From now on, anything in parentheses (words) means it's in Elvish.
Captured in a Dream
Chapter 29
Last Chapter:
Ailish just shook her head, laughing. The men all nodded in understanding, as Eomer rubbed his cheek.
"You didn't have to kiss my cheek to demonstrate you know. You could have kissed Alejandro for all I cared!"
The group laughed, as both Eowyn and Alejandro looked at each other, then looked away, blushing.
"I know you would have rather Alejandra kiss you, am I right?" Eowyn snapped, eyebrows raise.
Both Eomer and Alejandra blushed, but Eomer smirked. "I already got my kiss from her."
Ailish looked at Alejandra, eyebrows raise. Alejandra only looked away, swaying back and forth on her heels, her hands behind her back.
"Don't play innocent with me!" Ailish told her.
The night went on with stories, laughing, crying, and happiness, until Theoden King decided to call it a night. Everyone went back home, or to the room Theoden let them stay in for the night.
As everyone went off to bed, Ailish and Damon were out in the dark corner fo the throne room, as Eowyn slept on a Roman/Greek-looking chair.
"What happened to you Damon?" Ailish whispered, putting her head on her arms, which were crossed on top of the table.
Damon pushed away a few strands of hair away from her face, tilting his head to the side. He only stared at his baby sister, searching the right words to explain. But none came to mind.
Damon shook his head, "I-uh, I can't really explain it." He whispered back.
"Why not?"
Damon smiled at Ailish's curiosity. "You are so much like our mother." Ailish's vision blurred with tears that threaten to fall down her cheeks. "Same emerald eyes, light brown hair. But you have our father's skin color, his sense of humor, his smile, and his mysterious ways of handling things, or anyone."
Ailish smiled a watery smile, choking back a sob. She sniffed, coughing lightly. Damon wiped away the tears, frowning at his sisters reaction.
"I never knew our mother because she died while giving birth to me."
Damon nodded, "yes, I remembered."
"And our father died three years ago, when a Uruk-hai some how ended up in our world. Our time."
Damon smiled sadly, "yes, Alejandra and Alejandro told me."
Ailish nodded, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. "I miss him so much!" Ailish choked out. "I felt so alone, even with my best friend and her cousins with me. I still felt alone, without any family there. At least Alejandra had her cousins."
Damon sighed and stood up. He walked around the table and sat next to Ailish, and nudged her to sit up. Ailish did so and leaned against her brother, crying onto his shoulder, trying to muffled the sobs as to not wake Eowyn up. Damon hugged her closed to him, rocking back and forth.
Aragorn walks around the sleeping men, holding his pipe in his hands. He walks out the door, not noticing that Pippin was wide awake, along with Alejandra, who had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach once more. Aragorn walked down the throne, noticing Eowyn's figure on the chair. He walked up to the fire in the middle of the throne room, kneeling in front of it. He took the poker and moved the dying embers around. Aragorn looks over Eowyn to see her shoulder and feet bare of the furred cloak she wore.
He walked over to her, covered her feet and her shoulder. Though, before he can leave, Eowyn's whispered voice fills the throne.
"What time is it?"
Aragorn smiles slightly. "Not yet dawn."
Aragorn turns to leave, but Eowyn grabs his hand, her eyes slightly open. Aragorn turns his head to her.
"I dreamed I saw a great wave climbing over green lands and above hills. I stood upon the brink. It was utterly dark in the abyss before my feet."
Aragorn puts his right hand on the one Eowyn was holding his left, kneeling down before her, frowning.
"A light shone behind me," Eowyn looks over to Aragorn afraid. "But I could not turn. I could only stand there, waiting." A single tear falls down her cheek.
"Night changes many thoughts. Sleep, Eowyn. Sleep," Eowyn closes her eyes, bring her hand, with both of Aragorn's closer to her. "While you can." Aragorn pats her hand, taking his hands away from her grip slowly.
