Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.


14/05/2013

Because this story is predominantly based on movieverse, Thor's use of Mjolnir in this story is based on his two film appearances and his entry in the Marvel Movie Wiki. His attack against the Nazgul was inspired by his initial clash with Iron Man. At this stage of the story, I don't think a Nazgul would find its 'power' quadrupled by such an attack.

Ivanjedi: This story would become very boring should the Avengers begin to easily sweep aside all of Sauron's forces. I agree with the view that a protagonist in a story is only as interesting as the antagonist they face.

Dan man: Where this story fits into the canonical sequence of Avengers movies will be revealed at its end.

WolfishPennings: One thing that Rogers will appreciate about Middle-earth is that it doesn't have trashy tabloid media focused on the private lives of celebrities. Otherwise all Arda would currently be bombarded with headlines like 'UNSHIELDED! CAP A & ROHAN ROYAL'S SECRET DAWN FLINGS!'


Chapter 29 – Much Food for Thought

Eomer's hunting party returned to Edoras later that afternoon. Eomer, Theoden and Gamling discussed the unsettling incident of the Nazgul's attack with the Fellowship with the exception of Banner, Merry and Pippin.

Banner was caught up at the infirmary treating patients. Demonstrating his growing skills of manipulation, Pippin perfectly played the role of the 'naïve hobbit far from home' to the kitchen staff of the Golden Hall. His performance convinced the staff to make Merry and he taste testers of the food being prepared for tomorrow's feast. Even without this 'important duty', the pair of them wouldn't really have wanted to be part of this discussion. Since joining Frodo and Sam on their quest, Merry and Pippin had talked and faced the Black Riders already too often for their liking.

The discussion about the Nazgul's attack was being held in the Royal Stables. The stables were absent of anyone else besides the participants in the discussion. It was thought the stables would be better to keep secret their deliberations least Sauron have in his employ spies within the Golden Hall like Saruman had with Grima. After Eomer, Thor, Aragorn and Legolas had delivered their report it was Rogers who was the first to speak.

"Well, Gandalf, what's your reaction to all this?" he asked the wisest member of this group. And pretty much any group, Rogers privately added.

"Two things come to mind, Steve," Gandalf commenced. "First, it's safe to assume that Sauron will now be aware of Saruman's defeat. Rohan and Gondor shall not be caught in a vice as the Dark Lord first planned. Before I speak of the second, no one should interpret it as a criticism of Thor's actions."

After Thor gave him a small nod of appreciation for this, Gandalf continued his analysis.

"Over the last two ages, only a handful can claim to have defeated one of the Nine in open combat. Sauron will know that this number has now grown by one. More worryingly, how Thor achieved this feat."

"Then it's the Enemy who should be worried not us!" Gimli asserted with barely restrained boisterousness. He took immense pride that he was a good friend of the latest member of this exclusive club. "May Odinson's victory be the first of many worries the Avengers cause him!"

Gandalf gave a restrained sigh. "Unfortunately, Gimli, it's not just Thor and Bruce who continue to grow in power! Sauron's power grows with every step the Ring-bearer draws closer to Mordor. With his increasing power, the Dark Lord will use all his cunning and sorcery to prevent Thor from similarly defeating the Nine in the future."

Gimli sobered at these words and joined everyone else in considering their implications.

"We are witness to two races, my lords," Gandalf began articulating them. "The first is who between the Avengers and Sauron grow quickest in power. Even if the Avengers were to win this race, I sense it will be for nothing if Sauron wins the second. Namely, taking back what is his before the Ring-bearer destroys it."

"Yet the only way for the Ring to be destroyed means we increase Sauron's chances of winning the first race," Boromir bitterly concluded.

Boromir's epiphany at Amon Hen meant he no longer had the tinniest doubt the Ring had to be destroyed. But he understood why his father would still think such a strategy to be madness.

"If these are races, we compete against ourselves as much as the Dark Lord," Legolas philosophised before giving a performance metaphor of his own. "If such a situation was performed in a drama, I would call it a tragedy."

