out "Grima! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now, you were once a man of Rohan, come down."
"A man, of Rohan?" Saruman began "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 Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Theoden 'Horse Master', you are a lesser son of greater sires."
"Grima…" Theoden said calmly "Come down, be free of him"
"Free? He will never be free!" shouted Saruman, "No" said Grima, then Saruman said "Get back, CUR!" and slapped Grima to the ground.
"Saruman, you were deep in the enemy's counsel, tell us what you know!" shouted Gandalf, "You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided, I will not be held prisoner here!" shouted back Saruman
Suddenly Saruman stiffens as Grima appears, repeatedly driving a dagger into Saruman's back. Legolas shoots an arrow into Grima's gut and he keels over backwards. Saruman moans and topples from the spire, impaling himself on a spiked wooden wheel below with a sickening, squishy thud.
Everyone but Gandalf stares as his body begins to pull the wheel around and places his body under water. "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!" says Gandalf.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away, trees will come back to live here, young trees, wild trees." Says Treebeard, Pippen is wading through the water and produces from the depths the black orb Saruman had held. "Bless my bark!" says Treebeard, and Gandalf quickly adds "Peregrin Took, I'll take that my lad. Quickly now!"
So after a few more minutes they ride out toward Meduseld, with two missing companions back along for the ride.
Merry Christmas, and thanks to you all!