holy crap,i am so sorry this took so long to get up... bleach ate my inspiration... but it's back now so i should be able to update with SOMETHING resembling regularity again... don't kill me, or this will NEVER get finished... :D anyway, enjoy!
The Fellowship Plus One
Chapter Thirty-Four: An Honest Fool
Legolas and I stayed on the edge of the Golden Hall for what seemed like hours. The stars glowed above our heads while a gentle breeze tossed hair and cloaks around. But we didn't speak. There was no need for words, not anymore. Instead, we just sat there, me leaning against his arm, and watched the sky.
After a while, though, my eyelids began to droop shut. I yawned and cuddled closer to the Elf without realizing what I was doing. He glanced down at me and smiled; I tried to glare at him but my eyes wouldn't stay open long enough for it to work. Finally I gave up and simply huddled next to him, allowing myself to fall asleep. Before I went completely, though, I felt him wrap one arm around me and pull his cloak around the both of us. I smiled and relaxed. I was as safe as I could be when I was with him. Even the memory of my brother's pain couldn't quite reach me here. I sighed as sleep overwhelmed me.
Some time later, I woke to hushed voices nearby. Legolas' voice I caught, and Aragorn's, but I couldn't hear what they were saying, only the tones. Slowly I sat up, realizing I was resting my head on the Elf's cloak with my own draped over me like a blanket. I pulled my cloak tighter around me and moved to stand with the others. The Elf's voice sounded worried, and Aragorn seemed unusually stiff; this got me feeling a little concerned myself.
"What is going on?" I asked, but neither of them answered, staring instead off at the invisible horizon. I looked from one to the other, about to smack them for being obstinate. "Legolas? Aragorn? What is it?" Finally, one of them responded, although I was not quite sure if he was answering my question or only thinking out loud.
"The stars are veiled," Legolas murmured, his voice oddly subdued. I glanced up at him as he gently placed a hand on my arm. I closed my eyes, trying to sense what he did; I felt it only a moment later: a great stirring in the East. Evil. And it was growing closer. Worried more now than before, I whispered,
"Something… Something stirs in the East." Legolas' hand on my shoulder tightened, telling me I was not wrong. Aragorn stared out across the land as though concentration alone would bring him what the Elf and I felt.
"Yes, a sleepless malice… The Eye of the Enemy is moving…" That was what I felt, I thought. That evil, it was the Enemy. I shrank back slightly, fearing he could feel me as easily as I could feel him. Legolas put his arm completely around my shoulders as he whispered, "Fear not. We are as protected here as we can be. He cannot reach us here." That did very little to ease me, as it was not just my own safety I feared for; surely he remembered that.
"Legolas-" I heard Aragorn say, sounding increasingly worried. I closed my eyes, trying to seal myself off from the feeling of evil, but it refused to dissipate. Scared now, I backed away and kept going until my back hit the wall and clapped my hands over my ears. A sound, like a great wind, came out of nowhere and I nearly screamed. I couldn't block it. All of a sudden, a voice called in my head, dark and evil and so full of hatred and anger that I had to cry out,
"I see you!" I whimpered as Legolas cried, "He is here!" The sound of booted feet told me someone, probably Aragorn, had taken off inside; cool hands on the sides of my face said that Legolas had stayed.
"Rianadra?" Agonizingly slowly I cracked my eyes open and looked up at him. "Where is he?" Somehow, he knew that I could feel the presence of Evil; I closed my eyes again and tried to find him. Ignoring the pain as best I could, I followed the trail to the room the others were staying in. All my breath left me in a whoosh. My mouth worked, but no sound came out. I stared up at Legolas in desperation. He knew.
"The others?" I nodded and he closed his eyes as if in prayer. "We must hurry then; Aragorn cannot hold him for long!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. "Hurry!" Half dragging, half carrying me, he rushed us back into the building and back towards our sleeping chamber. I was released and slumped to the floor, barely understanding what was going on as Legolas rushed to help Aragorn; the Man was struggling with what looked to me like a ball of fire but was the source of the Evil. Legolas rushed forwards with concern in his eyes as I moved to stand as far away from the thing as possible and not leave the room.
Just as the Elf reached his side and grabbed his shoulders, Aragorn lost his grip on the ball, dropping it and sending it rolling across the room; the flames died as it rolled, revealing it to be the Seeing-stone we had taken from Isengard. Gandalf rushed to cover it before turning to study the others in the room. Silence reigned for a moment before Merry's voice rudely broke it.
"Pippin!" he cried, scampering over to stand over his friend; Gandalf followed, muttering something about foolish Tooks under his breath. Slowly, the presence of evil faded from the room, and my mind cleared. From my position near the door, I watched Gandalf crouch next to the terrified Pippin, gently covering his face with a hand. The poor Hobbit gasped, his eyes darting around the room fearfully as though he expected something to come attack him at any moment. Sadly, he probably did, considering what he had most likely seen in the stone. I closed my eyes as the Wizard questioned him.
"Look at me," he commanded gently. "What did you see?" I listened closely as Pippin answered.
