Annamariah I thank you for your quick eye at spotting all those typo's, as you can guess their all Winkles fault. And all your wisdom teeth? Ouch! And we cannot give up the end now can we? Or can we really?

Winkle No! No, No, No, No! I cannot allow that to happen. Step away from the key board Snodgrass!

Snodgrass. Never mind then.

NolitariSince we dislike reviewers with voices like horses we have fulfilled your request. I sincerely hope you enjoy this as well. Oh and another review would be nice. (Hint, Hint)

Winkle "Snodgrass you really shouldn't be so obvious about these things!"

Snodgrass "Buzz off!"

Slayer3 Well, you're rather funky aren't you? Did you see the long four minute trailer that just came out, it rocks! I see that calendar around all the time! Poor you!

AraelMoonchildGamling asked Eomer if he could give Barbie a title and that was the title of the Dark Lady of Rohan. Since Eowyn is the White Lady, Barbie is now the dark Lady because she hair and skin are darker in coloring, more olive. And we will keep up the awesome work we cannot help, but do so!

Ty-Kwan-DoDear Ty, when we received your post we both cried. We are very sorry for you and Darafeth's family. We felt like we knew her a little from her reviews and your posts. The night both you wrote we had been stargazing as we normally do, and we saw a beautiful blue and white shooting star. Perhaps it was her, saying good-bye. We're praying for you.

Siriusly Sirius Lily BlackWe are so glad that you had a merry birthday! And the fact that you love Hadrien as much as we do makes everyone happy all around! He will still figure in the story later so you'll want to keep up with it! Luv and kisses!

ZarzI cannot tell you the end can I? No indeed I cannot, at least Winkle won't let me. But I can say that Haldir will appear later, when and where it is not given to me to tell as yet. And if we can we'll try and squeeze in your OC later, perhaps you would like to be in Gondor? I KNOW! You can be one of Prince Imrahil Swan Knights! They kick major..

Winkle "Bottom!"

Snodgrass "Yes, bottom. They are very cool and are of eleven descent so you'll fit right in!"

chelsey-pudgeNo, I am sorry to say that you do not have a romantic interest in this elf. At lest not in this story however you were the envy of many of the other eflleths. I will see what we can do for a romance in another direction if you want, maybe even a mortal! Wouldn't that be fun?

Primevera TookGamling's nephews are a riot! Sweet dreams waft thee to thy rest sweet Primy! And yes we leave tomorrow for the Shire! I can hardly wait, I Haven't had a descent Shire cake in two years! Tee hee hee! Two little wet hobbits! What fun! And as to appearing in the story….you'll have to keep reading because we'll probably do that somewhere along the way. It's not everyday that you have a hobbit OC..I beg your pardon, I mean a real hobbit lass. Kisses!


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Chapter 22 I Cannot Sleep and Skizzarinkdum

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Legolas's POV

I cannot sleep, but whether it is due to simple sleeplessness or drinking, I am unable to know. I taste the odd liquid on my tongue and feel the faint fuzzy tingling in my limbs, but that is all. I have seen that humans do not as they put it "hold" the drink very well, and I am glad that I am one of the Eldar. Gimli however, is sound asleep and snoring so loudly that Gamling and some of his men actually moved him into the hallway so as not to disturb the sleep of the others.

I hope he does not waken Lady Eowyn as she sleeps in the hall curled up like an elfling by the fire her golden hair falling around her much like an elf maids. I have always seen her as a cold and distant young woman, but as she sleeps all the hardness drops away. As she sleeps I see her as a youth, much like Barbara, only fairer in colouring.

Tonight Barbara had shone as a deep emerald, her dark eyes shining with mirth and her step light as I had danced with her. In her green gown she had brought to my mind the thought of my kin that wait for my return to Mirkwood. Her brown braids were elvish and her step sure of our dance from the knowledge that I had unwittingly given her. Where Eowyn was distant Barbara held nothing back and her spirit warmed to those around her, a queenly jewel for the Edain.

I go out to the large stone porch of the Golden Hall and scan the sky, and almost immediately a sense of dread grips me. I see the familiar stars of the evening sky, but something…..something is not right. The chill wind is stirring unnaturally around the city, kicking up the red earth of this land into small whirlwinds, that dance across the road and are gone.

