Having settled the allegiance matter in Bree, Luke prepared to depart. His primary goal was to seek out Gandalf, hoping the wizard's wisdom and knowledge of fire could help him evolve his Animagus form into a phoenix. Additionally, he intended to 'sign in' at various locations, hoping for unexpected discoveries or gains. Obtaining some magical insight into phoenixes, particularly Dumbledore's knowledge and memories, was something Luke ardently desired. As Fawkes the phoenix's owner, Dumbledore surely possessed profound understanding and research on the majestic creatures. Unfortunately, the rewards he received from 'signing in' were never determined by his own wishes.
After making arrangements within the castle, Luke retrieved the Palantir to ascertain Gandalf's whereabouts. As Gandalf's image materialized within the crystal ball, Luke's expression turned to surprise. The wizard was conversing with a tall, heavily bearded tree-man. "Is this Fangorn Forest?" Luke murmured, astonished. He recognized his interlocutor as an Ent, one of the ancient tree-shepherds, far more humanoid than the Huorns, capable of both movement and speech. Suddenly, Gandalf in the vision reacted.
"Who's there?" Gandalf bellowed into the void, his gaze vigilant. Then, as if sensing something intangible, the sharpness in his eyes softened, replaced by a puzzled frown. "Luke, is that you?" Luke, unable to reply from afar, simply confirmed Gandalf's location. He then quickly used the Floo Network to transport himself to Lórien, the nearest point to Fangorn Forest.
"Luke, what brings you here?" Arwen inquired, surprised. Luke, in turn, was equally surprised to find Arwen in Lórien, having expected her to be in Rivendell. "I require Gandalf's assistance," Luke explained. "He's in Fangorn Forest, so I came to Lórien as a transit point." Noticing Arwen's slight disappointment, he extended an invitation: "Would you care to join me on this trip to Fangorn Forest?" Arwen's eyes sparkled, and she smiled brightly, "Certainly!"
Taking someone on such an excursion naturally required parental consent. Lady Galadriel nodded gently, granting her approval. Celeborn, however, remained impassive, neither objecting nor agreeing, his demeanor towards Luke unchanged. Yet, for reasons he couldn't quite articulate, Luke felt a persistent chill down his spine. Under the discerning gaze of the lord and lady, Luke offered Arwen a broomstick, while he transformed into an owl to accompany her flight.
They soared out of Lórien's borders, heading south. Fangorn Forest lay not far in that direction. After a short flight, they reached its periphery. Luke descended, resuming human form, and Arwen likewise landed her broom. They did not immediately venture inside, for the tree-folk of Fangorn were notoriously xenophobic. Humans and Dwarves had historically ravaged their forests, leading the Ents to despise intruders. Most who dared to enter Fangorn met their end, as the Ents ruthlessly eliminated any perceived threat to their beloved woods.
Though Luke was a wizard, he was still fundamentally human. Moreover, he carried the dubious title of 'Tree Feller,' and his wand contained the core of a Huorn, a close relative of the Ents. This history made Luke feel a pang of guilt as he faced the prospect of meeting the tree-folk. He swiftly put away his Old Willow wand, replacing it with another, one whose core was a maelstrom wand and a strand of Lady Galadriel's hair. He also affixed the white gem brooch gifted by Thranduil.
Then, with a flourish of his wand, he conjured his Patronus and sent it into the forest to deliver a message to Gandalf. Arwen, having spent over a year with Luke, was well aware of his peculiar circumstances. Witnessing his earnest efforts, the corners of her lips curled upward in amusement, her eyes sparkling with mirth. Luke glanced at Arwen, her smile eliciting a mix of fondness and helplessness within him.
One must adapt to circumstances. The Ents, a unique race fashioned by the plant goddess Yavanna, possessed not only formidable strength but also the ability, as 'shepherds of the trees,' to command the very flora to assail their foes. They were, in essence, powerful plant-based beings, capable of routing Saruman's Uruk-hai army, dismantling Isengard, and even capturing Saruman himself. Luke knew he had to proceed with extreme caution.
Luke and Arwen didn't wait long at the forest's edge. Soon, a rustling sound emerged from within. The trees themselves seemed to part, creating a wide, unobstructed path. From this opening, a tree-man, easily six or seven meters tall, slowly emerged. The Ent was immensely tall, his sturdy body resembling that of a giant. He possessed a high head with almost no neck, thick, long arms, and slender, powerful fingers. His skin was like green and grey bark, with sparse branches and leaves growing upon it, and patches of moss. His feet were enormous, each with seven toes. His movements were slow but ponderous, each heavy step causing the ground to tremble subtly. Perched on the tree-man's broad shoulders sat Gandalf, calmly smoking his pipe and smiling down at them.
"Gandalf!" Luke exclaimed, waving his hands in surprise. The Ent halted a few meters away and gently lowered Gandalf to the ground. "Long time no see, Luke!" Gandalf greeted them cheerfully, approaching the pair. "And the beautiful Lady Arwen!"
