"My rowan tree..."
In this large valley south of the Misty Mountains and east of Isengard, in this ancient forest, an old and distant voice is floating.
"Your brilliance is dazzling... under the summer sky... your crown is golden and red... like a tall crown..."
When Gandalf and Anne met with Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas who entered Fangorn Forest, the tall tree man Treebeard was carrying two little hobbits, Pippin and Merry, in this deep place. Walking and strolling in the deep forest of Fangong.
Then, out of boredom, Treebeard was chanting to the two hobbits the old-fashioned poetry that their herders liked. Because the tree shepherd speaks slowly and in a long tone, it often takes a long time for him to finish reading a short paragraph, which makes the two little hobbits sitting on him feel drowsy. land.
"What a beautiful poem..."
Treebeard, who felt very good about himself, did not notice the half-drooped eyes of the two hobbits, so he planned to change to another song and continue singing for a while.
After so many years, few people who could talk to him could enter Fangorn Forest and still see him alive. Therefore, Treebeard did not intend to give up this opportunity to chat with outsiders.
"Treebeard, how far are we probably?"
The hobbit Pippin, who was sitting in a branch above Treebeard, was already a little impatient. They had been wandering around Fangorn Forest for a long time now!
However, until now, they don't seem to have reached their destination? Everywhere they looked, there were all those weird old trees. If Treebeard hadn't personally taken them with him and let the two of them walk by themselves, they would have got lost!
"Please don't be anxious..."
"Maybe you feel it's a bit far... My home is deep in the forest, at the foot of that mountain..."
Upon hearing Treebeard's words, the two hobbits stood up and began to look into the distance, which they soon gave up.
Because, in the distance, there were several mountain tops, and they didn't know which foot of the mountain Treebeard was talking about? Moreover, even the closest one would probably take more than half a day to walk? Now they are both complaining a little bit. They don't know what Gandalf and the others are going to do. Why don't they want to bring them with them?
"I promised Gandalf that I would protect your safety...With my protection, you will definitely be safe..."
"I believe... you, maybe you will like my next poem?"
After a little comforting the two hobbits on his shoulders and head, Treebeard decided to continue reciting the poem that it seemed to never finish.
"By the way, Treebeard! We heard from Gandalf before that you seem to have a bad relationship with Witch Anne? So what's going on?"
Merry didn't want to continue listening to this talkative and slow old tree man continue to talk about those boring old poems, so he quickly opened his mouth and changed the topic.
"Yes! Treebeard, I also want to know why! Did the little witch offend you?"
Pippin was also interested in this topic, and after hearing Merry's question, he immediately joined in.
According to what Gandalf secretly told them before, if the two hobbits hadn't happened to appear in time and attracted the attention of the orcs and the tree man and the little witch, then everyone would have had steps to go down. , maybe that lawless little Annie has already started a fight with the tree people, right?
"Well……"
"This is because...that little human girl, she is an evil little witch...she also wants to burn down our forest...my last piece of Fangorn Forest..."
"And she actually wants to grill those cute little squirrels...the evil witch..."
Treebeard, who was just about to continue reciting an original poem of his own, became a little annoyed when he heard the two hobbits ask about it, and hummed an unexplained sound in the ancient language of the tree people.
It, Treebeard, didn’t like the little girl playing with fire, very much! In fact, they tree herders don't like any creature that plays with or uses fire!
Because the flames will burn their trees and destroy their forests!
During the War of the Ancients in the First Era, the evil Valar Morgoth and his demons burned the forests that their shepherds were responsible for many times, destroying ancient trees one after another. Similarly, they also burned many tree people to death...
Of course, Treebeards also don't like humans or dwarves who play with axes and chop down trees! Will they also destroy their forests, cut down their precious trees, build their ugly cities and make room for those farmlands?
In Treebeard's view, the Númenóreans are also a bunch of bad guys, they are all invaders...
"No! Treebeard, I think you may have misunderstood something?"
"Witch Anne is actually a very nice person. She is not evil. At most, she is...a little naughty sometimes?"
When they were in Rivendell, Pippin, who had been sneaking around with the little girl, quickly spoke up to defend Anne.
As for roasted squirrels, Pippin and Merry often caught and ate them when they were in the Shire. They were very delicious! It's just a little hard to catch, and there's not a lot of meat?
Therefore, Pippin doesn't think there is anything bad or evil in this. After all, tree people can grow up by eating soil, but hobbits or humans like them must eat meat!
"Pippin is right!"
"Lady Anne is actually not evil. She is a great little human girl! She is powerful and a nice person. Insects will not look down on us because we are weak!"
