Strangers No More

I do not own the rights to Lord of the Rings

Chapter Seven

Christmas Day

'Pass me another one.'

'Alright be careful.'

I stood on a ladder hanging more holly onto the walls of the Dining Room while Mathew passed them to me. We decided that, as the royals were coming for Christmas Dinner, we'd decorate the Dining Room even more and that it was best to decorate even more. I took the holly and tied onto the others on the wall.

'Do we have any more?' I asked him.

'That's the last of it,' he answered as he looked inside his empty basket.

'Good,' I said and then climbed off the ladder. 'That's the last of our work done. Let's get to The Long Sword with the others.'

'I hope the land lord won't throw me out,' he said nervously.

'Relax Mathew. You'll be fine.'

'I hope so.'

The Dining Room was very busy. All of the tables had been pushed together to form one long table along the middle of the room and a massive pile of wood sat next to the fireplace which was already smouldering. Some of the knights were helping bring up the wine, beer and mead while others were, like me, putting up more greenery to decorate the room and Sunniva was spreading table cloths across the table with her brother. Mathew and I were about to leave when the doors opened and my uncle walked in. He scanned the room with his for a few moments until he saw me and walked towards Mathew and I.

'John, Mathew,' he said.

'Can we help you sir?' Mathew asked him.

'Not you Mathew. I just need a word with my nephew. Come with me John.'

I wondered what he wanted as I followed him up the stairs to his room in the barracks. His room was much larger than the one I and Rickard shared but sparsely furnished by comparison. His bed was the same size as mine and he had a fairly large wardrobe. Standing in one corner was his suit of armour, still showing the scars of battle, and his sword was hanging over a small fireplace. On his table were a few books detailing the cost of our Christmas celebrations and a few other things but the only book open was his father's account of the journey to Erebor.

'Are you reading it again?' I asked him.

'Yes,' he answered and touched the pages with his hand. 'I can almost hear his voice when I read his words. It's as if he's talking to me from beyond the grave.'

'I wish you and he could have had more time together. It's a pity.'

'It's life,' he said and sat down on his chair. 'Take a seat.'

I sat down on the other chair in the room and waited for him to speak.

'As you know John I've always given you and your cousins a lot more freedom with your private life than other knights have. I also know that I'm not your father but when I agreed to raise you I became the closest thing. That is why I want to speak with you.'

'Have I done something wrong?' I asked him feeling worried.

'I don't know yet. Earlier this morning one of the cleaners told me about a matter which is of concern to me. Last night she claimed that she saw you and Sunniva in the Dining Room holding hands and having an intimate moment. After that you both left the Dining Room very quickly. I just want to know what you were doing and if I need Father Harold to arrange a wedding.'

'Uncle!' I shouted and stood up. 'I'm not going to deny that Sunniva and I held hands but I will not allow anyone, not even you, to make accusations like that.'

'Calm down John,' he said, keeping his voice level. 'I'm not accusing you of doing anything wrong. I just want to know for sure what happened.'

'Nothing. That's what happened. Sunniva and I were just talking in the Dining Room, she said that it was hard work raising Cenric and I was trying to comfort her. That's all.'

My uncle said nothing as he looked at me. Eventually he stood up and walked towards his rooms window and looked out of it at the street below.

'John I believe you. That said I can also tell that you have feelings for Sunniva, don't interrupt me, and I will not get involved in your private life in away. Just remember that in future try to not be seen behaving intimately in front of the staff. After all, you are a knight and my nephew. You are therefore expected to behave properly and not act like some serf from a nowhere village at a maypole party.'

'I never have behaved that way.'

'I know. Just keep that in mind. That's all I wanted to say. You may go.'

'Thank you uncle.'

I walked out of his room and, after getting my cloak from my room, I left the barracks and walked straight to The Long Sword, an inn just a few minutes from the barracks which many of the knights had started to go to on a regular basis. Inside the well lit inn, which was packed with people trying to get lunch, I quickly saw my cousins, Mathew and Edmund sat at a table together having a light meal. After I got some food at the counter I joined them and told them about the conversation I'd just had with my uncle. When I'd finished the tale they looked at each other blankly for a moment until Rickard decided to break the silence.

'So do you fancy her?'

'What?'

'Do you,' started Markus, 'feel anything towards her?'

I was silent for a few moments until I answered him.

'I suppose I do.'

'I win!' Edmund shouted and banged his hand on the table as the others begrudgingly passed him a coin each.

'What's going on?' I asked them.

'We bet on when you'd admit it,' Rickard explained as he tossed his coin into Edmund's hand.

'And I won the bet,' Edmund happily declared as he placed the coins in his purse.

'You are unbelievable,' I said to all of them but I couldn't help but laugh at them.

'Now what are you going to do?' Mathew asked me.

I looked at him and rolled my eyes.

'I'm not certain if she has the same feelings.'

'You're an idiot sometimes John,' said Rickard. 'If she didn't want you to touch her hand last night she would have broke your nose and screamed bloody hell at everyone.'