I almost hear a faint sound, a whisper of hatred, and it comes over me in a heavy feeling of tirelessness searching evil. It tries to invade my thoughts, I know not how, and I shake it away drawing my hood over my head, the magic of Galadriel protecting against any evil.

Now I cannot sleep for I must stand guard against the thing that seeks around this hall, searching for some inlet to the mortals that dream inside. I feel alone in this as none of my companions can know the evil that waits outside their doorstep. The horses whinny in fright, for they are sensitive to it as all beasts are. The fires and torches on the porches are blown out by the wind and again the night grows darker.

Suddenly I hear a familiar step behind me and the sound of a pipe being lit. I would know Estel's tread anywhere, I did not watch him grow up not to know his usual walk, the firm and solid slapping down of each foot. I always thought that even his walk proclaimed his kingship and as he comes to my side I feel that I can share with him my concerns. But at first I cannot find the words to explain this burdening weight that rests on me, how can you describe in words the feelings of such as Sauron?

"Something stirs in the East." I finally say, and he nods, I should have guessed that he would feel it too, the pure blood of the Westennesse flows through his veins like the men of old, so I continue, "A sleepless malice, the eye of the enemy is moving."

Again he nods as if he knows already and lowers his pipe and listens, for as the words slip passed my lips the wind rises and then I feel a rush, an overwhelming thrust of hate come over me and I know,

"He is here!" I cry.

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Pippin's POV.

I canna' sleep. With such a thing as a palantir near, I wonder that anyone can. I can feel its presence, in an odd sort of way that I don't really understand. Gandalf, of course, has taken immediate possession of it ( the stuffy old grouch) and has it tucked under one of his arms. He always was a selfish old wizard, that Gandalf, grey or white.

But I'm sure he's quite sound asleep, so this should be easy. I am already halfway across the room, when Merry's voice gives me a dreadful start.

"What you doing?" he whispers furiously.

Before he can stop me, I slip silently to Gandalf's side, and almost cry out in my surprise as I see that his eyes are wide open! But he doesn't say anything, and slowly, I wave my hand in front of his face. Good, he didn't blink or react, he must be sleeping like the elves do. Really, he must be spending altogether together too much time with those creatures.

"Pippin. What, are you mad?" Merry hisses, sitting up in alarm.

"I just want to look at it." I said, gently easing the palantir out from under Gandalf's arm, and quickly replacing it with a handy jug. "Just one more time."

"Put it back!" Merry orders, in an almost desperate tone now.

I will, in a moment, for now I am enjoying the smooth, heavy feel of the palantir in my hands, looking into it's mysterious depths. I fancy, that if I tried, I could almost see the Shire through it.

And then suddenly, something very strange began to happen, a dark, red light seemed to grow, inside of the palantir, sending bolts of odd heat shooting up my arms. Then what seems to be a white explosion flashes before my eyes, and all I can see now is the palantir, flickering with inner flame, burning with an intense heat, but I cannot put it down.

"I see you." a dark voice seems to echo in my mind, and all that is wrong and evil was invading my mind, and I recoiled away from it's presence. The knowledge of what "it" was seemed far away, and very faint, but it was there.

The Eye!

"Who are you? You name, halfling, now!" A surge of agonizing pain is sent ripping through my body, and I cry out in torment, not answering his question. I must not tell him anything, anything.

"What are you doing? What is your place in this, little hobbit?"

The voice is overwhelmingly powerful, filling all my mind, and it is all I can do to keep the images of what has gone on before away from his questing touch. As I resist, his presence grows, and my breath is cut off by the suffocating heat. I can dimly hear someone calling out to me, and I can hear myself screaming, but this connection fades as another question is put to me.

"The Ring, I would know of my ring, who has it, tell me, where is it hidden?" A rage seems unleashed with these words, and the pain grows even more intense, and I wonder how that could be possible.

"Fool, fool, ever hopeful fool. Why even resist me, my work shall all come to pass in good time, all in good time."

