Chapter 20: Board Set, Pieces Moving
Rubbing his weary and tired eyes Anakin attempted to focus on the whole conversation happening around him after being awoken in the early morning for what he believed to be an emergency, and it was, but really he hadn't expected what he was hearing, and could sense tension and fear rolling I waves of his friends and allies as Gandalf spoke.
"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool but an honest fool he remains." The old wizard added with a ghost of a smile, though annoyance came off him quite clearly.
"He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring." A collective sigh passed through the hall though Anakin and Obi-Wan were less afraid, but no less happy that their little Hobbit friends unseen in so long were still, at least they hoped so, safe.
"We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith." Anakin and Obi-Wan shared a look together and had equally furrowed brows, as they had heard the name somewhere before. Obviously it was important. Everyone else: Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry and Pippin, and king Théoden all had similar looks of either worry or intrigue about them, but the king seemed more passive than ever before which worried them some.
"His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing." Gandalf added giving a look to Aragorn. "He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still. Strength enough, perhaps, to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle Earth uniting under one banner." Anakin nudged his head to the side.
'It is rather hard to fight a whole world on your own...unless you got help from another or a group of them.' His own thoughts made him cringe, especially as the wizard kept speaking.
"He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground, before he sees a King return to the throne of men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit Rohan must be ready for war." A lovely chill of what was to come ran through them all, and Anakin doubted, despite believing in them, that the Rohirrim were capable of fighting the whole of this enemy alone, let alone against droids! For Force sake their great war machine was horses! Apparently the King had different reasoning for despairing, but not himself, rather others.
"Tell me! Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" Gandalf sent the king perhaps the most horrified and confused look Anakin ever saw the wizard have upon his aged face as the King looked back with an air of arrogance and hatred in his demeanor as Aragorn and frankly everyone else shared Gandalf's look in their own ways.
"I will go." Aragorn retorted calmly but coolly looking to Théoden as he spoke.
"No!" Gandalf interjected.
"They must be warned!" Aragorn snapped back turning to the wizard and Anakin agreed but silently as he and his master stood off to the side. "They will be." Gandalf assured and moved closer to the man and spoke in hushed manner to him and no one else could hear. Though the Jedi could sense some if little relief flood from Aragorn. The old man Istari turned back to the group then, "Understand this, things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith, and I wont be going alone." he sent a look toward Pippin who looked slightly horrified, and Merry gave him a worried look in kind.
Everyone went about their own business from there and everyone essentially left the golden hall save for the king who remained mostly silently brooding which worried everyone else as Gandalf readied himself and his little Hobbit companion to go to Minas Tirith, and it was inside the halls of the golden hall that Anakin and Obi-Wan found and cornered the wizard who greeted them knowingly and smilingly.
"How's thing old man?" Anakin opened with after he and Obi-Wan blocked the wizards path and a massive grin on his face as Gandalf cocked a brow and Obi-Wan smacked Anakin's head and the Jedi groaned and eyed his old master who hummed a laugh which Gandalf joined in.
"Just fine master Skywalker. However, I suspect that your coming to search me out has more to do with something you and master Kenobi desire hmm?"
"Is it that obvious?" Gandalf inclined his head to the side and let out a smirk and Anakin rolled his eyes as Obi-Wan took over for them.
"Gandalf we don't mean to corner you but we did join in this rather...unusual quest of yours and your allies in the hopes of reaching the east and finding a way to contact our people so they can come help against Grievous and get us off world in time, and we both feel it would be best if we go to this Minas Tirith you speak of. It is out towards the east right?" Obi-Wan asked with the wizard inclining his head once with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Indeed it is, and I had no intention of leaving you two behind." Anakin raised a brow.
"Really?"
"Am I so old looking that you think I cannot remember what you said about your enemy? I am also not so cut off from what is happening on this world as you may think Anakin. I have seen what your enemy looks like, and have seen the terror they can unleash and with Sauron as their host upon the world there will be no limit to what he can do. The enemy will not only be attacking Minas Tirith, but also the Dwarves and men to the north, Erebor and Dale, at least two-hundred thousand men of the east are advancing, and evil in the north is growing. Yet out of the east I feel the greatest of battles for all of Middle Earth will come to fruition before the walls of Minas Tirith. It's however, admittedly not only army sizes I fear, something festers in the east that is of Sauron's design I feel this, but I cannot understand what is happening."
