The 292nd Chapter Red Robe Witch (1)

Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas were riding three steeds, walking dully on the dense forest path leading to Isengard.

In the Battle of Helm's Deep two days ago, the white-handed orc army under the white-robed wizard Saruman was almost wiped out! Now, the cavalry of the Rohan Hussars have cooperated with the firearms army of the United Kingdom of Alicia, and are carrying out sweeping operations against the half-orcs, strong orcs, and Dunland barbarians in the area near the West Valley of Rohan. It won't be long before you can return to calm again.

These sounded like good news, but Gandalf the White Robe rode on the back of his divine horse Joyce, but kept his old face straight, and couldn't be happy no matter what.

Because, that confused hussar king Theoden, before he set off to return to the capital Edoras yesterday, he had already announced that the Rohan hussars officially joined the United Kingdom of Alicia and respected Ofina as the queen of the joint United Kingdom !

In the future, in addition to the Prancing Horse flag of Rohan, the red-bottomed gold-edged vulture flag of the United Kingdom of Alicia will also be hoisted in Rohan. Now, maybe they are estimated to have started to sign a more detailed contract and discuss specific franchise matters?

This matter has already been decided, and the stubborn Hussar King Theoden has decided, no matter how much he persuades Gandalf, it will be useless!

It was only now that Gandalf suddenly discovered that the Gondor Kingdom in the south, which played a vital role in his plan, was completely isolated all of a sudden?

Look, to the east of Gondor, across the Anduin River, is the increasingly powerful Mordor power, and to the north, north of the mountains of Gondor, is the United Kingdom of Alicia with an ambiguous attitude and unclear intentions! To the west and south is the sea, and Gondor is completely trapped!

The situation suddenly became extremely serious. Gandalf, who felt that things were not good, felt that it was necessary to come to Isinger. He planned to use the reason of confirming whether Saruman was dead to contact him again. Once that little girl.

He was eager to know, that little witch named Anne, what exactly did she want to do?

Thinking about it carefully, since the little girl first appeared in Middle-earth, Gandalf probably has a little idea of ​​what the other party has done.

For example: she killed several ring spirit knights under the demon lord Sauron, and also froze the flood of an entire river, and later captured a Balrog, and now she has created a United Kingdom and wiped out all of them. Isinger's power, and also killed Saruman?

If you look at these things together, the other party doesn't seem to have done anything detrimental to Middle-earth, right? Moreover, she seems to have helped him, Boss Gandalf, instead?

However, for some reason, Gandalf always felt a little uneasy in his heart!

After thinking about it, he just had doubts about the little girl named Annie. Because, he couldn't see through this little girl! What if she is evil? But what she is doing now is extremely righteous! But what if she is just? And she was never on Gandalf's own side!

Have strength, do things and do things willfully?

Therefore, Gandalf felt that she was the biggest unstable factor in Middle-earth! Although it has not reached the level of harm of the Demon Lord Sauron, it is also an object that needs to be observed and paid attention to!

Next, regarding the matter that the white robe Saruman was burned alive by the little witch and turned into ashes...

Although Gandalf didn't contact the Villars for final confirmation, he actually believed it 99% in his heart!

Because, he has experienced the terrifying power of that little girl.

Back then, when Gandalf himself was fighting the Balrog fiercely on the highest peak of the Misty Mountains, that little witch, she threw fireballs at random, and directly ignited and melted the top of the entire mountain. In the doomsday scene of a volcanic eruption,

He himself has experienced it himself and is still vivid in his mind!

Until now, Gandalf still hasn't seen through the true strength of that little girl. According to his conservative estimate, the other party at least has the strength equivalent to the most powerful Maiyas?

In addition, in that little girl's hand, there is a Balrog that is more powerful than Gandalf, and a flaming teddy bear that can hold the Balrog on the ground and rub it?

Therefore, Gandalf did not think that Saruman could please the little girl, and being burned to death should be regarded as a normal thing! However, from what he heard, it would more or less make him feel a bit sad.