As he spoke, visions of the Shire filled my sight, hobbits screaming in fear and pain as orcs stampeded through, slaying all, and everyone, children, women, babies. Even as a hoarse sob is wrenched from my throat, the scene passes away, another taking its place.

Slaves doing the bidding of their orc taskmasters, flinching away from flailing black whips, misery stamped on their starved, hopeless features. But it just wasn't hobbits, it was men, and elves, backs bowed, the starlight fading from the eyes of the elves.

I saw friends, Merry, Frodo, Sam, Gimli, Boromir, Emily, Barbara, Legolas, all of them enslaved, all of them slowly dying under the harsh treatment of their joint master, Sauron.

"My ring, fool!"

"No!" My helpless scream rents the air, as I try to release monster that seems growing, swelling in my hands, the fiery eye coming ever closer, and closer.

Then, of a sudden, the connection snaps, and a merciful blackness sweeps over me.

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Aragorn's POV

I cannot sleep this night, the merriment of the evening has plagued my with memories of my youth and I know that I will not find rest. Even as I watch the people rejoicing over victory I think of the battles ahead. I know the time to reveal myself to Sauron has come, but I dread it as I dread seeing my companions die. Thoughts of Arwen, of Undomiel, haunt my mind as I know that it is for her I fight more than any other.

Seeing Boromir and Emily together bring such a longing in my heart to see her fair face again that I feel a physical pain in my heart. As his eyes follow her movement around the room I wish more than anything that I might for a moment behold my love. As these thoughts come to me the Evenstar warms against my chest and I feel her gentle touch as though she were with me.

Eowyn's dream concerns me, she should never have to bear such a burden. She is too young to withstand the trials of this trouble on her young shoulders. She is strong, but I have seen in glances her fear, her hopelessness. Ah! I feel that I have…I must do something to ease her pain and yet my path does not call me to help only one, but all. My hands are bound to this one task.

At least the night is clear and as yet the shadow of Mordor had not reached this land. The night air is cool, and I welcome it's refreshing touch on my face. But I see Legolas is standing guard and as I reach his side I can almost feel his disquiet. He finally speaks to me of his fear and as I hear it a prick of something runs down my spine.

"He is here!"

Without asking where, I seem to know, we run into the hall and passed the sleeping maid and burst into the room where the others lay resting. There I see young Pippin wrestling with the glowing palantir. His small form is twisting against itself as he screams in pain. Knowing that this will reveal my presence to Sauron I take it away and immediately his overwhelms my senses.

I feel myself weaken as if all my strength were drained away in a moment of time, and I feel hands catch me as a voice whispers in my mind.

"Ah! Isildur's heir, …Elessar!"

And then it is over, I open my eyes and meet those of Legolas as he pulls me to my feet. The Palantir is covered by Gandalf's cloak and all of us turn to see the still form of Pippin lying his eyes unseeing and blank. I would go to him, but my body is still bereft of all strength.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf shouts but the words are checked as he sees the hobbit. He pushes Merry away in his rush to Pippin's aid. He tries to rouse the poor halfling but no response comes, as Legolas helps me toward them I see Gandalf whispering something over Pippin.

With a gasp he opens his eyes and seeing us all around him, his eyes fill with tears and Gandalf speaks to him asking and propping to know what has happened.

"Look at me."

"Gandalf, forgive me!" he says his voice pleading. All of us lean forward afraid of what he will say.

"Look at me, what did you see?"

"...A tree...There was a white tree...in a courtyard of stone...It was dead." He says "The city was burning."

As I hear it a horrible pain wrenches at my heart. A white tree, the sign of my house.

"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?" Gandalf asks his voice urgent. Pippin's eyes overflow with tears and he whispers, "I saw…I saw him!"

"Come Peregrin, what did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?"

Pippin looked back at us and cried.

Later

We gather in the hall around the morning fire and Gandalf explains to Theoden what happened during the watches of the night. Barbara is not here, she went with Eowyn out to the stable. Emily and Boromir sit near the hobbits, and Pippin huddles under her arm for comfort. She looks like a mother with her gentle ways of soothing his fears and building his confidence again. He did not after all reveal the whereabouts of the Ring.

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes." Says Gandalf as he paces, "A fool...but an honest fool he remains."