A silence reigned over the group following Legolas's bleak assessment of the situation. Aragorn broke it by asking Theoden a question.

"Milord, in light of this event, do you wish for tomorrow's feast to be cancelled?" Aragorn thought the Nazgul's appearance would bring back the general sense of dread that pervaded Edoras over a week ago.

Theoden shook his head. "The Dwimmerlaik's appearance will be disturbing news to my people. Their spirits will need lifting now more than ever. The feast will help alongside its original purpose of honouring the fallen."

At Theoden's decision, the group ended their discussion and headed to the main doors of the stable. At a knock from Theoden, the doors were pulled open by the guards outside them. The participants to the recent discussion were startled by what they saw. A large crowd of Edoras residents had gathered in front of the stables. As expected, the news of Thor's defeat of a Nazgul quickly spread all over Edoras as soon as Eomer's party had returned. The crowd started loudly murmuring when they all caught sight of the Asgardian. Theoden assumed his people wanted their King to speak some words of reassurance. But before he could speak an unidentified man in the crowd released a loud cry.

"Hail, Prince Thor! Slayer of the Dwimmerlaik!"

The crowd burst out into cheers and applause for the Avenger who achieved this deed. Thor acknowledged the crowd's appreciation by holding Mjolnir aloft at an angle with his right hand. The noise of the crowd grew louder at this.

Thor remembered the cheers an infinitely larger crowd in Odin's Main Hall gave him for this gesture. It was on the day he was supposed to be crowned King of Asgard. The response of the current crowd moved him more than that one. On Asgard, he selfishly wanted applause from the citizens of the most powerful of the Nine Realms to gratify his colossal ego. In Edoras, he was humbly accepting the thanks of a desperate people who were facing an enemy infinitely more powerful than they.

The other Fellowship members had taken to standing just behind Thor. Rogers had also picked up on the subtext of the crowd's behaviour. He gave the following observation to those Fellowship members.

"Gentlemen, we missed the most important point of Thor's victory. It's the same point about our victory at Helm's Deep. It shows that even the greatest of evil can be confronted and beaten."


The feast was held the following evening as planned. It seemed all of Edoras had come for the occasion. The Fellowship members spread themselves out among the Rohirrim sitting at the large number of table benches that had been laid out in the Main Hall of the Meduseld. Rogers had held off wearing his uniform again until this occasion.

Formalities began the feast's proceedings. Wearing a golden circlet indicating her status as Rohan's leading lady; Eowyn presented a goblet of wine to Theoden who stood on the throne dais with Eomer to his left. Eowyn moved besides Theoden's right after he had taken the goblet from her. The King raised the goblet towards the currently silent guests before him as he proposed a toast.

"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!"

Sitting at separate tables, both Aragorn and Rogers restrained themselves from joining in the solemn "Hail" the guests gave in response. The pair considered the poignancy of death in relation to the defenders that had been killed under their respective commands at Helm's Deep. Rogers was still upset at the number of Howling Commandos that had fallen. Aragorn was saddened that the fallen Galadhrim wouldn't now be part of their kin's journey to the Undying Lands.

After a moment had passed, Theoden then spoke further. "I have less sad news, but sad nonetheless. Chief Healer Pryte advised me this morning he was immediately retiring from his position at the infirmary."

The outbreak of murmuring within the Golden Hall indicated to Rogers that this development was much unexpected by the residents of Edoras. After the guests had quietened from their initial surprise, Theoden continued.

"I can pay no greater tribute to the Chief Healer than describing his actions this morning," Theoden acknowledged Pryte's service. "He personally endorsed a list of recommendations devised by Doctor Banner aimed at improving infirmary practice. The Chief Healer told me he welcomes any recommendations, regardless of their source, that improve the care of the wounded."

