A/N:Hey, lovelies! Again, sorry for the delayed update, again. Please don't hurt me. I have been very busy lately with looking for work in my field, as well as planning on moving out ASAP. Anyway, here is the latest chapter! Just a quick update, and filler chapter for the ones to come. Enjoy!

Disclaimer:I own nothing except Kayla Harris. All rights for Lord of the Rings belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and his family. I also do not own any other references made throughout this story.

Journey to a Curious Place

Chapter Ten:

Days Going By

It had been three days since Théodred's funeral, and things hadn't changed much in Edoras, nor in the Keep. Théoden had spent the first day after his son's burial standing outside of the tomb, mourning for his only child, with Gandalf staying at his side nearly the entire time. It had pained me to know how much pain the King was in, and that there had been nothing I could have done to prevent the death of his only son and heir. Since then, Théoden had locked himself in the throne room with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, no doubt discussing the impending threat looming over Rohan. Additionally, Boromir and I had still not spoken since his little outburst a few days prior and, for now, I intended to keep it that way. He had been being so bitchy since we had arrived in Edoras and, just as I was feeling we might be able to become friends, he had gone and made a complete ass of himself again, and I was going to have none of it.

Bera, Éowyn's handmaiden and I, had begun to become slight friends since my arrival in the Keep. I had spent the first day after the funeral wandering around the Keep, trying to get my bearings, and figure out where things were. Despite not being of noble birth, I was treated with respect by all who worked in the Keep, and they allowed me to wander to my heart's content, so long as I didn't interrupt Théoden when he was in session with the Fellowship. I didn't really mind, I like having the alone time for a few days to think and try to figure out what I was going to do next. I still hadn't quite gotten to that part in my mind yet – did I leave now? Or wait until there at least a time of certain safety, after the Battle of Helm's Deep? I knew I had to decide soon, since I didn't know when the first raid was going to happen, and when the people of Edoras would be forced to flee their home.

By the third day after the funeral, I was starting to get restless. I had done nothing but explore the grounds and Keep, save the throne room, and return to my room and lay on my bed for three days, and I was starting to find pleasure staring at the stone walls. I was beginning to feel badly about not really doing much to help out in the Keep, considering, again, I wasn't of any kind of nobility. I wanted to be able to make my own way around the castle, and do my part to aid the servants with their daily duties. I finally worked up the courage to ask Bera if she needed any help with her chores on the morning of the third day. The golden haired girl, perhaps only a few years younger than me, was busy plaiting said golden hair after she had dressed for the morning. I was sitting on my bed, chewing my thumbnail as I did when I was nervous, and trying to nurse yet another impending migraine of that morning.

"Bera?" I managed to say, while still chewing on my thumbnail.

She turned her strikingly green eyes on me, the sunlight from the open window falling across her face, making her freckles stand out. "Yes, Miss Kayla?" She never referred to me as "Lady Kayla", as Boromir or Aragorn did, probably because she knew I wasn't nobility. But still, she was polite enough to address me as "Miss", and I had to say, I preferred it over "Lady". Much less formal.

I sat up a little straighter, before climbing off the bed and crossing to the silver pitcher of water we always had on the table by the door. I poured myself some into the clay cups we used, and took a long drink, clearing my throat before turning back to her.

"Well, I know this may be a little unethical, seeing as I'm not a housemaid, or nobility for that matter – I'm in that awkward in between." Bera nodded, clasping her hands in front of her, indicating that she was listening intently to me. Man, she was well-mannered. She put all the young women I knew back home to shame, and then some. I got back on track quickly, lest I lose my train of thought. "Anyway, it's been three days since the funeral of the King's son, and all I have to show for it is wandering around the Keep and the city. King Théoden has been so accommodating to me, by letting me stay here with you, even though he doesn't know me." I could tell that, despite still listening to me, Bera was starting to get impatient. I was taking up time she could be spending tending to Éowyn. I hurried on quickly. "What I'm trying to say is, do you need any help around the Keep with your work? I want to make myself useful, and not just sit around and waste the King's hospitality."

