A/N: And so we begin the last book! I must warn you that since the majority of Return of the King actually focusus more on Frodo and Sam that there is less of Legolas, hence why the chapters are going to be significantly shorter. I'm just going to end the chapters were I think best...so that being said...let's begin!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 15

Anariel rode with Legolas through Fangorn on their way to Isengard. After the battle at Helm's Deep, Gandalf had been quick to remind them that it was just one battle of many to come. Yet, Anariel could feel the renewed hope in her veins. If they could win one unwinnable battle, then they could win another.

Soon the trees began to form a path, and Anariel could see the smoke from Isengard. She did hope that Merry and Pippin were alright. Anariel hadn't seen them in weeks, and she was anxious to see their smiles again. Finally, the trees thinned and before them stood what remained of Isengard. The Orthanc remained as tall and proud as it had in previous years, yet it was still damaged from the attacks it had sustained.

The wall that surrounded Isengard was broken and jagged, but that was not what had drawn Anariel's eye. What had caused her to look at the wall were two hobbits that were perched atop the wall smoking. A feast was laid out before them, and they seemed just as happy as always. Anariel smiled at the sight.

"I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon after a hard day's work," Pippin said after taking a long smoke of his pipe.

"Only, you've never done a hard day's work," Merry smirked.

Pippin opened his mouth to retort, but Merry cut him off. He stood up and gestured to the wreckage behind him, "Welcome, my lords!" Merry said grandly before looking at Anariel. "And lady," he added grinning. "To Isengard!"

"You rascals!" Gimli huffed. "A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you feasting…and smoking!"

"We're sitting on a field of victory, enjoyed a few well earned comforts," Pippin defended merrily. "The salted pork is particularly good," the hobbit added.

"Salted pork?" Gimli asked suddenly interested.

Anariel watched as Gandalf shook his head, "Hobbits."

Eventually, Anariel could no longer stand it and she hopped off her horse and ran to the hobbits. Both hobbits leaped into her arms and Anariel staggered for a moment before she regained her balance. Anariel laughed, "You two are in so much trouble!" she scolded playfully.

"Why? What did we do?" Pippin asked.

"Do you know how worried I've been?" Anariel asked them raising an eyebrow.

Merry looked sheepish, but Pippin just grinned. "I'm glad we mean so much to you."

"You do," Anariel smiled as Merry and Pippin jumped out of her arms. Anariel ruffled Pippin's hair playfully before she climbed back on her horse behind Legolas.

Pippin watched and grinned. He elbowed Merry and pointed, "See Merry. I told you so."

Merry looked over at Anariel, and Anariel winked. Merry grinned broadly, before he turned and said, "We're under orders from Treebeard, who has taken over management of Isengard!" he said proudly as Gandalf led them through the muddied waters where Anariel saw something that she would always remember. An Ent, Treebeard.

"Huraroom…young Master Gandalf, I am glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone, I can master, but there's a wizard to be managed here…locked in his tower."

"And there Saruman must remain," Gandalf said seriously. "Under your guard, Treebeard," he added.

"Let's just have his head, and be done with it," Gimli grumbled impatiently.

"No," Gandalf said quietly after looking up at the tower. "He has no power anymore."

Treebeard nodded his head wisely, "Saruman's filth is washing away…trees will come back and live here. Young trees…wild trees," the old Ent said quietly.

Anariel looked around the ruin of Isengard and her eyes caught something glowing gold beneath the muddied water. She was about to call the others attention, but Pippin slid off of Aragorn's horse and reached into the water. Anariel gasped in shock when she saw what Pippin held in his hands. She felt Legolas tense as he recognized the powerful object.

"Well bless my bark!" Treebeard exclaimed.

"Peregrin Took!" Gandalf said urgently. "I'll take that my lad."

Anariel watched worriedly as Pippin continued to stare into the Palantir. "Quickly, now!" Gandalf commanded and reluctantly Pippin gave the sphere to the wizard, who immediately covered it with his robes.

They returned to Edoras that evening and a celebratory feast awaited them. Anariel and Legolas stood away from the crowd for the most part. Anariel watched as Eowyn gave Aragorn a chalice to drink from. Anariel sighed when she saw the look in her friend's eye.

Legolas looked at her questioningly, "What?"

"I'm afraid that Eowyn has feelings for Aragorn…or at least she thinks she does," Anariel said quietly.

Legolas looked to where Eowyn and Aragorn stood. Indeed, it did appear that the Lady of Rohan had feelings for his friend. "Perhaps you should talk to Aragorn?" Anariel suggested.

Legolas shook his head, "I have no doubt that Aragorn knows this and is simply wondering how best to go about the situation."

"Well you could give him advice," Anariel continued.

