The Strangers in Middle Earth
I own nothing but my OC's
Chapter Ten
Celebrations
It was in the afternoon that I and the rest of our company stood in the Golden Hall, along with almost every man, woman and child in Edoras. There was a low hum of chatter in the air as we all waited for the party to start. I sat alongside my cousins, my uncle and the rest of the party had returned from Isengard not long after I and Sunniva arrived at Edoras.
'You should have seen it,' said Richard. 'One minute, there he was, bragging about how we're all doomed, next second, he's dead on the ground.'
'I'd have preferred a hanging,' said Marcus. 'It would have been a good punishment for the bastard.'
'Anyway, how have you two been? Did you do anything over the last few days?'
'Not really, just helped get these people back here,' answered Marcus. 'Well, John spent a night at Reeve Cerdic's farm before escorting Lady Sunniva back here.'
'Did he?' Richard asked dramatically and then wildly gestured with his eyebrows, so I gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs, in turn he chuckled.
After he said her name, I looked over to Sunniva who stood with a group of her friends on another side of the hall. Our eyes met and she smiled at me, a gesture I returned before she looked away and continued talking to her friends. After we arrived at Edoras, and Sunniva finished unpacking her belongings, she went to the tavern where she found Father Harold drinking a glass of mead. I understand that they talked for about an hour before they headed up to the Hall for the celebration to start. At the time I wasn't sure what they were discussing, though later I would learn that its significance was very important.
At last, King Theoden, Prince Eomer and Lady Eowyn stepped into place at the head of the Hall and all of us were silenced. The King of Rohan raised the cup in his hand and we all took hold of ours.
'Tonight, we honour those who fell in defence of their country. Hail the Victorious Dead!'
'Hail!' we all echoed and took a deep drink from our mugs.
After this solemn declaration of victory, we began to celebrate. Musicians picked up their harps, lutes and pipes, our Oswald joined them in playing tunes, quickly picking up these people's notes and joining in. Soon cheering and laughing came to dominate the room and for just that night, all the horrors of war which this land had suffered through for those past weeks and months were forgotten for a night of joy and happiness. Eventually I found myself sharing drinks with Edmund, the merchant who my uncle had judged to be of right character to be a leader of our company.
'It was incredible,' he said and shook his head. 'I've never seen a fight like it, never in all my life.'
'Agreed. I mean, we were both at Bosworth and that was bigger but, I never thought I'd see a fight that hard where I was so outnumbered.'
'You know, a part of me is glad I didn't have to be on the walls at the start. I can't say for certain I'd have stood my ground having to watch them coming, hearing them was bad enough.'
'Still made a fool of myself though, charging out of the gates like that. What was I thinking?'
'I was out there charging with you.'
'We needed someone to stop us. I remember, when I was a lad, we had messengers riding through our village sometimes and me and the other boys would run after them. Once when I was around thirteen me and a few others ran after one for so long that we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere with night falling.'
'Goodness, how long did it take for you to get back?'
'We got back after midnight. I swear, my mother beat my behind so raw I couldn't sit down right for a month. Goodness, what a woman.'
We chuckled together at the story when I heard Oswald talking loudly, trying to get as many of us together as possible.
'Alright Englishmen, you'll all know the words when I start playing so please join in. Alright? Wait!' he then picked up his mug of beer and finished it, letting out a sigh and then raising his pipe to his lips.
About fifteen of us were gathered together at that point, as well a few of Rohan's people, curious at what we were doing. I spotted Father Harold and even my uncle and both of my cousins and Edmund, with us as we waited for Oswald to start. He began an upbeat tune and after a few moments I recognised it, as did all our company, a few laughing at knowing what it was. At last, we began to sing, singing with drinks which always makes music better.
The False Fox came into our Croft
And so our Geese so fast he Sought
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The False Fox came into our Yard
And there he made the geese afraid
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The false fox came upon our Gate
And took our geese where they were safe
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The false fox came to Hall's Door
And stole our geese there on the floor.