"Our enemy, this dark Jedi she is not weak, but she may feel obligated to aid your enemy. She may be the wild card you're feeling coming from out there. It can't be Grievous...well if it is then we're kriffed, but I doubt it." Anakin reasoned.
"Perhaps but whatever this is, it is of Sauron's design and I feel that if we do not stop him now, and end this war; if Frodo and Sam do not make it to Mount Doom and rid the world of the ring then our enemy will become your enemy as well, and not in the sense that he will be confined to our world. I think Sauron is anything but a fool, and he is likely to see other worlds as not something to fear, but rather opportunities, and this we cannot allow! We cannot allow the darkness from Mordor stretch out its hands across the stars as well as Middle-Earth."
"Our sentiments are shared then. If our enemy takes your world and allies with this Sauron then our war will only become harder. Force, I'd hate to think what would happen if the things on this word, magic and whatever else, and Orcs or Uruk-Hai got into the wider galaxy! I'd kinda rather deal with droids all day thank you." Obi-Wan nodded along to what Anakin said as the concept of blaster wielding Uruk's made him grimace and his skin crawl...though it was in a morbid way a funny sight as well.
"Then we are in agreement. You two will come with myself and Pippin to Minas Tirith. Where we must hold the white city at all costs until Rohan comes. Until Aragorn comes with what he can bring from the mountains, and the sea."
"That being?" Gandalf smiled a secretive and knowing smile and chuckled. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you young Anakin. Just know it is something that will aid us and that's all that matters really." Anakin gave the old man an unconvinced look but Gandalf merely smiled and said nothing more.
"It's settled then. Anakin get your...things I suppose is redundant since we only have the clothes on our backs and our sabers, so...go get Devlin ready, and it wouldn't hurt if you procured for me a horse as well."
"Now where's the fun in that master?" Anakin laughed but made for the stable nonetheless and Obi-Wan shook his head.
"That man is going to be the death of me." Gandalf sent a lingering look where Anakin made off to and chuckled as he moved passed Obi-Wan to get ready himself, and the elder Jedi sighed as he was left alone to his thoughts.
Anakin sat upon Devlin waiting as he patted the horse steady and Obi-Wan rather bumbling climbed atop a greyish horse whose name Anakin failed to get when the stable caretaker allowed for the horse to be taken for Obi-Wan who struggled to mount its back easy. They both had already said their goodbyes to the other members of the Fellowship, and Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas all wished them the best of luck, with Gimli threatening Anakin that if he didn't take care of himself the dwarf would 'kill him,' and Anakin had smiled and patted his dear little friend and promised to meet him on the battlefield again. Whilst Aragorn wished them luck and promised to bring with him all he could and Rohan to aid in the inevitable battle ahead, while Legolas did so as well, and more knowingly wished the two Jedi well on their hunt of their enemies, and the monster Grievous.
Suddenly Gandalf, with his white billowing robe around him, and his staff in hand, and Merry and Pippin entered the stable with Merry seeming angry, but Anakin sensed sadness rolling off him in waves as he led Pippin in and Gandalf helped the quirkier of the two hobbits atop Shadowfax.
"How far is Minas Tirith?"
"Three days ride, as the Nazgûl flies. And you'd better hope we don't have one of those on our tail." Gandalf added as an incentive to apparently make Pippin even more afraid as he did look horrified at the thought especially since from what the two Jedi remembered he hadn't seen one of those things since the Hobbits first set out from the Shire. Force neither of them has seen one yet, but they really didn't want to either.
Merry came up alongside Shadowfax and handed a pouch to Pippin.
"Here, something for the road." Pippin looked at it knowingly and looked back to Merry with fright and sadness in his eyes. "The last of the Longbottom leaf?"
"I know you've run out. You smoke too much Pippin."
"But, we'll see each other soon?...Wont we?" Pippin asked almost like a small boy and the two Jedi felt form him as Gandalf gave a weary but equally saddened look to Merry as Merry began to lose his composure and back away from Shadowfax.
"I don't know...I don't know what's going to happen." The Hobbit said with his sadness now easily heard upon his voice as Pippin stared to his best friend with fright and sadness that frankly touched and pulled at Anakin in ways he wouldn't ever admit to.
"Merry?"
"Run Shadowfax, show us the meaning of haste." Gandalf ordered, and Pippin called back to Merry one last time before the white horse lord sped from the stable and Obi-Wan's horse took after him as Anakin took a bit longer and came alongside Merry.