Aragorn stands and continues to walk towards the entrance, when he caught the movement of Damon rocking back and forth with Ailish. He walked over to them, frowning.
"Is everything all right?" He whispered, looking down to Ailish's sleeping form, her face now streaked with dried tears.
"Yes. We were just only talking of the past. Nothing more."
Aragorn nodded in understanding, and proceeded to walk out into the night air. He put his pipe into his mouth, looking for something to light it. He looks to the right, then to the left, seeing a hooded figure, knowing full well that it was Legolas. Aragorn walks towards him, looking straight ahead.
Legolas blinks, sensing Aragorn behind him. "The stars are veiled." Aragorn stood next to him. "Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice."
They both looked at each other, then straight ahead once more, as Legolas continues.
"The Eye of the enemy is moving."
–Inside the room-
Pippin tossed and turned on his makeshift bed, not able to sleep. Having enough of the curiosity steering inside him, Pippin pulls the sheets off of him, standing up. He walks towards Gandalf, who was asleep over to the far right. Unknown to him, Alejandra watched him with narrowed eyes, trying to remember what is about to happen at that moment.
"What are you doing?" Merry whispered, sitting up.
Pippin gasps, turning around in fright. Pippin only stares at his cousin, walking backwards. He turns sharply, only to jump back as Gandalf had his eyes open, still asleep in a deep slumber.
"Pippin!"
Pippin continues to ignore his cousin and moves forward. He moves his right hand in front of Gandalf's face. Standing up straight, Pippin looks around and picks up an empty pitcher, getting ready to switch it with the Palantir. But before he can do anything, Gandalf starts to mumbled in his sleep, loosening his grip lightly. Pippin takes a deep breath and quickly grabs the wrapped Palantir, putting the pitcher in it's place.
"Pippin." Merry asks confused and afraid.
Pippin moves away from Gandalf and over to Merry.
"What, are you mad?"
"I just want to look at it." Pippin defends himself, going on his knees. He starts to unwrap the Palantir. "Just one more time." Pippin whispers.
"Put it back." Merry told him in alarm.
Pippin merely smiles, as he sees the Palantir fully. A fiery red starts to glow in the blackness of the ball. Pippin puts his hands on either side of it, smiling like a mad man. Alejandra frowns, sitting up. She looks down to the floor, searching the memory of what is about to happen, when bits of piece come back to her.
'Do not interfere, Alejandra. Or you will change the outcome of the future.'
Galadriel's voice echoed into Alejandra's head. Alejandra looked up just in time to see something that made her jump up.
The fire gets brighter inside the black ball, as the Eye appears inside, making sure that Pippin was stuck to the Palantir.
"No! Pippin!"
–Outside-
Legolas felt the evil aurora fully hit Rohan. Legolas sharply turns to Aragorn in alarm.
"He is here!"
Legolas runs back inside, Aragorn following him. Damon looks up in alarm, frowning.
"What is the matter?" Damon asks.
"Do not worry. We can handle it." Aragorn tells him, as he followed Legolas
"I see you." Sauron's voice echoed into Pippin's head.
Pippin screamed a silent scream, moving about the middle of the room, the Palantir looking as if it was on fire.
"Pippin!" Merry yells.
"Gandalf! Alejandro!" Alejandra yelled, not knowing what to do.
Everyone in the room sat up in alarm, almost every man taking out their sword or dagger. Pippin moved down to his back, Merry moving to his knees.
"Gandalf, help!" Merry yells over to him, who gets out of his bed.
Legolas and Aragorn run into the room, seeing Pippin on the floor. Aragorn moved over to him and grabs the Palantir. But it was too strong for him, as pain shot up his arm and into his head. He goes on his knees, as Legolas and Alejandro try to help him stay up. But even so, Aragorn falls to his side, the Palantir rolls out of his hands. Merry moves to the side, as Alejandra grabs her blanket and throws it over the Palantir, stopping in it's place.