Bera was looking at me with a curious expression on her face. Her pale eyebrows knitted together as she spoke. "You wish… To help me with my chores and tasks I do for Lady Éowyn? But, you are not a maidservant, nor a handmaid, Miss." She tilted her head, her blond plait falling over her shoulder. "You are correct, it would be unethical to ask such a thing of you. While you are not nobility, you are still a guest of the King."

"But that's the thing," I pressed on quickly. "I'm not – I am here because the men he has been holding council with for the last three days are aiding him in the safe keeping of his homeland, and your home, as well. I'm only here because they found me, and helped me when I would have probably died. I am in no way associated with their tasks to help the King." When Bera raised an eyebrow at me, I added. "I just want to help in any way I can. I'm going crazy doing nothing, and I want to try and repay the King's kindness somehow." Bera sighed, and it looked like she was considering my offer, so I quickly said. "I won't get in the way, I promise. There must be something you need help doing – or some additional task I can do? You'd be done in half the time." I threw her my cheesiest, fakest smile ever, and hoped she'd buy it. For a split second, I wondered if Bera would just tell me it wasn't her place, or that it was impossible because I was this weird "guest", as she had said before.

To my surprise, Bera actually began to nod slowly. "Alright," she said, "I suppose you could help me tend to the Lady Éowyn's chambers today. It is in need of a good tidy and dust. She will be out today, most likely tending to the other soldiers who were wounded during the battle that killed Lord Théodred. We may manage her room together, and perhaps we can find you some other work after that. After all, I am Lady Éowyn's handmaiden, and as such should be the only one tending to her, but for today, I will make a small exception." I nodded enthusiastically, and Bera gave me a warm, albeit somewhat pained smile, and walked back over to her bed, picking up a cloth and a basket. "We will begin by making her Lady's bed, and dusting her chambers. After that, I will prepare luncheon for Lady Éowyn when she returns from her own duties, at which time I will see if anyone else will be in need of your assistance. Come, we mustn't delay – there is much to be done."

She smiled once, and gestured to the door. I nodded, raked a wooden brush with sharp bristles on it through my hair, which I took out of its braided up-do briefly, before quickly putting it back up in a small ponytail. Thankfully, Bera hadn't either noticed, or had noticed and chosen not to ask, about my not-so-Middle-Earthen ponytail holder, nor my toiletry kit that I had stuffed into a leather satchel I had found in the Keep, and thrown under my bed. She didn't ask when I disappeared for ten minutes each night either, to brush my teeth in private, and floss as best I could. I had managed to somewhat successfully keep my teeth clean since arriving in Edoras, as well as keeping my body clean. As it turned out, the servant and members of the keep had a much better way of bathing themselves. They actually had a bigger basin, and a proper bucket to douse oneself with after washing ones hair. The soap used was a lot more like the ones I was used to back, home, though still rough and scentless – it did the job better than the one Aedre had let me use had, that was for sure.

I straightened my plain brown dress, much like the one Bera was wearing, and darted out the door after her. Our leather slippered feet made barely any sound as we darted through the stone and wooden corridors. I knew that, as servants, Bera and the others weren't allowed to make any sound while cleaning, cooking, and tidying the Keep, which was why they had to wear the soft, poor insole-d shoes that we both wore now. It felt a lot more like wearing slippers, rather than shoes, and I knew my flat feet would be hating me later that night. I was going to have to see if I could sneak away for a bit later and soak my feet, if Bera didn't find a million things for me to do, of course. I wasn't a big fan of manual labour, but I knew I had to do something to keep myself busy, or I really was going to go crazy.

