"Gandalf?" Everyone was astounded.
"Gandalf!"
Pippin fell off his horse with awe and happiness.
"Stop dithering you Fool of a Took!" The rider said, "Now get up!"
"Mithrandir!" Aragorn called, "Something terrible has happened!"
"What is it?" Gandalf frowned and signalled for the group to continue when Pippin had been sat tightly back on his horse.
"It's Frodo."
Gandalf went pale. "What has happened?"
"He's been kidnapped."
"How could this have happened?" Gandalf cried, "Do- do you know who it is?"
"We have an idea," Legolas rode up next to them,
"But-" Gandalf stopped. He already knew who it was, "I see... when did he leave you?"
"Five days ago. Maybe there is still hope."
They were fast approaching Isengard. The shadowed Tower of Orthanc stood tall and proud. Some of the riders shrank back in terror.
"Do not be alarmed!" Gandalf reasurred the as they rode, "The Ents have taken care of most of the enemy."
As they approached Isengard, an ent named Treebeard cam to greet them.
"Hoom hm...", the ent called to them. The hobbits stared in awe at this creature.
It looked very much like a tree, but with long arms and many branched fingers. It's hair was green and bright with foliage, and it had slow, green eyes.
"Gandalf. Glad to see you arrive so quickly. We have almost driven the- orcs away." At the mention of the orcs, Treebeard looked utterly disgusted.
"Come. The others are waiting." He strode off back through the gate as they caught up with him. They followed and surveyed Isengard.
It was terrible. There were orcs laying everywhere and their black blood shrivelled the grass. Trees were burning everywhere. Remains of small settlements and ents were strewn over the ground, and fires erupted from them. Some of the other ents went up in flames completely. It was a horrid sight to watch. The hobbits shielded their eyes from the battle and Gandalf commanded the Riders of Rohan to help. Eomer sent some Riders back to Rohan to fetch King Theoden and Lady Eowyn. Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli went to help too. The rest hid themselves in what was left of the greenery. Soon three riders were seen in the distance.
There rode King Theoden, the Lady Eowyn and Eomer. They dismounted.
"Greetings, King Theoden." Gandalf bowed.
"Ah, Gandalf," Theoden replied, "Good to see you..."
"We must see Saruman." Gandalf was grim.
"Yes, so we must, so we must."
The rest of the fellowship joined them again and they advanced slowly to Orthanc. The three hobbits cowered and Sam muttered to himself sadly.
They came to the entrance. Gandalf pushed the stone doors open heavily and the fellowship went inside. They climbed a set of steps and came to a shadowed room. In the midst of it was something on a stand, covered with a cloth. Saruman was sitting, staring into it, muttering in an enchanting but harsh language.
"Saruman!" Gandalf spoke clear, and his voice was cold. This alarmed Pippin very much, who jumped and hid behind Gimli.
"So you have come." That voice. "He said you would be here,"
"Who! Who said that?" Legolas started.
"Fools!" Saruman cackled, "Can you not guess?"
Aragorn stifled a gasp.
"Saruman, why have you done this?" Gandalf asked sternly. Saruman looked up sharply.
"Why?" He snarled, "Why! I have joined Sauron now. You know that."
"So you have then." Gandalf sounded amused. "And what has become of your staff?"
"My staff?" Saruman snarled again, "What has this got to do with my staff?"
"This." Gandalf held his own staff up, "Saruman, I HEREBY announce that you are banished from the white council."
Saruman's eyes widened in fury.
"Your staff is broken!" Saruman's staff snapped in two immediately.
"What?" He was aghast. Then his expression turned to a sickening smile.
"I'll make sure your hobbit friend never sees the light of days again. Now go!"
Everyone's eyes were wide with fear for Frodo, and Sam started wailing pitifully. Merry put a comforting arm around his shoulder and they walked out, thanked Eomer, mounted their horses and rode off as the sun rose.
