Chapter Six: Turn for the Worse
After a while, the sounds of the party winding down were heard. Kendra and Legolas also watched as the people of Rohan left the palace to return to their homes. Soon, the night was quiet again. It was several hours later when Aragorn came out to talk to them. Kendra had noticed for a while that Legolas had been becoming more and more uncomfortable, like something was bothering him. She didn't ask him, though, because she soon found out.
Aragorn and Legolas talked a little before Legolas suddenly said, "He is here."
The three raced inside, Kendra suddenly feeling like someone had dumped ice water all over her. They raced to the room where the make shift beds were. They heard shouting coming from inside. It was Merry.
"Help! Gandalf! Someone help him!"
Aragorn was the first in the door. Kendra couldn't see anything at first and then she noticed Pippin. The only reason she noticed him was because Aragorn had gone over and grabbed the smooth, dark ball. Only, it wasn't really dark anymore. It was dark on the fringes but there was an unnatural fire burning within it. As soon as Aragorn had grabbed it, he dropped it and Legolas rushed forward to catch his friend. Gandalf, the minute the ball had touched the ground, had thrown something over it and turned on Pippin.
"Fool of a Took," he said before stopping.
Kendra stood there, not taking her eyes off of Pippin. He lay there, his eyes open and his breathing shallow. She couldn't see anymore as Gandalf stepped in front of her vision then. Before anyone knew it, Pippin was conscious and was being questioned by Gandalf. The conversation was soft, so as not to alarm anyone too greatly. But Kendra could feel the fear radiating off of Pippin.
The next morning found Gandalf, Legolas, Aragorn, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, and Kendra talking to Theoden King. Gandalf was telling what had happened the night before. As he was talking, Pippin and Merry were sitting off to the side, Pippin looking extremely guilty. Kendra was leaning against one of the columns, her eyes darting from the Hobbits to Gandalf, to everyone else in the small group.
"Tell me, why should we ride to aid of those who did not come to ours?" Theoden asked. "Or do we owe Gondor?"
Aragorn suddenly spoke up, "I will go."
Gandalf sharply answered that, "No!"
"They must be warned."
"They will be," Gandalf reassured them.
He went towards Aragorn and spoke softly. Kendra, who was a little further than the others, didn't know what was spoken. Gandalf finished and backed up.
"I ride for Minas Tirith. And I will not be going alone," he said, looking towards the two young Hobbits.
After that, they left the main hall. Gandalf and the Hobbits leaving out the front doors while Theoden left down one of the hallways. Kendra and the rest stayed by the fire for a little while longer. Finally, Aragorn followed Gandalf's path and left out the front door.