**Black Stone**

Merry and Pippin were lying awake, unable to settle down from the days events.  They chatted quietly about Treebeard and their reunion with the fellowship.  But Pippin's mind kept steering his thoughts back to the black stone.

"I wonder what it is," Pippin said.

"Pippin, remember the words of Sam, 'Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards- they are subtle and quick to anger,'" Merry warned.

"I don't want to meddle, I just want another look at it," Pippin said defensively.

"There's no use wishing for what you can't have," Merry said.  "You'll have to wait 'til morning to ask Gandalf about it.  Now go to sleep."

Pippin frowned and grumbled under his breath, but wrapped his cloak around himself and rolled over to try and sleep.

*****

Miranda found herself standing in the midst of a great battle as she had seen in so many dreams before.  Her sword was stained with orc blood, and she searched the horizon for her black enemy. Aragorn and Ẻomer were fighting side by side some yards ahead, and Gimli and Legolas were fighting together a few yards behind her.  Somewhere she saw Haldir and the brothers, but had lost track of them.  She turned her attention back to her search.  The creature was coming for one purpose, she knew too well, and she had to stop it from killing the future.  In the distance she alone could see it, a great giant of a shadow, stalking its prey.  Miranda charged ahead, swinging her sword at any orc that blocked her way.  This was her chance to save him…it was her only purpose in this quest. 

*****

Pippin stared at the stars and thought of the stone.  He could almost feel it in his hands, and every attempt to drive it from his mind failed.  He had to get another look at it.  He glanced at Merry who was peacefully slumbering a few feet away.  Pippin sighed softly as he sat up.  The guards were posted far enough away that he would not draw attention to himself.  He rose and walked softly to where Gandalf lay sleeping.  He held his breath and stepped close enough to see the bundle in the crook of his arm.  He stooped down, took the stone, and crept away.  Suddenly the fear of discovery overcame him and he found a large rock, wrapped it in the cloth that covered the black stone, and placed it beside Gandalf. 

Satisfied that the plan would work, Pippin returned to the pilfered stone and knelt beside it.  He sat like a child with a new toy, all giddy with excitement as he lifted the stone into his lap and gazed into it.  It was smooth and shiny, and he could see the moon and stars reflected on its surface, but then there was a faint red glow in its center.  The glow brightened and filled the stone, and Pippin felt himself drawn closer and closer until his nose was nearly touching it.  Then the stone went black again, and Pippin was frozen in place, unable to pull away.  His eyes grew huge, and he muttered to himself…

*****

Miranda had finally reached the shadow, and gave it two respectable slashes with her sword when her dream went black.  She felt a sudden chill wrap around her like a great hand clasping her and squeezing.  She looked up and saw Pippin sitting in a great bonfire, holding the stone.

"No," Miranda said in shock.  "Pippin, no!"  Miranda ran to him and wrenched him away from the stone. Pippin collapsed on the ground as the flames disappeared, but Miranda was suddenly confronted by the great eye.  She was suddenly on fire, and the pain was beyond comprehension.

"No! Go away!" she screamed. 

And then everything went black...

Pippin shrieked, and collapsed, effectively waking everyone in camp.  A moment later, Miranda screamed.

"So this is the thief," Gandalf said as he wrapped the stone in a cloth and tucked it in his cloak.  He looked at Aragorn and said, "Look after Miranda; I'll be there in a moment."

Aragorn nodded and went to her, though she was already well tended.  Ẻomer and Haldir were kneeling on either side of her.  She was still asleep, or unconscious, but her face was drawn into an expression of great pain.

"Pippin, what mischief have you done to yourself, and Miranda?" Gandalf asked as he knelt over the limp hobbit.  He checked his breathing and touched his head, and suddenly Pippin sat up.

"It is not for you, Saruman!" he said in a harsh voice.  "I'll send for it at once."  Then he squirmed and struggled to get away, but Gandalf held him firmly.

"Peregrin Took," Gandalf said authoritatively, "Come back!"

Pippin collapsed and cried, "Gandalf! I'm so sorry, forgive me."

"Forgive you for what?" Gandalf asked.  "What have you done?"

"I took the ball and looked at it, and I saw horrible things," Pippin said.  "And then he came and questioned me. He was looking at me, and I could not get away, until the angel came.  That is all I remember."

"What did you see and what did you say?" Gandalf asked sternly.

