Hey people!

I lied... This isn't a filler chapter! The one after the next one should be a filler chapter. I say that because I am, once again, behind on the whole Frodo, Sam, and Farren scenes.

THank you everyone for reviewing!

ILoveReadingAndWriting: I love the fact that you can make me laugh like a freaking hyena in the middle of the night when I should be asleep. I was watching Lord of the Rings(Haha...)last night around midnight when I turned on my iPod and checked my email. My brother came in and asked me why the heck he could hear me all the way down in the basement. So... There you have it. I laugh hard upon reading your reviews. They crack. Me. Up!

I just had to do that little shout out up there. ^^^^^^^ ;)

Anyways...

Disclaimer: I only own my OC's!

This is entirely Gandalf, Pippin and Pebbles. There's a TEENSY bit of Pebbles/Pippin. I'll put more in soon, I promise! Don't kill me though! *Hides*

Chapter Thirty Four: Who's Crying Now

/One love feeds the fire, One heart burns desire, one love, who's crying now? Two hearts born to roam, who'll be the lonely one, one love, who's crying now?-Journey/

"We have just passed into the realm of Gondor!" Gandalf informed Pebbles and Pippin as they rode.

They galloped up a hill and looked down at a great white city. "Minas Tirith. City of Kings." They made their way through the city until they reached the topmost level. They stopped in front of a huge white hall and as they walked towards the door, they passed a dead white tree. Pippin spotted it.

"It's the tree, Gandalf!"

Pebbles turned and jumped slightly upon seeing it.

"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." They stopped at the door and he turned to look at Pippin and Pebbles.

"Now listen carefully. Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. It is believed here now that Boromir is dead and it would do well to keep it that way. Do not mention that he is alive. During our journey here, I've come up with the story that he was slain by three arrows while protecting yourselves and your friends before you were taken by the Uruk-hai. To speak of Boromir's alleged death, however, would be most unwise. And do not mention Frodo or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either. In fact, it's better if you don't speak at all."

The two hobbits nodded, and they entered the massive hall. There was a throne, and a man sat in a seat that stood at the base of the steps to the throne.

"Hail Denethor son of Ecthelion, LOrd and Steward of Gondor. I come with tidings in this dark hour and with counsel."

"Perhaps you come to explain this." Denethor held up a horn that Pebbles recognzied immeadiatly. It was split clean down the middle and was Boromir's horn. "Perhaps you have come to tell me why my son is dead."

"Boromir died to save us. My kinsmen and me. He fell defending us from many foes." Pippin stepped up and kneeled.

"Pippin!" Gandalf hissed.

"I offer you my service, such as it is in payment of this debt."

Pebbles blinked. What was Pippin doing?

"This is my first command to you. How did you escape and my son did not? So mighty a man as he was."

"The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow and Boromir was pierced by many." Pebbles spoke up.

Gandalf stepped forward slightly and hit Pippin with his staff. "Get up!"

Pippin stood up and went to stand next to Pebbles again.

"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 defence of this city. Where are Gondor's armies? You still have friends. You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Theoden of Rohan. Light the beacons." Gandalf pleaded.

"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? 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 Theoden 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 glared.

Denethor sprang up. "The rule of Gondor is mine! And no others!"

Pippin and Pebbles looked back and forth between the two like it was a tennis match.

"Come!" Gandalf instructed. The three hurried out of the hall.

"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 thw him of a madman it will fall! And the white tree, the tree of the King will never bloom again." Gandalf growled as they walked out.

"Why are they still guarding it?" Pippin asked.

"They guard it because they ahve 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. 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. 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 to lesser men." Their walking brought them to the edge of the parapet.

Pippin and Pebbles looked out, and Pebbles pointed. "Look!"

"Mordor." Pippin breathed.

"Yes, there it lies. This city has dwelt ever in the sight of it's shadow." Gandalf nodded.

"A storm is coming." Pebbles said quietly.

"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."

"Well... Minas Tirith... Very impresive." Pippin looked at Gandalf. "So where are we off to next?"

"Oh it's took late for that Peregrin. There's no leaving this city. Help must come to us."

Pebbles swallowed uneasily and shared a worried look with Pippin. He wrapped his arms around her torso and pulled her close as they looked out at Mordor.

-Page-Break-

"So I imagine this is just a ceremonial position." Pippin stated as he looked at the uniform and sword he'd been given. "I mean, they don't actually expect me to do any fighting... Do they?" He gave Gandalf an uncertain look. Gandalf was out on a balcony, looking out at Mordor with Pebbles by his side.

"You're int he service of the steward now. You'll have to do as you are told." Gandalf replied. "Peregrin Took... Guard of the Citadel..." He mumbled, coughing slightly as he smoked.

Pippin handed him a goblet of water. "Thank you."

"There's no more stars... Is it time?" Pippin asked, looking at Gandalf.

"Yes." Gandalf nodded.

"It's so quiet." Pebbles whispered.

"It's the deep breath before the plunge." Gandalf replied.

"I don't want to be in a battle. But waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse. Is there any hope Gandalf, for Frodo, Farren and Sam?" Pippin asked.

"There never was much hope. Just a fool's hope." Gandalf began. He smiled at the two hobbits next to him and continued. "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. This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here the hammer stroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defence of this city will be gone."

"But we have the white wizard." Pippin smiled.

Pebbles giggled slightly. "That's got to count for something."

"Gandalf?" Pippin asked when the old wizard didn't reply.

"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've met him before. He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop."

Pebbles bit her lip as the scene when Frodo was stabbed flashed through her mind.

"He is the lord of the Nazgul. The greatest of the nine."

Pebbles bit her lip and hid her face in Pippin's shoulder as memories of Weathertop began to flood back.

-Page-Break-

"Peregrin Took my lad, there is a task now to be done. Another opportunity for one of the Shire-folk to prove their great worth." Gandalf led Pippin and Pebbles to the base of a watchtower. "You must not fail me." Gandalf instructed.

Pippin nodded and ran over to the cliff face, where he began to climb his way up to the beacon.

Pebbles watched and waited. "Just don't fall, Pip." She mumbled.

There ya go!

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