Sitting at his place in the Main Hall, Pryte gave a forced smile to Theoden's tribute as well in response to the puzzled looks he was receiving from a great many guests. It was technically correct he was retiring from his post as Chief Healer. But the real truth was he had been forced to resign by that accursed Doctor Bruce Banner.

Pryte's panicked response to Hulk's earlier 'advice' had effectively made Banner Co-Chief Healer at the infirmary. Nearly all the other healers now chose to report to Banner instead of him. After overcoming their initial (and understandable) wariness of the man, they found Banner always gave them polite instruction, helpful advice and actually listened to their opinions. It was a breath of fresh air having a supervisor who treated them as medical professionals rather than impudent servants. But this was not the cause of Pryte's downfall. It was Banner's genius in mathematics combined with the financial analysis skills that Pepper Potts had taught him (Stark's eyes usually glazed over at the very mention of the word 'accounting').

Banner went through the infirmary's ledger and noticed it contained several discrepancies. After quietly consulting with Aragorn and Gamling, Banner quickly found the reason why. Over the last few years Pryte had been buying cheaper and less effective versions of the medicines he was supposed to get for the infirmary. He was then personally pocketing the difference under the seemingly innocuous ledger entry of 'Purchase and Contract Administration Expenses.' Gamling chocked with rage that Pryte unofficially earned double what his deceased friend Hama did as Captain of the Royal Guard over the same period! However, the confidence the Eorlingas had in their government was currently fragile at best. That confidence wouldn't improve if the whole Riddermark knew its Chief Healer was a shameless embezzler.

Banner didn't even have to channel the Other Guy to frighten Pryte when the trio of investigators confronted him today dawn. Only by immediately retiring could Pryte avoid having their evidence brought before the King as well as being subjected to criminal prosecution. Pryte would also have to give his written endorsement of reforms to the infirmary that Banner had drawn up for Theoden's approval.

"Think of this arrangement like tonight's feast, Pryte," Banner gave him in final warning. "A few days ago you got an appetiser of what I call my 'party trick'. Even think of double-crossing us on this, and I'll serve you the full course meal instead."

"A most unappetising meal," Aragorn dryly emphasised. "Even for a horde of hungry Mountain Trolls."

While raising his cup of wine to the toast Theoden gave in honour of Pryte, Banner reflected that a truism was common to both Earth and Middle-earth. Namely if you have someone by the balls their heart and mind will soon follow.


The sit down meal of the feast was a great success. Rogers thought Eowyn showed a talent for logistics in organising it. The wild boar meat was especially enjoyed seeing the hunt it came from also saw the destruction of a Nazgul. Even the Fellowship members with the four biggest appetites – Thor, Gimli, Merry and Pippin – all seemed to have satisfied with their fill.

Celebratory music performed by minstrels playing pipes, drums and lutes filled the Golden Hall as guests more freely intermingled. Rogers and Boromir had sat next to each other during the meal but the latter was now in conversation with Gamling at another table-bench. Rogers simply took in the sights and sounds of the proceedings sitting with his back to the table.

Rogers greatly appreciated his recent time alone with Eowyn over the last few days. His interest was perked then when he noticed Eowyn coyly presenting Aragorn a goblet of wine to drink. Rogers' observations were interrupted by a voice to his right.

"Do you mind if I join you, Steve?" Theoden asked him.

"Yes…of course…Your Majesty," a slightly thrown Rogers replied.

"This is now a completely informal occasion, Steve," Theoden said as he sat beside Rogers. Without the slightest trace of irony he advised the Avenger, "You can simply call me 'Sir'."

Rogers had to not laugh that Theoden was seemingly unaware of his contradictory remarks. As King, Theoden was normally addressed as 'Milord' or 'Your Majesty'. Rogers guessed that 'Sir' was as informal as anyone outside his family was allowed to call him.

"I'm going to formally recognise you and Thor's heroics at Helm's Deep," Theoden told him. "As far as I'm concerned, they were the equal of any recorded in Middle-earth."