Because of this, he had to come to Essinger! First, we can sort out some things left by Saruman. If possible, he even wants to take back this Orthank tower that originally belonged to the Holy White Council? Secondly, it is really necessary for him to get in touch with that little girl again. It is best to probe into the other party's background and figure out the other party's true intentions.

"I'm telling you, I hate this place so much!"

"This broken forest...how does it make me feel like I'm back in that damned, gloomy Fangorn Forest? Gandalf, you're not leading the wrong way, are you?"

Gimli, who was riding on the back of a Rohan warhorse with Legolas, was sitting right behind Legolas at this time, looking at the gloomy jungle around him with displeasure. The trees, those twisted roots, seemed to give him the illusion of deja vu, familiar?

He almost thought that this was the damn Fangorn Forest that he had been to not long ago!

However, just as he finished his words, the huge ancient trees around him began to moan and move. Jinli was so frightened that he quickly shut up, and managed to avoid falling off the horse.

Here, is it really that damned Fangorn Deep Forest? Could it be that Gandalf was really so confused that he led the wrong way?

"Please pay attention to your words and deeds, son of Gloin, dwarf Gimli!"

Raising the staff, I don't know if some spell was used, after appeasing or warning the surrounding trees, they became quiet again.

Gandalf, who was leading the way, had a cold face and turned his head to the dwarf who was holding a big iron ax in his hand and carrying a smooth-bore large-caliber short-barreled musket behind his back, and warned unreservedly. Said.

The large-caliber smooth-bore front-loading rifle on the opponent's back was given to his son Gimli by Gloin, the current gunnery officer of the United Kingdom of Alicia. Smash out the chest or head of a large troll?

Gandalf doesn't like this kind of weapon, because he feels the threat of these weapons to their Maya... This kind of devil's weapon makes personal bravery no longer important. Doesn't it mean that the swordsmanship he ordered by Gandalf Specialization all in vain? Who knows when, he will be shot down by a weak child? That's just too embarrassing!

"Here, it is Fangorn Forest!"

"But it's not the Fangorn Forest we went to... because, those tree shepherds, they moved and expanded the ancient trees here..."

Gandalf looked solemnly at the surrounding ancient trees, and those orc or half-orc corpses that were tightly entwined under the roots of the ancient trees and were slowly being absorbed as nutrients, before Gandalf patted his body slightly. The next Jieying, let your horse continue to move forward.

Seeing the ancient trees grazing by the tree shepherd appear here, Gandalf faintly felt that Ofina, Queen of the United Kingdom of Alicia, must have concealed something from him!

What she said to herself at the time, was Essinger attacked by their Alicia Second Army and that little witch Annie? But why are there these moving ancient trees controlled by the tree herders? The tree shepherds, they actually united with the Kingdom of Alicia and captured Isinger together?

Didn't Treebeard, the tree shepherd, say that he hates the little witch who can play with fire the most? At that time, the two sides almost fought over it! Now, why did the two sides get mixed up again?

Is this just a random coincidence? Or, did that little girl coerce or use magic to control those tree shepherds? Therefore, Gandalf felt that it was necessary for him to find out about this matter later!

That little girl not only built a powerful United Kingdom of Alicia, but also created a new type of evil gunpowder weapon, and annexed the Rohan Hussars! If the other party still controls those powerful tree shepherds now, then he has to ask one more question, ask that little witch, what exactly do they want to do? !

"Gandalf, are you sure, these damn big trees will still move?!"

Hearing what Gandalf said, Gimli's eyes widened and he yelled loudly again.

However, after Gandalf turned back and gave him a hard look, he quickly covered his mouth again, expressing that he would never talk nonsense again, so as not to annoy these ancient trees.

He, Jinli, always thought that those ancient trees would only take root in place, and at most they could attack those unlucky creatures that passed by them! But how could he have imagined that such damn big trees would move like people? Was it slowly moved to Isinger from the Fargon Forest far away?