Merry moves over to Pippin, "Pippin!"
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf yells, turning to Pippin.
But he frowns as he sees the state Pippin was in and runs to him. Legolas looks over to him, as Gandalf shoves Merry to the side, taking Pippin's hand. Alejandra walks over to Aragorn, Alejandro, and Legolas, kneeling in front of Aragorn.
"Are you alright Aragorn?"
Aragorn nods weakly, standing up with the help of Alejandro and Legolas. Men and Elves looked over to the entrance, transfixed to what was happening. Gandalf puts a hand on Pippin's forehead and eyes, closing his own eyes, muttering under his breath. Legolas, Aragorn, and Alejandro move forward, as Gandalf moves his hand to the side, Pippin gasping, looking about the room. Alejandra was about to walk forward, but stopped when a voice appeared in her head, her whole body shaking in fear with the evil that surrounded her, almost suffocating her.
"Alejandra! Good to see you once more! You, your cousin, nor Ailish will live to see the day when Aragorn is crowned king! I made sure to that with my little pawn. Your very own flesh and BLOOD!"
Alejandra gulped the fear down. "What do you want Adam! How can you contact me while you are still in our time!"
"Because the Palantir's are all connected!"
Alejandra stumbled back, as if somebody nearby pushed her as hard as they could have. She looked back over to Gandalf, her arms around herself in protection, trying to stop from shaking.
"Look at me." Gandalf says firmly, yet angrily.
Pippin obeys, and frowns. "Gandalf, forgive me."
Pippin starts to closes his eyes, at the verge of tears.
"Look at me." Gandalf said sharply, Pippin jerking his eyes open, looking at Gandalf. "What did you see?"
Pippin closes his eyes. "A tree." Pippin nods, opening his eyes. "There was a white tree," Gandalf frowns. "In a courtyard of stone." Pippin also frowns, his looking at something he could not see from afar. "It was dead." Gandalf's eyes widen. "The city was burning."
"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?" Gandalf asked almost pleading.
"I saw..." Pippin gasps in fear, tears in his eyes. "I saw him." Gandalf's eyes widen even more. "I could hear his voice in my head."
"And what did you tell him? Speak!"
"He asked me my name." Pippin choked out. "I didn't answer. He hurt me."
"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?" Gandalf asked, the verge of shaking him.
"He told him nothing of it."
Everyone turned to Alejandra, who still didn't stop shaking. Legolas and Alejandro takes a step forward, frowning.
"Alejandra? What's the matter?"
"Sauron believes Pippin has the Ring." Alejandra only looked at Gandalf, not answering to anyone.
Gandalf nodded, seeing the fear, and confused look past before her eyes. Alejandra continued to shake violently, tears running down her pale face. Eomer, who heard the commotion from down the hall, ran into the room. He looked around and saw the state Alejandra was in. Eomer ran to her, crushing her into a hug.
"What has happened here?"
Everyone just looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
That night, no one was able to sleep without the fear of something happening. Eomer stayed with Alejandra that night, as she held a death grip on him. But they still had a few hours of sleep, except Damon, who stayed in the same place with Ailish in his arms all night. Gandalf, stood in front of Theoden, the fire circle in between them, Aragorn, Legolas, Alejandra, Gimli, Alejandro, Ailish, and Damon to the right. On the left, Pippin was sitting on a chair, nervously, as Merry was standing on his left.
"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool," Gandalf said, nodding. "But an honest fool he remains." He looks over to Pippin. "He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing." Gandalf nods at Aragorn, "he knows the heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this." Gandalf looks back to Theoden. "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."
Theoden looks at Gandalf. "Tell me, why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?" Theoden asks calmly, Gandalf, and Damon frowning, as Aragorn tilts his head over to the king. "What do we owe Gondor?" Theoden suddenly turns his attention to the cousins and Ailish. "And you three! If you knew everything that was to happen, why did you not stop it!"
