Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. If you see any characters or any of that stuff that you don't recognize, it's mine. The rest belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Four days past since Boromir took Ali with him to go to Gondor, but to Ali it felt like it was longer. She only talked to Boromir when he talked to her and her thoughts were ever astray to Frodo and Sam.

February 20, 2003, by my world's reckoning

It's been four days. I wonder if Frodo and Sam are still with Faramir. I hope he had let them go on their way to Mordor. How I wish I was with them, but since Boromir won't take me back and I do not know my way around Middle Earth, I can't go back to them. Gosh darn these humans!

Sincerely, Ali

Ali looked up from her journal as Boromir came toward her. He smiled at her, but didn't smile at him in return. Boromir's smile quickly left his face.

"I'm sorry I have to do this to you, Ali," Boromir said.

"No hard feelings, Boromir," Ali said coldly.

"You may say that, but I do not feel it so. I was only doing what was best." Boromir seemed distressed about the whole situation.

"What was best was staying with Frodo and Sam. If you take me back to them, I'll never be sharp with you again and never doubt your decisions," Ali said.

Boromir sighed and hung his head. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Ali."

"Why not?" Ali demanded.

"Because you saved my life once and I figured I was doing you a favor and not having to see the horrors of Mordor. And if Frodo failed, then you would die without me repaying you in some shape or form," Boromir explained.

"Boromir, you didn't have to do that. There's no need to repay me, except your friendship to me," Ali said.

"Honestly and truly?" Boromir asked.

"Honestly and truly." Ali smiled at him.

"I am glad for that, but I'm afraid I can't turn around again, seeing how far we've come. And Frodo and Sam are probably long gone by now," Boromir stated.

Ali sighed. "Unfortunately, but as they say, what goes around comes around."

Boromir nodded. "We best be moving on now. We are almost to Gondor now."

Ali sighed and nodded in agreement. Soon both of them were on Boromir's horse, riding as fast as they could toward Gondor.

Several hours later, Ali looked up and saw a huge city coming upon them. It was huge. Not even New York City could compare to this.

"Is this Gondor?" Ali asked.

Boromir nodded. "This is Gondor, my homeland."

Ali fell silent, looking around her as they entered Gondor. A few people stopped and hailed Boromir, but Boromir only gave a slight nod and continued on his way. Soon they came to the center of the city, where the palace was and getting off the horse, the two of them set out to go inside.

"This place is huge," Ali said in wonderment.

"Such a find sight it is," Boromir agreed.

"Boromir!" a deep voice sounded out behind them and the two of them turned around.

"Father!" Boromir said and went over to him, giving him a huge bear hug.

"What news?" the man asked.

"All in good time, all in good time," Boromir said. "Come I'd like you to meet somebody."

Boromir walked over to Ali and placed a hand on her shoulder. The man that Boromir called father came over and looked down at her.

"This, father, is a friend I met in Rivendell, Alexandria Wimund, otherwise known as Ali," Boromir exclaimed happily. "Ali, this is my father, Denethor, Steward of Gondor."

"Pleasure to meet you, my lord," Ali said, bowing her head slightly.

Denethor waved his hand and Ali looked up.

"No need for formalities," he said. "Whoever's a friend of Boromir is a friend of me and Gondor."

"I take that as a compliment, my liege," Ali said.

"Don't mention it. Boromir," Denethor said, turning to his oldest son, "I'm sure you'd like to take your guest to a room and get her comfortable."

Boromir bowed slightly with a 'yes, sir,' and soon he was leading Ali to a room.

"Well, he seems a little-big for his britches if I do say so myself," Ali said.

"If you're saying he's got too much than what's good for him, then I agree. But he's my father and he's a good man and doesn't mean any harm. For the most part, at least." Ali looked up at Boromir and caught a shadow pass his face.

"Something the matter?" Ali asked. "I saw a shadow pass your face, like something was troubling you."

Boromir sighed.

"I suppose I better tell you a little something about my father," he said. "Though my father is a noble man and he loves his family. But he tends to favor his oldest son rather than the younger one."

"So he favors you more than Faramir?" Ali asked.

Boromir nodded. "Aye, lass, he does. He favors me so much that he thinks I can make everything right and that Faramir always tends to be in the wrong, though he tries hard to do his will."

"You don't think about that of your brother, do you? That he's something bad?" Ali asked.

"No, I do not. He and I are very close and try to protect each other if we can and is in our reach," Boromir answered.

"That's good," Ali smiled.

"Do you have any brothers or sister, Ali?" Boromir asked.

Ali shook her head. "No, I do not. Though my parents were thinking of adopting somebody."

Boromir nodded. "I see." Soon they became silent and stayed that way for the rest of the way to Ali's room.

Over the next few days, Ali wandered around the palace and Gondor, learning about their ways. She met a few people along the way and they became friends, but they weren't the same as the friends she longed for, the ones that were scattered for miles around. Ali wished she were with them and wished she wasn't so helpless, like a bulk of luggage.

One day, Ali was sitting on a wall, thinking her thoughts, when she heard her name being called out.

