One is asleep, and the other seems to be smoking. But the strangest thing of all is that they see two small figures sitting on a rock among the rubble.Looks like Isengard isn't so powerful anymore. When Théoden and the rest arrive at the once-strong Orthanc, they find that the gates have been pulled down and there is water lapping right at the walls of the tower.Orthanc has been a strong place, without a trace of green, but it is also just a pale imitation of Barad-dûr, that "furnace of great power" (3.8.107) in Mordor.Meanwhile the River Isen suddenly begins bubbling as usual.The hill where the trees had stood has always been bare since then, and it is called the Death Down.The next morning, the people emerge to see that the orc carcasses are all gone from the battlefield-and so are the trees.Back in Helm's Deep, the same thing happens through the night.They hear "whisperings and groanings and an endless rustling sigh" (3.8.97)-uh oh-but the darkness passes eventually.Gandalf tells them not to worry, and to draw no weapons.Late in the night, the watchmen see darkness spreading towards them going north.When they reach the foot of the Misty Mountains and the vale of Nan Curuní, they see billows of smoke rising from the Wizard's Vale.Come on Gandalf, why must you be so mysterious all the time? Still, he will not say more about who his helpers are.Gandalf was one of the people who helped build it, but he wasn't the only one.This turns out to be a grave for the Riders of Rohan who fell in battle with the forces of Isengard before the Battle of Helm's Deep. Beyond the river, there is a mound piled with rocks and covered with a bunch of spears.At last, they arrive at the River Isen, which seems almost drained of water entirely.He reminds Théoden that the people of Rohan call Fangorn Entwood-did he think that was just a coincidence?. Gandalf patiently explains what we already know: these are Ents.Théoden asks the question everyone must be thinking: but what are they herding?.Gandalf tells everyone not to panic: it's fine they are just herdsmen.Suddenly, three great shapes, like trolls but not, you know, horrible, emerge from the trees.As they leave the cover of the trees, Legolas freaks: he sees eyes among the trees.At last, they emerge from this strange forest.Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you, the Bert and Ernie of The Two Towers. Legolas and Gimli make a promise that, if they both survive the war, Legolas will go with Gimli to Helm's Deep and Gimli will go with Legolas to Fangorn. Well, we all knew that Gimli loved rocks, so we guess that's no surprise. For his part, Gimli is in love with the caves of Helm's Deep (which are called the Glittering Caves of Anglarond).Seriously, what is with this dude and trees? He senses that the trees come "from the deep dales of Fangorn" (3.8.46). Legolas seems quite taken with the forest.They ride through the new (and rather forbidding) forest that has collected around Helm's Deep.As they ride off, all the men, women, and children who had been sheltering in the caverns of Helm's Deep come pouring out singing songs of victory.Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn agree to tag along, of course. They decide to rest for the day and set off in the evening.Théoden decides that he will trust Gandalf: "I will come with you, if that is your counsel" (3.8.20). They have nowhere near the number of troops they need to just breeze into Isengard.
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