"He'll be fine Merry, you have my word that he will be." Anakin assured and Merry gave a nod of thanks and understanding as barely contained tears spilled from his eyes and he made out the stable and Anakin made for Devlin to catch up to his master and Gandalf as they had a decent head start.
As he finally caught up to them with their three collective horses racing across the plains of Rohan Anakin gave a one look back to Edoras as it grew smaller and smaller from his sight, and wondered what it would look like to see Grievous, that dark Jedi and the droids lay waste to it and have it burn...it made his skin crawl and his anger boil.
'I'm finally coming for you Grievous, and your dark Jedi schutta!' He assured to himself and thus the four of them upon three horses raced toward Gondor and Minas Tirith, the white city.
Vica stood along the hills behind the east bank to Osgiliath and found herself looking at her left hand and moving it over and over as she inspected her new golden ring. It had a property about it that allowed it to snugly fit upon her finger as she had seen it grow smaller around her finger in the spire with the dark lord, and she now found herself transfixed by it. It was a simple yet oddly intriguing thing. The thing was so simple, and so little a thing, but it was so easily able to transfix her gaze and her mind.
Shaking herself free though she looked toward the ruined city with a mix of irritation and excitement for the coming unleashing of her forces upon the unsuspecting peoples of this world drew nearer and nearer. She was beginning to see it, and apparently the dumb as Gungans, Gondorians didn't notice that more and more small groups of Orcs were smuggling themselves into eastern Osgiliath and she knew for a fact the bulk of Sauron's armies lay behind the fortress entrance to Mordor along the mountain range facing Gondor that he called Minas Morgul. Her though? Oh she wasn't being as silent about her movements as Sauron was, and behind her remained the earlier MTT transports full of battle droids of all make and models standard of the CIS designs were inside idly waiting their release. While her AAT and artillery units were lining up into appropriate column position for where the repulsor crafts went over the river with ease they would stay in perfect position.
The head of the armor column would be the AAT's in a spread out manner. With second lines being maintained by OG-9 homing spider droids who would eventually provide support, as the gaps between the AAT's and spider droids would be filled by dwarf spider droids who handled crossing underwater and thus through a river with utter ease, so she did not fear that at all. From the operation Providence class ship orbiting the world were sent down a wing of HMP droid gunships that would take good care of the pitiful locals planet-side. Atop such the Nazgûl, she had finally seen, had their winged beasts, or whatever they were called as their own air support but Vica sweetened the deal with three air-fleets of Vulture, Hyena, and Tri droid fighters and bombers which would eventually be used to level the other nations of this Middle-Earth into submission when conventional war failed.
Vica also held in reserve over a hundred thousand droid units atop her frontal hundred and thirty thousand droid units joining the first and main assault on Minas Tirith. The reserves would not have many AAT's left if magically all the front line ones were destroyed, but they would have the NR-N99 Persuader-class droid enforcer, otherwise called a snail tank or CAD tank, as backup as she had a whole armored division of these beauties. Hailfires, Vica smiled as she remembered she had at least four-dozen Hailfire-class droid tanks.
A line of dwarf spider droids and AAT's would guard both flanks of the massive Orc and CIS allied army before the walls of Minas Tirith. She had been informed by General Grievous that the Nazgûl did now of a possible attempt by the Gondorians to introduce the horsemen into the battle, and her adrenaline had raced at the thought of killing some more of those horse stinking, beast loving hairy, ugly and unruly peasants with her true forces! Killing but four of them gave her a thrill what would thousands of them dying do for her! She grinned and felt the Force swirl around her and through her as she felt a crackling in her and looked to her new ring once more and she smiled as it seemed to send a rush of additional power through her whenever she delved into her power within the Force.
She hard however, the approach of CAD tanks and turned to see the additional massive column approach and the nearby patrol Orcs stared gaping and gawking at the sight as the HMP's flew close overhead as escorts and peeled off when the column stopped before her and atop one of of the approaching AAT's she found Grievous hanging, and he jumped off when the column came to a complete stop. He very sightly coughed, something that always confused her, as he didn't seem to do it as often, but she shook the thought away and approached him.
"Is this everything?" The cyborg general gave a lingering look and turned back to her and nodded. "These forces, every one f them will be joining the battle, and these are the reserves fully ready and operational." Grievous pointed back to the column in a sweeping manner and Vica saw massive armored reserve units moving up at least half a mile back and smirked. Especially as the nearby Orcs all whispered and spoke of the metal beasts and soldiers in hushed tones, but it was all the same as they too figured they worked for the same dark lord, and for now they were correct.
