The stars wheeled away above. Didn't know horses could go so fast. I was trying to tune out Gandalf and Pippin's persistent questions. I knew the stone was a palatiri , a looking stone to see what was happening in other reaches of the kingdom. Two were used for evil purposes and the others lost and forgotten.
We were approaching the Deeping Coomb and Glittering Caves which sounded pretty. But we didn't stop , we were riding to Minas Tirith , city of man , before dawn. Was there a city of women too? All the jostling of the horse steadied to a quick run. It seemed like it was going faster and faster. Pippin had already fallen asleep , thank goodness. I watched the ground disappear , and I figured it was my turn to ask questions.
"Gandalf? Why am coming along?"
" That is not for some ears to hear, " he answered cryptically.
Stupid git. Then I remembered Pippin was with us and I guess when he said it wasn't for some ears to hear , he meant him. Now I'd never know. Stupid mini-git. I sighed and fell asleep.
When I woke , it was still night. Blazing fire kindled in the sky , lighting up the empty blackness. War fires , the enemy was coming. Gandalf cried some words to his horse and it picked up speed again. I thought I was going to be sick. Dawn rose , afternoon came , night appeared and we were still riding . Something strange about that horse. Twilight appeared through the mist and we stopped in front of a great stone wall. Tall men in cloaks came to meet us. I guess we were in Minas Tirith. Torches gave a dull light through the fog.
" Yea , truly we know you Mithrandir," said one of the men. Well what was the problem then?
" What is he? A dwarf out of the mountains in the north? And the girl , the last of the wains are leaving. Why is she here and who is she ? " he questioned.
" He is one of the Pheriannath, - Peregrin. And the girl is Little Maiden , both have been through many perils than even you Ingold."
Ha , Gandalf would show him. We rode onto a wide land before the city called the Pelennor. We passed towns and orchards and tilled fields. A very well kept land indeed. The light grew and afternoon was approaching.
A massive grey shape appeared in front , Minas Tirith. It had been built with seven walls inside , to divide the city. A tower soared above in a flowing shape of white. We entered , and recieved many strange stares from the people. Many empty houses we passed , no longer filled with voices of laughter. It was very sad to see.
After picking our way through the milling city , we reached the seventh gate. The guards were robed in black with a silver tree emblazoned on the chest with winged helmets. I laughed , they looked like Asterix from the old Saturday morning cartoons. Gandalf glared. I shut up.
It seems that they had already heard of our coming , for they let us through with no questions. There was a white paved court , and a fountain splashed happily in its patch of green. Gandalf dismouted and I jumped off hurting my ankle in the process. " Ow **** ! " I swore. I limped over and put Pippin on the ground as he was quite short, you know.
We passed through the giant doors at the base of the white tower into a long hall of echoeing shadows.
" Hellooooooooo , " I said.
" Helloooooooooooooooooooooo, " it echoed back.
Gandalf gave me one of his patented glares. Halting in front of tall door of polished metal , Gandalf gave us a kind of a pep talk. Ok , nothing about Frodo , something about Boromir and be polite(which wasn't a problem for me).
The door opened , seemingly by no one at all. Ghosts , I thought. I peered into the great hall which was lit by many deep windows and had pillars made of black marble. I tried to see the figures and shapes carved at the top but it was impossible to determine what they were. At the end was a carved dais with a high throne and the silver tree carved behind it. At the foot of the dais there was a throne made of the same stuff as the pillars. Sitting , was an old man intently gazing down. In his hand was a white rod with a golden rod at the end. He did not look up . We were standing three paces back from the footstool. My heart was pounding , and my hands were sweaty. The man looked up , he had a ivory skin and prominent bones giving an impression of coldness and majesty.
I shrank back against Gandalf who nudged me forward.
"Hail , Lord and Steward of Minas Tirith , Denethor son of Ecthelion! I am come with counsel and tidings in this dark hour."
Lord and Steward??! Gandalf didn't tell me about any Lord and Steward !
The man answered in a cold voice telling us of the supposed doom of Gondor. Well there was an optimist. He went on to insult Pippin ( poor guy) and to regret sending Boromir instead of Faramir (his brother). I was having a hard time keeping insults in. Denethor held up Boromir's horn , cut in half. I gasped and was silenced by Gandalf glaring at me.
"I see you knew him , girl." Denethor said.