The cousins and Ailish look at each other, then to Theoden, everyone waiting for their answer.
"We, Theoden King, have our reasons of not stopping it!" Alejandro said firmly, not backing down at Theoden's glare.
"And if we would have interfered, the future would have been the death of us all. That is the truth." Alejandra said, fear passing over her eyes, Gandalf the only one seeing this.
"But even so!"
Ailish interrupted him, taking a step forward. "If we stop every single thing from the future, the consequences would be far worse, times three! And if we did stop it, our memories of the future, even though it is very little by now, would not be correct because of the of the correction we made!"
"Someone has to go and warn Gondor of this." Alejandro said, looking around.
"I will go." Aragorn said loudly.
"No!" Gandalf told him sharply. He walks towards Aragorn and whispers. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the black ships." Gandalf turns back around and speaks louder. "Understand this: Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith." Gandalf turns to Pippin, "and I won't be going alone." Pippin looked down.
"No you won't be." Ailish walked over to Gandalf. "I have some important matters to intend there myself."
Gandalf looked at her curiously, as did everyone else in the room. Damon and Alejandra looked at each other, a knowing look.
Damon looked at his sister. "I will be going with you." Ailish was about to protest, but Damon shook his head. "I do not want to part with you no more. Wherever you go, I go."
Gandalf turned to a servant, who was walking past. "Go tell the stable boy to get Ailish and Damon's horses ready to make leave." The servant nodded and hurriedly walked out.
Gandalf walks down the steps and towards the stables, Ailish and Damon behind him, with Merry and Pippin behind them.
"Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst." Gandalf says, looking back to him. He looks straight ahead once more. "Hurry! Hurry!"
Pippin runs to catch up with Merry, whispering to him. "Where are we going?"
"Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?" Merry asks, pissed off.
"I don't know. I can't help it." Pippin says defensively.
"You never can."
Pippin stops, looking hurt. "I'm sorry, all right?"
Merry stops and looks at him, as Ailish and Damon walk past them, and into the stables, where Gandalf disappeared.
"I won't do it again."
"Don't you understand?" Merry asks, walking up to his cousin. "The enemy thinks you have the Ring. He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here."
"And you? You're coming with me?" Pippin asks, but Merry only walks towards the stables. "Merry?"
"Come on!" Merry yells over his shoulder.
Inside, Ailish and Damon saw Gandalf opening the doors to the stall where Shadowfax was being kept. Next to his was Ailish's horse, Mariposa, and next to her's was Damon's from when he rode from Isengard. The two Hobbits walked past them, and into Gandalf's stall, as he picked Pippin up and put him on Shadowfax.
"Are you sure you know how to ride, Damon?" Ailish asked, as she grabbed the reins from the stable boy. "Thank you."
"Dad's amigo taught me when was un nino." Damon said, getting on a brown mare. (... friend... a kid.)
Ailish shrugs and hoists herself up on to the saddle, waiting for Gandalf.
"How far is Minas Tirith?" Pippin asks curiously.
"Three day's ride, as the Nazgul flies. And you better hope we don't have one of those on our tail." Gandalf turns to retrieve his staff.
Merry walks forward, holding a pouch out to Pippin. "Here." Pippin looks at him confused, but takes it. "Something for the road."
"The last of the Longbottom Leaf." Pippin says astonished.
"I know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pippin."
"But-But we'll see each other soon." Pippin says, looking at his cousin.
Merry looks over to Gandalf, who climbs behind Pippin.
"Won't we?" Pippin asks once more.
Ailish and Damon look at each other with a sad expression upon their faces.
"I don't know." Merry tells him, walking backwards. "I don't know what's going to happen."
"Merry."
"Run, Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste."
"Merry!" Pippin yells, as Shadowfax goes into a gallop.
Ailish and Damon kicked their horses just as Gandalf rode past their stalls. Merry runs out of the stables as fast as his small legs can take him. He runs towards the guard tower, running past a soldier, Aragorn right behind him, calling after him.
