Disclaimer in chapter 1
Chapter 13: Palantir
Once we reached Edoras, I dismounted my horse and handed it over to a stableman. The lady who had stood shocked and watched us kiss was waiting for us there.
Later that eve, I sat by Aragorn's side at the front table near the throne of the Golden Hall. I had bathed thanks to Éowyn, the girl who watched Aragorn and I.
The lady herself gave Theoden a cup of wine which he took. We all stood and raised our goblets.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!" Theoden said as he raised the goblet to the people.
"Hail!" everyone said firmly before they drank from tankards or goblets. I took a small sip of the wine before nodding and took a slightly deeper drink before sitting it down on the table. I watched everyone eat and laugh, having a good time in this celebration.
"Let us enjoy the night while we can," Aragorn whispered in my ear. "I agree." I then turned around and laughed. "What is it?" Aragorn asked, turning around to see what was so funny.
"Dear Legolas and Gimli are to have a drinking contest!" I said and sent my brother a private message, *Good luck, brother of mine. Don't you dare loose to a Dwarf again!* I mocked and he glared at me before hesitantly drinking his tankard.
Éowyn slowly walked up to my beloved and offered him the cup that Theoden drank from. She spoke in the Rohirrim language as Aragorn sighed and looked at me, pleading to help him before turning back to the woman and taking the goblet from her hands. He took a sip and handed it back. I noticed him slightly wince when she smiled brightly at him.
He smiled slightly and bowed his head before turning and walking over to me, embracing me in a loving embrace. I couldn't help but overhear King Theoden and Éowyn's conversation.
"I am happy for you. He is an honorable man." He told her softly.
"You are both honorable men. But it seems he is already taken." She said and nodded in my direction as I made my way over to watch Legolas and Gimli, still listening.
"Yes, but it was not Theoden of Rohan who led our people to victory. Ah, don't listen to me. You are young. And tonight is for you." He said and I saw tears faintly fill her eyes then I turned my full attention back to the two foolish men's drinking game. Legolas was on his 9th cup and Gimli... well I couldn't count how many he had. I made a sound of disgust and turned to face Legolas.
"It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women." Gimli said then belched and drank another tankard.
"I feel something. A slight tingle in my fingers," my brother said worried looking at his fingers as I cracked up. "I think it's affecting me."
"Elves don't get drunk off of Men-made beer, now Elvish wine...that a whole other story." I whispered to the shocked-looking Éomer, who had been giving them the drinks.
Gimli laughed and sat down his tankard with a flare and pointed his finger at Legolas.
"What did I say? He can't hold his liquor," Gimli slurred before his eyes crossed and he fell backwards and crashed the ground. I laughed and covered my mouth trying to hold it in as Legolas looked at me. "Well, game over," he said, placed the beer down, and walked off.
I watched Merry and Pippin sing their song on the opposite side of the room from Aragorn, who had wanted to talk to Gandalf privately.
Oh, you can search far and wide,
You can drink the whole town dry
But you'll never find a beer so brown
But you'll never find a beer so brown
As the one we drink in our hometown
As the one we drink in our hometown
You can drink your fancy ales
You can drink them by the flagon
But the only beer for the brave and true
Comes from The Green Dragon
"Lady Aranel?" Éowyn asked, coming to stand next to me. "Ah, Lady Éowyn, how may I help you?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you the one who gave Lord Aragorn that crystal?" She asked. "Ah, my Evenstar pendant. Yes, I gave it to him before he left with the Fellowship." I explain.
"Why?" "Why what?" I asked her confused. "Why does he love you and not me? I mean, your an Elf!"
"And what is that supposed to mean?" I ask incredulous. "The love of Elves is not given freely. I love him as he loves me. Bite your tongue Lady Éowyn, before you say something you'll regret." I hiss and walk off to find Aragorn.
Late that night, I stood outside watching the sky with my brother.
"You have seemed different lately. I cannot figure out how though," My brother states and I stiffened against my will. I still cannot tell my brother, it would be too painful for him.
"It is nothing." I whisper. "Just weary from the battles and death of friends." We stood once more in silence before Aragorn came out with his pipe.
"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice. The Eye of the enemy is moving." Legolas whispered to my lover who now stood between us.
"He is here!" Legolas and I said at once then the three of us ran to where most of the people slept. I ran in and took in the scene before grabbing the Palantir out of Pippin's hands.
"I see you. I have found you. You shall be mine!" An evil voice echoed in my head as I let out a blood-curling scream and fell limp, hardly noticing Aragorn catch me before I hit the ground. The Palantir rolled out of my hand and Gandalf threw a cloth on it.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf yelled at Pippin and I moaned in pain, trying to get up. "Don't let her sit up just yet. Lay her down and make sure she stays awake," He ordered Aragorn and Legolas. They quickly complied and laid me on a makeshift bed as Gandalf dealt with Pippin.
"Stay awake, love. You can fall asleep after Gandalf speaks with you." Aragorn murmured and Legolas grabbed my hand then quickly dropped it as if it burned him.
"The life of the Eldar is leaving you!" He said shocked and I looked at him with a small smile. "How can that be? You are a full Elf!"
"Frodo got stabbed when Aragorn, the Hobbits and I were coming to Rivendell. Arwen came and she and I tried to get Frodo to Rivendell before he gave in to the Shadow. We would have been too late if I had not given him some of my Eldar energy. Not enough to make me mortal, but to make me Half-Elven." I explained softly, seeing his jaw clench and eyes burn with blue fire.
"She made her choice, to be Mortal and be with me." Aragorn finished sadly as Legolas turned his glare on my lover.
"You knew about this? Who else and why didn't any of you think to tell me?" Legolas spat. "Arwen and Lord Elrond knew. I didn't want you to know until I was ready to tell you myself."
He growled and stormed out of the room to who knows where as Gandalf came to me with Pippin and Merry behind him.
"Aranel, what did you see?" He asked sternly. I shook my head and Aragorn put my head in his lap and ran his fingers through my hair to comfort me as much as himself.
"I didn't see anything. Darkness was all around me. He spoke to me. 'I see you. I have found you. You shall be mine!' over and over in the darkness. Then the chanting stopped...and I saw him, the him in his form before Isildur defeated him with the Great Eye in the background." I cried out as Aragorn picked my up and held me to his chest, trying to comfort me.
"This is worse then I thought. Sauron now knows where she is and will send out the Nazgul after her. It would be a matter of days before they get here." Gandalf said in the main hall to the others.
"And what of Pippin?" Gimli asked gruffly.
"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," Gandalf explained. "Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat of Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the heir of Elendil has come forth."
Gandalf nodded at Aragorn to acknowledge him. "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 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," Theoden spoke up, "why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?"
"If you do not who will? You hate how they act and yet you do the same!" I shouted at him from my seat, still not fully recovered from the visit of Sauron. Aragorn put a calming hand on my shoulder and spoke to Gandalf.
"I will go." "No!" "They must be warned," Aragorn protested. "They will be. You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river and look to the black ships," Gandalf whispered to my beloved then turned back to face everyone. "Understand this: Things our now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith and I won't be going alone."
A/N: I will give you guys a choice again (I love giving these, they really help me out)!
1- Aranel goes with Pippin and Gandalf to Gondor.
2- Aranel stays with Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas and goes with them on the Path of the Dead.
Please vote your choice via review! And might I add for reference: SCHOOL SUCKS!