Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR.

The Truth Comes Out

"What? You're joking, right? His eye is moving again?" Laura said. The terrifying feeling of her surrounded by flames welled up in her as she looked at Legolas.

He staggered back. "He is here!" he informed them both.

Confused for a second, Laura heard a cry from inside. Her eyes went wide. "Pippin!" Pippin had gotten a good look at the Seeing Stone while Gandalf was asleep. The three of them ran inside.

Merry was huddled in the corner, looking frightened as he cried for help. Pippin was on the ground, the sphere in his hands and glowing bright. He looked like he was in pain as Gandalf was just waking up. Aragorn immediately ran over and seized the sphere from Pippin.

"Hey, don't touch it!" Laura tried to warn him, but he already had it and was sinking to the ground. Legolas tried to hold him upright. Laura kicked the ball with her big black shoes, causing it to fall to the ground. Gandalf covered it with a sheet and then ran over to Pippin.

He lay there, looking lifeless. She stood by Aragorn and held him steady as Legolas did. She chanted one of the spells that Galadriel had taught her, then called to Pippin. "Pippin? Pippin?" she cried. Gandalf was bent over him saying something, so she turned her attention back to Aragorn. Placing a hand on his, the flames flashed through her mind, but she held her ground, keeping her eyes tightly shut.

"Pippin! Look at me! What did you see!" Gandalf demanded.

She opened her eyes. "He saw Gondor in flames!" she cried.

Gandalf looked at her. "Gondor?"

"The white tree. That's Gondor right? It was on Boromir's armor, I remember. It was the city of Minas Tirith. The tree was surrounded by fire," she explained.

"I did…I saw…I saw a t-tree…it was dead…" Pippin said, still in his terrified state.

This didn't seem to satisfy Gandalf. Pippin suddenly cried out in terror and threw himself in Laura's arms. "Shh, it's okay. It's all over, Pip," she whispered as she comforted him.

"I…I-I saw him," Pippin stuttered. "He asked me my name…" then his voice broke and he began sobbing.

"What did you tell him about the Ring? Did you tell him about Frodo? Peregrin?" Gandalf demanded.

Merry still looked terribly frightened. Aragorn looked drained from his brief encounter, and Legolas looked just as terrified as Merry. She was covered in a cold sweat and panting from her second encounter with Sauron, and she didn't even know it. Now the wizard stood over her. He glared angrily over the Hobbit.

"Hey, Pippin it's all right. Trust me, I've seen him too. It's terrifying," she whispered as Pippin continued to shake. "Aragorn, are you all right?" she asked with her voice full of concern.

Slowly getting back to his feet, he looked at her. He nodded slowly, and he exited with Legolas. Gandalf said nothing, but went back to sleep with the Stone right in her arms. Merry was still in the corner, more confused after the encounter.

"Merry, come here," she said. "He'll be fine, trust me. Just let him rest. I put a spell on him, so he won't have any nightmares." She patted Merry on the shoulder. She didn't know why she had such a maternal instinct with the Hobbits. She just wanted to protect Merry and Pippin as if they were little children. She fell asleep beside them, also thankfully having a dreamless sleep that night.

She woke up, feeling thoroughly rested for the first time since they'd set out from Rivendell. Smiling, she stretched and rolled over. Gasping, she sat straight up. Legolas lay sleeping right beside her. She held her chest, recovering from that little scare. Looking around, she saw that they were the only two in the building. She didn't want to wake him up, so she made her way outside.

It was chilly. She grabbed her Lorien cloak and wrapped it around her body as she made her way outside. Aragorn was sitting, eating a bowl of what was considered soup. More like animal parts in hot water. (sick!) "Wow, what a beautiful sunrise!" she exclaimed.

A large smile spread across Aragorn's face. "The sun is setting, my fair lady. You slept through the day!"

"What? Why didn't you wake me up?" she demanded, a little embarrassed.

"Gandalf said not to wake you. And Legolas kept watch over you while you slept incase any of the visions were to come back. You've had a trying night."

She smiled and took a seat next to him as he poured her a bowl of the stuff. "It wasn't that bad, because Merry and Pippin were with me. It's easy to be strong when you have someone who looks up to you."

He looked at her with that knowing glance that told her he could relate to every word and thought she was having. He still looked weary, but his eyes always brightened when she was around. It was because she reminded him of Arwen. "Theoden will not order his troops to ride to Gondor's aid," he said, looking off in the distance.

"What? Has our victory at Helm's Deep made him daft?" she asked.

"Nay, my lady. As a king surely he does not wish his people to witness anymore death."

"Oh, yeah. Boy, it's a good thing you're around to tell me these things. I'd make a terrible leader."

Aragorn chuckled. "You do not give yourself enough credit. You are a fine warrior, and will make a fine leader for your people someday."

She sighed, wondering how she'd ever gotten so far in life without friends like these. She stood up. She was going to go and see Gandalf, since she hadn't seen him in so long. Maybe she could find out something about these visions. But as she went back inside, her eyes fell on Legolas. He was still sleeping.

He looked so peaceful. She paid careful attention to every detail on his body and in his face. Silently, she knelt down by his side. His soft breathing almost moved her to tears as she realized how big her heart felt when she looked at him. She wanted to touch his pointed ears, run her hands through his braided hair, and just kiss him over and over again.

"Legolas," she whispered, half hoping he'd wake up when he heard her voice. He didn't move. "Legolas, I love you," she whispered. She got up and went to find Gandalf.