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The false fox came into our Hall
and attacked our geese both great and small
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The false fox came into our Coop
And there he made our geese to stop
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
He took a goose fast by the Neck
And the goose began to quack
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The Good Wife came out in her Smock
And at the fox she threw a rock
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The Good Man came out with his Flail
And smote the fox upon its tail
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
He threw a goose upon his Back
And forth he went too with his pack
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The good man swore if that he Might
He would slay if it was night
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The false fox went into his Den
And there he was fully merry then
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
He came again the very next week
And took away both hen and chick
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
The false fox came upon a Day
And with our geese he made away
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
He took a goose fast by the Neck
And made her to say Wheccumquek
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
"I pray thee fox" said the goose though
"Take of my feathers not of my life"
With how fox how!
With hey fox hey!
Come no more into our house
To bear our geese away.
And with the end of the song we all laughed and cheered, with Oswald himself making a dramatic bow before playing another song. I chose not to join in this one, instead I decided to find Sunniva. On the way I passed Richard who was leaning against one of the pillars and chatting with a red headed servant girl.
'So we came in here,' he said, 'and Wormtongue was just snivelling at Gandalf while his thugs were getting into place to attack. Well, I knew we were getting into a fight no matter what so I just grabbed Wormtongue and bang, threw him right into this pillar,' he then slapped the pillar.
'I wish I was actually there. Just my luck to be on washing duty that day.'
'It was nothing special,' he bragged.
'I know it wasn't,' I said, interrupting him and properly getting revenge for his earlier remarks and looked at the woman. 'It's his usual opening move when he get's into fights at the tavern. Grabs them and throws them at the wall. Gives the rest of us enough time to run out,' I then looked at Richard who was annoyed bit still saw the humour from it. 'See you later cousin.'
Chuckling at my small triumph I continued through the hall to find Sunniva but on the way I ran into the Fendrel brothers and a few of the other archers in our company who were engaged in a series of arm-wrestling contests, made all the better with beer. Mathew Fendrel, the younger brother, was facing off against Luke Smith, both of them deadlocked while Thomas was egging his little brother on. After passing them I then came upon Sunniva who had been drinking and laughing with a pair of other young women. When she saw me, she bade them farewell and approached me.
'Are you alright John?' she asked with a smile on her face.
'Of course. Are you?'
'I'm on my second ale now, so I'm very good.'
'Only your second?'
'Well,' she said, drawing out the word until we both laughed. 'Yes, it's only my second.'
'It's a shame Cerdic and Cenric aren't here.'
'My father doesn't really enjoy these parties, still it would have been nice. It's a bit hot in here, I'm going to get some air. Would you like to come along?'
'I'd be happy to.'
The two of us stepped outside of the Golden Hall to stand near the steps, looking out at the quiet city. The sun had just started to set and the birds were singing their final songs of the day. The planes of Rohan beyond the city were peaceful, cast in the golden light of the early evening.
'It's a beautiful country,' I said to her. 'Your people have a beautiful land.'
'It certainly us, and I adore it, but it's been through such dark times in the past few months that, that I feared it would all die.'
'My country, England, has been through so many wars, but it still stands. All countries face war and terror, but while their people can stand strong, it will not fall.'
'What were they fighting for in England?'
'For the throne, two houses going at each other for years. It all seems so petty right now, after I've seen the Uruk-Hai. I feel like in England, I feel like we forgot what was worth fighting for.'
'You're here now, and you're fighting for a good cause. You saved my brother's life in that fight.'
'I'm glad I did as well, or else I'd have to deal with your fathers wrath. He is certainly a good man, but I saw how well he fought near the end of the battle and I don't fancy the idea of crossing swords with him.'
'Trust me John, even if Cenric had fallen he wouldn't blame you, or at least I wouldn't let him try to go after you. I'd be very upset if you were hurt.'
'Well thank you.'
'Let's head back in. I think there's going to be some dancing later on.'
