Edoras was in complete silence after the party ended some hours ago. The only thing we could hear at the moment was the cold wind from the outside of the Great Hall. In one of the rooms, Gimli , Gandalf, Gamling, Merry , Pippin and some Rohirrims were sleeping peacefully. Kopa and Vitani , for their parts, were sleeping in another room and the Lioness had her body curled around the small form of Ioreth in a protective manner.
Aragorn and Legolas , however, were nowhere to be seen. In fact, the two were outside the Great Hall , standing at the entrance. The Blond Elf was watching the horizon with his hood over his head. Aragorn had stepped outside a few moments ago to smoke his pipe when he spotted his friend to his left " The stars are veiled..." Legolas said as if he had sensed his friend's presence in his back.
Strider approached him and looked on toward Mordor "Something stirs in the East... A sleepless malice..." The two of them glanced at each other for second before looking back at the vast open land as Legolas added in a calm but worried tone "The Eye of the enemy is moving..."
Back inside the Great Hall, Pippin wake up as he found himself unable to sleep for whatever reason before looking to his right where Gandalf was sleeping. Slowly getting, the troublesome Hobbit tiptoed toward the White Wizard " What are you doing ?" Merry asked him quietly to not wake the others. The Hobbit just woke up when he heard soft footsteps near him.
At the call of his name, Pippin turned around with a surprised look on his face but he didn't respond to his friend as he kept approaching Gandalf…. Only to froze in panic when he saw the Wizard's open eyes , looking right at him. However, it seemed to not have any life in them as they just seemed to look blankly at the Hobbit.
"Pippin !" Merry called out again quietly but his friend ignored him as he waved his hand in front of Gandalf's face to be entirely sure he was indeed sleeping. Pippin seemed relieved when he received no reaction from the White Wizard but then he looked toward what Gandalf was cradling in his arms.
"Pippin !" Merry called out again, curious and worried about his friend's behavior. Pippin ,him, was looking around in panic before his eyes landed on a vase next to the bed. He picked it up before slowly grabbing the Palantir to replace it with the vase…. Only to be terrorized when Gandalf started to mumble in his sleep. When the Wizard stopped, Pippin went more quickly in his movements as he snatched the Palantir before swiftly put the vase where the round object was.
"Pippin ! Are you Mad ?!" Merry asked him as his friend walked away from Gandalf. Pippin walked to the foot of Merry's cot before placing the Palantir down "I just want to look at it ! Just one more time..." he said the last part while unwrapping the cloth off the reason of his curiosity.
Pippin looked down at the dark round object with a smile as a orange light could be seen moving from it. Just like that, the curious Hobbit went into some sort of trans as he couldn't look away from the Palantir as he slowly reached the object with his hands to grip it. " Pippin ! No!" Merry inquired in alarm at what his friend was doing.
Sadly, Pippin ignored him as his attention was fully focused on the Palantir when the wisp suddenly began to expand as an orange light outlined the Hobbit's hands before Sauron's eye appeared from the spherical object. At first smiling, Pippin was now in full panic mode when the Eye of Sauron seemed to stare at him as the orange light around his hands began burn brighter and brighter. Soon, he found himself unable to let go of the Palantir as his breathes was becoming hitched.
Because of the shock of what was happening, Merry found himself unable to react as his eyes was wide in terror. Back to Pippin , he had just shut his eyes as his face showed nothing but pain because the Eye began to roar. Soon the poor Hobbit stated to whimper as the Eye was making some sounds-like voice.
Outside, Legolas turned to Aragorn with an alarmed look on his face as he said in a worried tone " He is here !" At the same time, Kopa's eyes suddenly opened as his ear picked up the sound of someone whimpering not too far from him. Worried, he slowly got up before walking toward where the sound came from. Thankfully, Vitani didn't wake up as she laid there peacefully with little Ioreth at her side.
Back to Pippin, he was suffering great pain when the Palantir turned into a ball of fire . Then the Hobbit went back on his feet before flailing around in absolute pain as he was unable to get his hold off the cursed object in his hand. Pippin's mouth was open but instead of screams , the only things coming out were painful gasps just as Merry cried out "Pippin !"
Suddenly, Pippin fell on his back before again squirming around from the pain he was enduring because of the Palantir and Sauron. Merry, who couldn't take his friend's sufferings anymore, finally found his voice to yell out "HELP ! GANDALF HELP !". His cries woke the Wizard just as Aragorn, Legolas and Kopa appeared from the door to see what was going on.
"Someone help him !" Merry cried out as everyone in the room started to stir before taking notice of what was happening as Pippin, still stuck to the burning orb, was writhing in pain and agony on the ground. As fast as wind, Aragorn rushed over before ripping the round object from the Hobbit's hands… only to receive the same treatment as he found his hands glued to the Palantir, unable to get rid of it as it started to cause him great pain.
