Disclaimer refresher: I don't own the Elf, Dwarf, Ranger, Wizard, any orcs or other foul creatures. In other words, Tolkien owns almost all. I own Kaitlyn, Derrick, Megan and Tammy and not much else.
Chapter 20: The White Wizard
A gentle voice was speaking far away. The language sounded familiar but it took several attempts to understand and even then, she did not fully comprehend the words. Some one was touching her hair, running their long fingers through the strands as they sang a tune that she was not familiar with. She felt warm and safe, something that she had not known in a long time.
Slowly, Kaitlyn's eyes fluttered open. The voice stopped speaking and the fingers no longer stroked her hair. She felt loss at their absence.
Her sleep-blurred vision noticed long straight tendrils of blond hair dangling beside her face. She smiled as she realized that she was in Legolas' arms. She pushed her cheek a little closer to his chest and basked in the feeling of being safe and secure. But the feeling did not last long. Thoughts of Merry and Pippin' entered her mind and Kaitlyn felt sadness and concern.
She tried to sit up, only to learn that an arm was draped around her and she couldn't move. She also realized that her clothes were damp and the cool morning air made her shiver.
"I had hoped that the warmer air would dry us, but alas it is not so." The Elf gently pulled his cloak over them both though it was still damp as well.
Kaitlyn glanced up and looked into Legolas' eyes. The edges of his lips curled into a smile.
"It will be warmer today," he told her glancing to the east.
It was still very dark, but light was just beginning to creep on the line of the horizon.
"Are you hungry, Rodwen?" Legolas asked.
"If it's lembas for breakfast, no, I'm not," she teased with a gentle laugh.
Legolas chuckled softly and released her. He watched as she sat beside him, stretching and making noises that amused the Elf.
"Lostannech maer?" You slept well? he inquired.
Kaitlyn smiled. "Yes, thank you." She pulled her damp hair back and tied it with a piece of leather to make her more presentable. The rain had made her feel refreshed and not quite so dirty, but she frowned when she looked at Legolas. The Elf's clothing was still damp, but his hair, which had been unruly after the rain shower was now perfectly in place.
Legolas sensed confusion from her and opened his mouth to ask what troubled her when she silenced him by speaking first.
"When are we going to go after the Hobbits?" she asked throwing a glance at the nearby forest.
Legolas' dark eyebrows rose. "You are anxious to leave so soon?" he asked.
She nodded and reached for her pack. She unzipped it and unwrapped a leaf of lembas. She broke two small pieces off of it. One piece she handed to Legolas, who nodded his thanks and the other, she began to eat.
The bread had grown well beyond stale and the rain, which had soaked her pack, made the lembas crumble on her tongue.
Legolas offered her a drink from his leather skin, but she waved him off, mumbling with a full mouth that she was fine.
After swallowing the lembas she said, "Yes, I'm very anxious to leave." She felt guilty for cuddling up to Legolas all night while her poor friends were in a dangerous place and being hunted by the enemy.
"Good, because we are to depart in a few moments time."
Legolas and Kaitlyn looked to see that Aragorn was standing a few feet from them. The Ranger's hair was very curly due to being damp and his clothes were still wet as well.
The Elf had heard the man approach, but Kaitlyn had not. Feeling that she was sitting a little too close to Legolas, she inched away and then looked up at Aragorn who was gazing at her curiously. The expression faded quickly however, and Aragorn suddenly appeared tired.
"They are many hours ahead of us. We will need to keep a sharp eye for tracks and clues as to the direction they traveled in. We should remain close. The forest could be dangerous," he looked at the mortal woman as he spoke his last few words.
Kaitlyn nodded.
"When shall we leave, mellon nin?" Legolas asked.
"Just as soon as I awaken Gimli," the Ranger said and a small smile appeared on his face.
When they entered Fangorn, Kaitlyn had not been ready for the overload on her dull human senses. There were strange smells, constant noises that made her jumpy and every motion whether it be the moving of the leaves or of cobwebs drifting in a breeze, made her nervous.
The borders of the forest had been heavily vegetated forming a natural wall to discourage travelers. She and the others were covered in small scratches and cuts from fighting their way through.
