Hey, you know the drill, I only own what doesn't appear in the LOTR books or movies. boo.
(This is my first time doing this, so reviews are welcome, etc. And yes, I am aware that I am taking certain liberties with the story, so please don't flame me for that. Enjoy!)
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From atop the battlements of Minas Tirith, Gandalf, White Wizard of the North, watched as a black mass of riders as they crossed the barren plains towards the White City.
"Gandalf, what can you see?" the Hobbit beside him asked.
"Their banner is a black horse running on a red field..." the Wizard trailed off. "Almost 600 strong."
The Hobbit stared. "How can you tell?"
"Practice." The wizard clapped him on the shoulder. "At least they came."
"But how do you know that they're not spies from Mordor?" Pippin asked as the riders drew nearer. "The last time-"
"Trust me, Master Peregrine. All will be well. The troops will be most welcome, I assure you."
Before the Hobbit could reply, an Elf entered the battlements. A woman, she had flowing russet hair and emerald green eyes. A quiver of arrows and a bow were strapped to her back, and a curved scimitar hung from her waist. As she joined the men at the wall, her sharp eyes scanned the same scene.
"Reinforcements?" she asked in a slightly accented voice.
Gandalf nodded. "With the archers you brought yesterday and the horsemen coming now, we will at last be over ten thousand strong."
"But we know now that Sauron has almost three times that many!" the girl protested, pointing over the chain of mountains to where the dark fires of Mordor were easily visible. "We won't stand a chance against his Urk-Hai and Warg riders!"
"Lady Elentàri," Gandalf interrupted firmly, light eyes boring fiercely into her own, "you were not there when the Helm when all of the legions were arrayed against us, only two thousand men, children, elves, and a dwarf. Your brother said the exact same thing to Lord Aragorn then, but he soon learned better. We turned the tide at Helm's Deep and we shall do the same here, for the very fate of Middle Earth lies in our hands." He slammed his hand angrily down on the weathered stone of the wall. "We will not fall. We must not fall!"
The Elvin girl opened her mouth to protest, but the Hobbit grabbed her by the wrist. "Leave it be Ari," he whispered. She glared at him for a moment, and then shut her mouth reluctantly.
The legion of horsemen reached the main gates of the City, silver trumpets heralding their arrival.
"Let them enter and be welcomed as our allies," Gandalf commanded, and the heavy oaken gates of the lower level swung open to admit them. One after another, the black armored men trotted in on coal black horses, lining up in perfect formation in the courtyard. Ari nodded in grudging approval- they were trained almost as well as the Elvin archers she had brought from Mirkwood the day before. As the last rider entered, a flag ran up the main pole atop the barracks, fluttering in the breeze next to the standards of the other companies in attendance. The breeze shook it open- a huge black stallion galloping across a blood-red field. Elentàri started when she saw the banner, immediately turning to Gandalf with a deadly glare.
"I always wanted to know how they do that so quickly," he nodded to the flapping standards, oblivious to the younger woman's rage.
Below, a groom ran to take the head of the mysterious arrival's spirited mount. As the stallion pranced and pawed, the tinny sound of barked orders and clanking metal drifted up to the observers as the battalion dismounted and prepared to stable their mounts. Patting his stallion affectionately on the muzzle, the commander spoke quickly to the groom, who pointed up to where the three were standing. The man nodded, and pressed a shiny coin into the groom's hand before he led the horse away.
As the commander made his way towards the spiraling stairway to battlements, another man broke from the column and began to follow him. The leader shook his head, but apparently his officer was not in the mood to obey. Shaking his head, he bean to climb the steep ascent to where the Wizard, Pippin, and a very angry Ari waited.
"You two keep quiet, and let me handle him," Gandalf spun around suddenly, making his companions blink in surprise. "Especially you, Lady Elentàri. I don't want you maiming, hurting, or abusing the lad in any way before I get to speak with him."
Thoroughly riled, she shot a pleading look at the Hobbit, who shrugged in confusion. Before he could reply, the gruff shouts of the Warden drifted up the stairway. The commander of Gondor's garrison had taken it upon himself to make himself the door-warden, and no one was willing to brave his wrath and convince him otherwise.
"Not just anyone can go up there, you know," his angry voice bellowed. "Especially strangers who have no business being here at all!"
Even the Elf, with her super-keen hearing, could not hear the man's response. But even the brooding Elf princess grinned when they heard his responding roar of outrage.
"We may want to rescue him before Grant hacks his head off or the like," Pippin observed wryly.
"And deny me the pleasure?" Ari muttered loud enough for only Gandalf to hear.
The Wizard gave her an exasperated look, then called for the Warden to let the two men up. Grant arrived a few moments later, huffing up the steep stairs with his short legs.
"Gandalf, sir, these two ruffians demanded that they see you at once," he gasped, halting in front of the imposing Wizard. "I told 'em no, but you said..."
"It's alright Grant; go back to your post." Muttering to himself, the Man headed back down the stairs, leaving the two newcomers alone with the company.