'I agree with my brother,' said Markus. 'And, no offence John, but apart from Mathew who isn't really old enough to be a knight, we're all late in the marrying age here and so is Sunniva.'

'I'm not planning on proposing,' I said quickly.

'I wasn't telling you to. All I'm saying is try to make sure someone else doesn't.'

'So what is the advice of my cousins, a merchant and an ex-freeman?'

They shared glances with each other until Edmund spoke first.

'As the only one here, who has actually been married,' he started but Rickard interrupted him.

'You're married?'

'I was once,' he explained and then moved back to the topic before anyone could continue the line of questioning, 'as I was saying, my advice is to just tell her your feelings and then pray that she feels the same, even though we all know she does.'

'And if she doesn't?' I asked him.

'She will.'

'And if she doesn't?'

'You jump out the window and tell yourself it's a nightmare,' said Rickard.

'In spite of Rickard being a jester,' started Markus, 'I agree with Edmund. Just don't make yourself look like a fool.'

'Alright then,' I said and they gave me a cheer.

...

Later that afternoon, just an hour before the Christmas Feast was due to begin, I walked along the corridor on the second floor of the barracks towards Sunniva's room. When I reached it I stretched my hand up to the door then took it away quickly.

'I'm a fool,' I said to myself and knocked on the door.

'Wait a minute,' I heard Sunniva's alarmed voice say from the other side of the door. A short while later I heard her voice again. 'Alright you can come in.'

I pushed the door open and I saw Sunniva sitting in her chair next to the table in her room which contained a bowl of water. Her dress was only loosely on her and her hair damp hair was hanging around her shoulders.

'I was just washing my hair,' she explained.

'I'm sorry. I didn't know you were getting ready.'

'It's fine John,' she said as she adjusted her dress better onto herself. 'What did you want?'

'I just wanted to talk to you about something,' I explained.

'Well can you sit down at least?' she asked me and gestured at her other chair next to her.

'Thank you,' I said and sat on the chair.

'What did you want to see me about?' she asked as she dried her hair with a towel.

'It's about last night,' I said and Sunniva stopped drying her hair.

'Yes?'

'I don't know how I should say this but I was wondering, erm, why you didn't mind me touching your hand.'

Sunniva was silent for a while and put her towel down on the table.

'I,' she started, 'I didn't mind it because, because I wanted you to touch my hand.'

'You did?'

'I did. I know this sounds stupid but I think that I, I think I.'

'I think I know what you mean,' I said and I smiled at her. She returned the smile and I felt myself becoming a little less nervous.

Sunniva held out her hand a little and I took it in my hand. We stayed like that for a while, I'm not sure how long and I didn't care. Eventually Sunniva moved her chair a little closer to mine and she moved her hand a little up my arm.

'The King's here!' someone in the corridor outside shouted.

'For God's sake,' I said and stood up.

'I've got to get ready,' Sunniva said quickly and walked to her cupboard but then turned around to face me again. 'I'll see you at the feast.'

'Yes I will,' I agreed.

I walked out of her room, no one noticed me leaving Sunniva's room, and quickly walked back to the room I shared with Rickard. However, when I walked in I found both of my cousins waiting for me.

'What happened?' asked Rickard.

'Nothing you'd find interesting,' I told him as I walked to my cupboard.

...

I and my cousins walked towards the Dining Room dressed in the best clothes we had. I wore a dark blue tunic and my red cloak with my sword at my belt. The three of us joked with each other as we walked down the slightly crowded corridor.

'So you did nothing?' Rickard asked again.

'Yes,' I told him for what felt like the thousandth time.

'So dull,' Rickard commented.

'John,' I heard Sunniva's voice behind us so I at once turned around to see her and Cenric coming towards us.

She was wearing a brown dress with a white collar and a broach. Her hair was tied into a simple braid while and her hair was immaculate. Cenric was dressed in a simple but smart tunic and shoes and I could tell that Sunniva had done her best to make sure Cenric looked smart.

'Sunniva,' I said respectfully as she and her brother stopped in front of us. 'You look wonderful.'

'Thanks. So do you.'

'Are you ready for the feast?' Markus asked her.

'Definitely,' she answered and then offered me her arm. 'Shall we?'

'Of course,' I responded and we linked arms while Cenric looked embarrassed by us and my cousins shared a silent laugh.

We then walked into the Dining Room which was already packed. The entrance to the Dining Room was flanked by two of the Citadel Guard and on the inside standing here and there along the walls was a total of ten of the Citadel Guard. They took the protection of their king and queen, who sat at the table, very seriously. They were both dressed in their finest and the king was having a discussion with my uncle and Robert. The table was piled high with food of all types, venison, beef, ham and goose. There were a few plates of vegetables and large pile of bread and along the table were a few plates of small mince pies while casks of beer and wine sat along one wall. The fire was roaring with massive orange flames throwing light out across the room and a servant stood next to the fire, ready to put new logs on it. The group I was in took our seats a few places to the left of where the Council sat next to the royals. Already many of the knights were laughing and telling jokes as we waited for the last of the knights to arrive. Only a few moments later the last knights, Mathew and a knight named Lucas, walked in and sat at the last available seats. When everyone was seated my uncle stood up and raised his arms as a gesture to silence everyone. When they were all quiet my uncle spoke.

