Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 21:37:42 -0800 (PST)
From: Silven Fox <silvenfox@yahoo.com>
Subject: Destiny of an Earth - 23

Disclaimer: I don't know Nsync. I don't know Justin Timberlake in real life.
This will be a Justin Timberlake centered story. Also this story is in no
way meant to imply that he is homosexual in real life. This piece of
literature is simply the work of a fan and is pure fiction.

I don't own The Lord of the Rings or any other works of the series. The
rights of the series goes solely to the series author J.R.R. Tolkien.


Now that's out of the way. This story appeared in my head when I was
trapped in the car with my relatives for a 24-hour road trip. I was really
really bored! I shudder just thinking about that trip. Anyway, if your
below legal age to read this where your from, then all I can tell you is
stop and don't let your parents catch you. He he that's not much of a
warning, but hey what else can I do.

If you have any comments, feedback or you just want to drop a word. Send
them to SilvenFox@yahoo.com


Chapter 23

It took four days for the Justin, Gandalf, and Pippin to reach the White
City of Gondor. They stopped on a hill overlooking the city. Justin had to
admit that it lived up to all of Boromir's stories. Minas Tirith's white
walls seemed to gleam under the rays of the noonday sun. It was an
impressive city built into the face of a huge cliff. Minas Tirith was a
seven-tiered citadel, each layer rising higher than the lower one.

Pippin and Justin looked with bright eyes at the city before them. Even
Gandalf looked delighted to see the city again. "We've just passed into the
realm of Gondor. Minas Tirith... City of Kings!"

"Or lack thereof," muttered Justin.

Pippin smiled a little happy that Justin was fine enough to make jokes.
Justin had been particularly depressive, moody, and downtrodden depending
on the hour for the past four days. Justin didn't want to talk about it to
anyone, not even to Gandalf who encouraged he tell him his feelings. Justin
refused to talk about how his breakup with the Prince of Mirkwood was
affecting him. Inside, Justin felt like his heart had broken in two after
the fight. His guilt and sorrow was eating him up inside and Justin wanted
nothing more but to fall back into Legolas's strong arms. But it was not to
be. They were on two different paths now. But some paths come together
after separating...

Gandlaf and Justin spurred Shadowfax and Lightwings, their steeds, across
the short distance to the city gates. The guards made way seeing that it
was Gandalf riding so urgently into the city. Gandalf cried, "Make way!"
dozens of times as they rode through the city streets, quickly rising up in
levels. Till finally the came to the top level of Minas Tirith. The top
level was a great stone courtyard with a white tree planted near the middle
for all to gaze upon.

They jumped down from the horses and Gandalf helped Pippin down. Justin
looked around at the tranquil area. 'To think,' he thought internally. 'All
this will probably be destroyed in a few short days'.

Pippin gasped, pointing at the white tree. "Gandalf, it's the tree! I saw
it when I touched the Palantír."

Gandalf nodded placing a calming hand on Pippin. "Yes, the White Tree of
Gondor. The Tree of the King. Lord Denethor, however, is not a king. He is
a steward only; a caretaker of the throne."

Justin's eyes lit up at the name. "Lord Denethor is Boromir's father isn't
he? I remember Boromir mentioning him."

"Yes, he is," answered Gandalf, walking between next to Justin with Pippin
on his other side. They approached a pair of large doors guarded by two
armored men. The men let them through, opening the pair of imposing doors.

They found themselves now in a long hall. At the end of the hall were to
thrones one white and seated higher than the lower black throne. On the
black throne was a man that had to be Lord Denethor. He looked like an
older and haggard version of Boromir. Gandalf extended his arms and called
out welcoming as they walked down the carpeted floor:

"Hail, Denethor son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor. I come with
tidings in this dark hour. And with counsel."

Denethor lifted his head from the scrolls he was reading for the first time
and graced Gandalf with a smile. "Mithrandir, it had been many a moon since
last we parted. What brings you to Minas Tirith after so long?"

Gadanlf sighed heavily leaning heavily upon his tall, white staff. "I must
confess that I do not come with good tidings."

"Has something happened to my son?" asked Denethor quickly, traces of panic
swimming in his dark eyes.

"Boromir is fine, Lord Denethor. He is in Rohan now helping gather forces.
War is at your doorstep. The Black Army of Mordor is coming to lay waste to
this city and the entire free realms of Middle Earth. You must muster up
Gondor's army because in a few short days this entire city will be seized."

Denethor slumped down in his chair and said gravely, "Gondor does not have
the forces to stand off an attack against the forces Mordor."

"You still have friends. You are not alone in this fight. Send word to
Théoden of Rohan. Light the Beacons. The Rohirrim will respond and come to
your aide."

Denethor looked surprised at this information and said, "Hope has entered
my heart knowing that Gondor will not have to answer the threat of Sauron
alone."

