A fan fiction attempt

[Beruthiel's cat]

Here's the last part of chapter three, just to take things to their "conclusion" (at least as far as the chapter goes...)

Enjoy and have a nice weekend!

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The sound of footsteps stopped by the door. “I still think we should move soon. The quicker we attack, the less likely we are to meet full-scale resistance.” The door opened, admitting two pairs of fine boots. “I tried to make the point to the Major, but he won’t listen. I’m merely a captain from a merchant family. He is a major from a noble family. If a noble had made the same suggestion, he’d go in an instant.”

The boots sat down on the bench at the table Pippin and Amaris were huddled beneath. Both lay motionless, not daring to breathe.

“Plus, you face another disadvantage.” The second officer spoke. “You are from the northern lands. Lands that are not part of the Alliance. He doesn’t trust you. If you are a traitor to your own people, what is to say that you will be loyal to the Dark Lord?”

The first officer spat. “I owe Esgaroth nothing! I was cast out by the word of a child! A very precocious, evil child.” He slammed his flagon down on the table, causing Pippin to jump and nearly cry out. But Amaris began curling up on her side, eyes wide and distant.

“Damnation! It smells like filth in here again.” The second officer sniffed. “Every time those stinking orcs work the forge, the drains back up. Let’s go out for some fresher air!” He stood up again and went to the door, the other man following closely. The door slammed behind them.

Pippin exhaled. “Whew! That was too close for my liking.” Amaris still lay, stiff and unmoving, staring into space. “Amaris? Are you all right?” He touched her elbow gently.

She sat up, pulling out her dagger. “Don’t you touch me!” she hissed. “Don’t you dare touch me!” She pointed the knife at him. “I will kill you if you try, you maggot! Get away from me, Gath!”

Pippin scrambled from beneath the table. “Amaris, what’s the matter? I’m not going to hurt you!” She stared wildly at him, with no spark of recognition in her eyes. “Amaris! It’s me. It’s Pippin! Are you all right?”

The young woman blinked and took several deep breaths. She looked at Pippin and gasped. The dagger clattered to the floor. “I’m sorry!” She brought her hands up to her face. “Oh, I’m so very sorry!” She collapsed to the floor in silent sobs.

The hobbit was at a complete loss. What should he do? Finally, he knelt down beside her.
“It’s all right, Amaris,” he whispered. “It’s going to be all right. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He tentatively touched her shoulder. “I’ll help you in any way I can.” He stroked her hair as if she were a child recovering from a bad dream.

She reached up and touched his hand, then closed her own around it. She looked at him through tears, then sat up slowly. She put her arms around him and they clung to each other.

She finally stopped crying and pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Thank you, Pippin. I’ll be all right now.”

He nodded and attempted an encouraging smile. She had seemed so confident up to this point. So bright and courageous. He had a hundred questions tumbling around in his mind, all needing to be asked, but he kept silent as a different thought came to him – the truth of Gandalf’s words to him in Minas Tirith, just after he had met her:

“My dear boy . . I have seen that look before. You lost your heart to her the moment you laid eyes on her.”

‘And now what, Peregrin Took?’ he asked himself. ‘Now what?’