Four days had passed since Sauron had been discovered.
Four days had seen the Fellowship lose at ever turn.
Four days were now at an end.
It was time to turn the tide.
The hall was cool, wreathed in shadow and bathed in pools of light. Eager footsteps echoed over the straw strewn flagstones. At the end of the hall, standing by an unlit fireplace and bathed in the light of the moon stood an elf, tall and silent, long hair lay down his back and his robes swept the floor as he turned to greet his kinsman.
For long minutes Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood stood deep in conversation with Lord Elrond.
Several hours had passed after Legolas had carried an unconscious and struggling Samwise Gamgee in to the great hall of the Citadel, Pippin had since woken from the blackness but had refused to speak, his grey eyes terrified and tearful, knuckles white where they gripped the arms of the large oaken chair. Clutching his cousin, Merry whispered quietly to him, they had been each other's strength since the beginning.
After a few minutes Elrond finished with Samwise, the hobbit had ceased struggling and rested in a troubled sleep. Taking Legolas aside he whispered something in elvish that neither hobbit could hear, but it caused Legolas to turn around and leave the hall with speed.
Now hours later the elf had returned and the news he brought caused the elf Lord's face to grow grave and turn to Gandalf who stood nearer the window and watched calmly, waiting. With a nod from Lord Elrond Gandalf turned to Aragorn and motioned for him to follow.
The time was drawing close.
**********
With a creaking the door swung open, and the room no longer warm but cold and empty. Sauron had moved on.
Stepping over the threshold Gandalf walked toward the plinth, black marble shone from the small light tripping through the doorway from the shadowy corridor.
Aragorn, taking the cloth in his hands, grasped the sphere and lifted it off of its resting place, where it had lain silent after the death of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, Screaming as his body was consumed by the flames.
Meeting calm grey eyes with clear blue ones, Aragorn, son of Arathorn turned and left the room, holding close the small sphere. Watching him go Gandalf looked back to the black, oily shadow that moved at the back of the room. Making a sign of protection he turned to go, but before his hand touched the large iron handle a hissing and crackling and sudden light caused the wizard to pause as a fire burned and roared in the fireplace without wood or kindling. Looking back to Aragorn at the end of the corridor he grasped the handle tightly and leaving the room the heavy door shut with barely a whisper.
****************
Placing the cloth-covered sphere on to the chest high plinth within the hall, a hush fell over those gathered.
It was time to challenge Sauron with all of the power that they had.
Standing around in a circle about the plinth the two hobbits stood silent hand in hand, with Gimli to their left Gandalf to their right, Legolas next to the dwarf and Aragorn and Lord Elrond facing them. Lying quietly on a large bench, covered with a warm blanket lay Sam, his face troubled in unconscious sleep.
Stepping out alone Aragorn stepped forward, as the rightful King of Gondor and Anor, he alone stood in no fear as he drew the heavy cloth off of the Gateway.
The Palantir.
As soon as it no longer covered the Palantir the very air became hot and tight. The embers in the fireplace stirred and sparked to life, as did every torch in the room, lighting the hall with flames and casting deep weird shadows in the corners.
The clouds within the Palantir began to turn red and swirl, turning the interior in to a fiery inferno.
All at once Sam began to thrash about and cry out in pain.
A low voice started to whisper, deep and low, warm and cloying. All at once seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere.
*Only the very best…no other interest…this is the way he should remain…never feeling any pain…never growing old…*
It seemed to beg of each, pulling at each's feeling for Frodo, after all would it really be so bad to let him rest, for waking would only bring another type of pain, one than could not be cured by magic herbs or tonics, that pain would suck the life from him slowly, a soul destroying death. Why let him go through that when He can help him, It wheedled, knawing away at those closest to him.
And while it worked on them, it began its work on another. Interrupted, but not lost, Peregrin Took would set him free as he had planned.
*****************
Blinking slowly, Pippin took slow shallow breath after breath, trying to beat back the urge to walk up to the Palantir and set him free.
What he had told Gandalf and the others about his first encounter with Sauron was not entirely true, even then Sauron had seen that he could be beaten and began to work for another way in, building a gateway back to the reality of Middle Earth. Coaxing him, Sauron had told him what to do, overcoming the hobbits will he had implanted the desire in him to come when called, a subliminal beacon.
