Chapter 18

That night, those who could stumble home did so and the other's were helped home. Because there was no lodging available for the visitors, beds were made up on the floor. Legolas and Bee who did not need sleep, instead they wandered around in the cool night air. Aragorn, who simply did not wish to sleep, checked everyone was comfortable. He looked over Merry who was asleep already and laid a blanket over Pippin, who was a little restless. As he moved to leave, he spotted Celandine, still sitting up.

"Celandine" he called quietly. She turned to him, a little frightened. "I have prepared a bed for you. Do you not wish to sleep?"

She blinked slowly and put a hand to her head, groaning. "Tharnk ya fir dat Eragorn, dats viry kind of ya bit I cannae go ta bid"

"Why not?" Aragorn asked, furrowing his brow.

"Da room goin rund an' rund and I cannae stind urp withoot fallin' ova" she said, voice wobbly and slurring.

Aragorn smiled and gave a small sigh. The hobbit was too drunk to stand. He helped her up, catching her when she fell and led her to the bed he had made for her. She collapsed into it and fell into a deep heavy drunken sleep.

Before he left, he saw Eowyn rouse in her sleep, obviously ill at ease. He pulled the blanket over her feet and up to cover her shoulders when she stirred into waking.

"What time is it?" she asked drowsily.

"Not yet dawn" he said soothingly, smoothing out her blanket. He went to leave but she caught his hand and drew him back.

"I dreamed I saw a great wave… climbing over green lands and above the hills. I stood upon the brink. It was utterly dark in the abyss before my feet…"

Aragorn kneeled down to look at her, taking in the seriousness and fear in her voice.

"A light shone behind me…but I could not turn. I could only stand there, waiting."

"Night changes many thoughts" he said quietly. "Sleep, Eowyn. Sleep… while you can" he slid his fingers out from her grasp and turned away. He walked out of the hall, confident everyone was at peace. He looked around for a moment readying his pipe.

Turning slightly Aragorn noticing the two elves stood side by side hoods pulled up over their heads staring out upon the night sky as elves often did; Aragorn approached quietly trying not to disturb the pair.

"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East" Legolas announced as Aragorn came up beside them, nodding his greetings to Bee before turning back to Legolas.

"A sleepless malice" Bee added her eyes fixed upon the skies above her. "The eye of the enemy is moving" the elves said together.

The three stood together watching the stars, suddenly a new presence within as the enemy invaded their walls. Bee and Legolas turn quickly a sense or urgency within them "He is here."

That was all that was needed to send Aragorn running back towards the hall, followed quickly by the two elves closely behind him.

The sound of a frightened hobbit screaming increased their panic as they ran through the hall, towards the sleeping chamber. Their hearts in their throats, they sprinted towards the door, throwing it open with a crash that woke everyone. The scene was one of chaos, men bolting up out of bed, Gandalf grabbing for his sword and Pippin thrashing round on the floor, while the orb in his frozen hands blazed and black speech screamed forth from it. Without thinking, Aragorn lurched forward and tore it from his grasp. Instantly his hands froze to the palantir in the same way. The pure evil of the Dark Lord coursed though him, making him sick at heart. He thrashed for a moment and then went limp as his knees crumbled from under him. Legolas rushed to his side, supporting him as he fell. The palantir fell from his hands and rolled across the floor.

Bee was quick to run to the fallen hobbits side, followed quickly by a worried Merry. Bee checked to see if the hobbit was still breathing, relief washed over her as she heard his breath.

Gandalf had managed to sprint across the room and throw a blanket across the rolling orb, turning quickly in anger. "Fool of a Took!" he exclaimed.

Upon seeing the hobbit was not yet moving Gandalf swept across the room shoving Merry out of his way, Bee not wanting to be thrown quickly stood moving to kneel down next to Merry placing a comforting hand on his shoulder trying to assure him that Pippin was going to be ok. Aragorn started to come round leaning up on his arms to see how the young hobbit was, while Legolas had a firm hand on the Ranger trying to keep him from rising too quickly.

Time seemed to pass slowly as Gandalf looked over the young hobbit, the others made there way slowly over, Aragorn taking his time as he was unsteady on his feet. Everyone watched over anxiously, as Gandalf began to mutter incoherently.

A sudden and loud gasp was heard as Pippin opened his eyes, a look of panic across his face as his head shock back and forth looking around the room.

"Look at me" Gandalf instructed placing his hand on Pippin's face trying to get his attention.

"Gandalf, forgive me" he said breathlessly looking up into the face of Gandalf, who stared down worriedly above him.

"Look at me. What did you see?"

"A tree. There was a white tree in a courtyard of stone." He gasped " It was dead. The city was burning." A look of understanding crossed Gandalf's face he realised what the hobbit were talking about.

"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?"

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

"And 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?"

Pippin looked up at him but did not answer, fear choking him. Gandalf turned to the others "Leave us" he ordered brusquely. Legolas woke Gimli who quickly hurried out then he supported Aragorn and helped him stagger out of the room. Bee took hold of Merry, carrying him when he would not come willingly. Celandine would not be woken so they left her.