"However, there is one addition to make." Grievous motioned back from the column and from behind a tank came four robed and electrostaff wielding IG-100 Magnagaurds who all looked particularly mean.
"Ah yes your personal guards and warrior droids, I was wondering if the ship above carried any of your loyal little droid units." Grievous nodded absently as the four came up and formed up behind their commander and general and Vica cast a glance toward the mountains and the orange glow that the volcano gave off.
"Do we know when he will order his forces to vacate his lands?" Grievous narrowed his reptile eyes and shook his head.
"I would have thought you would know, because I certainly have been kept in the dark! So no I don't know when that thing will unleash its forces, and frankly I could handle this all without his pathetic Orc forces!"
"They have a purpose and I actually think we will need the fodder these miserable life forms provide when we wage war on this nation and beyond. Now if he had armies of vast Uruk-Hai then you would appreciate those class of Orcs, but sadly we have but these creatures, but even they admittedly look better equipped and ready for war then the little sniveling ones at Isengard." Grievous looked at the nearby Orcs as the little disgusting beings shook themselves and continued to inspect their weapons or sharpen them and grunt and fight with one another, curse, and get ready for the coming invasion.
"If you ave me a million of these creatures I would trade you for thirty-thousand droids!"
"Oh dear general...one day since we are to be allies with Sauron I will ask for an Uruk demonstration for you and I assure you, you will like what you see." Vica laughed and patted his mechanical left shoulder much to his unspoken annoyance.
"As soon as that pretty city, rather impractical as well, but whatever, as soon as it is burning and crumbling and the people inside are gutted, and screaming, this whole karking world will be an open playing field for your droids general. As soon as the fleet arrives we will land forces in the north west, and the north east both near to the mountain range they call the Misty Mountains, and we shall also land a force dead center into the realm of those worthless peasants the Rohirrim. I want not a one of their cottages, and their ragged hay homes left when we land forces, we will spin whatever fits to Sauron though I am more than sure he wont care but we will eliminate those horse riding fools and leave not their homes, children, or horses alive!" Grievous once more cast her an odd glance but gave a single understanding nod and returned to looking over to the still smoking west bank of Osgiliath. Vica joined him, and crossed her arms as glowing and glowering yellow eyes stared out over the lands of Gondor before them, as soon they would burn and shake under droid and yes, Orc and Troll feet.
The three horses spent days racing across, over and through fields, plains, and finally darkened forests as they and their passengers made their way ever closer to the Kingdom of Gondor and its borders, where beyond the white city lay. Pippin was mostly quite and easily managed by Gandalf who did take time to speak to him on certain things now and again, and even told the Hobbit when they passed into the realm of Gondor. The two distant travelers were even more quiet however, not speaking much and mostly sticking to the path their wizard made for them upon his horse which gave their two horses a run for their money and had the beasts barely able to keep pace. Both Jedi had a bit on their mind, as they feared what may be found when they reached this city called Minas Tirith. They didn't know if the separatists maybe acted out already in favor of Sauron or were they waiting? What was the true size of the enemy forces, and if it was as bad as they were both silently thinking, how in the name of the Force would they fight them off on a world where blasters must seem like fire spitting from the mouth of a miniature beast?
However when they all finally reached a hill passed very a small river, and rounded they all came face to face with a still intact and almost glowing in its majesty white city to which Gandalf decided to monologue for the group of four, himself included in a very majestic and grand manner.
"Minas Tirith. City of kings." He spoke as he looked upon from afar and his two Jedi companion joined closer, but it was Obi-Wan's gaze that was drawn to the mountains of shadow, ash and glowed orange with what looked to be evil itself.
"Is that-"
"The land of Mordor is just beyond those mountains master Kenobi yes, that is the realm of the enemy. And according to what you think your enemy is based there as well." Gandalf interrupted as he steered Shadowfax toward the mountains and Anakin looked to what he thought was a city...if one could call it that really.
"Uh, what is that place? Is that a city or what?" Gandalf sighed deeply as his eyes traveled over what the younger of his companions pointed towards and he nodded sadly.
"Yes Anakin, that is the old and some would call it lifeless city of Osgiliath. Once a proud city of Gondor, but since then nothing but a set of ruins on either bank of the Anduin for war to be conducted upon. The east bank is held by the enemy, and the west I fear is held but by a token force of Gondor's men, but even now I feel they will break if the true force of the enemy, now added to by yours is felt, and thrown upon them." Anakin absently nodded and listened as he trained his eyes far off but frankly they weren't hard to see and his blue eyes went wide.