Once inside the forest, it was slightly more open, but it was dark and the giant gnarled trees seemed to reach out to grab at you.
Kaitlyn stayed close to her companions though none of them offered any comfort. Aragorn led the group, Legolas was busy giving his attention to the trees and Gimli did his best to find his own clues.
Kaitlyn watched as the Dwarf stopped beside a bush.
"What have you found, Gimli?"
The Dwarf reached for the dark gooey substance that covered some of the leaves and poked it with his gloved fingers. He brought the substance to his mouth and quickly spit it out. "Ptt! Orc blood!" he called.
Kaitlyn made an expression of disgust, the skin on her face and nose wrinkling. She hoped that the Dwarf didn't mean to start tasting everything. Megan had once made her watch a show about a Canadian Mountie and a Chicago police detective who had teamed up to solve crimes. The Mountie used the strangest methods to track criminals and one of those had been tasting things.
Kaitlyn sighed and shrugged to herself. It had worked for the Mountie, perhaps it would work for the Dwarf.
She followed her companions in silence over the moss and leaf covered ground. The men seemed to have no trouble leaping over roots and vines that were in their way, but Kaitlyn was not so fortunate.
Her foot caught in an uplifted tree root and she fell hard on the ground.
Her cry caused the others to stop and turn and Gimli quickly rushed to the woman's side.
She was sitting up and was clutching her ankle.
Aragorn frowned at the sight. They couldn't afford to be slowed down due to an injury, but they also could not leave her in Fangorn. It would be cruel and he doubted that Legolas would allow it. The Elf and mortal woman had become good friends and it would tear the Elf apart to be separated from her.
"Lass, are you all right? That was a hard fall," Gimli stated.
"You don't have to remind me, Gimli," she told him through clenched teeth. She was embarrassed enough as it was. Her face was bright red. Half due to embarrassment and half due to discomfort.
Ignoring the pain that was shooting up her ankle and leg, she got unsteadily to her feet.
"You are in distress," Legolas said aloud. The Elf frowned openly as worry crept into his soul.
"I'll live. I don't think it's broken. Just bruised," she told him in annoyance and Legolas frowned further.
Legolas did not like when Kaitlyn attempted to hide things from him. It was a lost cause because he could almost always sense how she felt.
Kaitlyn started to move forward and Gimli and Legolas both moved to assist her but she refused their help.
The Elf grimaced at her stubbornness, but he did not argue with her. He watched her move in slow steps and was relieved when he noticed that her pain and unease began to diminish. She had not harmed herself so badly that she could not travel.
Aragorn was relieved when the limp and discomfort in her walk lessened. The Ranger turned back to the direction he had been traveling and led the way. He picked up his pace and Legolas fell behind him, with Gimli and Kaitlyn trailing. Once again, they leapt over obstacles in their way. This time Kaitlyn stopped and walked over them.
Suddenly, Aragorn stopped. He knelt, his hands skimming over the forest floor. The leaves were damp from the rain and the smell of decomposing foliage hung in the air.
"These are strange tracks," Aragorn said.
Legolas moved beside the Ranger. "Indeed," the fair Elf replied. The earth had been imprinted with tracks, but boots or hobbit feet had not laid them. They were a mystery to the Mirkwood Elf.
"The air is so close in here. It makes it difficult to breathe," Gimli said, his gloved fingers toying with the hair of his long beard.
"This forest is old…," Legolas said, his eyes scanning the forest. They widened as his Elven ears heard things that the others could not. "Very old…" he continued and his voice became softer. His brows furrowed.
Kaitlyn watched him. His lean body had become tense. His fingers gripped his bow more tightly. His hair had dried over time and the long strands moved about his shoulders in a small breeze that swept through the forest.
"Full of memory…" he whispered. The Elf swallowed hard, his eyes widening at the sounds. He glanced around, his heart beginning to beat faster. "And anger."
"Oh…Dwarves were not meant to travel in enchanted forests." Gimli groaned. A terrible feeling had settled in his stomach.
There was an odd sound that filled the air. It was similar to that of creaking tree limbs, but with a deeper and louder tone.
Kaitlyn shivered at the sound of it and her eyes widened. She clutched the shoulder straps of her pack tightly.
