Author's Note: I'm really, really, really sorry guys about the awful lateness of this chapter. But I had a round of ghastly exams and schoolwork was taking up ALL of my time. But now the hols are here expect some updates. Thanks to all you reviewers you rock.
P.S: I know Jane Austen didn't write Jane Eyre, I meant the plot would resemble JE but written in a JA style I hope that clears up any misunderstandings.
Dear Diary,
Bobby pins….CHECK
Dress…CHECK
Shoes with heels to kick Boromir with if necessary…CHECK
Oh well, I'm off to the ball. I'll describe all to you the moment I return.
Well beloved diary I'm back. From what has been one of the strangest/best/worst? Nights of my life. As to avoid from keeping you in suspense I will start the "Saga of the ball" from the beginning.
I left my room immediately after dressing; leaving Walter perched on my vanity stand looking rather grouchy. (I'd had to remove his bow because he'd been trying to chew it.)
So having left my room I found myself in the empty corridor, (I was running slightly late due to the fact I'd spent the past half hour dislodging ribbon from Walter's throat.) But the empty corridor was a bit of a problem because due to stuffy old protocol, being an unmarried young woman I wasn't allowed into the ball unescorted, and that meant (waiting for Boromir). Who, unless he had discovered the secret of invisibility, was nowhere to be seen.
So I stood in the deserted corridor for ten minutes or so resembling a (more pretty than usual) tall dwarf. Until finally, I heard footsteps approaching, and low and behold Boromir himself shuffled into view, not even looking vaguely remorseful.
"Greetings," I muttered under my breath sulkily, before addressing him with,
"You do realise that we are supposed to be opening this party don't you?" It came out slightly more politely than I'd intended.
"Yes," he replied equally politely, "I'm sorry, my old horse is dying."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." I replied quietly, feeling slightly guilty. "Look, if you want to pass on this I'll more than understand."
"No," he much to my astonishment smiled, "Besides, I think my father would kill us if we did."
Then I smiled too, and taking the arm he offered we walked down the corridor, in rather awkward silence. I don't think I've ever had less to say before in my life. By the time we reached the top of the staircase I was beginning to have a huge cluster of butterflies attacking my digestive system.
What if I fell over? What if I smashed something? What if I trod on somebody's foot? Or even worse what if I knocked over a candle, which set fire to the dance floor killing everybody? Alright so the last possibility wasn't likely, but there you go.
I was bust running these possible disasters through my mind when I caught Boromir starring at me, a slightly puzzled expression on his face.
"What?" I asked stopping half way down the staircase as I turned to glare at him.
"Nothing," he replied casually, "you were just wearing an expression that made me think you were going to be executed not open a silly dance."
"It feels a bit like that." I answered morbidly.
"Well, standing on this staircase isn't going to get it over and done with any quicker." He told me almost sternly.
"Its alright for you!" I snapped, "You've been to important social events since the age of five, I've spent most of my life being hidden from important social events." Then I realised that that was probably one of the strangest sounding sentences I'd ever said so I shut up again.
He looked medative, and almost slightly embarrassed for a moment.
"And justly so" I thought angrily to myself, he's the one who made sure his father kept me hidden.
"Alright," he said suddenly, "truce."
"Huh?"
"I'll stop making your life hell, if you go to this ball."
"What," I asked, "no more moaning about having to spend time with me?"
"Yes."
"No more making rude comments about my clothes?"
"Yes,"
"Fine," I said smiling, "you've got yourself a deal."
And we walked down the stairs, along the corridor and straight into the ball. Which was a bit terrifying because the entire main hall was full of very important looking people. All of whom turned to stare at us, as if on queue.
"Just smile politely," Boromir muttered under his breath. I smiled, but felt as if I'd rather vomit. All the while muttering under my breath "Don't fall over, don't fall over, don't fall over."
As we joined the crowd about nine people descended on Boromir asking him how he was, and how events were going outside of Gondor. I just stood nearby feeling incredibly stupid, as the only person I knew in the room was Faramir and he was jammed at the other side of the room.
