Pippin regretted his curiosity about the orb the second he touched it. An evil presence overtook his mind, ravaging it as it searched for the information it wanted. When he attempted to resist, the presence pressed still more powerful to the halfling's mind and began to question him about Frodo, the Ring, Gandalf...

Just as the presence of Sauron came to Edoras through the palantir, more than one person sensed him almost immediately. As Legolas came racing into the room, Ilmare woke wide-eyed and fearful. Both quickly searched for the cause of their distress and disorganizedly covered the orb that was causing so very much trouble.

In that time whilst the hobbit had been writhing on the floor in agony, Gandalf, too, had been woken, though his was a less immediate reaction. He hurried to Pippin with the knowledge that prolonged exposure could likely be deadly. He was right.

Merry, who was crouched beside his friend, said in horror to the wizard, "He's not breathing."

Gandalf knelt beside the little hobbit's head an began to whisper furiously words in a language that only one of them recognized. The spell worked.

Pippin awoke with a gasp, glancing around in terror. "Look at me! Look at me!" Gandalf commanded. As soon as the little one's eyes met his, Gandalf asked hurried, "What did you tell him? What did you see?"

"I s-saw him!"

"Did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?"

Pippin shook his head jerkily.

"Whad did you see? What did you see?!"

"A white tree. In a courtyard of stone...he tree was burning!...and it was dead!...then, I-i-i saw her...by his side!" Pippin whispered shakily, gesturing to Ilmare.

Gandalf's eyes wandered over to her. She met his gazer stoicly, as though she had expected this. He wanted her back.

Silently, the wizard stood, leaving Pippin to the care of his closest friend and confidante. He sat on the side of her bed and gently wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Sleep, my love. He cannot get to you if he does not know where you are."

"He knows I have not sailed. That is enough for him to search the whole of Middle Earth for me. You know this."

"I do," he said morosely, "but he has not found you yet."

"He will. He always has," she responded.

"Then, we must hope that he does not. We always have hope!"

"Yes," she said with a sad smile.

"Then, I suppose neither of us is going to sleep anymore tonight," he said, his eyes glistening.

"I suppose not...Come with me," she said, extending a hand to him. He took it and pulled her out of bed before allowing her to guide him to her intended destination, which was apparently the wall.

There they sat, wrapped in each other's arms until the sun's rays shone with the earliest of morning light over the land.

To the end of his days, Sauron would regret losing Ilmare to Olorin. She was perceptive enough to see him for who he was and intelligent enough to match him blow for blow at any subject. Her power, too, was remarkable. Had it not been for him, the Valar would never have sent her to Middle Earth and allowed her to leave the protection of Valinor. And it was this power that he feared.

The pitiful Istari were no match for his power. Even without his physical form, he had driven them from his lands and forced them to gain allies to defeat him. Ilmare, however...She could defeat him if she but had he necklace.

That damn necklace! Why had she chosen to channel her power through Olorin's gift?! She could have accepted him! She would have been his! He would have given her anything and everything she desired! Why would she choose that weakling over him?!

It was his fault! If not for Olorin's interest in Ilmare, she would have chosen him! He would not have joined Melkor had she not rejected him. They could have lived together in Valinor forever.

But she would be his again. Even now, his Nazgul servants searched for her. It was only a matter of time before they found her, and when they did, she would be his! No one would ever take her from him again! He would rule Middle Earth with her at his side!