Gimli raised his ax and swiveled about as if he meant to strike out at something.
Aragorn and Legolas glanced up into the trees that towered over them.
Legolas swallowed again, his heart racing with anxiety. "The trees are speaking to each other," he said aloud.
"Gimli!" Aragorn called in a hushed voice. "Lower your ax."
Gimli felt uncomfortable with the idea of lowering his weapon, but he did as he was told.
Legolas turned to the Dwarf. His blue eyes sparkled with an unknown emotion. "They have feelings my friend," the Elf told him. Legolas glanced up again and into the branches of the trees. "The Elves began it long ago. Waking up the trees. Teaching them to speak."
Kaitlyn's arms fell to her sides and her jaw had dropped open. She meant to speak, but the words would not form.
"Talking trees," Gimli muttered as if reading the mortal woman's mind. The Dwarf seemed disbelieving and he was still worried so, he hid it with sarcasm. Walking forward a few paces he said, "What do trees have to talk about, hmmm?"
Legolas frowned at the Dwarf's tone.
The Dwarf glanced at Kaitlyn who was still looking up at the trees with disbelief. She looked at him and tilted her head, the long dark hair of her ponytail falling over her shoulder.
"Other than the consistency of squirrel droppings!" he teased lightly.
Kaitlyn tried to laugh, but it didn't come out quite right. The sound she made was that of a nervous sigh.
The Dwarf stepped up beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. He could feel the tension. Her muscles were taut with fear and worry. "We shall find them, lass," he told her. "Not even talking trees could stop us."
Kaitlyn smiled genuinely at his words and fell into step beside him. The pain in her ankle was but a dull ache now that only served to annoy her.
Legolas frowned as he watched the mortal woman and the Dwarf walk together, but try as he might, the Elf could not understand why it plagued him so.
Legolas only let it trouble him a few moments longer. His body went rigid, the muscles in his jaw clenching as he sensed something that the others did not. The Elf looked to Aragorn.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas," he said and quickly he moved forward, taking a few rushed steps.
Gimli frowned not understanding the Elvish that was spoken. He looked to Kaitlyn.
"He said that there's something out there," she translated.
"Of course there is," Gimli said, his brows lowering. He had a mischievous look in his dark eyes. "There are talking trees all around us." He leaned in closer to Kaitlyn and glanced at the nearest tree. "Perhaps that tree there has told him a good recipe. Perhaps it knows how tired we are of eating Elvish bread." He raised his brows, once again hiding his nervousness with sarcasm.
Normally, Kaitlyn would have laughed at the Dwarf's teasing, but this time she did not. Her eyes were on Legolas' form. She knew the Elf's expressions and body language well enough to know that he was worried. That in turn caused her to grow concerned.
"I think it's something else, Gimli," she said to the Dwarf. Her mouth suddenly felt dry.
Aragorn stepped beside Legolas. The Ranger scanned the forest, but saw nothing. "Man cennich?" he asked. What do you see?
The Elf nodded forward. "The white wizard approaches."
Kaitlyn froze as the words tumbled from Legolas' tongue. The Elf did not sound pleased and it made her worry double in intensity.
"We must not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn replied.
Legolas gave a slight nod and with lightning speed fitted an arrow to his bowstring.
"Gimli, what's going on?" Kaitlyn asked, not bothering to hide her fear.
"Trouble. Draw your sword," the Dwarf commanded. The lightness of his tone had been replaced with a firm, serious voice.
Kaitlyn swallowed and drew her Elvish sword. She glanced forward, knees bent, body arched forward as her companions were positioned. She didn't know what to expect. She did not know who or what the white wizard was, but her companions were worried. As with all they had met so far, this wizard appeared to be a possible enemy.
She swallowed again, praying that hundreds of orcs did not follow this wizard out of the woods.
A blinding white light appeared at the top of a nearby boulder and without a second thought, Legolas drew his bow back and fired at it. The arrow flew backwards and away from the light in an unnatural manner. Aragorn attempted to charge with his sword, but his weapon began to grow red hot. With the metal burning into the flesh of his hand, he had no choice but to drop his weapon to the ground.
Kaitlyn and Gimli gripped their weapons and waited for the attack, but it never came. For what felt like several moments all were still, holding their breath.
