EPIC: A Demigod's Tale by Frodo Baggins

Chapter 12

At the break of dawn, Tara was taking a stroll through the woods, as she often did, enjoying the fresh morning dew that covered the plants and flowers growing between the trees. Squirrels and sparrows frolicked through their forest playground, squeaking and chirping merrily. Tara always felt like a brisk walk first thing in the morning helped to clear her head and invigorate her mind and body for the long day of work ahead. She thought of the recent troubling news that had been going around lately about the state of the galaxy. Hardly any of it was good, and Tara had a feeling things would get worse before they got better. White flower petals swirled around her suddenly, and a dryad appeared in front of her, blocking the path ahead. Tara gave a friendly wave, expecting the dryad to wave back and then disappear on the next gust of wind, but she was surprised when the dryad neither returned her wave nor vanished from sight. 

"I bring a message," the dryad said. 

"Oh, okay," Tara said. "What is it?"

"The wizard Saruman has betrayed those who fight to protect the galaxy," the dryad said. "He plans to join forces with Sauron and the League of Villains, and to claim the one great Ring for his new master. Gandalf recently learned of this plan. It is he who has sent word, for he has been imprisoned by Saruman at the top of the Tower of Orthanc."

"What?" exclaimed Tara, trying to see if she could spot someone standing on the top of the bleak tower, but she couldn't make it out through the thick foliage overhead. 

"Gandalf wishes for someone to rescue him, if possible," the dryad said. 

Tara gaped at her. "Th-thank you for telling me this."

The dryad nodded before the flower petals dismantled from their vaguely human form and dispersed on the wind in a white flurry. 

Tara's mind whirled as she raced back to her office. Saruman was the Minister of Magic; could he really do something so vile as to team up with the evil lord Sauron? Whatever the case, she had to rescue Gandalf as soon as possible. She needed to inform the League of Heroes about this right away...and perhaps request them to send some help. She might be able to fend off Saruman for a bit, but she didn't think she'd be able to defeat him by herself just yet. After all, if even Gandalf the Gray, one of the greatest wizards of all time, had lost to the white wizard, then what chance did she stand against Saruman? He had been appointed Minister of Magic because of his great skill and mastery with magic. I have to contact the League of Heroes right away and tell them of this new development, and then we can come up with a plan, she thought.