They walk along the forest. "One stage of your journey is over; another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed." Gandalf says. "Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli exclaims.  "We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Aragorn says.

"Yes, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf nods.  "Yes, and it will not be easily cured."

Gimli: "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 says but stops as the rumble of the tree.  "I mean charming, quite charming forest." He covers up with a small smile.  "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 an avalanche in the mountains." Glóreddhel says for the first time in a while since they met her again.

Gandalf nods. "A thing is about to happen here that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." Gandalf says. "Strong? Oh, that's good." Gimli huff. "So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. They are far safer than you are about to be." Glóreddhel sneers with a small smile.

Outside the forest, Gandalf whistles piercingly. Two answering neighs are heard, and a white and blue-black horse appears from the plain.  "That is one of the Mearas unless some spell cheats my eyes," Légalos says, and Glóreddhel chuckled. "The white is Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses. This one is LunaShadow. She's a gift from my land." Glóreddhel says and stokes The blue-black mare fondly.

They ride across the plains.

First one LunaMoon, second Shadowfax
———

Treebeard walks through the forest, carrying Merry and Pippin. "Oh, rowan mine, I saw you shine upon a summer's day.
Upon your head, how golden-red the crown you bore aloft." He hums softly, making pippin yawn.  "Such a beautiful verse." He says, if it is to himself or the two hobbits, I don't know.

"Is it much further?" Merry says. "Bru-a-room. Don't be hasty. You might call it far, perhaps. My home lies deep in the forest near the roots of the mountain. I told Gandalf I would keep you safe and, safe is where I'll keep you. I believe you will enjoy this next one. It is one of my compositions. Right, ahem." Treebeard huff and start humming on his composition. "Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves and the dreams of trees unfold
When woodland halls are green and cool, and the wind is in the west
Come back to me. Come back to me, And say my land is best." He hums, and soon Merry and pippin are asleep.

"Oh, oh. Sleep, little Shirelings. Heed no nightly noise. Sleep 'til morning light." Treebeard smiles and continues to walk.  "I have business in the forest. There are many to call. Many that must come. The shadow lies on Fangorn. The withering of all woods is drawing near. The trees have grown wild and dangerous. Anger festers in their hearts. They will harm you if they can. There are too few of us now. Too few of us left to manage them." He says and places the two hobbits down on the soft grass.

———

Gandalf and Aragorn survey the night sky. "The veiling shadow that glowers in the East takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-Dûr, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reached him: the heir of Númenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become. And so he'll strike hard and fast at the world of men." Gandalf says to Aragorn.

"He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge, for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The King's mind is enslaved. It's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Théoden is now firm. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose." He continues.

"But for all their cunning, we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden, and that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so, the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest." Gandalf adds.

"Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone." Gandalf ends and looks at Aragorn. "He is not alone. Sam went with him." A voice suddenly says behind them. Glóreddhel. She stands leaning on a tree while looking at the sky.  "Did he? Did he indeed? Good. Yes, very good." Gandalf says and grins lightly.

———

Frodo and Sam have reached the Black Gate.  "The Black Gate of Mordor!" Gollum wails and hides his eyes on his hands. "My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he saw this," Sam says.  "Master says to show him the way into Mordor, so good Sméagol does, the master says so," Gollum says to Frodo, who looks at the gate.  "I did." He agrees.

Orcs are patrolling at the Gate.  "That's it then. We cannot get past them." Sam says sadly. An army of Easterling soldiers marches to the Black Gate, yelling a call-and-response marching song. "Za dashu snaku Zigur, Durbgu nazgshu, Durbgu dashshu!" (Hail, Sauron, Lord of the Ring, Lord of the Earth!) they sing. Gollum is terrified and covers his ears. A command is heard, and an orc blows into a horn.

Two trolls pull the gate open.  "Look! The gate, it's opening!" Sam says. "I can see a way down." He continues and moves closer to the edge and leans forward. The rock under him gives way, and Sam falls.  "Sam! No!" Frodo calls and jumps down after Sam. "Master!" Gollum calls after Frodo. Two Easterling soldiers see streams of dust coming down the cliff and move away to investigate.

Frodo reaches Sam, who is stuck on the screen. The Easterlings move closer.

Frodo throws his elvish cloak over himself and Sam. The soldiers stand directly in front of the hobbits. The soldiers leave, and Frodo throws back the blanket and pulls Sam out. "I do not ask you to come with me, Sam," Frodo says and looks at Sam.  "I know, Mister Frodo. I doubt even these Elvish cloaks will help us in there." Sam says. They prepare to make a run for the Gate.

"Now!" Frodo says, but Gollum pulls them back.  "No! No! No Master! They'd catch you! They'd catch you. Don't take it to Him." He exclaims.  "He wants the Precious." Gollum ends.  "Always he's looking for it. And the precious is wanting to go back to him." He says again. "But we mustn't let Him have it," Gollum says. Frodo tries to make a run for it again, but Gollum pulls him back.

"No! There is another way. More secret and dark way." Gollum says. "Why haven't you spoken of this before?!" Sam snarls. "Because Master did not ask!" Gollum says plainly. "He's up to something," Sam says.  "Are you saying that there is another way to Mordor?" Frodo says, ignoring Sam. "Yes. There's a path and some stairs and then a tunnel." Gollum says.

Gollum strokes Frodo's arm and buries his face in Frodo's cloak.  "He's led us this far, Sam," Frodo says and turns to Sam. But som shakes his head.  "Mister Frodo, no!" He says softly.  "He's been true to his word," Frodo says more to himself than Sam. "No!" Sam says.  "Lead the way Sméagol," Frodo says, ignoring Sam again.

"Good Sméagol always helps," Gollum says and starts to lead them the way. Sam stares at Frodo in disbelief.

———————
End of chap:)

-Saph