A/N: I AM BACK FROM THE DEAD.

Here is the long awaited CHAPTER 3! You can decide for yourself if it's a filler chapter. And it goes along to a score!

"Minas Morgul" It's one of my favorites from the movie! Probably the most memorable one. If I heard it I could tell you its from LOTR.

Anywho, thank you to all my faithful followers! I haven't gotten many reviews... And we're almost on to Shelob's lair!

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Go into my favorites folder, then into my "Gifts For Me" folder. I'll hopefully have a LOTR category by then. Someone drew a lovely portrait of Karolyn (me!) and Frodo! More to come!

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Standing across from Pippin, Merry, Gen, and Diamond were the six, very frustrated taller ones. Pippin and Gen would not look them in the eye, not even Merry or Diamond. Gandalf had called them and Theoden to the hall at Edoras to discuss what Pippin and Gen had seen through the Palantir. Grimly, Theoden had walked in expecting news of some sort of invasion or death.

After explaining what Pippin and Gen had literally gotten their hands on, Theoden nodded and told him to continue.

"There was no lie, in Genevieve's eyes. A silly girl, yet a smart one she remains. Nor was there a lie in Pippin's voice. They told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the ring." Gandalf delivered the news flawlessly as Theoden nodded, somewhat relieved. Gen looked up at her best friend, trying to pry a smile, Diamond only sighed and shook her head, looking away. Awesome, losing another friend.

"We've been strangely fortunate, what they saw in the Palantir was a glimpse of our enemy's plan." Gandalf said, turning to Theoden with a hint of hope. Even the king seemed to perk up at this.

"Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing." He turned to Aragorn now, "The Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still- strength enough left to challenge him."

Everyone stayed silent, Laura looking at her boots intently as though the laces had suddenly become an object of interest. Gandalf had paused and looked to everyone warningly.

"Sauron fears this," he stated as now everyone shot their heads to him, "He will not risk the peoples of Middle Earth hunting under one banner. He will raise Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees the return of the King!"

Aragorn slowly looked to him. He knew it to be true, as did everyone else. Gandalf nodded at him and Aragorn looked back to the floor.

"If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war!" Gandalf suddenly rounded on Theoden.

Theoden simply looked up solemnly, "Tell me, why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?"

"He has a point," Laura whispered as Legolas and Aragorn glared at her, Gimli nodding his head at her in agreement.

"What do we owe Gondor?" Theoden asked, looking at everyone.

Aragorn seemed to growl, "I will go,"

"No!" Gandalf cried.

"They must be warned!"

"They will be!" He slowly walked to Aragorn, and whispered in his ear, "You must ride to Minas Tirith by another road...

"Follow the river, look to the Black Ships." He paused and looked at everyone, now addressing to them all, "Understand this, things are now in motion that cannot be undone!" He warned as everyone gravely nodded their heads.

He now turned to face the two sitting hobbits and their friends. They looked up at him, hoping he wouldn't discipline them. But what they heard was much worse.

"I ride for Minas Tirith!" He cried with a pause, the hobbits sighed, "And I won't be going alone,"

Gen and Pippin went wide eyed as they stared at each other. They were leaving. It took a minute for this to register in Merry and Diamond's brains.

"Wait, what?!" Diamond shrieked as Gen looked up at her, "You can't!"

"But I can, and I will. They must come." Gandalf said. Merry fumed at Gandalf and Pippin, and Gandalf walked out of the room. Laura watched, jaw dropped and confused. She turned to Gen and crossed her arms. The girl looked at her, and she shook her head.

"Laura-"

"You got yourself into this, and now, you can't get out, Gen. This is your fault, you did this to yourself. And I'm sorry you just had to look at that ball. Goodbye, have a fun trip." She said shaking her hand and walking to the shooting room angrily. Everyone left and Gandalf stood at the hall door, waiting for the two. The four hobbits all looked at each other and jogged to Gandalf.

"Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, you two are the worst! Hurry! Hurry!" Gandalf cried back to Gen and Pippin as they tried to catch up with him.

"Where are we going?" Pippin asked Merry, who was fuming.

"Why did you look?" He spat at him, "Why do you always have to look?" He rounded on his friend, who innocently shrugged. Gen sighed and rolled her eyes, Diamond being silent.

"I don't know! I can't help it," Pippin responded as Merry turned away with frustration.

"You never can."

Pippin seemed taken aback by this, his best friend seemed to have betrayed him in a way. This was probably the first time Merry and Pippin hadn't been on the same side.

"I'm sorry, alright?" He asked catching up to Merry, "I won't do it again!"

Merry's eyes raged, and he spun on his heel to face him, "Don't you understand? The enemy thinks YOU have the ring! They're going to be looking for you, Pip. We have to get you out of here!" He yelled as Pippin tried to keep calm.

