Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 21:11:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Silven Fox <silvenfox@yahoo.com>
Subject: Destiny of an Earth - 20

Disclaimer: I don't know Nsync. I don't know Justin Timberlake in real life.
This will be a Justin Timberlake centered story. Also this story is in no
way meant to imply that he is homosexual in real life. This piece of
literature is simply the work of a fan and is pure fiction.

I don't own The Lord of the Rings or any other works of the series. The
rights of the series goes solely to the series author JRR Tolkien.


Now that's out of the way. This story appeared in my head when I was
trapped in the car with my relatives for a 24-hour road trip. I was really
really bored! I shudder just thinking about that trip. Anyway, if your
below legal age to read this where your from, then all I can tell you is
stop and don't let your parents catch you. He he that's not much of a
warning, but hey what else can I do.

Now if you have any comments, feedback or you just want to drop a
word. Send them to SilvenFox@yahoo.com






Chapter 20


Justin sat on top of his horse near his friends, overlooking the carnage
before him. The grass fields in front of Helm's Deep were covered in the
blood of Orcs and Uruk-hai. Their dead carcasses lay mutilated on the once
green Earth. Justin eyes dimmed in sadness as the memories of the battle
still lingered in his mind. He didn't think the screams of all those who
died would ever leave his head. He knew he was the only one who was feeling
sadness and anger so badly. Everyone else had seen battle and death in one
form or another.

Justin turned his horse around and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. Where
there once was an ongoing stretch of grassy fields, was now a dark forest
of tall trees.

"Umm... I must be having a blond moment. Since when has a forest been
outside Helm's Deep?" asked Harry, staring at the gloomy forest.

The company turned to see where Justin was looking. The Fellowship and the
Rohirrim, the Riders of the Mark, gasped in amazement at the sight.
Gandalf, who sat on the back of Shadowfax, breathed a quick breath of
surprise.

"This has to be some wizardry," voiced Eomer. "What else can conjure an
entire forest in moments."

Gandalf shook his head, not taking his eyes off the forest. "There is no
such spell that I know of. There is something else at work here. Some magic
that is even older than the Elves or Dwarves."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" asked Justin, confused.

Gandalf looked at the forest deep in thought. "I cannot say."

King Theoden looked sideways at Gandalf. "Even you do not know what power
this is?"

"No, I do not. All I can say is if you want to know the answer then come
with me to Isengard."

"Isengard!" they cried.

"Yes," said Gandalf. "I shall return to Isengard, and those who will may
come with me. There we may see strange things even more unusual than this
dark forest."

Justin snapped his head toward Gandalf. He wanted them to actually go to
Isengard. Saruman's, Sauron's right hand, base of operations was at
Isengard. It seemed that now had come the time for the evil wizard to
answer for his crimes of betrayal and strife he caused.

"It will have to be under the shadow of evening," replied Gandalf. "This
journey will have to remain secret as will all our comings and goings. I
must ask you to chose few men to journey with you. We are going to a parley
not to a fight."

"I will head your advice and journey with you," said King Theoden. "My men
are weary from battle. As I'm sure most of us are, so let us rest for the
night."

Justin agreed with Theoden. He was more tired than he had ever been. The
exhaustion was catching up to rapidly. His muscles ached and his skin was
sore due to the bruises and scratches that some Orcs had got in.

"Justin," said Legolas, touching his arm.

Justin blinked, tuning back in to the world around him. He stared at
Legolas, blinking quickly to hold back the tiredness that was slowly taking
over him.

"I'm fine, Las," said Justin, giving his love a small smile.

They turned around and the group began to ride back to the keep. They would
rest for the night then set off tomorrow. Saruman was about to get some
visitors.

                                 * * *

Justin had to admit after their night rest, he felt a lot better. Refreshed
and ready to face Saruman or whatever else that came to them. Today's
earlier precedence had saddened him some. For they had to bury all those
who died defending the keep. It was a depressing afternoon for all whom
attending the short funerals.

The light of the full moon shined down on the Fellowship and their Rohirrim
companions. They stood close to the mysterious dark forest, staring at its
ominous mist apprehensively. Legolas was only one who seemed eager to
venture inward to see the trees more closely.

