The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings one shots and Imagines Book II

The willow - Part 1 - Gandalf x Treebeard x Reader

They had all watched as Saruman had plummeted from the top of Orthanc. And now Gandalf had said that word needed to be sent out to their allies and all free people; there was something else that he needed to ask. Something that he knew that only Treebeard could tell him.

"The filth of Saruman is washing away." The old tree said as the body of the corrupted white wizard slipped below the dark water.

"Trees will come back to live here. Young trees......wild trees........."

"Treebeard.........."

"Young master Gandalf......?" The large tree replied as the wizard moved Shadowfax closer to him.

"Is she..........is she still alive...........?" Concern building inside of the wizard, as Treebeard looked to the forest.

"Saruman tried to find her. He sent his vile creatures out to try and destroy her; but we watched over her. She is safe, though she is not well. The water has become poisoned; but perhaps now.........." Treebeard explained solemnly. It obvious to all that whoever was being spoken about, she was not only important to, but cared about by the trees.

"I must see her, speak with her." Gandalf interrupted urgently. Treebeard slowly nodding before turning and heading back to the forest. The entourage following quietly after the tree.

"Who are you talking about.........?" Pippin finally enquired, breaking the sombre silence from his place behind Aragorn, earning himself another stern look from Gandalf.

"We are speaking of the willow. She is the last remaining Entwife in the whole of Middle-Earth." Gandalf explained. Merry and Pippin looking at one another at the information.

"But Treebeard said that there were no more Entwives. He told us that he could not even  remember what they looked like.........."

"I imagine that he did. The Ents are very protective of her, you see; he probably didn't want to admit that she was here, even to you, for fear of her safety. The trees have been watching over her since Treebeard went to the Brown Lands and found her there. The willow is the only one not to fall to Sauron in the Second Age. To not become an unintended victim of the War of the Last Alliance.........." Gandalf explained, as the group continued to make their way through the trees, towards Treebeard's Hill and the Entwash.

"And now that Saruman is gone, she will be one of the things that will encourage the new trees to come here, just as Treebeard said......though......." The wizard turning to look back at the rest of his party.

"Do not expect her to be like Treebeard and the other Ents. Entwives are different from their male counterparts, in more ways than one......." Gandalf continued, before turning his attention back to the path that Treebeard was taking. Leaving the others just to look at one another.

Little was known about the Entwives, even Legolas only hearing of them from the old  stories that were told. That they were sent by Yavanna to protect her trees along with their male counterparts and husbands, the Ents; yet before the Third Age, the Entwives had left their males, so that they could start a garden east of Fangorn Forest in what would become the Brown Lands; and following the end of the Second Age, they had apparently disappeared from Middle-Earth. But it would seem that the stories of none of them still existing, were false. Though how they could be so different from their male counterparts, all would have to wait and see. The group coming to a slow stop, as they finally arrived at the Entwash; Gandalf quickly dismounting the pale descendant of Felaróf, and making his way over to where something, or someone, lay under a pile of green leaves and moss.

"My lady (Y/n)." The wizard began, as he dropped to his knees by the female's side. Treebeard and some of the other Ents, watching as Gandalf carefully moved the creature. A small smile pulling at his lips, as she opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Gandalf..........?"

"Please, my lady; you must save your strength. Saruman is no more, and the woods will need you are your full strength. That, and I will have need of you." Gandalf replied, as he pulled her head onto his lap. The wizard knowing that Treebeard and the others were not going to like it,but he would have to take her away from the forest for a while. That he would have to take her back to Rohan with them, now that Saruman was dead, so they could prepare.

"If you have need of my help, then you have it. Though the Ents may take a little persuading." The willow replied, as she looked to the trees that were watching her and the wizard. Gandalf just smiling at her, before making his way to speak to the old tree.

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"I was expecting a tree........" Pippin said from behind Aragorn, as the group watched Gandalf talking to a beautiful woman, before he moved to speak to Treebeard and the other Ents that stood guard.

"I have heard it tell that Entwives could appear as trees; but at other times, could take the form of beautiful women. That as daughters of Yavanna, they were the most exquisite creatures ever created." Legolas replied, doing his best to get a better look at the woman that lay under the lush foliage. All eyes once more turning to the wizard, as he made his way back to Shadowfax; Gandalf pulling something from his bag hanging from the saddle, before handing it to a rather unhappy looking Treebeard. The trees moving around the woman and shielding her from the eyes of the males.

"Gandalf............?"

"I have spoken to Treebeard and the others. They will allow the willow to come with us. I believe that with a few days rest in Rohan, the lady will be recovered enough to be of assistance............"

"But how can this woman help.........." Éomer enquired, interrupting the wizard answering Aragorn's unasked question.

"This is no simple woman, Éomer. This is the willow. She is not only an Entwife, but she is a symbol of new life; do not underestimate what she is capable of; what she can do." Gandalf warned the Third Marshal of the Riddermark, as he climbed back onto Shadowfax. The wizard turning as the trees moved apart to reveal that the woman was now fully clothed and laid atop the leaves and moss. A hood brought up over her head, before Treebeard picked her up and placed her into the arms of Gandalf.

"Take care of her; and make sure to bring her back to us........." Treebeard warned. Gandalf simply nodding, before he turned his pale mount and headed back the way that they had come; with the confused rest of the group, trying to catch him up.