Pippin went on to explain (nervously I might add) of Boromir's valiant fight and my anger. Our debt to him even though he failed to save us. Pippin's voice grew stronger and seemed more of a knight's voice than of a scared hobbit. Flicking aside the cloak, he laid his sword at Denethor's feet. A small gleam of a smile appeared over the Steward's features.
Pippin was being sworn in as a soldier of Gondor ! I wanted to do the same but it probably wouldn't be the same , and besides I noticed the guard was entirely male. Denethor's first order was to tell everything about Boromir. He ordered servants to bring in a chair and two stools , a tray with wine and white cakes.
I perched delicately on a stool while Pippin did his best to explain what had happened without mentioning the quest. When Denenthor was finished freaking Pippin out , he started on me.
" What is your name ? "
" Little Maiden , lord. Your valiant son , Boromir , named me that."
" Did he ? What is your real name?"
" Little Maiden."
" What were you doing with them? "
" Doing um .. , " I panicked , " LAUNDRY!"
" Laundry ?" he asked , raising an eyebrow. I had the uncomfortable feeling he could read my thoughts.
" Then why are you wearing my son's shirt?"
I was quiet and didn't say any more. " Well? Speak up girl."
"He gave it to me."
"Why ?"
" Because."
"Why ? " his voice grew louder.
"Because."
" WHY YOU FOOLISH GIRL? " he boomed. I knew where Boromir got his temper from and it was definetly not on his mother's side.
" No need to shout , " I said pertly, as if scold a child. Ha. Denethor's eyes were set afire. Pippin's green eyes seemed to say: Tell him Little Maiden ! Tell him !
I told him but left out all bits about Frodo. Denethor roared with laughter to my suprise.
" One of the best nonsense stories , I've ever heard! " he laughed. Whoa. Psycho.........
" Mithrandir , leave the girl here when you leave. In these dark days I have need of entertainment . "
Gandalf frowned and spoke more words to Denethor concerning Pippin. Great Gandalf , leave me here with a schitzo.
A guide led them out and just before the door closed Pippin poked his head in , grinned and waved. I laughed. Turning back to Denethor , I realized his cold smile was replaced by a frown. I swallowed deeply and my heart started going at the speed of rabbit's again.
" Now , girl , you will not be in my hall wearing that."
I glared , what was wrong with what I was wearing? He called in servants again.
" Take Little Maiden to be outfitted in , ah , something more suitable."
We were approaching the Deeping Coomb and Glittering Caves which sounded pretty. But we didn't stop , we were riding to Minas Tirith , city of man , before dawn. Was there a city of women too? All the jostling of the horse steadied to a quick run. It seemed like it was going faster and faster. Pippin had already fallen asleep , thank goodness. I watched the ground disappear , and I figured it was my turn to ask questions.
"Gandalf? Why am coming along?"
" That is not for some ears to hear, " he answered cryptically.
Stupid git. Then I remembered Pippin was with us and I guess when he said it wasn't for some ears to hear , he meant him. Now I'd never know. Stupid mini-git. I sighed and fell asleep.
When I woke , it was still night. Blazing fire kindled in the sky , lighting up the empty blackness. War fires , the enemy was coming. Gandalf cried some words to his horse and it picked up speed again. I thought I was going to be sick. Dawn rose , afternoon came , night appeared and we were still riding . Something strange about that horse. Twilight appeared through the mist and we stopped in front of a great stone wall. Tall men in cloaks came to meet us. I guess we were in Minas Tirith. Torches gave a dull light through the fog.
" Yea , truly we know you Mithrandir," said one of the men. Well what was the problem then?
" What is he? A dwarf out of the mountains in the north? And the girl , the last of the wains are leaving. Why is she here and who is she ? " he questioned.
" He is one of the Pheriannath, - Peregrin. And the girl is Little Maiden , both have been through many perils than even you Ingold."
Ha , Gandalf would show him. We rode onto a wide land before the city called the Pelennor. We passed towns and orchards and tilled fields. A very well kept land indeed. The light grew and afternoon was approaching.
A massive grey shape appeared in front , Minas Tirith. It had been built with seven walls inside , to divide the city. A tower soared above in a flowing shape of white. We entered , and recieved many strange stares from the people. Many empty houses we passed , no longer filled with voices of laughter. It was very sad to see.
After picking our way through the milling city , we reached the seventh gate. The guards were robed in black with a silver tree emblazoned on the chest with winged helmets. I laughed , they looked like Asterix from the old Saturday morning cartoons. Gandalf glared. I shut up.