"My God! This...is this really the old Isinger?"

Just after walking out of Fangorn Forest and seeing the dilapidated and collapsed walls of Isengard and the towering Orthank tower, Aragorn was shocked to see the tower that had become a bit different and exclaimed. .

"What's going on? That tower...it looks a little different from what I've seen before? And..."

Aragorn turned his head suspiciously to the wizard Gandalf standing beside him on his horse and standing on his left, as if he wanted to get an accurate answer from him.

Because, in front of them, the Orthank tower in the middle of Isengard, except for the original black tower body, seems to have not changed much, the surrounding towers are actually inlaid with large and small sparkling red towers. Energy crystals or gems?

Moreover, the biggest changes are not limited to these!

On the top of its tower, on the platform that was supposed to be used by wizards to cast spells or observe celestial phenomena, there is actually a huge red gemstone that is still burning with raging flames? This made Aragorn instantly feel familiar, but not too sure.

"Also, it seems to be very similar to Sauron's flaming vertical pupil in Mordor, right?!"

Without Aragorn reminding, Gandalf has already seen what this thing looks like, it is simply full of sense of sight.

If it weren't for the fact that the other party still looked like the tower of Orthanc, and if the top of the other party was just a ball of flames instead of vertical pupils, people like Gandalf and Aragorn might have really thought that they had come to Barbados of Mordor. Rado Tower is up!

That flaming jewel is a bit too similar to the burning vertical pupil of the Demon King Sauron! At least, if viewed from a distance, they might look more alike? Maybe, compared to the previous Saruman, the little witch in it might be more like Sauron?

Compared to the shock of Aragorn and others from the appearance, Gandalf is more worried about another thing: the little girl inside, after staying in this world for a while, she has become more and more presumptuous, less and less Take the good things they said to each other to heart!

Let's see, now, the other party has become so reckless that they have publicly transformed the mage tower!

The transformation is fine, but it has been transformed into the aggressive and powerful look in front of him. Gandalf needs to doubt the opponent's motives.

He didn't understand, the little girl inside, she wasted effort to make a tall tower that could have been used as a mage tower into a more offensive appearance like this, who is she guarding against? !

You know, this is the western part of Middle-Earth. After Essinger was destroyed by her, the white-robed wizard Saruman was killed by her, and Rohan also announced to join Alicia, and even the tree shepherd had joined After them, what existence could threaten her?

What is she afraid of? Could it be Modo? But Mordor, which is far away on the east bank of the Anduin River, is still hundreds of thousands of miles away from here!

So, this thing is getting more and more intriguing!

"Hmph! Don't worry!"

"This is the Tower of Orthanc, and those flames have nothing to do with the Demon Lord Sauron! This place is just a battle fortress completely transformed by that little witch into a mage's battle fortress!"

"That's right...it's the mage's battle fortress!"

After saying this, Gandalf's face became even uglier.

He stopped explaining to Aragorn and others, and quickly patted the white horse under his crotch. He planned to go into Isinger earlier to find out what happened.

Because, the sharp-eyed Gandalf has already seen: In Isinger, besides the red-bottomed gold-edged vulture flags and soldiers of the United Kingdom of Alicia, there are many tall and big tree shepherds inside, look Seeing that the two sides were getting along in a friendly manner, Gandalf probably understood something in his heart.

"Hey! How are you all?"

"Welcome everyone, welcome to Essinger of Your Excellency the Red Robe Witch Anne!"

When Gandalf and the others had just turned a corner and planned to enter through Isengard's dilapidated gate, the two hobbits who were sitting on the parapet, smoking, drinking and having a big meal, happily Jumped up, shouted and waved loudly at them.

They both thought it would be at least a while before they saw these companions again! Unexpectedly, just two days after beating Isinger, they came here to visit them?

"Hey! Pippin, and Merry? You two bastards!"

