𝐈𝐋𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄̈ || A.

𝟎𝟏𝟓 ⸺ the white rider

Gimli puts his finger on a blood-stained leaf and tastes it.
''Orc blood,'' he says, spitting the blood. Aragorn, Iladya, Legolas and Gimli make haste through the forest. Aragorn pauses to examine the ground.
''These are strange tracks,'' Aragorn mentions.
''The air is so close in here,'' Gimli says.
''The trees are speaking to each other,'' Legolas says, listening to the sounds.
''Gimli! Lower your axe,'' Iladya commands. Gimli glances at his raised axe and realises what she means.
''Oh!''
''They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak.''
''Talking trees? What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings.'' Iladya's ears started to move.
She turns to Aragorn, ''Aragorn, nad no ennas.'' Aragorn turns to Iladya and leans in,
''Man cenich?'' His gaze shifts to her ears, seeing they move back and forth. She glances up,
''The White Wizard approaches.'' Aragorn's gaze hardened,
''Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us.'' Aragorn grips his sword, Gimli grasps his axe and Legolas and Iladya load their bows with an arrow. ''We must be quick,'' he whispers.
They quickly turn around and are greeted by a brilliant white light. Gimli throws his axe, which is deflected. Legolas and Iladya fire an arrow, again deflected and Aragorn's sword turns red hot so that he drops it.
''You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits,'' the voice of Saruman speaks from within the white light. No form can be made out of it.
''Where are they?'' Aragorn asks.
''They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?''
''Who are you?'' Aragorn asks in disbelief. ''Show yourself!'' Gandalf steps out of the white light and reveals himself all dressed in white robes with a white staff.
''It cannot be,'' Aragorn gasps. Iladya, Legolas and Gimli bow down.
''Forgive us. We mistook you for Saruman,'' Iladya apologises.
''I am Saruman,'' Gandalf says. ''Or rather, Saruman as he should have been.''
''You fell,'' Aragorn breathes.
"Through fire and water,'' Gandalf grunts. Gandalf fought the Balrog on top of Durin's tower.
''From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth.'' Gandalf holds up Glamdring as a flash of lightning strikes it, and he plunges it into the Balrog who falls from the peak and lands on the snowy slopes below.
''Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside.'' Gandalf was lying on the snow with a bloody nose. ''Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time.''
''I have been sent back,'' Gandalf says. ''Until my task is done.''
''Gandalf,'' Aragorn breathes.
''Gandalf?'' he asks, looking puzzled. ''Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.'' He smiles.
''Gandalf,'' Gimli says.
''I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now ... At the turn of the tide.''

All five walk through the forest. Gandalf now wears a grey cloak over his white robes.
''One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed,'' Gandalf urges.
''Edoras? That is no short distance!'' Gimli claims.
''We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king,'' Aragorn mentions.
''Yes, and it will not be easily cured.''
''Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here ... In this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested? I mean, charming ... Quite charming forest,'' Gimli changes his words after he heard groans from the forest.
''It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones ... that starts an avalanche in the mountains,'' Gandalf says. Once Gandalf said that, Iladya thought of Galadriel, who spoke exact those words to her.
''It is one thing you have not changed, dear friend,'' Aragorn says, causing Gandalf to look curious.
''You still speak in riddles.''

''A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up ... And find that they are strong,'' Gandalf says.
''Strong?'' Gimli gasps, causing the forest to groan again. ''Oh, that's good.''
''So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be.''
''This new Gandalf is grumpier than the old one.'' That made Iladya softly snort.
They are outside the forest now as Gandalf whistles a long high loud whistle. From the distance, a great white horse comes galloping towards them.
''That is one of the Mearas ... Unless my eyes are deceiving me by some spell," Iladya gazes in awe. Gandalf greets the bowing his head to him and stroking him.
''Shadowfax,'' he says. ''He is the lord of all horses ... And has been my friend through many dangers.'' Gandalf mounts his horse and the other four do the same. They all ride off at great speed to Edoras.