"We weren't heroes any more than the rest of the defence, sir," Rogers modestly responded. "Both of us deserve no more recognition than they do."

There was a twinkle in Theoden's eye when he advised, "You misunderstand me, Steve. This isn't a subject for debate. As Lord of the Mark I've already made my decision on the matter. I was merely letting you know about it."

Rogers gave a good-natured smirk. "Well in that case, sir, don't spoil the surprise."

After sharing a quick laugh with Rogers, Theoden agreed, "That is something I can grant you! And the recognition I've planned is the least I can do." Theoden then sobered and as his face took on a guilty complexion. The King absently stared out at the festivities before quietly observing, "Especially because it wasn't Theoden who lead his people to victory at Helm's Deep."

"Sir, don't let Saruman have a final win by letting his words get to you!" an appalled Rogers urged him. "What he said about you couldn't have been more untrue."

Looking back at Rogers, Theoden replied, "I thank you for your kind words, Steve. As well as those you spoke in my defence at the Orthanc. But I also remember my words and decisions at Helm's Deep. I understand you were most displeased with my decision to recruit young boys to be part of its defence."

Rogers was surprised that this opinion of his had somehow leaked out to the King. Still, he wasn't going to lie for those poor kids even if meant hurting their King's feelings.

"I make no apologies for that, sir," Rogers politely stood his ground.

"And I do not seek any from you," Theoden magnanimously replied. "You're correct assuming such a decision to be unworthy of a King of Rohan. Even under the circumstances we were faced with."

"I can't ever see myself apologising about that, sir," Rogers began. "But I do owe you an apology for something else."

"Given all you've done for me and my people, what could you possibly have to apologise for?" a genuinely confused Theoden asked.

"At Helm's Deep, I forgot what you'd been through in the days leading up to the battle," Rogers began explaining. "Being under Saruman's spell; Grima's betrayal; and what happened to your son. You had to deal with all those things while trying to protect your people from enemy invasion.

"I'm not royalty like you, sir. But they don't call military leadership the 'burden of command' for nothing. You may be King but you're a man as well. And unlike a lot of your people, I'm sorry for not being more understanding at the time.

"Even if that means nothing to you, please believe this. Like Gandalf said, the Battle of Helm's Deep is over. But the one for Middle-earth is about to begin. Your people will still be looking to you to lead them against Sauron."

Theoden stared at Rogers as he took in his words. On the ride from Edoras to Helm's Deep, Boromir relayed to Theoden what Rogers had told him about Project Rebirth. The serum Rogers received as part of it not only enhanced his physique and mind but also his personality traits. Theoden reflected that Earth was fortunate that a man of such unquestionable character had been the sole recipient of the serum before its knowledge was lost. The consequences of an evil man possessing such physical and mental power were too disturbing to contemplate.

"What you speak of requires no apology on your part, Steve." Theoden gently assured him. "If anything, you've again said something I'm grateful for."

Inwardly Rogers was relieved to hear the resolution behind the declaration Theoden then gave him.

"History will not state that Theoden lead Rohan to victory at Helm's Deep. But I'll not be ashamed when it says I just had the honour of fighting alongside the two Avengers who did!"


The next round of the ongoing competition between Gimli, Legolas and Thor was about to begin. The good news was that this round didn't require thousands of savage orcs intent on slaughter before commencing.

The trio stood around a small table that had mugs of ale stacked as three pyramids equal in number. A crowd of Rohirrim men surrounded them, including Eomer who was the 'judge' for this round of the competition.

"Well, Odinson," Gimli said to Thor. "We still haven't found a coat of mithril rings to test your hammer on. But now you can prove if you're able to meet the second of my challenges we spoke of in Moria."

"So…it's a drinking game?" Legolas pensively asked while looking at the ale stacked in front of him as if it were bitter tasting medicine.

"Aye," the Rohirrim around him confirmed while slightly amused at the Elf's apparent naivety.

"What are the rules of this game?" Thor enquired.

