Note to You- Ummm, here it is, and I am so very sorry about the long wait. But here it is and I will love you all so very much (in a strictly non-lesbian kind of way if you're a girl) if you review.

Chapter 5: Curiosity Killed the Cat

"Loose one friend, loose all friends, loose yourself."

As Lee finally lay down to go to sleep for the night, she could not shake the nagging feeling the Force was giving her. It was trying to warn her of something. Something was going to go wrong tonight. [I need to stay awake...] Lee thought, even as sleep started to creep into her mind. [Just to make sure nothing happens...that no one does anything stupid...] Her eyes started to close. [No. Must stay awake...] And with that Lee fell into an uneasy sleep that she would later kick herself for falling into.

Peregrin "Pippin" Took had a reputation for being curious. And about 95% of the time, he got in to trouble for being so curious. But this time it was different. When he had picked up that ball, (The Palantir did Gandalf call it?) he had heard something. He thought he heard a voice calling out to him, asking him things, but then Gandalf had taken the Palantir and the voice disappeared. And Gandalf refused to tell him anything about the Palantir and to just leave it alone. And Pippin, for once, had listened

But as the time had passed between journeying from Isengard to Rohan and then having that party when they got there, Pippin kept feeling something tug at him, telling him that one more look at the Palantir wouldn't hurt anything. So Pippin did the only thing that curious people like himself did, he disobeyed Gandalf.

By now, Pippin was standing up in his bedroll. He began to tiptoe across the floor, making sure he didn't make ant unnecessary noise. He crept past Merry, feeling guilty, for Merry had also told Pippin to stay away from the Palantir.

He stopped in front of Gandalf, only pausing to make sure that the Wizard was indeed asleep. [Why doesn't it surprise me that he sleeps with his eyes open?] Pippin thought. He looked around for something to put in the Palantir's place. He spotted a water jug nearby and gently picked it up.

"Pippin?"

[Drat.] Merry had woken up. Pippin ignored him and quickly swapped the water jug and the round black ball wrapped in a blue cloth

"Pippin! Are you mad?!" Merry said in an even louder whisper.

"I just want to look at it! Just one more time..." Pippin whispered back, not even looking at Merry. He slowly took the cloth off of.

"Pt it back!" Merry urged. But Pippin had a weird smile as his fingers touched the stone. "Pippin..." Merry said again. But Pippin's look of satisfaction at touching the stone quickly turned to fear. "No! Pippin!" He said louder.

Lee suddenly sat bolt upright. "Pippin, don't!" she cried.

"Pippin!!!" Merry cried, as Pippin stood up, struggling to let go of the Palantir. It was as if it was glued to his hands. Pippin's face was scrunched up as if it was in pain.

"Help!!! Gandalf!" Lee yelled. Gandalf began to stir.

"Help him! Someone help him!" Merry pleaded.

"I'm going to regret this." Lee muttered. She yanked the ball out of Pippin hands and dropped to her knees, overcome by the Palantir's power. she almost dropped it, but by this time Aragorn and Legolas had ran in and Aragorn saved the ball from being smashed, (which would have REALLY complicated things) but he also fell to his knees. Legolas caught him and the Palantir rolled away.

"Pippin!" Merry scrambled over to his friend worriedly.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf said angrily after wrapping the blue cloth around the Palantir. He went over to Pippin, pushing Merry out of the way. Merry flew aside, knocking into the now sitting up Lee, who, upon contact with the Hobbit, fell over again.

"Thanks." Lee said.

"Sorry." Merry scrambled to his feet again, looking over Gandalf's shoulder.

Lee shook her head only to have a splitting pain rip through it. "Ow." she took a deep breath and the spots in front of her eyes disappeared.

She glanced over at Pippin who was being interrogated by Gandalf, and personally, she didn't want to watch. She had seen people get in trouble millions of times and she never liked watching it. So she decided to go over to where Legolas and Aragorn sat.

"Are you okay?" Lee asked Aragorn, who was sitting up by now, with Legolas crouched beside him.

"Yes. I just have a very bad headache." Aragorn replied. holding his head with two hands.

"Here." Lee lifted his face and put her hand on his forehead. The headache slowly disappeared. Aragorn and Legolas stared at her. She grinned sheepishly. "I was taught how to use my power to heal people back home."

"Your power?" Legolas raised his eyebrows.

"Long story, I'll tell you later," she smiled sweetly. "After all, you are my jailer."

"Your what?"

"Come." Gandalf said suddenly. "We must rouse King Theoden and tell him what has happened."

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool... but an honest fool he remains."

It was early the next morning and they were all in the Golden Hall talking about what had happened only a few hours ago. Well, Gandalf was doing most of the talking and everyone else listened. King Theoden was standing towards the front of the hall, Gandalf a few feet away from him, Aragorn, Legolas, and Lee off to the right and Merry and Pippin off to the left. Pippin was sitting in a chair, not meeting anyone's eyes.

Lee had learned later that Pippin had seen The White Tree of Gondor burning. Which Gandalf said ment that Sauron was going to attack the White City. (which Legolas had told her was Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor.)

"He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantír a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Trirth. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing: He knows the heir of Elendil has come forth." Gandalf glanced at Aragorn and then continued. "Men are not as weak as He supposed; there is courage still. Strength enough perhaps to challenge Him. Sauron fears this."

Everyone stayed silent, knowing there was more.

"He will not risk the peoples of Middle-Earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a King return to the throne of men. If the Beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."

"Tell me, why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?" Theoden said. Lee frowned. She didn't know they whole story of what was going on, but whatever Theoden was saying she had a feeling was not good. "What do we owe Gondor?"

"I will go." Aragorn said quietly.

