Not an Elf

Chapter 9

[Insert Here That I Don't Own Shit]

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Rin watched in silent horror as Gimli tasted a substance he had spotted on a leaf.

The dwarf spat. "Ptui! Orc blood!"

He was fairly sure Kuro just whimpered. Oh my god.

"These are strange tracks." Aragorn said, and Rin suddenly realized that no one was fazed by Gimli's actions except him and Kuro.

I now realize that I am very outclassed by these people.

"You're a little late, Rin."

He tuned back in time to hear Legolas say, "This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory... and anger."

The forest began to moan and the trees shifted. Rin felt his ears twitch slightly and his eyes widened when the voices reached his ear.

"Fire... ... axes... "

Holy shit the trees can speak.

Gimli lifted his axe.

"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas said. Rin nodded. The forest began to rumble, branches shifting overhead. "Gimli, ya should probably put down your axe, they don't seem to like it very much."

He was given strange looks as the group continued to move. Legolas fell back next to the half-demon, an inquiring look on his features. "You can understand the language of the forest?"

Rin rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, yeah, a little." he paused, "but I kinda can do that fer all languages, so..."

"That is a fascinating skill."

Rin blushed slightly at the compliment, but was distracted as he heard something moving through the trees ahead of them.

Legolas must have heard it too, for he called ahead, "- Aragorn, something is out there!"

Rin saw the Ranger tense up. "-What do you see?"

The half-demon squinted ahead, and saw a figure with a white glow masking them moving through the trees.

"The White Wizard approaches." The elf breathed, and they all tensed. Rin drew Kurikara in one fluid movement as Legolas readied his bow. Kuro entered his larger form, but drew back when he did so.

Kuro, what's wrong!

"He smells like Gandalf."

Rin faltered, lowering his sword slightly. Legolas noticed, alarm clear on his face, but Rin moved forward slightly before he could speak.

Rin tightened his grip on the Koma sword, but called out, "Gandalf?". He felt shocked glances land on him, and seconds later the approaching light filled the clearing. Rin winced slightly at the brightness, his enhanced vision working against him.

"Gandalf? Yes, that was what they used to call me." A familiar voice pondered even as the light faded to reveal familiar yet changed features. "Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."

Rin was fairly sure that he had never grinned as wide as he was now.

"Gandalf." Gimli dropped to a knee in shock and awe.

"I am Gandalf the White, and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."

"I thought you were Saruman, forgive me." Legolas put his arrow away.

"It cannot be. You fell." Aragorn argued weakly.

The wizened old wizard nodded solemnly, "Through fire, and water. On the lowest dungeon, on the highest peak I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. The star's field of end, and every day was as long as a life age on the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done." He explained even as he walked closer to them. The wizard smiled at the half-demon assuredly. "Pippin and Merry are fine, their fate is no longer in our hands. One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan, we must ride to Edoras with all speed."