We eventually came to what I suspected was Éowyn's bedroom, since Bera stopped, and turned to me as we approached. Sure enough, when she spoke, I was correct. "This is Lady Éowyn's chambers," she girl said. "We must in efficient, and quick in the cleaning, as she could return at any moment from her duties. You will be tasked with dusting the bookcases, tables, and fixing her chairs and replacing the flowers on her nightstand. I will tell you where to fetch more flowers once you have finished dusting." She then opened the door, and entered into the room.

Before stopping short, causing me to run right into her back.

I peeked over Bera's shoulder, wondering why she'd stopped. Before us I could see Éowyn's room. It was dimly lit, with a large, king-size bed on our left, several dark, probably mahogany book cases, a few tables and chairs, and a large window, complete with a thick, glass window pane. The light coming in was cold and pale, and there was a vase of dried, dead flowers on the table by the window. However, it wasn't the pale dark of the room, nor the stillness of the air, and the dead flowers that caught my eye. It was the woman standing before the window, with her back to us.

Éowyn; White Lady and Shieldmaiden of Rohan.

Upon hearing Bera stop short, and me run into her back, Éowyn turned to look at us. I couldn't help but stare. She was pale, much paler than I was, and surprising considering the people she lived among were much tanner, and rougher than anyone from my home. She was wearing the same white dress she had worn the day Aragorn and the others had arrived in Edoras, and she looked like a glowing white beacon in the darkness of her room. Her shimmering golden hair was loose, and fell down past her waist. It framed her face in waves, and her expression was one of exhaustion and melancholy. Despite her apparent sadness, the Lady of Rohan still radiated power and strength, and her dark eyes were piercing, but not unkind. She reminded me a lot more of the Éowyn I had read about in the books, rather than the one from the films. Don't get me wrong, I loved Éowyn in the film adaptions, but this Éowyn, despite looking a lot like the actress Miranda Otto who had portrayed her in the films, had a certain air of regality to her.

Bera dropped into a curtsy upon seeing Éowyn standing there. "M-my Lady!" The girl gasped, sounding both shocked and horrified. "I did not think you would be in your chambers this morning, or I would have come later! My deepest apologies." If Bera had been flexible enough, I was certain her nose would have touched the floor, given how low she was curtsying. Realizing that I should probably show some respect, I quickly curtsied clumsily beside Bera. I kept my eyes trained on the ground, and I could hear Éowyn move slowly across the threshold towards us.

"There is no need to apologize, Bera." Éowyn's voice was calm and clear, though I could hear how tired she was, and how the ache of the loss of her cousin still wore on her. "I did not tell you I would be in my chambers – it is of no fault of your own. Please, carry on with your duties, and I will take my leave. I would speak with my brother."

She began to pass us, as Bera straightened herself, and I did the same, my eyes met those of the White Lady of Rohan briefly, and I dropped them quickly. She was at least half a head taller than me, and I felt suddenly very nervous and shy. I loved Éowyn as a character, and it was a little overwhelming being in the same vicinity as her now. We hadn't had a chance to properly become acquainted since my arrival in the Keep. It had been such a whirlwind of emotion and preparations, that the Lady had had little time for socialization with anyone, even Aragorn who, by this point, I was certain she had already begun to develop feelings for.

"I do not believe we have been properly introduced." Éowyn's voice cut through my train of thought, and I briefly panicked. My eyes snapped up, and I found her watching me, a small smile on her face. I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly nodded.

"Yes, I mean no – Lady Éowyn," I stumbled over my words, trying not to look stupid, and failing miserably. Beside me, I heard Bera take in air as a hiss, and I could almost feel her rolling her eyes at the back of my head. I was in for a berating after this, I was sure of it. Éowyn let out a small laugh, and I felt a small smile form on my face, and I let out a nervous laugh. Christ almighty, I was bad at this.

"It is alright, there is no need to be nervous." She smiled down at me, and I clasped my hands in front of me, much like Bera had earlier that day while listening to me talk. I figured it was the most polite thing I could do while listening to a Lady speak. "I recognize you," Éowyn continued, "You came here with Lord Boromir of Gondor, and you know Lord Aragorn, as well?" I nodded quickly, and she smiled again. "I remember seeing you at my cousin Théodred's burial." Her eyes grew sad for a moment, and I quickly spoke.

