| 1 |
Hoooom, young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there is a Wizard to manage here locked in his tower
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| 2 |
The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees.
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| 3 |
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| 4 |
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| 5 |
Break the dam! Release the river!
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| 6 |
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| 7 |
I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can make your way north to your homeland from there.
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| 8 |
That doesn't make sense to me. But then, you are very small. Perhaps you're right. South it is, then. Hold on, little Shirelings. I always like going south. Somehow it feels like going downhill.
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| 9 |
South? But that will lead you past Isengard.
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| 10 |
And those little family of field mice that climb up sometimes, and they tickle me awfully.
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| 11 |
They had voices of their own.
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| 12 |
Saruman. A wizard should know better!
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| 13 |
There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of Men for this treachery.
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| 14 |
Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I had known from nut and acorn.
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| 15 |
They're always trying to get somewhere where they....
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| 16 |
They have business with the Orcs. My business is with Isengard tonight with rock and stone.
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| 17 |
Come, my friends. The Ents are going to war. It is likely that we go to our doom. Last march of the Ents.
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| 18 |
I have told your names to the Entmoot and we have agreed you are not Orcs.
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| 19 |
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| 20 |
Now, don't be hasty, Master Meriadoc.
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| 21 |
War? Yes. It affects us all. Tree, root and twig. But you must understand, young Hobbit, it takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish and we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.
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| 22 |
The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done.
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| 23 |
You are young and brave, Master Merry. But your part in this tale is over. Go back to your home.
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| 24 |
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| 25 |
We Ents have not troubled about the wars of Men and wizards for a very long time. But now, something is about to happen that has not happened for an age. Entmoot.
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| 26 |
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| 27 |
Beech. Oak. Chestnut. Ash. Good. Good. Good. Many have come. Now we must decide if the Ents will go to war.
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| 28 |
There was a time when Saruman would walk in my woods. But now he has a mind of metal and wheels.He no longer cares for growing things.
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| 29 |
There is always smoke rising from Isengard these days.
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| 30 |
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| 31 |
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| 32 |
Tree? I am no tree! I am an Ent.
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| 33 |
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| 34 |
Side? I am on nobody's side because nobody's on my side little Orc. Nobody cares for the woods anymore.
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| 35 |
Hobbits? Never heard of a Hobbit before. Sounds like Orc mischief to me! They come with fire. They come with axes. Gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning! Destroyers and usurpers! Curse them!
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| 36 |
Maybe you are, and maybe you aren't.The White Wizard will know.
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| 37 |
Away with you. You should not be waking. Eat earth. Dig deep. Drink water.
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| 38 |
Go to sleep. Away with you. Come, the forest is waking up.
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| 39 |
It isn't safe.The trees have grown wild and dangerous. Anger festers in their hearts. Black are their thoughts. Strong is their hate. They will harm you if they can. There are too few of us now. Too few of us Ents left to manage them.
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| 40 |
Bru-ra-hroom.There have been no Entingsfor a terrible long count of years.
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| 41 |
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| 42 |
Die? No. We lost them. And now we cannot find them. I don't suppose you've seen Entwives in the Shire?
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| 43 |
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| 44 |
Bru-ra-hroom. 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.
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| 45 |
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 woodsis drawing near.
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