Pippin heard His call again; stronger now than in the room deep below the citadel, and fought it harder knowing what He wanted him to do. Squeezing back tears he gripped Merry's hand tighter, a silent plea for help. Blinking back to the present Merry turned to his cousin and saw in his eyes his command and the voice in his head suddenly lost all power over him as he saw his cousins terror.
Steeping back in to the circle Aragorn grew stiff as he heard the voice, and rejected its plea. Turning to Gandalf and Elrond, the ranger watched as they stepped forward and with a Nenya on the Finger of Elrond and Narya sparkling red on Gandalf's hand they turned to the Palantir and began to close the doorway.
******************
Pippin watched them with fear as His voice grew stronger in his head and he knew that he couldn't fight it anymore.
Quickly he darted for the Palantir, but before his hand could reach it Merry grabbed him back and caught him, struggling and whispering words of release in the Black tongue Pippin freed himself and ran for the sphere, and before anyone else could reach him he reached and took the Palantir in his hands and raised it above his head and threw it to the floor…
****************
*Dark, it's gone so black Mister Frodo…
I heard you calling me but I couldn't come to you…
Please forgive your Sam Mr. Frodo, I tried so hard to fight my way to you when you called me, but I couldn't reach you…
Maybe after all of this I'll be the one leaving you…
It's getting hotter and my hands feel like they are burning again…
I know he's here…
I know now what you saw at the end Mister Frodo…
You said that you could see the eye even when you were awake…
Now I can see it too…
It's coming closer Mister Frodo…
I didn't want to be afraid…
Not at the end but I am…
Mister Frodo? I don't understand what's happening…
I passed through it…
I thought it would be the end…
But It's not…
Oh! Mister Frodo…
It's hot so Hot…
Are you here? I can hear something…
Please Mister Frodo…
It's so dark here…
I'm not alone!
…*
**************
Just a very quick Thank you to everyone out there who has stuck with me on this, honestly it was never going to be this long but It's just turned in to this monster! The end is in sight, just a few more chapters, I'm working on the next one right now, and it should be up tomorrow or the day after.
If you're confused about it so far (I know most of you are) I can promise you that I will try to tie everything up, but if there is something you want to know or don't understand just ask and I'll try to answer.
Thanks again!
(
Four days had seen the Fellowship lose at ever turn.
Four days were now at an end.
It was time to turn the tide.
The hall was cool, wreathed in shadow and bathed in pools of light. Eager footsteps echoed over the straw strewn flagstones. At the end of the hall, standing by an unlit fireplace and bathed in the light of the moon stood an elf, tall and silent, long hair lay down his back and his robes swept the floor as he turned to greet his kinsman.
For long minutes Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood stood deep in conversation with Lord Elrond.
Several hours had passed after Legolas had carried an unconscious and struggling Samwise Gamgee in to the great hall of the Citadel, Pippin had since woken from the blackness but had refused to speak, his grey eyes terrified and tearful, knuckles white where they gripped the arms of the large oaken chair. Clutching his cousin, Merry whispered quietly to him, they had been each other's strength since the beginning.
After a few minutes Elrond finished with Samwise, the hobbit had ceased struggling and rested in a troubled sleep. Taking Legolas aside he whispered something in elvish that neither hobbit could hear, but it caused Legolas to turn around and leave the hall with speed.
Now hours later the elf had returned and the news he brought caused the elf Lord's face to grow grave and turn to Gandalf who stood nearer the window and watched calmly, waiting. With a nod from Lord Elrond Gandalf turned to Aragorn and motioned for him to follow.
The time was drawing close.
**********
With a creaking the door swung open, and the room no longer warm but cold and empty. Sauron had moved on.
Stepping over the threshold Gandalf walked toward the plinth, black marble shone from the small light tripping through the doorway from the shadowy corridor.
Aragorn, taking the cloth in his hands, grasped the sphere and lifted it off of its resting place, where it had lain silent after the death of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, Screaming as his body was consumed by the flames.
Meeting calm grey eyes with clear blue ones, Aragorn, son of Arathorn turned and left the room, holding close the small sphere. Watching him go Gandalf looked back to the black, oily shadow that moved at the back of the room. Making a sign of protection he turned to go, but before his hand touched the large iron handle a hissing and crackling and sudden light caused the wizard to pause as a fire burned and roared in the fireplace without wood or kindling. Looking back to Aragorn at the end of the corridor he grasped the handle tightly and leaving the room the heavy door shut with barely a whisper.
****************
Placing the cloth-covered sphere on to the chest high plinth within the hall, a hush fell over those gathered.
It was time to challenge Sauron with all of the power that they had.
Standing around in a circle about the plinth the two hobbits stood silent hand in hand, with Gimli to their left Gandalf to their right, Legolas next to the dwarf and Aragorn and Lord Elrond facing them. Lying quietly on a large bench, covered with a warm blanket lay Sam, his face troubled in unconscious sleep.
Stepping out alone Aragorn stepped forward, as the rightful King of Gondor and Anor, he alone stood in no fear as he drew the heavy cloth off of the Gateway.
The Palantir.
As soon as it no longer covered the Palantir the very air became hot and tight. The embers in the fireplace stirred and sparked to life, as did every torch in the room, lighting the hall with flames and casting deep weird shadows in the corners.
The clouds within the Palantir began to turn red and swirl, turning the interior in to a fiery inferno.
All at once Sam began to thrash about and cry out in pain.
A low voice started to whisper, deep and low, warm and cloying. All at once seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere.
*Only the very best…no other interest…this is the way he should remain…never feeling any pain…never growing old…*
It seemed to beg of each, pulling at each's feeling for Frodo, after all would it really be so bad to let him rest, for waking would only bring another type of pain, one than could not be cured by magic herbs or tonics, that pain would suck the life from him slowly, a soul destroying death. Why let him go through that when He can help him, It wheedled, knawing away at those closest to him.
And while it worked on them, it began its work on another. Interrupted, but not lost, Peregrin Took would set him free as he had planned.
*****************
Blinking slowly, Pippin took slow shallow breath after breath, trying to beat back the urge to walk up to the Palantir and set him free.
What he had told Gandalf and the others about his first encounter with Sauron was not entirely true, even then Sauron had seen that he could be beaten and began to work for another way in, building a gateway back to the reality of Middle Earth. Coaxing him, Sauron had told him what to do, overcoming the hobbits will he had implanted the desire in him to come when called, a subliminal beacon.
Pippin heard His call again; stronger now than in the room deep below the citadel, and fought it harder knowing what He wanted him to do. Squeezing back tears he gripped Merry's hand tighter, a silent plea for help. Blinking back to the present Merry turned to his cousin and saw in his eyes his command and the voice in his head suddenly lost all power over him as he saw his cousins terror.
Steeping back in to the circle Aragorn grew stiff as he heard the voice, and rejected its plea. Turning to Gandalf and Elrond, the ranger watched as they stepped forward and with a Nenya on the Finger of Elrond and Narya sparkling red on Gandalf's hand they turned to the Palantir and began to close the doorway.
******************
Pippin watched them with fear as His voice grew stronger in his head and he knew that he couldn't fight it anymore.
Quickly he darted for the Palantir, but before his hand could reach it Merry grabbed him back and caught him, struggling and whispering words of release in the Black tongue Pippin freed himself and ran for the sphere, and before anyone else could reach him he reached and took the Palantir in his hands and raised it above his head and threw it to the floor…
****************
*Dark, it's gone so black Mister Frodo…
I heard you calling me but I couldn't come to you…
Please forgive your Sam Mr. Frodo, I tried so hard to fight my way to you when you called me, but I couldn't reach you…
Maybe after all of this I'll be the one leaving you…
It's getting hotter and my hands feel like they are burning again…
I know he's here…
I know now what you saw at the end Mister Frodo…
You said that you could see the eye even when you were awake…
Now I can see it too…
It's coming closer Mister Frodo…
I didn't want to be afraid…
Not at the end but I am…
Mister Frodo? I don't understand what's happening…
I passed through it…
I thought it would be the end…
But It's not…
Oh! Mister Frodo…
It's hot so Hot…
Are you here? I can hear something…
Please Mister Frodo…
It's so dark here…
I'm not alone!
…*
**************
Just a very quick Thank you to everyone out there who has stuck with me on this, honestly it was never going to be this long but It's just turned in to this monster! The end is in sight, just a few more chapters, I'm working on the next one right now, and it should be up tomorrow or the day after.
If you're confused about it so far (I know most of you are) I can promise you that I will try to tie everything up, but if there is something you want to know or don't understand just ask and I'll try to answer.
Thanks again!
(