Amara remained in her room for the remainder of the day, choosing that once the sun dipped below the horizon that she would wipe her tears and venture outside. That was her first mistake.

Legolas stood with his back to Amara, his hood up with his cloak flowing in the sight breeze. The elf dwarf took a step back but Legolas' ears pricked up and he turned.

They stood frozen, staring at one another in silence until Legolas finally spoke.

"Yes?" He asked, his voice holding some edge to it. Amara opened her mouth but no sound came out. Legolas raised his brow.

"I wanted to speak with you." She finally said.

"I have nothing to say to you." He said, turning back to survey the horizon.

"Then listen to what I have to say." When Legolas didn't reply, Amara continued. "I'm sorry for causing you such pain. I was blinded by my own mind and I couldn't see that I was hurting you. Please forgive me, Legolas. We're friends."

"We are allies in battle, nothing more." He responded. Amara felt tears well up in her eyes and she hurried inside before Legolas could notice. In her distress, she ran straight into Aragorn. He stilled her by placing his hands on her shoulders.

"What's wrong?" He asked, his brow drawn up in concern.

"Nothing." She murmured, ripping herself out of his grasp and hurrying passed him.

Aragorn watched as she disappeared down the hall. Then he turned and walked outside to meet Legolas.

"What's wrong with Amara?" He asked. Legolas shrugged, an unusual gesture for an elf.

"She seemed distressed.." Aragorn pressed.

"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East, a sleepless malice." Legolas said, changing the subject quickly. He cast a glance at Aragorn. "The eye of the enemy is moving."

Pippin stirs, gets up and throws back his blanket. He pauses checking everyone is asleep. He walks up the center of the room. Merry lifts his head.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

Pippin whirls around guiltily. He looks at Merry then continues with what he was doing. He approaches Gandalf. Pippin jumps as he sees the wizards eyes open.

"Pippin!" Merry whispered.

Pippin waves his hand in front of Gandalf's eyes. They don't move and Gandalf doesn't stir. Pippin looks at the bundle in Gandalf's arms.

"Pippin!" Merrycalls

Pippin ignores him and picks up a jug. Gandalf mutters something in his sleep making Pippin recoil in fear. But he gains more courage and grabs the bundle from Gandalf's arm, replacing it with the jug.

Amara wandered aimlessly through the quiet, empty halls, when two voices reached her ears.

"Pippin! Are you mad?" Merry said. Amara stopped in her tracks and listened to the two hobbits.

"I just want to look at it, just one more time." Pippin murmured.

"Put it back!" Merry demanded. Amara tilted her head, trying to figure out what they were talking about.

"Pippin!" Merry snapped.

"No!" Amara's eyes widened. The Palantir. Gandalf had warned her of its power. She took off down the hall, bursting into the room as Pippin screams and stands up with the Palantir stuck in his hands. His mouth is open in a soundless scream

"Pippin!" Amara shouted. She grabbed hold of the hobbit's shoulders, "Pippin, let go!"

Pippin continues to struggle and shaking, his body twisting violently. Amara looked at the Palantir then back at the hobbit. In a split second decision, the elf-dwarf grabbed hold of the Palantir and tried to yank it away from Pippin. Pain shot through her as she closed her eyes, her mind filled with horrid images.

A white tree stood before her, engulfed in fire. She saw the White City, Minas Tirith, being destroyed by armies of Orcs. Suddenly, she was stood in a field, before her the Gates of Mordor. Surrounding her were bodies. Bodies of men, women, and children. She walked through the battle field, her eyes falling on very familiar faces. Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam lay in a heap, eyes glossy and mouths open in silent screams. She turned away to be met with Aragorn laying face down, a broken sword in his hand, his eyes wide and is body still. She turned again to see Gimli and Gandalf covered in their own blood, holes ripped through their chests, Amara turned again and let out a scream, collapsing as she saw Legolas, or the remains of the elven prince. His wounds ravaged him beyond recognition.

"They will all die!" the voice of Sauron echoed around her.

"No!" Amara shouted.

"And so will you!" Amara looked down to see a growing red spot on her chest. She collapsed to her knees before falling onto her back.

She looked up at the smoke filled sky.

"You were once the greatest assassin of middle earth. With me, you can have that glory again." Amara put her hands over her ears and shut her eyes.

"Amara Silverhood, I can see you!" Amara let out a scream.

"Gandalf!" Merry shouted as Amara ripped the Palantir from Pippin's hands. The hobbit falls to floor, his eyes wide open, still fixed on the Palantir. Gandalf wakes. Aragorn and Legolas burst into the room. Amara continues to struggle.

"Help her!" Merry shouts. Amara let's out a scream and falls to her knees, her back arced. She falls onto her side and the Palantir rolls from her grasp. Merry dodges it as it rolls still further. Amara watches the Palantir intently, images still flashing through her mind. Gandalf runs after the Palantir and throws a blanket over it. Amara lets out a breath and her eyes slip closed.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf exclaims, but when he looks Pippin is lying still with his eyes open.

"No." He runs to Pippins side, shoving Merry out of the way. He holds Pippin's hand, puts his other hand on his forehead and closes his eyes. He mutters something inaudible under his breath and moves his hand to Pippin's cheek. Pippin jumps, gasps and wakes up.

