Journey’s End

Chapter 30

The Palantir

“He is here!”

Legolas and Aragorn immediately turned and sprinted away.

“What?” I asked, scrambling to my feet and pursuing them. “Wait!” I yelled, dashing through the halls and seeing Aragorn burst into our room ahead of me.

“Help! Gandalf Help!” I heard Merry shout as I entered the room, “Help him!”

I looked on in horror as I saw Pippin struggling with the Palantir. His eyes were shut tightly and his mouth opened in silent screams as the stone in his hand appeared to be wreathed in fire. Aragorn leapt forward and grabbed it out of Pippin’s hands.

“Aragorn!” I cried as I saw him sink to his knees as he struggled. I ran to him and tried to push the stone out of his hands, but somehow it became affixed to my own palms! I screamed in pain as the red-hot stone burnt my hands, and then I felt the burning, unbearable pain in my head. I screamed more as I saw fire and it only became worse. I tried to close my eyes to shut out the fire, but that only made it clearer. Then the pain reached an unbearable point, where I thought I was going to die. A great eye, wreathed with fire flashed in my mind and I knew it was him. I tried to make him go away, but he continued to torture me. It felt like my skull had been put in a vice, and someone was tightening it.

Suddenly, the pressure was released and the pain began to subside.

“Rana? Rana!”

I slowly opened my eyes to see Aragorn crouching over me. It took me a moment to get my bearings.

“Why am I on the floor?” I whispered hoarsely. Aragorn gently brushed my hair out of my eyes and I started to try and sit up.

“Careful.” Aragorn murmured, as I clutched my head.

“Ow…” I whispered as he steadied me. It felt like the pain was starting to come back… But that was impossible, I had dropped the Palantir. I tried to stand, and Aragorn held me by my shoulders as I continued to hold my head.

“Rana?” Aragorn sounded concerned as I staggered. The room began to spin as I tried to focus on his face.

“Aragorn?” I whispered fearfully as my legs began to give way beneath me.

Everything span, and then everything went black.

“Aragorn…”

***Aragorn’s Point of View***

“Aragorn…”

Rana whispered my name faintly, and then she seemed to collapse into my arms.

“Gandalf!” I cried, catching her limp body and gently laying her on the ground. The wizard rushed over from where he had been tending to Pippin. He laid his hand on Rana’s forehead as I looked on, frustrated at how powerless I was to help.

“Her mind is in turmoil…” He murmured, and then he went quiet and seemed to concentrate on her. “Sauron tried to use her to get to you.”

“Why? How?” I asked in confusion.

“He fears you Aragorn, and without meaning to, she revealed that she had a close bond with you, and exposed the weakest point of her mind.”

He sat back from Rana and lifted his hand from her face as her ragged breathing became even again. “By instantly trying to save you from the Palantir, she left her weakness open to attack from Sauron.”

“What weakness?” I asked, looking up at the wizard.

“That she would give her life for you without a second thought.”

I sighed and wordlessly lifted her into my arms. I set her down on her bed and pulled the blankets over her.

“Is she alright?”

I turned to see Legolas at my side, looking down at Rana. I nodded as he put a comforting hand on my shoulder, and then walked away.

I quietly pondered over what Gandalf had told me, would she really do that? Of course, I would give my life to keep her safe, but I had never considered that she would do the same. I sighed and crouched at her bedside and brushed her fringe out of her face. As I did so, Rana’s eyes flickered open and for a moment I was lost in their emerald green depths.

“Aragorn?” She whispered in confusion. “What happened?”

“You passed out.” I murmured, “Try to sleep.”

Rana nodded and obligingly laid her head back down on the pillow and closed her eyes. She was asleep within moments.

***Rana’s Point of View***

I was in pain again. For a moment, all I could see was fire, and then the eye appeared.

“Leave me alone!” I cried, slumping to the ground and clutching my head. I could hear a voice hissing something, and I looked up to find the eye was even closer. I could see nothing but the fire that surrounded it, but I could tell it was doing something.

“He will die…” It hissed and images of Aragorn in pain flashed in my mind.

“No! Leave him alone!”

I sat bolt upright and gasped for air. My head ached, and when I put my hands to my face I realised that they were slick with sweat, and tears were streaming down my cheeks.

“Rana?”

