Of Returns & Departures
Frodo's bare fingers ached as he latched onto Sam's elvish rope, before carefully searching for a place to position his feet.
The Hobbit attempted to free his thoughts of the small, gangly creature, Gollum. Even as he led both Sam and him down a steep, rocky cliff, muttering silently to himself, Frodo found Gollum's very presence quite unnerving, with his strange, bipolar personality, and off-putting appearance. Surely these were symptoms caused by the Ring, Frodo had thought.
The rope which held the hobbits was safely secured at the top of the cliff.
Previously, Sam had been revolted at the very thought of Gollum, in his very own words, "tainting my precious elven gift with his grubby hands!". However, his disgust was quickly dismissed as the creature refused to even look at the rope, insisting that he could climb down the cliff without help.
Frodo had never thought that he'd accept the aid of a being such as Gollum... especially considering the nature of their first official encounter.
He'd heard the stories from his Uncle Bilbo about the pathetic little thing, but nothing could quite compare to experiencing his barbaric and obsessive behaviour first-hand.
The bony beast had come to the Hobbits in the night. He swiftly and silently crept up on them as if imitating a spider approaching its prey.
The creature, wearing a scowl on his withered face, donned only a ragged loincloth which scarcely covered his reedy frame. The meagre remains of his thin hair stirred limply in the wind and his bug-like, soulless eyes, burned with desire as he rasped out curses, accusing the Hobbits of theft.
He was determined to steal the ring yet was unsuccessful as his guttural snarls had quickly roused Sam and Frodo from their slumber.
Though Gollum had stubbornly fought, the cold steel of Sting pressed to his bare back, and the elvish rope which tightly gripped his neck provided enough incentive for him to surrender.
With some consideration, Frodo agreed to allow for Gollum to lead them to the Black Gates, though Sam had fiercely tried to dissuade him.
However, the reality was, both Hobbits were dreadfully lost, as they'd repeatedly trekked the same rocks, clearly going in circles.
They knew that a bog was nearby. Its foul odour lingered for hours, and yet they found themselves nowhere near escaping the rocky and harsh lands of Emyn Muil.
With their lack of any sense of direction, they had no means of achieving their mission by simply blindly trekking through enemy territory. Hence, they'd solemnly agreed to a temporary alliance of sorts.
A small and sudden panicked cry drew the Hobbit from his musings.
"Sam?" the Ring-bearer called, his tone clearly expressing his worry. "Sam, are you alright?"
The chubby Hobbit in question seemed to take a moment to respond, eliciting deep and prolonged breaths.
"...I-I'm fine, Mr Frodo," Sam reassured with a weak chuckle, "Jus' stepped on a loose rock is all. Nothin' to fuss about."
Gollum licked his cracked lips and bared his yellowed teeth, a sinister smirk slithering onto his face. Dark cackles racked his skeletal body.
"Fat Hobbitses should be careful~" the creature warned sardonically in a sing-song voice. "Or else you'll fall alllll the way down and-"
"Gollum!"
Frodo's cold interjection swiftly silenced their gangly guide.
Sam, whose face had grown noticeably paler, directed a scowl at the creature, but decidedly remained silent. And wisely so, as maintaining any form of conversation expended far too much energy.
Fatigue had long been haunting the Hobbits, both mentally and physically.
The ring grew heavier as the days passed, every step felt like whips tearing into their flesh, breathing grew akin to heated iron searing their lungs, and even their dreams, a supposed means of escape, were blood-soaked and submerged in paranoia.
Frodo absently gazed at the scenery from the rock face. Thick fog obscured the perilous shards of rock which rested below.
"Can you see the bottom?" Sam questioned between laboured breaths.
"...no, I can't..." the ring-bearer answered as he returned to his descent.
Soon enough, however, they'd reached the base of the cliff.
Gollum rushed upward through a narrow pass, weaving through pillars of earth, while Frodo and Sam struggled to keep up with his pace.
Swiftly, the creature scrambled onto a rather large rock, the Hobbits sluggishly trailing behind him.
"See? See? We have led you out!" Gollum shouted, eyes rounded while he gazed at Frodo, as if expecting praise.
The Hobbit ignored the stare, choosing to calmly observe the still-present mist below
"Where have you led us?" Frodo questioned, feeling nauseous due to the sudden strong stench.
"A swamp; the Dead Marshes," Gollum answered, almost reluctantly "...Come, master. We will take you on safe paths through the mist. I found it, I did. The way through the marshes. Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't know it. They go around for miles and miles. Come quickly. Soft and quick as shadows we must be."
With a small grimace, the Hobbits followed after him, worn out, and cautious of their journey ahead.
Unknown to the group, however, they were silently being observed from afar.
Unreadable emotions dwelled beneath the pair of translucent eyes which easily tracked their movements.
"..."
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"The White Wizard approaches."
Legolas' words seemed to resonate within Korra, causing her whole body to grow tense.
The White Wizard? As in Saruman? The one who had caused Gandalf so much pain?
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn warned, wrapping his hand around the hilt of his sword. "We must be quick."
While Legolas, Gimli, and the two men prepared for a battle, the Avatar's tension was quickly replaced by rage as she settled into a fighting stance, ready to beat his ass into kingdom come too. Not wanting to anger the forest, she prepared to refrain from using fire or earth.