'I'm afraid I've never been a good dancer.'
'Tell me Sir John,' she said with a faux haughty tone, 'were you assuming that I was asking you to consider dancing with me?'
'Oh, erm, well, we were and, erm.'
Sunniva burst out laughing at that moment and I finally caught on to her joke and laughed with her.
'I wouldn't turn down a dance, but if it helps, I'm an awful dancer as well.'
'In that case let's have one more drink and we can blame our bad dancing on that.'
'Now that's a plan.'
When we went back into the hall I found, with no surprise at all, that Richard and Sir Jason had been drawn into the ancient battle known as the drinking contest. Several of the Rohirrim were in it, as well as Prince Legolas and Gimli while Prince Eomer was acting as a judge. Each of the contestants had several empty mugs on the table before them and Jason's face had started turning red.
'Good luck,' I said to Richard and patted him on the shoulder.
In response he looked at the wrong shoulder before shaking his head.
'Bloody voices,' he mumbled.
'How much has he had?' asked Sunniva.
'It's best not to keep count.'
When we found some more ale, Sunniva and I stood by the edge of the area of the hall being cleared for dancing and I spotted my uncle, Gandalf and Aragorn having a discussion on the other side of the hall while Merry and Pippin danced on a table singing a drinking song from their home land, the Shire. It was sometime after that when my memories of that night become rather vague, though I do remember dancing, Richard running out of the hall to vomit and laughing and cheering.
Then I remember waking up with a ringing headache. When my eyes opened, I saw that I was laying on a stone floor. Groaning at both the pain in my head and the stiffness in my joints from where I had passed out, I pushed myself up, only to then immediately fall over. My second attempt to stand up went better and after leaning against the wall for a few minutes to steady myself, I was confident enough to start moving. I was still in the Golden Hall but the main hall was mostly empty, aside from a few men knocked out by the alcohol much like I had been, and Lady Eowyn who was asleep on a large settee by the fire in the middle of the hall. Amongst them I spotted a couple of men from our company, Mathew Fendrel for example was asleep and cradling an empty mug in one corner. It was dark now, the fire and candles had burned down to nothing, and the general cold told me that it was almost certainly night by that point. Thinking that some night air would sober me up, I started towards the doors and opened them as quietly as I could, not wanting to disturb anyone, and stepped into the cool night air. The city of Edoras was quiet and the night sky was cloudy, though the moon could still be seen, and in that moment I truly felt far from home, looking at the moon which is now familiar to me, but not the moon I knew when I looked up at England's sky, but instead I looked up at the great contraption of Saint Aule. The moon was so similar to the one I knew, but still so strange, the patterns on it being all different.
After standing outside for a moment I suddenly realised I was not alone, also standing by the steps was Prince Legolas, though he had been so still that I hadn't noticed him.
'Did you win?' I asked him.
'Yes, but I felt slightly off balance for a while afterwards.'
'I envy you then. I feel like my head's been trampled. Why was I left on the halls floor?'
'Theoden King said it wasn't worth the trouble of moving you and a few of the others.'
Everything was said in a strange manner, as if he was only paying a small amount of attention to me while his eyes gazed out across the plains of Rohan. He did have a strange manner sometimes, as if he was aware of what was going on around him but at the same time could see other things invisible to my mere mortal eyes. Knowing what I do now regarding Elves, it makes complete sense. The doors opened and Lord Aragorn emerged from the hall, looking to be in much better condition than I felt. He began to push some herbs into his pipe when he noticed us.
'Good evening,' I said to him.
'How do you fare, Sir John?'
'Not too badly, though I fear I drank too much.'
'An easy mistake we all make. I didn't get the chance but I wanted to tell you how well I felt you performed at the battle. You fought bravely as the rear-guard at Helm's Deep.'
'I was glad to do my duty. Those monsters were the hardest enemy I've ever fought against.'
'Sadly, I think this will not be the last time that you and the rest of your company will play a part in the war.'
'I was thinking the same.'
