Wild Monster

by Matthew Harrington

  "Come on, Pippin. Merry you can-" Saeleth stopped speaking when another horse wandered over to stand beside her, there to offer themselves and their horse to her and the remaining hobbit. Normally she would have instantly smiled gratefully at the warrior... but this warrior just so happened to be Eomer, and Saeleth wasn't sure whether to smile or frown at his silent offer. He was such an infuriating man... and she was a rather complicated woman.

  Elle knew that Eomer was a decent man, valiant and incredibly discerning... he did not mean to come off as a, well, jerk, but Elle... well, she had come from the 21st century and was quite the feminist and she had just a tiny bit of a problem with his belief that his sister, and now apparently her as well, needed to be taken care of by him. She refused to be seen as a delicate lady who needs the protection of a big, strong man.

  Still... in the end, Elle began to feel a little ashamed at her reactions and decided that she did not wish to be rude to the good man, so she nodded her thanks, offering him a small smile, though she did not meet his gaze.

  "Merry this is Eomer. Go ahead and climb onto his horse." She made sure that Merry was settled securely onto Emoer's horse, then looked back to make sure Pippin was alright, before finally looking at Eomer. As always, his gaze was already on her, a wary look on his face as he watched for her reaction, though his eyes held a warm smile.

  "Young Master Gandalf." Saeleth smiled as she watched the humongous tree walk up to them. "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. "

  "Young?" Pippin whispered, behind Elle. "Gandalf is anything but young." Elle's eyes widened and stifled a giggle.

  "If you were as old as Treebbeard, you would consider everyone young children, Pip." Saeleth whispered back, catching Merry and Eomer's eyes as she spoke, admiration and respect in her tone. "He's been around for a very, very long time."

  "Show yourself." Aragorn whispered, his eyes on the highest part of the tower.

  "Be careful, even in defeat Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf warned quietly, his eyes intent on the tower's peak..

  "Well let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli suggested roughly.

  "No," Gandalf objected immediately. "We need him alive. We need him to talk." Maethien took a deep breath, touching her pendant for comfort.

  "You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King." Saruman's deep voice spoke to them as clearly as if he had been right in front of them, but he revealed himself upon the roof of Orthanc, leaning heavily on his staff. "-And made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?"

  Maethein looked to the King, his gaze on the rippling water below them. "We shall have peace." He said quietly, then his bright eyes rose to meet those of Saruman, and his voice strengthened mightily. "We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there!" Up above, Saruman's hands tightened anxiously on his staff as he listened the Kings mighty resolve.

  "We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were thrown 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." Though his words were angry, Theodon also spoke with justice, he spoke for his people, the people of Rohan who turned to him to be their mighty leader. The King of Rohan, had spoken.

  "Gibbets and crows?" Saruman spoke gruffly, his words growing angry and unbalanced. "Dotard!" His eyes turned to the white wizard at the center of their company, a sneer forming on his face. "What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The key 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!" Saruman growled down harshly.

  "Your treachery has already cost many lives." Gandald spoke, ignoring the foolish things Saruman had hissed. "Thousands more are at risk. But you can save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel!" Maethien took a deep steadying breath, moving her hand to settle it over Aragorns, the ranger immediately turned his hand to take hers gently, lacing his fingers through hers.

  "So. You have come for information." Saruman smiled cruelly down at Gandalf, nodding his head slowly as he thought. "I have something for you." He thrust the palantir forward and gazed into it madly, a wicked smile on his lips. A loud hissing pierced thorugh the sister's ears, a hissing that only they could hear by the look of it. It was high pitched and painful, it took considerable strength for them to restrain their bodies from reacting to the pain. "Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see... but the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon." Gandalf moved forward, waving his hand back to stop anyone from following him.

  "You are all going to die." Saruman spoke deeply, harshly a look of madness in his wide, dark eyes. He slowly moved to hide away his palantir- taking with the painful hissing- his eyes on Gandalf, who now stood at the base of Orthanc.

  "But you knew this, don't you, Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor." Saruman spat. Maethien's fingers tightened around Aragorn's hand, rage roaring mightily inside her. "The exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king." He sneered, prompting Mae to grit her teeth. "Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love." Saeleth's hands tightened on Gadriel's reigns, her nails digging into her palms as she glared dangerously up at Saruman.

  "Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death." Maethien felt Aragorn tense behind her, his hand tightening around her waist, his eyes filled with shame.

  "Do no listen to him, a desperate man is a cruel and dangerous one." Maethien whispered to him turning her head so that she could see him from the corner of her eyes, moving her free hand so that she could stroke his ring gently. "You are more than just a King, Aragorn. You will see this soon, just as I see it now." Aragorn looked back at her softly and said nothing, but she could read the subtle appreciation in his blue eyes.

  "I've heard enough! Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob." Gimli whispered to Legolas, who slowly reached for an arrow, his eyes never leaving Saruman.

  "No!" Gandalf repeated. "Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared!"

  "Save your pity ad your mercy! I have no use for it!" Saruman spat out in rage and lifted his staff, shooting a burst of flames at Gandalf.

