Once again, I own nothing of Tolkien's wonderful world. double boo.

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Ari stormed through the City, not heeding the angry shouts of the people she mowed over in her rush to get back to her camp.

"Merrill? Where are you?" she snapped as she entered her large tent at the center of the Elvin encampment.

"Lady Ari, what's happened?" her second-in-command jumped up from the table she had been writing at, scattering piles of papers everywhere. "Is everything alright?"

"I knew I should have finished this years ago. I only pray that it's not too late to save us all," she snarled as she dove into a carved oak chest at the back of the tent.

"Who?" Merrill threw her hands in the air as her commander began tossing objects haphazardly from the chest onto the fur-covered floor. "Lady, I'm afraid I don't understand!"

Elentàri rocked back on her heels and glared at her friend in frustration. "Dunèdurian has turned up again, Merrill. This time, he arrives on the eve of battle with 600 horsemen, and Gandalf wishes me to trust him. I feel in my soul that Sauron's attack and Durian's arrival are not by mere chance. I will finish what I should have long ago- his death."

"Lady, please wait. You don't know what may have passed while we were besieged. Gandalf may have helped him in some way. He may have changed."

"Traitors don't change Merrill. Never. We came here to garner aid for Mirkwood, and he shows up. The very man who brought the Darkness into our home and destroyed it. Or did you forget Merrill?"

Her lieutenant took a step back at the venom in her eyes. "I haven't forgotten."

"Then you have become weak." Ari turned back to her trunk, and emerged with a handful of ebony handled daggers and strips of leather. Standing, she strapped two daggers on either arm, and shoved two more into the tops of her boots. Quickly plaiting her hair, she fastened it up with two thin stilettos. Unhooking her scimitar from her belt she replaced it with a fine blade that she found hanging on a camp chair.

"If I don't come back Merrill, you're to look after the troops. Follow Gandalf and Lord Aragorn if he comes, and protect my dolt of a brother, if he ever turns up again. He will be king when this foul war is over, and he will need a sound head amongst the court."

"Ari, please stop for a second. This is certainly not the way to go about this," Merrill protested, pointing to the darkening sky. "The Darkness is spreading. We cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves, not this close to the eve of battle."

"And I cannot suffer to let that man live any longer with the memory fresh in mind that he killed my father and brother." She strode to the tent flap and lifted it before pausing. "Swear to me Merrill that you won't tell Legolas unless the war is over, or I die. He needs to be clear-headed these coming days."

"I swear, my lady."

"You have been a good friend. May the Valar protect you."

Just as she stepped outside the tent, an unearthly shriek rent the skies, followed by a shockwave that sent the Elf sprawling. A whining vacuum followed, then a spiral of green energy flashed up through the sky.

Ari cursed as she struggled to her feet, sensitive ears ringing from the noise. "Merrill?"

"Lady! What's happening?"

"I do not know." She shook her head to clear it, all senses straining towards the revolving pillar of energy. "I fear the worst. Gather the troops, send the archers to the wall. I'm to find Gandalf."

Merrill nodded and flew off, while Ari thrust her way through the crowds to the center of the City.

It took her nearly an hour to reach the garrison, for the streets of Minas Tirith were crowed with anxious citizens frantically trying to find shelter or loved ones. Ari was once again reminded of her intense dislike of cities and crowds in general, longing for the quiet forests of her homeland. Her homeland. The reason she had come to Minas Tirith in the first place. Squaring her shoulders, she left the bustle of the streets for the ruckus of the Gondorian's headquarters.

"Where is Gandalf?" she demanded of the first man she could lay hand on.

"No one has seen him Lady," the man replied breathlessly. Ari released him and he hurried off. Thinking quickly she headed back to the streets and up the levels to the Mithrandir's apartments.

"Gandalf!" she banged on the door urgently. "Gandalf!"

The door swung open, as if of its own accord. Confused, she looked down and smiled. "Pippin, I'm sorry. Is Gandalf in?"

"Yes, but he's headed down to the garrison. Did you see-?"

"That's why I'm here." She did a double take. "Pip? Is that the uniform of the House?"

"They are." He puffed out his chest proudly, then deflated a bit. "Although I am frightened as to what Lord Denethor will have me do."

She knelt until she was face-to-face with him. "Oh Pip, you have been so brave to have come this far. I believe that you have so much that you haven't shown us...your part in this story isn't over yet."

He smiled slightly. "I certainly hope not. I just worry about Merry, and Gandalf, and Lord Aragorn...even you."

"Pip. What does your heart tell you about your cousin?"

"That he is still alive." He said after a pause.

"Then it is certainly so." She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Save your worries Master Pippin. All will be turned right in the end."

"Indeed it shall." Gandalf broke in, from his vantage point leaning against the wall. "Lady Ari."

"The men are frightened, and the people of the City have panicked. What's happening?"

"The worst, I fear. Sauron has woken the Witch King at Minas Morgul. His army marches for us as we speak."

"How long?"

"A day, maybe two."

Ari closed her eyes. "So it begins."

"Do not fear Elentàri. This is not the end."

"Nay, just the beginning." She opened her eyes. "I follow you Gandalf, to whatever end. But now, the men at the garrison and the City need you."

He squeezed her shoulder. "Then I must go. Take care Ari, for in the days to come I feel that we shall not be seeing much of each other."

To her surprise, she felt a lump form in her throat. "Melain berio le." She whispered.

He squeezed her shoulder, then swept out of the room. Pippin hugged her around her middle. "Be careful, my Lady."

"You too, my brave Hobbit. Don't let a Nazgûl carry you off for its supper."

"I won't." he touched the blade at his side. "I'm not going down without a fight."

"May the Valar protect you." She kissed him again. "Good bye Master Pip."

"Elebreth bless you." He gave her a quick smile, and then scampered after Gandalf. Alone in the room, staring at the twisting pillar of power, she felt the cold reality of the situation sink in. Stepping to the balcony, she placed her hands on the cool stone and felt the deep power radiating from it. The City had withstood many assaults, and if she had her way, this one too. As she looked to Minas Morgul, her keen ears picked out the chilling scream of one of the Nazgûl's fell beasts, and it made her blood run cold. Shivering, she had an odd sense of foreboding as the cry came again. Shaking her head at her own frivolity, she turned on a booted heel and headed for the armory.