It seems that they had already heard of our coming , for they let us through with no questions. There was a white paved court , and a fountain splashed happily in its patch of green. Gandalf dismouted and I jumped off hurting my ankle in the process. " Ow **** ! " I swore. I limped over and put Pippin on the ground as he was quite short, you know.
We passed through the giant doors at the base of the white tower into a long hall of echoeing shadows.
" Hellooooooooo , " I said.
" Helloooooooooooooooooooooo, " it echoed back.
Gandalf gave me one of his patented glares. Halting in front of tall door of polished metal , Gandalf gave us a kind of a pep talk. Ok , nothing about Frodo , something about Boromir and be polite(which wasn't a problem for me).
The door opened , seemingly by no one at all. Ghosts , I thought. I peered into the great hall which was lit by many deep windows and had pillars made of black marble. I tried to see the figures and shapes carved at the top but it was impossible to determine what they were. At the end was a carved dais with a high throne and the silver tree carved behind it. At the foot of the dais there was a throne made of the same stuff as the pillars. Sitting , was an old man intently gazing down. In his hand was a white rod with a golden rod at the end. He did not look up . We were standing three paces back from the footstool. My heart was pounding , and my hands were sweaty. The man looked up , he had a ivory skin and prominent bones giving an impression of coldness and majesty.
I shrank back against Gandalf who nudged me forward.
"Hail , Lord and Steward of Minas Tirith , Denethor son of Ecthelion! I am come with counsel and tidings in this dark hour."
Lord and Steward??! Gandalf didn't tell me about any Lord and Steward !
The man answered in a cold voice telling us of the supposed doom of Gondor. Well there was an optimist. He went on to insult Pippin ( poor guy) and to regret sending Boromir instead of Faramir (his brother). I was having a hard time keeping insults in. Denethor held up Boromir's horn , cut in half. I gasped and was silenced by Gandalf glaring at me.
"I see you knew him , girl." Denethor said.
Pippin went on to explain (nervously I might add) of Boromir's valiant fight and my anger. Our debt to him even though he failed to save us. Pippin's voice grew stronger and seemed more of a knight's voice than of a scared hobbit. Flicking aside the cloak, he laid his sword at Denethor's feet. A small gleam of a smile appeared over the Steward's features.
Pippin was being sworn in as a soldier of Gondor ! I wanted to do the same but it probably wouldn't be the same , and besides I noticed the guard was entirely male. Denethor's first order was to tell everything about Boromir. He ordered servants to bring in a chair and two stools , a tray with wine and white cakes.
I perched delicately on a stool while Pippin did his best to explain what had happened without mentioning the quest. When Denenthor was finished freaking Pippin out , he started on me.
" What is your name ? "
" Little Maiden , lord. Your valiant son , Boromir , named me that."
" Did he ? What is your real name?"
" Little Maiden."
" What were you doing with them? "
" Doing um .. , " I panicked , " LAUNDRY!"
" Laundry ?" he asked , raising an eyebrow. I had the uncomfortable feeling he could read my thoughts.
" Then why are you wearing my son's shirt?"
I was quiet and didn't say any more. " Well? Speak up girl."
"He gave it to me."
"Why ?"
" Because."
"Why ? " his voice grew louder.
"Because."
" WHY YOU FOOLISH GIRL? " he boomed. I knew where Boromir got his temper from and it was definetly not on his mother's side.
" No need to shout , " I said pertly, as if scold a child. Ha. Denethor's eyes were set afire. Pippin's green eyes seemed to say: Tell him Little Maiden ! Tell him !
I told him but left out all bits about Frodo. Denethor roared with laughter to my suprise.
" One of the best nonsense stories , I've ever heard! " he laughed. Whoa. Psycho.........
" Mithrandir , leave the girl here when you leave. In these dark days I have need of entertainment . "
Gandalf frowned and spoke more words to Denethor concerning Pippin. Great Gandalf , leave me here with a schitzo.
A guide led them out and just before the door closed Pippin poked his head in , grinned and waved. I laughed. Turning back to Denethor , I realized his cold smile was replaced by a frown. I swallowed deeply and my heart started going at the speed of rabbit's again.
" Now , girl , you will not be in my hall wearing that."
I glared , what was wrong with what I was wearing? He called in servants again.
" Take Little Maiden to be outfitted in , ah , something more suitable."