"Mithrandir," Arwen responded, offering a gentle smile and a nod. Gandalf smiled at them both, then subtly winked at Luke, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. He then introduced the towering figure behind him: "This is my old friend, the leader of the Ents, Treebeard."
"And these two," Gandalf continued, addressing Treebeard, "the beautiful Elf-lady is Arwen Undómiel, the Evening Star of Lórien and Rivendell, White Princess of the Noldor, daughter of Elrond! As for this one," he concluded, "it's the black-robed wizard from the Hogwarts Castle at Weathertop I spoke of—Luke. He is the master of Smaug the Dragon, the slayer of Orcs, and my companion."
"Greetings, Mr. Treebeard," Luke said politely. "I've long heard of the tree-shepherds; it's a pleasure to finally meet you!" Arwen also offered her greetings.
Treebeard gazed down at them, his voice slow and deep, like a distant rumble of thunder, carrying an astonishing power. "Welcome, Elf-lady," he rumbled. Treebeard regarded Arwen with warmth. Elves shared a profound connection with forests, considering them their true homes. The Ents themselves were manifestations of the woods. Indeed, in ancient times, it was the Elves who first discovered and awakened the slumbering Ents, teaching them language and thought. Thus, a long-standing friendship, an alliance forged in ages past, existed between their races.
However, when it came to Luke, Treebeard hesitated. His brown eyes glowed with an emerald hue as he fixed a sharp gaze on him. "I sense the resentment of the trees within you," he boomed slowly. "It means you have harmed them before!" Luke's heart skipped a beat. He made no attempt to conceal anything, recounting his past entanglement with Old Man Willow.
After hearing Luke's explanation, Treebeard remained silent for a long while. Luke felt a surge of nervousness, but seeing Gandalf smiling quietly beside him offered some reassurance. Finally, Treebeard looked at Luke and said slowly, "Since you are Gandalf's friend, I will believe you are not malicious. Provided you promise not to harm trees in the future, you are welcome in Fangorn Forest."
"I promise I will not harm trees!" Luke affirmed. 'It was self defense!'
Treebeard gave him a deep, searching look, then nodded. "Then follow me," he rumbled, and with that, he lifted Gandalf back onto his shoulders and turned to stride into the forest. Luke breathed a sigh of relief. "Does this mean I've passed?" he wondered silently. He then took Arwen on his broomstick and followed.
The tree-man led them deep into the forest. His gait was slow, yet due to his immense stature, he covered ground remarkably quickly. He moved like the undisputed king of the woods, and all the surrounding trees seemed to yield before him. Following Treebeard all the way to Fangornsen, nestled at the foot of the Misty Mountains, they reached the dwelling of the tree-folk.
The Ent's residence resembled a vast hall carved directly from the mountain itself. A flat, open space lay before the entrance, flanked by tall, straight trees that grew increasingly taller the deeper one ventured into the hall. Luke realized these towering trees were actually Huorns, standing like silent sentinels, guarding the Ents' domain.
They followed the Ent into the hall. The walls soared to a fifty-foot-high ceiling, terminating against a sheer rock face. In the center of the hall, a natural opening allowed light and water to cascade in. A massive stone table stood nearby, though entirely devoid of chairs. To the right, a colossal, low bed was fashioned from hay and bark. The entire chamber exuded a primitive, natural aesthetic.
This was Treebeard's personal dwelling, known as the Spring Hall. Ents did not typically reside together. Each Ent usually safeguarded a specific area or section of the forest, possessing their own distinct territory and home. Thus, Luke saw no other tree-folk. Only during significant events, such as an Entmoot, would the tree-folk convene from across the forest to deliberate important matters.
Treebeard gently set Gandalf down and gestured for the others to settle comfortably. He then retrieved two large containers, placing them on a stone table at least six feet above the ground. Hovering his hands over them, he shook them gently. The containers glowed with golden and green light, illuminating the entire chamber. Next, he moved to the far end of the room, opened a large jar with a heavy stone lid, and, using a long-handled ladle, poured a liquid into four bowls: one large and three smaller ones.
Luke's gaze was drawn to the two containers Treebeard used for illumination. They were clearly magical artifacts, emitting a vibrant light that instilled a sense of comfort and vitality. His attention, however, soon shifted to the bowls of liquid Treebeard was bringing over.
"You're fortunate today," Gandalf announced with a smile, his eyes alight as he gestured to the liquid. "This is Ent-draught, unique to the tree-folk. You won't find it outside Fangorn!" Luke instantly recalled the drink. He remembered that Merry and Pippin had consumed Ent-draught during the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Not only had it healed their wounds and dispelled their weariness, but it had also caused them to grow significantly taller, becoming the tallest Hobbits ever known. This thought thrilled Luke. A drink capable of increasing one's height? That was indeed a remarkable thing. Though he wasn't short by any means, who would decline the chance to grow even taller?