▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐈𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 to Isengard, travelling through the forests in silence. Ellaria glanced around as the tree's groaned. Something had awakened them, the Ents, and if the Ents were awaking from their long slumber it was safe to say that danger was ahead. A laugh echoed and Ellaria quickly followed the sound with her eyes. A bright smile pulled on her face when she saw Merry and Pippin sitting there, eating away and smoking their pipes. Merry stood. "Welcome, my lords and lady, to Isengard!"

     Ellaria laughed. "You're alive!"

     Pippin bowed, "And as well as ever, my lady." Ellaria smiled and shook her head at his antics.

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

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

     "Salted pork?" Gimli asked, mouth watering at the simple though.

     Gandalf only shook his head. "Hobbits."

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

     "Come on, you two." Ellaria called. Merry and Pippin jumped down. Ellaria held out her hand and Merry grabbed it, letting her pull him up onto her horse. Pippin climbed on behind Aragorn and they continued into Isengard where Treebeard stood at the entrance of the tower.

     When he saw them coming, he hummed. "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."

     "Show yourself," Aragorn muttered.

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

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

     Ellaria nodded. "I agree."

     "No," Gandalf dismissed. "We need him alive. We need him to talk."

     "Then can I place an arrow between his eyes?" Ellaria asked. Gandalf looked at her and she scoffed. "What? His creatures killed my friend."

     Saruman's voice came from above. "You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden 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?"

     "We shall have peace," said Theoden. "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."

     "Gibbets and crows? Dotard!" Saruman shouted back. "What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The Key of Orthanc. Or perhaps the Keys of Barad-dur itself, along with the crown of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards!"

     "Your treachery has already cost many lives." Gandalf answered. "Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel."

     Saruman raised his brows. "So you have come here for information. I have some for you." He held out a large sphere, shimmering and glowing with orange and black. "Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You're all going to die. But you know this, don't you, Gandalf?" Gandalf moved his horse slightly closer to the tower. "You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death."

     "I've heard enough." Gimli snarled. "Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob." Ellaria didn't hesitate to reach for an arrow but Gandalf held out a hand to her.

     "No. Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."

     "Save your pity and your mercy!" Saruman shouted. "I have no use for it!" He shot a string of fire at Gandalf and it covered him, yet caused no harm.

     "Saruman, your staff is broken." Gandalf called as the fire faded. Saruman's staff shook before it completely shattered.

     When Ellaria saw Grima appear at Saruman's side, she rolled her eyes. "Let me shoot that one at least."

     "Grima," Theoden called to him, "you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come down." Grima bowed and turned.

     "A Man of Rohan?" Saruman asked and Grima paused. "What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor  with the dogs? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Theoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires."

     Theoden stared at Saruman before forcing himself to look at Grima. "Grima. . . come down. Be free of him."

     "Free?" Saruman outraged. "He will never be free."

     "No." Grima shook his head.

     "Get down, cur!" Saruman yelled as he turned and slapped him, sending Grima to the ground.

     "Saruman!" Gandalf yelled. "You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!"

     "You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here." That's when Grima came up behind him, wrapping an arm around him and stabbing him in the back twice. Ellaria was quick to aim her arrow, letting it fly through the air. It hit Grima in the chest and he cried out before falling over. Saruman turned around, his eyes wide, before he fell backwards and landed on a spiked wheel right before them.

     "Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free." Gandalf ordered, looking at Theoden. "The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." The wheel Saruman had landed on began to move, slowly Saruman's body was spun into the water, the sphere he'd held earlier dropping from his sleeve and into the water.

     "The filth of Saruman is washing away," Treebeard said. "Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees."

     "Pippin!" Aragorn called, the young Hobbit having jumped off the horse and trudging through the water. He leaned down, picking the sphere up from the water and holding on to it.

     Treebeard's eyes widened. "Bless my bark!"

     Gandalf approached Pippin on his horse. "Peregrin Took." Pippin snapped his head towards him. "I'll take that, my lad. Quickly, now." Pippin hesitantly handed it to him and Gandalf wrapped it in cloth.

     "I believe our visit is done here." Ellaria hummed. "Let us leave this place." Gandalf nodded his head and they all turned and left, making their way back to Gondor where Theoden's people were waiting for him.

     The Golden Hall had been filled with tables filled with the townspeople. Ellaria took a seat beside Legolas, a small smile on her face as she watched Eowyn hand a glass of wine to Theoden who stood at his throne, Eomer at his side. Theoden raised his glass and they all stood. "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead."

     "Hail!" They all shouted, raising their glasses and sipping from it.

A celebration had begun and Ellaria had changed into a seafoam green dress that had small intricate designs on the bodice. The sleeves were long and made of lace, a slit on the right side. Eowyn had given her some green jeweled earrings to borrow, matching the color of the dress, a long with a small jeweled headpiece. Her hair flowed down to her back, two small braids connected at the back of her head. She stood there with an amused smile, surprised that Legolas had agreed to a drinking contest with Gimli.

     Eomer explained the rules. "No pauses. No spills."

     "And no regurgitation!" Gimli added.

     "So, it's a drinking game?" Legolas asked.

     Ellaria chuckled and placed a delicate hand on his shoulder. "Indeed, my love."

     Gimli raised his glass. "Last one standing wins."

     Gimli instantly began drinking and Legolas sniffed the drink, furrowing his brows and glancing at Ellaria. She only smiled and nodded at him encouragingly, and then he began to drink. Gimli was guzzling the ale down while Legolas was going at a more slower pace. Ellaria turned her head when Aragorn joined her side. Aragorn watched with an amused smile. "How did you manage to convince him to do this?"

     "That was all Gimli," Ellaria replied. "I am simply here for moral support."

     Gimli belched and then laughed. "Ah! It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women." He laughed again and continued drinking.

     As Legolas finished the drink he was on, he looked at his hand. "I feel something. A slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me."

     Gimli slammed his finished drink onto the table, his speech slurred. "Eh, what did I say? He can't hold his liquor." His eyes then went cross-eyed and he fell backwards.

     Ellaria laughed and Legolas rose his brows. "Game over."

     Aragorn and Ellaria shared an amused glance before Aragorn walked off. Ellaria reached forwards and grabbed Legolas's hand. "Come on, you idiotic elf." He took her hand, letting her lead him through the crowd. Ellaria turned her head, chuckling softly when she saw Pippin and Merry on top of one of the tables singing and dancing. She walked up to one of the men. "Another, please." The man nodded and fixed it for her. She looked at Legolas. "Care for one?"

     He shook his head. "I think I've had my share."

     She chuckled and nodded, thanking the man as he handed her the drink. She took a sip a sip of it, wiping the foam from her mouth. For just a moment, she felt truly relaxed. The wight of the world wasn't on her shoulders and she felt like she could breathe again. She smiled to herself, Legolas watching her with his own smile. "You should do that more often."

     Ellaria glanced at him, raising a brow. "What?"

     "Smile. It is breathtaking." Heat rose to her cheeks as she gently nudged him, but she couldn't meet his eyes. He gently placed a finger under her chin, lifting it up so that she would look at him. "Don't look away. Your eyes bring warmth."

     Ellaria let out a breathy chuckle. "I think the ale has gotten to you."

     He shrugged. "Maybe." He leaned forwards and kissed her and she couldn't stop her smile as she kissed him back. Her heart thundered in her ears, the world around them falling silent. For a moment, it was just the two of them, embracing one another. After a long moment, they finally pulled away.

     "You should do that more often," Ellaria breathed. He smiled at her and listened, placing another kiss to her lips. She decided that if she were to die in that very moment, she would die happily.