Gimli puts his finger on a blood-stained leaf and tastes it.
''Orc blood,'' he says, spitting the blood. Aragorn, Iladya, Legolas and Gimli make haste through the forest. Aragorn pauses to examine the ground.
''These are strange tracks,'' Aragorn mentions.
''The air is so close in here,'' Gimli says.
''The trees are speaking to each other,'' Legolas says, listening to the sounds.
''Gimli! Lower your axe,'' Iladya commands. Gimli glances at his raised axe and realises what she means.
''Oh!''
''They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak.''
''Talking trees? What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings.'' Iladya's ears started to move.
She turns to Aragorn, ''Aragorn, nad no ennas.'' Aragorn turns to Iladya and leans in,
''Man cenich?'' His gaze shifts to her ears, seeing they move back and forth. She glances up,
''The White Wizard approaches.'' Aragorn's gaze hardened,
''Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us.'' Aragorn grips his sword, Gimli grasps his axe and Legolas and Iladya load their bows with an arrow. ''We must be quick,'' he whispers.
They quickly turn around and are greeted by a brilliant white light. Gimli throws his axe, which is deflected. Legolas and Iladya fire an arrow, again deflected and Aragorn's sword turns red hot so that he drops it.
''You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits,'' the voice of Saruman speaks from within the white light. No form can be made out of it.
''Where are they?'' Aragorn asks.
''They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?''
''Who are you?'' Aragorn asks in disbelief. ''Show yourself!'' Gandalf steps out of the white light and reveals himself all dressed in white robes with a white staff.
''It cannot be,'' Aragorn gasps. Iladya, Legolas and Gimli bow down.
''Forgive us. We mistook you for Saruman,'' Iladya apologises.
''I am Saruman,'' Gandalf says. ''Or rather, Saruman as he should have been.''
''You fell,'' Aragorn breathes.
"Through fire and water,'' Gandalf grunts. Gandalf fought the Balrog on top of Durin's tower.
''From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth.'' Gandalf holds up Glamdring as a flash of lightning strikes it, and he plunges it into the Balrog who falls from the peak and lands on the snowy slopes below.
''Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside.'' Gandalf was lying on the snow with a bloody nose. ''Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time.''
''I have been sent back,'' Gandalf says. ''Until my task is done.''
''Gandalf,'' Aragorn breathes.
''Gandalf?'' he asks, looking puzzled. ''Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.'' He smiles.
''Gandalf,'' Gimli says.
''I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now ... At the turn of the tide.''

All five walk through the forest. Gandalf now wears a grey cloak over his white robes.
''One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed,'' Gandalf urges.
''Edoras? That is no short distance!'' Gimli claims.
''We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king,'' Aragorn mentions.
''Yes, and it will not be easily cured.''
''Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here ... In this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested? I mean, charming ... Quite charming forest,'' Gimli changes his words after he heard groans from the forest.
''It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones ... that starts an avalanche in the mountains,'' Gandalf says. Once Gandalf said that, Iladya thought of Galadriel, who spoke exact those words to her.
''It is one thing you have not changed, dear friend,'' Aragorn says, causing Gandalf to look curious.
''You still speak in riddles.''

''A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up ... And find that they are strong,'' Gandalf says.
''Strong?'' Gimli gasps, causing the forest to groan again. ''Oh, that's good.''
''So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be.''
''This new Gandalf is grumpier than the old one.'' That made Iladya softly snort.
They are outside the forest now as Gandalf whistles a long high loud whistle. From the distance, a great white horse comes galloping towards them.
''That is one of the Mearas ... Unless my eyes are deceiving me by some spell," Iladya gazes in awe. Gandalf greets the bowing his head to him and stroking him.
''Shadowfax,'' he says. ''He is the lord of all horses ... And has been my friend through many dangers.'' Gandalf mounts his horse and the other four do the same. They all ride off at great speed to Edoras.

It is night and Gandalf, Aragorn, Iladya, Legolas and Gimli are resting by a campfire. Gandalf is looking towards the East. Aragorn moves to join him.
''The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-Dûr, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumour has reached him. The Heir of Númenor still lives,'' Gandalf says, slowly shifting his glance to Aragorn.
''Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become. And so he'll strike hard and fast at the world of Men. He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge ... For Rohan is weak and ready to fall — shaking his head — The king's mind is enslaved, it's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Theoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning ... We have one advantage — they look at each other — The Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it ... has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor ... In the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed ... And the secrecy of his quest.'' Aragorn looked worried and guilty.
''Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone,'' he urges.
''He is not alone. Sam went with him,'' Aragorn replies. Gandalf shows a smile on his face,
''Did he? Did he, indeed? Good.'' He nodded, ''Yes, very good.'' He glances at Aragorn once more and then glances over his shoulder, eying a sleeping Iladya.
"You fear for her," Gandalf claims. Aragorn glances at Gandalf from the corner of his eyes, but he remains silent. His arms are crossed over his chest.
"I fear Sauron might find out my weakness and take advantage of it," Aragorn sighs, glancing over his shoulder. He eyes the back of the Elf and turns back to Gandalf. Gandalf's expression softens.
"What if Sauron doesn't find out?" Gandalf questions. ''Have you thought about that?" Aragorn glances aside before shifting his gaze to the ground.
"What if he does, Gandalf? What if he does and takes her. I wouldn't know what to do," Aragorn sighs.

Iladya stirs awake because she heard voices.
"You fear for her?" Gandalf says. Iladya decides to remain in her position, not wanting to stir the conversation.
"I fear Sauron might find out my weak spot and take advantage of it," Aragorn sighs. Hearing those words... It causes her heart to beat faster.
"What if Sauron doesn't find out?" Gandalf questions. ''Have you thought about that?"
"What if he does, Gandalf? What if he does and takes her. I wouldn't know what to do," Aragorn sighs. Iladya knows Aragorn would go through hell to rescue her, she knows that. However, the fate of Middle-Earth shouldn't depend on it.
"And you shouldn't think of that," Iladya hears Gandalf say. ''It only brings a greater burden to bear. Greater than you already bear." Aragorn sighs again, his heart feeling heavy. Gandalf turns to Aragorn and nudges his head in Iladya's direction,
"Go and lie down with her. You and she are in need of it." Aragorn opens his mouth but closes it. He simply nods and turns around.
Iladya feels a warm presence. She turns around and snuggles closer into his chest. Aragorn puts his arms around her, pressing a kiss on her forehead. Iladya couldn't suppress a smile as she whispered,
"I won't let him take me."