"Very simple ones, Thor," Eomer explained to him. "No pauses, no spills and no regurgitation."

Gimli pointed a finger at Thor while mock threatening, "And no use of godly powers!"

"Not that I'll need them, Gimli," Thor confidently predicted.

"I almost forgot!" Eomer remembered before asking the Asgardian, "Bruce declined but would Steve like to be part of this?"

Earlier, Banner had politely turned down Eomer's offer to join in the game. He told Eomer that it wasn't really his type of thing and he'd still pass even if it were. Banner used an idiom describing intoxication that Eomer had never heard of.

"I'm still suffering some residual effects from the vortex. If I joined in, the phrase 'Everyone getting totally smashed' could take on a whole different complexion."

"Rogers told me he doesn't get drunk," Thor ruled out Captain America from this game.

"That's not surprising." The Third Marshal remarked before observing, "He appears to be a man of great temperance."

"That's true, Eomer, but that's not what I meant," Thor clarified with a smirk. "Because of his physiology, Rogers cannot get drunk."

The drinking game began in earnest. Of the three competitors, Thor finished his first ale the quickest.

"This ale," he remarked impressed to the crowd around him. "I like it."

The crowd flinched when Thor suddenly and violently threw the empty mug to the floor.

"Another!" Thor bellowed to them.

The crowd roared their approval of Thor's sentiment as he began downing his second ale. The God of Thunder thought that at least the Rohirrim knew the appropriate gesture of appreciation for a good drink.


Banner got up from where he was sitting to check on the welfare of Merry and Pippin. He quickly tracked them down by following the sound of their voices that carried through the Golden Hall. They were singing with gusto what sounded like a drinking song. Banner found the pair dancing atop a table-bench while they sang surrounded by an admiring throng of Rohirrim. After Merry and Pippin finished their slightly off-key duet, they each downed a large mug of ale. Because of the appreciative cheers and applause the Rohirrim gave to the song, the cousins decided to give an encore performance. It was good seeing the pair back to their cheerful selves.

Banner walked over to Gandalf and Aragorn who were also observing Merry and Pippin. The former pair had just finished a conversation by the time Banner joined them. He asked them about the lyrics of Merry and Pippin's song.

"I take by 'Green Dragon', Merry and Pippin don't mean a large lizard that breathes beer instead of fire?" Banner questioned with polite sarcasm.

"Indeed not, Bruce!" Gandalf answered with a knowing chuckle. "The Green Dragon is the most famous drinking establishment in the whole Shire. Hobbit families have been its patrons for many generations."

Banner noted this before observing, "I guess Merry and Pippin are just homesick like a lot of us."

Both Gandalf and Aragorn looked at Banner after picking up the sub-text of what he just said.

"If a way back to your homes opened, Bruce," Aragorn assured him. "None of us would object you taking it. Even if it opened prior to Sauron's defeat."

"Yes," Gandalf simply agreed. "The deeds the three of you have performed have been a great and unexpected aid for us. The Free Peoples have no right to ask any more of the Avengers."

"Thanks," Banner humbly replied before explaining further. "When we had lunch at the Orthanc, Steve told me about what happened at Helm's Deep. Just when the fight started, he said to Boromir we're in it now. I think that's pretty much how the three of us now feel about the whole war.

"With everything still in the balance, I don't think we could just walk away. It'd like feel we'd be abandoning Middle-earth to its fate." Banner paused before concluding, "Like Cap says, we're with you guys to the end of the line."

Aragorn and Gandalf accepted Banner's pledge with a gracious smile and nod. Banner sought to lighten the mood as this feast was supposed to be a party of sorts.

"So," Banner began. "Is the Green Dragon's beer as good as what Merry and Pippin sing about it?"

"I must say, Bruce," Gandalf admitted. "It's the finest ale in Eriador I've tasted in all my years."

"I would dispute that, Gandalf," Aragorn friendlily argued. "I would award that title to the ale served at The Prancing Pony in Bree."