  "Mae! Shield!" Saeleth called out, Maethein's left arm lifted and the golden barrier formed around the riders and horses that had stayed behind, protecting those who did not have the ability to wield magic. From behind the shield, they watched as Gandalf emerged from the flames unharmed, his own incredible power destroying the flames with ease. Mae's shield faded.

  "Saruman! Your staff is broken." As if his words had spoken a spell, the old wizards staff broke in to pieces in his hands, his hands quivered with anger, his eyes filled with dark flames.

  It was then that Grima appeared, slowly slinking up behind Saruman, to look down upon the riders.

  Theoden's eyes widened slightly and he quickly made to speak to the pale man. "Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan." The king's voice spoke proudly, then it softened into a plea. "Come down." Grima's lips quivered, pulling at a corner gently in an attempt to smile gratefully... but he was stopped before he could make to leave.

  "A Man of Rohan?" Saruman asked bitterly. "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 the greater sires."

  "He is more than you ever were, old fool. "Maethien suddenly called out, causing both Aragorn and Saeleth's hearts to skip a beat or two. "He has e
arned and kept the loyalty and faith of his people. He has earned and kept his honor! I did not ride all this way to exchange insults with a battered and powerless old dolt, tell us what we need to know or forfeit your worthless life." Aragorn's arm tightened around Mae, both to protect and to try to restrain, but her eyes were on the wizard above, her gaze blazing.

  "This coming from a worthless girl hiding in a warriors body, frightened and useless." Saruman's cruel words rang in her ears. "Ask yourself, what will happen when the Valar abandon you? Have no doubt that they will. You and your sisters are nothing but orphan children from another realm. Worthless." Both Maethien and Saeleth scoffed.

  "At least we are worthless children with honor." Maethien retaliated.

  "Grima," The sisters looked to the King, silencing their rage to allow him to speak. "Come down. Be free of him." Theoden offered softly again.

  "Free?" Saruman growled. "He will never be free." Grima shook his head, speaking out defiantly, which then earned him the wrath of the old wizard. Baring his teeth, Saruman turned to the man and growled through gritted teeth. "Get down, cur!" His fist lashed out and struck Grima across the face.

  "Saruman!" Gandalf called out, drawing his attention away from the fallen man. "You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandal's tone had taken on a dangerous edge, he was growing impatient and everyone could see it.

  "You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here." Grima leaped up behind Saruman suddenly, gripping the old wizard firmly and stabbing him repeatedly in the back with his dagger. Legolas reacted instantly, shooting an arrow that lethally wounded Grima, forcing him to release Sruman.

  The old wizard fell forward and the sisters gasped, they had forgotten this part.

  "Marry, Pippin look away." Saeleth ordered in a whisper, moving so that the hobbits did not have to see when Saruman was impaled with one of his own devices. There was a brief shocked silence as everyone looked at the dead body of the once great wizard, Saruman.

  "Send word to all our allies," Gandalf turned back to his companions. "-and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stand free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." A loud groan emitted from the device that held Saruman, causing everyone to turn. Eomer and Elle both refused to let the young hobbits watch as the wheel slowly turned, burying the wizard into a watery grave.

  "The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come to live here, young trees... wild trees." Treebeard told them, his gruff voice prompting a smile from Elle as she gazed up at the Ent's haggard face. She was forced to look away when she felt Pippin moving behind her.

  "Pippin?" He jumped down from Gadriel and waded away from her, ignoring Elle's calls as he bent down and drew something from the water, the perfectly smooth object captivating him instantly.

  "Peregrin Took." Gandalf's firm voice startled Pippin out of his trance. "I'll take that my lad. Quickly now." He urged the hobbit gently, Pippin looked at the palantir once more then slowly reached out to hand it to Gandalf.

  Maethien suddenly felt weary and troubled, she felt as if a heavy weight was pressing against her chest. It took her a moment to realize that she was holding onto her pendant and that it was Anoreth's emotions she was feeling, not her own.

  "Elle." Maethien called out softly, prompting her sister to look at her. She then glanced down to her pendant and gestured at her with her head, telling her with her eyes that they needed to talk. All three of them. Saeleth nodded her understanding. Mae then released her hold on her pendant and moved to get off of Aragorn's horse, releasing his hand and balancing herself smoothly as she moved.

  "Don't wait for us." She said as she hopped off the saddle and turned to smile up at her him. "We'll follow you shortly, I promise." She looked away from Aragorn's curious gaze as she urged Pippin to come to her, helping him settle up behind Aragorn on his horse. She then walked over to Saeleth, taking the hand her sister offered and swung onto Gadriel's back just behind Elle.

  "Mae." Aragorn only said her name, but with just that alone he was able to convey his worry and hesitation to leave her behind.

  "Don't worry, Aragorn." Elle said with a confident smile. "We won't be long." She promised, catching a glimpse of Eomer's curious gaze.

