Gandalf the White

His long pin straight hair was white, along with his robes and his staff and his beard. His skin glistened in the sunlight. But his eyes were dark as if there was no life in them.

"Father," I breathed. I ran to him and jumped into his arms. My father chuckled while he hugged me back. "How can this be?" I asked as I pulled away. "You fell."

"Through fire. And water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak. I fought with 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. Every day was as long as a life age on earth. But, it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done," my father explained to us.

"Gandalf," Aragorn muttered.

"Yes. Gandalf the Gray, that was what they called me. I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide. One stage of your journey ends and another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed." We followed him through the magical forest.

"Edoras?!" Asked Gimli. "That is no short distance."

"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," Aragorn explained.

"Yes. And it will not be easily cured," my father replied.

"Then we have run all this way for nothing!" Gimli growled. "We're gonna leave those hobbits here in this poor, dark, mad, infested for..."

The trees groaned as the stumps and branches slowly moved once again. Gimli startled and looked around with shock.

"I mean...um, charming. Quite charming forest," Gimli corrected.

"It was more than charms that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years," my father explained. "The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche."

Gimli continued to look around at the trees with caution.

"Something is about to happen that had not happened since the Elder days. When witches were growing forests and caring for the earth so that it may prosper. This forest is the birth place of witches and their magic. It is why magic is strong here," my father said as he looked around at the trees with admiration. I did the same.

"Where are Merry and Pippin?" Aragorn asked.

"They are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be," my father replied.

We left the forest and went back to the open where my father whistled in the wind. Shadowfax neighed and galloped toward my father. Shadowfax was the lord of all horses and one of Gandalf's closest companions. I pat the horse's shoulder and then pet his soft white coat. "Let us go," my father said. He jumped on the back of Shadowfax. I got onto Aragorn's horse and then Gimli and Legolas got on theirs.

We followed my father across the drying oasis.

I kept my arms wrapped around Aragorn's waist. I didn't need to, I liked riding horses without holding onto the reins or someone else. It was very freeing. But I did like the thought of holding Aragorn. It gave me comfort and made me feel warm.