"I guess every bar or inn in Middle-earth is also its own brewery?" Banner asked.

"Very much so," Gandalf answered. "There are countless such establishments across the realms of Men, Hobbits and Dwarves. Nearly each them brews their own special ale claiming it to be the best in Middle-earth."

Banner considered this before saying, "It's a good thing Thor's not part of this conversation."

Both Gandalf and Aragorn were puzzled by this remark.

"Why is that, Bruce?" Aragorn queried.

A loud thud reverberated across the Golden Hall. The sound was from Gimli collapsing backwards onto the floor in a drunken stupor. The first competitor in the drinking game had been eliminated.

Banner wryly answered, "He'd want to take Legolas and Gimli on what's known on Earth as a 'pub crawl'…"


It was a few hours after the feast had finally wound up. Those guests that hadn't returned to their homes were dozing within the Main Hall on whatever floorspace they could grab. Fortunately, there were plenty of blankets and pillows to grow around to make their rest comfortable. Aragorn was presently not one of the guests that were slumbering.

The Ranger quietly made his way over the sleeping guests before going outside the Main Hall for some fresh air. As he walked out onto the front porch of the Meduseld, he took in the crisp and still night air. He noticed to his left Thor and Legolas with their backs turned to him in quiet conversation. The Elf stood to the Asgardian's right with his cloak's hood drawn over his head. Aragorn moved to be at Thor's left.

"Who was the winner of your drinking game?" Aragorn asked the Fellowship's two princes.

"Eomer declared it a draw after we each consumed our third and score ale," Thor told him.

"Yes," Legolas said with a twinkle in his eye. "He said he didn't want the winner determined if it meant us drinking all of Rohan's ale."

As he shared a laugh with the pair, Aragorn privately doubted that the winner wouldn't even be determined if the pair went on that 'pub crawl' Banner spoke of.

"The rest of our Fellowship sleeps in the Golden Hall?" Thor inquired of Aragorn.

"With the exception of your fellow Avengers," Aragorn confirmed. "Bruce went back to the infirmary. He said there's some wounded he wanted to keep an eye on overnight. As Steve is currently one of the few men-at-arms completely sober, he volunteered to help with sentry duty for tonight's watch."

There was a pause as the trio focused on the night sky above them.

"Legolas and I came out so as not to disturb those sleeping," Thor broke it. "We'd hoped to see if any constellations are common to Asgard and Middle-earth. But tonight's cloud cover makes it difficult to determine."

Legolas was seemingly in a trance as he spoke in response.

"The stars are veiled," he observed. "Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice." Legolas returned the gazes his two companions before telling them, "The Eye of the Enemy is moving."

If he knew about it, Thor would have agreed with Rogers' observation of Legolas being an enigmatic early warning radar. The way Legolas spoke at times reminded Thor of a seer delivering a prophecy rather than a scout reporting their gathered intelligence. There was no mystery behind what Legolas next said.

"He is here!" Legolas exclaimed with wide-eyed alarm.

Legolas bolted towards the inside of the Main Hall with Aragorn and Thor quickly following. There was no doubt in Thor's mind that Legolas was referring to Sauron. Surely the Dark Lord didn't have something like the Bifrost that allowed him teleport from Mordor to within the confines of the Golden Hall? Thor cursed himself upon remembering he'd left Mjolnir in his room. Not that it really mattered. Thor figured Theoden wouldn't be too upset with the damage to the Golden Hall's wooden walls if the Avenger summoned it to defeat Sauron.

When the trio burst into the room where Legolas said Sauron could be found. The Dark Lord was indeed present but not in person. Like Merry, Gandalf, Boromir and everyone else that had been sleeping, the trio looked on in horror at the proceedings before them. Pippin was on his knees firmly grasping Saruman's palantir as it emitted an angry orange-red glow. Pippin's eyes were firmly clasped while releasing a silent scream of agony as he held it.

