A Knock on the Gate

March 14th, TA 3019

Minas Tirith

Aragorn sat in the Council Chamber with his chief advisors. Ever since the beacon above Minas Morgul had signaled the start of war, they had been planning the defense of theWhiteCity. Yesterday, the hosts of Mordor overran Osgiliath. Yesterday night, thousands of campfires dotted the east bank of the Anduin.

"They began to cross the Anduin yesterday. I was sure they would march on Minas Tirith today. But instead, they pulled back. I'd like to know why. It was like watching a dog fling himself at you, then get yanked back by its own chain." said Aragorn.

"And I'd like to know why Sauron chose to attack now. According to everything we know, he's not ready for war. Then, out of the blue, he struck with everything he had. Sauron's not stupid. What was he thinking?" said Gandalf.

"Oh .. about that." Aragorn kept his face still. "I sort of pranked him."

"What did you do?" said Gandalf.

"I did something to draw his attention away from Frodo."

"What exactly did you do?" said Gandalf.

"I went in the Palantir and told him, 'I have your Ring.' Judging from recent events, he believedme." said Aragorn.

A palace servant entered the room.

"There's a horseman at the gate. He asked the guard to give you this." He stepped forward with a thin package, which he placed on the table in front of Aragorn.

"Who is the message from?" Aragorn asked.

"The guard said the messenger wore no badge, but was dressed all in black. His horse was black, too. He spoke in a whisper, and his face was invisible."

"Oh, and one other thing. When the messenger approached, the dogs didn't bark like they usually do. They crawled into a corner with their tails between their legs, whimpering. He said he'd never seen anything like it." said the servant.

Aragorn picked up the package and tore off the outer wrappings. He removed a folded parchment, sealed and bound with tapes like a formal diplomatic letter. The outer surface was decorated with a red and black drawing of the Lidless Eye.

Aragorn grinned. "This should be good. Each one has been better than the last.

"I sent an official communication into Mordor announcing myself as Tar-Elessar, Gondor's Future King. I warned Sauron to stay within his own borders, or I'd come over there and deal with him myself.

"He responded with a formal letter offering me the chance to preserve my realm by becoming his vassal. He summoned me to Barad-dûr to kneel at his feet, place my hands between his, and swear an oath of fealty.

"I wrote back saying I couldn't help noticing he'd built himself a new tower from the debris of the old one that we wrecked at the end of the Second Age. I said as soon as he finished building it, I would wreck it, too. This must be his reply." he said, laughing.

"You've gone out of your way to offend him. Do you think that's wise?" asked Arandur.

"I'm not worried. If our plan is successful, he won't be around much longer, anyway." said Aragorn, picking up the letter.

"Or what if your plan has already been successful? The Ring was destroyed, but somehow Sauron survived. He's crippled, and he's decided to ask for terms. Maybe that's what the message is about." said Arandur.

"That would explain the sudden halt at Osgiliath." said Aragorn.

"The Ring hasn't been destroyed." said Gandalf, looking at his hand.

"How can you be sure?" asked Aragorn.

"For one thing, the Nazgûl would be gone. This message was delivered by a Nazgûl." said Gandalf.

"Well, let's see what he has to say." Aragorn broke the seal and unfolded the pages. He read Sauron's careful Tengwar cursive script.

You're next.

That was all.

"That doesn't make sense. It would, if Sauron were marching on Minas Tirith, but he's bogged down at Osgiliath. Yet the tone is self-confident and menacing, as if he thinks he's winning." said Aragorn.

"Sauron thought the Ring was in Minas Tirith and took insane risks to reach it. But partway there, he stopped in his tracks. Maybe, for some reason, he decided the Ring wasn't in Minas Tirith after all." said Denethor.

Aragorn looked at Gandalf, and saw fear in his eyes. In an instant, he understood.

"Frodo. What if he has Frodo?" Gandalf asked.

"If he has Frodo, then he has the Ring." Aragorn said.

"I looked in the Palantir." said Denethor. "I watched orcs cut the halfling loose from a spider's web, and pull the silk from his face and neck. They found a thin chain and took it from him. As the image faded, I heard them fighting over something made of gold."

"Sauron manipulates images in the Palantir. Whatever you saw there, I wouldn't take too seriously." said Aragorn.

"He didn't know about Frodo's mission." said Denethor. "He couldn't manipulate an image of something he didn't know about."

Notes:

[1] This is typical of the traditional medieval ceremony of fealty or homage.