Emily shoots him a look at is not kindly and I see that he thinks him too harsh, she is not used to our ways.

"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 Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing: He knows the heir of Elendil has come forth." He turns to me and smiles slightly, "Men are not as weak as He supposed; there is courage still. Strength enough perhaps to challenge Him. Sauron fears this."

Theoden pokes the fire and I see the wheels of thought turning in his mind, what will he do?

"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 says and faces me, I know what he will say but I wish I could not hear it. "What do we owe Gondor?"

"I will go." I say, and I will. I will not remain in Rohan while my people suffer death from Sauron, they are my people! "They must be warned!"

"They will be." Gandalf comes to my side and whispers. "You must come to Minas Tirith by other road. Follow the river and look to the Black ships."

Turning to the group he continues, "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith...And I won't be going alone."

I see Pippin swallow and Emily's eye grow large and she holds Pippin closer to her.

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Barbie's POV

This sucks. This so, so sucks.

"Whaddya mean you're going to Gondor?" I asked incredulously.

"Gandalf said he needed me to go with him and Pippin." Emily repeated, shrugging a little.

"But why? I mean, honestly, all there is in Gondor is empty streets and a weird old man! Besides, how is Shadowfax going to carry you as well as Gandalf and Pippin, I don't think he's three-seater."

"Look, Barb." Em said in exasperation "Pigeon can take me there just fine, and "that weird old man" is my father-in-law." Abruptly she shuddered.

"Then why go?" I insisted "You always let people make you do these things, why not stick up for yourself once in a blue moon?"

"Because I'm a wimp. There, you happy?" Emily said, glaring at me.

"No, you're not." I said, and sagged "You're just…too good for your own good."

"And that is supposed to mean…?" Emily looked at me inquiringly.

"Skizzarinkdum."

"What?"

"Skizzarinkdum. It's what you say when you don't know how to tell a disgustingly perfect older sister you're going to miss her like a toothache when she goes on her heroic way to visit with a creepy in-law that ranks right up there with the Adams family." Emily laughed suddenly.

"I can see it now." she said "Denethor the Vampire Steward, complete with pointy teeth and a spiky sofa."

"Yeah." I said, enjoying this image, and adding in a fako German accent "Oh, velcome mine leetle daughter-in-law, velcome to mine home. I hope wery much you like your mattresses hard."

"Barb, that isn't very helpful." Emily sighed. "I am, after all, going to be with this guy for some time. Maybe he won't be so bad."

"Or he wouldn't have had such a dashing, valiant, and loyal son?' I teased.

"Exactly." Emily said "But you forgot brave, strong and handsome."

"Oh, and the part about being a good kisser." I said, wrinkling my nose at her. She swiped at me, and I ducked, laughing.

"You have just never fallen in love and so you know nothing about it." Emily said with an air of superiority.

"Oh, apple seeds." I said, dismissing her ridiculous notion "It doesn't depend on experience, only upon innate knowledge."

"Uh-huh, like you have a lot of that." Emily snorted.

"Lady Emily, we must leave soon." Gandalf said, appearing suddenly, and waving around his white staff ( which, by the way, I think is, like, totally sweet)

"Whatever you old crustacean." I muttered.

"Don't be cheeky young miss, or I'll be obliged to tell Gamling you do not deserve your title of lady." Gandalf said, in a mock-serious tone.

"Please forgive me Father Gandalf." I said, pretending to fall to my knees in repentant sorrow.

"I declare you officially forgiven." Gandalf declared, waving his staff around "Now get up, and say a proper goodbye to your sister, we will be leaving in a few minutes."

"Hurry, hurry, hurry, rush, rush, rush, you want to give yourself ulcers there father?" I said teasingly, though I don't think he knew what I meant.

"Don't be nasty Barb." Emily said, and gave me a quick hug "Bye Barb, I'll miss you."

"Bye Em, and don't do anything naughty when I'm not around."

"I am a married woman you know." Emily said "You should treat me with more respect, or Boromir will have to teach you how."

"Like I'm so scared." I said, rolling my eyes "What's he going to do, hit me over the head with his horn?"

