"Get that thing away from him!"
Aragorn took the orb away from Pippin only to fall on the ground next.
Titus was about to pick it up but Aéd stopped him at the last second. The Highlander smacked him on the back of the head and said.
"Are you a fuckin' idiot!?"
Rin grabbed a nearby blanket and threw it over the orb. She cautiously picked it up and saw it didn't do to her what it did to Aragorn and Pippin.
"Fool of a Took!"
The Wizard crouched by the terrified Hobbit and held the sides of his head. Boromir crouched beside him, looking at Pippin worriedly.
"Look at me. What did you see?" Gandalf asked.
The Hobbit stared back at him, fear evident in his eyes.
"A tree... There was a white tree in a courtyard of stone."
The Gondorian dreaded what comes after.
"It was dead. The city was burning."
Boromir, as if in a daze, walked out of the room.
"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?"
"I saw... I saw Him! I could hear His voice in my head."
"What did you tell him? Speak!"
"He asked me my name. I didn't answer. He hurt me!"
"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?"
~Line Break~
"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."
Gandalf said as he paced in the Golden Hall. The rest of the Fellowship and Théoden listening.
"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. Men are not as weak 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 turned to address King Théoden.
"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."
"What do we owe Gondor?" The King asked nonchalantly.
"You owe Gondor for keeping the Orcs of Mordor at bay for years!" Boromir responded with a heated glare.
"I have asked you once and I will ask you again. Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around? Where was Gondor in our time of need!? Evidently, not here."
"I will go!" The Ranger said to mediate between the two.
"No!" Gandalf exclaimed.
"They must be warned!" Aragorn reasoned.
"And they will be." He lowered his voice to speak to Aragorn privately "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river and look to the black ships. Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith."
He turned his gaze to Pippin then to Boromir.
"And I won't be alone."
~Line Break~
"So... You're going with them to this white city? Why?" Rin asked as she stared up at Titus, who mounted on his horse.
"If I go with them, I will have the opportunity to observe the enemy up close. See how they fight, know their tactics. Strengths and weaknesses. Anything that could give me an edge in the battlefield." Titus responded.
Rin shook her head "It isn't like you to think before you act. What changed?"
"After seeing what a follower of Sauron can do, I fear what the monster himself can do. We Centurions see the battlefield as a chessboard. I need to see what my opponent is like before I make the next move." He reached behind his back and took out his Pugio. He threw it at Rin who caught it with her hand "Stay out of trouble, Rin. I'm gonna need that back."
Rin stared at the dagger in her hands and nodded before pulling out her Tantō and handing it to him "The same goes for you, Titus. Be safe, come back alive, eh?"
The Centurion nodded and took the offered blade before following Gandalf.
Rin stared at their forms until they passed the gate. She stared at the dagger in her hands before leaving the stable.
~Line Break~
"Minas Tirith, City of Kings."
Titus was impressed at the size of the city, while Boromir stared at his city longingly.
'Well, what do you know. It is a white city.'
Titus thought as he followed Gandalf, Pippin and Boromir inside.
"Make way! Make way for Captain Boromir! Make way for the Steward's Son!" He heard someone, probably a guard, yell at the citizens as they got out of their way.
It was later before they finally reached the top. There Titus saw a white tree, yet it seemed like it hadn't bloom in ages.
"It's the tree, Gandalf!" Pippin exclaimed.
"Yes, the White Tree of Gondor, the tree of the King. Lord Denethor however isnotthe king. He is a steward only. A caretaker of the throne."
Boromir remained quiet at that. Titus on the other hand, stayed behind and looked at the distance.
He never seen something as evil as Mordor. Beside the terrifying volcano was a menacing tower. On top was a giant, flaming eye. He felt like it was staring at him, at his very soul.
"So you're Sauron." He fingered the Gladius in his sheath "Tell me, what's your next move?"
His gaze left the Eye and looked at the city between Mordor and Minas Tirith. He turned to one of the guards by the tree and asked "You, guard. What's that city down there?"
The Fountain Guard looked at him in surprise before answering "That is the city of Osgiliath, The Citadel of the Host of Stars. Stranger."
"What was the last reports on the city?"
"Not good, sir. The Orcs have taken half the city and have been making their push ever since." The guard paused "What is your name, good sir?"
"Titus Valerius Felix. A Centurion of House Valeria."
"It sounds like a mighty title, Master Valerius."
Titus shook his head "Now, now. None of that Master business. I'm a soldier." His eyes went back to looking at the wartorn city.
~Line Break~
"Our enemy is ready, his full strength gathers. Not only orcs, but men as well, legions of Haradrim from the South, mercenaries from the coast… all will answer Mordor's call."
Gandalf said as he, Pippin, Boromir and Titus stare into the night.
"This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here the hammer stroke will fall the hardest. If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defense of this city will be gone."
"But we have the White Wizard… that's got to count for something. Gandalf?" Pippin asked hopefully.
"Sauron has yet to reveal his deadliest servant. The one who would lead Mordor's armies in war. The one they say no living man can kill: the Witch-King of Angmar."
Titus grunted at this "Great. First a big eye that can't be killed 'til we destroy it's ring and now a Witch-King that can't be killed by any man. What's next? A strix! Bah!"
He shook his head and crossed his arms.
"He is the lord of the Nazgûl, the greatest of the nine. Minas Morgul is his lair." The Wizard continued.
The group remained quiet until a bright, green column of light erupted from Minas Morgul.
"We come to it at last, the great battle of our time." Gandalf stated in a grave tone. "The board is set. The pieces are moving."
"So it begins." Whispered Boromir.
"Veniant." Muttered the Centurion.