Chapter Ten, Fangorn Forest

The Fellowship watched the Rohrrim ride away North before getting onto the horses they had been gifted. Aragorn helped his beloved onto the horse with him as he struggled a little it seemed the long run had greatly affected him and he couldn't help but feel guilty. Once everyone was on horseback they rode to where they saw smoke coming from the burnt carcasses of Urkai searching for their friends.
"It's one of their wee belts," Gimli said when they reached the burning carcasses. "Hiro îth...ab 'wanath," Legolas whispered softly. "May they find peace in death," Calén translated, noting Boromir's curious eye. "ARRRGGGHHHH!" Aragorn shouted, falling to his knees.
"We have failed them," Gimli muttered closing his eyes as Legolas and Calén clasped his shoulders. Aragorn's eyes widened from his position on the ground quickly seeing something on the ground.

He crawled forward to get a closer look as everyone followed him. "A Hobbit laid here. And another. Their hands were bound." Aragorn continued following the trail. "Their bonds were cut. The tracks lead away from the battle."
"Fangorn Forest?" Gimli asked. "What madness led them in there?" Calén shrugged his shoulders and started walking into the forest intrigued to visit another forest that wasn't his home, the others following him. "These are strange tracks," Boromir frowned once they were all in the forest.  "The forest is old," Legolas said. "Very old. Full of memory...and anger. The trees are speaking to each other."

"Gimli I think it would be wise to lower your axe." Calén suggested as heard the angry murmuring of the trees. Gimli started from Calén to Legolas who were both looking up at the trees listening to what was being said, until the murmuring became angry enough that he and the others could hear it. His eyes widened and quickly lowered his axe, as soon as he did the murmuring stopped.
"Melant," Calén whispered urgently. "Nad nâ ennas."
"Man cenich?' Aragorn asked.
"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas replied. Aragorn and Boromir drew their swords. Legolas and Calén drew their bows. Gimli raised his axe.

"Do not let him speak," Aragorn instructed. "He'll put a spell on us. We must be quick!" Legolas, Gimli and Calén let their axe and arrows fly which immediately dropped to the ground. While the rest all dropped their swords as they became blisteringly hot. A figure was covered by a blinding light. "You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," the figure said.
"Where are they?" Boromir demanded. He squinted in an attempt to see through the light.
"They travelled this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"Who are you?" Aragorn demanded. "Show yourself." The light dissipated. Gandalf was left standing where it once was. "Gandalf!" Calén exclaimed having heard much about this wizard from his mother as he was a dear friend of hers.

"Ah, you must be young Calén." Gandalf smiled. "Your mother has told me so much about you other the years and I can see what everyone has been saying. You do truly have the purest of hearts I have ever seen! There is not one bit of hatred in you." Gandalf smiled at the young Elf causing him to blush slightly as Aragorn pulled him into his side gently noticing his strength was beginning to wane. Gandalf then recounted the story of how he battled and defeated the balrog. "Gandalf...yes, that is what they used to call me. I was Gandalf the Grey. Now, I am Gandalf the White. And I come to you at the turn of the tide." Gandalf threw a grey cloak over his shoulders. "Come, we must make our way to Edoras, Saruman has ensnared the mind of the King for too long." Gandalf said hurriedly as they exited the forest Gimli grumbling that this new Gandalf was more grumpy then the old one.

"No." Aragorn said firmly causing everyone to stop and stare at the future King.
"Aragorn we need to free the King of Rohan from Saruman's clutches if we do not-"
"Yes we do." Aragorn agreed. "However we do not need to do it at the expense of Calén's life. I will not let him be taken from me because we pushed him too far! And I promised Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn I would look after him he is my One Gandalf you know what that means for him." Aragorn argued he would not be persuaded from his decision. Gandalf looked to Legolas, Gimli and Boromir to see if they agreed with him over Aragorn but unfortunately for him they agreed with Aragorn for not only Calén but also for themselves as they were exhausted from their three days and nights pursuit of the Urks. Gandalf sighed relenting and they finally settled down for the night.  