I tried mouthing at him, but he didn't see me, and some overly dressed old woman gave me a funny look so I deceased quickly. Just as four miscellaneous people asked Boromir the dreaded question,
"So who is your lovely partner?"
At first I looked around myself to see who they meant, and then nearly jumped out of my skin when I realised they meant me. Luckily Boromir was able to handle the situation and introduced me as
"Lady Errin Herrismere." A name Faramir and I had invented in advance, nobody was meant to know about my true identity. I'd wanted to call myself "Zippy Walter" but Faramir had put his foot down.
However my round of introductions was interrupted by the sound of a gong, and looking up the main platform at the centre of the room I realised the musical entertainment was about to begin. As the guests began to move to the side of the room, I felt Boromir grab my hand, and I somehow ended up dancing.
Oh the embarrassment, I cannot dance. During the first set I managed to tear some woman's dress (fortunately she didn't notice), next I DID knock a candle over (but fortunately it wasn't lit) and for my grand finale I fell over my own feet and landed flat on my face.
As the guests burst into raucous hysterics, the food arrived and I was fortunately able to slip away. And I mean slip; en route I slipped over the train of my wretched dress.
Anyway I was stood outside feeling utterly depressed and sorry for myself, when I realised something, I was going to have to attend these ghastly soirees for rest of my life!
I sat down on a handy piece of wall and chewed a bit of my hair, which had fallen out of its style. Ugh; I was going to have to face Madame Foxtrot's wrath tomorrow. I can just imagine it;
"Lady Errin, knocking over candles is not appropriate ball behaviour." Oh damn.
It was at this point that I realised my dress was torn I was just examining it when I heard A voice,
"You never know, it could become a new fashion." I looked up and saw Boromir.
"Oh hello," I muttered quickly removing the piece of hair from my mouth, "shouldn't you be in there socialising?"
"Shouldn't you?" He retorted smiling slightly.
I sighed, and kicked the wall, "How do you deal with those stupid things?"
"You'll get used to them, there are some things we all have to do, it's our duty." That statement puzzled me slightly, it seemed rather too serious.
"Do you believe in duty?" I asked.
"Of course, the most important part of my life is my duty to my father and Gondor."
"Do you want to be the next steward?" I asked, he seemed incredibly serious.
"It's what I've always wanted." He replied, and our conversation lapsed into silence. Unable to stop myself I blurted out,
" Is it true you proposed to twelve women all of whom turned you down and one of whom slapped you?"
He looked amazed "So that's the rumour now is it?"
I nodded.
"No," he replied, "No its not true. I did propose to Lady Lynette but she turned me down."
"Oh," I replied feeling kind of embarrassed, but I continued all the same.
"But I saw you together that day in etiquette class!"
He smiled grimly, "Errin, I'm a bit of relief from her idiot husband, besides you can't deny she's a very pretty woman."
I snorted and asked, "Would you marry her?"
He shook his head, "I've got more important things think about then love and marriage."
"Like?" I prompted, finding this conversation very interesting.
"Something is about to happen, something dark, I don't know what but I can sense it."
"Have you been drinking?" I asked half amused, half puzzled.
He frowned at me,
"I'm serious Errin."
"Are you worried about Gondor?" I pestered.
"Yes," he finished, and the yes seemed to indicate the conversation about his premonitions of doom was over.
"Is you father after my blood yet?" I asked smiling.
"No, fortunately he missed your little escapades on the dance floor."
"I was awful wasn't I?"
"No," He replied politely, I raised an eyebrow, "Well, maybe slightly."
I laughed, "Do you think I can politely slip away yet?"
"Why don't I try and teach you how to dance?"
"No way!" I retorted, "I'm not going back in there."
End Of Chapter.
A/N: I know part of this chapter was up before, but I took it down and rewrote it. Next chapter features the first bit of real romance (LoL) Anyway THANK YOU reviewers YOU ROCK.