Forty Five - Tactical Plans

“Ver,” Le said and looked at me. “Yes?” I asked. 

The party had been long gone but no one had come out to find us, so we sat outside, watching the stars. After a while of talking and laughing, we went back inside to change, then only came back out to talk and laugh some more.

“You sense it too, don’t you? His eye,” He asked. I sighed and nodded. “I have since we came to Rohan,” I answered. “Do you think he is searching for you?” He asked. “He has already found me,” I answered. 

“How do you know?” He asked. “I can feel when his eye watches us. He only glances but, when he does look our way, I know,” I answered. 

“It scares me… what if Saruman was right?” I asked and looked at him. “Listen to me, Ver. You are nothing like Sauron. You are so much better. He is nothing but villainous,” He assured me. “Even with any prophecy, I could never foresee you turning to the darkness, your heart is good,” He continued. 

He hugged me and I hugged him back. “Where would I be without you?” I whispered. “Stuck on the pass of Caradhras,” He said and I laughed. “I would’ve made it a little further,” I reasoned. 

“Ver, about earlier, I want to tell you something,” He said. “Is it the same thing you’ve been trying to tell me since the beginning of this journey?” I asked and he looked at me in surprise. 

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve been wanting to tell me something for the last few months,” I pointed out and he nodded. 

“More like centuries,” He corrected. “Legolas!” I said in shock and he looked down with a smile. “Well, you’ve waited long enough, best tell me now,” I said. 

“I want you to know that-” I felt Sauron's eye looking. He must have too since he stopped. “He’s watching,” I whispered and he nodded. 

Screams came from inside and we both ran into the hall. It’s Pippin. We ran into the room to see Pippin with the Palantir, Sauron’s eye taking over. 

I got down next to him and took the Palantir. The second I touched it, he invaded my mind. All of the sounds from the room left and it melted into a different one, an armoury. 

“Verena, it is good to see you again,” Sauron stood on the other side of a table, wearing armour and hiding his face behind a helmet. 

“Join me,” 

I dropped the Palantir and it rolled away. Legolas caught me from falling, slowly sitting me on the floor. “Ver,” He said softly. “I’m fine,” I held onto his arm.

“Legolas, what happened?” Nikolas said and sat next to me on the other side. “She touched the Palantir,” He answered. I looked over at Gandalf and Aragorn with Pippin and tried to stand. 

“Stay down, Verena. Get Aurelia, Zion,” Nikolas said and Zion nodded, running out of the room. “I’m fine,” I tried to stand up again but Legolas put his hand on my shoulder. “No you’re not,” He said. 

“Did he say anything?” Nikolas asked. “He was preparing for war,” I answered.

Is one peaceful night too much to ask for?

~~~

“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,” I sighed in relief to Gandalf’s words. 

I sat in the Golden Hall with Gandalf, Theoden, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Nikolas, Merry, and Pippin. 

Nikolas and Legolas stood on either side of me as they spoke, standing around a dying fire. I concentrated on the flames, trying to bring them back up but my power refused to work, only small flames flickered at my attempts. 

“Stop trying to light the fire,” Nikolas scolded. “You won’t get any better if you don’t rest,” Le said. 

The Palantir drained my powers. I can no longer make fires, in fact, I’m lucky to get a few sparks.

“Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith,” Gandalf said and I tensed, shifting my weight in my seat. “His defeat at Helm’s Deep showed our enemy two things; The Tempests have stepped up to fight against him… and the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. Sauron fears their opposition,” Gandalf explained.

“He will not risk the peoples of Middle Earth uniting under one banner any further. 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 and Tiseah must be ready for war,” Gandalf said and Nikolas nodded in agreement.

“Tell me, why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?” Theoden asked. “He will not hesitate to attack Rohan’s people again and he has the numbers, making him stronger. If the realms of Men join together, it strengthens us, and our chance of ending this war, once and for all,” I reasoned, but his expression remained relentless to his decision. 

“I will go,” Aragorn said. “No,” Gandalf said. “They must be warned,” Aragorn reasoned. “They will be,” Gandalf stepped closer to Aragorn, speaking quietly, then turned back to us.

“Understand this, things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith and I wont be going alone,” Gandalf turned to the hobbits sitting a bit further, specifically Pippin.

~~~

“Zion, Iston, and Aurelia, you will ride through Tiseah to get the rest of our army, two thousand strong in Ezeria, at least,” Nikolas said. “Aurelia, you will stay home. I don’t want you anywhere near this fight,” Alek said and she nodded.

“As you go through the rest of the cities, assemble as many fighters as you can. They have seen your faces before, your word is honest,” Nikolas said and the boys nodded. 

“Alek, Hadrian, and I will take the fighters we have here ahead to Dunharrow to wait for Rohan,” Nikolas said. “How are we even sure Rohan will fight? You heard Theoden, he didn’t seem too keen on the idea,” I asked. 

“Because of you. Sauron will attack Rohan again, and we are stronger united. Make sure he rides to Gondor’s aid, it is not just Gondor they will fight for, it is all of Middle Earth. Help him understand,” He said.

“You and Cleos will stay here and wait for the beacons of Amon Din. I know you despise admitting weakness, but you aren’t strong enough to ride to Dunharrow yet,” He answered and I nodded. “Listen,” Nikolas looked around at us. 

“We lost our Grandfather to the first war, our mother and father to Gundabad and Vardos and Martarys in Helm’s Deep. I don’t plan on losing any more of my family to this war or any sort of Orcs. Sauron’s defeat will be a victory we will have in life,” He looked me in the eye, practically begging me not to sacrifice myself.

“We will be cautious, making every move a situation of life or death,” I assured him. “We leave at dawn tomorrow. I suggest you three ride to Tiseah as haste and as vigilant as you can be,” Nikolas suggested to Zion, Aurelia, and Iston.

~~~

“You’re not going with them?” Le asked as I watched the Tisean soldiers leave Edoras. “Cleos and I will wait here for Amon Din,” I answered

“You didn’t argue?” Le asked. “One or two of us needed to wait anyway. I would only slow them down,” I shrugged and looked at him. “I’m glad you’re staying,” Le said and I smiled and looked up at him. “As am I,” I replied.