Immediately, both knelt on one knee, one fist crossed over their chests.
"Don't kneel," Gandalf sighed, raising them to their feet. "I am no king, I am just conveniently in charge. And you may remove your helms, for I remember how dreadfully uncomfortable they are."
Obediently, both men tore off their helmets, the shorter managing to shake himself free faster than his commander. He had a sunny face with a liberal splashing of freckles, and a shock of starling red hair that was plastered to his head with sweat.
"Mithrandir? But we heard that Lord Aragorn would be here from-"
"Durian." Ari hissed in a deadly snarl as the other man removed his helmet. Tall and lanky, with tanned skin, dark eyes, and curly hair that touched his shoulders, he was the spitting image of his half-brother, Lord Aragorn.
"Tristan has a problem with believing everything he is told." he drawled, ignoring the girl's outburst. "I told him Lord Aragorn would be here and he nearly wet himself with excitement. Lord Aragorn is his hero, you see."
The redhead blushed crimson. "Durian tends to exaggerate himself overmuch."
Gandalf laughed heartily. "Well then Master- Tristan, I gather? - I hope I live up to your expectations, although I am not so kingly as Aragorn, so we can prove this scoundrel wrong." Tristan blushed again and bowed himself away, tripping over his feet as he went.
"I am glad you came, Durian," Gandalf turned to face him. "I did not know if my riders would reach you in time, or if you would come at all."
"I couldn't miss it. And, it looks as if you could use the reinforcements." Durian laughed. "But where is my dear, heroic brother?"
The smile slid quickly from Gandalf's face. "He has taken his own path. Where he is, I cannot say."
Durian looked away sadly. "The Paths of the Dead. I had heard him speak of it, before he left."
"At least you have come though, here at the end of all things." Gandalf forced himself to brighten. "I don't believe you have seen yet the Lady Elentàri, and my companion, Master Peregrine Took?"
As if shot, Durian spun around to face the two, the former of whom was being forcibly restrained by the surprisingly strong Hobbit.
"Behave yourself Ari. This is not the time or place for vengeance." Pippin hissed at her. "You're making a scene!"
"I swore to the Valar that I would kill him," she replied, not stopping her struggle to reach him. "And I intend to see it done. Let me go!"
"Lady Elentàri, I am pleased to see you again," Durian broke into their tirade in her language.
"Surprised to see me alive you mean, traitor?" she spat, finally wrestling free of Pippin's hold and stalking over to stand toe-to-toe with the stricken Ranger.
"Ari, if you would let me explain," he stuttered, suddenly loosing all façade of bravado when stared down by her eerie eyes.
"No. Nothing short of death will make me believe anything you have to say to me this time, Dunèdurian. You should watch your back, Ranger, because I will kill you." Eyes blazing with so much hatred that it bordered on insanity bored into frightened brown orbs. "By the Valar, I swear that I will see you dead." Turning on a heel she stormed away, leaving the feeling of a passing storm and an awkward silence behind her. Pippin looked frightened by the outburst and confused as to what he should do. He decided to stare over the barren field of Gondor to the distant fires of Mount Doom rather than at the man who had so upset Ari.
"What was that all about my Lord?" Tristan demanded, scurrying out of his hiding place and standing next to Durian.
"Never you mind," he snapped, suddenly fining himself able to move. "My Lord Gandalf, I must go."
Deeply troubled by the display, Gandalf looked closely at his friend for a while without speaking. "I may have forgiven you, Dunèdurian, but many have not. Among some peoples, the past dies hard. You would do well to avoid the Lady Elentàri in the future until she is ready to listen."
Durian sketched a curt bow, and then strode off in the direction of the stairs. Tristan bounded after, looking like a wounded puppy that has no idea why he is in trouble.
Soon as they were out of earshot, Pip scurried over to stand next to Gandalf again.
"What was that all about?" he asked, looking up at him curiously. "I didn't think Elves ever lost their tempers! And what's this about Strider having a brother?"
"I forgot your insatiable appetite for questions," Gandalf sighed, looking out over the fields towards Mt. Doom, where little specks circled the mouth of the perpetually erupting volcano. "Durian hurt Ari and her family very deeply, and very badly, many years ago. He is the reason Ari came here...he had a hand in the destruction of Mirkwood."
"And you let him into Gondor? It sounds like he may be a servant of the Enemy!" Pip's eyes widened. "And he's Strider's brother?"
"It was a long time ago, and his heritage is a very long tale to tell indeed. I helped him heal, and I am sure he is no longer under Sauron's spell."
"But does Lady Ari know that?"
"It will take her time to trust again. I pray they don't kill each other before then." Gandalf sighed. "I would not have asked him here unless we need his men."
"You'll work it out Gandalf, you always do," Pippin smiled up at him confidently.
"I will try," he ruffled the Hobbit's curls before looking back at the wheeling Nazgûl. "Although I feel that it may take more than is in my power to fight that war as well.