Eomer and Legolas
by Peregrine
Chapter 2
With the Uruk-hai no longer a threat to Rohan, the peoples of Edoras
began to trickle back to their hill-top city. But while they took a
longer, safer road, the warriors of Helm's Deep took a darker way. They
were not to be at Edoras for some time yet. First they would go to
Isengard and see for themselves what had occurred there. For the forest
set before Helm's Deep was a mass of the Huoron, angry trees set upon
tearing and rending and revenging fallen fellows. They blocked the
passage to Isengard.
"Do not fear the trees." Legolas told the few riders as they stared
upon the trees in dismay. "They should not harm us. They were after orc
blood and they have had it. We mean them no harm and they should not
harm us."
"'Should' does not comfort me, Master Legolas." Eomer told him, eying
the dark wood with skeptical eyes. "Any tree that can move freely and
devour the living--evil or otherwise--seems unsafe to me."
"Do not threaten them and they should not threaten you." Legolas said.
"There you are with that 'should' again, Elf." Gimli barked from behind
him. The stocky Dwarf was sounding quite uneasy. "I am with the
horseman on this one. I am not keen on riding through an unnatural wood
of flesh-eating trees."
"You have nothing to fear." Legolas glanced over his shoulder at Gimli
and grinned at him and Eomer. "As long as you stand with me, they shall
do you no harm."
Eomer laughed.
"I do like your confidence, Legolas. It greatly increases my own
courage. Come, enough of this standing! I say we ride to Isengard and
see what mischief foul Saruman is brewing in his cold tower!"
"Agreed." Theoden nodded as he rode up beside him. "I would see what
this conjurer has been up to, even if we must ride through a devil-wood
to find out."
"Keep your weapons sheathed," Gandalf cautioned of the men, "the trees will not harm you if you make no threat to them."
Every man sheathed his sword. Legolas had long ago put away his weapons and Gimli's axe was safely stored upon his back.
"Come, my friends," Aragorn heeled Brego lightly in the ribs, "let us pass beyond this wood."
Brego started forward at a trot, with Legolas and Eomer close behind
and Theoden just behind them. Gamling followed with Gandalf taking up
the rear. But once Brego--fearless steed of Aragorn--reached the wood,
he slowed to nearly a halt and only Aragorn's firm and gentle hand and
quiet urgings kept him walking into the darkness below the leaves. Even
as the Ranger and his mount passed below the black eves, the trees
seemed to tremble slightly and a deep groaning passed from branch to
branch.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas said softly as he
passed into the woods. Arod did not pause, for Legolas had already
assured him that no harm would befall any horse. "They wonder at our
passing."
"Well, can you make them stop talking?" Gimli grumbled as the wood
groaned and shifted. "It's not quite to my liking, this talking tree
thing."
"You are not afraid, are you?" Legolas asked lightly, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Me? Afraid?" Gimli sputtered angrily. "Nonsense! What a stupid thing
to say! Silly Elf princeling, doesn't even know what he's talking
about--"
"Calm yourself, Master Dwarf." Eomer called forward with a grin. "I am sure Legolas meant you no harm."
"You can't tell me this wood does not alarm you in any way, Eomer?"
Theoden called forward in amazement. Eomer looked back at his king and
uncle and shrugged.
"I am not unnerved, my lord. But I feel that with an Elf of the woodland realms, we have little to fear of these trees."
Theoden shook his head and grinned. Though he had known the Elf for but
a few hours, Eomer was already starting to appreciate the trees more
than he once had. He had always respected the woods--dark or light--but
every man of the open lands did. And he had always been awed by their
darkness and beauty. But now he seemed to hold them in open admiration.
And though there was certainly nothing amiss with that, Theoden found
it interesting that this Elf was rubbing off on his nephew so quickly.
Long did it take to pass through the woods. And all through it, not one sign had they seen of the fleeing Uruk-hai.
"An angry tree can exact a terrible revenge." Legolas said simply when
Eomer mentioned this. They said no more upon the matter as they finally
passed beyond the Huoron's dark branches.
Isengard lay before them. The company stared in amazement at the sight before them.
The walls of Isengard were gone, replaced by rubble and heavy stones.
The ring of burned trees and barren earth was swimming below river
water. And though the black tower yet stood, trees beat at it angrily
as if set upon tearing it down. They seemed to be making little
progress, but it hardly mattered any more.
What was more, upon one great bolder sat two small, child-like folks
smoking long pipes and enjoying mugs of fine ale. When they caught side
of the riders, they let out cries of joy. One leapt to his feet and
grinned.
"Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!" Merry grinned down at them. He held
his pipe in one hand, his mug of ale in the other. Sitting beside him,
Pippin giggled merrily. He held a pip and a hunk of salted pork.
Aragorn and Gimli and Legolas laughed at the sight of the two Hobbits
smoking and drinking merrily among the wreckage. Long had they pursued
them, only to find them safe on Isengard's very walls.
"Oh, you scallywags!" Gimli barked in annoyance. "You have us racing
madly after you like dogs and here you are drinking and-and . . .
SMOKING!"
"We are simply enjoying a few WELL-EARNED comforts." Pippin pointed out
with a grin. "And the salted pork, I might add, is particularly tasty."
"Salted pork, eh?"
Gandalf rolled his eyes.
"Hobbits." he sighed. "Tell me, you two sluggards, where can I find Treebeard."
"Oh, you'll probably find him over there, by the tower." Merry pointed
back to where the Ents pounded at the black walls. "He's taken over
management of Isengard, you see."
Well, come, come, you two Hobbits. I would speak with him and you are coming with us."
The Hobbits were pulled up onto the horses--Merry behind Aragorn and Pippin behind Gandalf.
Eomer glanced over at Legolas as the horses waded through the knee-deep water.
"So these are the comrades you were searching for?"
Legolas grinned.
"Indeed they are."
"Merry indeed." Eomer snorted. Merry twisted around behind Aragorn.
"What?" he asked, hearing his name. Eomer and Legolas glanced at each
other. A moment later they were riding through the ruins of Isengard in
fits of laughter.