"Ali! Ali!" a voice called out. Ali turned her face to the voice and her jaw nearly dropped. It couldn't be-

"Pippin!" she yelled, jumping down from the wall and running toward him. When she reached him she threw her arms around Pippin and gave him a huge hug.

"I've missed you so much!" she cried.

"I missed you, too!" Pippin said with the same enthusiasm and with those words, he picked her up and swung Ali around in a circle once before setting her down. Ali squealed in delight.

When Pippin sat her down, Ali took a good look at her lover. There was something different about him.

"Pippin, you've grown taller. I'm sure walking to the far ends of Middle Earth and back didn't make you do that," Ali commented.

Pippin grinned sheepishly. Well. I've been to Fangorn Forest and I've met these trees that can talk and move called Ents. One that I met was named Treebeard and he gave Merry and I some water to drink and it must've had some kind of magic in it 'cause we grew a few inches taller. So I said to myself, 'Pippin, think hard. If this makes you taller, who do you think is taller than you that you would really love and would like to be only a few inches taller than her?' and I laughed and said, 'Aha! 'Tis Ali, that I really love and would really like to see eye to eye so she won't have to bend down to look at me, if I ever see her again.' So I drank some more until I grew to the height I am now."

Ali smiled broadly. "Oh, Pip, you didn't have to do that for me."

"But I really DID want to, Ali. Because I love you," Pippin said, and bending down slightly, he kissed her gently.

Ali kissed him back and pulled back, blushing and smiling. "But I wished you didn't have to do that. So tell me, how tall are you now?"

"I'm five foot even now," Pippin said. "And it's a new sensation, having my head several inches off the ground than it was."

"Indeed," Ali said. "You are only two inches taller than me now. But close enough. What about Merry?"

"He grew to about four foot six. He didn't want to be any taller," Pippin said.

"Is he here now?" Ali asked.

Pippin shook his head. "No, he stayed in camp, with the others."

Ali cocked her head. "I don't understand."

"I better start at the beginning," Pippin said and soon he launched into the star from when the Fellowship to up to how he got here in Gondor.

"You mean Gandalf's alive?" Ali asked, surprised.

Pippin nodded. "Yes, and he's still here."

"I've got to go see him," Ali exclaimed, starting toward the palace.

"Ali, wait!" Pippin proclaimed, catching up to her. "There's one more thing."

Ali stopped and looked at him. "What is it, Pip?" she asked.

"Just a while ago, before I came out here to find you, I gave my services to Denethor. I'm bound to him now. I'm a guard," Pippin said.

"You did?" Ali said, staring at him in shock.

"Yes, I did. I just wanted to tell you. Are you proud of me?" Pippin asked.

Ali smiled and gave Pippin a hug. "I'm proud of you, though I didn't expect you to do that. Denethor's a little-let's say-unusual. You're brave to become part of Gondor's army."

"Yeah, I suppose your right," Pippin exclaimed.

"Aren't you happy for it?" Ali asked.

"Of course I'm happy about what's happened. A little bit at least, but don't worry about me," Pippin quickly assured Ali.

Ali nodded. "Whatever floats your boat, I guess. But anyways, I'm going to go see Gandalf."

Pippin nodded in acknowledgement and the two of them hugged and kissed goodbye before Ali set off to find Gandalf. She was going to see her friend again that she met at the beginning of this journey. Ali walked inside the huge front doors with a lighter step.

A/n: Well, there's chapter twenty-four and I hope you all liked it. Tomorrow's my audition for the spring musical. Wish me luck, all! (Today's February 10, by the way). I hope I'm getting everything in chronological order as Tolkien wrote the story. If I don't give me a couple slaps across the face! Laugh out loud. But innywho hoped you alls like the chapter and I'll update as soon as I can, as you all know. And Happy Valentine's Day to all and with the wish that I had a date for the Valentine's Day dance! I think this chapter came around right in time for it, considering Ali and Pippin meeting again. I'll shut my trap now.

Sunni07-I don't know if I replied to your last review, but thanks anyway! Pip and Ali are such a cute couple, no? Hope you're liking the story so far ^^.

Melissa Ocean- Thanks for the review! Glad you loved the chapter. It's ok about the grammar thing; I think, laugh out loud. Well, I hope this chapter's satisfied your question about Ali and Boromir to a certain extent.

Nethrahen- Thanks for the review, and interesting penname, by the way. I'll try to keep it up as much as I can. And I'm glad I've created a good character that everybody likes and can relate to. I'll try to look at your story sometime in the near future; I'm a little busy in the present time of space.

Kage Miko- Thanks much! I'll keep you guessin' on that question, tho' it's mostly answered in this past chapter. Hope you continue to read the story!

A'mael- Thanks much! Yea, I've got surprise! Laugh out loud, in a good way, at least. I'm trying to keep this story suspenseful and with cliffhangers and surprises. Is it working?

One more thing- I thought of a sequel to this story if I'm up to it and if I don't want to finish other stories or start different ones. What do you peeps think? Let me know. I haven't got it fully planned, so if you have any ideas, let me know and I'll consider them. I'll shut my trap now! Happy reading!