The return to Edoras was the most joyful Leila had felt in some time. Théoden held a large feast, and after his toast, the party began. Leila was ecstatic. She could not remember the last time she had been to a party. She was sipping an ale when Soriel approached her.
"So, what has your heart told you?" Leila asked.
"Nothing yet," Soriel replied. "I wish it would speak louder."
"It has a lot going on," Leila assured her. "How are you feeling about your child now? Do you still grieve for him?"
"Yes," Soriel said. "But it is becoming easier to bear."
"That is good," Leila told her. "You cannot dwell too long on such things."
"You hardly dwelled at all," Soriel said.
This took Leila aback a bit. It was true. When she first lost her child, she kept telling herself she would go through her grieving period, but she kept it from her mind every day, and every day she remembered him less and less. She did not know if this was preferable or if she should come to terms with how she got her child.
"Leila?" Soriel asked.
"I know you have all wondered about my child and why I cared so little for it," she began. "It…the child was forced on me. I never wanted it or its sire, who I do not even know." It was the first time Leila told anyone what happened to her. It felt good to entrust this information to Soriel, whose eyes were full of understanding and sorrow. "I did not expect to survive the mountain. In fact, I meant not to," she finished.
"Leila…" Soriel trailed off. "Who?"
"A few men of Gondor as I passed through Ithilien," Leila answered honestly.
"I'm sorry," Soriel said. "That's horrible."
"Please keep this between us," Leila pleaded. "I tell you now only because I know you understand."
"Of course," Soriel agreed. Leila took a drink and made her way over to Merry and Pippin, for they had promised to teach her some drinking songs from the Shire.
That night, Leila had nightmares. She dreamt she was in Ithilien, and all the faceless men were invading her once again. She tried to resist, kicking her legs and trying to pull her wrists free of the one who held her. She felt the cloth in her mouth becoming more and more soaked as she tried to scream through it so someone could hear her and help. Tears streamed down her face as she was humiliated and disgraced. Leila took in one deep breath and was ready to scream, and she shot up in bed. She was sweaty and crying, her heart bursting through her chest. She did not care that she was still in her sleeping clothes or that she had no shoes on, she had to find Legolas. Her mind was racing as she searched through the halls of Edoras. Everywhere she looked she saw the soldiers of Gondor and they terrified her. She was still sobbing hysterically, and her vision was blurry as she made her way outside, where she found him, standing and looking at the mountains.
"Where have you been?" she cried, causing him to turn and look at her. He immediately ran to her side, and wrapped her up.
"Leila, what's happened?" he asked, squeezing her tightly to him.
She buried her face in his chest, and started to say something, but nothing came out. Only incomprehensible sounds and crying. Legolas held her, stroking her hair, and kissing her head until she finally could breathe normally again. It was then that she realized she was shivering. Legolas must have also noticed because he removed his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders as she continued to snuffle.
"Leila, what happened?" he asked again, holding her shoulders and looking her in the eyes.
She suddenly felt as if she could not meet his gaze. "I had a bad dream," she admitted.
"Can you tell me about it?" he pressed.
She felt the tears come back to her eyes, and she shut them tight as she shook her head. The tears leaked out and he began to kiss them off of her cheeks.
"Leila, please," he said. "I am here with you now. Nothing in this world, or in your dreams, can hurt you now."
"Legolas I-" Leila began, but was cut off by the presence of Aragorn, coming outside and cleaning his pipe. When he turned and saw them, he walked over to join them. Leila moved closer to Legolas, who pulled her near and looked out at the land before them.
"The stars are veiled," he said, and Aragorn nodded. Leila had not even noticed that the sun had still not risen by this time. Then Legolas's face changed and he said, "Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice."
Aragorn looked concerned, and their eyes met. Leila continued to shiver. "The Eye of the enemy is moving…" Legolas trailed off and then they heard a scream from inside the palace, which Leila immediately recognized as Pippin. "He is here!" Legolas called and they rushed inside.
Leila went straight to the room she shared with Soriel, and started to shake her awake. Soriel must have been in a deep sleep because it took quite some time before her eyes fluttered open. When they finally did, Leila said, "Soriel, come on, it's Pippin!"
When they arrived in the next room, Pippin was writhing on the floor, holding the black orb that belonged to Saruman. He seemed to be in a great deal of pain, but could not release his grasp on the orb. Leila felt so much fear in her heart as Aragorn grabbed it, but then he too fell to his knees. Legolas grabbed him as the orb rolled away and Gandalf threw a robe on top of it.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf scolded, and aided him through his experience. They then moved to the main hall of Edoras to discuss what had happened.
The orb was called a Palantir, and Saruman was not the only one who had one. It was through this orb that he and Sauron communicated. There were others, but their location was unknown. In the Palantir, Pippin had seen the White Tree of Gondor, dead and burning. According to Gandalf, this meant that Sauron's next move would be towards Minas Tirith.
"We've been strangely fortunate," he said. "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 week as he supposed. There is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle Earth uniting under one banner." He now looked to Théoden. "He will raise 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," Theoden said. "Why should we ride to the aid of those that did not come to ours?" The tension in the room was palpable. "What do we owe Gondor?"
"I will go," Aragorn said.
"No," argued Gandalf.
"They must be warned," Aragorn protested.
"They will be," Gandalf assured him. He whispered something to Aragorn, then turned to the rest of them. "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith, and I won't be going alone." Now he looked at Pippin.
"Wait, Gandalf," Leila said, feeling panicked. "You would take Pip to Minas Tirith? Where the enemy will have quick access to him?"
"I do not understand," Soriel chimed in. "Is he not safer here with us?"
"I need Pippin to relate to Denethor what he saw," Gandalf said. "The Steward must know just how dire the need is to call on his friends."
"But Gondor is weak," Soriel continued. "What if help does not arrive in time?"
"Soriel," Aragorn started. "Pippin will be safe with Gandalf. You need not worry for those who ride with the White Wizard."
"She is not alone in this fear," Leila said. "We only just got Merry and Pippin back."
"I promised I would keep them safe all the way back in Fanghorn," Gandalf said, approaching the women. He then looked at Soriel. "I promised that Boromir's sacrifice would not be in vain, did I not?"
Soriel nodded. "To that I hold," Gandalf continued. "Now the both of you remember yourselves," he scolded them, his former gentle tone completely gone.
Leila felt bad, and she had wanted to say more, but this silenced her. Gandalf and Pippin left Edoras, and Leila accompanied Aragorn to comfort Merry. Leila said an Elvish prayer for Pippin as he rode away. She could not believe how soon she had to see him go, but she was confident they would meet again.