Hello all! So sorry this took until April, but like I said last time, I had
too much to worry about with my school work. I hope you enjoy this next
chapter!!!
One Ring to Bring Them All****
Needless to say, Gimli refused to speak to Aragorn, Legolas, and Usagi during the entire ride to Edoras. Merry had been quite surprised, but he HAD spoken to Usagi. Two hours later, nearing evening, the party of 25 dismounted and greeted the surprised but happy Eowyn. Sighing, Usagi looked around sadly.
"Usagi, Eowyn just said dinner will be served soon." Merry's voice broke her reverie.
"Thank you Merry." Usagi replied, still gazing across the plain.
"I'm scared too, you know...we don't know what will happen anymore, do we? I miss Pippin, and Gandalf was a great comfort. But I made a promise to Merry. Whether the battle goes well or ill, we will see our home again. And so will you."
"How did you get so smart?" Usagi asked wryly, smiling down at him.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "Let's go eat! I'm hungry!"
********
In the meantime, Gandalf and Pippin had passed into Gondor, and were just coming into sight of Minas Tirith, the city of kings. Gulping, Pippin couldn't help but feel even more outlandish. Many people were murmuring and pointing, and he couldn't help but be very uncomfortable.
"Gandalf...why are they all staring at me?"
"Because they've only heard of hobbits in their children's stories." Gandalf replied, slowing Shadowfax to give the password at the gate of the second entrance. "Do not speak openly again until we are in the privacy of our quarters, you understand?"
Pippin could only nod as the sight of the pool from his encounter with the palantir came in view.
********
The Rohirrim had ridden hard until they'd reached the rallying place. (AN: can't remember the name, help?) Eomer, Theoden, and all the other leaders of the Rohirrim had gathered to discuss how many men had come.
"This is not enough." Eomer sighed.
"No, but we can still make them a battle. And with the coming of Aragorn from the Paths of the Dead, our fortunes may well improve." Theoden replied.
A murmur ran through the men assembled. "You would trust that Aragorn will return?"
"He has helped us this far, and he would not have left if there was no need." Theoden replied.
********
Aragorn turned suddenly, hearing footsteps behind him. Instead of Legolas or Usagi, he saw Eowyn, with a large goblet in her hands.
"This is the cup of parting. I bid you drink it and return in good health." She spoke softly.
Sighing, he nodded and took a deep drink of the richly flavored liquid. "Eowyn..."
"When you return, will you return to the walls of Edoras?"
He hadn't expected her to speak so plainly. Sighing, he shook his head. "Eowyn, you love but a thought and a shadow. I cannot give you what you seek....My heart is given to another."
Eowyn took a step back, her eyes filling with tears. Shaking her head, she turned and ran, leaving Aragorn alone with his newfound guilt.
"It was not your fault." Halbarad stepped from the shadows. "You are promised to Arwen, and followed your heart. Eowyn will, in time, forgive you, and move on."
"I just fear it will not be soon enough."
"You have done what you must. Lord, we are ready to ride." Nodding, Aragorn mounted Brego.
As Usagi, Legolas, Merry, and Gimli approached him, he searched the crowd of Rohirrim preparing for war for Eowyn's eyes. Not seeing them, he sadly looked to Usagi. She smiled softly at him before fingering the chain that now adorned her neck. A large gold ring-a forgery of the One-was on her neck, and she wasn't used to the weight of it. It seemed as though she was holding the true One Ring, and that sudden burden burned on her soul. The glaive was once again covered with the wrapping Setsuna had provided Galadriel.
Nodding his thanks to the Rohirrim, he spurred Brego into a trot.
********
It had come to here. The Paths of the Dead loomed before them, causing Gimli to feel cold to the bone. Dismounting, many of the horses and riders gazed at the doorway with fear. Usagi stood near Aragorn, breathing lightly.
"Do you fear the death within these walls?" Aragorn asked quietly.
Usagi shook her head. "I do not understand it, but it seems to calm me. Perhaps because of our deception, Saturn is keeping my fear at bay."
Legolas-who had been listening-nodded in understanding. "It is too late to turn back now. Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breath, Usagi unconsciously took his hand and took a step behind Aragorn. "Let's go."
Most of the horses had to be blindfolded first, but they were so loyal to their masters they followed with little protest. Legolas had calmed his and Usagi's horses with soothing Elvish. All had walked into the doorway...all except Gimli. Suddenly feeling ashamed, he took a step forward, and felt the cold tug at his heart more than ever. 'At least none of the Hobbits are here for this,' was his only thought as the world became muted greys.
********
They had passed through the Paths, unknowing of the fact that as they traveled, Pippin was swearing his loyalty to Gondor. Unknowing of the fact that Theoden stood surveying the meager 6,000 troops that had been gathered. Unknowing of the fact that the siege of Gondor had almost begun.
And through it all, each of the riders had similar thoughts.
'What will happen if we fail?' Legolas
'At what cost will we win? Will we win at all?' Aragorn
'Why have we been chosen?' Gimli
'In the name of justice, those that oppress and hurt carelessly shall be punished...but will the ideal of justice be enough?' Usagi
'If we do not win this battle, all will be lost.' Theoden
'We will see our home again.' Merry and Pippin
'The Ring grows ever heavier...' Frodo
'I only wish to see the Shire and Rosie Cotton once more...' Sam
'How could we afford to lose?' Was the last thought on everyone's minds...'How can we continue with this effort?'
********
END
Well, how was it? I hope you've enjoyed it, and I'm sorry it's kind of short! PLEASE read and review...no reviews, no chapters, get it?