Legolas raised an amused eyebrow. "What advice could I offer? The only woman who has ever loved me, I love in return."

Anariel smiled and took his hand, when Eomer came up to them. "Gimli requests your presence," he said simply.

Legolas looked at her, and Anariel shrugged. Nonetheless, they followed Eomer to where the Dwarf stood by the table. "What is it?" Anariel questioned.

Legolas stared at the table that was laden with many tankards of ale. "I challenge you pointy eared Princeling!" Gimli laughed.

"No pauses," Eomer said. "No stopping."

"And no regurgitation!" Gimli added.

"So it's a drinking game?" Legolas questioned, and Anariel was already shaking her head. Obviously, Gimli knew nothing of how alcohol affected Elves.

"Last one standing wins!" Gimli laughed before taking a tankard of ale and downing it in one gulp.

Eomer handed Legolas a tankard, and for a moment he stared at it before he turned to Anariel. "Should I?"

Anariel grinned, "You'll win."

Legolas returned her grin and drank.

And so it began…

After the twelfth drink Gimli was so drunk that Anariel couldn't stop laughing. She didn't know which was funnier. The fact that very, very slowly, Legolas was getting drunk…or that Gimli was so very drunk already.

"I feel something," Legolas murmured looking at his fingers. "A slight tingle in my fingers," he said and Anariel laughed at the look of amazement on his face. "I think it's affecting me," he concluded, which only caused Anariel to laugh harder.

Gimli slammed down another tankard, laughing drunkenly. "What did I say? He can't hold his liquor!"

Anariel watched as slowly, Gimli fell back onto the floor. Legolas turned to her, "Game over."

It was early morning when Legolas and Anariel stepped out of the halls of Edoras. They looked out over the dark expanse of the plains. Both Elves could feel the evil that still lingered in the air, but it was nothing compared to what it once had been.

A faint step approached and Anariel knew without turning that it was Aragorn. They said nothing for a while, until Legolas spoke, "The stars are veiled, something stirs in the east…a sleepless malice."

Realization dawned on Anariel's face, "The eye of the enemy is moving," she whispered and Legolas wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Suddenly, Legolas tensed. "He is here!"

Anariel spun and ran back into the room. She stopped in shock as she saw Pippin, pale and sweaty, clutching the palantir, a silent scream on his lips. Aragorn rushed past her and took the glowing orb from the hobbit, only to fall back, the sphere rolling along the floor.

Gandalf threw a blanket on the evil object, causing it to stop rolling. Legolas rushed to Aragorn, while Anariel dropped to her knees beside Pippin.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf muttered in angry disbelief.

Anariel laid Pippin's head in her lap and stroked his hair, trying to calm him. "Gandalf…forgive me," the trembling hobbit begged.

"Look at me!" Gandalf ordered. "What did you see?"

"A tree…a white tree," Pippin whispered. "In a courtyard of stone…it was dead! The city was burning…"

"Minas Tirith?" Anariel questioned as she shared a looked with Gandalf.

"Was that what you saw?" Gandalf inquired seriously.

"I saw…I saw him…" Pippin whispered terrified. "I could hear his voice in my head."

"And what did you tell him?" Gandalf asked quickly. "Speak!" the wizard commanded.

"He asked me my name…I didn't answer," Pippin whispered. "He hurt me…"

Gandalf fixed a look of frightening intensity on the poor hobbit. "What did you tell him about Frodo and the ring?"

Anariel tensed. Was all lost because of Pippin's mistake?

"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 told Théoden.

Anariel let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. However, she returned her attention back to Gandalf and Théoden. "We are strangely fortunate. What Pippin saw in the Palantir was a glimpse of the enemy's plan."

Anariel leaned forward eagerly awaiting what Gandalf would say next, "Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep has shown our enemy one thing," Gandalf said before turning to Aragorn.

"The heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still—strength left to challenge him," Gandalf said before turning back to Théoden. "Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-earth uniting under one banner against him. He will raise Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees the return of the King," Gandalf warned. "If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be prepared for war!"

Anariel watched as Théoden held Gandalf's gaze calmly. "Tell me," the king began quietly. "Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?"

"I will go," Aragorn said urgently.

"No!" Gandalf said hurriedly, placing a hand on Aragorn's shoulder.

"But they must be warned!" Aragorn argued in a hushed tone.

"They will be," Gandalf assured. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river, look to the black ships," Gandalf said cryptically, and Anariel frowned in confusion.

"Understand this," Gandalf said louder, moving away from Aragorn. "Things have been set in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith," Gandalf announced before his gaze settled on Pippin. "And I will not be going alone."

I absolutely had to include the drinking game...it's priceless!

Please review,

ArthursCamelot