"I'm so sorry about your cousin, Lady Éowyn. I really am." I wanted to sound as earnest as possible, since I really was sad for her and her family, and I think she could tell. She looked back up at me, and smile slightly.

"You have my thanks…" She paused, and raised an eyebrow at me, and I quickly realized that she didn't know my name.

"Oh, my name is Kayla," I said quickly, and Éowyn smiled once again.

"Kayla," she tested my foreign name on her tongue, and seemed satisfied with it, before she spoke again. "I am glad we could speak properly since your arrival. I hope we can speak more in the days to come. For now, however, must take my leave, and find my brother. Please, do not let me keep you from your work, and thank you for helping Bera. She deserves help for all her hard work." Éowyn's smile was directed at her handmaiden this time, and the girl's green eyes widened, and she dropped into a low curtsy again.

"Thank you, my Lady, you are too kind." Éowyn nodded once, bid us farewell, and exited the room in a whoosh of white and gold. I stood there, watching her go for a moment, before exhaling loudly. Behind me, I heard Bera do the same thing. I turned back to look at her. The girl looked a little frazzled, but otherwise alive.

"You going to be okay?" I asked, playfully winking at her, trying to lighten the mood. To my surprise, Bera actually let out a slight titter, and after I raised an eyebrow, a grin on my face, we both lapsed into silent laughter for a moment.

When we had calmed, and I was still snickering slightly, I said. "I swear, you were going to have a heart attack when you saw her! She's not that scary, you know. She seems really kind."

Bera was nodding as she walked across the room to Éowyn's bed and began to make it. "Lady Éowyn is very kind, yes. I am lucky to be able to serve her as her handmaiden for as long as I have."

I glanced back at her as I began to dust the bookshelves, taking care not to breathe in too much as I did. I have a dust allergy, and a sneezing fit was not going to help right now. I wondered vaguely, as I glanced back at the bookshelf in front of me, if there were any books in here that could help me in figuring out how I got here. I made a mental note to perhaps ask Éowyn later if she had any books on mythology or magic, and also to find a way to word it so it wouldn't sound suspicious at all.

"How long have you worked as Éowyn's handmaiden?" I asked after a few moments of silence while we tidied.

Bera looked up as she pulled the sheets up on Éowyn's bed, and pulled the comforter over them, taking care to smooth out the bedding, and make it look presentable. "I have been with Lady Éowyn since I was fifteen," She replied, tucking a lock of golden hair, much like Éowyn's, behind her ear as it came loose from her plait.

"And how old are you now?" I asked, continuing to dust and straighten the books on the shelf, not really paying attention to my task, but rather listening to Bera as she spoke.

Bera glanced back at me, moving across the room to fix the chairs at the table, and pick up a silver plate of untouched food off the table by the window. "I am now eighteen. I have been Lady Éowyn's handmaiden for over three years."

"Do you have any family? That's awfully young to leave home." I felt instantly stupid after saying it. I knew that, in this world, things were a lot different when it came to working and leaving home. I mean, some women were mothers by eighteen – someone like me could be married with children by now, and it would be considered normal. Ugh, I didn't even want to think about that for a long time.

Bera let out a small laugh, and I felt my blush deepen. "On the contrary, it is a fine age to leave home, Miss Kayla. And yes, I do have family. I am from the South of here, in Aldburg."

I turned back, confused. "Aldburg? I've never heard of that place." Bera looked surprised at this.

"Aldburg is the other largest settlement in Rohan, and perhaps the oldest. I am surprised you have not heard of this place, Miss Kayla." Before I could try to make up some kind of lame excuse as to why I had no idea where Bera came from, she countered me with her own questions. "Where are you from, Miss Kayla? You are far too pale to be from Rohan, and your eyes too dark to be from Gondor. Are you from Dale, or Bree-Land?" Huh, the same questions Aedre had asked me. Weird. I decided it was better to just tell the sort-of truth, rather than make up some huge lie again.