Seeing his friend in this state, Kopa rushed in quickly ignoring Gandalf's yell "No !" as the Brown Maned Lion used his left paw to push the Palantir away from Aragorn's hand, tossing it to the ground in the process . Strider lost consciousness as he passed out with Legolas catching him in his arms. The Palantir rolled on the ground just as Gandalf tossed the cloth he used to wrap the round object earlier straight on it which caused the Palantir to go dormant again.
"Fool of a Took !" Gandalf said as he turned his head to face the troublesome Hobbit who was in a petrified state. He seemed lifeless as he laid on the ground with wide eyes open. At this sight, the White Wizard rushed forward to tend to the Hobbit as around him the Rohirrims gathered around. Legolas was still Aragorn while Kopa was glaring daggers at the wrapped Palantir.
Then he looked back at Pippin when the Hobbit started to pant madly with a look of pure terror in his eyes " Look at me..." Gandalf calmly quietly demanded to the scared Hobbit who turned his head to look at him as his breaths seemed to calm down a bit "Gandalf ! Forgive me !" Pippin pleaded softy as he then looked away in shame.
"Look at me !" Gandalf inquired again , catching the Hobbit's attention before asking in the same tone than earlier "What did you see ?" Pippin closed his eyes , trying to answer Gandalf as he was still in shock about what just happened a moment ago. But soon, his eyes re-opened as he responded quietly "A tree… there was a white tree in a courtyard of stone… It was dead...The city was burning..."
At those words, Gandalf's eyes widened in alarm as if he knew what Pippin was telling him about. Then he regained his composure to ask " Minas Tirith ? Is that what you saw ?" Pippin seemed at the verge of tears as he responded as best as he could "I saw… I saw Him ! I could hear His voice in my head !"
"And what did you tell Him ? Speak !" Gandalf urged him hurriedly when he didn't had an answer. Pippin took a few seconds to answer in a pained tone "He asked me my name...I didn't answer...He hurt me !" "What did you tell Him about Frodo and the Ring ?" Gandalf suddenly asked and the only response he received was a stare from the shocked Hobbit as he looked at the White Wizard with wide eyes.
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The next day, in the Great Hall, Gandalf , Aragorn, Gimli , Legolas, Merry, Pippin and Kopa were present along with the King of Rohan. They were all standing around a fire pit at the center of the room watching the White Wizard as he was talking. The Brown Maned Lion had told his mate about what happened and Vitani was horrified by the events. Still, she decided to stay with Ioreth outside the Hall as this matter was not for children even for brave ones like Ioreth.
The King of Rohan also heard of the 'incident' thanks to Gamling and the Rohirrims who were present when it happened. Back to the present, Gandalf was explaining what Pippin saw in the Palantir "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...We've been strangely fortunate... Pippin saw in the Palantír a glimpse of the enemy's plan... Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith !"
The others listened with attention due to the importance of the situation. "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…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 ! "
When Gandalf finished talking, Theoden took a few seconds before speaking " Tell me… why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours ?" This question shocked the White Wizard as Aragorn turned his head to look at the King of Rohan. Kopa was also shocked by this and was thinking that Theoden wasn't serious… until he remembered how stubborn the King was.
He rubbed his face with his left paw when Theoden asked out-loud " What do we owe Gondor ?" Then Aragorn spoke up for the first time since the beginning of this meeting " I will go..." "No !" Gandalf instantly said which caused Strider to look at him "They must be warned !" he said to the Wizard who responded back calmly "They will be..." Then Gandalf approached Aragorn before saying quietly so no one except Isildur's heir could hear "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road… Follow the river and look to the black ships..."
Then he turned away to look at the assistance "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone... I ride for Minas Tirith..." Suddenly, he turned his head to face the Hobbits before adding with seriousness "And I won't be going alone !" Pippin looked nervous all of a sudden as he knew Gandalf was referring to him.
" If you want Gandalf I can come with you..." Kopa said as he stepped closer but Gandalf shook his head "No Kopa… You are more needed here !" The Brown Maned Lion nodded his head in understanding and watched as the Wizard and the Hobbits walked out of the Great Hall.
Sighing, he walked out but instead of going after his friends , he went toward where Vitani and Ioreth were. He soon found them chasing each other. A smile grew on his face as he watched them : despise how terrible the situation was, he gladly enjoyed every moment of peace. Vitani showed the side of her he cherished the most and would do anything to see that smile on her face.
Ioreth was laughing when the Beige Lioness started to tickled her with her paws while making sure to not hurt her. Kopa looked at the girl with a soft smile as he liked to see her happy after what she endured with her father. Thinking about the man caused the young Male to growl in anger. Cubs are supposed to be cherished and loved… not abused and neglected…
"Kopa ?" Vitani's call caused him to return to reality and he turned his head to look at Zira's daughter who stared back with concern " I'm fine… Gandalf is heading to Minas Tirith right now… with Pippin..." Vitani nodded in understanding and the two of them turned their heads when they heard a horse whinnying to see Gandalf and Pippin leaving Edoras on the back of Shadowfax.