"And you, you're coming with me?" He asked hopefully. The four had stopped, and Merry stared at Genevieve, who had tears running down her face.

"Merry?" Pip's voice interrupted his thoughts. Shaking his head, he began to walk again.

"Come on!" He called at them.

Gen ran to the front to catch up with Merry. Sadly, she wanted him to talk to her. She knew he thought she was stupid for going after the Palantir. And he was right, she shouldn't have.

"Merry, please say something." She begged as they entered the stables. Gandalf was placing a saddle on Shadowfax.

"I don't know what to say." He responded quietly, looking at his feet.

"Don't do this to me-"

"Then why did you do this to me?" He replied calmly looking at her. Tears poured from her eyes as she stared at him. That was the last thing he said to her.

"How far is Minas Tirith?" Pippin asked as Gandalf placed him on the horse. Diamond and Gen watched each other as Gen was placed on the horse as well.

"Three days as the Nazgul flies, and you'd better hope we don't have one of those on our tail." Gandalf replied as the two hobbits stared in fear.

Merry stepped forward, as did Diamond, "Here, something for the road." Merry placed a packet in Pippin's hands. Diamond placed a piece of paper in her hand. All this time, Diamon hadn't looked at Pippin.

"The last of the Longbottom Leaf!" Pippin gasped quietly. He looked at Merry, who looked at the ground.

"I know you've run out," he paused,"You smile to much, Pip." He responded. Pippin finally looked at Diamond, and reached for her. She slowly joined hands with him.

"But, we'll see each other soon?" He asked the two. Merry and Diamond exchanged glances, then to Gandalf. The wizard said or showed nothing.

"Won't we?" Gen finally asked as Merry's head snapped to hers.

Tears threatened to fill his eyes, and he turned to Pippin, "I don't know," he began to back away, "I don't know what's going to happen."

"Merry?"

"Diamond!" The two said to their friends. And without another word, Shadowfax took off.

"Run Shadowfax! Show us the meaning of haste!"

"MERRY!" Gen called out as the two looked back from the galloping horse. The other two took off running, Merry to a watchtower, and Diamond following the horse. She cried as she watched her best friends slowly grow smaller, and Merry sadly regretted not saying anything to Gen. Laura came up behind her and held her as as she cried.

For three days the trio travelled. Gen said nothing and was depressed. Plus, she didn't like the fact that she was riding by horse, it was super uncomfortable. Shadowfax was fast and graceful, and seemed to sense the discomfort among the two hobbits, for she kept looking back at them.

Finally, they approached Minas Tirith. It was the most beautiful thing the two hobbits had ever seen. It was huge, with many levels. Atop, a huge ledge came out, where the caretaker's court was and where he lived. It was as white as snow, and glowed. Gen's mouth hung open while Pippin stared in awe. They galloped up closer and into the kingdom, where they began the ascent to Denethor's throne.

The first thing the two saw was the white tree.

"It's the tree!" Gen whispered to Pippin as he nodded his head.

"Gandalf!" He cried as the two raced to catch up with him.

"Yes. The White Tree of Gondor. The Tree of the King." Gandalf said as they began to walk to the doors.

"Lord Denethor however, is not the king. He is only a steward. A caretaker of the throne." Gandalf told them as they nodded. He stopped before they entered, and the two looked at him.

"Now, listen carefully. Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise. And do not mention Frodo, or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either!" He paused and hesitated a step, "In fact, it's better if you two don't speak at all,"

Sadly, the two nodded and Gandalf walked up the steps to the door. They entered a grand hall. White as it was outside, with many black pillars and statues to their sides. The sounds of Gandalf's staff hitting the floor echoed many times throughout the hall. The hobbits felt like ants next to it all. Looking forward, they saw a man, hunched over on a stone chair, behind him an empty throne. His greying hair hid his face, and he said nothing.

"Hail, Denethor, son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor." The man said nothing as the three approached, "I come with tidings in this dark hour, and with counsel."

"Perhaps you've come to explain this." The old man's cracked voice said as he looked up. His grey eyes showed nothing but pain, and in his hands was the horn of Gondor. Boromir's horn.

The two hobbits gasped.

"Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead?" He asked a little louder now.

Pippin stepped forward suddenly, as Gen and Gandalf hissed to themselves, "Boromir died to save us, my kinsman, friends, and me. He died defending us from many foes."

Pippin bowed low, and Gen rolled her eyes, "Pippin!" She whispered harshly.

"I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this death." Pippin looked up from his low position, and it grew silent as Denethor stared at him. Nervously, Gen's gazed switched between everybody, worrying Pippin may have gotten himself into bigger trouble.