"Look at me." Pippin looks at him.

"Gandalf, forgive me!" he closes his eyes again."

"Look at me! What did you see?" Gandalf pressed.

"A tree, there was a white tree in a courtyard of stone. It was dead. The city was burning.

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

"I saw-- I saw him!" Gandalf's eyes widen. Amara's unconscious body begins to shake. "I could hear his voice in my head."

"And what did you tell him? Speak!"

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

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

"Nothing! I said nothing." Pippin said. Aragorn knelt down next to Amara as she began tossing and turning, seemingly lost in the midst of a nightmare.

"Gandalf." He said. The wizard turned to see the elf-dwarf begin to seize. Gandalf placed a hand over her closed eyes and began murmuring inaudibly. Amara shook more violently, her head twisting away from Gandalf's hand.

"What's wrong with her?" Aragorn asked. Gandalf shook his head.

"She had the Palantir for much longer than Pippin. He must have gotten into her mind. Hold her still!" Aragorn and Legolas held her down as Gandalf placed both his hands on her face and began chanting out in some old unknown language.

Amara's eyes shot open and she sat up, breaking out of Aragorn and Legolas' grasp. She gasped for breath as she stared blankly ahead.

"Amara, Amara what happened?" Gandalf asked. Amara didn't answer, her breathing still raged. Aragorn placed his hand on her shoulder and her head snapped in his direction.

"Minas Tirith is going to burn." She said lowly, her eyes wide in fear.

"What else did you see?" Aragorn asked.

"The Gates of Mordor. Women and children and men alike...dead. He's going to kill every last being in Middle Earth." Her voice shook. Gandalf placed a hand on her other shoulder. Amara locked her eyes on him.

"Did he ask you anything? What did you tell him?" Amara shook her head.

"I told him nothing." Gandalf sighed in relief but Amara shook her head again.

"Gandalf, he knew my name. He knew who I was."

--

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool but an honest fool he remains." Gandalf said to King Theoden the next morning. They were all gathered in the great hall, Merry and Pippin sat to the side with Amara who was standing next to them.

"He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring." Gimli sighed with relief. "We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin and Amara saw in the Palantir 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." He nods at Aragorn, "Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still. Strength enough, 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."

"Tell me! Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" Theoden asked.

"I will go!" Aragorn declared.

"No!" Gandalf protested.

"They must be warned!"

"They will be." He approaches closely to Aragorn and speaks in a low voice, "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the black ships." He turns from Aragorn. "Understand this, things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith and I wont be going alone."

--

"Are you sure about this?" Aragorn asked as Amara began saddling up her horse. She nodded.

"Gandalf said I should go. It only makes sense since I saw Sauron's plans."

"Did you sleep at all last night?" The ranger asked. Amara's eyes shifted down.

"Every time I would close my eyes I would see the eye. It's like I can feel his gaze on me." Aragorn put his hand on her shoulders.

"You don't have to go. You must rest, Amara."

"I have to go. Gandalf will make sure that I'm safe. Besides, he'll need some help handling Pippin." She nodded towards Gandalf hurrying towards the stables with Pippin and Merry running after him.

"Of all the Hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry! Hurry!" The wizard snapped. Aragorn smirked as he followed Amara's gaze.

"Where are we going?" Pippin asked.

"Poor guy doesn't even understand what's going on." Amara murmured.

"Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?" Merry said angrily.

I don't know, I can't help it."

"You never can!" Merry snapped back.

"I'm sorry alright? I won't do it again."

"Don't you understand? The enemy thinks you have the ring! He is going to be looking for you Pip. They have to get you out of here."

"And you? You're coming with me?"

"Take care of Merry. They've never been without eachother." Amara said to Aragorn as she finished saddling her horse. Aragorn locked his fingers together and Amara placed her foot in his hands. She hoisted her other leg up over the horse's back.

Aragorn adjusted the stirrups so her feet could reach them. Pippin came walking over and Aragorn picked him up, helping Amara get him situated in front of her.

"How far is Minas Tirith?" The hobbit asked. Gandalf rode up next to them on Shadowfax.

"Three days ride as the Nazgül flies. And you'd better hope we don't have one of those on our tail." He said.

"Here, something for the road." Merry hands Pippin a leather pouch.

"The last of the Longbottom Leaf?"

"I know you've run out. You smoke too much Pippin."

"But, we'll see each other soon?"
Merry looks across at Gandalf.

"Wont we?" Pippin asked worriedly. Merry looks up at Pippin.

"I don't know! I don't know whats going to happen." Merry backs away, upset.

"Merry?"

"Run, Shadowfax show us the meaning of haste." Gandalf said.

"Merry!" Amara dug her heels into her horse and rod off after Gandalf. Merry runs up the steps to the top of a watchtower.

"Merry!" Aragorn follows him and they watch Shadowfax fading into the distance.

"He's always followed me everywhere I went since before we were tweens. I would get him into the worst sort of trouble but I was always there to get him out. Now he's gone." He ooks at Aragorn. "Just like Frodo and Sam."

"One thing I've learnt about Hobbits: They are a most hardy folk."

"Foolhardy maybe. He's a Took!" Merry laughed.