"We dare to come here to find you two so hard, but you stay here to eat and drink? And... can you still smoke a pipe?"

Jinli, who had traveled for more than two days to get here, finally couldn't bear it anymore.

So, he widened his eyes, poked his head out from behind Legolas again, and muttered dissatisfiedly to the two hobbits on Isinger's wall.

"Aha! That's because we just won a big victory, so this is the spoil that the red robe witch and Alicia's female general rewarded us both!"

After hearing Gimli's dissatisfaction, the Hobbit Pippin retorted unceremoniously.

Anyway, they also followed the tree shepherd Treebeard last night the day before yesterday and killed and injured dozens of orcs and half-orcs with stones. No one can take away this feat!

This has to start from the early morning yesterday. When the fighting here has almost stopped, when those Alicia's troops are busy cleaning up the remnants of the half-orcs underground and counting related spoils, the two of them hurried to Sa In Luman's kitchen, some high-end luxuries that only Saruman can enjoy were searched.

So, as the victor, the food, drink and tobacco are the rewards that the two hobbits deserve.

"That's right! We also have the best specialties from the Shire here: the finest tobacco leaves and smoked cured pork from the Long Bottom Valley!"

At this time, another hobbit, Merry, stood up unwillingly, smoking his own pipe, nibbling a piece of bacon, and proudly smacking his mouth at the elf sitting behind him. The drooling bearded dwarf Gimli showed off.

"It turned out to be the finest tobacco...and, the best cured pork?!"

Jinli, who had driven for a whole day without eating anything, suddenly felt that his saliva was about to drip.

He suddenly felt that when Gandalf and the others went to work, could he have a meal with these two old hobbit friends? Anyway, he, a dwarf who can only fight, doesn't understand things about magic, does he? Then simply, don't cause trouble for Gandalf, who is not in a good mood recently, right?

"Alas... these two hobbits..."

This is really... so that Gandalf does not know what to say about them!

So, he shook his head, not planning to mess around with these two halflings here. Now, he has more important things to deal with, and he will settle accounts with them later!

After thinking about it, Gandalf continued to ride his horse forward slowly, intending to go in first, and it was important to do business.

Moreover, he just heard some not-so-good information from the two hobbits. It seems that the little girl has changed her name to the red-robed witch?

"Hey! Gandalf! Don't approach that tower indiscriminately, it will be very dangerous!"

"If you want to ask to see the red-robed witch, I think you'd better inform that female general named Reinas first, she's over there at the biggest tent!"

Seeing that Gandalf didn't want to ignore the two of them, he turned his horse's head directly, crossed the damaged Isinger gate, and started walking into the tower.

Pippin hurriedly held his pipe in his mouth, climbed up a higher section of the damaged parapet with both hands, and shouted at Gandalf and others who had already entered the enclosure.

Now, it's not safe around that tower!

Except for a limited number of people, such as the maid in charge of cleaning and delivering meals, and General Reynas or the two hobbits who have a good relationship with Your Excellency the Red Witch, any other outsiders dare to break into that place casually. If it is inside, it will definitely be directly burned to ashes by that ruthless flame!

Of course, the two of them can only enter the hall on the first floor of the tower, and they can't go up any further. It is said that it seems that they need some kind of authority key about magic?

"Well, I've warned them!"

Then, when he saw that the shepherd Treebeard had already met Gandalf and the others who rode his horse in, Pippin shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to worry about it, and continued to jump to Merry's side quickly, continuing to eat Drink up.

Now, the afternoon tea time belonging to their hobbits has just begun!

"Oh...young Gandalf...I'm glad you're here too..."

After signaling to a few Alicia soldiers who wanted to step forward to question them not to be too nervous, the tree shepherd walked up to three steeds that seemed to him to be less than ankle-high.

"Treesbeard, my old friend, it's a pleasure to meet you too!"

"It's just that I still don't quite understand. How did you tree shepherds unite with people from Alicia Kingdom? If I remember correctly, don't you hate that little witch the most?"

