Last Act of Love (Sequel to The Last One)

Chapter 22

Legolas and Ruive stood side by side starring out over the dark rolling hills of Rohan. Legolas having recovered from his drunken state, and luckily for Ruive, not remembered anything that was spoken between her limping him outside and him waking up sometime later. There was a peaceful silence between them, the kind that did not need to be broken. Although as they looked out to the east, the ever growing threat of Mordor weighed heavier on their minds. 

Aragorn walked outside into the crisp night air of Rohan. He glanced to his left and saw Legolas and Ruive looking out over the terrain. He softly walked over and stood on the other side of Ruive, careful not to disturb either of them.   

"The stars are veiled." Ruive began

"Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice." Legolas continued, before turning his head to face Aragorn. 

"The Eye of the Enemy is moving." 

A peaceful silence followed as the three looked over the plains. But suddenly Ruive felt a darkness wash over them and the air was like ice, as if a dark presence was looming close. Apparently she was not the only one to feel it.

"He is here!" Legolas gasped.

The three ran inside the Hall and followed the sounds of Merry's pleas for help. They burst into the room to see Pippin bucking and jerking painfully with his hands glued to the palantír. Aragorn ran forward and reefed the palantír from Pippin's grasp only to collapse to the ground, Legolas caught him as Ruive pushed the palantír out of his hands only to recoil back from the fire-like burning that spread over her hand as she touched it. Gandalf, by now had awakened and thrown a cloak over the orb, smothering it's power.

"Fool of a Took!" He roared, whipping around to face the hobbit.

Pippin was frozen in fear and shock on the ground, a worried Merry by his side. Gandalf rushed over and pushed Merry to the side carelessly, the wizard began murmuring a spell under his breath while gently touching Pippin's forehead. Pippin suddenly came to again and began panting and looking around wildly in fear. 

"Look at me." Gandalf said.

Pippin cringed under Gandalf's gaze, feeling his guilt rise up and overflow.

"Gandalf, forgive me."

"Look at me. What did you see?" Gandalf urged.

"A tree. There was a white tree. In a courtyard of stone. It was dead." Pippin rasped. 

"The city was burning."

"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?" Gandalf asked.

"I saw...I saw him! I can hear his voice in my head."

"And what did you tell him? Speak!" The wizard demanded.

"He asked me my name. I didn't answer. He hurt me." Pippin whimpered.

"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?"

Gandalf continued his interrogation on the Hobbit, only to discover Pippin had not divulged anything to Sauron. 

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The following morning what remained of the Fellowship and Theoden stood in the great hall, the air was thick with tension as Gandalf began to speak. 

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the palantír a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still,strength perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a king return to the throne of Men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."