***

The following morning once everything had been put away and all existence that they'd been there was gone, they all climbed back on their designated horses. Gandalf let loose a long whistle, and his horse, Shadowfax came running forth. "That is one of the Mearas," Legolas unformed Calén who looked on in wonder as he walked over petting the snout of the horse. "Hello, Shadowfax." Shadowfax neighed and butted his head into Calén's hand. "Be careful what you say to the king," Gandalf warned as he pulled himself up onto Shadowfax. They set off at a fast pace trying to cover as much ground as possible as they rode to Edoras.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli grumbled as they rode through the gates of Edoras not a sound was made as they rode through everyone was quiet and subdued not even the children ran about playing. They pulled up beside the stables climbing off the horses and giving them to the Stable-hands to be looked after while they were here. "Ah," Gandalf smiled as the group finished climbing the steps. "Hama."
"I cannot allow you into the hall of Theoden-King so heavily armed, Gandalf Greyhame, by order of Grima Wormtongue." Gandalf nodded and gestured for the others to remove their weapons. "Your staff," he reminded Gandalf.

"You would not part an old man from his walking stick, would you?" Gandalf asked innocently. Boromir decided to help him feign old age and grabbed his left arm for support. Leaning heavily on Boromir, Gandalf entered the hall with the others following. "Gandalf the Grey is coming, my lord," Grima announced. "He is a herald of woe."
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden-King," Gandalf said simply.
"He is not welcome," Wormtongue hissed in Theoden's ear.
"Why...should I welcome you...Gandalf Stormcrow?" Theoden wheezed.
"A just question my liege," Wormtongue agreed. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."

"Be silent!" Gandalf commanded. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I did not pass through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf raised his staff, and Wormtongue was blasted back. "I told you to take his staff!" Grima shouted. The guards started to surround the companions. Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and Calén knocked all the men to the floor stopping them from getting to Gandalf. Eowyn burst through the door at all the commotion looking around she went forwards to intervene but Boromir held her back. "Wait." He hissed.  Gandalf moved to stand directly in front of Theoden. "Theoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf thrust his staff forward, sending Theoden back into his throne.

"Hearken to me, and I shall release you from the curse!" Theoden began to laugh in Saruman's voice. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" Gandalf threw his cloak off his shoulders. "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Eowyn tried to rush forward, but Boromir caught her around the waist. "Be gone!" Theoden fell to the ground. Eowyn rushed forward as Theoden's features began to deage, his hair turning a wavy dirty blonde instead of a white, kinky mess. "I know your face," he whispered to her. "Eowyn...Eowyn." She nodded, smiling.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if the grasped your sword," Gandalf said. Hama rushed forwards and handed Theoden his sword. "Where is my son?" Theoden asked. Eoywen looked heart broken as she explained to her uncle what had happened to her cousin.

Theoden walked over to where Grima was quivering on the ground. Signalling for the Guards to remove him from his Hall and away from him as he was the cause of his son's death and the banishment of his nephew and the Rhoirim he had Grima removed and thrown ceremoniously down the steps. "I've only ever served you, my lord," Grima begged.
"Your leech craft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast," Theoden scowled. He raised his sword. "No, my lord!" Aragorn called. "Enough blood has been shed on his behalf. Let him go free." Aragorn held out his hand to Grima to help him up. Wormtongue spat on it and fled. Aragorn's nose wrinkled in disgust as he wiped his hand on his pants. "Hail, Theoden-King," Hama shouted with the rest of the guards. Theoden waved to them all and asked them to prepare for his son's funeral immediately.

At the end of funeral Theoden King abs Gandalf stood outside of his son's tomb everyone left to do their own things to give the King some time to grieve for his son. While Gandalf tried to reassure and comfort the King in his time of need as he sobbed for the loss of his son. When a horse appeared in the distance carrying two young children the oldest of the two, a young boy falling off of the horse due to exhaustion. Spotting the two children King Theoden and Gandalf found out who they were and what had happened before carrying the exhausted children into the throne room. Upon entering the throne room the King quickly got the two children food, water and blankets as they were freezing.

When Eoywen and Calén entered they rushed over to the children comforting them while they ate their soup and had their fill of water. While Gandalf tried to instruct the King on Saruman's plan and the best course of action to take. To say that Gandalf didn't like the Kings plan was an understatement. A few hours later found the Fellowship and the people of Rohan journeying to Helm's Deep. Gandalf had gone in search of Eomer and the Rohirrim.

End of chapter

Translation:
*Elvish: Melant. English: Love.