From the real world to Middle Earth *A Legolas love story*

Chapter 20: Fangorn Forest

Chapter 20:

We stop beside the pile of bodies and we all dismount the horses. We look through the bon fire, "its one of their wee belts" Gimli sniffs picking up one of the belts. Aragorn kicks a helmet and screams "we failed them" Gimli grumbles.
"No we haven't, we will find them" I say comforting Gimli.
Aragorn moves towards the ground spotting something "a hobbit lay here. And the other" he tracks, "they crawled" he continues, "their hands were bound" he tracks across the grass "their bonds were cut" picking up the rope, "they ran over here" he points out. "They were followed" he continues again "the tracks lead away from the battle... into Fangorn forest" Aragorn concludes. "Fangorn? What madness drove them in there?" Gimli wanders staring into the forest "erm maybe cause they were chased by Uruks" Braelyn states in a sarcastic tone making me giggle.

We were walking through Fangorn when Gimli picks up some liquid on a tree and places it in his mouth, "orc blood" Gimli spits.
"Yes taste the random liquid in the forest" I sarcastically say but pat Gimli on the back and he laughs. Aragorn follows the tracks with us following, "these are strange tracks" he finally says, "the air is so close in here" Gimli fearfully states with his axe up.
"The forest is old. Very old, full of memory and anger" Legolas explains looking around at the trees with so much kindness. I look at him and then it hits me maybe I do like him as more than a friend. But I am mortal and he is immortal. How would it work if I age and he doesn't. Thinking of this makes me tear up slightly. 

We suddenly hear groans echo through out the forest, I gasp at the sounds "what was that?" Braelyn asks looking round. "The trees are speaking to each other" Legolas answers her.
"Gimli!.. Lower your axe" Aragorn whispers as Gimli lowers his weapon.
"They have feelings my friend. The Elves began it, waking up the trees, teaching them to speak" Legolas reverently speaks, "talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings" Gimli speaks in disbelief making me laugh at the thought.

We continue onwards through this creepy forest, Legolas then runs off ahead and then stops and speaks elvish to Aragorn who replies in elvish as well and now I wish I knew elvish. "The white wizard approaches" Legolas whispers finally speaking in English, "do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us" Aragorn whispers back readying in his sword along with Gimli's axe and Legolas arrow. Legolas comes to stand in front of me in protection which makes me smile only slightly. "We must be quick" Aragorn whispers again as they swing to attack but a blinding white light stops them from attacking.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits." the figure says like a statement not a question, "where are they?" Aragorn orders.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the figure questions.
"Erm not really" Braelyn replies making me laugh actually out loud.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn yells and the white light decreases showing the figure... Gandalf!
"It cannot be" Aragorn whispers in disbelief,
"forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman" Legolas kneels down along with Gimli,
"I am Saruman. Or rather Saruman as he should have been" Gandalf explains.
"You fell"
"through fire and water, from the lowest dungeon to the highest peak. I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth... Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and a strayed out of thought and time. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done" he tells us of the story.
"Gandalf" Braelyn smiles, I didn't know they knew each other.
"Gandalf? Yes that's what they used to call me" he smiles back, "Gandalf the grey. That was my name, I am Gandalf the white. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide" he finishes and he leads us off back our of the forest.

I walk beside Braelyn "how do you know Gandalf, he wasn't here when you came?" I ask her. "Gandalf taught me spells and magic when I found out I was a wizard" she tells me which makes so much sense now. "Ohhh right got it" I laugh. "One stage of the journey is over, another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed" Gandalf exclaims showing us the way out.
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli shouts.
"We hear trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king" states Aragorn remembering what Eomer said. Gandalf stops "yes and it will not be easily cured" he says and carries on walking. "Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree infested..?" Gimli stops as hears the trees groaning like there responding to what he said, "I mean charming...quite charming forest" Gimli changes as he walks closer to us, "good save" I laugh.

 
"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 like an avalanche in the mountains" Gandalf explains and to be honest I didn't understand a word he said.
"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" he tells us I look at all the trees.
"Strong?! That's good" Gimli smiles nervously making me laugh again,
"so stop your fretting Master Dwarf." Gandalf sternly says, "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact they are far safer than you are about to be" he continues which makes us feel very comforted, not. "This new Gandalfs more grumpy than the old one" Gimli mumbles to himself. "Gandalf grumpy? Noooooo" I sarcastically say, Gimli and I laugh amongst ourselves.

Soon we exited the forest and I could feel the sun on my face again warming my skin. Gandalf whistles and a beautiful white horse came bounding towards us and behind we see our three horses trot back to where we are. "That is one of the mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell" Legolas says like he is under a spell himself.
"Shadowfax. He is the Lord of the horses... and has been my friend through many dangers" Gandalf says while climbing onto the horse along with the rest of us. I climb behind Legolas wrapping my arms round him as he gives me a dashing smile and the horses take off running towards Rohan.