"Hey, that horn could really hurt." Emily said. "Besides he lost it in the Warg attack."

"Well, he wouldn't be allowed to, since I'm a lady of Rohan and"

"And officially declared the mascot of the troops and Gamling." Emily said dryly.

"Exactly. And mascots, are, as you know, very large dogs with very large teeth."

"That's mastiffs, not mascots!"

"Same difference."

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Boromir's POV

"Will this always happen to us Boromir?" Emily asked. She was packing her little bag as I watched her. She looked queenly this morning her sword hanging from her hip and her hair swinging just above her shoulders. I love to watch the light play across her hair as it changes from brown to red as she moves.

"I certainly hope not, but Gandalf thinks you will be safer there." I say as I tighten a strap on her pack for her, I catch her hand and look at it against my own. It's so small and frail, I wonder how she ever swung the keen eleven blade.

"Sometimes I wonder about him." she says her brow wrinkling in a childish manner, and I am reminded how young she is to my forty years. Why did she marry me?

"Now I want you to tell me what I should say to your father when I meet him." She says and sits on a low stool at my feet she hands clasp before her like an eager pupil. I cannot help, but smile at her and she cocks her head to one side and says, "What is so funny?"

"You, you're so odd." I say. She draws back and says, "Oh? Really? Well I know someone who'll be sleeping in the dog house!"

"Doghouse? What in Middle Earth does that mean?" I ask. She smiles sneakily and says, "That means I get the bed all to myself, and you have to sleep with the horses!"

I waste not one moment and swoop down and gather her up in my arms holding her just off the ground so she cannot escape me. "I hardly think that will do Madam, in fact I can tell you it will certainly not do at all. However if you truly wish to know how you should greet my noble father I hope you will be more….teachable."

Pecking on her on the cheek I set her down and say, "The first thing that you will do is to make it know who you are at the gate. Show the guardsmen my ring and once they see it they will admit you. If nothing else they will drag you to my father and claim that you have killed me and demand your death, that should give you a chance to make your case before my father."

"Oh joy! If they don't think you married me they will think I killed you! Like that would ever happen."

II cannot help laughing at this, she has no idea how quickly she could kill me if she knew her power over me. "When you are shown into my father's presence you must make a courtesy to him."

"Do you mean curtsey?"

"Well, yes, but you must lay both hands upon your heart as well, and not look on him until he bids you too."

"Okay, what then? Boromir, I am afraid of your father, a little. What if he dislikes me?"

"He will love you for my sake, as I have told you he long desired my marriage and this will be glad tidings for him. Greet him with love and respect due him and all will be well."

She nods and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, her wedding band flashing in the light. How I will miss her…

"Now if you see Faramir give him my love, he is not loved by our father and being separated this long is hard for both of us. He has no wife to comfort his heart."

"Not yet, but he will." Emily smiles and I gently catch her hand again, "What do you know of this my wife?"

"I am not at liberty to tell you. Just know that he will find great happiness soon, someone who will delight him far more than anything else could."

"Do you know this maiden?" I am puzzled at this, I do not understand the reason she keeps this knowledge from me. "Come Emily tell me, I will not disclose it to any other."

"I love the way your accent grows thicker when your serious." she sighs. "Boromir I am afraid that if I tell you that something could go wrong and stop it from happening. There are many things that I may be able to stop and cannot take the risk of doing."

"You warned the Marchwarden of his potential death." I say flatly and immediately regret it.

She drew herself up and said "Boromir that was a life or death situation, and I felt that I must. I knew he was not to die and I was not about to cause his death because he was to guard me. It wounds me greatly that you think that I hold him greater in my esteem then you."

She comes to me and lays her hands my on chest and my I feel the warmth of her touch against my heart. I take her ringed hand in my own as she speaks.

"I value thee as no other and as long as life is given me I will respect and honor thee above all others. To you I swore my love and not to an elf lord great though he may be. But to my eyes the greatness of the Eldar is counted little for the strength that flows through your veins. I love thee alone, do not doubt my love."

Every word she speaks touches my heart and I tell her so, truly I have wed a noble wife. Youth seems not to have made her any less a queen in my eyes and I know my father will love her as I do. For she is fair…