After looking at the surrounding Alicia soldiers and the tree shepherds who were working hard under the command of the other party, Gandalf was very puzzled.

What kind of trouble are these tree people?

If Isinger was jointly defeated, it's almost time to go back now, right? But look, not only do they not leave now, but they are also being used as coolies or slaves by the other party? When did the tree people become so good-tempered?

"joint……?"

"No...we are not united..."

After hearing Gandalf's words that his tree shepherds were allied with the little witch's subordinates, Treebeard quickly shook his big wooden head with beards and branches.

"Until now... I really don't like the little red-robed witch... She... is actually as bad as Saruman in the white robe..."

If it is out of their own will, maybe, today, their tree shepherds may not necessarily appear here?

Even if they wanted to take revenge on Saruman for cutting down the Fangorn Forest at will, it was impossible for them to form an alliance with the little witch's subordinates! They are tree herders, and generally do it in their own way.

"Then what are you..."

This going around made Gandalf feel a little confused, and then he pointed to the summoned tree people around him and asked!

Since Treebeard, the tree shepherd in front of him, dared to say that he did not join forces with the little witch, but what happened to the tree people who were working under the command of the soldiers?

Could it be that the other party really thinks that Gandalf is too old to see things clearly?

"Oh... this..."

Hearing Gandalf pointing at those treants, Treebeard finally understood what the other party meant.

"Well...we really...haven't united with the little witch..."

"Because...we are not united at all...but...they command and order us..."

Unity is equality and mutual assistance, and command is the relationship between superiors and subordinates. Facing the distinction of this kind of relationship, Treebeard, who has lived for countless years, still distinguishes it very clearly, and it didn't make a mistake.

"They are directing you? Could it be that you little witch used magic to enslave you?!"

Gandalf, who seemed to have thought of something bad, hurriedly asked.

What he was most worried about might still happen!

That little girl, regardless of the consequences, forcibly used magic to enslave these powerful tree shepherds? Then, by using the tree shepherd's ability to manipulate Fangorn Forest, he obtained a large group of powerful tree men and an army of ancient trees that could move out of thin air? !

"No...she didn't..."

The urgency of speaking slowly appeared again. Hearing this, Treebeard quickly waved his hands again.

"The little red-robed witch... she just took some things... and made a deal with us..."

The little witch provided what the tree shepherds needed, and the tree shepherds, of course, also provided part of the tribe for the other party to use.

From Treebeard's point of view, this matter has nothing to do with position, right or wrong, it's just a normal trading behavior, each takes what he needs.

Even though the tree shepherds were a little dissatisfied verbally, in their hearts, they were still a little grateful to that little witch?

After all, the other party has solved the single problem of their treant clan for thousands of years. This kindness is like reborn parents...

"trade!?"

Hearing this word, Gandalf was stunned. He didn't understand. If he wanted to come here, he would have no desires or desires, no worries about food, clothes, and shelter. What needs to be traded?

Haven't they lived in Fangorn Forest for so many years? Eat some soil when you are hungry, and sleep when you are sleepy. What else do they lack? What else can impress them?

"What is the deal that can make you tree shepherds willing to take the initiative to participate in the war?"

"Be careful, don't be fooled by that little girl!"

After thinking about it, he subconsciously thought that the little girl had tricked Gandalf from the tree man, so he hurriedly persuaded him kindly.

According to the nature of that little girl, maybe these tree people will end up in a bamboo basket to fetch water in vain? Then, in a fit of rage, they're not good enough to start a storm. You know, the more honest you are, the more terrifying the power will be when it erupts. Maybe it will be the kind that burns jade and stone together?

"No...the red witch...she has kept her promise...we found them..."

In the face of facts, all kinds of slander or lies are powerless!

Because, after capturing Essinger, Little Annie told the tree shepherd Treebeard the specific location of the tree wives. Now, many young and strong tree shepherds are rushing to the place the other party said to welcome their tree wives back!