Justin grinned from on top of his horse. "So," he began, looking at
everyone. "Who actually wants to go into the big giant scary woods --
besides the Elf -- Come on. Let me see a hand. What no takers?"

Boromir looked at Justin his eyebrow cocked, questioning. "Do you
understand the phrase a time and place for everything?" Gimli nodded in
agreement from his spot behind Boromir on the horse.

"Whatever," said Justin, turning his back to Boromir. "Its not my fault
your on your period."

Gandalf gave Shadowfax the command to go forward and he passed into the
dark forest. Justin turned to his to side to ask Legolas a question, but
the Elf in question was gone. Justin looked around and blinked in surprise,
seeing Legolas already following Gandalf into the forest. The Rohirrim hung
back unwilling to enter the woods. Justin personally didn't blame them.
There was something hostile about the trees. A never-ending shadow hung
about them making it impossible to see very far into the wood.

Justin entered the woods cautiously and was surprised to find that the road
passed directly through the forest with the trees towering on either side.
He could hear Boromir follow behind him. Gimli's muttering about `stupid
trees' was heard all about them. Aragorn hushed the dwarf and caught up to
Gandalf so he could be at point position with the wizard.

"Its hot in here," said Justin, rolling up the sleeves of his tunic. "Did
someone turn the heat on Hell?"

"Aye, it is," said Boromir, agreeing.

Justin could hear behind them the clinking of metal as the Rohirrim entered
the forest. The silence was oppressing as they rode on the road, keeping
clear of the trees. Justin made sure to ride next to Legolas and Gandalf.
The woods sent a chill down his side. It was almost if the trees themselves
were angry over some great tragedy. He could hear them whispering and
muttering. He looked at Legolas and was relieved to see that Elf had heard
it too, for he glanced about them at the trees as if concerned. Legolas met
Justin's eyes and gave him a longing look.

"There is great anger here, Gandalf," muttered Legolas.

"I can feel it," replied the white wizard, gazing about for signs of danger
and trouble.

They all rode in silence not feeling the need to talk. Legolas would stop
every so often, much to the displeasure of Gimli, to stop and listen more
closely to the woods. One such stop led to a heated argument between the
two. It took Boromir shouted to break up their shouting match. The two
friends realized their behavior and apologized to each other.

"Its nice to see you two know how to kiss and makeup," commented Justin.

Both dwarf and elf looked at him with disgusted faces. "Kiss," they said at
the same time.

Justin grinned widely at their expressions. "Calm down, Jak and Dexter I
didn't mean literally. It's just an expression."

"It better be," grumbled Gimli, crossing his arms with a scowl on his face.

Boromir and Justin chuckled quietly under their breaths. "Look there is
light ahead!" said Aragorn from his position at point with Gandalf.

Sure enough the trees ahead were less and less. Justin breathed a sigh of
relief to see light up ahead. "How far is it Isengard, Gandalf?" asked
Justin.

"About fifteen leagues, as the crows of Saruman make it," answered Gandalf.
"five from the mouth of Deeping-coomb to the Fords and ten more from there
to the gates of Isengard. But we shall not ride all the way this night."

Justin winced. Fifteen miles on the back of a horse was going to do a
number on his legs. Maybe if he rode horses all his life it would be easier
for him.

"What will be there when we get there?" questioned Gimli. "Do you happen to
know, Gandalf?"

They all listened curious to the wizards answer. The white wizard sighed.
"I do not know for certain. I was there a few nightfall's ago, but I think
much has changed since then."

They came through the wood without harm despite the menacing presence of
the trees. The road that ran east to Edoras and north to Isengard lay
stretched out in front them. Justin turned around to glimpse the forest one
last time. He blanched at what he saw.

"Eyes!" cried Legolas, pointing to the shadows of the woods. "Eyes I have
never seen before are looking out from the shadows of the trees."

Everyone stopped in their place, startled by his cry. They turned to see
into the shadows at what Legolas saw. Legolas turned his horse sharply
around and began to ride back to the forest. Justin was about to cry out
for him to stop but someone beat him to it.

"Legolas Greenleaf, do not venture forth! Now is not the time!" commanded
Gandalf with a voice that spoke of the power he kept hidden.

