It was in fact true that Piglet and Gopher were perfectly safe. Eeyore had in fact presented them to Merlin, and they had been amazed to see him still alive. It turned out that Eeyore and Merlin were old friends and he confirmed that they were not on the side of those 'tree-cutting goblins' as Eeyore referred to them. He had brought them to a spring so they could all get a drink and asked them what had brought them to his woods.
While the two friends didn't tell him about the Ring, they described in best detail as they could the travels they had. Eeyore showed interest in the Mines and their time with Simba and nodded in understanding when they talked about their friends. He didn't ask them why they had started their treacherous travels or what it was they were traveling to. They talked to them how the goblins had captured them and that they were supposed to be taken to Isengard where Jafar was supposed to be. It was here that Eeyore's tired-looking eyes seemed to widen.
"I remember how Jafar used to walk in the forest, but he doesn't seem to do that anymore. The trees tell me how he now seems to care more for machinery. Perhaps we must act now. We must gather the other Ents, I cannot face Isengard alone," said Eeyore.
Meanwhile…
Merlin was leading Aladdin, Robin Hood and Grumpy up to what appeared to be a great hall surrounded by many smaller houses. Surrounding the settlement was a wooden gate, patrolled by various guards. They could see large flags waving in the breeze with a large white horse emblazoned upon them.
"Where are we heading?" asked Grumpy.
"This is Rohan, home of the horse lords. Merlin, I think the true question is why are we here?" replied Aladdin.
"We have business to attend to here, their ruler, King Stefan I fear is under the control of Jafar," replied Merlin in a hushed whisper. They rode up to the gate, dismounted their horses and with Merlin leading them, they came up to the front entrance of the gate. They were stopped there immediately by a group of guards.
"Who are you?!" demanded one of the guards.
"I am Merlin, and these are my companions, Grumpy, Robin Hood and Aladdin, whose monkey's name is Abu," replied the wizard.
"We recognize your steeds, they were bred by our own kinsfolk, where did you come upon them?" asked another guard.
"Phoebus lent us these two, if you want them back, I'm sure that an be arranged, but no thief ever rides back to the stable," replied Robin Hood.
"We have business with your master, King Stefan, if you will let us pass, and I assure you there will be no trouble," continued Merlin.
"Very well, you may pass, but don't try anything funny inside this gate, there's been strange going-on's," said the first guard. The companions lead their horses down a cobblestone path up to the hall where they were allowed to hand them to some stable hands. Merlin still leading the way, they came up to front entrance where once again they were stopped by guards. Merlin once again introduced themselves and stated they had business with the Master of the Hall.
"If you wish to have an audience with King Stefan, you must lay down your arms," one of the guards said.
"Well, that's just dandy, but we will abide by the rules, won't we lads?" said Robin Hood gruffly as he took off his bow and arrows, laid them by the wall and then surrendered his dagger.
"If Robin Hood, is willing, so am I, as long as it has my friend's bow and arrows for companionship," replied Grumpy who laid his pickax by Robin Hood's quiver. Merlin then surrendered his sword. Aladdin knew and understood that Merlin's sword was of royal lineage, so he removed his sword and propped it up against the wall before taking off his own bow and arrows and knife.
"Nobody is to touch that sword, I am its sole keeper, it once cut the flesh of the Horned King himself," warned Aladdin.
"Don't worry, we will make sure no one lays hand on it, and your monkey will have to give up his knife I'm afraid," said one of the guards.
"Abu, you do as they say," Aladdin told the monkey who removed his knife from his back and placed it with his master's quiver before returning to Aladdin's shoulder.
"Oh, and you will have to give up your staff, Master Merlin," said another guard.
"My staff? Surely you would not part an old man from his walking stick?" asked Merlin.
"Well, in the hands of a wizard, a staff may be more than mere support, but I suppose not, my father leans on a walking stick as well," said the same guard before they allowed the companions entry. The hall was quite beautiful, made from carved wood, the original architect had made a point to use horse motifs frequently. They could see what appeared to be an old decrepit man sitting upon his throne at the end of the hall, on his left side was a young woman with long blonde hair and sitting near his right hand was a red parrot. They approached the throne without saying so much as a single word.
"King Stefan, we come to you with warnings and with hope that you may grant us help! Armies are forming in Mordor and at Isengard. War is upon you; your people are in grave danger! You must summon up your army!" Merlin announced. King Stefan didn't seem to say anything for a moment, but then he looked up with milky white eyes saying: "You have no power here, Merlin."
"Darn right he doesn't, the King will not hear your counsel! He has alliances with Jafar! Isengard will not trouble his kingdom!" the parrot announced.
"Jafar has become treacherous; you must not trust him! Do not dare listen to Iago!" warned Merlin. Iago looked over at Merlin and his eyes seemed to grow wide.
"You nitwits! You were supposed to take the wizard's wretched staff!" he announced. The guards that were in the hall were about to jump Merlin but the wizard's friends proved themselves to be perfectly capable of fighting without their weapons. Robin Hood proved how his own tail was deadly sweeping one opponent off his feet while he clobbered another with his bare paws. Aladdin, having been taught dirty and unfair fight moves from the streets of Agrabah managed to use his opponents' weapons against them. Grumpy was tough for his size and caught a few guys between the legs and used his size to make some guys run into each other. Merlin continued to approach King Stefan. Iago decided to fly away but was subdued and held down by none other than Abu.
"King Stefan, you have sat in the shadows long enough!" Merlin announced. He stepped closer, held out his hand and continued: "Hearken to me! I release you from the spell!"
"You have no power here!" said King Stefan. Suddenly, Merlin's robes seemed to ripple as he held his staff aloft. Here, the blonde woman ran towards Merlin worried that he might do something terrible, but Aladdin quickly held her back.
"Wait!" he told her.
"I will draw you Jafar, as poison is drawn from a wound!" announced Merlin. He pointed his staff at Stefan who now seemed to struggle. Then a voice not belonging to the king escaped from his lips.
"Rohan is mine! If I go, Stefan dies!"
"Nice try, but you didn't kill me, and I know you're not going to kill him!" the king hissed and practically leaped at Merlin who just bopped him gently on the head, and suddenly, Stefan's face became younger, his beard went from a pale gray to a magnificent black. Aladdin let the woman go and she ran to grab Stefan who looked like he had just awoken from a terrible nightmare.
"Eilonwy, I feel as though a dark cloud has been lifted from my eyes," he said before looking at his hands, they were still that of an old man's.
"I believe if you held your sword again, your hands would better remember their strength," suggested Merlin. Eilonwy quickly grabbed a sword that rested by Stefan's throne and handed it to him, light shone from his hands and their complexion matched his face, he smiled.
That smile didn't last long as he walked to where Abu was still holding down Iago the parrot.
"So, Jafar has been using you to get to me, feeding me poison and causing my people to suffer! I should end you now! But I will let you go; you mean naught to me and I've no wish for bloodshed in these halls! Bring a message to your master that Rohan is no longer his, and there are good people willing to stand up for what is right!" shouted Stefan. Abu released the parrot who flew out of the nearest window.
"Merlin, it is good to see you again, I don't know if you've met my adopted daughter Eilonwy, she has remained incredibly loyal to me. Far more than I deserve, although her brother Phoebus is not here, I fear because of that wretched bird and Jafar's orders through me, he and his crew have become outlaws," said Stefan sadly.
"We have met Phoebus, and he has been fighting goblins for the protection of your kingdom, if you could reconcile with him, I'm sure he would show that he is still loyal to you," said Aladdin.