Elwing stood still as stone looking out over the fields of Rohan, her mind already whirling, knowing Minas Tirith was the enemy's next target. She saw out of the corner of her eye Asterin join her at her side, "frustrated with the king's choice?" She nodded as her friend sighed and stood beside her, "the people are still frightened from the battle. And if we do not act soon, I believe we will find ourselves in the shadow of Mordor," her own worries echoed with Asterin's words. "The King is trying to protect his people, but he does not see the true threat at hand," remembering the many stories her father had told her of the war of the ring. She saw her friend turn, greeting her kinsman, "manno-vanean Legolas." A chill crept down her spine and the others looked at each other, shock in their eyes as the pair said, "he is here."
Racing through the doors to an alarming sight, Asterin nearly froze at the sight which greeted her eyes. Pippin lay thrashing upon the floor, and in his hands lay the sphere that she now recognized from her studies. A Palantir, an ancient artifact from Numenor, used to communicate over great distances but only by those with great strength of will and wisdom. The image in the Palantir was a great flaming eye, the eye of Sauron filling the sphere. Elwing lurched forward, unclasping her cloak, Aragorn moving swiftly tore the Palantir from the hobbit's hands only to slump to the floor, the sphere rolling across the stones. Elwing threw her cloak as Asterin raced forward, barely managing to catch Aragorn before he fell, disoriented, Gandalf already awake, shouting, "fool of a Took!" Elwing had knelt by Pippin's side, who stared blankly towards the rafters, Aragorn rising to a sitting position. Motioning to Legolas she moved to Merry's side as Gandalf saw the other young hobbit's concern and worry flashing across the wizard's face. "Pippin," she grasped Merry's hand glancing over and seeing Pippin's eyes fill with fear, and she heard something she knew to be the truth.
"What did you see," Asterin rose to her feet, listening as the young hobbit spoke, fear filling his voice. "I saw a white tree, in a courtyard of stone. It, it was dead," she met Elwing's eyes and knew the understanding in her friend's eyes was mirrored in her own. "A city was burning," Gandalf nodded barely, "Minas Tirith, is that what you saw." Terror shone in Pippin's eyes, and Asterin stepped forward, "Mithrandir, let me calm him, he is frightened." Elwing spoke up, "what else did you see," she watched as Pippin struggled to speak. "I, I saw him," she felt Merry tighten his grip on her hand, "what did you tell him."
Her mind raced through what little she knew of the fellowship's mission, remembering why it had been formed. "He asked me my name, I didn't answer, he spoke in my head," Gandalf spoke quickly his voice near to an order, "what did tell him of Frodo and the ring." Realization hit her Pippin knew of Frodo's quest and of the path his friend would take, but the young Took shook his head, "nothing I told him nothing."
"Estel, Mithrandir, someone must ride for the white city. Warn the men there of the coming attack," Elwing stood seeing her brothers come rushing in, Elladan with his sword unsheathed, Elrohir with an arrow drawn full nock on his bow. "For the sake of the Valar brothers, what took you so long," Elwing's voice was near to ringing with annoyance at her siblings. "What has taken place," Elrohir demanded, returning his arrow to his quiver as Elladan moved to return the sword to its sheath, and she recognized the blade her brother carried. "Why do you carry Adar's blade," Elladan glanced down as the blade slid back into the sheath. "Father gifted it to me as we left to find the Dundenian, for me to wield in battle, for he does not believe it to be wise to leave Imladris during this current conflict."
She nodded, noticing that despite the commotion, and to her slight amusement, Gimli lay asleep, "it would not be wise at all though we now know of the enemy's plan. To launch a full-scale assault on the city of Minas Tirith," behind her Gandalf rose to his feet, and Asterin moved to calm Pippin the soft song echoing quietly in the silent room. "As the dawn rises, I will take young master Took with me to warn the steward, Lord Denethor, of the coming attack." Gandalf spoke quickly, but Elwing added, "a companionship of three would be stronger, I will come with you, Mithrandir, to the white city."
She had foreseen her brother's reaction, the utter disbelief and surprise that flashed across their faces. "I am well known as one of my father's councilors, and as a representative of Imladris, I will bring council that Lord Denethor may actually take to heart." Elrohir shut his mouth, for he had begun to speak, hearing the wisdom in her words, but Elladan spoke, "if Minas Tirith is to be the Sauron's next target, we should ride there now. All of us," Aragorn countered, "should we all ride for the white city, none will remain to bring Rohan to Gondor's aid." Elwing strode past her brothers opening the great doors and seeing the barest rays of the sun begin to shine on the horizon, "the sun rises we ride before it has fully risen." Coming back to her brothers, she threw her arms around the two of them, "I can take care of myself, now it is time to part once more. I will see you again outside the wall of the white city," pulling herself free she smiled at them and raced out the doors headed for the stables.
Asterin felt shock ripple through her, and she nearly stopped singing, but her voice stayed strong while she sang. The simple melody told the story of the forest of her homeland, and she always felt safe when she heard this song. Once Pippin calmed down, she stood up and made her way out with the hobbits on her tail, striding swiftly towards the stables, seeing Gandalf approach out of the corner of her eye. "Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, you Peragrin Took are the worst," he strode back, Pippin looking near to terrified of the white wizard, and Asterin followed with Merry at her side.
"Where are we going," Pippin asked, peering over his shoulder Merry snapped back, "you foolish hobbit, we have to get you out of here. You made Sauron think you have the ring Pippin," fear flitted across Pippin's face, and Asterin rolled her eyes at him urging the hobbits forward. As she entered the stables moving to stand beside Elwing, who swung up onto her horse a grim look on her face. She gripped her friend's hand, looking up at her hazel eyes once more meeting stony gray, a silent message passing between them. "I'll see you once more on Pelennor fields mellon."
"I will see you again, friend." A small smile flickered across her friend's face as Gandalf said, "go, Shadowfax, show us the meaning of haste." Asterin stepped to the side as he rushed past and quickly said, "ride hard, my friend, do not look back." Elwing bent forward, muttering, "naralene Farsha," and the horse surged forward, and Asterin sprinted after Merry at her side. She followed the young hobbit up onto the watch tower, watching as the two horses, one light, and one dark, raced across the plains.
Hey, if any of you are still here, I am so sorry for the lack of content over the last six months or so, I plan to upload a lot more content much more frequently now that I am done applying to college! Thank you so much for your patience, and yes, I am still alive and writing.