Life is Precious
AN: So this is interlude 2. For reference, by interlude, I mean that the events in these chapters happen during the events of the main chapters. They're sort of like 'meanwhile' chapters. This one's a bit shorter than usual, but the second part will be a bit longer to make up for it.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.
Interlude 2, Part1:
Never once did Saruman speak a single word to him as they rode back to Isengard. However, that in itself told Gandalf something. By his own account, Saruman planned to summon the rest of the White Council to Isengard. The white wizard's continued silence could only mean he wished to wait until that meeting to speak further on this matter.
Silence, in this case, did not meet indifference. Throughout the entire trip, Saruman watched him like a hawk would its prey. Though the two had drifted apart in recent memory, mostly due to vastly different ways of looking at the world, Gandalf could still see the uncertainty in the white wizard. For the first time that he could remember, Saruman the White did not know what to think. Of this situation they found themselves in, they had no precedence to call upon.
One thing was certain, though. Based on the long hours of hard riding, the white wizard wanted to return to Isengard with all haste.
The silence was good for one thing, though. It gave Gandalf time to think. About what he might say to the Council to convince them he hadn't lost his mind. About Smaug and the girl he had end up bound to. But especially about Bilbo. He truly hoped the little hobbit was finding his new company tolerable, and that they were making good time back to the Shire.
Six days after leaving Edoras, the tower of Isengard became visible on the horizon, a spire of dark stone rising up from the depths of the forest. Soon after that, the two wizards crossed through the gate and onto the grounds. Up the stairs they went, the silence still permeating the air between them. As before, Saruman carried both his staff and the grey wizard's.
It wasn't until they entered the throne room that the first word Gandalf had heard in five days was uttered. "Why have you called us here, Saruman? Based on your message, the matter seemed urgent."
It seemed Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel were already here. The former stood on the left side of the room, fully bedecked in his armor, the sword Hadhafang strapped to his waist. Clearly, he expected trouble. The latter, however, stood on the right side of the room, wearing her signature white gown. Completely untroubled was she at first glance. Her guarded expression, however, hid a growing curiosity. "Why do you carry Mithrandir's staff, Saruman? Has he done something wrong?" She turned a knowing look upon the grey wizard, and he knew then that she, indeed, had known of his deed already when he and Bilbo stopped in Lorien.
As Saruman sat on his throne, all four doors shut simultaneously, causing a loud thud to echo in the chamber for a few moments. Once it was silent again, and once all eyes were upon him, the white wizard spoke. "Wrong? That would be an understatement of the grossest kind. We have just returned from Edoras. The city was attacked by Smaug."
Only Elrond was taken by surprise. "How is that possible? I thought he died at Laketown."
"As did I..." Saruman began. Then, he leaned forward and stared down Gandalf. "But Gandalf, it seems, saved his life."
"What!?" Elrond first looked to the white wizard to see if there was some mistake. Seeing none, he looked to Gandalf, and his expression turned serious. "Is this true, Gandalf?"
Gandalf sighed and nodded at his friend. "It is," he affirmed.
The incredulous expression Elrond leveled at him wasn't enough for Gandalf's belief to waver. No matter what the others may think, no matter what his punishment may be, he believed what he did was the right thing. "That dragon—" Elrond began, only to be cut off but Galadriel.
"The dragon is no threat to us." Her declaration had everyone turning to her in surprise. "In fact, he may become our greatest ally in time."
"With respect, my lady, you cannot know that," Saruman interjected. "Even bound to a mortal, a dragon can still cause much damage if given even half a chance. Two villages, I hear, were burned down, their residents disappeared without a trace. I spent weeks trying to puzzle out what happened, but it seems the answer was more obvious than I expected." That took the grey wizard by surprise. He hadn't heard of any villages being burned down. Apparently, his surprise didn't go unnoticed. "That's right, Gandalf. Already the dragon has claimed the lives of many innocent victims. The attack on Edoras only proves your decision to save its life was a foolish one. And now, it seems, we are left with but one option." Gandalf already knew what he was going to say before he even said it. "We must destroy Smaug once and for all."