"Merry!" Aragorn pushes by the soldier, who was getting irritated.
Merry sees the cousins already looking out, as he stops and looks out with them. Aragorn reaches the top and stops, walking to Merry's right, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"He's always followed me, everywhere I went, since before we were tweens. I would get him into the worst sort of trouble, but I was always there to get him out." Aragorn smiles, looking down at him. "Now he's gone." Merry whispers, looking up at Aragorn. "Just like Frodo and Sam."
"One thing I learned about Hobbits: They're a most hardy folk."
"Foolhardy, maybe. He's a Took."
The four of them chuckled softly, as both Merry and Aragorn look forward once more. Merry then gets serious.
"Why didn't you stop it? Maybe then I won't be left alone!"
Alejandra closed her eyes, as Alejandro sighed in irritation.
"Everything happens for a reason, Merry. May it be good or bad." Alejandro tells him, and walks away.
"Sometimes we can't stop it all, for the sake of the lives that depended on it." Alejandra says, looking down at him, who looks back at her. "In this case, everyone's lives depended on it. I can't say for what reason. All I ask is be patient, and watch it unfold. You will understand in time."
And with that, Alejandra turned and left, wanting some time alone. She continued to walk, not knowing where she was going, but she didn't care. All Alejandra could think about was the evil aurora that surrounded her when Adam talked to her, and the fact that she and Alejandro could have stopped Pippin. But knowing the consequence would have been the worst fate Middle-earth have seen since the days of old.
'But now what are we going to do? We're not even looking for a way back home. Just going along with the story of a make-believe world.'
Alejandra bumped into somebody, stumbling back. She felt a pari of arms circle around her waist, stopping her from falling to the ground.
"I'm soo sorry sir!" Alejandra quickly apologized, looking up.
Alejandra blushed in embarrassment at who she ran into, and that the fact he was still holding her. Eomer looked down at Alejandra, concern and amused.
"Alejandra, are you all right?"
Alejandra smiled, shaking her head. "I was just thinking and wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I'm sorry." Alejandra moved out of his grasp, walking once more towards some place alone.
Eomer frowned but followed behind Alejandra. "Would you like to talk about it?"
Alejandra looked to her side, Eomer right next to her. "No, not really." Was her simple answer.
Eomer grabbed her upper arm gently, making them both stop. Alejandra turned to him, stopping the urge to rolling her eyes.
"Alejandra, you need to talk about it." Eomer said softly, yet sternly.
Alejandra frowned sadly, tears forming in her eyes, as her voice was caught in her throat. Not knowing what else to do, Alejandra hugged Eomer, who was caught off guard. Eomer quickly recovered from his shock and hugged back, placing his chin on top of her head. Suddenly, Alejandra pushed back Eomer, and fell to her knees, the pain going throughout her body, as a vision flashed through before her eyes.
"Damn it! Not again."
It wasn't that long that Ailish, Gandalf, Damon, and Pippin rode out of Edoras and towards Gondor to warn the people. Ailish felt a familiar sensation, and knew that a vision was coming her way. Though no pain, nor blacking out came her way.
Arwen was walking down the hall that had the painting of Isildur lying on his back in a desolate wasteland, and the Dark Lord loomed over him with a mace. Isildur had only a broken sword to defend himself. The light that was setting shining towards Arwen.
"From the ashes a fire shall be woken. A light from the shadow shall spring."
Arwen stood in front of an elf maiden holding out a stone tray, which upon it laid the pieces of the broken sword of Isildur.
"Renewed shall be blade that was broken. The crownless again shall be king."
At the other side of the palace, Elrond looked at his daughter, after she has read a passage from a book. Arwen looks up to her father, holding the open book on top of her palms.
"Re-forge the sword." Arwen waited for a reply, but he did not answer. "(Father)."