A deep voice spoke from the bright white. "You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits."
"Where are they?" Aragorn cried out. One of his hands was held in front of his face, to shield himself or his eyes, his companions did not know.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the voice asked.
"Who are you?" Aragorn called out. "Show yourself!"
Kaitlyn felt her heart pounding in her chest. Was this some kind of game? Was this man, this creature, biting time and distracting them while something greater came out of the trees? Feeling uneasy, Kaitlyn edged closer to Legolas. She swallowed hard. She was gripping her sword so tightly that her palms and fingers had grown sweaty. What was she planning on doing with the sword anyway? She had already proven several times that she was no warrior.
She glanced hesitantly toward the surrounding forest, her heart racing faster with each passing moment. But what happened next was something she would never have guessed or believed possible in a billion years.
The light surrounding the figure on the rock dimmed slowly leaving a tall man with white hair, a white beard and gentle blue eyes. He was dressed in white robes and held a white wooden staff.
Aragorn moved forward slowly. The Ranger could not believe what his eyes were seeing. "It cannot be," he whispered, shaking his head.
Gimli's eyes widened.
Legolas looked bewildered and guilty. "Forgive me," he whispered and he lowered to his knees. "I mistook you for Saruman."
Gimli bowed.
Kaitlyn was too stunned to do anything but stare straightforward with her mouth hanging open and her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"I am Saruman," the familiar voice said. "Rather Saruman as he should have been."
Aragorn swallowed hard. "You fell."
"Through fire and water." The voice said and he began his tale. "On the last dungeon on the highest peak I fought him. A balrog of Morgoth. " The blue eyes took on a far off gaze as the voice continued to speak. "Until at least I threw down my enemy and smelt his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. The stars wheeled over head and every day was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again." The man stood up taller, holding his staff like a mighty cane at his side.
"I've been sent back, until my task is done."
Aragorn stepped forward. The Ranger no longer seemed to be in shock. He was pleased to see the white wizard. "Gandalf…" he whispered.
Kaitlyn inhaled sharply at the name.
"Gandalf?" the man asked, his brows knit with confustion.
Kaitlyn felt her heart drop into her stomach. She knew it was too good to be true. This man couldn't possibly be Gandalf. Gandalf was dead and this man cruelly resembled him.
Suddenly, the man smiled. "Yes. That was what they used to call me."
Aragorn nodded slightly.
"Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
"Gandalf," Gimli nodded happily.
The wizard smirked. "I am Gandalf the White and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."
All eyes turned to Kaitlyn when the white wizard said his name. The mortal woman had fallen to her knees and she was sobbing hard, her hands covering her face.
"Do not cry, child."
Kaitlyn removed her hands and realized that Gandalf was crouching down in front of her, balancing himself on his staff.
"I don't cry because I'm sad," she told him. "I cry because I'm happy. I don't how this is possible or if this is a trick, but you've come back to us."
"This is no trick." The wizard cupped the woman's cheek and felt the warmth of her skin.
Gandalf smiled and he laughed as Kaitlyn threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas grinned at the sight of the mortal woman and the wizard holding each other.
"No more tears now. I am here and your Hobbit friends are safe," Gandalf reassured her with a gentle stroke of his hand on the flat of her back.
Kaitlyn pulled back and looked into Gandalf's eyes. "You've seen them? Where are they?" Her eyes were wide.
Gandalf gently wiped a tear that was trailing down the woman's face with his thumb. "They are with one who is a lord, if you will, of this forest. No harm will come to them in his care."
Kaitlyn laughed. "This is so wonderful."
Gandalf smiled as he stood. He didn't have the heart to tell her of what was to come in the gathering days. The wizard wrapped himself in a cloak similar to the ones that Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and Kaitlyn wore. "Let us depart," he announced.
For once, Kaitlyn didn't ask to where and why. She happily pranced beside Gandalf and the others, the pain in her ankle forgotten. Merry and Pippin were safe and Gandalf wasn't dead. Life was becoming much better.
"One stage of your journey is over, another begins." Gandalf said, beginning to take long strides. "We must travel to Edoras with all speed."