"Master, look. Over on the eastern side." Obi-Wan looked where Anakin pointed and he sighed when he caught sight of them. Dozens of CIS class armored units and they were getting into positions obvious to him from the war as a general push. As dwarf spider droids could be seen walking along the bank of the river on the eastern side patrolling for enemies to fire upon as STAP's could be seen hovering all about as well as the CIS was not even caring to hide their massive forces from plain sight.
"Oh dear." Was all he mustered and Anakin rolled his eyes as Gandalf caught sight as well with Pippin looking shocked and he looked upwards to Gandalf quizzically.
"Are these things...are they of your enemy?"
"Sadly they are. Those there are walker droids. They have enough power and force to blow holes through walls and those there are AAT's they can fire up into the higher levels of the city from far away. It would seem it is as me and Anakin feared. The CIS has brought everything to bare upon your world. Yet they seem to be waiting."
"Then we have something to be thankful for. Come, let's not waste anymore time sightseeing hmm?" The two Jedi nodded but lingered on the sight of the massive CIS forces and slowly turned to follow Gandalf as he with Pippin looking on in awe turned Shadowfax back toward and began toward Minas Tirith.
The ride into the city was nothing special but inside the mammoth and colossal feat of construction was quite surreal for the Jedi. The city was obviously massive and built into the mountain with level upon level getting more and more narrow as they ascended. With the people jumping away and aside as Gandalf came galloping through and they all seemed to recognize of think they recognize the old man as they sent interested and confused even, looks toward Gandalf and his two companions who even upon horses too seemed out of place to them all. However, the two Jedi paid them little mind but did take in that they all, soldier, and civilian alike seemed very afraid and cautious especially as judging for themselves they could see the great monstrous CIS war machines in the distance and such a sight must have the people thinking the end times were drawing near. However they just seemed like people longing for past glory and a revival of peace and happiness, for like the Rohirrim when they first came to Edoras the Jedi felt a sense of dread, sadness, and even anger upon the people who for too long probably were under similarly bad leadership, though Obi-Wan at least wanted to be fair and not judge the leaders until he met with them himself, while he still could note, and he didn't know if Anakin did, that the Steward was Boromirs father, and frankly Boromir was a decent man, transgressions with the ring aside, so Obi-Wan was sure to keep his judgment aside for now.
They came to the last level and dismounted their horses with stable boys and hands coming to take them away to a stable of course, and the Jedi came closer to Gandalf who helped Pippin down and off Shadowfax and pulled his white cloak closer to him and nodded to the two Jedi to follow him as they came up a set of stairs and came upon a large courtyard high int the air that turned into a narrow wedge the further out toward the plains it got. The two Jedi followed the wizards example and pulled their own brown cloaks closer to them as they neared toward a large set of doors towards the mountain wall with elegant guards robed in blacks and blues with ceremonial spears and face masks with a white tree upon them as they stood vigilant of the white tree that lay before them and Pippin suddenly went wide eyed as they all four passed it.
"It's the tree! Gandalf, Gandalf!"
"Yes the white tree of Gondor. The tree of the King. Lord Denethor however, is not the King. He is a steward only, a caretaker of the throne." he added as a reminder and obi-Wan nearly rolled his eyes when Anakin made an 'oh' sound that made it full and well known his old padawan didn't know what the kriff was going on with the politics on this world! Certainly less than what even Obi-Wan understood, and all he did was chuckle. Figuring Anakin will always be quite absent in politics.
Gandalf and everyone else approached the door and he stopped and looked toward pippin though he frankly could have been addressing the whole group.
"Now listen carefully. Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise. And do not mention Frodo or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either." The wizard made to enter then another thought hit him. "In fact, its better if you don't speak at all Peregrin Took." The Hobbit nodded along apparently not desiring to speak against the wizard who turned to the Jedi quickly.
"For you two I would kindly ask that you also don't speak unless it is incapable of avoiding it. Lord Denethor may not be so welcoming to you both, and what you have seemingly 'brought,' with you."