"Perhaps... the most bad thing she has ever done is to secretly capture and roast the sika deer that King Elrond was pulling,?!"
After hearing Pippin's words, Merry, who was sitting on the familiar shoulder, nodded in agreement. He also liked that powerful little witch very much! He felt that the other person seemed to have a similar temperament to the two hobbits? Moreover, although she can be a bit eccentric at times, most of the time, she is easy to get along with, as long as you don't deliberately make her angry!
"Um...Ailong? Sika deer?"
Treebeard pondered as he walked. He suddenly felt a little confused, because he seemed to be familiar with the name Elrond? Although it has forgotten a lot of things because it fell asleep too many times?
But it felt that it might have heard or known the person named Ailong before? However, for a while, it couldn't remember who the other party was, or where it had seen it...
"No! Melly! Are you crazy? You must not tell this!"
After hearing that Merry dared to tell the story about how Anne and the two of them stole the sika deer pulled by the Lord of Rivendell when they were in Rivendell, the man sitting above Pippin exploded immediately. He wanted to jump down and cover the other person's unobstructed mouth.
How could such a thing be said casually? !
You know, that sturdy spotted deer is King Elon's most beloved pet... It is said that that thing comes from a kingdom called Aman? It seems to be an auspicious beast? !
Pippin still remembered it very clearly. At that time, when King Elrond knew that his divine beast was missing, he was very angry! After scolding the guards, he angrily ordered the soldiers to wander around the forest, trying to find for him the lost spotted deer that would never come back? !
And if the other party knew that his beloved magical beast, the flowered deer, had been captured alive by a powerful little girl and put into the stomachs of their three villains, it would definitely cause a big incident, right? !
Looking back now, Pippin is still drooling!
That magical beast from Aman really tastes extraordinary! That excellent taste and extraordinary taste bud enjoyment are definitely not comparable to those ordinary beasts here in Middle-earth.
It's a pity that they didn't bring kitchen utensils, and they didn't have enough spices. In such a fearful environment, they could only have a hasty barbecue...
"Merry! We swore never to tell anyone about this matter!"
After warning Merry again, Pippin suddenly remembered something.
He remembered that there seemed to be the same kind of spotted deer in the golden forest? It's a pity that Lady Anne did not go on the expedition with them at that time, so the two of them, who thought they were incompetent, did not dare to attack the mythical beast in the Golden Forest...
"ah!?"
Merry seemed to realize that he had just made a mistake, so he quickly looked at the old tree shepherd Treebeard who was listening to the conversation between the two with curiosity.
"Treebeard...you won't tell that King Elrond, right? We are friends, aren't we?"
After looking at Treebeard's thick moss-like beard with pitiful eyes, Merry asked cautiously. If this tree man was familiar with King Elrond, Merry felt that they would have to find a way to hide back in the Shire sooner.
"Elrond...who is King Elrond?!"
After thinking for a while, Treebeard still shook his head in annoyance. It could no longer remember who King Elrond was, but at the same time it was very sure: it must have heard of this name before!
"..."
"King Elrond is a human, very tall, with black hair, blue eyes, and a bit white skin... Moreover, he is also the owner of a large logging farm. It is said that he especially likes to chop down trees? Believe me , Treebeard, you will never like him!"
"That's right! That's it. That King Elrond, there are rumors that in order to make money, he cuts down at least a large area of forest every year!"
After looking at each other with thankful eyes, Merry and Pippin quickly told Treebeard everything about King Elrond.
"Well……"
"Although... I feel that you two are not completely telling the truth... but... I really don't like that guy... If I see him, I will crush him..."
Lumberyard owner? Or a human who specializes in cutting down trees to make money? And a large area of forest must be cut down every year? !
It's so shameful and cruel! If you cut a little wood for survival or necessary purposes, the treebeard ninja will pass! At most, just treat it as invisible?
However, if it is cut down wantonly to make money, it will definitely not be forgiven!
So, if these two little hobbits are telling the truth, and the facts are really like this, then Treebeard feels that the next time he meets that human being named King Elrond, for the sake of those in Middle-earth The beautiful forest, it will definitely step on it with one foot, and will never give the other party a chance to quibble or escape!
"..."
"..."
After hearing Treebeard's murderous words, Merry and Pippin secretly glanced at each other again.
Then, they prayed silently, hoping that Treebeard, the shepherd, would never encounter the Elf King Elrond in Rivendell! Otherwise, something big might really happen by then! After all, that is much more serious than stealing a spotted deer or something!
"By the way, Treebeard! I think I heard you mention it just now. You tree people have lived for so long, at least tens of thousands of years? But why do you only have a few hundred tree people left?"
