Chapter 7

The Palantir

Ruby did not sleep well that night, between her heart ache over her fight with Pippin, and the horrible images that seemed to leap upon her everywhere in her dreams, she could hardly say she found any real rest. Rather, she tossed and turned, kicking out and murmuring in her sleep to the people she loved as she watched them all die in horrifying ways, or simply turn away from her, glaring down as if they couldn't stand the sight of her. The way Pippin had only a few hours before. She wanted to scream, ask for their forgiveness, beg that they wouldn't leave her but nothing more than a whisper could escape her lips and it was always the same. A name. His name. Suddenly her dream shifted and became something altogether different from anything she had ever experienced before.

She jolted upright gasping for breath and found herself looking right at Aragorn, who happened to be staring back at her. "What time is it?" She asked him, her voice little more than a squeak absolutely quivering with fright.

"Not yet dawn." He said, coming over to kneel beside her a look of patient concern in his eyes that nearly moved Ruby to tears. Seeing this he pulled her gently into his arms, much as she was sure he would have any frightened child, and rocked her back and forth as she told him her dream.

"I dreamed I saw a great wave, climbing green lands and above the hills. I stood upon the brink. It was utterly dark in the abyss before my feet. A light shone behind me, but I could not turn. I could only stand there, waiting." She choked the words out, mostly frightened because she had no idea what such a dream could mean: nor did she want to.

"Night changes many thoughts. Sleep little Ruby. Sleep while you can." He told her simply, and she slowly nodded allowing him to withdraw his embrace, and tuck her back safely in her bed where she fell into a light fitful sleep. Aragorn stood there watching her for a moment longer, noticing from the corner of his eye that Pippin was also moving in his bed as if something were troubling him, before standing and exiting the room.

For reasons, he was not quite sure of himself he walked into the room where Éowyn was sleeping by a dimmed fire. He poked the fire with a stick, then turned to fix the blanket on her peaceful form reassured to find her sleeping so well after the trouble with poor Ruby, and left the room. This time he went outside, where he found Legolas staring up at the night sky.

"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice." Legolas told him, turning to face his friend. "The Eye of the Enemy is moving." After a long while of silence Legolas face darkened and he firmly if not ominously declared. "He is here."

~jb~

Meanwhile back in the room, Pippin had found himself completely unable to sleep: not even fitfully like Ruby. Finally, he gave up on all his futile attempts and allowed himself to slip out of bed and creep ever so softly towards Gandalf. It wasn't softly enough however.

"What are you doing?" Merry asked his best friend in a whisper. Pippin was startled by this, whirling to look at the puzzled look on Merry's face, before turning back and looking at Gandalf who found to be staring right back at him! At least so it appeared. He stood there stock still for a moment, afraid to move, but Gandalf made no move whatsoever. He reached forward his hand and waved it in front of The Wizard's face. Gandalf didn't even stir. So, he was asleep! "Pippin? Pippin!" Merry persisted once again causing him to jump, but he did not turn back this time instead reaching for a nearby vase and exchanging it for the wrapped up mysterious ball (which he had since learned was the palantír) in Gandalf's arms.

"Pippin. What are you, mad?" Merry whispered, a little more loudly this time thus waking Ruby who surveyed the situation quickly.

"I just want to look at it. Just one more time." Pippin explained, crawling back to his bed the valuable object held ever so carefully in his arms.

"Put it back!" Ruby cried, her eyes widening with horror as she realized what was about to happen. He only glared at her in response, before smiling down as he held the palantír in his hands. That is until a horrible image appeared, one from which he could not escape. The Eye of Sauron! He lurched in pain, falling to the floor, screeching and writhing as he did so.

"Pippin! No! Pippin!" Ruby screamed, pushing herself up onto her knees as she gazed helplessly at the Hobbit she loved.

"I see you…" The voice of Sauron hissed in Pippin's head, as he shrieked at the torture to which he was being subjected as the voice asked question after question most of which he simply did not know the answer to.

"Pippin! Help! Gandalf, help! Someone help him!" Merry shouted succeeding in waking the Wizard, as Ruby found herself bolting to her feet and ripping the palantír out of her dear friend's hands releasing him from whatever torture it had been inflicting instantly feeling a wave of burning pain flow into her as she did so.

Immediately the Eye of Sauron appeared in her own mind's eye and she could not only hear, but feel his voice tearing through her whole body just as the ball slipped through her fingers and onto the floor, shouting, "Foolish girl! You cannot stop me! I will have him! He is mine!" She collapsed to the ground heaving from both uncontrollable fear and agony.

"Ruby!" Merry called, rushing to her side trying to help her to her feet but she simply pushed him away forcing herself to crawl toward the limp form lying helpless on the ground.

"Pippin!" She sobbed, lifting his head and placing it into her lap as Gandalf threw a cloak over the wretched palantír. Ruby caressed his sweet face, looking into his adorable green eyes that seemed to stare unseeing into space his whole body frozen in shock. "It's me Pip. It's your Ruby. Oh, please come back to me. Please!"

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf snapped roughly though one could hear the concern in his own voice as he gently pushed Ruby aside, and bent over Pippin. She didn't resist knowing that Gandalf could do far more for him than she. Merry, who had also been shoved out of the way by the Wizard stepped closer to her, and the two clung together as they watched Gandalf chant something under his breath while touching Pippin's forehead. Finally, Pippin awakened from his stupor, panting heavily, his eyes flickering about completely horrified.

"Thank goodness." She breathed, burying her face into Merry's chest unable to bear the sight of his pain any longer knowing there was nothing she could do to sooth it; still hearing the voice of Sauron in her head as he threatened to take him away from her.