Immediately, Korra sent the figure a strong blast of air, however, seemingly predicting her action, the stranger sidestepped the Avatar's strike with relative ease.
Accordingly, the White Wizard prevented the other four's follow up attacks as he effortlessly deflected the axe which Gimli hurled and turned Legolas' arrow to dust.
Aragorn and Boromir both hissed in pain and abruptly released their grips from their respective swords which glowed red from overwhelming heat.
Before they could do anything more, from the White Wizard, blinding rays of light sprung forth.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," the voice spoke, calmly and clearly.
"Where are they?!" Korra growled while shielding her eyes with a hand.
"...They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"Stop with your cryptic speech, you damned heathen!" Boromir barked out venomously.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demanded.
In response to the Rangers command, the light gradually receded, revealing...
"Gandalf," Korra breathed out, unable to trust the sight before her.
"Gandalf?" the white wizard cocked his head slightly to the side before his eyes lit up with recognition. "Ahhh, yes... That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
'How is this possible? Is this a trick?' the bender thought as she observed the old man.
She couldn't quite believe the situation, and yet, there the aged wizard stood, tall and proud, clothed in all white.
The five of them were astonished beyond belief.
"...It cannot be," Aragorn uttered. "You fell."
"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth," Gandalf acknowledged. "Until at last, I threw down my enemy and struck his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age of the earth, but it was not the end. I felt life in me again... I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf!" Gimli called his name, both astounded and happy at the wizard's return.
"Gandalf the Grey, I am no longer," the Istari commented, "for I am Gandalf the White, and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."
The old man's eyes shone with conviction and determination and filled them with newfound vigour.
Concluding his moving speech, Gandalf walked forth to greet his companions, earning many hearty pats, and happy exclamations.
Korra approached the wizard, socking him on the shoulder hard as he got into range. Gandalf chuckled lowly while rubbing his shoulder.
"Pleasure to see you once again as well, young Avatar," he stated warmly.
"You scared the spirits out of me, you know?" she reprimanded, before pulling the old Istari into a tight hug and mumbling, "Glad to have you back."
Gandalf gladly returned the Avatar's embrace, laughing lightly as he did.
"I have something very important to inform you of, young Avatar," Gandalf uttered softly before pulling back and holding Korra at arm's length, "but, now is not the time, I'm afraid."
Though Korra was indeed curious about what the old man wanted to discuss, the ever-familiar mysterious twinkle which returned to the wizard's eyes had made it clear to her that she wouldn't be coaxing answers out of him any time soon. The white wizard addressed the rest of the Company.
"One stage of your journey is over and so another shall begin. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" the Dwarf exclaimed.
"Indeed, Gimli. However, war has come to Rohan," Gandalf stated, studying the grave looks which he'd received.
"We've heard of trouble in Rohan," Boromir admitted, a grimace donning his features. "Their King is ill?"
"Yes," the old man half-grumbled. "A sickness which will not be easily cured, I assure you."
"What about Merry and Pippin?" Boromir questioned.
"Aye," Gimli backed, thrusting his axe into the air, for some reason. "Have we run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested-"
The Dwarf's complaints were drowned out by the abrupt groans of the trees as if the forest itself was voicing its protests.
"I mean, charming. Yes, quite charming forest," Gimli quickly corrected himself with a nervous smile.
The trees grew silent once again, allowing the Dwarf to release a breath of relief.
"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn," Gandalf informed mysteriously. "A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of the two Hobbits will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains, I have no doubt."
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," Aragorn spoke, giving the wizard a hearty pat on the back. "You still speak in riddles."
Having made their way to the outskirts of the forest, Gandalf let out a long, sharp whistle.
Soon enough, the sound of hooves meeting earth was heard; a magnificent white horse had seemingly appeared on the plains. The stallion slowed to a trot before stopping in front of the Istari.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas remarked, awe creeping into his tone.
Gandalf reached forth to the horse and gave it a fond pat.
"Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers."
As if to prove the wizards' words, the mare bucked its head backwards with a resounding neigh, causing two horses to appear.
Once everyone, bar Korra, had mounted their horses, Gandalf offered an outstretched hand to the bender.
"I know you are not fond of horses, but care to join me?"
"... Do I have much of a choice?" the Avatar questioned with a wary glance at Shadowfax.
"Not really," the wizard admitted with an amused huff. "Without warning or any prior knowledge of your abilities, the people of Rohan would no doubt try to slay you if they witnessed your rather unconventional means of travel. Besides, you've ridden much more fierce creatures than horses, have you not?"
Korra considered this for a moment, her thoughts immediately moving to her dear friend, Naga. She figured that riding the foreign horse creature should be fairly similar and hopefully not as bad as her first time driving a Sato-mobile by herself.
Convinced, the bender accepted the proposal.
The old man's grip, Korra found, was surprisingly firm as he helped hoist her onto Shadowfax; a quick reminder that the wizard was stronger than his fragile form often led people to believe.
"Let us make haste! To Edoras!" Gandalf called.
Korra hadn't readily positioned herself quite yet, and so, as Shadowfax swiftly rushed forth at an alarming speed, this action was quickly followed by a string of surprised curses from the Avatar, as well as chuckles from the Company.