Then they looked back at each other "So… What did Pippin saw in the Palantir ?" Vitani asked her mate with curiosity. She was serious again it seems. Kopa was about to answer when Ioreth's voice echoed nearby "Uncle Kopa !" The Brown Maned Lion saw her coming and laughed when the little girl jumped on him. He deliberately fell on his back as Ioreth started to hug his mane (or what she could at least ).
Vitani watched the two with amusement and warmth as she thought about how good her mate was with Ioreth. "He would be an excellent father one day~" she thought to herself with a fond smile. She would be overjoyed to have cubs with Kopa and she knew he would be.
Speaking of cubs, she glanced at Ioreth and the memory of what they talked the previous day. The little girl was willing to become a lion cub to stay with her and Kopa… to have the two as her parents. Vitani would be lying if she said she didn't want to have this child as her own but there was still a problem : Ioreth was human.
The Beige Lioness looked up at the sky as she silently prayed "Oh Great Kings of the Past.. Please tell me how Ioreth could become a Lion… " Then she shook her head to change her thought as she looked back at Kopa and Ioreth who were still rolling on the ground, laughing. "Alright that's enough… Ioreth… Me and you Uncle need to talk..." The brown haired girl looked at her with a sad frown but nodded in understanding.
As the girl walked away, Vitani couldn't help but adding with a smile " When we finished, we will play again together if you want ?~" Ioreth's answer was a fast nod before she dashed away to play with some kids. "I miss the time when we were this energetic…" Kopa muttered with a chuckle as he watched the human girl he grew fond of playing with the other kids. "I do to… Anyway You didn't answer my earlier question…" Vitani inquired while looking at him calmly.
"Well… Pippin saw the next big Plan of Sauron…" Kopa began to say before his mate asked "It concern Minas Tirith if Gandalf went there..." The Brown Maned Lion nodded in head " Indeed… Sauron want to attack the city… He plan to send an army larger than Saruman's to do so..." Vitani sighed deeply as she used her right paw to massage her temples "There is another battle on the way isn't it ?" "I'm afraid there is… If Gondor ask for help, Rohan will answer… and so..." "We will have to go..." The Beige Lioness finished for him with understanding.
"I wish there was a way to contact the Pride… To let them know we are alright and that we might need their help..." Kopa muttered sadly as he gazed at the distance. "I wish there were… You know… Me and Ioreth had a talk yesterday… She wanted us as her parents !" Kopa looked back at her in surprise "Really ?" "Yes… I know it sound impossible but… She was willing to abandon her humanity to stay with us… to live with us…as our cub..."
" Is that even possible ? I mean… I would love for her to come live with us but… how ?" Kopa asked her with a sad frown to which she replied by saying "Maybe Rafiki know a way ? After all, he is as old as Gandalf if no more..." The Brown Maned Lion went deep in thought : if there was a way to change Ioreth into a Lion and have her as a cub… he would do anything. "If we can contact this crazy Monkey… surely he will help us..."
Vitani snorted when her mate called Rafiki a 'crazy monkey' but he wasn't totally wrong in fact. The Mandrill always seemed a bit eccentric in everything he do. "So that's decided… We find a way to make Ioreth a Lion and adopt her as ours ?" Kopa asked his mate with a happy smile "Yes… But let's keep this a secret for now… It will be our surprise for her~" Vitani inquired with a playful grin which her mate returned.
Then Zira's daughter turned her head toward Ioreth before saying to her mate " I wonder how our family would react if we adopt her..." Kopa smirked as he knew exactly what would happen "Well… Mom and Kiara would surely be happy to have a grandcub/niece to spoil…. Kovu would be surprised and Dad… well… Let's say he would freak out at first… But I'm sure he would be happy to have a grand-daughter..." Vitani nodded and then gave her mate a loving lick on the cheek before approaching Ioreth.
Kopa laughed softy when he saw Vitani pounced playfully on the little girl before looking up at the sky. He could swear he had seen the faint shape of his grand-father Mufasa looking down at him with a smile. Despise not having the chance to meet the former King of the Pridelands, he had heard many stories about him and how he looked like.
"Grandfather… If you hear me please… Hear my request and tell me if there is a way to make Ioreth our cub..." Kopa prayed softy to the sky before closing his eyes when the wind ruffled against his mane. Unknown to him, from the sky, Mufasa was looking down at his grandson with a warm smile on his face "When the time will come… Rewards will be given… my grandson~" the Spirit inquired proudly before disappearing from sight.
(To be continued…)