Gandalf smiled and replied, "Help comes in other forms also. I introduce
Peregrin Took a Hobbit of the Shire. A Halfling as you know his people by."

The Stewards expression was one of wonder as he looked upon Pippin who
ducked his head shyly. For him and the rest of the people of Gondor,
Hobbits were nothing but legend. Gandalf placed a hand on Justin's shoulder
and introduced him.

"This young lad by my side is Justin Timberlake who hails from a land very
far from here."

Denethor's eyes took in Justin's fine features and short hair then gazed
upon his ears that ended in delicate, triangular points. "Is the lad an
Elf? For I have never heard of an Elf with shorn off hair."

Justin looked to Gandalf. They had never told Théoden where Justin came
from, he merely assumed that Justin was an Elf from a far away country.
Gandalf took the lead luckily for Justin since he didn't know what to say.

"Yes, Justin is an Elf from lands far to the North. He will be a great
asset in the battle to come, for he carries with him the grace of the
Valar."

Justin was about to say something but he caught sight of Pippin from the
corner of his eye. The Hobbit seemed to be struggling to make a decision
within himself. Finally, he came to one and he half-stumbled half-walked
forward to kneel before Denethor. Pippin kneeled on his right knee with his
head bowed and fist held over his heart. Gandalf was just as shocked by
this sudden display as Justin. The wizard started forward to pick him up
but Denethor waved his hand giving Pippin a humoring smile.

"I-I- I would like t-t- to pledge my allegiance to Gondor. I offer you my
services," stuttered Pippin slowly but surely.

Justin beamed with pride. 'Way to go Pip'.

Denethor nodded and held up his hand motioning for Pippin to rise. "Stand
up, Halfling," he commanded with a half smile. "Do not make hasty decisions
such as this. I will give you one day to think of this and then if you have
not changed your mind you can swear your oaths to Gondor."

"Yes, my lord," said Pippin hesitant his cheeks reddened.

"You have had a great journey, friends, with many hardships. We shall have
talk again, soon. But for now, I am weary, as I know you are after such a
swift ride." Denethor said, suddenly looking as weary as he claimed. "Let
us go and find rest as we may, tomorrow we shall look to the defenses of
Gondor." Then he said goodbye to them, and left the hall.

Justin looked at Gandalf and Pippin as they too started for the entrance
doors. "Well, he was much nicer than I thought he would be. I had this
whole Magneto picture in my head when Boromir talked about him."

They found their rooms alright with the help of a handmaid. Justin would
get his own room and Pippin and Gandalf would share one. Gandalf didn't
trust the Hobbit to have a room to himself. Night had spread quickly across
the sky, bathing the land in moonlight and starlight. Justin sat with
Pippin and Gandalf that night each worrying about tomorrow's outcome. The
three of them stood on the balcony of the room that had an overlooking view
of the land.

Justin shivered as his elvish sight allowed him a sharper view of the
distant shapes. The land of Mordor could be seen clearly to him. Like a red
star the Eye of Sauron gazed about aflame on top of its position on the
black tower of Barad-dûr. Unconsciously, Justin's hands clenched the
railing as he stared at the Great Lidless Eye. He wondered idly where
Sauron's gaze was fixed, but hoped to God that it wasn't on Minas Tirith.
The less they had to worry about.

Beside him Pippin touched the suit of armor that had been given to him by
the handmaid. She had been told of his promise to Denethor. "So I imagine
this will just be a ceremonial position... I mean, they won't actually
expect me to do any fighting? Do they?"

Gandalf gave Pippin a long look. "I have nothing to say on the matter. When
the time comes you must chose wisely to either be in the service of the
Steward or not."

Justin leaned on the railing brow wrinkling as an uneasy feeling went up
his spine. Something wasn't quite right. He didn't know what it was, but
something was off. Then with a start he realized what it was. "It's so
quiet tonight. Too quiet."

Gandalf nodded, sighing a long breath. "It's the deep breath before the
plunge."

Justin shook his head a smile on his face, "Where do you get those sayings
from? The only good one I ever remember is 'A penny saved is a penny
earned'."

"Its comes from being wise, child," said Gandalf winking.

Justin found his mind running to Legolas again. How he was doing, where he
was... Thoughts he really didn't want to think of at the moment. Thinking
of Legolas only brought down his mood.

"Gandalf?" he asked suddenly to clear his mind. "What kind of forces does
Mordor have? I know the battle ahead is going to be more bloodier than
Helm's Deep, but what can we expect."

"Our enemy is ready. His full strength's gathered. Not only orcs but men as
well, legions of Haradrim from the South. Mercenaries from the Coast. All
will answer Mordor's call. This will be the end of Gondor as we know it.
Here the hammerstroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken, if the fort
in Osgiliath falls, the last defense of this city will be gone."

Pippin looked to Justin and Gandalf hopefully and said, "But we have the
White Wizard and the Child of Three Races."

