Eyes of the Goddess

The four entered the dark dank forest, attempting to follow what hobbit tracks they could find. The group stopped and Gimli noticed something on one of the leaves. "Orc blood!" They continued onward.

"These are strange tracks." Aragorn said pointing them out to both Legolas and Boromir.

"Aragorn something is not right here...I can feel something strange, magic is at work in this forest." Boromir said quiefor for only Aragorn to hear. Aragorn stared at Boromir for a moment, how could he feel magic? Boromir had always seemed to have an aversion to anything magical, now suddenly he can feel magic at work?

"The air is so close in here." Gimli observed from his position slightly behind the two men. Aragorn realized that Gimli too could feel something strange, as he could, but he couldn't say if it was magic or not.

"This forest is old, very old, full of memory...and anger. The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas said evenly his eyes darting about.

The trees were Ents! Aragorn had only heard of them in stories.

"Gimli!" Aragorn barked.

"Huh?" The dwarf asked confused.

"Lower your axe." Aragorn felt that if they were indeed Ents they would not welcome an axe. Boromir grinned at the dwarf who was looking quite sheepish.

"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" Legolas whispered to Aragorn. Boromir stepped closer.

"What?" He asked but was ignored. They tended to forget Boromir spoke little to no elvish.

"Man cenich?" Aragorn asked Legolas.

"The White Wizard approaches." Legolas said staring in front of the group.

That I understood just fine. Boromir thought as his hand went to his sword.

"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us! We must be quick." Aragorn advised.

With a yell, the four swung around to attack. A bright light from behind the White Wizard blinded them. Gimli's axe and Legolas' arrow were deflected as they loosed them on the White Wizard. Aragorn and Boromir's swords both became too hot to hold and both men dropped them at their feet in shock.

A deep voice spoke then. "You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits."

Boromir gasped.

"Where are they?" Aragorn asked the wizard.

"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" The wizard asked.

Boromir shifted beside Aragorn. 'So much for not talking to him.' He thought.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn commanded the wizard who was still obstructed by the blinding light.

The wizard stepped forward but it was not Saruman it was their fallen comrade Gandalf dressed in white robes!

"It cannot be! You fell!" Aragohisphispered in amazement.

Boromir blanched and then knelt on one knee; he looked over and saw that Legolas had done the same.

"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and each day 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." The wizard explained.

"Gandalf." Aragorn said reverently.

"Gandalf? Yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Gray that was my name. I am Gandalf the White now. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide." The old wizard said smiling.

The group followed Gandalf through the forest. They stopped for rest and Gandalf looked to Boromir. "Son of Gondor...walk with me if you please." Gandalf requested.

Boromir rose and walked with Gandalf away from the group. "It is good to see you alive my boy." Gandalf said knowingly.

"Yes, as it is good to see you alive." Boromir replied.

"I know you do not wish to hear this but you must, your life has been spared for a reason. For some reason the gods smiled upon you that day on the rise at Amon Hen, your tasks are not finished yet...as mine are not. It is why we are here now." Gandalf said softly.

"I have felt that something was at work, that Uruk could not have missed that many times had there not been some magic at work that day. I do not undand and my purpose for being here though, what it means, or what tasks lie before me, but I will try to make the right choices." Boromir responded sorrowfully.

"Choices are often difficult to make, but I believe whatever you do you will choose the right path, the gods would not have spared your life otherwise." Gandalf said then. "Take heart in that son of Gondor."

"Thank you, Gandalf." Boromir said standing tall and proud in front of the wizard.

"You are most welcome my boy...come you should rest." Gandalf said taking Boromir's arm lightly to avoid his injury and led him back to the camp.

After an hour the group set off again and were soon back at the edge of the forest where their horses were waiting.

"One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed." Gandalf advised.

Gandalf whistled piercingly. Soon his call was answered by a magnificent white horse.

"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas stated with awe.

"Yes Legolas, this is Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers." Gandalf explained.

Boromir smiled at the beautiful beast and noticed that Gimli bowed to the great horse lord. The five then rode for Edoras. The place Éomed wad warned Boromir not to go.

"Gandalf?" Boromir asked riding beside the old wizard.

"Yes?" Gandalf responded.

"We met up with some Riders from Rohan they warus..us...actually warned me not to go to Edoras that I would not be welcomed there." Boromir told the wizard.

"Yes...though it is not only you who is not welcome my young friend. No one is welcome in Edoras these days...not even me." Gandalf explained.

Once they approached the great city built on a hill the group stopped.

