The Return of the King and Queen

Chapter 27: The Darkness of the Palantir

It was early morning after the feast but sleep could not find some of them. Something was lurking and it would not let her rest. Amdiriel had risen, grabbed her cloak, and walked out of the Hall once again to try to find a sense of peace. Something was wrong, and she could feel it. She guessed it was not only her because Legolas soon joined her. His hood rested upon his head like hers did as she turned to him.

"Can not sleep?" she asked him. The elf shook his head "There is something that is going on, a shadow grows, you feel it as I do?" he asked. Amdiriel nodded her head as they stared off into the East. "I am happy for you." Legolas said to her after a moment. "You and Aragorn. I saw that kiss before we rode out of the Hornburg." he explained when he saw her questioning gaze. "I always knew you would do it. I am truly happy for you, you deserve it." he told her. Amdiriel gave him a smile. "Thanks for all make sure I never gave up." she replied. Amdiriel then gave Legolas a hug, When they pulled away they went back to looking into East. A few minutes past when Aragorn then came up next to them.

"The stars are veiled." Amdiriel told him. "Can't sleep?" Aragorn asked, Amdiriel nodded her head. "Something stirs in the East." she replied. "A sleepless malice." Legolas add causing him and Amdiriel to glance at each other. "The eye of the enemy is moving." Legolas told them. As the seconds went by they could feel the shadow grow and in the pit of Amdiriel's stomach worry and fear grew. Aragorn looked to the two as he too felt the shadow grow. Legolas turned to them "He is here!" he said the worry evident in his voice. "The Palantir." Aragorn told them. Amdiriel gasped before they ran back inside, Amdiriel leading them through the Hall to the room where she knew the men were staying.

She barged through the door "No!" she yelled as she looked down to see Pippin on his back, thrashing his mouth open as if silently screaming and the Palantir in his hand but only this time flames surrounded the sphere. Amdiriel without hesitation or thought grabbed the Palantir from Pippin's hands, taking it in her own. As soon as she grabbed her knees buckled and her eyes closed shut as she felt the amount of darkness enter her, her head began to hurt and her heart began to pound in her chest. "Amdi!" Aragorn called out as she fell back into his and Legolas's arms but she heard nothing just the sound of loud screaming. "You have failed!" said a deep voice in her head but it all ended when she slipped to the ground causing the sphere to roll from her hands into the corner of the room.

"Aahh!" Merry says as he jumps out of the way, Gandalf runs past him with a blanket in his hand. Gandalf throws it and covers the evil device, turning back to the others "Fool of a Took!" he scolded but stopped when he saw the young hobbit laying on his back motionless, Merry calling out his cousin's name. "No." he whispered and then glanced over to Amdiriel who was on her side eyes still shut taking deep breaths with Aragorn and Legolas crouching over her.

"Amdi." Aragorn whispered as Legolas silently removed the dagger at the woman's side. Aragorn looked at him confused but the elf knew that it would be the first thing she would reach for depending on what she saw and it was better to be safe than sorry. Their attention immediately turned downward as Amdireil reached for he dagger just to find that it wasn't there but before she could reach for her hidden one Aragorn grabbed her hand. "It's alright. You're safe." he told her. "Aragorn." she said as she looked up at him and then to Legolas who gave her a small smile. Amdiriel took in a breath of relief but then her eyes grew with worry "Pippin?" she asked and tried to scramble to her feet. The two then helped her to her feet and walk over to Gandalf who had just asked the sacred hobbit what he had seen.

"A tree, there was a white tree in a courtyard of stone. It was dead. The city was burning." Pippin told him. " Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?" Gandalf questioned. Amdiriel could feel her heart sink for she had seen the same, her home had been consumed by the flames of Mordor.