"No!" Gandalf said rather forcefully.

"They will be." He walked over to where Aragorn stood with Legolas and Lee. He continued more quietly, "You must come to Minas Tirith by other road. Follow the river and look to the Black ships."

He met Aragorn's eyes and then turned back to Theoden and addressed them all. "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone." he said, looking at each of them (including Lee) in turn. "I ride for Minas Tirith." He then looked at Pippin, who looked up. "And I won't be going alone."

"Of all the inquisitive hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry! Hurry!" Gandalf said angrily, walking quickly towards the stable where Shadowfax was held.

Pippin, whose legs were about half the size of Gandalf's was a way behind him, with Merry right on his heels and Lee walking lazily behind them.

"Where are we going?"" Pippin asked.

"Pippin, have you ever heard the phase, 'curiosity killed the cat'?" Lee asked spontaneously.

"No, what's a cat?" He looked at her curiously.

"It's a-never mind. I'll tell you the next time I see you." she shook her head and sighed and then walked away, though it seemed as if neither of the Hobbits noticed.

"Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?!" Merry asked suddenly, looking annoyed and angry, and walked faster to catch up with Gandalf

"I don't know... I can't help it!" Pippin replied, trying to understand what Merry was getting at.

"You never can!" Merry said.

"I'm sorry, all right?!" Pippin said, stopping. "I won't do it again."

Merry turned around to face Pippin, looking the most serious Pippin had ever seen him. "Don't you understand?" he asked, getting impatient. "The enemy thinks you have the Ring!" Pippin stared at him. He lowered his voice ever so slightly. "He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here."

"And y-you're coming with me?" Pippin tried to look Merry in the eye, dreading the answer he would give, but Merry avoided his gaze.

Now to some this kind of a question sounds pretty stupid. some may be thinking, Well "duh" he's not going to be going with Pippin. But to Pippin, Merry not going wouldn't make any sense. Since Merry and Pippin became friends all those years ago when they met at one of those famous Hobbit birthday parties that EVRYONE'S always invited to, they've always been together. (as gay as it sounds) They got in trouble together, (and still do) they drank their first glass of wine together, (they still do that too) they, ahem, learned about "things" together. They were best friends, and in times like these, (meaning the War of the Ring) a friend made most everything seem better. I mean, they had handled the whole getting-mistaken-for-an-Orc-by-an-Ent thing very well. They could handle anything together. That's what friends do, they stand together. But that was together, and now Gandalf was going to split them up. Now what would happen?

Merry didn't say anything, but kept walking. Pippin ran to catch up with him.

"Merry?"

"Come on!" Merry called over his shoulder.

Merry walked into the stables with Pippin on his heels. As soon as they reached Gandalf, he grabbed Pippin and put him on Shadowfax's back, right behind his neck.

"How far is Minas Tirith?"

"Three day's ride as the Nazgûl flies." Gandalf looked up at Pippin, who stared blankly down at him. "And you'd better hope we don't have one of those on our tail..."

Merry stepped closer to Shadowfax. "Here...Something for the road." He said softly, pushing a leather pouch into Pippin's hands.

"The last of the Longbottom Leaf!" Pippin looked at his friend in amazement.

"I know you've run out." He gave Pippin a sad smile. "You smoke too much, Pip.

"B-but we'll see each other soon..." Merry looked over at Gandalf who simply looked back. "Won't we?"

"I don't know." Pippin stared at Merry, confused. [What does he mean? Why wouldn't we see each other again?] Gandalf climbed up behind Pippin. Merry took a few steps back.

"I don't know what's going to happen..." Merry said, his voice wavering. Pippin thought he could see a few teas in his eyes.

"Merry!" Pippin looked a little alarmed.

"Run, Shadowfax." Gandalf said urgently. "Show us the meaning of haste." He dug his heels into the while horses sides.

"Merry!!!" Pippin repeated, louder.

Shadowfax galloped out of the sables, (nearly running over Legolas, but if he had, we'd have no story, would we?)with Merry running after him.

"Merry!" Aragorn called, running after him.

Merry ran up the stairs that led to the watchtower that allowed the Rohan soldiers to look out across the countryside. As Merry reached the top, he found (but really didn't pay attention to) that Lee was standing up there, watching Gandalf and Pippin, (who kept trying to turn around from where he sat.) ride away. Aragorn came up right behind him.

Merry ran to the wall and looked through (a very convenient) hole, completely ignoring the beautiful view and kept his eyes trained of the horse that was running farther and farther away, until he could no longer see it.

He then dropped his face and walked away, his eyes trained on the ground.

Aragorn glanced over at Lee, (who he was now standing next to) and crossed his arms, and stared straight ahead of him.

Lee lowered her face for a moment, picking at the wood wall, (that she, unlike Merry, could see over) and then looked up again.

"So where do you go from here?" She asked him, her voice quiet and soft. She felt bad that Pippin had to leave and Merry was now the only Hobbit here, but she had a feeling that there was a reason why Pippin had gone and that Merry had to stay here for a reason too.

"We wait." Aragorn replied.

"Ah, the hardest thing of all. The safest, but the hardest."

Aragorn nodded, and the two of them faced the countryside once more, staring into the distance, neither saying a word, just staring. Looking for something. They weren't entirely sure what, but it could have been they were looking for some reassurance that everything would once again, be all right.

Author's Note- The quote at the beginning is from the TV show, "Boy Meets World" and I thought it kinda fit since a theme in this chapter is friends separating. Well I thought it fit. I worked on this chapter for a really long time because I wanted to perfect it, so (once again) please, please, PLEASE tell me how I did.

Yours Truly,

Private Lizzie (as if I'm NOT a war commando. Come on people.)