Pippin, who didn't want to dwell on the sensitive topic just now, hurriedly asked.
No matter what, he needed to divert the old tree man's attention quickly. He didn't want to hear keywords like King Elrond or Sika Deer appear again.
"In the past ten thousand years, haven't you given birth to little tree people?!"
Pippin was really curious about this question.
The magical tree herders, and the moving ones they rule, will also kill all the evil tree Huns that enter Fangorn Forest?
At first, he thought: Tree people are grown from big trees that can move! They were originally ordinary big trees, growing bigger and taller, and then one day, they suddenly opened their eyes and pulled out their roots from the ground to use them as feet? Does this make him a tree man?
But if that's the case, shouldn't the number of tree herders be so small?
But if the other party is a male tree person and a female tree person who mate and give birth to young tree people, then where are those young tree people? Why had they been wandering around Fangorn Forest for so long yet they had never seen it?
"Well... little tree man..."
After hearing the words of Hobbit Pippin, Treebeard muttered and didn't know what he said, but his expression suddenly became depressed.
"We... haven't had a tree baby for many years..."
Treebeard sighed heavily again. This is a very serious problem. It has been bothering the tree people for a long time, so much so that they are now almost on the verge of extinction?
"Our tree wives... they are all gone..."
Treebeard turned his head. He didn't seem to want to talk to the two hobbits about these things that made him feel uncomfortable and sad.
They tree herders, the tree herders who still live here in Fangorn Forest, have been single for thousands of years...and, if there are no other accidents, this state will continue, and then they will probably continue Just hang around until the day of complete extinction? !
"Oh! Although I am very sorry...but, can I ask how they died?"
Although Treebeard seemed reluctant to continue the topic, Pippin still wanted to continue asking.
This kind of breaking news cannot be found anywhere else! In the future, if they finish their adventure and return to the Shire, they can write down these things like old Bilbo Baggins, and then when they have time, they can brag to their relatives and friends in the Shire. Isn't it?
"Death? No... they are not dead..."
Heard that the hobbits misunderstood and thought their tree wives were dead? Treebeard quickly shook his head in the negative, causing Pippin, who was sitting on its head, to almost lose his balance and fall.
"Tree wives... they are gone... now we can't find them... we lost them ourselves..."
As he spoke, as if something particularly sad happened to him, he began to speak loudly:
"We once crossed the Anduin River and visited the land where they lived, but... we only found a piece of desert..."
"Everything was burned and destroyed by the war...The war caused great damage to their residence..."
"Our tree wives... they are not over there..."
"We searched and searched... called and called... and asked everyone we met..."
"Some people said they had never seen the Treewives... Some said they were going west... Others said they were going north... Others said... they were going south or east. ?”
"But no matter how we look... we just can't find them... we... really lost them..."
The further he went on, the more sad and angry Treebeard's tone became! If the shepherds could shed tears, I'm afraid it must be howling with tears now, right?
Could this be part of the reason why the tree herders in Fangorn Forest hate orcs, humans, and almost all intelligent creatures so much?
In their view, they are those flesh and blood creatures who have cut down their beloved forests and destroyed the habitats of their tree wives! This hatred is bigger than the vast Fangorn Forest now! Their resentment is as high as the tallest tree!
Countless years have passed since this incident, almost forcing the tree herders to become as chaotic and crazy as those Huns. Therefore, Treebeard has always been concerned about the Huns hunting down the creatures that entered Fangorn Forest. Is it to turn a blind eye, or even just ignore it, and use sleep to pass the lonely time?
"You haven't seen our tree wives in the Shire...have you?"
After saying that, Treebeard turned his head and looked at the two little hobbits expectantly. It is said that these people have visited half of Middle-earth. Maybe they have seen their tree wives? !
"I guess I haven't seen him before...what about you, Melly?"
After looking at Treebeard's pitiful appearance, Pippin could only shake his head regretfully. He was very sure that in the Shire, they really didn't see anything similar to Treebeard or one that could move. Tree?
"Tree wives? What do they look like? Can you tell me first? Maybe I have seen them somewhere?"
Melly also thought about it seriously, and then he suddenly turned his head and asked Treebeard. Because, he discovered that he didn't even know what the tree wives looked like, so how could he recall whether he had met each other before?
"Well……"
"What the tree wives look like... we don't quite remember..."
Treebeard was stunned for a moment, then blinked his huge eyes, and thought hard again, and finally, he suddenly became more depressed...
Because time is too long, and they have stayed in Fangorn Forest for so long that they have almost forgotten what the tree wives look like...
"Perhaps... we tree shepherds can only... follow the requirements of that evil little witch..."