"We understand." Obi-Wan ever the negotiator assured with Anakin nodding along. A final nod from Gandalf as he seemed pleased and he pushed open the doors and entered into a large and long white hall full of marble and sculptures of people Anakin was sure were probably important at some point and he of course didn't know any of them. While to the far end of the room was a large and white throne led up to by a small set of stairs that spoke of majesty and brilliance, while beneath it was a no less majestic looking, but speaking of less power black stone throne chair and upon it sat a man hunched over and the grief pouring off him through the Force was quite clear and Anakin cast Obi-Wan a glance and his old master gave a stiff nod and he knew then that Obi-Wan already understood like he that Denethor here probably already had the bad news or something else must have happened to make him feel and produce such sadness as he was.
"Hail Denethor son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor." Gandalf greeted majestically and gave the man a very slight but decent enough bow. Though Anakin craned his neck and caught a similar looking broken horn in the mans lap which he still hunched over. As Gandalf continued to speak and seemingly ignore the near catatonic state of the man.
"I come with tidings in this dark hour and with council."
"Perhaps you come to explain this." Denethor held the two broken pieces of the horn up his eyes falling onto Gandalf with unshed tears and pain across his features and pain, pain Anakin understood to a degree flowed from the man in waves. One could see the worry cross Gandalf's face while Pippin was pained at memories.
"Perhaps you have come to tell me why my son is dead." More a statement than a question and no one was willing to answer it, save for one.
"Boromir died to save us my kinsman and me. He fell defending us from many foes." Pippin approached and kneeled causing Anakin to groan and Obi-Wan to shake his head while Gandalf looked and sounded far more annoyed.
"Pippin."
"I offer you my service, such as it is in payment of this debt." The young, and noble at least in sentiment Hobbit offered while kneeled and Denethor looked only mildly impressed to say the least as the news made his heart break further, and through the Force was it quite clear too.
"This is my first command to you. How did you escape and my son did not? So mighty as man as he was." The Steward asked with a hint of...what seemed to be disgust fell upon his voice.
"The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow and Boromir was pierced by many." The Hobbit declared a little to forwardly and caused Denethor to squirm in his pain at the thought of his son being pierced by blackened evil arrows, and Gandalf finally came forward and slammed his staff into Pippins side with annoyance clear with the wizard.
"Get up." He ordered.
"My lord, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir but it is not now. War is coming. The enemy is on your doorstep. As steward, you are charged with the defense of this city. Where are Gondor's armies? You still have friends. You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan. Light the beacons." Gandalf pleaded and he man only looked at him with sneering disdain.
"You think you are wise Mithrandir. Yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor and with your right you would seek to supplant me. I know who rides with Théoden of Rohan. Oh yes, word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn. And I tell you now. I will not bow to this Ranger from the North. Last of a ragged house long bereft of Lordship."
"Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the king, steward." Gandalf seethed back causing Denethor to jump up, and Anacin to move forward in sudden defense of the wizard if Obi-Wan had not caught him and held him back.
"The rule of Gondor is mine and no others!" The man spat and Gandalf and he stared one another down for a moment with the wizard finally and disgustedly snapped around with a wisp of his cloak and made to leave and called for Pippin to follow.
"And do not think that the I am blinder still, to not see the great host of unknown forces marshaling to the enemy! An enemy Gondor alone has fought against fr years without your aid and that of Rohan's! Do not think I don't know of these two 'far' travelers who come with you are, and I will not be enchanted by their sorcery as the tales would claim them capable of." Denethor added still standing and Gandalf cast him back an equally as disgusted look while Anakin shared his sneer.
"Myself and my friend here are in no way seeking to enchant you or commit sorcery upon you and your people my lord." Obi-Wan kindly and calmly added, all the while causing Anakin to raise a brow as he felt his master send calming feelings through the Force to the man...essentially manipulating him.
"We do come from quite far away, but so does our enemy and believe me when I say they will be able to overpower your forces and that of Rohan. There needs to be serious and more cooperation between everyone if even the hope of holding back the assault I to be cons-"
"I do not need lecturing on war and how to conduct one with someone not even of this world! Your sorceress ways do not allow for you to dare try to tell me and Gondor how to stem the tide of an enemy we alone have fought for decades and decades more over!"
"Are you so blinded by grief that you can't see help when it's in your face? Or are you just afraid?" Anakin...as terribly tactful as ever asked with hardened eyes and Denethor sneered back towards him. Anakin suddenly heard the hypocrisy in his words as the Tusken camp on Tatooine came back to him in a flash of memories but he shook it away and stared back to Denethor who just kept the staring contest going, and finally it was Obi-Wan who grabbed his shoulder and motioned him back toward Gandalf, who was watching the scene unfold with Pippin.