"Get up!" Gandalf said to him as he pulled him back with his staff. Pippin stumbled back and Gen pulled him to her, steadying him. He looked down, today wasn't going well.

"My Lord, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming! The enemy is at your doorstep! As Steward, you are charged with the defense of this city. Where are Gondor's armies?" Gandalf questioned him, his voice echoing off the walls. Denethor slowly turned his gaze to him, anger in his eyes.

"You still have friends, you are not alone in this fight. Send word to Theoden of Rohan! Light the beacons!"

"You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom," Denethor smiled in amusement, "Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor and with your right you would seek supplant to me."

Gandalf's eyes widened in surprise, and the two hobbits felt frightened suddenly, "I know who rides with Theoden of Rohan. Oh, yes. Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from the North! Last of a ragged house, long bereft of Lordship." Denethor explained as Gandalf shook his head.

"Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King- Steward!" Gandalf shouted as Denethor exploded in rage and abruptly stood up.

"The rule of Gondor is MINE!" Gen cowered in fear behind Gandalf, "And no others!"

Gandalf stood frozen for a moment, then turned sharply on his heel, "Come." He muttered to the hobbits, Gen quickly following him.

"Pippin, you should have left it alone. We're in enough trouble already!" Gen whispered to him as servants laid out a small uniform of the royal guard on his bed. He looked at it in wonder, and ran his fingers along the beautiful white tree on the front as the servants left.

"I know, I just-"

"Pip, I'm serious!" She replied as he sighed and closed his eyes.

"I just felt it my duty, alright?" He replied looking her in the eyes. She sighed and facepalmed.

"Oh Pip, what am I going to do with you?" She paused, "What is Diamond going to do with you?" The two chuckled and he pulled her in for a hug.

"I miss her." He said as she nodded.

"I know you do. And I miss Merry." She replied into his nightshirt. The two stood there for awhile, hugging. In that friendly, comfort way.

The two parted and Gen went to change into her night clothes just as Gandalf entered. Pippin went back to admiring his new uniform. Gandalf examined the sky, and the feeling wasn't good. Something felt nasty in the air, a foreboding he didn't like.

"So, I imagine this us just a ceremonial position? I mean, they don't expect me to do any fighting?" He paused and looked at Gandalf, "Do they?"

Gandalf smirked to himself, "You're in the service of the Steward now! You're going to have to do as you're told, Peregrin Took!" He turned back to face the overlook of the city, "Guard of the Citadel!" He scoffed to himself quietly. Pippin came up next to him and stared up at the sky, wondering if it looked the same back home.

"It's so quiet," he whispered.

"It's the deep breath before the plunge." Gandalf said.

"I don't want to be in a battle, but waiting on the edge of what I can't escape is even worse." Pippin said as Gandalf nodded in agreement, "Is there any hope, Gandalf, for Karolyn, Frodo, and Sam?" He asked, suddenly remembering the true reason for this war.

Gandalf sadly looked away, "There never was much hope." Pippin's eyes wanted to water, "Just a fool's hope."

Our enemy is almost ready, his full strength gathered. Not only Orcs, but men as well. Legions of Haradrim from the South. Mercenaries from the coast, all will answer Mordor's call." He paused, "This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here, the hammer stroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defense of this city will be gone." The two looked at the burning city below, miles away. A shattering could be heard from the washroom behind them, and Gen cursing to herself. Pippin chuckled.

"But we have the White Wizard. That's got to count for something." Pippin said hopefully, smiling up at Gandalf. The old wizard said nothing, "Gandalf?"

"Sauron has yet to reveal his deadliest servant," he paused painfully, "The one who will lead Mordor's armies in war, the one they say no living man can kill."

The Witchking of Angmar." He looked down to Pippin, who was startled, "You've met him before."

Now Pippin was to afraid to ask, he didn't want to have met him!

"He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop."

He vanished, he had done it, he had put on the ring. Sam gasped, and I let out a squeal. The riders let out a screech off frustration. We all watched, with wide eyes filled to the brim with fear and horror as we watched the events that unfolded in front of us.

The rider rose his sword, as if he was going to stab someone, which is what we all feared the most at this point.

"NO!" I shouted. The rider plunged his sword to the ground, and a blood curtailing scream filled the air.

"Frodo!" Sam yelled with tears.

"Oh my god no!" Diamond added, she was curled in a ball sobbing.

There was another scream, and Aragorn appeared out of nowhere. The rider pulled the sword up, and Frodo was on the ground, clutching his left shoulder. I shot up and ran in between Aragorn and the fire, Frodo was bleeding and still screaming. Soon, everyone else was around me and we were all crying.

"Frodo, don't die please come back!" I screamed with his head in my lap, I was stroking his cheeks.