I looked over to see Aragorn sitting up in bed across the room from me. He stood and walked over, and before I knew it I was caught up in his embrace.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“Just… Just a nightmare…” I gasped as I regulated my breathing. He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. I stared back, trying to convince myself that he was alright; it had only been a dream.

I realised that I was shivering a little, possibly from shock. Aragorn urged me to lie down, and pulled more blankets over me.

“It’s alright; just try not to think about it.” He murmured. I nodded and curled into a ball on my side. Aragorn gently took my hand in his as I closed my eyes, and tried to hold the image of his face, to keep my mind away from thoughts of fire and the eye…

I opened my eyes reluctantly; half expecting to feel pain again, but instead I felt a pleasant, drifting sensation. I seemed to be surrounded by a pale mist, but it did not seem threatening, more so calming. I looked down and noticed something on my hand, something that shouldn’t have been there. A ring. I instantly recognised its design; it was the Ring of Barahir. The ring Aragorn wore. What was it doing on my hand? I stared at it in confusion, before looking up to search for someone, or something that would maybe help me realise what was going on. A faint shadow caught my eye, and I made my way towards it. As I got closer, it appeared to be a hooded figure, but as I drew closer yet, they began to move away. I began to follow them, but the image was fading, and the mist was starting to disappear…

I blinked awake as sunlight streamed through a window in one corner of the room. At least I knew it was morning. During the confusion of the previous night, I had lost all track of time. I turned a little, and saw Aragorn, still holding my hand and slumped against my bed. For a moment I panicked, before realising that he was just asleep. He must have stayed there for the entire night…

Nobody else seemed to be awake, but Gandalf’s bed was empty. I gently slipped my hand out of Aragorn’s and stepped out of bed, draping a blanket over his shoulders as I did so. I carefully picked my way across the room, until I reached the hall, where I found the wizard pacing up and down.

“Gandalf?” I whispered, worried that I would be interrupting his thoughts.

“Ah, Rana! You’re awake!”

I nodded and wrapped my arms around my torso as he approached me.

“Rana, I need to speak with you, about the Palantir.” He began, but paused as he must have seen the look of fear that flashed across my face. “What did you see?” He asked. I hesitated before speaking.

“I saw fire… And an eye… I saw Sauron.” I whispered.

“Anything else?”

I shook my head.

“Did you tell him anything?”

“No… But I had this dream…”

“Yes?” Gandalf asked, pressing for more information.

“Is it possible for Sauron to… Still be in my head?” I asked. He shook his head.

“The connection between your minds was severed when you dropped the Palantir, although he may have implanted some information in your mind, which would explain any nightmares.” I nodded, and didn’t say anything about my other dream. Maybe I should ask Aragorn about it? After all, he is the owner of the Ring of Barahir…

“Is there anything else?” Gandalf asked.

“No.” I replied, feeling like I was lying, but my dream had nothing to do with the Palantir.

“Rana.” I turned to see Aragorn dash across the hall towards me, closely followed by Legolas and Gimli. He hugged me tightly when he reached me.

“I’m alright!” I half-laughed, “Honestly, I’m fine!”

Aragorn released me and smiled a little.

“I was worried about you.” He murmured.

“I’m alright… It was just a nightmare and a little shock… That’s all.”

I heard footsteps and turned as Merry and Pippin walked in, followed by Théoden a few minutes later.

“Gandalf, what happened last night?” The King asked as I shuddered a little.

“An interaction with the enemy.” The wizard replied.

“What?”

“Young Peregrin here,” Gandalf continued, nodding at Pippin, “Had a rather unpleasant encounter with The Dark Lord.”

“What did he say? Did he reveal anything to Sauron?” Théoden asked frantically. Gandalf sighed.

“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.” Somewhere behind us, Gimli sighed with relief. “We’ve been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantir a glimpse of the enemy’s plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith.” I bit my lower lip nervously, and my promise to Boromir ran through my mind. I could not let Gondor fall! “His defeat at Helm’s Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth.” He nodded at Aragorn before continuing. “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?” Théoden asked angrily.

“I will go!” Aragorn and I cried in unison, and then looked at each other and I shrugged. I had to do whatever I could to keep my promise.

“No!” Countered Gandalf.

“They must be warned!” Aragorn argued.

Gandalf approached Aragorn and began to talk quiSave & Publishetly to him.

“They will be. You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the black ships.” He turned away from us and once again spoke to the rest of the room. “Understand this; things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith.” He turned to look at Pippin, “And I won’t be going alone.”