"Look at me." Gandalf demanded Pippin, and slowly he did so.

"Gandalf…forgive me." He said cringing in both pain and guilt, trying once again to look away and avoid those stern, disappointed eyes.

"Look at me. What did you see?" Gandalf demanded again, forcing the frightened Hobbit to face him.

"A tree. There was a white tree. In a courtyard of stone. It was dead." He replied, his voice hollow and almost aggrieved. "The city was burning."

"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?" Gandalf asked his own voice growing more and more earnest.

"I saw… I saw him! I can hear his voice in my head." Pippin replied struggling to remain calm.

"And what did you tell him? Speak!" Gandalf demanded struggling to remain calm himself.

"He asked me my name. I didn't answer. He hurt me." Pippin nearly whimpered, and Ruby heard one of her own escape her lips at his words as she lifted her face to look at him. He glanced over at her as well, seeming surprised by the noise but his expression soon hardened as he gazed at her. It didn't take her long to figure out why, hugging Merry as she was. She wanted to explain that it wasn't what he thought. That they were only trying to comfort one another about their worry over him, and nothing more, but Gandalf continued his questioning before she had the chance instantly recapturing all of their attention.

"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?" Pippin glanced back over at him confusion in his eyes.

~jb~

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool, but an honest fool he remains. 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. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. 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." Gandalf announced to the crowd in the Golden Hall, where they all stood tensely.

"Tell me; why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" Théoden asked his voice bitter.

"I will go." Aragorn stepped forward bravely.

"No!" Gandalf refuted immediately.

"They must be warned!" Aragorn argued stiffly, a sort of desperation coming into his voice that Ruby understood all too well. It was that kind of desperation that had driven her to take the ball from Pippin.

"They will be." Gandalf assured him before leaning forward and whispering something that only he could hear. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the black ships." Aragorn seemed a little taken aback by this, but accepted it to be his duty without further argument. "Understand this: Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith. And I won't be going alone." He went on to the rest of the crowd, his eyes settling in the direction of the three Hobbits, Merry and Ruby standing on either side of the still shaken Pippin. But even though his gaze was on all three of them, Ruby knew in her heart of whom Gandalf really spoke.

And she knew what she had to do.

~jb~

"Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry, hurry!" Gandalf called out to the straggling Hobbits as they made their way to the stables.

"Where are we going?" Pippin asked in return, though no one answered his question.

Instead Merry turned to face him and demanded angrily, "Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?"

"I don't know. I can't help it." He said, trying weakly to defend himself though he knew it wasn't enough.

"You never can." Merry shot back clearly frustrated.

"I'm sorry, all right? I won't do it again." He promised, offering a small smile as if he expected (or hoped more like it) that to make everything alright. It didn't.

"Don't you understand? The Enemy thinks you have the Ring. He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here." Merry told him forcing his friend to face the seriousness of his situation.

"And you…you're coming with me?" Pippin asked, his voice wavering and tinged with fear. Merry didn't answer, just turned to enter the stable. "Merry?"

"Come on." He called over his shoulder.

"How far is Minas Tirith?" Pippin asked Gandalf as he lifted him onto his magnificent white horse.

"Three days' ride, as the Nazgul flies, and you better hope we don't have one of those on our tail." He told him grimly climbing on behind him.

"Here, something for the road." Merry said his voice softer, rid of the anger and frustration of before.

"The last of the Longbottom Leaf." Pippin said gazing first at the package then at his friend in surprise.

"I know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pip." Merry told him, and the look on his face was so sad and forlorn it almost broke Pippin's heart.

"But- But we'll see each other soon… won't we?" He asked, needing for even the tiniest bit of hope.

"I don't know… I don't know what's going to happen." Merry said his voice beginning to waver as well.

"Merry." Pippin said desperation beginning to color his voice, but Merry just gazed up at him unable to think of anything he could say or do to ease the pain.

"Good bye Merry. Good luck." He suddenly heard a voice whisper from the other side of the horse, and he felt something being pressed into his hand as the person held it for the briefest of moments before releasing it once more.

"Run Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste!" Gandalf told the horse (after the briefest of hesitations) and it burst off into a gallop as Pippin screamed "Merry!" Immediately Merry ran up to a lookout point.

"Merry!" Aragorn called running after him, and the two sadly watched as they rode away. Though for a moment Aragorn thought he saw something amiss, he dismissed it as impossibility and a trick of the distance from which he was standing.

"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. Now he's gone. Just like Hazel, Frodo and Sam." Merry said sadly, his voice broken and hollow.

"One thing I have learned about Hobbits: They're a most hardy folk." Aragorn tried to reassure him.

"Foolhardy, maybe. He's a Took." Merry replied trying to force a smile but it was not very convincing.

"Look on the bright side. At least you still have Ruby." He tried again, but this only wiped the smile away completely.

"No. I don't." Merry told him simply, and at that moment Aragorn realized he hadn't been mistaken at all. There really were three riders on that horse instead of two.

"She went with him."

Told you I was evil. Hazel is probably dead right now and I'm telling you about how Ruby is doing!

That's how The Two Towers ends in the book. Tolkien leaves it on a cliffhanger with Sam about to rescue Frodo from orcs. Then it ends right there, so you have to start Return of the King, but guess what?! It starts with Gandalf and Pippin riding to Minas Tirith! I thought I was going to die! I was like: NOOOO! What about my Frodo and Sam?!

So, now you know how I feel.

But I hope you enjoyed this chapter anyways.