Elrond turns around and walks away. Arwen sits down, dropping the book to the floor. She touches her fingers to feel them be cold. Elrond turns back around and picks up the book. He grabs his daughter's hand and becomes alarmed.
"Your hands are cold." Elrond puts down the book next to Arwen, and kneels in front of her, grabbing both of her hands. "The life of the Eldar is leaving you." Elrond tells her, looking at her.
"This was my choice. (Father), whether by your will or not, there is no ship now that can bear me hence."
By nightfall, Elrond is out in the balcony, looking over towards two blacksmiths, forging Isildur's sword once more.
"Ailish? Are you all right?" Damon looked to his baby sister worriedly.
"Fine." Ailish said barely above a whispered. "Everything is fine now."
Ailish looked over to her brother and smiled, looking straight ahead. Damon shook his head, not understanding her, and looked straight ahead.
'That man, whoever he is, better not be at this city.' Damon thought, scolding at the thought of a man waiting for his baby sister.
"We've passed into the realm of Gondor!" Gandalf yells to Pippin, Ailish, and Damon.
–Edoras-
Alejandra gasped in pain, clutching her stomach. Her vision and head were foggy, as her senses were all mixed up. Though, she felt a pair of arms on her shoulders, and a voice in a distant calling out to her. Looking up, Alejandra saw an out of focus figure in front of her, moving their lips. She saw the figure stand and pick her up bridal style. Alejandra leaned her head on to their shoulder, feeling the dizziness taking over.
"Why are these damn visions getting worse?" Alejandra asked out loud.
Alejandra soon felt herself being lowered into something soft. The same distant voice called out to her, as she felt whatever she was lying on shift to her left side, feeling something cool upon her forehead. Blinking hard, Alejandra looked above her in a daze, her vision or her head feeling foggy. She then saw Eomer above her, taking the cool cloth off of her forehead.
"Alejandra? Can you hear me?" He asked, putting his hand upon her cheek, caressing her with his thumb.
"Yes. Where am I?"
Eomer sighed in relief, staring down at her. "In my chambers. You fell to the ground in pain. You mumbled something about visions and getting worse."
Alejandra frowned but groaned. "I have visions, of other people in other cities. Or events happening at the same time. It seems that I get them almost every minute, and each time the pain inside me gets worse and worse. I feel like it's starting to take control over me."
"When do you get these visions?"
"It comes unexpected. Some during battles, or when I'm walking, or whenever." Alejandra sat up, sitting against the headboard. "But that's what I hate most, besides the pain. It's when I'm in battle, and I get a vision..." Alejandra trailed off, shaking her head.
"It is dangerous during battle." Eomer said, understanding.
"Yes, and sometimes my cousin, or Legolas is there protecting me. But even so, they can't always be there."
Eomer nodded, playing with a lock of hair that fell out of her ponytail. Alejandra grabbed his hand, making him look at her.
"I must be off." She whispered, slipping off to the right, letting his hand go.
Alejandra quickly walked towards the door, feeling her face heat up. Though, when she reached the door, she felt a pair of arms slide around her, making her jump. She felt Eomer press his body up against her back, leaning his lips down next to her ear, his hot breath giving her shiver down her spine.
"Do not leave yet, please."
Alejandra closed her eyes, "I must. I have to go look for my cousin and Aragorn, to discuss over a few things."
"You will... just not yet." Eomer whispered, kissing her neck.
A knock was then heard, followed by Eowyn's voice. "Eomer? Are you in there?" She opened the door to see Alejandra in front of her with a relief, yet embarrass look upon her face. "Am I disturbing something?" Eowyn asked, smiling.
"No. I was just leaving." Alejandra said, walking past her.
Eowyn frowned, but looked to her brother, a knowing smile upon her face.
Eomer rolled his eyes, "leave me alone Eowyn." He closed the door in her face, making her scoff and walk away.
A/N: I hoped you liked it! Crazycatluver, you better update your story soon! Please review!