Daughter of the Shapeshifter (A Lord of The Rings Fanfiction)

Chapter 36

*Pippin's Pov-

Bright and early the next day, Lord Denethor ordered that I come to the throne room and help prepare for the burial service.  I swallowed hard as I watched the huge pile of wood build up in the very center of throne room...

"Bring Era to me at once!"  My heart thudded against my chest as I thought about Era, being up there, and burning along with the monster of a man and his son, who really was alive.  Remembering my task, I nodded to the lord.

"My lord, please...  Era can heal your son.  There is no need to burn along with the two, when your son can be healed."  He turned and glared at me.

"Is that how you feel about this?  What about your duty to Gondor?"  I fought to control my temper as I held my head higher.

"I am attending to it...  I am trying to spare the live of the lord of Gondor and his kin.  We have much bigger issues than to murder..."  He roared and caught me by the collar of my shirt, dragging me to the doors.

"I free you from your oath, boy...  Go die as you please!"  I caught a glimpse of Era, kicking and screaming as she was brought into the throne room before the door slammed in my face.  Knowing I had to do something, I ran off in search of Gandalf.

"Gandalf!  Era's in trouble..."  A female dwarf beside him turned to face me.

"No, I'm not..."  My breath caught in my throat.

"Era?!?  How'd you escape?"  She bit her lip.

"It's kinda a long story..."

*Era's Pov: Midnight-

As soon as the guards thought I was asleep, I placed the necklace around my neck and, shifting into a bird, I flew out into the night.  I had to find Gandalf before dawn.  If I didn't, Faramir was going to die...  However, a few guards might if I succeed.

*Pippin's Pov-

Oh this was very bad...  If Era was here, that only meant that...

"Era, we have to get to the tower and stop Lord Denethor before he burns himself, Faramir, and your mother!"  Her eyes widened.

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!?"  She caught hold of my shoulders, shaking me.  "My mother is here?!?"  I swallowed hard and nodded.

"Yes, and Lord Denethor thinks she's you.  He plans on burning her and himself with Faramir at the burial service!"  She trembled as she let go of me.

"We haven't a moment to lose..."

*Skyrena's Pov-

"Come, child...  Let us meet your love and his brother in the halls of the great kings before their time."  I tugged weakly, fighting to keep Era's form.

As long as he thought I was her, she'd be safe.  As I fought, I found myself being lifted onto the pile of wood.  Lord Denethor took the can of oil and, drenching himself first, he began to soak me in what remained.  I coughed as the strong fumes filled my nose.  Lord Denethor turned to the guards nearby.

"Light us..."  I cringed as the torches approached the wood...

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"  Out of nowhere, the door flew open, and an arrow embedded itself in a guard's arm, making him draw the torch away from us.  I turned and saw Gandalf riding towards us on a white horse, and Era was behind him, running right towards us.

*Era's Pov-

Lord Denethor roared in rage as Mother smiled at me.  I glared at the lord as I approached, my arrow ready to stop any more attempts to hurt them.  Around me, the guards exchanged looks as their lord looked between Mother and I.

"What trickery is this?"  She shivered back into her original dwarf form, her long, brown hair falling down her shoulders as he threw her down.  "Skyrena of the Woods?  You betrayed all of Gondor with this trickery!"  I started towards him, ready to shoot him if I had to.

"Lord Denethor, your son is still alive, and he can be healed.  Stop this madness and step away from the fire."  The oil burned my nostrils as I got closer.  He grabbed Mother by her hair and yanked her to her feet, sneering at me.

"Come, child...  You still deny what is so painfully clear.  Faramir is dead, and that's all there is to it.  Now, will you join your lovers, or will you watch your mother burn?"  I growled as I realized she was covered in oil.  Coming to a halt, I hung my head.

"Very well...  I will join you but only if you let her go..."  Gandalf shook his head.

"No, Era...  It would be murder!"  I looked over at him, my eyes full of tears.

"But I've lost so much already, Gandalf...  Haldir...  Boromir...  How could I lose Mother now?"  I knew that, outside these walls, a battle raged on.  If Mother was spared, she'd be able to help them win.  Me?  What chance did I stand against Sauron himself and all his forces?  Looking at Denethor, I froze at the bottom of the pile.  "Release her, and I will burn by your side."  He flung her to the ground beside me and grabbed my arm.

"So be it!"  Snagging a torch, he dropped it onto the pile.  "Now, we burn!"

I coughed as smoke overcame me almost instantly.  My eyes watered as I fell to my knees, gasping for air.  I'd saved Mother and, very possibly, Middle Earth.  Mother would mourn, just like she mourned Father's death, but she'd be able to save all we wtill cared about.  If only I could have told Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimili thank you for being such good friends...  If only I had been beside Haldir in his last moments...  If only I had been there to save Boromir...

"Era!"  Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me off of the pile.  I coughed and looked up to see Gandalf knocking Denethor from the burning pile while Pippin saved Faramir.  I coughed and gasped for air as Mother's face came into focus.  "Come on, stay with me..."  I coughed weakly as I sat up.  Lord Denethor roared in rage.

"You will not take my son from me!"  Without warning, he charged right at Mother and I.