After seeing that the hobbits didn't know where their tree wives were, Treebeard could only sigh in resignation.
Although Treebeard really dislikes that evil little human witch, he still accepts his fate now! For the sake of their tree wives, for their next generation, and in order to no longer be a bachelor tree, Treebeard decided to temporarily succumb to the little witch and do as she ordered...
"Your Excellency Anne? What reasons does she have? Why do you want to do what she asks?"
Pippin felt a little confused and confused. Didn't they just talk about the tree wives? Why did it suddenly involve Anne the Little Witch again? What does this have to do with her?
"Yes! Treebeard, didn't you just say that you hate Witch Anne?"
Melly also leaned over curiously and asked.
What on earth could possibly make these powerful tree people willing to succumb to a little girl they hate so much? He thought this matter might be much more interesting than the tree wife or something like that!
They learned a lot of strange things today. Maybe, after returning to the Shire, they can really learn from that old Bilbo and write everything they know into a thick book?
"Well……"
"Yes... the little witch is very evil... she makes us tree people respond to her army... we don't like war... but... she seems to know where our tree wife is..."
There is nothing better than letting a group of tree herders who have been single for thousands of years find their tree wives and use them to blackmail them! Therefore, after hearing what the little witch secretly said to it at that time, Treebeard could only sigh deeply again.
It really has no choice but to compromise...
"..."
"Treebeard? Are you really sure? As far as we know, Witch Anne is sometimes very naughty. Maybe she is lying to you?!"
After Pippin and Merry looked at each other awkwardly, they could only persuade the old tree man.
They have had more contact with the little witch Anne's temperament, and they know it relatively well! So, they don't really want this honest and honest old tree man to be coaxed by some unscrupulous little girl, and then end up in vain?
In that case, the tree shepherd would be a little too cruel to them...
"No……"
"That little witch, she is as strong as Vera. She will not lie to me easily..."
After hearing the words of the two hobbits, Treebeard rolled its huge yellow-orange eyes for a while, and finally slowly shook his head.
"She described it to me..."
"In that deep forest... there is a sea of strange flowers... the plants there... have unusually strong vitality... and... there are... several special forms of green energy..."
"That...is our tree wife...several tree wives..."
At this point, Treebeard even started to tremble all over.
Obviously, it is very excited now. If the evil little witch hadn't asked them to serve in her army and fulfill her request before telling them where those tree wives are, maybe it would have called out by now. Companion, are you running as fast as you can to the tree wives day and night?
Never underestimate the determination of this group of male tree people who have been single for tens of thousands of years!
"But, based on this alone, you can be sure that those are your tree wives? Haven't you all forgotten what they look like?"
"You're right!"
Pippin and Merry were a bit dumbfounded for a moment. They didn't expect that the tree shepherd could be so sure that those things were their tree wives based on these inexplicable descriptions?
Haven't they even forgotten themselves? Now, why is it so certain? This matter sounds a bit unreliable to both of them! It’s a flower, it’s energy, etc., so does it have to be a tree wife?
"No...the tree wives will change into special forms...of this...I'm pretty sure...that's them..."
"We have waited too long... too long..."
"Now... we are finally going to find them..."
"So... even if we get along with the evil little witch... even if we start a war... we destroy the whole world... we won't hesitate..."
For the first time, Merry and Pippin saw that cruel and cold expression on Treebeard's face! Of course, there are also those big yellow-orange eyes that are getting brighter and brighter...
————
On the Rohan Prairie, three horses stopped in the distance of this huge herdsman city, looking at the palace towering on a huge stone mountain and the entire residential area surrounding the stone mountain below.
There are three horses and five knights here, and the one riding alone on the tall white horse is little Annie! After she and four others walked out of Fangorn Forest, she forcibly occupied the divine horse that Gandalf had finally summoned!
Then, the dwarf Gimli naturally rode on a gray war horse with the elf prince Legolas, while the white-robed wizard Gandalf was frustrated and squeezed into the maroon war horse with Aragorn. on the back.
"Andoras, the golden palace of Medusi!"
"This is the Kingdom of Rohan, the palace of King Theoden! We are finally here, I hope everything is not too late..."
But now we are here. After seeing the palace and city in the distance, Gandalf breathed a sigh of relief. Now, he no longer has to huddle passionately with Aragorn on a war horse. That is really A kind of torture...
According to what the exiled Eomer whom Aragorn met before, the current king of Rohan, Théoden, seems to have been controlled by Saruman using evil spells and has become indistinguishable between friend and foe? !
If this is really the case, then they need to act quickly!
