بخش 05

We must be quick.

You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits.

Where are they?

They passed this way the day before yesterday.

They met someone they did not expect.

Does that comfort you?

Who are you?

Show yourself!

It cannot be.

Forgive me.

I mistook you for Saruman.

I am Saruman.

Or rather, Saruman as he should have been.

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.

Stars wheeled overhead…

and every 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.

Gandalf.

Gandalf?

Yes.

That was what they used to call me.

Gandalf the Grey.

That was my name.

Gandalf.

I am Gandalf the White.

And I come back to you now…

at the turn of the tide.

One stage of your journey is over. Another begins.

We must travel to Edoras with all speed. Edoras?

That is no short distance!

We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king.

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 treeinfested…?

I mean, charming…

quite charming 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.

I n one thing you have not changed, dear friend.

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. Strong?!

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’s more grumpy than the old one.

That is one of the Mearas…

unless my eyes are cheated by some spell.

Shadowfax.

He is the lord of all horses…

and has been my friend through many dangers.

O rowan mine

I saw you shine

Upon a summer’s day

Upon your head How goldenred

The crown you bore aloft

Such a beautiful verse.

Is it much further? Don’t be hasty.

You might call it far, perhaps.

My home lies deep in the forest…

near the roots of the mountain.

I told Gandalf I would keep you safe.

And safe is where I’ll keep you.

I believe you will enjoy this next one too.

It’s one of my own compositions.

Right.

Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves

And the dreams of trees unfold

When woodland halls are green and cool

And the wind is in the West

Come back to me

Come back to me

And say my land is best

Sleep, little Shirelings.

Heed no nightly noise.

Sleep till morning light.

I have business in the forest.

There are many to call. Many that must come.

The Shadow lies on Fangorn.

The withering of all woods is drawing near.

The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape.

Sauron will suffer no rival.

From the summit of Baraddur, his Eye watches ceaselessly.

But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear.

Doubt ever gnaws at him.

The rumor has reached him.

The heir of Numenor still lives.

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.

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.

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.

Do not regret your decision to leave him.

Frodo must finish this task alone.

He’s not alone.

Sam went with him.

Did he?

Did he, indeed? Good.

Yes, very good.

The Black Gate of Mordor.

Oh, save us.

My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he could see us now.

Master says to show him the way into Mordor.

So good Smeagol does, master says so.

I did.

That’s it, then.

We can’t get past that.

Look!

The gate.

It’s opening!

I can see a way down.

Sam, no!

Master!