"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. The King of Rohan's mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Be careful what you say. As we discussed young Boromir do not look for welcome here." Gandalf explained.

Boromir inclined his head and followed behind the other riders. His face being recognized as the Steward's son from Gondor would not be good. He decided to remove his bracers. Aragorn noted his action and pulled his horse beside him.

"What are you doing?" Aragorn asked.

"I am removing my bracers, what does it look like? Some may not know my face, only Éomer and a few of his men do but many know these bracers...I am the only man who wears the white tree upon my arms." Boromir explained.

"Give them to me." Aragorn said. "Théoden knows me Boromir, as do some of his men. I will give you my bracers and you give me yours. Besides it is fitting that I wear a symbol of Gondor is it not?" Aragorn asked smiling at his friend.

"Yes, if you intend to become King you will be seeing an awful lot of this symbol." Boromir said smiling widely at Aragorn.

Gandalf overheard part of their conversation and smiled inwardly. Aragorn has finally accepted his destiny, and due in no small part to Boromir it seemed. This is very good, very good indeed. He thought. Boromir still had much left to do the gods were right in sparing his life.

Gandalf covered himself with a gray robe to hide his new status as a white wizard as they entered Edoras. The city was quiet, and the people were clad mainly in black and silent since all they seemed to do these days was mourn the dead.

"You'd find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli mused from behind Legolas. Boromir almost chuckled and decided it would be best not to. When their party arrived at Meduseld many guards appeared at the entrance of the Hall. Gandalf greeted them cheerfully.

"I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Grayhame... By order of - Grima Wormtongue." Hama the Captain of the King's guard said pausing before saying Grima's name.

Frowning, Gandalf nodded and handed over Glamdring then gestured to the others to give up their weapons. Aragorn handed over his sword, and elven knife from its sheath, as well as his bow. Boromir did the same but would not relinquish his shield. Hama stared at him.

"What good is a shield as a weapon...unless you intend us not to have any protection...should we remove our mail as well?" Boromir asked with a smirk.

Aragorn had to suppress a chuckle at that. The old Boromir had been sarcastic but the new one was even more full of mirth and sarcasm. He thought it was as if the cares of the world had been lifted from his shoulders.

Hama did not press the issue. Legolas handed over his knives and bow while rather reluctantly Gimli handed over his axe. The group then made their way to the entrance, but Hama stopped their progress. He gestured to Gandalf. "Your staff."

"Hmm? Mm. Oh. You would not part an old man from his - walking stick." Gandalf asked innocently.

Hama nodded then and gestured for them to follow him into the hall. Gandalf winked at Aragorn who had great difficultly not smiling particularly when Boromir turned to him with a roguish look in his eye. Gandalf bent as though he was feeling his age and leaned heavily on his staff as he took Legolas' arm in his. He made it seem as if he needed both the staff and the elf to help him stay upright.

As they entered the great hall, Hama bowed to the King, and then strode to his station.

"My Lord. Gandalf the Grey is coming. He is a herald of woe." Grima said in his snake like voice.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King." Gandalf said loudly.

"He's not welcome." Grima told the King.

"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" Théoden said in a shaky voice. The King was aged far beyond his years and barely able to speak. Boromir and Aragorn looked at one another. They were both shocked at the Kings appearance. He should not look this old!

"A just question, my liege." Grima whispered to the King, then rose and walked toward Gandalf.

"Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." Grima announced loudly to the entire hall.

"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf barked pointing his staff at Grima.

"Your staff...I told you to take the wizard's staff!" Grima shrieked as he cowered backing away.

The guards rushed out from the sides of the hall and Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli dispatched them without difficulty. Aragorn noted that indeed Boromir's shield made quite a weapon as he watched the blond man use it to incapacitate two of the guards. Grima hurried off to the side, as Gandalf approached the King but he did not get far. Gimli pinned the man down.

"Théoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf said to the King.

The group watched as Gandalf released Théoden from the evil hold of Saruman. The King's niece Éowyn had tried to run to his side but Aragorn caught her. "Wait!" He told her.

Once Théoden was released from the evil spell he fell forward as if he would collapse and Éowyn rushed to his side tearing herself from Aragorn's hold.
The blond girl smiled and placed her hand on the King's face with tears of joy in her eyes, as years seemed to melt away from the King. Finally her uncle had returned to her. Gandalf stepped forward, and Théoden and Éowyn looked up at him.

"Gandalf?" The King asked in amazement.

"Breathe the free air again, my fr." ." Gandalf said smiling at his old friend.