Kaitlyn frowned. She had hoped now that the Hobbits were safe that they were finished. That perhaps they would settle down for a bit, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Edoras?" Gimli asked. "That is no short distance."
Kaitlyn stopped dead in her tracks. She didn't like the sound of this at all.
Legolas stepped beside her, tearing his attention away from the trees.
"What is it?" he asked her gently, peering into her eyes.
Kaitlyn watched as Aragorn and Gandalf spoke in hushed voices.
"We have no horses," Kaitlyn said turning to Legolas. "Am I the only one that remembers that?"
Legolas opened his mouth to reply, but Kaitlyn wasn't paying attention to him any longer.
"We have heard that things go ill with the King." Kaitlyn heard Aragorn say to Gandalf.
"Yes, and it will not be so easily cured," the wizard replied.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing!" Gimli complained. "Only to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree infested-" The Dwarf stopped speaking as the deep creaking noises from earlier could he heard rumbling around them once again.
"Eh, I mean charming…quite charming… forest," he said, feigning a smile.
Gandalf turned to face the Dwarf. " It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years."
Legolas lifted his eyes to the trees and Kaitlyn watched the Elf intently. He had an innocent expression of wonder on his face and Kaitlyn could not help but stare. The Elf was like a perfect piece of art that one would gaze at for hours on end in a museum.
"The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that start an avalanche in the mountains," Gandalf continued.
Gimli looked away and his eyes fell upon Kaitlyn and Legolas. They were standing close together now and the mortal woman was gazing intently at the Elf.
Gimli glanced back at Gandalf heaving a great sigh.
"I know one thing. You have not changed dear friend," Aragorn told Gandalf.
The wizard was gazing up into the great branches of the trees. "Hmm?" he murmured and he leaned closer to the Ranger.
"You still speak in riddles," Aragorn whispered.
The two shared a short laugh and then Gandalf looked out at the forest again. "A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Eldar days. He gazed up into the trees again. "The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong."
"Strong?" Gimli asked. He peered nervously at the surrounding trees. "Oh, that is good." He gave a short laugh to hide his uneasiness as he, too, gazed up into the trees.
"So, you can stop your fretting, Master Dwarf," Gandalf told him, shaking his staff at Gimli.
Gimli frowned and pursed his lips, watching as the wizard began to walk away.
Aragorn grinned and followed after Gandalf.
"Merry and Pippin are quite safe," Gandalf called. He turned to face the Dwarf again. "In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be!"
Aragorn looked back and smirked before continuing to follow Gandalf.
Gimli's head was lowered and his brows were drawn together. It was obvious that he was upset.
Legolas laid a hand on the Dwarf's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. He smiled and he and Kaitlyn walked in front of Gimli, leaving the Dwarf to stare at their retreating forms.
"This new Gandalf is more grumpy than the old one," Gimli muttered to himself. He trudged after his companions, but halted when he noticed something.
Kaitlyn and Legolas were walking very close together. Legolas was pointing to the trees with one hand and was speaking quietly to Kaitlyn. The two continued to walk close together and soon the Elf's other hand rested on her shoulder. Not long after that the hand fell to his side and his fingers entwined with hers. The woman seemed more at ease and she kept close to the Mirkwood Elf.
One of the Dwarf's eyebrows rose at the sight. "Now that is interesting," he said to himself and he stroked his beard with his gloved fingers.
"Very interesting…" he repeated and he followed his companions through the forest.
To be continued…
Some thanks are in order!
First off, big thanks to Magenta, Memlu, Unsung Hero, BritStrat, jester, Gothic Temptress from Marysia's boards. (apologies if I missed anyone)
And from ff.net reviews left for ch 19: Satiana, Magenta (again), Stokely, Stinky Stan, Lady Airetiliel, Jester (again), leggylover4ever, Blue Angel Samui, Vampiress-Alexiel, elvinears, yolanda, AH Smith, Dark Night Childe, hikage kitsune, ace, Yostamaca, Kage Miko, Lothliana, Yuki, YuemichiruNaragisawamiko (damn that's hard to type!) Many apologies if I missed anyone.
Also thanks to those who have e-mailed me. You know who you are. : )
The reviews and comments really help. Many thanks.