"Now, wait just a moment," Gandalf argued.
"Gandalf," Elrond cut him off. "You cannot seriously think to defend the dragon? Months ago, when Thorin Oakenshield and his company came through Rivendell, it was you who feared the damage the dragon could do if allied with the Enemy, who we now know has returned. It was you who wanted the dragon destroyed. Now, you say, you wish it to live?"
"Yes." The simple answer took the elf lord by surprise, and he just stared at the grey wizard in open shock before recollecting himself. "I have many reasons for sparing his life. If you all would allow me to share them, I have no doubt that you, too, will understand my reasoning."
The other three shared glances for a moment before Saruman nodded curtly. With that, Gandalf began his explanations. "My first reason is quite simple. As you yourself stated, Lord Elrond, Sauron has returned. The Enemy, and his master before him, have long used dragons as weapons of war. Why can we not do the same?"
"Because dragons are evil, Gandalf!" Elrond snapped.
"If they are to be used as a weapon, they are no more evil than that sword strapped to your hip!" the grey wizard snapped back.
"A sword, even in the most talented of hands, cannot fell entire armies and destroy Kingdoms with ease."
"Precisely!" The elf recoiled in surprise, and Gandalf explained. "I fear for the future of Middle-Earth. Sauron may have been driven out of Dol Guldur, but he will not remain idle for long. In time, he will have recovered his forces and march on the free peoples again. Having a dragon on our side would increase our odds of victory tenfold."
"Long have we known each other, Gandalf, and never have I heard you propose something so drastic," Saruman commented.
"True enough," Gandalf acquiesced. "You and I have different beliefs on how best to keep evil in check. I say it is through the everyday deeds of ordinary folk. You say it is through great power. Well...what is more powerful than a dragon?"
"You forget the girl," Saruman pointed out. "You bound her to the dragon—without consent, might I add. What reason would she have to serve us when you single-handedly ruined her life? Her family were all killed."
"I highly doubt the word of that Captain was true. He had an ill look about him."
Saruman raised a single brow. "So you noticed it, too? Regardless of the truth, the facts remain the facts. Her family is dead as a result of your meddling. It could very well be that this girl could become a powerful enemy rather than an ally."
"That kind of loss could make even the purest of heart crave vengeance," Elrond agreed. "This is a dangerous situation. Do we even know where she is?"
"The dragon flew north after attacking Edoras, but that is all we know," Saruman informed him.
"So they could be in the Grey Mountains, or even the Withered Heath for all we know." Elrond sighed.
"Indeed." The white wizard's comment had the rest of them looking to him again. "But let us go back to you, Gandalf. You said you had multiple reasons for sparing the dragon?"
"I did." Though, to be brutally honest, that first one was probably the only one the others, especially Saruman, would care about. The other two were more sentimental than anything else. "The second, admittedly, is a personal belief of mine. I once told Bilbo it, as well, that true courage is knowing when to spare a life rather than when to take one. When I came upon Smaug deep within Mirkwood, he was on the verge of death. He had no strength left to defend himself."
"You pitied him..." It wasn't a question. It was an observation, one that clearly intrigued the Lady of Lorien.
The other two, however, were not as understanding. "You mean to say you found yourself before the dragon, with it unable to defend itself, and you elected not to end its life because of...pity?" Saruman's black and white way of looking at the world made Gandalf sigh in exasperation. "And instead you risked the very future of Middle-Earth by binding it, using a spell crafted by Morgoth himself, to a human girl."
"I think you may be overexaggerating things a little," the grey wizard remarked.
"For your sake, I hope you're right," Elrond snapped before Saruman could respond. "Something must be done about this. What, I cannot yet say. If she is an enemy, then Saruman is right. She and the dragon must be destroyed. However, if by some miracle, you are right, Gandalf, I would much rather have her and the dragon as an ally. Regardless of which path she has chosen, we must find her. It is dangerous to leave them in the wild for a multitude of reasons."
