Hope ↠ LOTR

II. Found

The four companions ventured into the forest in search of Merry and Pippin, stepping over the large roots that poked out from the ground. The tracks of the Hobbits had left them and they were left searching for another trail. Gimli noticed a black substance smeared against one of the leaves, reaching out to dip his fingers in it before pressing it to his mouth and spitting it out, causing Athena to grimace at the display.

"Orc blood," he told them all with disgust in his tone.

"These are strange tracks," Aragorn commented while kneeling down and examining them.

"They look like a tree," she whispered, crouching down beside him and running her fingers along the large and jagged outline.

"The air is so close in here," remarked Gimli.

"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory... and anger," Legolas commented with his eyes scanning the foliage around them.

There was a groaning sound from the trees which caused everyone to look up in wonder, Gimli picking up his axe and holding it close to himself from the fright that the sound invoked in him.

"The trees are speaking to each other," Legolas continued.

"Gimli. Lower your axe," Aragorn commanded him.

Athena stepped back a little to avoid his swinging axe, Gimli immediately sending her an apologetic glance while he lowered it back down so as not to seem threatening to the trees that were having a conversation around them.

"They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it, waking up the trees, teaching them to speak," Legolas explained, in awe at what was happening around them.

"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about hm? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings."

"Become a tree and you may find out for yourself," Athena told the Dwarf before they were interrupted by Legolas.

"Athena, Aragorn, nad no ennas! [Athena, Aragorn, something's out there!]"

"Man cenich? [What do you see?]" Aragorn asked quietly when they had moved away from their original position to look at what was coming their way.

"Naha mellon ben gûd? [Is it friend or foe?]" Athena asked afterwards.

"It is no friend. The White Wizard approaches," he answered both of their questions.

"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," whispered Aragorn to all of them. Their hands slowly moved to their weapons. Aragon pulled out his sword, Gimli held onto his axe, Legolas nocked in an arrow and Athena pulled out the dagger from her boot. "We must be quick."

The four of them spun around to face a blinding white light that rushed towards them. Gimli threw his axe, Legolas shot his arrow, and Athena threw her dagger—all three attacks were effortlessly deflected. Aragorn didn't have a chance to swing his sword because it began to glow a fiery orange, the metal heating up until his hands could no longer take the heat and he dropped it to the ground.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," the White Wizard stated, his voice deep and authoritative. It was unmistakably the voice of Saruman.

"Where are they?"

"They passed this way, day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" His voice changed throughout his words, becoming kinder towards the end.

"Not exactly," Athena grumbled, one arm shielding her eyes from the bright light that emanated from the figure in front of them.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn commanded him.