I could only stand there, wanting to leave, but rooted helplessly to the spot, hardly aware of the announcement that I was allowed to stay until my friends arrived to retrieve me. I swallow, feeling hollow.
I barely know Eomer, he barely knows me…
And yet...he'd taken prison for me. He'd been willing to subject himself to the unmerciful laws of the land, just so I would have somewhere to stay. Gently, a hand grips my elbows and guides me away, toward a hallway. I look and see a woman about my age, face stony and unreadable, her hair as light and wavy as Eomer's with similar colored eyes, as well. I blanch. Was this...his sister? Wife? Friend? Her white dress illuminates her fair skin, resting on it naturally, the material seeming made for her. We go down a hall and turn into a bedroom, where the woman then turns to leave.
"Wait!" I cry. She halts, but doesn't turn. "I'm sorry." I tell her honestly. "I didn't mean to get Eomer sent to prison. I am sorry." She still doesn't turn.
"And yet, it happened. Still, I understand. You are not responsible for my uncle's decision, nor my brother's. You are a guest of this hall nonetheless." She says, her voice wavering slightly. "I must take my leave. Please, settle yourself. We will have supper soon." Is all she adds before leaving. I slump onto the edge of the bed.
This had all gone wrong. I hadn't meant to land someone in prison. Especially not a guy who had done a lot for me already. I sigh, and open my satchel to distract myself and maybe find something a little better to wear to dinner. After all, I was dining with royalty and didn't want to put myself in an awkward situation by unknowingly violating some odd ritual I didn't know. This was entirely new territory for me, this world.
I find my glock (no sense being unprepared, just in case something were to happen), a box of ammo, extra underwear and bras (sports and normal, praise God), and a few outfits. I drew them out. They were clearly from this world. I had never seen them before, but they were beautiful. One dress was something that seemed out of a pirate film, with a billowing cotton dress tucked into a bodice/corset thing that looked constricting and hard to wear, attached to a gorgeous forest green skirt that flares only a little. To match, I decide that my current selection of footwear is adequate. I hear a knock on the door and pale. Here we go...
"C-come in." I all but squeak. A young woman hardly looking eighteen comes in, looking as timid as I feel.
"Um...I was sent to ask if you wish a bath before supper." I nod. After days wearing the same thing...running to boot...yeah.
Bath sounds good. I nod. "Sounds delightful. Shall I follow you?" The woman nods, and turns to leave. I grab a different bra and underwear, as well as the dress and bodice/skirt/corset thing I planned to wear to dinner, then follow the girl to a room tucked into a back end of a hallway. She opens the door and there is a large wooden bucket, Little House On the Prairie style, in the center of a room that's steamy and humid. I take a breath and already feel myself relaxing. I spot a small rack and a bench for undressing and redressing, complete with a towel and a tall mirror. The girl takes her leave and in less than a minute, I am in the water, sighing contentedly as the water works its magic. I then see the soaps and scented oils on a shelf set up beside the tub, where I can easily reach them. I run the soap over my body, making sure to get every inch of my skin, getting as clean as I can before ducking under the water and combing my hair with my fingers. That done, I use a more liquid soap, assuming it was Middle-Earth's equivalent to shampoo, scrubbing it into my scalp before ducking back under and rising it out. I then reluctantly exit the tub, grabbing the towel and rubbing myself down before I start shivering. Too late, I drape the towel over the rack and feel shivers as I grab my bra. Soon, I grab a comb that rests on the bench. Once my hair is untangled, I grab at it to get it to look as natural as possible. I pause as I look at myself in the mirror. I grimace as I notice that there's what looks like a very nasty bruise under my skin above my heart, with a pattern imprinted over my skin like a leafless tree, down my stomach, curling around my hips before singling out my left leg. The left arm is covered in the marks, as well. I bite my lip. Wow. that lightning really did a number on me. Finally, I shake myself slip the dress on.
It fits like a second skin, smooth and comfortable, warm, too. I look in the mirror as I lace up my bodice thingy. I tie a little bow and feel a little self-conscious as I look at myself. I was never one for dresses, and this was...wow. I loved it, but it wasn't what I was used to. As I debate whether or not to risk wandering the halls, the woman from before returns.
"Are you ready, Lady Rowena?" She asks. I nod, musing inwardly that in a hall like this, news must travel fast if some servant girl already knows my name. She leads me back to the main room. I swallow and take a breath as I approach the table, pulling out the chair the woman indicated. I sit almost like there were pins and needles. I am beside the woman who took me to the bedroom on one side and some strawberry-haired man on my other.