'Thank you all for coming to tonight's feast. I would especially like to welcome two very special guests to our table; His Majesty King Aragorn Elessar and Her Highness Queen Arwen.'

'And we are honoured to be invited here,' Aragorn said with a respect laden voice.

'Thank you You're Majesty,' my uncle said to him. 'Now we will begin our feast once Father Harold has said a prayer.'

At that each of us, including the King and Queen, out of respect, stood up and bowed our heads as the priest began his customary prayer.

'Bless us oh Lord and these, thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord Amen.'

'Amen,' everyone, apart from the King and Queen, said and then we began our feast.

I filled my plate with venison and goose with some vegetables and bread. My cup was filled with wine which I drank a large gulp from. Sunniva's plate was filled with less than mine but she was enjoying the meal tremendously.

'So about earlier,' Sunniva said with her voice lower than normal which, combined with the noise around us, helped to keep our conversation private.

'Yes?' I asked with a smile.

'How do you suggest we go on from there?'

'I think we should keep things private for now,' I said.

'I think you're right,' she agreed before smiling and gripping my hand under the table.

Sunniva and I talked quietly like that for a while until I was pulled into a conversation between my uncle and Aragorn.

'I am glad that the cannon designs I gave you are useful,' my uncle said to the king.

'They certainly are. If we stay on the progress we're making now we should have eight heavy cannons finished by March.'

'I wonder why you want them built so soon You're Majesty,' I said to Aragorn.

'They are an effective weapon and they will prove to be useful is the defence of Gondor,' he explained which seemed like a good enough reason.

'Hopefully they won't have to be used in Gondor's defence too soon,' my uncle said to him.

'Hopefully there will be a long peace,' said Arwen. 'Yet sadly evil will always exist.'

'And good will always be there to defeat it and triumph,' said Father Harold.

'Indeed,' I agreed.

For the next two hours we enjoyed good food and drink while enjoying the company of good friends. After many of us had eaten our meals Mathew and a few others started singing a song called Sir Christmas in a very jolly tone which many of us joined in with. I can only say that we all had fun that night. Aragorn and Arwen left the Barracks as it was coming close to midnight when most of us were feeling tired and filled with food. Cenric had gone back to his room a little earlier and I volunteered to escort Sunniva back to her room.

We walked along the corridor with our arms linked talking to eachother.

'That was so much fun,' she laughed.

'It certainly was,' I agreed. 'If only we had parties like that more often.'

'They'd always be fun,' she said happily as we reached her door.

'Goodnight,' I said to her.

'Goodnight,' she returned but didn't walk in straight away. Instead she stayed rooted to the spot for a few seconds until she could find the right words to say. 'John, when I go back to Edoras you'll still write?'

'Of course I will,' I answered. 'Why wouldn't I?'

'I just wanted to be sure.'

'Why wouldn't you be sure?'

'So I wouldn't regret doing this,' she explained and stood up on her toes to kiss me.

She planted the gentle kiss on my lips and everything was perfect. When she took her lips away from mine we both smiled and I kissed her again, still gently.

'Goodnight,' she whispered and walked into her room.

For a few seconds I stood where I was, not daring to move. I then learned how to use my legs again as I walked back to my room. I knew one thing for sure in that moment. Rickard was not going to hear about this.

AN: Merry Christmas my friends. This chapter is my Christmas present to all of you and hopefully it wasn't the type you'd want to get rid of in a secret Santa as soon as possible.

I also have a confession to make. This isn't the only story featuring John Harris I've wrote. He's also in my other fanfic, Phantom of the Night. Check it out if you're a fan of Phantom of the Opera or the superhero franchise.

Another thing, if any of you watch the new Star Wars film, Daniel Craig plays a storm Trooper on it. Keep an ear open for his voice.

Review Response Time:

KiyaNamiel: Don't die laughing. I can't be bothered dealing with the cops who'll come to get me.

ATP: I'm not planning on a wedding for the moment. Wait, if the Shire is England, does that make Mordor Texas? (Apologies to any and all readers from Texas who I have just annoyed. Please don't kill me).

Now, I have something to say here. At this busy time of year I'd like all of us to ask ourselves something. What does Christmas mean to you? Think about it. To me Christmas is an important religious celebration but at the same time something so much more. It is a time when we can all come together as a people and unify in one moment of peace in a troubled world. This is the time of year which stopped one of the most brutal wars in history and the time when millions of children look forward to seeing what Father Christmas has left for them under the tree. Whatever it means to you is important and really think about that. What it means to me might be something completely different than what it means to you.

Merry Christmas and God bless us everyone.