4
Aragorn found himself once again staring at the palantir. It sat there, still and impregnable. Its very presence seemed to mock him. He thought to himself, as was common in the past hours. Why would he leave? And there of all places? Certainly he does not seek him! There is nothing there but smoke and ruin. He stopped for a moment, rubbing the stubble on his chin. Why am I trying to convince myself? I said that there's nothing there; I have nothing to worry about. His eyes flashed to the orb again, and he leapt fro, his seat and snatched it from its resting place.
"I do not fear you," he mumbled to himself. He sat back in his chair and put the ball onto the table. He positioned his hands upon it, and immediately they began to tingle. What am I doing? What am I looking for? He looked at the palantir. It stared back without eyes, and spoke with no voice:
"Go on, look! You know in your heart that Legolas goes to doom. So go ahead, prove to yourself that there's nothing to fear!" Aragorn seized the palantir once more. I'll silence you!
His grip turned to stone and the overwhelming sensation consumed him as he seemed to sift through time and terrible images. Sound pounded in his ears, and he shuddered. All he could hear were screams. Screams. Then corpses flooded his head; terrible images of soldiers, lying about, strewn all over. A foul stench came from the carrion that was left for the wild beasts to feast upon. The anguish stole Aragorn's heart. A beating of some sort filled his ears again, and it boomed at him, chanting at him. He saw elves, thousands of them. They were fleeing, but from what he could not tell. He saw elves, and men, being slain. They were cut down like wheat on a good harvest day. Their moans of agony were faint, just above the pounding. There were ships,sailing across the sea. Finally, he saw the real doom: a mass force was being brewed within the confines of the black land. They howled and cackled, beating upon their stout armor. A hateful voice called him. He called and called and called, "Aragorn! Aragorn!" The voice was so horrid that it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The voice suddenly faded into a plea, crying for help. He saw Legolas, and Aragorn cried out in reply. . .
"Aragorn!" cried Arwen. He snapped back into reality and looked at the small group of people that had formed around him. "Aragorn?" she spoke to him and put her hand on his shoulder, he was now on the floor. He loosened his grip on the palantir and it merrily rolled across the floor, but everyone dodged it as if it were a snake, slithering to and fro, waiting for someone on which to bestow a deadly bite. Aragorn leapt up instantly, and ran hastily to his room, grabbing Arwen by the arm and hurrying her along with him. "What is happening?" she asked, a bit frightened of this strange look that had come across his face. He replied rather frantically.
"Legolas is in danger!" he said. "He was right,"
"Right about what?" she asked intently.
"Him,"
"What? What do you mean?"
"He's back! For revenge? Maybe. For destruction? Of course."
"You are not making any sense!" cried Arwen. "What did you see? What did you see that makes you behave this way?"
"No, not only what I saw," said Aragorn, "but what I heard. There were bodies everywhere, men and elves. A massive force grows in secret. The east powers are brewing up a storm that none can withstand! You should have heard the screams! And the howls. . ." he trailed off and shuddered. Suddenly, Arwen calmed herself and embraced him. With a kiss, she said:
"Meliethamin, do not be alarmed." Aragorn looked at hear and raised an eyebrow. She continued, "What you have seen is not what is to come, but what has already been done. Know you nothing of the battle? My father was there, and described it to me just as you have. Have not any fear, for we are safe, and Sauron is defeated." Aragorn walked to the bed and sat down on it. The blankets embraced him. He felt a bit embarrassed. Why hadn't I thought of that? I should know better than to jump to conclusions. He even let out a small chuckle. He sighed.
"Come, let us rest. Legolas will find nothing, and return with nothing, and our quarrel will be over."