  "We'll catch up." Mae added, and shot Aragorn one more smile before patting her sisters back. "Let's go." Elle nodded and turned Gadriel. The sisters and their trusted mare galloped back into the forest where they could be alone with the trees, somewhere where they could relax and speak to Anoreth alone. They had not spoken to their sister since they had separated, only checked up on her and pushed their own magical energy through the pendant to her when they felt she needed a boost.

  Maethien gripped her pendant again and focused. "She's feeling so tired and... dark. I'm worried." Mae dropped off of Gadriel and was closely followed by Elle, the sisters looked at each other for a moment, then simply did what their instincts called for them to do. With one hand gripping their pendants and the other holding on to each other's hands, they closed their eyes and focused all of their energy on their little sister.

  "Ann?" Maethien asked tentatively.

  "What?" Anorth's voice snapped, causing both Mae and Elle's eyes to snap open in alarm. "Oh, dammit. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Immediately after having snapped at them, Ann's voice returned, sounding weary and ashamed.

  "What's wrong, Ann? Are you alright?" Elle asked, panic rising in her tone.

  "I'm okay." Ann promised quietly. "But the closer we get to Mordor, the heavier the darkness becomes. It's getting a little harder to be Frodo's light when the shadows are getting bolder and I'm feeling so tired and... emotional."

  "Well... aren't you usually pretty emotional?" Mae teased, loving the sound of her little sisters giggle, she hadn't heard it in so long.

  "Yes, but this is different. I just feel so angry and tired all the time! When I was with Faramir and his men I spent every minute snapping and snarling at him, I'm surprised I never snapped at Frodo or Sam. You know I don't hold on to my anger for long, Mae but sometimes it hard to let go."

  "It's Melkor." Elle murmured wearily, understanding immediately what he sister was struggling with. "Lady Galadriel said he would target us all, remember? That we would each suffer his wrath in a different way."

  "So he's making me suffer by making me angry? That's not very smart considering I can use this anger to beat him to a bloody pulp." The sisters laughed.

  "He's targeting our strengths, Ann." Elle said, her hand tightening around Maethien's. "He knows that your greatest strength is your emotions, honey. How you can love so unconditionally, forgive so easily, and care so deeply... he's using your feelings, your very personality to make you see nothing but anger and exhaustion and darkness."

  "He knows that Elle's strength is in her self control so he's tried to drive her mad by forging a connection between her and his dark magic. Making her feel as if she has no control and is useless and dangerous to everyone she loves. He still tries, constantly to appeal to that dark madness." Maethien continued, understanding what Saeleth was trying to say.

  "And he knows that Mae's strength is in her devotion to protect and in her strength. He knows that Mae will protect everyone she loves even if it means her death, he knows that she will always push herself to be stronger so that everyone else won't have to. That's why he sent the balrog to kill her."

  "... HE WHAT?!" Ann's shout rang in the sister's ears, making them all grimace from the piercing sound. "He what?" She asked a little quieter.

  "Didn't you feel it? When I lost all of my energy?" Maethien asked, surprised.

  "No! I was kind of tied up while you were in Helm's Deep. Literally! I was released only in time to feel that you two were alive and safe!."

  "Oh... well... surprise?"

  "Not funny." Ann muttered, then breathed a sigh, surprised to feel... light. As if the pressure of the darkness had faded from her body and al
lowed her to breathe easily. Mae and Elle smiled, feeling that their little sister was feeling a lot better than she had when they had first spoken to her. Even they felt much better! The lingering shadows of Saruman's power dissolving away and being replaced by a warm and free feeling.

  "That feels so much better. Why the hell did we wait this long to talk?" Ann asked bluntly, prompting a giggle from her sisters.

  "Probably because we've all been a little busy trying not to die." Mae pointed out.

  "Oh, right. Dammit. I miss you." Ann breathed, feeling a deep longing to be able to hug her sisters and see their pretty smiles.

  "We miss you too, Ann. So, so much." Maethien whispered tearfully.

  "We'll be together again soon." Elle said, believing with all her might that they would be together again.

  "We'd better. Don't either of you go dying on me. I'll kick your asses if you do." The sisters laughed again then said nothing for a long moment, simply breathing in the wonderful feeling that surrounded them, drawing strength from each other in silence. This was what they needed, to be together even if it was just in mind, so that they could regain their strength. Lady Galadriel and the Valar had told them, that their power was strongest when they were together, and they had meant it.

  "You guys need to go."Ann said softly, though she did not want them to leave anymore than they wanted to. "This quest isn't over yet."

  "That it isn't. But it will be soon. Be careful, Anoreth. Take care of the hobbits."

  "I'll guard them with my life, Mae."

  "Take care of yourself too, little sister. We're going to be together again, all three of us, no excuses."

  "No excuses." Ann agreed. "I love you."

  "We love you too, Ann. Stay safe. We'll see you soon."

  And with that, the sister's all released their connection to each other, each sister opening their eyes and slowly, almost unwillingly, letting go of their gleaming pendant so that it rested against their chests once again. When they looked up, they realized that they could breathe again, they felt rejuvenated and ready to face the rest of whatever Melkor had in mind for them. They knew that as long as they were together, they could handle anything he threw at them.