"You would accept Gandalf's actions, then?" Saruman asked, genuinely surprised.
"Accept? No. I believe he should have finished the dragon the moment he found it dying in the woods. But...what's done is done." He stood up straight and gave them his decision. "Like it or not, Smaug is still alive. I believe we should make the most of this situation we find ourselves in and make all efforts to have the girl he is bonded to as an ally. I'll not deny the risks involved, but at this point, anything involving a dragon is risky."
"And what of the people of Middle-Earth?" Saruman asked. "What are they to think when they learn we have allied with a dragon? Many will be unhappy about it." He turned to Gandalf. "Including your dwarven friends, I should think."
"We'll keep him hidden until we need him," Elrond suggested cautiously.
"That will not be possible," Galadriel spoke up, taking them all by surprise. "Already events are set into motion that will affect all of Middle-Earth. Greedy minds will hear of the dragon and crave his power for their own."
He could think of one such man already: King Fengel of Rohan. He didn't like the look in that man's eyes when he learned of the girl. "Then we must make sure we find them first."
With Elrond's resolution out there, Saruman stood. "Very well. Return to your lands. Do what you can to find the dragon." Elrond nodded, and Galadriel gave a polite dip of her head. Then, Saruman turned his gaze to Gandalf. "Gandalf will stay here with me until this matter is resolved lest he create another mess for us to clean up."
Gandalf's fears were justified, for to the east, schemes were being put into motion. In the city of Edoras, the King of Rohan's ambitions were growing like a dark grey cloud, one that promised a storm of unparalleled destruction.
The hour was late on the fifth day after the wizards departed, after he had learned the truth of the attack on his city. The sun had just fallen behind the horizon. Clouds obscured the stars and moon, poetic considering the King's current mood.
The dragon was alive...
And it was bound to a girl from his city, the daughter of one of his soldiers. By rights, he should command her service! The dragon's power should be his to wield! She was his subject, and he would not let her go so easily, not when she could be of use...
"Your Highness?" Fengel turned his gaze away from the northern horizon and turned to the soldier who had interrupted his musings. "Your dinner is getting cold..."
Fengel grunted and turned back to the horizon, the cold north wind beating at his exposed face. "As is the trail..."
"Majesty?" The confusion in the fool's voice made the King scoff.
"Send out riders to every village, town, city, and Kingdom north of us from here to the Grey Mountains, be they of Men, Elves, or Dwarves." he commanded. "Someone somewhere must have seen or heard of the dragon's passing. Search for signs but do not let slip what we are searching for. That dragon will be mine and mine alone."
Behind him, he heard the soldier salute. "As you command, Your Highness." With that, he turned and jogged away to spread his orders to those who needed to hear them.
Fengel would have his chance to become more than what he was expected to be. Of the two, Rohan had long been considered weaker than Gondor. They did not have the massive stone cities Gondor did. They did not have the manpower Gondor did. They did not have the flourishing markets that Gondor did.
What they did have was the finest horses and best calvary in Middle-Earth. But a fat lot of good those were in times of peace. "Peace..." he scoffed. "Bah! If Men were meant to remain at peace, he wouldn't have invented the sword..." There was much glory to be gained in war. But beyond that, there was much gold to be won, as well. The throne of Gondor he could take for himself. The vast treasure halls of Erebor, he could steal. Doubtless the dragon would be all too glad to follow that particular order.
History would remember his name, that he vowed. And he would achieve that remembrance through dragonfire if need be...
AN: What little information I could glean about King Fengel of Rohan pointed to him being a not so good guy. His greed and ambition were two points of interest that I decided to accentuate. For the time being, he'll be a major antagonist. Let me know what you think of his character and role if you have any thoughts or concerns about him.
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22