Pippin visibly cringed as he squeezed his eyes shut and did not answer.  Everyone stared at him in silence, but Merry turned away.  Gandalf just looked into his face with a hard expression and said, "Speak!"

Pippin spoke in a soft voice that cracked with fear, "I saw a dark sky and battlements.  There were things with wings flying around the battlements.  They looked like bats, and I think there were nine of them.  One of them started flying towards me, and then he came.  He did not speak, but I understood."

"'So you have come back?' he said. 'Why have you not reported for so long?' When I did not answer, he asked, 'Who are you?'  I did not answer, but it hurt me terribly, so I said, 'A Hobbit.'  Then he saw me and laughed at me.  He said we would meet again soon and that I should tell Saruman that I was not for him, but that he would send for me at once."

"Then he was gloating, and I thought I would die in the fire.  It was burning, but a beautiful bright light came and grabbed me away from it, and shouted for it to go away.  That is all I remember."

Gandalf looked deeply into his eyes, and then finally sighed and released him.  "Very well," Gandalf said.  "You were not harmed, and there is no lie in you.  You were fortunate he did not hold you long, thanks, I believe, to Miranda.  The next time your palms itch, tell me."

Pippin shuddered and cringed with guilt, and Gandalf's expression softened.

"Be at peace, Pippin.  I forgive you," Gandalf said.  "Lie there and rest.  I will look to Miranda."

Gandalf rose, and told Merry to stay with him, and then he went over to Miranda.  She was surrounded by her friends, which was no surprise, and he just motioned for them to stand aside.  He knelt beside her and spoke.

"Miranda, wake up," Gandalf said.

Miranda squirmed and mumbled softly, "No, go away.  You can't have him, go away."

Gandalf spoke again, more firmly, "Miranda!"

Her eyes flew open and she looked at Gandalf in shock.  "He saw me, Gandalf, he saw me."

"I know, child.  Tell me what happened," Gandalf said.

Miranda looked nervously at the expectant faces around her.  She looked back at Gandalf's patient expression and said, "Do I have to?"

"Yes," Gandalf said.  "It could be very important."

Miranda sighed and sat up.  She stared straight ahead as if off into the distance and began, "I was standing in vast darkness and I saw Pippin was captive to the stone, surrounded by fire.  I ran to him and pulled him away from it, and the fire went out, but the eye came.  Then he spoke to me."  Miranda's breath caught in her throat and she stopped.

Gandalf waited patiently for her to continue.

"He demanded that I tell him who I was, but I refused.  Then I was on fire, and it…was very…painful," she said softly.  "But I still didn't answer.  I just screamed for him to go away, and the fire went out and everything went black." She paused and looked at Gandalf, "Is Pippin alright?"

Gandalf looked at Miranda with a smile.  "Pippin will be fine."

Miranda gave Gandalf a weak smile, and lay back down.

"Rest now," Gandalf said.  "You've been battling darkness when you should have been sleeping."  Gandalf stood and everyone went back to the campfire to talk.  Only Ẻomer stayed behind to watch over Miranda.  

*****

"Well?" Aragorn asked.

"Pippin will be fine," Gandalf said.  "In a few days he won't remember what he saw."

"And Miranda?" Théoden asked from across the fire.

"She is unharmed, though the experience was terrifying for her," Gandalf said.  "She is very strong, and no doubt surprised him.  She will recover."

Gandalf paused and looked at Aragorn.  "Will you take the Orthanc stone and guard it?  It is a dangerous charge."

"Dangerous, yes," Aragorn agreed, "but not to all.  There is one who may claim it by right, for this is surely the palantír of Orthanc from the treasury of Elendil, set here by the Kings of Gondor.  Now my hour draws near, I will take it."

Gandalf looked at Aragorn, and bowed as he presented the stone to him, to the surprise of everyone. "Receive it, lord," Gandalf said.  "But if I may council you on the use of your own, do not use it…yet."

"When have I ever been hasty, or rejected your council?" Aragorn asked.

"Never," Gandalf conceded.  "See that you do not stumble at the end of the road.  And keep this secret, all of you.  It would not do for Pippin to know where it is kept, in case the stone calls him again."  Then Gandalf looked at Aragorn and added softly, "When the time comes to use it, take care to give a little distance between you and Miranda.  She does not need to confront him again."

Aragorn nodded his understanding and put the stone away in his pack.

"This may yet turn to our advantage," Gandalf said.  "The dark lord will think the stone is still in Isengard, and that a hobbit is captive there.  It will be some time before he learns his mistake.  We must use that time to get farther from Isengard.  I will ride ahead with Pippin at once."