Legolas halted immediately at Gandalf's command. As the wizard was talking,
three strange beings came from the woods. They were twelve foot in height
and looked like walking trees. Their limbs were long, their hands had many
fingers, and their hair was stiff, and they had long flowing beards that
seemed to be made of green moss. Justin's breath caught in his throat as he
gazed at the beings. Suddenly, the giant creatures raised their long hands
to their mouths and let out resounding ringing call. The sound was a
beautiful melody. Other identical creatures soon answered it from the
North.

Swiftly more creatures came from the North. Covering great distances in
just a few steps, since their legs were so long. The riders cried out in
wonder and put their hands on their sword hilts.

"You need no weapons," said Gandalf. "These are but herdsmen. They are no
threat to us. Their concern is not with us at all, look."

Indeed it was true. For the tall tree-like beings strode into the woods and
vanished, without so much as looking in their direction.

"What are they?" asked Theoden, looking to Gandalf for answer.

"They are the shepherds of the trees," answered Gandalf. "They are the
beings that have been sung about in tales of old. You have seen the Ents of
Fangorn forest?"

"Ents!" cried Eomer. "But I thought they be just a story. A story that was
told to children out of fancy."

Theoden was just as surprised. "Indeed! It has been long since we have
ventured past our borders. Teaching our children in songs, but we are
forgetting them, only teaching them as a careless custom. And now the
beings of songs are true and we see them with our very own eyes."

Justin clapped his hands getting everyone's attention. "Look, I'm all for
chit chatting, but can we start moving somewhere. I don't mean to sound
like a wuss, but this forest is seriously creeping me out."

They followed his advice, seeing they were procrastinating. They rode down
the road that would take them to Isengard. They rode for hours and the
moon's light came upon them as the day turned into night. Justin shivered
slightly hearing the howling of wolves carried by the wind. They rode down
a slope that dipped sharply. Before their eyes were rising turf-banks.
Three lines of stepping-stones made their way across the stream. The
strange thing was the stream was dry. Where there once and always had been
an ever-rushing river was now a dry bank full of gray sand.

"What has happened to the river?" asked Aragorn.

"Indeed what has happened to the river. This place is dreary. Did Saruman
cause this sickness to befall the river?" questioned Boromir.

"So it would seem," Gandalf sighed, gazing at the river in puzzlement.

They crossed the bank and rode for hours more till at last it was nearly
midnight and the King grew weary. They came to the feet of the Misty
Mountains and made camp near the river of Isen. Justin lay curled in
Legolas' side using his shoulder as a pillow. Legolas' arms were encircled
around Justin in a protective embrace. His eyes were open going into that
place that was not dream land, but not the waking land. It was the
meditative state that all Elves ventured into since they had no need for
sleep.

They slept only a little. Late that night the voices of the watch guards
started to cry out. Justin jumped up with the rest of them, sword out and
ready for any trouble. The trouble wasn't anything physical. The moon had
disappeared and blackness crept toward them, rolling across the ground. On
both sides of the river it came, rolling northward as if seeking out
something.

"Stay where you are!" shouted Gandalf. "Draw not your weapons and it should
pass you by!"

A mist gathered about them. Above them a few stars still glimmered faintly;
but on either side there arose walls of impenetrable gloom; they were in a
narrow lane between moving towers of shadow. Voices they heard, whisperings
and groaning and an endless rustling sigh; the earth shook under them. Long
it seemed to them that they sat and were afraid; but at last the darkness
and the mummer passed, and vanished between the mountain's arms.

Justin breathed a sigh of relief as the darkness vanished. He slumped
against Legolas, feeling suddenly as if a thousand voices had been speaking
inside of his mind. The darkness had seemed to scan him, testing him for
something. Trying to decide if he were a threat.

Justin looked at Gandalf. "Would you care to explain what that was because
that was some really freaky shit? This is not a Nightmare on Elm Street, so
why in the Hell can't I ever get a good night sleep."

***********************************************
Kind of short, I know. But I had to leave it here so I can start the next
chapter in a certain place. I hoped this was satisfactory or at least
decent.

Now if you have any comments, feedback or you just want to drop a
word. Send them to SilvenFox@yahoo.com