Gandalf knows that some spells, if they last for too long, are likely to have a very bad impact on the human brain!
Originally, Gandalf was a little worried. He was afraid that his magic could not counter Saruman's control of King Théoden? After all, Saruman is much stronger than Maia, who is still limited in strength!
Although Gandalf is wearing a white robe now, he also knows that it was given to him by Queen Galadriel of the Golden Forest, and it has nothing to do with his own strength! He did not die in the battle against the Balrog, nor was he resurrected by the Valar and lifted from the limitations of his strength.
However, after taking a look at the little girl riding on his Myalas horse, Jet Shadow, Gandalf nodded secretly. Although this little girl caused trouble most of the time, if there was this If the little girl is here, it should be much easier for him to counter Saruman's spell!
"Huh? Is this finally the time?"
Anne, who had been napping on the horse, opened her eyes drowsily when she felt the horse stop.
"Then let's go in quickly, right? You're really exhausted! This horse is not fun at all. It runs too slow and bumpy!"
At this time, little Annie patted the white divine horse under her with dissatisfaction, hoping that it would carry her and run towards the city gate in the distance.
Along the way, she didn’t sleep comfortably on the horse’s back!
"..."
A person rides a horse alone and dares to say she is tired when she refuses to let others ride with her? Gandalf and Aragorn no longer knew what prophecy to use to describe this terrible little girl!
"Annie... Jieying said it doesn't like you very much..."
After turning his head and taking a look at the white divine horse that was shaking its mane on its neck and snorting constantly, Gandalf couldn't help but tell his partner's thoughts.
"Oh? Then it should feel lucky!"
She reached out and grabbed the other person's white mane, turned his head over and looked at the huge divine horse's eyes. Anne nodded, and then quickly shook her head.
"Uh, fortunately...? What kind of expression is this?"
Gandalf didn't quite understand what this little brat was thinking. Why would Jet Shadow feel lucky if he didn't like her? What kind of logic is this? It makes absolutely no sense!
"Because horse meat doesn't taste good! It's bitter and astringent?"
"So, I won't eat it just because it doesn't like me! How about it? Shouldn't it feel a little lucky?!"
This beautiful horse, if it were any other animal and hated herself, it would have been roasted and eaten by Annie!
"What are you looking at? Look again, be careful and I will eat you!"
Seeing that the big horse dared to turn its head and stare at her, with an expression that was too angry to speak, Anne stared back mercilessly!
"..."
"That's right, not only Jieying is happy, but I am also very lucky!"
Gandalf's lips were trembling, and it took him a long time to say this.
Fortunately, his mount is a horse, right? Otherwise, its fate might have been the same as that of Rivendell and some magical creature in the Golden Forest!
That little brat, really thinks that he doesn’t know about the things she did? It's just that he didn't dare to say it casually!
Thinking about it this way, it seems that Lady Galadriel also knew that this little girl ate her magical animal, right? Otherwise, she wouldn't have had that driving look on her face at that time?
"Let's go, let's follow..."
Therefore, Gandalf could only join the others and look with resentful eyes at the white divine horse in front of him that began to scream in pain and run towards the city gate, and the kid with blond hair and red dress on its back!
"I really don't understand why my father, Groin, likes this little girl so much? But I don't like her at all!"
"She has been acting weird and scheming all day, and she is cunning and cunning. She doesn't look like a normal little girl!"
The dwarf Gimli, who was in Legolas's arms, had the guts to mutter something dissatisfied after seeing the little girl galloping out on horseback.
"I don't like her very much either..."
Legolas nodded and agreed with the dwarf in his arms. He also didn't like this little girl who especially liked to give people nicknames!
Before you look at her, what did you call yourself? A pretty boy with pointy ears who likes to play with bows and arrows? What are you talking about! ?
The Silvan elves in their dark forest have pointed ears and are good at bows and arrows. He does not deny this! But what’s the deal with this pretty boy’s nickname? This sounds like it must not be a good word, right? !
"Okay, stop complaining. At least she's not too bad, and she's still on our side, isn't she? Let's follow her quickly..."
After seeing in the distance that there seemed to be Rohan cavalry guarding the gate intending to surround the little girl who was galloping on horseback, Gandalf quickly asked Aragorn in front of him, who was responsible for riding the horse, to follow quickly.
Did he really not want this little girl to cause trouble in the royal court of Rohan again after causing trouble in Fangorn Forest? !
On top of the Siraxigir Peak, Gandalf had seen with his own eyes the terrifying power of this little girl when she was angry. Moreover, it seemed that that was not her true strength? So, he definitely doesn't want to see a little girl threaten to burn down the entire Andoras again?
