Chapter 11: Celebration

A few days after the battle, everyone was happily back at Edoras celebrating the victorious win over Sarumon. Hermione and Ron watched with smiles as Merry and Pippin danced on top of one of the tables, singing about their favorite bar back home. They had recently been reunited with the two hobbits at Isengard where they had helped the Ents destroy the fortress. Hermione felt Ron slip his hand into hers, and squeeze it ever so slightly. The celebrating went on well into the night.

The men all slept in a room off the side, while Eowyn and Hermione got the Golden Hall. Ron was about to tell Hermione "goodnight", or so she thought. He suddenly grabbed her, and pulled her outside.

"Ron! Where are we going?" she asked, laughing the whole time. They stopped, and looked around. The sky was crystal clear, and mountains surrounded them. "oh, this is amazing," she breathed.

"I know, Legolas told me about the view, and I thought that you might like it," replied Ron. He then pulled her over to a secluded space, and leaned against the wall. Hermione sat between his legs. She closed her eyes, and leaned back against his chest.

"This place makes me feel so small," Ron said quietly. Hermione opened her eyes.

"But not small as in useless you mean, right? I mean, we're going to help Harry in the battle against You-Know-Who, we're going to be pretty important when we get back home," she said.

"If we get back home you mean."

"We'll get back home. I'm sure of it." Ron kissed her neck. She was wearing a beautiful gown, provided by Eowyn. It was a light blue with a silver trim, and a stooping neckline. She wore her hair in a braid down her back, and had on a simple silver chain. It was the chain he had given her when he had asked her out just a few weeks earlier.

"'Mione, could I tell you something?" Hermione shifted slightly.

"Anything," she whispered.

"I don't know if you feel the same way about me, but ever since our first year, I've had more than just a crush on you. I love you, Hermione." Hermione was speechless. She took Ron's face in her heads, and her lips slammed against his in a deeply passionate kiss. Ron pulled away, gasping for air.

"I love you too," she whispered. Ron had a goofy smile on his face. Hermione laughed, and curled up against him.

After a few minutes, he said, "I've been reading that book you gave me. Maybe reading isn't that bad. I actually knew what was going to happen yesterday, but I don't know much more than Pi-"

"Shh…." Hermione ordered, pressing her finger up against his lips. "Listen." Not that far away, they could hear Aragorn and Legolas talking quietly. Suddenly, the pair stopped talking, and rushed inside. "We should wait a minute or two before we go in," she said. Ron nodded.

After a few more minutes, the couple silently slipped inside. Pippin was lying on the floor, talking to Gandalf. He seemed very upset, and nobody knew what to do. When Harry saw Ron and Hermione come inside, he slipped over to where they were standing.

"Where have you two been? Pippin just grabbed that orb, and started to scream. The screaming woke me up," he said quietly.

"We were outside talking. When I heard Aragorn and Legolas rush inside, I knew what was happening, and we decided to wait a minute so we wouldn't get caught up in it. That orb is called a Palantir, and Sauron has one. They're dangerous, maybe even deadly. That's why I told Ron that we should wait," explained Hermione. The trio was so caught up in Pippin that they didn't notice that Legolas had heard what they had been talking about.