Therefore, Treebeard doesn't need to mind what Gandalf said just now.

"Well... I'm going to work... Goodbye... Gandalf..."

After noticing that one of his companions in the distance was struggling to move a huge rock, Treebeard quickly turned around and strode over there.

It doesn't have much time to continue chatting with this Gandalf here, and now, this Essinger is the busiest time. The little witch had already ordered them a long time ago: within the stipulated time, they must cooperate with the troops under her to rebuild this place into what she needs!

"What did you find? What did she give you to make you work so hard for her?"

Gandalf didn't understand. At the beginning, he persuaded these tree people so earnestly that he almost didn't even want this old face, and he didn't see them agreeing with what he said, helping him to attack Isengard?

But as a result, when the little girl made a move, they not only helped, but also came here to work as coolies without complaint?

That little girl, what did she give them to make them so active in helping out? !

"Treebeard! Are you sure she's not tricking you?!"

Gandalf still couldn't hold back, and shouted again to Treebeard who turned away.

It's a pity that the opponent just waved its huge branch arm towards the back, and then ran to work obediently.

"Hey! I said..."

"Old Gandalf! Do you often speak ill of me behind my back like this?!"

Suddenly, a cunning voice with a trace of anger sounded dissatisfied above the heads of the four of Gandalf.

"..."

Then, when the four of them looked up in embarrassment, they only saw a little girl standing under the tower of her house with her hands on the railing of the window sill, and dared to say her Some villains of bad words.

"Ha! That, Mrs. Red Robe Witch, I didn't say anything just now!"

Gimli, who was sitting behind the elf Legolas, hurriedly defended himself. Now, the relationship between the dwarves, Alicia and this little witch is pretty good, and they are relatively close. It is said that the two sides still have the willingness to form an alliance?

So, when Gimli met his father outside the Horn Fort, the old dwarf Groin had specifically confessed to his son Gimli cryptically, asking him not to have conflicts with the little witch! If you can, it's better to get a little distance from that Gandalf?

Although he didn't know if his father knew something, or heard something, Jin Li might not be able to do things like draw a line with Gandalf.

After all, these members of their Fellowship of the Ring Expedition are a group of old comrades who have experienced hardships together, and he really can't do the thing of turning his face and ignoring others with his simple and honest figure.

"Well, keep talking if you have something to do, I'll talk to those two hobbits first!"

So, Jin Li, who didn't want to get involved in these nonsense things, decided immediately, or go to those two hobbits, enjoy life together, smoke heavily, and drink heavily? oh! Of course, there are also those high-quality bacon that is said to be imported from the Shire?

"Annie...we meet again..."

"I don't know, Your Excellency the Red Robe Witch, do you have time to meet me, an old man?"

Gandalf paid no attention to that, who was just jumping out of the saddle and going out to find the Hobbit's Gimli over the wall.

He himself first raised his head and took a deep look at the little girl with only one head and two small hands exposed from the window sill, and then asked with a forced smile.

"You smile so ugly, you must be looking for trouble!"

After muttering something in a low voice, Annie curled her lips.

Judging from the other party's bad words about her just behind her back and her current expression, Annie knew that this old man Gandalf must be in trouble this time! However, Anne is not afraid of him now!

Having been in this world for so long, Annie already knows almost everything she should know and what she shouldn't know! This old man Gandalf, can't fool himself like before, she is not afraid of anyone now, she just wants to make trouble, no one can persuade her!

Besides, now that the plan has started and all the actors are in place, how could she back down now that the big show is about to start? Otherwise, why did she build this exaggerated mage tower and hide in it?

"The door is not locked, so come in by yourself! Remember, go to the living room on the second floor and wait for me, don't run around! If you are not careful, you will really die!"

After exhorting the other party, Annie's little head shrank back from the window sill.

Now, the mage tower of her red-robed wizard is completely different from the original Orthank mage tower of white-robed Saruman. Burn or bury!