The Unknown

Chapter 16: Return of the King

Gandalf leads us through the dark woodland moving towards the forest of Fangorn. Something is different about the trees I can feel it. They suddenly open before us creating a pathway which I know leads straight to Isengard. A humid mist starts to fill the forest.

The trees continue to move out of the way soon revealing the ruins of Isengard. I can feel the great loses of all the trees and the rebellion they took on Isengard.

I see Merry and Pippin sitting on a smashed wall and a feast is spread out before them as they puff on long pipes.
"Welcome, my lords and lady, to Isengard," Merry greets us. I can't help but smile.
"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you feasting and smoking," Gimli said.
"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good," Pippin said with a mouthful.
"Salted pork?" Gimli was suddenly interested.
"Hobbits!" Gandalf was shaking his head.
"We're under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard," Merry said. Both Merry and Pippin jump on the horses and we stride up to the Isengard tower. Treebeard strides up alarming all but me and Gandalf. He looks older than I remember but it has been years.
"Huraroom ... Young Master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and, stone I can master, but there's a wizard to be managed here ... Locked in his tower." Treebeard looks to me as if he remembered me but couldn't work it out, it had been a while since I had been in Fangorn.
"And there Saruman must remain, under your guard, Treebeard," Gandalf tells him.
"Let's just have his head and be done with it," Gimli grows impatient.
"No. He has no power any more."
"The filth of Saruman is washing away ... Trees will come back to live here, young trees . . . wild trees." I hear a splash and Pippin has jumped off the horse and grabs something in the water.
"Well bless my bark!" Treebeard exclaims.
"Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad!" Gandalf says urgently. Pippin doesn't move. I can see something in the stone the more I look at it, it's bad.
"Quickly, now!" Gandalf says urgently again. I walk over to Pippin I can feel the dark energy coming off the ball, I believe it's the Palantir. Pippin looks at me and then hands it to Gandalf with reluctance. Gandalf immediately smothers it with his cloak and turns away to head back to Rohan.

They hold a celebration for the victory that was at Helms Deep. It was a small victory for something bigger was to come but to these men it was great. I didn't really find celebrations to be my thing, last time ended badly.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country," Théoden says to his men. "Hail the victorious dead."
"Hail!" I stand in the corner away from everyone else. They all ignore me as if they just know to not disturb me.

I see Legolas, Gimli and Éomer on a long table and tune out to all the other sounds to listen to what is being said without having to move.
"No pauses, no spills," Éomer says to Legolas and Gimli. I assume they are doing a drinking game. Gimli is going to lose for sure. I wander over.
"And no regurgitation!" Gimli laughs as if he is going to be the victor.
"So its a drinking game?" Legolas asks.
"Aye!" Everyone around them says.
"Last one standing wins," Gimli laughs and downs his tankard in one go.
"Lets drink to Victory! To Victory!" Every shouts. Gimli finishes another before Legolas even starts one. I roll my eyes and head outside to onto the battlements. Just as I'm leaving I see Éowyn walk up to Aragorn. I wonder if she knows that his heart is taken.

I can hear the celebration still going on inside the hall, I have just never been the one to party. I lean on one of the crenelations and just look out to the night sky. I then look out onto the plains and wish I could just run again with my pack. I let out a soft howl towards the sky. Remembering what Galadriel said I waited. I looked to the ground when nothing came back. Then a soft but loud howl came from far in the distance. I turned to a wolf as my howl would be louder and travel further. It echoed through the night. I turned back to an elf leaning on the crenelations again waiting for a response. It took a while, they had to be incredibly far away but they sent a message. "Welcome back, alpha." I had never left but I guess they didn't know that. But who were they I didn't recognise the howl at all. No one in the pack besides my father had a howl that deep and sure of themselves but it also sounded like an alpha's howl. Maybe they lead the little pack that ran around middle earth with no settling place looking for me. Or maybe I knew I knew this wolf and I just had no idea. I didn't respond as I heard footsteps. Not Legolas, they were too heavy and not Aragorn, they were too quick and rushed as if they person was afraid I'd run off.
"What do you want Connor," I said annoyance in my voice.
"I just wanted to ask you what you were doing out here. And your howl is quite beautiful."
"I don't care."
"I know you are thinking I'm a dick because I won't leave you alone you have Legolas but hear me out. I think you should stay here, I can see that you love the open space. If I'm correct the elves live in the forests or woods. If you stay here with me you can run around forever." I wanted to cut him off so he didn't think I was considering it but I also wanted to crush him when I said no, he was annoying. "I may be 'too' young for you and I may die before you do and you'll have to watch me grow old but trust me I'll make those years the best years of your life."
"No one can beat the bond I have formed with Legolas. You tried Connor but no. I'd rather stay with someone I love and every now and then get out of the woods to run around than stay with you an arrogant turd who thinks he possibly has a chance with an elf 277 years older than him. I love the outside and being free but you, you would want to keep me in doors to do your chores be your slave. No thank you."
"Just because you want to be a selfish princess and have everything done for you by your servants." I growled, swiftly turning around and grabbing him by the throat.
"I am an alpha don't you dare call me a princess it's an insult to my kind to be called something so dainty and fragile. Your definition of princess is different to the elves and then different to the wolf elves. Call me an alpha female because that's what I am. My whole life I have had to do things for myself 200 years of my life I have basically lived alone outside being free. You have no idea what it's like to be completely alone, you have absolutely no idea what it's like to be me so don't you dare tell me I am a selfish princess. I have had no servants do anything for me at all so I have no idea what it's like."
"Alea!" Aragorn's stern voice came. "Let the boy go." I growled at Connor and then throw him to the ground.
"This asshole of a kid keeps harassing me despite me telling him many times that I have no interest in staying here with him!" Aragorn sternly looks at Connor laying on the ground. Connor quickly stands standing up straight with his hands by his side. I see Legolas wander up behind Aragorn sussing out what is going on. He then looks to Connor and must have noticed the red marks around his throat. I walk towards Aragorn and Legolas.
"I'm sorry Masters I did not mean to...."
"Shut it Connor you can say no more. You caused enough damage to yourself," I said.
"I'm....I'm just lonely and I wanted a pretty girlfriend." I see Legolas instantly get an angry look on his face.
"And you thought you could take her, you fool of a human," Legolas said. Connor looked like he was about to cry but I had no sympathy for that guy he persisted even when I told him to bugger off and leave me alone.
"It was worth a try," he was still being cocky despite standing in front of the very two people who was tear him to pieces if he even tried to touch me. I grabbed Legolas' arm to stop him from launching himself at Connor and killing him.
"Connor shut it before you are torn to pieces. Leave me alone and don't try again. I told you I'm taken, I don't care what you say. Nothing can break my bond. Nothing." Connor put his head down and and I saw out of the corner of my eye Legolas was smirking.