"You look much better once the travels are washed away, Rowena." The woman muses. "Oh, I am forgetting my manners. I am Eowyn, daughter of Theodwyn." She says. I nod. Was that her mom or her dad? I'm gonna guess mom, but...
"Rowena O'Niell." I reply, smiling. She frowns.
"Such strange names your world has, milady." She replies. I laugh.
"Indeed." She turns a little more to me.
"So it is true? You truly are from an entirely different world?" She asks, sounding curious and eager. I nod.
"Yes. I am from a land called Scotland, and I lived near a lake." I reply. This wasn't too bad. She nods.
"What is it like?" I find an answer ready.
"Here, honestly. The landscape is actually quite similar to this area. Very pretty." I reply. Eowyn smiles.
"Oh, yes. Rohan has quite charming views." The man on my other side suddenly turns to me.
"My Lady." He says to get my attention. I turn to meet his eyes. "Where exactly where you found?" I frown.
"I am not entirely sure. I woke up in a rocky area, and then we had to run across the country as fast as possible. We arrived at Fangorn Forest two days after I joined the running." I explain. Eowyn nods.
"Eomer told Uncle that she and her companions had made it from Tol Brandir to Fangorn in a mere five days. On foot." She tells the man. His eyes widen.
"Truly, your friends deserve recognition!" He cheers. "That is no simple feat." I nod.
"My legs still ache and I was only present for two of those days." I reply. The man nods.
"I must apologize for my manners, milady. I am Hama, Doorwarden of Meduseld, and Captain of Theoden's guard." I nod.
"Were you the one that let me into Meduseld?"
"Yes. Theoden normally doesn't take to visitors like that. Odd." I sigh.
"Perhaps he is only courteous because my companions will soon arrive and then we'll be off."
"Where will you go?" Eowyn asks. I frown.
"Wherever they go, really." I reply. "I honestly have no clue where their paths lead, but am willing to follow them." Eowyn nods.
"You formed a bond in only two days, then?" I nod.
"Yes, forged in mutual exhaustion and sweat." I reply playfully. This really was not as terrible as I thought. I'd nearly finished my food now, only just realizing that Lembas can only get me so far before I began craving real food.
"Come now, Lady Rowena." Grima calls as Theoden polishes the last of the food from his plate. "You must entertain us, if we are to house you for a few days." He muses, more of a demand than I am comfortable with. I frown.
"Surely, my lord, there is nothing I can do you wish to see." I reply. "I am a poor novice at violin, and my singing abilities are not worth mention." Grima chuckles, the sounds seriously making me think of a serpent and how it would laugh, were it able.
"Oh, I doubt that." He replies smoothly. I squirm a little, distaste for the man strong in my stomach. "Come, come. There's no shirking from it. I must confess my curiosity in songs from your world." I swallow, and even as I reluctantly stand, I am trying desperately to think of a song I knew all the way though.
That, and one that these people would probably understand. I finally decide on 'Clean' by Taylor Swift. I'd loved the simple acoustics and easy lyrics to the song, often listening to it on repeat when handling a task like dishes and cleaning. I swallow again, praying my voice would remain steady. I close my eyes to block out the audience around me as I mentally go through the opening music. I take one last breath and begin. "The drought was the very worst...ahh-ah, ahh-ah...when the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst…" I don't remember starting to sway, or that I was getting really into the song, but all I knew was that with my eyes closed, singing wasn't so scary and I was actually doing okay. Once I am done, I slowly open my eyes to find that the entire hall is silent and that I was the object of everyone's gaze. I blush scarlet and sink back into my seat. Grima's smile is most unsettling and I have to look away.
"My Lady," Theoden muses, picking the last pieces of chicken meat from a bone, "you judge yourself too harshly. That was a notable performance." I nod, still blushing as everyone slowly went back to their business. I sip at the mead in front of me. I had never really gotten into drinking until now. I decided I quite liked mead as I swigged another gulp. Eowyn smiles genuinely at me.
"Quite enjoyable. Such an interesting tale the song wove." I nod.
"Yes. I think you would enjoy it more if I could have the accompaniment, as well. Singing alone is only half the song, if you ask me." Eowyn chuckles.
"You are fortunate in your choice of instrument, then. I can instruct you, as I have learned to play fairly well myself. Then, perhaps, you can accompany yourself." I nod, smiling. At least, I wouldn't be bored while I wait for Aragorn and the others.
