An Olympian's Daughter

Ents

Merry awakes in a forest glade. Pippin is drinking from a stone dish. "Hello? Treebeard? Where has he gone?" Merry calls out for the ent, "I had the loveliest dream last night. There was this large barrel, full of pipe-weed. And we smoked all of it. And then you were sick. I'd give anything for a whiff of Old Toby." A groan is heard. "Did you hear that? There it is again. Something's not right here. Not right at all." Pippin gives a growling burp. "You just said something... treeish." Merry quirks an eyebrow, "No I didn't. I was just stretching." Pippin stretches and two more groans come from him.

"You're taller." "Who?" "You!" "Than what?" "Than me!" Merry hollers at Pippin, "I've always been taller than you." "Pippin, everyone knows I'm the tall one. You're the short one." "Please, Merry. You're what, three-foot-six? At the most? Whereas me, I'm pushing three-seven, three-eight." "Three-foot-eight? You did something."

Merry grabs the stone bowl and drinks. "Merry, don't! Don't drink it. Merry! Treebeard said that you shouldn't have any." "I want some!" "It could be dangerous! Give it back! Merry!" The hobbits trip over the roots of a tree. The roots begin to close in on them. "What's happening?" Pippin calls out. "Gah! It's got my leg!" Merry hisses in pain. "Merry!"

The tree roots cover them up. "Help!" Treebeard approaches the tree. "Away with you. You should not be waking. Eat earth. Dig deep. Drink water. Go to sleep. Away with you." The tree releases the hobbits. "Come, the forest is waking up. It isn't safe."

Treebeard is carrying the hobbits through the forest. "The trees have grown wild and dangerous. Anger festers in their hearts. Black are their thoughts. Strong is their hate. They will harm you if they can. There are too few of us now, too few of us Ents left to manage them."

Pippin asks only in curious nature "Why are there so few of you when you have lived so long? Are there Ent children?" "Bru-ha-hroom. There have been no Entings for a terrible long count of years." Treebeard states matter a factly. "Why is that?" Merry asks.

"We lost the Entwives." "Oh, I'm sorry. How did they die?" "Die, no. We lost them. And now we cannot find them. I don't suppose you've seen Entwives in the Shire?" Treebeard asks, "Can't say that I have. You Pip?" "What do they look like?"

"I don't remember, now." Treebeard tries to think back on it . Merry and Pippin and Treebeard are moving past Isengard. "Look! There's smoke to the south!" "There is always smoke rising up from Isengard these days." "Isengard?" Merry aks. Treebeard reflects on early days "There was a time, when Saruman would walk in my woods, but now, he has a mind of metal and wheels."

The hobbits climb higher to get a view of Isengard. "He no longer cares for growing things." The hobbits spot the Uruk army.

"What is it?" Pippin asks looking over at Merry "It's Saruman's army! The war has started."