"Come along Anakin, we wouldn't want to anger or disturb our gracious host any more than done." Obi-Wan added and looked to Denethor with a bow before he directed his aggressive friend away and out with Gandalf as Denethor finally collapsed back into his seat with Boromir's horn in hands.
The four made for and out the door back into the open courtyard as Gandalf cast a last angry glance back again over his shoulder with his staff in hand and spoke.
"All had turned to vain ambition. He would use even his grief as a cloak! A thousand years this city has stood and now at the whim of a madman it will fall! And the white tree, the tree of the King will never bloom again." He added sadly and made for the very edge of the courtyard to peer out over the vast plains and the mountains of shadow beyond.
"Why are they still guarding it?" Pippin asked when passing it.
"They guard it because they have hope. A faint and fading hope that one day it will flower. That a king will come and this city will be as it once was before it fell into decay." They continued their walk forward as the wizard no doubt sought to calm himself.
"The old wisdom born out of the west was forsaken. Kings made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living and counted the old names of their descent, dearer than the names of their sons." They all reached the end as the wizard finished.
"Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry or in high, cold towers asking questions of the stars. And so the people of Gondor fell into ruin. The line of Kings failed. The white tree withered. The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men." He nearly spat as Pippin peered over to Mordor as the endless orange glow loomed and darkening clouds continued to spew from the realm.
"Mordor."
"Yes there it lies. This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow." He intoned in reply.
"A storm is coming."
"This is not the weather of the world. This is a device of Sauron's making. A broil of fume he sends ahead of his host. The Orcs of Mordor have no love of daylight, so he covers the face of the sun to ease their passage along the road to war. When the shadow of Mordor reaches this city it will begin." Pippin inclined his head and made a sudden relaxed look.
"Well...Minas Tirith...very impressive." He looked back to Gandalf enquiringly, and Anakin snickered while Obi-Wan peered the mountains and down to Osgiliath.
"So where are we off to next?"
"Oh, it's too late for that Peregrin. There's no leaving this city." The wizard again trains his sights on Mordor as Pippin looks mildly green and sick.
"Help must come to us." Gandalf intoned but with a small and humored smile as Pippin seemed ever more horrified.
"Gandalf I don't think you, forgive my saying so, understand that the droid forces will wash over this city in a matter of hours with their ability, unless Sauron is holding them on a leash!" The wizard nodded slowly at what Anakin said as he looked down and they all caught sight of dozens, possibly hundreds of CIS armored units forming up on the eastern Osgiliath bank.
"Perhaps, but we must rust to hope and believe that the latter is true. Sauron will not allow to be upstaged by allies. It is the same folly that Saruman showed by thinking he could do and defeat Sauron on his own. Your enemies while powerful I feel are being kept to a close leash as you say. He will not allow for them to make him appear weak in the face of the final great battle of his." Gandalf declared staring out towards the mountains and leaning on his staff. The two Jedi looked to one another and then back below as they sensed the dark Jedi somewhere down in the thick of that ruined city or beyond it, and they also sensed something unique that Obi-Wan at least knew. General Grievous, and beyond he was a sea of beings that reeked of darkness and some that seemed to be nothing but darkness.
Little did they know they sensed the Nazgûl who were quietly getting ready for war. As their top leader and lieutenant was readying in an evil fortress of sorcery where two hobbits and a pitiable creature drew nearer to.
Later that night the four of them shared a surprisingly nice set of room s again surprisingly provided by the steward. It was a colder night as they just stood among one another. Obi-Wan and Gandalf sharing thoughtful and contemplative conversation between interrupting bouts from either Anakin or Pippin who inspected a set of clothing armor, and a sword given for his earlier statement of allegiance.
"So I imagine this is just a ceremonial position." Pippin declared and caught Anakin, who was leaning against a wall connected to a balcony where Gandalf and Obi-Wan stood. Gandalf coughed from smoking his pipe and listened as Pippin pulled out his sword from its sheath looking it over.
"I mean, they don't actually expect me to do any fighting, do they?" He asked suddenly worried and cast his eyes between Anakin and Obi-Wan who shrugged and Gandalf who laughed and coughed some more. At the whole thing.
"You're in the service of the steward now. You'll have to do as you are told Peregrin Took." Gandalf declared coughing some more and Anakin laughed as Obi-Wan ever thoughtful just stared out to Osgiliath some more.
