Last Act of Love (Sequel to The Last One)

Chapter 20

"I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon." Pippin sighed.

"Green Dragon." Merry agreed.

"A mug of ale in my hand. Putting my feet up on a settle after a hard day's work." Pippin dreamed.

"Only, you've never done a hard day's work." Merry pointed out.

The two Hobbits shared a laugh as they sat on the half demolished wall, smoking and enjoying the spoils of victory. As their laughter died away, they looked out to the forest, they saw something they did not expect to see. Gandalf, Aragorn, Ruive, Legolas and Gimli, rode out of the forest. Pippin chortled like a drunken loon while Merry stood up with a beaming grin.

"Welcome, my lords," 

"And Lady." Pippin added, pointing to a smiling Ruive.

"To Isengard!" Merry gestured to the tower behind him.

"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you, feasting and... smoking!" Gimli ranted.

Aragorn and Legolas had smiles on their faces while Ruive struggled to hold in her laughter.

"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good." Pippin explained. 

"Salted pork?" Gimli drooled.

"Hobbits." Gandalf scoffed, shaking his head.

"We're under orders, from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard." Merry informed.

Ruive laughed and shook her head.

"Aye, there is never a dull moment with you two."

Ruive rode over so she was in front of them.

"Admit it, Ruive. You missed us." Pippin stated.

"Unfortunately, I did." Ruive admitted.

"Alright Pippin, on ya get." She ordered.

With the help of Ruive, Pippin climbed onto Kerberos behind her while Merry rode with Aragorn. They rode through the water and debris towards Saruman's tower where they were greeted by a very large and elderly looking trees.

"Young Master Gandalf. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there is a Wizard to manage here, locked in his tower." Treebeard droned. 

"Show yourself." Aragorn whispered, his eyes scanning the tower.

"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf warned.

"Well, let's just have his head and be done with it." Growled Gimli.

"I second that notion." Ruive hissed through gritted teeth.

It was Saruman's armies that slaughtered so many of Rohan's people, that killed Haldir and she wanted justice.

"No. We need him alive. We need him to talk." Gandalf said.

"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden King, and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?" 

Saruman revealed himself at the top of the tower. Théoden's next words were dripping with hate and poison.

"We shall have peace. We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg, are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace."