And Drink To Me Yet
Chapter 13 - The Greatest Gift
Everyone moved at once. Legolas and Gimli pulled Aragorn from the fire, shoving him almost roughly into the advancing Arwen and Aglareb. Pippin and Waen hastened forward, and the four companions formed what protection they could against the blue-tinted fire.
A fifth joined them. Pippin glanced up at their newest ally, and was only mildly surprised to see that it was Draug standing tall beside him. Perhaps this surprise sprung from the fact that for the first time, Draug truly looked like a prince. The half-Elven boy had drawn himself up to his full height, which in reality rivaled with his elder brother's. He had a regal air about him, his eyes flashing like an enraged king's. Pippin couldn't say exactly what else about him was changed, but he felt it in the air. It was the sort of presence that Pippin had oft' times felt radiate from Master Elrond Halfelven, and it suited Draug nicely.
The seemingly transformed prince cast a look at Pippin, saying quietly, "Your attempt was honorable, Master Hobbit."
Pippin managed to smile. He turned his full attention again to those before him, and found their faces all contorted with hatred. Well, all but the cherubim face of small Alataestel, who was hiding behind her mother's skirt.
Aragorn's eyes were filled with flames likening to those burning now, and his voice was harsh as he held out his hand. "Give the palantìr to me. It is mine by right."
"It can be yours no longer," Legolas shot back "for you have abused its ancient powers."
"What will you do, then?" Arwen's face was oddly twisted into what might have been a wicked grin. "Will you destroy it? Your attempts have failed at that!"
"Not yet they haven't." The voice was so unlike Draug's, that at first Pippin knew not who had spoken. But as Draug's words continued, Pippin turned to him in slight awe. "The only way to destroy the palantìr they have found, only for one thing. The Stone's last uses were for black purposes, so the sacrifice must be made of the light."
The others all stood silent, drinking in Draug's voice as though they had never heard it before. Which, Pippin supposed, they hadn't. Not really anyway. The young prince continued, "Whoe're is sacrificed must be truly willing to give their life for this cause. They must wish an end to the malady that the Stone creates, because they must wish to spare the ones they love." His eyes lingered a moment on the tiny face of Alataestel, peering out at her brother from around Arwen's skirts. "I do not know what power my blood has, but if it be half-mortal even it will serve."
He took a step backward, the first flames of sapphire licking greedily on the edge of his robes. Suddenly Pippin found himself crying, "Stop!"
Draug stopped, looking toward Pippin almost curiously. Everyone once again seemed transfixed, unable to move or mayhap think. Save Pippin. He took a deep breath, and drew forth the charm hung by a golden chain around his neck.
The small gold disk glittered in the firelight, and could be seen reflected in the eyes of the others. Suddenly it seemed that Merry too had come unfixed in time, for he reached to his own collar and drew up a similar charm from about his neck. His eyes were clear, and he looked again like himself. Pippin smiled, and received a smile from Merry in exchange. The greatest gift he could have given.
Pippin shot a look at Waen, whose eyes seemed at once filled with sorrow and understanding. His whispered breath sang to her, "And drink to me yet when I'm dead and gone..."
She nodded, or seemed to, a single tear sliding down her cheek. Pippin looked once again looked to Merry, who seemed somewhere between a daze and waking. The Took called to him softly, "To friends!"
Then Pippin turned and, even as the enchanted axe swung high, plunged himself into the flames.
The End
((*sniff* Well, that was depressing... or was it uplifting? Anyway you look at it, that's the end. Until I write the sequel, anyway.... speaking of which, good ideas are always appreciated. If you lot want a sequel, anyway. Because this ending is slightly inconclusive. I mean, what happened? Do you really know? Do I really know? Hmmmm.... a sequel is definitely in order. Oo, and the final results for the sacrifice poll is thus: 6 votes for Merry, 6 for Pippin, 5 votes for Aragorn, 3 votes for all the royal kiddies, {5 just Aglareb, 1 just for Draug}. Not to be sacrificed: 4 vote for Pippin, 3 votes for all the royal kiddies, 2 votes Gimli, 1 vote Aragorn, 1 vote for Merry. But did I take that into account? NoOoOo! I just went and evilly killed off the Mighty Pippin Took.... or did I??? Ooo, must go write sequel, then!!))
Chapter 13 - The Greatest Gift
Everyone moved at once. Legolas and Gimli pulled Aragorn from the fire, shoving him almost roughly into the advancing Arwen and Aglareb. Pippin and Waen hastened forward, and the four companions formed what protection they could against the blue-tinted fire.
A fifth joined them. Pippin glanced up at their newest ally, and was only mildly surprised to see that it was Draug standing tall beside him. Perhaps this surprise sprung from the fact that for the first time, Draug truly looked like a prince. The half-Elven boy had drawn himself up to his full height, which in reality rivaled with his elder brother's. He had a regal air about him, his eyes flashing like an enraged king's. Pippin couldn't say exactly what else about him was changed, but he felt it in the air. It was the sort of presence that Pippin had oft' times felt radiate from Master Elrond Halfelven, and it suited Draug nicely.
The seemingly transformed prince cast a look at Pippin, saying quietly, "Your attempt was honorable, Master Hobbit."
Pippin managed to smile. He turned his full attention again to those before him, and found their faces all contorted with hatred. Well, all but the cherubim face of small Alataestel, who was hiding behind her mother's skirt.
Aragorn's eyes were filled with flames likening to those burning now, and his voice was harsh as he held out his hand. "Give the palantìr to me. It is mine by right."
"It can be yours no longer," Legolas shot back "for you have abused its ancient powers."
"What will you do, then?" Arwen's face was oddly twisted into what might have been a wicked grin. "Will you destroy it? Your attempts have failed at that!"
"Not yet they haven't." The voice was so unlike Draug's, that at first Pippin knew not who had spoken. But as Draug's words continued, Pippin turned to him in slight awe. "The only way to destroy the palantìr they have found, only for one thing. The Stone's last uses were for black purposes, so the sacrifice must be made of the light."
The others all stood silent, drinking in Draug's voice as though they had never heard it before. Which, Pippin supposed, they hadn't. Not really anyway. The young prince continued, "Whoe're is sacrificed must be truly willing to give their life for this cause. They must wish an end to the malady that the Stone creates, because they must wish to spare the ones they love." His eyes lingered a moment on the tiny face of Alataestel, peering out at her brother from around Arwen's skirts. "I do not know what power my blood has, but if it be half-mortal even it will serve."
He took a step backward, the first flames of sapphire licking greedily on the edge of his robes. Suddenly Pippin found himself crying, "Stop!"
Draug stopped, looking toward Pippin almost curiously. Everyone once again seemed transfixed, unable to move or mayhap think. Save Pippin. He took a deep breath, and drew forth the charm hung by a golden chain around his neck.
The small gold disk glittered in the firelight, and could be seen reflected in the eyes of the others. Suddenly it seemed that Merry too had come unfixed in time, for he reached to his own collar and drew up a similar charm from about his neck. His eyes were clear, and he looked again like himself. Pippin smiled, and received a smile from Merry in exchange. The greatest gift he could have given.
Pippin shot a look at Waen, whose eyes seemed at once filled with sorrow and understanding. His whispered breath sang to her, "And drink to me yet when I'm dead and gone..."
She nodded, or seemed to, a single tear sliding down her cheek. Pippin looked once again looked to Merry, who seemed somewhere between a daze and waking. The Took called to him softly, "To friends!"
Then Pippin turned and, even as the enchanted axe swung high, plunged himself into the flames.
The End
((*sniff* Well, that was depressing... or was it uplifting? Anyway you look at it, that's the end. Until I write the sequel, anyway.... speaking of which, good ideas are always appreciated. If you lot want a sequel, anyway. Because this ending is slightly inconclusive. I mean, what happened? Do you really know? Do I really know? Hmmmm.... a sequel is definitely in order. Oo, and the final results for the sacrifice poll is thus: 6 votes for Merry, 6 for Pippin, 5 votes for Aragorn, 3 votes for all the royal kiddies, {5 just Aglareb, 1 just for Draug}. Not to be sacrificed: 4 vote for Pippin, 3 votes for all the royal kiddies, 2 votes Gimli, 1 vote Aragorn, 1 vote for Merry. But did I take that into account? NoOoOo! I just went and evilly killed off the Mighty Pippin Took.... or did I??? Ooo, must go write sequel, then!!))