When the sun reached its apogee in the blue sky, the riders arrived at the edge of the forest of Fangorn, that they had just crossed.
The day before had been a long day. A very long one. Tauriel had learnt the death of Haldir of Lorien, that had fallen from the walls of Helm's Deep while the king was screaming for the retreat. Indeed, she had not seen in when they were in the great hall, waiting for Gandalf, but she did not think about him at that moment. It was just when Aragorn had told her that she had faced the truth. And the sadness on the ranger's face was not lying.
Haldir of Lorien had left Middle Earth. The red-elf hair was sorrowful because of this sudden death, but she was also thinking about all the others who had given their life for Rohan.
She came out of her dark thoughts when she heard laughs in front of her. Fengel neighed and looked ahead, listening to these new sounds. She smiled, because she had immediately recognized the voices. It was Pippin and Merry, captured by orcs few days before. But they did not seem that shocked.
She left the woods to get in the open air, and to make a first step in Isengard. The two hobbits were sitting in a little wall, eating and smoking gaily the pipe. As soon as they had looked up at them, the hobbits' eyes became wide open, and Pippin raised his pint towards them, while Merry was standing.
''Welcome, my lords, and my lady, to Isengard !'' he announced proudly, making a gesture in the direction of the tower behind him.
''You young rascals ! ''the dwarf screamed. ''A merry hunt you've led us on, and now, we find you, feasting and smoking !''
''We are sitting on a field of victory , enjoying a few well-earned comforts '', answered Pippin, who was still eating. '' The salted pork is particularly good'', he added, smiling.
''Salted pork ? ''Gimli repeated, dazed.
They all shared a smile, amused by the hobbits' attitude, even if it was true that they had well-earned their few comforts...
''Hobbits'', Gandalf muttered, shaking his head.
''We are under orders, from Treebeard, who's taken management of Isengard'', declared Merry.
Gandalf muttered again, but this time, Tauriel did not heard what he was saying. The hobbits, happy to see their friends, came closer, and Pippin rode with Aragorn while Merry was going with Eomer, to go further into the great plain that was once Isengard. Now, the river had flooded everything, the water touching their horses' knees. They wre reaching the the tower when an ent walked toward them.
''Young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone, I can master, but there is a wizard to manage here locked in his tower, ''he declared slowly.
''Show yourself'', whispered Aragorn.
''Be careful, even in defeat, Sarouman is dangerous'', Gandalf said.
''Well, let's just have his head and be done with it !'' Gimli offered.
''No ! We need him alive. We need him to talk, ''answered the white wizard.
Even if she would have loved to kill him directly for all his horrible crimes, Tauriel knew Gandalf was right : they needed Sarouman to talk, so they could learn all their enemies' projects.
''You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King, and made peace afterwards. ''
They all looked up, to Sarouman, who had appeared suddenly at the top of his tower. He was watching them in a strange way, with pity. Tauriel was disgusted.
''Can we not take councel together, as we once did, my old friend ? '' asked their enemy from above their heads. ''Can we not have peace, you and I ? ''
Theoden, who had for the moment kept his eyes down, finally looked up and glared at Sarouman. His stare was shining of rage, and his voice, when he talked, were trembling of anger.
''We sall have peace. We shall have peace, when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there ! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg are avenged ! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace !''
The king's voice was venomous, , and was telling all the hate he had for his enemy. Tauriel followed Theoden's killer look, and glared at Sarouman, who had listened to the king from his tower, without reaction. Finally, he answered to the king.
''Gibbets and crows... Dotard ! What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame ? Let me guess...The keys of Orthanc ? Or perhaps the keys of Barad-dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards ? ''
''Your treachery had already cost many lives, and thousands more are at risk'', answered back Gandalf.'' But you can save them, Sarouman, you were deep in the enemi's counsel.
''So you have come here for informations...I have some for you...''
He took from his clothes a dark ball, shining under the sun. Sarouman raised his arm to show to them all that he was holding the palantir in his right hand. Tauriel's eyes became wide opened and she put her hands closer to her weapons : the palantir was liberating very strong waves of darkness, that she was easily feeling. She felt the others more tensed , in particular Gandalf.
''Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth, something that you have failed to see, but the Great Eye has seen it'', declared Sarouman, his eyes shining with madness. ''Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon.''
Shadowfax walked towards the tower, Gandalf on his back, who did not seem to be touched by the wizard's words.
''You're all going to die...But, you know this, don't you, Gandalf ? You cannot think that this ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor ? This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love...Tell me, what words of comforts did you give the Halfing before you sent him to his doom ? The path that you have sent him on can only lead to death. ''
From the corner of her eye, the red-hair elf saw Gandalf look down, and sigh as Sarouman was using his words to destabilize him. On her left, Gimli suddenly said :
''I have heard enough ! Shoot him, stick an arrow in his gob, ''he told Legolas, who silently approached his hand from his quiver.
''No'', Gandalf said. '' Come down, Sarouman, and your life will be spared.''
''Save your pity, I have no use for it ... ''
He suddenly used his staff to sent down a giant fire-ball on Gandalf and Shadowfax, as the others stepped back, terrified by the flames. But, miraculously, the fire died down, showing no damage on the wizard and his horse. Gandalf glared coldly at Sarouman.
''Sarouman, your staff is borken ! ''
The traitor's staff immediately broke into many pieces, that vanished in the air. Suddenly but silently, a man dressed in black appeared behind Sarouman, throwing a unfathomable stare at the men at the foot of the tower. Tauriel recognized him as the man who had run away from Edoras after he had bewitched the king's spirit.
''Grima ! You need not to follow him : you were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down, '' Theoden asked him.
Grima leant toward his king and began to turn back to join them, but Sarouman stopped him.
''A man of Rohan ? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs ? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Theoden Horse-Master. You are a lesser son of greater sires'', he told Theoden, scornful.
The king looked touched for a second, and he kept looking at the ground covered with water. Then, he looked up and told Grima :
''Grima, come down, be free of him.''
''Free ? He will never be free ! ''answered back Sarouman.
''No..., ''began to say Grima.
''Get down , cur ! ''Sarouman yelled, slapping Grima, who fell to the ground.
''Sarouman ! You were deep into the enemy's counsel, tell us what you know '', Gandalf demanded.
''You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not held prisoner here, ''the traitor answered.
As Sarouman was talking, Grima got on his feet and approached him, taking a long knife from under his black overcoat. When his former master finished to talk, he quickly stabbed him in the back, taking step by step his life. Legolas took his bow and shot him with an arrow, and Grima collapsed with a last scream of pain. Sarouman stumbled, before falling down from the tower. Tauriel had shivers of disgust when she saw his body impaled on a wheel, just in front of the group.
Even if she was acclimatised to violence, she had to turn her head. Not so far, the two hobbits looked away too, disgusted.
''Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stand free : the enemy moves against us, we need to know where he will strike, ''announced Gandalf.
A sinister noise has been heard in front of them, and the wheel where Sarouman was still impaled began to move, bringing the body under water. The palantir fell into the cloudy water.
''The filth of Sarouman is washing away'', Treebeard whispered.'' Trees will come back to live here, young trees, wild trees...''
As he was talking, Pippin got down of Aragorn's horse and advanced in the water to reach the wheel, where the palantir was still shining. The ranger called him, but the hobbit was not listening. He picked up the palantir, looking at it with amazement. Tauriel frowned, and shared a worried look with Aragorn and Legolas.
Even Treebeard held a curse word. Behind the hobbits, Gandalfs approached the wheel on Shadowfax's back, his hand taut toward the hobbit.
''Perigrin Took ! I'll take that, my lad. Quickly, now'', he demanded.
The hobbit gave him the palantir, and as Gandalf was wrapping it in his robe, the wizard glared at him. Pippin looked down, and Gandalf turned back.
**********
'Tonight we remeber those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead ! ''
Theoden's voice echoed against the large walls of the hall, swiftly followed by the voices of the other men and women present, who raised their mug in a single gesture, to take a drink. After this brief address, everybody forgot their dark thoughts and the feast began, as only humans could do.
Tauriel walked into the crowd, not confortable with this kind of event, in particular dressed like that. Ewoyn had kindly given her one of her own dresses, a grey one, that highlighted her skin. But, after weeks in elvish tunic, she did not have this habit anymore. The most unsettled thing is that the dress fit her very well, as she had seen many looks upon herself.