"I'm sure they wont expect too much from you pippin. You should be fine...a trophy piece for that man to flout about." Anakin added annoyed with the memory of the steward and Pippin nervously laughed as he then focused on Gandalf's coughing fit and he poured a glass of water for the wizard who was speaking lowly on the ridiculousness of the Hobbit, but graciously and thankfully took the water from him.
"There's no more stars. Is it time?" The Hobbit asked but made it so that both Jedi listened in on the answer.
"Yes."
"It's so quiet." He added as he leaned in on the parapet of the balcony.
"It's the deep breath before the plunge." The wizard intoned.
"It's always too kriffing quiet before the loud deadly booming...er I mean before the battles begin pippin." Anakin added but quickly stopped describing when the Hobbit went green again.
"Some of it is in your head my old padawan, but yes it is always oddly quiet before a really massive battle begins, and war."
"Sound or no sound the battle is coming and the great final push from Mordor will be unlike anything since the Last Alliance an age ago. Yet now there is less help and more to fight and greater worries." Gandalf commented, and joined in on leaning beside Pippin.
"I don't want to be in a battle. But waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse." The Hobbit commented quite profoundly and made Anakin incline his head finding the words agreeable, as the Hobbit looked up to the wizard. "Is there any hope Gandalf, for Frodo and Sam?"
"There never was much hope. Just a fool's hope." He smiled to the Hobbit who smiled sadly back and they looked to Mordor again. The only noise for a moment the deep sighs of Anakin who hated waiting probably more than any person.
"Our enemy is ready. His full strength's gathered. Not only Orcs, but men as well, legions of Haradrim from the south, mercenaries from the coast. All will answer Mordor's call."
"Yeah and now walking killing machines with no souls or compassion. They too will answer this maniacs call." Anakin sneered.
"Indeed Anakin, and we are all in this fight now. Hobbit, man, Elf, wizard and now you Jedi as well." Gandalf added with a knowing look and Anakin nodded.
"This will be the end of Gondor as we know it, at least some of us who know it. Here the hammer stroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defense of this city will be gone." The three others looked to him questioningly as Pippin smiled and retorted back.
"But we have the white wizard. That's got to count for something...Gandalf?" The wizard again, but worriedly looked toward Mordor.
"Sauron has yet to show his deadliest servant. The one who will lead Mordor's army in war. The one they say no living man can kill. The Witch King of Angmar. You Peregrin Took have met him before. He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop." Pippin looked thoughtful for a moment and quickly seemed to push the memory away.
"He is the lord of the Nazgûl. The greatest of the nine."
"Then he ought to be a good fight!" Anakin added.
"Oh, Anakin I think even you are not meant to fight this foe...no something else must fight and defeat this menace. He like his master must be sent back to the abyss, the void never to return. So long as his master remains however, Sauron can and will draw enough power to return his nine to him no matter what. A great, and black power indeed." Gandalf intoned and both Anakin and Obi-Wan though the idea frightening indeed.
"The time is now. Surely the armies are ready. Orodruin will burst into the skies, and your answer shall be heard!" The dark lord commanded and as was his power, for the great volcanic mountain to burst and send a wild burst into the skies of Mordor and shake the very foundations and an unspoken question was cried out to Minas Morgul.
"Are you ready for war?" It asked and from the fortress of sorcery a great whisper took the region before pillar of green and sickening black magic erupted from the central spire up into the heavens and drew smoke and cloud around it. For an unheard answer was given for all to see and for all to hear even.
"Yes, we are ready for war!"
From the balcony at Minas Tirith the four turned as a great beam of light erupted and Gandalf knew it to be Minas Morgul and Anakin went mildly wide mouthed in awe as Obi-Wan recoiled from the darkness flowing from the region. Gandalf placed a calming hand on Pippin who drew close.
Below in the eastern region before Osgiliath Vica and Grievous turned to the beam and the cry and both knew that this had to be the sign. The main armies from Mordor were on the march, the Nazgûl coming and war neared. As the Orcs in Osgiliath readied fr the arrival of their commanders to finally take the bane of their lives, western Osgiliath would fall!
"We come to it at last. The great battle of our time." Gandalf intoned with Pippin casting him another worried glance. As the Jedi, a wizard, thousands of men and everyone else among the sight of the pillar of war could feel the crackling bristle of war.
"The board is set, the pieces are moving." Indeed, and the board was quite big, with the pieces being monstrous.
Authors Note: Option 1: Point out any and all grammatical errors so I may fix them, Option 2: Leave them be as is and accept them and my writing skills for what they are. All flames accepted.