Pippin winced at the memory, as he could still hear Frodo's frantic screams and the cries of his friends around him.

"He is the Lord of Nazgul. The greatest of the nine." He paused, "And Minas Morgul is his lair."

We walked for miles, and now just come upon some city. It was disgusting, and two, HUGE, terrifying pillars stood at the entrance to the bridge. It glowed green and had a horrible feeling, I even felt a little sick. Smeagol was leading us to these stairs, and yet Sam and I had no trust in him. He still hasn't earned it. Frodo wandered aimlessly behind us, pale. He was getting worse, and the chain around his neck grew heavier.

"The Dead City! Very nasty place, full of," he paused with that nasty voice of his, "Enemies."

We ran behind a rock and looked at it, he was right. It was nasty.

"Quick! Quick! They will see, they will see." Gollum called us over. Sam and I looked at each other, and he reached over to hold me steady as we climbed over the rocks. But Frodo didn't move.

"Come away! Come away! Look! We have found it!" Frodo followed behind us as we all looked up to a ghastly sight. I gulped.

It was the steepest, most dangerous set of never ending stairs I had ever seen. Literally climbing up the side of the cliff.

"The way, into Mordor!" Gollum hissed, and we shivered.

"Damn, we'll never make it." I said as Sam nodded.

"The secret stairs! Climb!" Gollum commanded as he began to, Sam let me go first, and he after me. I turned my head, and Frodo wasn't following us. I began to panic, and Sam looked concerned. Finally, I found Frodo...

WALKING RIGHT TO MINAS MORGUL!

"FRODO!" I called out. Gollum and Sam spun around to, and we all chased after him.

"Not that way!" Gollum desperately cried out as we got to Frodo.

"What's it doing?" Gollum asked as we pulled Frodo back, barely.

(Start "Minas Morgul", please! For me? It makes the reading of it so much better!)

"They're calling me," Frodo slurred, disorientated and lost. He fell to the ground with us as the ground suddenly began to shake. It went silent, then, an echoing grumbling came from the outside and into the city. A blinding flame erupted from the middle and shot to the sky. We all screamed and fell back.

Remaining composure (which we barely had any), we pulled Frodo up and raced back to a rock to hide behind.

Gen walked out of the washroom, only to come upon a frightening sight. A green flame, coming out from the mountains of Mordor. She hissed in pain as she heard Karolyn calling her name from in her head.

"What the hell is this?!" she cried out, referring to the voice and flame. It was as if she was in Karolyn's mind, like she was there at Minas Morgul. She raced to Gandalf's side, and he pulled the two hobbits closer in reassurance. Pippin was shaking in fear.

"Shit shit shit!" I repeated as we hid behind the rock. Frodo was whimpering and panting, and I pulled him to me, attempting as much as possible to shush him repeatedly. For some reason, I cried out to Gen and Pippin in my head, hoping they would hear me. I think they did. Frodo let out a hissing whimper, and a cry, everything seemed to be ending right then and there. His grip on my shoulder tightened, and I tried as hard as I could not to pry him off of me. For a moment, everything went quiet, like right before the murderer jumps out from behind the shower curtain. The suspense was killing me.

"It'll be fine-" I was cut off by the ear piercing scream of something I dreaded. The Nazgul beasts on wings! Frodo pushed me away violently, and we all placed our hands over our ears. It went on forever, and Frodo suddenly pried his hands away, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"I can feel his blade!" He cried out, the stinging sensation in his shoulder increasing by hundreds. It ended, finally, and I crawled to Frodo. He buried his face into my chest, whimpering and breathing heavily. I hushed him, like a baby. To me, he felt like a helpless, innocent child. Suddenly, the sound of marching could be heard. Looking over the rock, I saw an enormous army marching out of Minas Morgul, ready for battle. Battle cries were let out, and the orcs were a truly frightening sight.

"Look at me!" I whispered, his head snapped to mine and his breathing slowed.

"You're okay," I whispered as he kissed my cheek.

"No I'm not." He whispered back. A tear fell from my eye and hit his cheek. I quickly wiped it off, for I didn't want him to see me crying. He simply pushed my hair back and wiped away another tear.

"I'm sorry," I said to him as he shook his head.

"Don't be," he tried to smile, but to no avail. I was surprised that with just one look at me, he calmed down.

"We come to it at last," Gandalf said, staring into the night, "The great battle of our time." Pippin and Gen shuffled in his hold.

"This war is long planned. Sauron has hated the west through many ages, it is a hatred that flows from the depths of time, across the deeps of the sea."

"Come hobbits! We climb, we must climb!" Gollum hissed as Sam tapped me. He pulled me up and Frodo. Looking up, we all sighed at the sight of the stairs.

It seemed we would never make it.

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