I chose my words carefully. "To be honest, I don't know where my home is. I know I'm from Middle Earth, but I can't remember where. I woke up in the woods near the Anduin River, and came across Lord Aragorn and the others. They were kind enough to let me come with them and find a safe haven here. When I'm ready, I'm going to be going to Gondor to see if I can't find any answers there." Bera stared at me for a second, probably both shocked and confused by my answer. She didn't really say much after that, and I was a little glad. I had gotten tired of people grilling me about where I was from, or why I couldn't remember. Maybe Bera thought I was insane, or maybe she didn't know how to answer me. Either way, she didn't say much about it.

The only thing the girl said to me was, "I hope you find your home soon, Miss Kayla. With all the darkness and death in this world, I am always glad for the love of my family. You are a kind woman, and you deserve a love like that, as well."

Two more days passed, and Bera helped me find a few more odd jobs to do around the Keep. I helped Bera clean Éowyn's room once more, then helped another maid clean the clothes, and finally tried my hand at cleaning a stable on the second day. That wasn't very fun, and I wasn't very good at it. I have weak wrists, and as such I can't lift a pitchfork to save my life. The stable hand had taken pity on me, and let me leave early. On my way back to the room I shared with Bera, I passed a room that Boromir, Aragorn, and Théoden were in. Boromir and I hadn't exchanged words, since they had looked very busy, but I had given him a small, slightly apologetic smile, and he had returned it, though his seemed more strained. We had both been so busy for the past week that neither of us had had any time to really talk, or apologize to one another. I had finally decided that staying mad at him was stupid, and when I got a moment, I would apologize to him properly, and hoped he would do the same. For now, however, I had to busy myself while I decided what I wanted to do – whether I go to Gondor now, or wait.

I was entering my room, when I found Bera standing at the window, looking out over the plains of Rohan. One thing I had to hand to this room: it had an amazing view. When I looked out the window, I could see across the whole city, and out onto the golden fields of Rohan. I approached Bera, wondering what she was doing.

"Bera?" I asked, walking up next to her, "What is it? What are you staring at?"

The girl was squinting out the window, clearly looking at something in the distance. "I cannot be certain, but I believe there is a horse approaching the city!" She sounded both surprised, and a little nervous. "I cannot see a rider, but the horse looks like one of Rohan."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. No – was it happening now? It couldn't be. I turned and looked out the window, as well, squinting as best I could, straining to see without my glasses on, which proved to be a huge annoyance. Sure enough, I could see a horse riding towards Edoras in the distance, and the shapes atop it were unmistakable.

"That horse isn't rider-less, Bera." I said, my voice coming out much hoarser than I intended. "Those are children riding it."

Bera inhaled sharply, realizing that I was right. "You are right! But… Why would children approach Edoras alone on horseback? Unless…" Her voice trailed off, and she suddenly gasped. I turned back to look out the window, and saw that one of the children, the one I knew to be the young boy, had fallen from the horse. "He's fallen! We must get help!" Bera turned to run from the room, but I stopped her as the sounds of bells began to ring across the city.

"I don't think that's necessary, Bera." We both returned to the window, and could see what looked like guards racing out of the city, no doubt being led by Hàma, to rescue the children. I turned away from the window, as Bera continued to fret about the poor children on the horse, wondering what had happened, and why they were here. I pressed my index and middle fingers to my temples as I began to feel the onsets of a migraine.

It had begun – the evacuation of Edoras was coming.

A/N: Woo! Here is the latest chapter. Sat down and vomited this out in a few hours. Just a filler chapter, and I apologize if it was boring – the more exciting stuff is on the way! I know this one was shorter, but bear with me! Thank you for all the fav'ing and following, it is much appreciated! R&R, please!