'Aragorn,' Legolas said, alarm written on his face. 'The Eye of the Enemy, it is moving.'
His cryptic statement confused me until the Elven prince gasped.
'He's here.'
With incredible speed he bolted back into the Golden Hall, Aragorn and I racing after him as I drew my sword. Through alcohol still addled mind I tried to work out what he meant. Was Sauron here? Had he infiltrated the Golden Hall somehow and was ready to strike? Above all, could we defeat him? We burst through a side door of the hall to find a room occupied by many sleeping men, but the most incredible sight was that of Pippin. He was writhing on the floor, his face twisted in agony and terror, as he gripped in his hands a ball of fire. Without wasting a moment, Aragorn leaped forwards and took hold of the ball, only for it to become trapped in his hands.
'Hold it still!' I shouted, dropping Alaric and grabbed onto the ball myself, finally pulling it out of his hands.
The ball felt solid like glass and it glowed with unholy fire, at the heart of the flames was a black slit, and eye and I realised with horror that I was looking straight into the Eye of Sauron, the enemy of light, the enemy of God himself, was looking at me. The slit narrowed and I heard it hiss, Man of England. Erucaunion. Your fate, your worlds fate.
Suddenly I was no longer in Edoras. I was in a city, and all about me I saw death. Thousands of men of women dead, laying in the streets with ugly wounds torn into them. Soldiers marched through the ruins, carrying pikes and some sort of black powder weapons, going into houses and dragging out men, women and children, lining them up and shooting them. Then I saw another place, a battlefield of a valley, men carrying pikes and dressed in red fighting against other men while cavalrymen armed with curved swords and wearing heavy leather coats charged down more soldiers. Another image took shape, a pair of men chained to a wooden stake being burned alive as an angry, bitter looking woman smiled down at them. I was then flying through the sky as a vast fleet beneath me burned, and then I was on another battlefield, watching men trying to storm a breach in a rampart only to be cut to ribbons and then innocent women and their men being driven into a river, drowning as a few survivors were shot as they reached the shore, only for this image to be replaced by one so familiar, Widford Castle in ruins, men in similar clothes to the ones in some of the earlier visions running through it killing everyone in their path, smashing the stain glass window of the chapel, all the while a woman in a cloak stood nearby, weeping. Finally came the last vision, there was a shadowy figure, a rough looking man with warts on his face, a dark woman standing behind him, while he shouted these words.
'Upon these barbarous wretches!'
'In the name of God you will not win!' I proclaimed, hoping that the monster could hear me.
Then came a roaring hiss which turned to a scream, catching the last glimpses of images, a group of riders charging down a road before vanishing, suddenly I realised it was us the day we left England. As the last of us rode through a figure ran out of the woods, hooded, and jumped after the last rider before crashing into the ground and looking up, letting out a painful, lonely scream.
I was back in Edoras, my hands were empty and looking straight at me was Gandalf. He had yanked the ball out of my hands before Legolas hurled a heavy cloth over it.
'FOOL OF A TOOK!' Gandalf roared at the Hobbit but his face turned to worry when he saw how stunned Pippin looked.
Aragorn crouched next to me while Gandalf went over to the Hobbit.
'Are you alright?' he asked me.
'I'll live, but, my God.'
'What's going on in here?'
It was Father Harold as he walked in followed by my uncle and Lord Robert, all tired and confused as to what was happening while Gandalf kneeled by Pippin, listening to the Hobbit as he explained his own vision.
'Minas Tirith,' Gandalf said. 'Sauron will strike at Minas Tirith next.'
'And after that,' I said and everyone looked at me, 'Sauron will attack England.'
AN: And so Sir John has witnessed a glimpse at a possible future. Just keep in mind that the Palantir can show both plans and the truth, what you witness within is up to interpretation.
Review Response:
ATP: I think that Gandalf was a very humble character and didn't enjoy discussing his own origins, as seen by how he preferred Gandalf as a name over some of the Elven names granted to him.