"A tree… there was a white tree, in a courtyard of stone. It… it was dead! The city was burning…" He trailed off, closing his eyes as though to block the images in his mind. Gandalf watched him closely, murmuring,
"Minas Tirith? Is that was you saw?" Pippin's eyes opened, wide as saucers as he answered.
"I saw… I saw Him!" I remembered the feeling of evil in my mind and understood his pain. "I could hear his voice in my head…" I winced at that, remembering that brief moment where I had heard it. I had barely withstood it; my appreciation for the strength of Halflings grew a little.
"What did you tell him?" Gandalf honestly looked worried now, and I turned to share a nervous glance with Legolas and Aragorn. "Speak!"
In a trembling voice, Pippin said, "He asked me my name. I didn't answer." He was silent for a minute, but eventually whispered, "He hurt me…"
"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?"
(in the Great Hall)
A short while later, Gandalf had gathered all the important people in the Great Hall. Théoden stood before a small table covered with maps, Gimli sat in a chair by the pillars, and Aragorn, Legolas and I were studying the maps. Gandalf stood at the head of us all, while Pippin and Merry sat in chairs at the back. The Wizard studied our small group before announcing,
"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring." A collective sigh of relief flowed across our company as Gandalf continued, "We've been strangely fortunate." My eyebrows raised a little, wondering how on Arda this could be considered fortunate. Legolas' gentle hand on my shoulder kept me quiet as Gandalf went on. "Pippin saw in the Palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan." He looked over all of us as he stated, "Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith."
Théoden moved to speak, but Gandalf interrupted him before he even could begin, "His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. 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." With his eyes glued to the King of Rohan's, he went on, "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!" Théoden just stared at him for a moment.
"Tell me," he said at last, with ice in his voice, "why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" I was considering a tactful retreat to leave the old men to their battle of wills when Aragorn interrupted,
"I will go."
"No!" Gandalf turned on him; I slid behind Legolas to avoid his attention as he and Aragorn argued.
"They must be warned!"
"They will be!" Gandalf came to whisper in Aragorn's ear; it was only due to proximity that I heard what he said. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river and look to the black ships." He turned back to the others, speaking in a normal tone again, "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith. And I won't be going alone."
I watched as the Wizard moved to talk to the two Hobbits; they left the hall shortly after. Théoden bent over his maps with some of his men. Aragorn followed Gandalf, Merry, and Pippin after a few minutes of studying maps. I sighed softly and moved away from Legolas. When he looked at me in concern, I muttered, "I need air. I will be on the rooftop if anyone is searching for me." He nodded, worried blue eyes on my face. I shrugged and left, heading for one of the many ladders that led up to the roof. Making sure no one saw me, I shot up and settled myself on the highest point that I wouldn't roll off and stared across the plains.
There was certainly a fair bit to think about, Pippin, the Seeing-stone, Mordor, Cri, and my blooming closeness to a certain Elf chief among them. I sighed, wrapping my arms around my legs, wishing I were fully healed. Once again, I needed to fly, to join the clouds and the stars, to feel the cold wind on my face, just to clear my head. Down here, it was so confused and confusing. I could hardly concentrate. With yet another deep sigh, I settled for watching the sky as the clouds roved across it like ghostly ships carried by a swift current.
Below me, a blur of white caught my attention. It was Gandalf and Shadowfax, and most likely Pippin, riding swiftly to Minas Tirith. I watched them until they disappeared and the light was beginning to fade before turning my attention back to the skies. My mind was no clearer than it had been hours before, and I was tired of waiting. Slowly, I stood on the roof of the Golden Hall, my wings spreading out around me. I was about to leap from the roof when a voice called my name from below.
"Riana!" I cursed, glaring down at whoever had dared to stop me from flying, but when I saw who it was, I held my tongue. Aragorn. That accursed Man had picked the worst possible time to come demanding an explanation, for I assumed that was what he wanted. Haltingly, I clambered back down to the ground and landed directly in front of him.
"Yes?" I grumbled; he just looked at me. After a moment of this, I snapped, "What?"
"Are you willing to explain now, or must I wait even longer?" My mouth twisted slightly in distaste, but I agreed.
"May we go somewhere more private? This is not something I wish everyone to hear." He nodded, leading me off to the stables, which were blessedly empty of anyone unfamiliar. Legolas was already there, gently stroking Arod's nose. He turned to smile tenderly at me as Aragorn deposited me on a stool. I raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
"We thought it would be easier if someone who already knew was present," he explained, leaving Arod to stand next to me. I nodded, looking around for Gimli. Legolas knew who I was looking for and added, "He is on his-" he stopped as the barn door slid open, revealing a disgruntled Gimli. I sighed again, truly wishing Aragorn would have allowed me to fly. But I was here, and they did deserve an explanation.
Closing my eyes briefly and praying they would understand, I turned to face them and began my story.
well, that's it for this chapter... sorry if it was really filler-y... i was literally trying to shove through sludge in my brain trying to remember what i was doing... anyway, reviews are greatly appreciated, so... leave me one? please?