Happy New Year everyone. Sorry it took me so long to update, but here's the next chapter.
After three days of ridding, Gandalf, The Doctor and Boromir emerged from a forest and rode up a hill. In the distance was a castle, seemingly built into a large hill.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Boromir asked as The Doctor took it in.
"It is," The Doctor said gently, finding the castle rivaled that of most alien planets he had seen.
"Wait until you see it up close," Boromir said with a laugh.
The quartet rode into the city on their horses. As they stopped, getting off their steeds, Boromir was suddenly swarmed by a group of civilians, all of them clearly overjoyed to see him after so long. Boromir merely laughed, patiently answering any questions
"He's very popular, isn't he?" Pippin noted and The Doctor smiled.
"Yes. Yes, he is," The Doctor agreed.
Before The Doctor could say anything else, he turned his head and froze. There, standing just behind the crown surrounding Boromir, was Tara. She stared at him silently, an unreadable look on her face before someone walked in front of her. When The Doctor could see where Tara had been standing again, she was no longer there.
"Doctor? Are you all right?" Gandalf inquired when he saw The Doctor staring at something.
"Yes. Yes, I'm fine," The Doctor said after a moment, wondering if he was going mad.
Later, Gandalf and Boromir led The Doctor and Pippin to the top level. As they passed a tree, Pippin gasped, recognizing it from his vision.
"It's the tree! Gandalf, Gandalf!" Pippin cried, frantically gesturing to it.
"Yes, the White Tree of Gondor. The tree of the king," Gandalf agreed.
"It is a symbol of hope for my people," Boromir said, with a glance at the tree like it was water in a desert. "To destroy it would break my people."
"Which would explain why Sauron wants to burn it," The Doctor noted and Gandalf nodded.
"Aye, Doctor. Lord Denethor, however, is not king. He is a steward only, a caretaker of the throne," Gandalf said, looking at Boromir, who merely nodded his agreement. "Now listen carefully. Make no mention of Frodo or the Ring."
"I believe this to be the wisest action. My father lusts for the Ring, believes it will bring him glory, not ruin," Boromir added and Gandalf nodded his agreement.
"And say nothing of Aragorn either," Gandalf said before pausing. "In fact, it's better if you don't speak at all, Peregrin Took."
"Yes, let's leave the talking to them, my friend. You and I are just along for the ride," The Doctor said, shooting a grin at the Hobbit, who weakly returned it.
It was silent as the four of them walked through a pair of doors, entering a grand hall with several pillars. As they walked in, The Doctor and Pippin noticed statues of past kings. The resemblance to Aragorn was unmistakable.
At the edge of the hall was a man sitting on a throne. Upon seeing Boromir, the man smiled.
"Boromir, my son!"
Denethor got to his feet to greet his son. Boromir attempted a bow but allowed his father to pull him into a hug.
"I heard rumors that you had been killed. But I should have known, my boy would never fall so easily," Denethor said with a beaming smile as he released Boromir.
"I have had help, Father," Boromir said humbly, gesturing to his companions. "You know Gandalf the Grey, now Gandalf the White. This is The Doctor of Gallifrey and Peregrin Took of the Shire."
"Hail Denethor, son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor!" Gandalf declared, all of them noticed Denethor's expression darken as he saw Gandalf.
As Gandalf continued speaking, The Doctor froze, spotting Tara appearing over Denethor's shoulder. The Doctor glanced at the others but they didn't seem to realize she was even there.
"You're not mad, Doctor. Only you can see me," Tara informed him, circling the space between Denethor and the others. "The time has come, Doctor. Believe. If you don't, all will be for naught."
Tara was then gone, leaving The Doctor staring at the spot where she fled, he almost missed Denethor's explosion.
"You think you are wise, Mithrandir. Yet for all your subtleties, you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know!" Denethor snarled. "With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor. And with your right you'd seek to supplant me. 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."
"Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the king, Steward," Gandalf said icily, only enraging Denethor further.
"The rule of Gondor is mine! And no one else!" Denethor sneered.
"You would see all of Gondor dead to satisfy your pride," The Doctor said in disbelief and Denethor turned to him angrily.
"What do you know of Gondor, Doctor of Gallifrey?!" Denethor said angrily.
"I know it cannot survive alone against Sauron's forces. Put aside your pride and think of your people!" The Doctor told him.
"Father, The Doctor and Gandalf are right. We have no right to deny the return of the king," Boromir said gently and Denethor whirled on him as well.
"Even you, my son? Even you have betrayed me?" Denethor said, sounding as heartbroken as he was angry.
"I will never betray you, Father. But this is not about us; it is about all of Middle-Earth. We have to stand together, or all is lost," Boromir desperately pleaded with his father.
Seeing Denethor was spiraling out of control, The Doctor glanced down at his ring, remembering what Galadriel had told him about. It could help. He just had to believe enough.
He had never been one to put his faith in anything other than science…but, if Tara was telling the truth and this was just a stepping stone compared to the real threat, maybe it was time he finally started.
With a heavy sigh, The Doctor clenched his into a fist and raised it towards Denethor, just as he had done with Théoden. But, this time, the ring glowed green.
Immediately, they could see the effect this had on Denethor. Where, only moments before he had seemed on the verge of losing control and attacking his own son, he suddenly calmed, appearing now to be actually considering Boromir's words.
"And what would you have me do, my son?" Denethor asked reluctantly.
"Light the beacon, Father. Rohan will answer; Théoden King will ride for Gondor," Boromir said, latching onto his father's moment of reason and, after a moment, Denethor nodded reluctantly.
"Very well, have the beacon lit. Théoden may come if he wishes. But if this Aragorn expects me to hand over the throne, he is a fool," Denethor said as he sat back in the throne.
Knowing it would be pointless to argue further, the four bowed before leaving the throne room.
"Well done, Doctor," Gandalf said as they walked back into the courtyard. "I see you've finally found faith."
"Call it whatever you will, if it helps us with Denethor, I'm just glad it works," The Doctor said, glancing down at his ring.
"I feel this may only prolong the inevitable," Boromir said uneasily and Gandalf nodded.
"You are right, Boromir. The Doctor's ring heals the minds of Men, but it cannot change a Man's nature. This moment of reason is temporary. Denethor will not be so accommodating by the time Théoden and his army arrives," Gandalf said grimly.
"So what do we do?" Pippin asked nervously.
"We must hold the line until then, Pippin," The Doctor said, feeling his nine hundred plus years of life then. "And make sure Denethor does not lead his people to ruin."
With The Doctor's help, Denethor was a bit more reasonable, but as Gandalf said, it's temporary.
A bit on the short side I know, but next chapter will be longer. Until then.