"I will keep Ẻomer and ten riders with me and leave at first light," Théoden said.  "The rest may go with Aragorn when they choose."

"As you like," Gandalf said.  "But make all speed to cover the distance to Helm's Deep."

*****

Miranda couldn't sleep, and finally opened her eyes and sat up.  She realized someone was sitting beside her, and she gasped in surprise.

"It is only me, lady, Ẻomer," he said.  "Gandalf said you should rest."

"I can't sleep," Miranda said in annoyance.  "I see only nightmares when I close my eyes."

"Has it always been like that for you?" Ẻomer asked with concern.

"No," Miranda said.  "I used to be like everyone else, I don't know what happened to make the dreams start."

"Gandalf said it is a gift," Ẻomer said.

"Gandalf can sleep at night," Miranda said with a smirk.  "So can you, lord Ẻomer.  Don't waste your rest talking to me; we will be riding hard tomorrow."

"My name is just Ẻomer," he said.  "And time spent with you is not wasted.  Besides," he added humorously, "I am a rider of Rohan.  I was practically born on a horse."

Miranda smiled at his comment, and Ẻomer felt a knot in his throat.

"My lady, you should smile more often," he said seriously.  "You are very beautiful when you smile."

Miranda blushed at his compliment and turned away, "I smile often enough."

"No," Ẻomer said sadly, "You don't.  And I would slay every orc in Middle earth to see that smile."

Miranda turned to look at him in surprise.  His expression was serious, and there was a twinkle of moonlight reflected in his eyes.  She opened her mouth to speak, but he gently placed his finger on her lips to stop her.

"There is nothing you need to say," he said.  "Perhaps now, you know how I feel about you, Miranda."  He moved his finger from her lips and gently touched her cheek.  Then he smiled.  "Try to rest," he said and left.

Miranda watched him go, still in shock.  Ẻomer?  He barely knows me, and I barely know him, she thought.  She turned away from the campfire and looked up at the moon.  When had everything become so complicated?

*****

Suddenly, there was a great shadow that passed over the moon, and Miranda sprang to her feet and ran to the campfire.

"It's coming!" she said to Gandalf. 

Gandalf looked to the sky and nodded in agreement, "Nazgul!  The messengers of Mordor have crossed the river," Gandalf said.  "We cannot wait for the dawn, ride now.  Hurry!"

Gandalf called for Shadowfax, and went over to Pippin.  "Come, you ride with me," Gandalf said as he slung his bag over his shoulders and mounted Shadowfax.  Aragorn lifted Pippin up to him, and Gandalf bid them farewell.

"Follow quickly," Gandalf said. "Away Shadowfax!"  And Gandalf was off, as swift as the wind.

Miranda watched him go and sighed.  "Well, I can't sleep anyway," she said to herself.  "We might as well be on our way."

Aragorn heard her comment and asked, "Are you alright?"

Miranda frowned at his concern, provoking laughs from Legolas and Gimli.

"The lad will never learn," Gimli said humorously.  "The lady can take care of herself."

Legolas just shrugged off the dwarf's humor and walked over to Miranda, "You know, its all right to let your friends worry about you a little," he said quietly.  "We won't think any less of you for being tired after what happened."

Miranda smiled at her friends and said, "I know, but right now there are more important things to worry about."

"Quite right," Théoden said.  "We'll ride to Helm's Deep tonight under cover of darkness."

They broke camp, and Miranda gathered up her blanket to prepare to go.  Haldir led her horse over to her, and she smiled when she saw him.

"I won't make the mistake of asking if you are well," Haldir said.  "But I was concerned for you."

"I do not need to be fussed over, Haldir," Miranda said as she mounted Tempest.  "You ought to know me better than that by now."

"No, my lady," Haldir said.  "I have been in your company for a while now, and I find I know very little about you."

"Well," Miranda said slowly, "there's not much to tell, and now's not the time."  She gave Tempest a gentle kick in his side and headed to where everyone was gathering to ride out.

Haldir mounted his own horse with a frown on his face.  "I think there is more to tell than you think," he said to himself.

When everyone was ready they headed out with Théoden and Aragorn in the lead.  It was a long ride, and they wanted to cover the distance before dawn.  Miranda leaned forward and hung on to Tempest's mane.  The wind bit coolly into her face and she smiled to herself as they galloped over the hills to Helm's Deep.