Thor was the quickest to Pippin's rescue. He effortlessly pulled the palantir out of the Took's grasp within the blink of an eye. Thor's vision was completely drawn into the palantir. The Asgardian could see nothing else but the Eye of Sauron just like Rogers had perceived it in Galadriel's Mirror. Whereas Rogers had a vision of the Eye, Thor now had its gaze directly focused on him.

Besides the Nazgul he sent to Isengard, Sauron had also been using his palantir to determine the current situation in Rohan. Sauron saw through his palantir when Thor defeated the Nazgul at the time. The flames around his Eye burned more intensely when he now saw who was using Saruman's palantir. Thor wanted to release his grip on the palantir but somehow he found himself unable avert his gaze from the Eye. Sauron's evil and angry voice loudly echoed within Thor's mind.

"YOU DARE CHOOSE TO MOCK ME YOU VAIN AND FOOLISH BOY?! YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SUMMON THE ELEMENTS. THE FREE PEOPLES SHALL COME TO CURSE YOUR STORMS!"

While this was happening, Aragorn and Legolas had been futilely trying to pry the palantir from Thor's powerful grip. Thor threw them loose instead when he violently threw down the palantir with an angry and fearful scream of rage. The palantir shattered into countless tiny pieces as soon as it hit the floor.

Pippin lay on the floor frozen and in shock. So would have Thor if not for his Asgardian constitution. However, Thor still had to steady himself with his hands on his knees as he sweated and gasped from his encounter with the Dark Lord. Aragorn and Legolas pulled themselves off the floor to support the Avenger.

"I'm alright," Thor reassured them between gasps.

Aragorn ignored Thor's assurance. Thor didn't even once look this pale and exhausted during the Battle of Helm's Deep. He may not be suffering physical injury, but the Avenger was clearly shaken from his encounter with Sauron. In the race Gandalf spoke of, Sauron at least had to be equal to the Avengers in returning to full power.

Relieved that Thor didn't need his attention, Gandalf knelt next to Pippin's prone form. He gently touched Pippin's forehead and chanted something under his breath. Pippin reacted to this like someone suddenly waking from a terrible nightmare.

"I saw…I saw him Gandalf!" Pippin panted in relation to Sauron. "I heard his voice in my head."

Thor had heard Dark Lord's voice in this manner as well. He couldn't imagine how horrifying this would have been for a gentle-hearted hobbit like Pippin.

"And what did you tell him?" Gandalf demanded to know from the hobbit. "Speak!"

Gandalf remembered when he spoke like this to Sam when he caught him eavesdropping on the conversation he was having with Frodo at Bag End. The present situation was far more grave to make light of it by promising not to turn Pippin into anything unnatural.

"He asked me my name," Pippin replied. "I didn't answer." Pippin's lip began to quiver as he then advised of Sauron, "He hurt me…"

For your sake, Sauron you'd best never confront me if I'm carrying Mjolnir! Thor angrily thought in response to Sauron's malicious bullying of Pippin.

Gandalf was sympathetic to Pippin but he needed him to speak on the most important issue at stake in all this.

"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?" he asked Pippin.

"Nothing!" Pippin stated while vigorously shaking his head. After his head stilled Pippin then revealed, "But…"

"But what?!" Gandalf enquired desperately.

Swallowing a lump, Pippin revealed, "I saw a city that was burning. And there was a white tree. In a courtyard of store. It was dead."

Boromir's eyes widened in terror now the objective of Sauron's next assault had been revealed.

"Minas Tirith!" he whispered in alarm.


I suspect a lot of readers were more expectantly waiting for Thor to say 'Another!" than the role of the three Avengers in the canonical clashes so far told in this story.

I changed the order from the film of what Pippin divulged from his encounter with Sauron to help make this story flow better.

Readers would be safe in assuming the break is well and truly over for the Avengers and their friends.

[RD: Palantiri couldn't be destroyed in human hands like a piece of glassware. The hands of the God of Thunder is another matter entirely IMHO.]