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An ent named Treebeard is carrying Merry and Pippin through the forest. They are entirely unchanged, only tired. Trebneard is the creature that saved them from that orc and introduced them to the white rider. Now they are going somewhere safe. Where to, I don't know. Right now, Treebeard is saying a verse of something it seems to bore the hobbits as Merry yaws. "Oh, rowan mine, I saw you shine upon a summer's day.

Upon your head, how golden-red the crown you bore aloft." 

Treebeard smile once he finishes it. Pippin looks curiosity up at the ent. "Is it much further?" the big ent chuckles and says, "Bru-ra-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." and yet another verse is made. Sooner or later, the hobbits have fallen asleep, which is much needed. Treebeard notices its silence and chukles fondly, grabbing the two small halflings from his head and laying them on the soft bed of moss. "Oh, oh. Sleep, little Shirelings. Heed no nightly noise. Sleep 'til morning light." 

Stalking off, treebeard talks to himself quietly, "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 is right. So few ents are there in teh world now. 

Too few. 

♛

It is late at night. The stars are veiling, and a soft red light glimmers in Mordor. Gandalf stands to watch. His thoughts are on frodo, wherever he may be in the wilderness. He doesn't know that Tatsuo and sam are joining the ringbearer. Soon Aragorn comes up to him, his grey gaze drawn to Mordor's horizon. Gandalf glances at his friend before his eyes go back to the 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." the white wizard says. 

Aragorn sighs. He misses Tatsuo's calming presence and wisdom long beyond her years. He misses her in all life and form. But he knows that Sauron still doesn't know about their ally. Perhaps for the best. "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." Gandalf continues grimly. A lasting glance is passed to the heir of Isildur, who catches it and a small, sad smile appears on Gandalf's lips. "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 enemy's weapon 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."

Aragorn tilts his head to the side, thinking, "Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone." the white wizard ads. This is where Aragorn decides to tell their old friend that Tatsuo has joined. He thought Gandalf would find it out, but it seems he does not. "He is not alone. Sam went with him. and so did lady Tatsuo" Gandalf looks surprised and smiles softly. "Did they? Did they indeed? Good. Yes, very good."

The two smiles at one another. this quest might not yet be forfeited.

♛

It is the day, and Frodo, Tatsuo, and sam have reached the black gate. Gollum, who had led them there, shivers as the proud shifter walks past him crouching low. This is the dark gate. this is the one who holds all the evil. The evil is my quest to destroy. But I won't be doing it alone. Tatsuo glance at frodo and sam, who meet her eyes for a fleeting moment before their gaze is drawn back to the gate of Mordor. "The Black Gate of Mordor!" gollum frettes. Sam crawls a little closer, trying to get a better look at the horrible building thing. "My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he saw this," he mutters. Gollum says, "Master says to show him the way into Mordor, so good Sméagol does, the master says so." Tatsuo growls, "I did." 

She feels her skin crawl only by the look of the gate. This is not a safe place for hobbits or any living thing. She sees the orcs patrolling the entrance and gets a weird solemn feeling in her stomach. But she snaps out of it as soon as sam's voice cuts through the air. "That's it then. We cannot get past them." a sound of footsteps and voices catches the 4's ears, and they look down to see an army of Easterling soldiers. They are going to Mordor to join saron's army. How can men sink so low? Tatsuo thinks. 

The song from the Easterlings can be heard foul, just as the master they serve.  "Za dashu snaku Zigur, Durbgu nazgshu, Durbgu dashshu!" (Hail, Sauron, Lord of the Ring, Lord of the Earth!)" Gollum is terrified and covers his ears. he must still have trauma from his time behind that gate, locked in saron's capture. A wave of pity washes over her, and she hisses through her teeth. Suddenly a command in black speech is heard, and an orc blows into a horn. Soon two trolls upon that gate start to work together to push open the gate of terror and nightmares. "Look! The gate, it's opening!" Tatsuo looks up to see that it is indeed opening. Her skin crawls more. 

Sam leans forward on his spot, but the stone gives away, and he tumbles down teh slope. "Sam! No!" frodo calls after him and wastes no time jumping after. Gollum reaches after him and makes to go down, but Tatsuo grabs him by the shoulder and pushes him back "it's not safe. stay here," she whispers and suddenly is transformed into a black and white horse. She jumps down the slope, landing straight in front of frodo and sam, who has covered themselves with the elven cloak making them look like just another stone. 

The Easterlings draw their weapons as they are startled, but who wouldn't? Tatsuo whines and squeals, rearing on her back hooves and using her front ones to drive the enemy back. The two men get scared and start to back away. The horse touches down and snorts once they're far enough for comfort. The two eastlering look at each other but shrug and step out into their ranks, ignoring the horse for now. 

Tatsuo is soon her form again and helps sam and frodo up from the stone rubble. "be careful, Samwise," she says softly and hauls him up of the stones and ushers the two to a safer place Gollum is waiting. 

Once they get a breather, frodo looks at his two friends. "I do not ask you two to come with me, Sam and Tatsuo," the shifter snorts and nudges frodo fondly "have you learned nothing master Baggins? us you can't get away so easily . we're going into the very hearts of Mordor with you if we have" frodo smiled and them and crouched low making for the black gate. "Now!" but before they can run, Gollum drags them back. "No! No! No Master! They'd catch you! They'd catch you. Don't take it to Him." Tatsuo frowns, and her eyes meet frodo. "He wants the Precious." Gollum continues, his voice sounding like a paid. Wow, he loves that Ring. Tatsuo thinks. So much he is willing to sacrifice us for it. She hisses and places a hand on the pale being's shoulder, making Gollum meet her eyes. "if you make us sacrifice ourselves for your need, then I won't hesitate to kill you. I spared you on that day we met due to mercy and pity. Don't make me regret it" she let go of his shoulder, Gollum being shaken.

Tatsuo did spare him when they met. he didn't know why. 

Frodo places a hand on the shifter's forearm, making Tatsuo look at him "let me speak to him." Tatsuo nods and steps to sam. "Are you saying that there is another way to Mordor?" frodo asks, and Gollum nods, still shaken from the events. "Yes. There's a path and some stairs and then a tunnel." Gollum strokes Frodo's arm and buries his face in Frodo's cloak. Tatsuo growls but keeps quiet. Her eyes rest on frodo, awaiting his decision. "He's led us this far, guys." Tatsuo lifts her chin, her eyes widening and her pupils slitting. A clear sign of her discomfort and anger. But her mouth is shut. "Mister Frodo, no!" sam calls out, sounding desperate. But Frodo's mind is set. "He's been true to his word." frodo says and glances at their only female for reassurance. she gives him nothing, only a dragon-like look. The black-haired one sighed. 

If their guide didn't trust Gollum's words, then why should Frodo? But the Ring weighed much on his mind. He couldn't think straight. So he said what his companions were ffearimh"Lead the way, Sméagol." Gollum smile and starts to get excited. "Good Sméagol always helps." he scatters off, and frodo follows. Tatsuo goes after them passing sam "come now, Samwise. if there are any problems, don't worry, I will take care of it" sam smiles but not entirely. He is still hurt that his best friend chose a stranger's words over his own. But he sucks it up following the lady of the night. 

Let's hope Gollum doesn't lead them to peril and despair. If he does, teh dragon's wrath will reign down upon him. 

He knows that. 

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