"Child of Three Races?" asked Justin smiling. "Never heard of that one
before."

Gandalf didn't seem to find the suggestion that hope aspiring. In fact his
eyes were serious as he looked to Pippin. "Sauron is yet to reveal His
deadliest servant, the one who will lead Mordor's armies to war. The one
they say no living man can kill: The Witch-king of Angmar. You've met him
before."

Remembrance came over Pippin's face. "He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop."

"He is the lord of the Nazgûl, the greatest of the Nine. Minas Morgul is
his lair."

Justin held up his hands stopping them. "Wait, wait, hold the phone. What
the fork do you mean, Frodo got stabbed?"

Pippin nodded. "Yes, it was when we were on our way to Rivendell. On
Weathertop the Nine attacked us. Frodo got stabbed by one of their blades
and it was only by Elrond's healing hands that Frodo survived the wound.
For the blade would have made Frodo into one of the Wraiths."

"Whoa," muttered Justin. 'Why didn't I ever know about that?'

He stopped mid thought as his 'spidey sense' suddenly started tingling. He
snapped his head around in the direction of Mordor. Gandalf seemed to sense
it too for he followed Justin's gaze looking into the distance with sudden
fearful eyes. All was still for a moment, then from the mountains bordering
Mordor in the distance, erupted a column of green and blue light, towering
up into the cloud-filled sky.

"What the fuck?!?!" Justin cried as he and Gandalf both took collective
steps back from the railing, as the column of green light illuminated the
sky.

The sense of evil radiating from the light overwhelmed him. Justin clenched
his hands into fist unaware that his nails were digging into his palms
drawing blood. His whole body felt numb as the wave of evil hit him at his
very core. Justin barely even noticed the crowd of soldiers hurry into the
room to view the light from the balcony view.

"Gandalf?" Justin found himself saying, his voice coming out small.

Pippin mirrored his fearful posture and Gandalf drew them both in his arms
and let his presence comfort them. Slowly the gripping sense of evil
started to leave Justin. The three stood a little apart from the gapping
soldiers all gazing into the distance at the rising column of green light.

Gandalf began to mutter under his breath, low enough so only Justin and
Pippin could hear. "We come to it at last... The great battle of our time.
The board is set. The pieces are moving."

Justin bowed his head and whispered, "I'm so sorry, Legolas. I hope your
okay, blondie."
                              *  *  *

Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, and Legolas made camp with the rest of their
company. Soon they would come to their destination and Aragorn would take
the first steps he would need to prove him the King, he was born to be. The
moon and stars shinned their light down upon the slumbering men. Legolas
stood on a hill a little ways from the sleeping group. His blue eyed gaze
stared at the astral bodies in the sky, thoughts not on them but on a
certain person.

Aragorn walked up behind Legolas, placing his hand on the blonde's
shoulder, "Are you well, my friend?"

Legolas turned to him his eyes seeming to look through him. His skin glowed
with an almost ethereal glow as the moon bathed him in its light. A glow
that marked him as one of the Firstborn, the race created first by Iluvatar
to inhabit Middle Earth. "Do not worry for me, Estel. I am well," answered
Legolas, using Aragorn's Elven name given to him by Elrond long ago.

"No, you are not," argued Aragorn. "I can see it. It is clearly seen that
you worry for him."

Legolas nodded. "I do, my friend. How I wish that we never parted the way
we did. I love him with everything that I am. It pains me that Justin and I
will never be together again. If I could see him again, I will grovel and
beg till the end of time until he takes me back."

Aragorn smiled and said, "Your feelings run deep. I know exactly what you
are feeling." His hand rubbed over the Evenstar hanging around his neck. It
twinkled in the light.

"Aye, you do. I just have a troubling feeling now," voiced Legolas
solemnly. "Something is wrong or bothering Justin. I can feel it."

Aragorn followed his gaze to the sky, looking up at the stars. "Then let us
make haste tomorrow so that we may get to the White City even sooner."

Legolas nodded and closed his eyes. 'I love you, Justin. By my grace given
to me I pass unto you. Please be well.'

*********************************************************
Sorry about the lateness of this chapter, it should have been out a couple
of weeks ago... but complications happened.

Me and my twin had a Vengeance War going. Don't ask. Long story short, we
took turns doing the meanest things we can to each other. He ended up going
on my account and erasing emails sent by everyone, SORRY IF YOU SENT ME AN
EMAIL! So for payback I pissed on his PS2 games. Then the bastard erased
the chapters I had written, so I destroyed his Buffy DVD's (Mess with my
computer, so the shit had to die). That's only some of what we did to each
other. Anyway, that's the reason for the delay. LOL. It seems funny now
that I look back on it, but it really wasn't at the time.

If you have any comments, feedback or you just want to drop a word. Send
them to SilvenFox@yahoo.com