She jumped when she felt a hand in her back, but it was just Legoals, a large smile upon his lips. She immediately relaxed, and the blond elf's smile became larger. He was wearing a color smiliar to hers, and, for a moment, she had the thought that Eowyn had done it by purpose. She forgot the thought. Legolas' look got down on her dress, then went back to her face.
''You're beautiful'', he seriously told her.
She carefully avoided his stare. She was doing everything not to show her feelings, and he was destroying all her efforts in a single instant. Perhaps he had had enough of pretending too ; it was becoming harder and harder each day. She finally looked at him, who was still fixing her, waiting for an answer. She smiled. It was a feast day, after all.
''Thanks...''
''Here you are, dear friends ! ''a voice on a right yelled, before she could say anything.
Legolas' shoulders sagged, and he gave Tauriel an upset stare, who glared coldly at Gimli, who ignored her careffuly. He walked between them, and pushing them to follow him.
''Come on ! Don't stay there ! I'm gonna show you what is a dwarf party ! ''
The dwarf walked into the crowd, and the two elves stayed a second, unmoving, just staring at him.
''He has a gift, isn't it? ''she asked as the dwarf was walking away.
''A real habit'', sighed Legolas.
They shared an overwhelmed look, and followed the dwarf in the crowd. He had one more time broken the charm of the moment, without even notice. It was truly hopeless. Shaking her head, she followed Legolas and Gimli to a table, where many mugs of bear where waiting. Eomer was standing near it, a mug in his own hand. Gimli sat and asked the rohirrim for a beer . He gave him a beer, and he offered one to the elvish prince, that looked at it, circumspect.
''No pauses, no spills...''
''And no regurgitation ! '' the dwarf added, proudly.
People around them laughed. Eomer turned to Tauriel, a new mug of beer in his hands, and handed it to the red-hair elf.
''My Lady ? ''he asked.
''I thank you, but not for me'', she answered, shaking her head.
The brown fluid was not attracting her at all. And elves were not kown for their love of beer. They were prefering wine.
''So it's a drinking game ? ''Legolas demanded innocently to Gimli, his eyebrows raised.
''Last one standing wins'', Gimli said, who was sitting.
Then, smiling, he began to drink his mug at all speed. To his side, the blond elf was look his beer with an air of curiousity, hesitating. Little by little, he approached his lips from the mug and began to drink his beer too. Gimli had already finished his.
**********
''I feel something. A slight tinger in my fingers. I think it's affecting me'', Legolas declared after his tenth beer.
Eomer and Tauriel shared a surprised look, and she bit her cheek not to laugh. The blond elf looked at her, panicked, and she raised her eyebrows. Gimli, from the other side of the table, muffled a burp, and answered :
''What did I say ? I can't hold his liquor ...''
He slowly fell backwards, his eyes rolled upwards. He began to snore, and Tauriel could not hold her laugh no longer. Especially when Legolas added :
''Game over ! ''
Curious to know what they had been drinking for so long time, Tauriel took a mug of beer and brought it to her lips. Eomer and Legolas looked at her, eyebrows raised. She began to drink it.
And she immediately stopped, disgusted. It was far too bitter for her. She did not like a lot alcohol, but tolerated wine. Beer, she was pretty sure she would never drink some again.
''Valars, it's foul ! ''
The two men both laughed, and Legolas took the mug from her hands to drink it. He seemed to like more than her human dishes.
In the middle of the great hall, Merry and Pippin were dancing on a table, bothof them with a mug of beer in the hands, singing at the top of their voice. Men around them were applauding, laughing.
''But the only brew for the brave and true, comes from the Green Dragon ! ''they finished, before drinking their beer in one go, under the crowd's applauses.
Tauriel applauded too, happy to see the hobbits singing and laughing again. They had, like the others, put aside their dark thoughts for the night, and she was silently thanking them. They were making everyone forget the war that was upon them.
However, when the stars took their place in the sky and when everybody went step by step to bed, she made a pray to the Valars, to protect Frodo and Sam, wherever they could be.