I ride to Gondor

But let me go back a ways.

Perhaps it was not the best decision to join the drinking game. The men were so drunk they had no objections, and I heartily downed tankard after tankard, until I reeled off to one of the lesser halls that had been transformed into a sleeping room. I thankfully collapsed onto a pile of furs, hardly noticing the two hobbits and the wizard follow.

I was awoken some time later with a very large headache--but this proved to be the least of the problems.

Pippin held a large orb in his hands, writhing horrible as a lighted seared through the glass. Legolas and Aragorn burst in through the door, Aragorn rushed to Pippin and wrestled the orb from Pippins hands. Gandalf was up, Merry was shouting, Aragorn began convulsing. The orb fell from his hands, and rolled across the floor. Gandalf threw a cloth over the orb, and it's fiery light ceased.

"Pippin!" cried out Merry, who was now hudled over his friend, who lay on the floor, staring up with blank eyes.

"Fool of a Took!" exclaimed Gandalf with some exasperation, but it quickly changed to concern as he went to the young hobbit, pushing Merry aside.

He grabbed Pippin's hands, rubbing them and murmuring strange words under his breath. He pressed his hand to Pippin's forehead, and with a gasp Pippin blinked and seemed to revive.

All the while I stood nearby, trying to understand what had taken place, and trying to push away the monstrous headache.

"Look at me." Gandalf commanded to Pippin.

"Gandalf, forgive me" said the hobbit, making an attempt to close his eyes, but Gandalf stopped him.

"Look at me. What did you see?" There was a pause.

"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?"

"I saw - I saw - Him! 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?!"

Pippin's answer was whispered and barely audible. It was morning, so we went to the great hall to eat, and to tell King Theoden of what had occured.

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool... but an honest fool he remains." Gandalf said as he stood before Theoden. Gimli and myself are seated at a table eating and I am writing, Aragorn and Legolas stood nearby. Merry and Pippin were sitting by the fire, the latter looking quite remorseful.

"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 Trirth. 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 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."

I stir uneasily as I hear this. I do not feel I am ready for another battle.

"Tell me," Theoden addresses Gandalf, "why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?"

There is a smoldering fury as Aragorn steps forward. "I will go."

"No!" was Gandalf's curt reply.

"They must be warned!"

"They will be." Gandalf walked to Aragorn. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river and look to the black ships." He stepped back. "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith. And I won't be going alone." He looked at Pippin.

"I shall go, also." I stepped forward. Immediately all eyes turned to me. "I was not sent here to be a common soldier. Minas Tirith is on the front lines of war, and it seems that is where I am needed most."

"But you could not ride fast enough! No ordinary horse can match the speed of Shadowfax!" Gandalf said to me, speaking of his own horse.

I smiled. "That is not true. There is a horse who I traveled with for a time, a gift from Elrond of Rivendell. I had thought I sent her home, but she was found nearby, and brought to the stables. I shall ride her, Tela, for an elven horse should easily keep pace with one of the Mearas."

So now I pack what little I have, for by noon we ride for Minas Tirith.