One Ring to Bring Them All****
Needless to say, Gimli refused to speak to Aragorn, Legolas, and Usagi during the entire ride to Edoras. Merry had been quite surprised, but he HAD spoken to Usagi. Two hours later, nearing evening, the party of 25 dismounted and greeted the surprised but happy Eowyn. Sighing, Usagi looked around sadly.
"Usagi, Eowyn just said dinner will be served soon." Merry's voice broke her reverie.
"Thank you Merry." Usagi replied, still gazing across the plain.
"I'm scared too, you know...we don't know what will happen anymore, do we? I miss Pippin, and Gandalf was a great comfort. But I made a promise to Merry. Whether the battle goes well or ill, we will see our home again. And so will you."
"How did you get so smart?" Usagi asked wryly, smiling down at him.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "Let's go eat! I'm hungry!"
********
In the meantime, Gandalf and Pippin had passed into Gondor, and were just coming into sight of Minas Tirith, the city of kings. Gulping, Pippin couldn't help but feel even more outlandish. Many people were murmuring and pointing, and he couldn't help but be very uncomfortable.
"Gandalf...why are they all staring at me?"
"Because they've only heard of hobbits in their children's stories." Gandalf replied, slowing Shadowfax to give the password at the gate of the second entrance. "Do not speak openly again until we are in the privacy of our quarters, you understand?"
Pippin could only nod as the sight of the pool from his encounter with the palantir came in view.
********
The Rohirrim had ridden hard until they'd reached the rallying place. (AN: can't remember the name, help?) Eomer, Theoden, and all the other leaders of the Rohirrim had gathered to discuss how many men had come.
"This is not enough." Eomer sighed.
"No, but we can still make them a battle. And with the coming of Aragorn from the Paths of the Dead, our fortunes may well improve." Theoden replied.
A murmur ran through the men assembled. "You would trust that Aragorn will return?"
"He has helped us this far, and he would not have left if there was no need." Theoden replied.
********
Aragorn turned suddenly, hearing footsteps behind him. Instead of Legolas or Usagi, he saw Eowyn, with a large goblet in her hands.
"This is the cup of parting. I bid you drink it and return in good health." She spoke softly.
Sighing, he nodded and took a deep drink of the richly flavored liquid. "Eowyn..."
"When you return, will you return to the walls of Edoras?"
He hadn't expected her to speak so plainly. Sighing, he shook his head. "Eowyn, you love but a thought and a shadow. I cannot give you what you seek....My heart is given to another."
Eowyn took a step back, her eyes filling with tears. Shaking her head, she turned and ran, leaving Aragorn alone with his newfound guilt.
"It was not your fault." Halbarad stepped from the shadows. "You are promised to Arwen, and followed your heart. Eowyn will, in time, forgive you, and move on."
"I just fear it will not be soon enough."
"You have done what you must. Lord, we are ready to ride." Nodding, Aragorn mounted Brego.
As Usagi, Legolas, Merry, and Gimli approached him, he searched the crowd of Rohirrim preparing for war for Eowyn's eyes. Not seeing them, he sadly looked to Usagi. She smiled softly at him before fingering the chain that now adorned her neck. A large gold ring-a forgery of the One-was on her neck, and she wasn't used to the weight of it. It seemed as though she was holding the true One Ring, and that sudden burden burned on her soul. The glaive was once again covered with the wrapping Setsuna had provided Galadriel.
Nodding his thanks to the Rohirrim, he spurred Brego into a trot.
********
It had come to here. The Paths of the Dead loomed before them, causing Gimli to feel cold to the bone. Dismounting, many of the horses and riders gazed at the doorway with fear. Usagi stood near Aragorn, breathing lightly.
"Do you fear the death within these walls?" Aragorn asked quietly.
Usagi shook her head. "I do not understand it, but it seems to calm me. Perhaps because of our deception, Saturn is keeping my fear at bay."
Legolas-who had been listening-nodded in understanding. "It is too late to turn back now. Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breath, Usagi unconsciously took his hand and took a step behind Aragorn. "Let's go."
Most of the horses had to be blindfolded first, but they were so loyal to their masters they followed with little protest. Legolas had calmed his and Usagi's horses with soothing Elvish. All had walked into the doorway...all except Gimli. Suddenly feeling ashamed, he took a step forward, and felt the cold tug at his heart more than ever. 'At least none of the Hobbits are here for this,' was his only thought as the world became muted greys.
********
They had passed through the Paths, unknowing of the fact that as they traveled, Pippin was swearing his loyalty to Gondor. Unknowing of the fact that Theoden stood surveying the meager 6,000 troops that had been gathered. Unknowing of the fact that the siege of Gondor had almost begun.
And through it all, each of the riders had similar thoughts.
'What will happen if we fail?' Legolas
'At what cost will we win? Will we win at all?' Aragorn
'Why have we been chosen?' Gimli
'In the name of justice, those that oppress and hurt carelessly shall be punished...but will the ideal of justice be enough?' Usagi
'If we do not win this battle, all will be lost.' Theoden
'We will see our home again.' Merry and Pippin
'The Ring grows ever heavier...' Frodo
'I only wish to see the Shire and Rosie Cotton once more...' Sam
'How could we afford to lose?' Was the last thought on everyone's minds...'How can we continue with this effort?'
********
END
Well, how was it? I hope you've enjoyed it, and I'm sorry it's kind of short! PLEASE read and review...no reviews, no chapters, get it?