Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not a bloody thing.
A/N: I will finish this! If I have to write till I'm fucking 90, I PROMISE I WILL FINISH THIS!!! HAVE HOPE!!!



Hope Unlooked For
Chapter 5: Old Friends



And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forbodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
-Pink Floyd



The night was young; a full moon shone on The Prancing Pony Inn, and Barliman Butterbur readied himself to confront the nightly crowd of rabble-rousers. A tall, cloaked figure came through the door, dressed for riding, with a sword at his side. Barliman thought he had the look of a ranger to him.
And what might I do for you, sir? he asked the figure.
I seek the hobbit Meriadoc Brandybuck, who goes by the name of Merry. Do you know of his whereabouts?
Barliman frowned, for it seemed strange that a battle worn man would be asking after a hobbit, even one so famous as Merry. You're looking for Meriadoc Brandybuck?
Is that not what I said, innkeeper? His voice was harsh and cross.
Barliman scratched his head. Well, I believe you'll find that hobbit up in Brandybuck, in the Shire-although who knows, he travels so much, him an' his friend, Pippin. Merry always visits my inn when they come through Bree, bless him. He's quite unlike any hobbit I've ever met, very adventurous and tall. I've known him for a long time, you know-before he went off adventuring with Pippin an' Sam an' the like. I actually met him while he was adventuring, don't you know-
Yes, of course. But do you know where he is now?
As I said, his permanent home is (I believe) in Brandybuck, in The Shire. And if you can't find him there, most likely the hobbits there will know where e is. Strange place, Brandybuck-quite unlike the rest of The Shire. They're quite fond of boats there, and all the hobbits there are quite curious in every way. Barliman paused, and looked suspiciously at the man in front of him, who had not removed his hood. Now, hope you don't mind my askin', sir, but what business do you have with Merry?
He is an old friend of mine-he saved my life when he was adventuring' as you put it. I have not seen Merry for some time, and I wish to stay with him. Now, if you don't mind innkeeper, I will take my leave.
Barliman frowned after him. What a strange person, he said to himself. I wonder what that was all about?

****

A knock came on the door of Merry Brandybuck's hobbit hole, he parted reluctantly with his large dinner and went to answer it.
He opened the door to a very ominously tall person, who was wearing a very ominous dark cloack, standing next to a very ominously big horse. Merry's first thought was Strider! But no-this person looming over Merry was not Strider.
Merry's hand strayed to his sword-hilt, before he remembered that he was not wearing one. Who are you, and what do you want? he said, fear making his voice harsh.
Do you not recognize me, Merry? the person said quietly. Merry had a wild thought that it was Saruman, back from the dead, or a Black Rider, or one of the many enemies he had fought with Pippin, Sam, and Frodo. He was about to slam the door and run back inside when the figure lowered his hood.
Merry stared. Unlike Legolas, he instantly recognized The White Lady of Rohan, even with her shorn hair. Dernhelm! I mean-Lady Eowyn!
Eowyn smiled down upon him. Hello, Merry. It has been so long since we last met each other! She paused, while Merry gazed up at her, dumbfounded. May I come in?
The hobbit started. I'm forgetting my manners-of course you may, my friend! He called inside, Pippin! Will you look who showed up on our doorstep? Turning back to Eowyn, he said, Here-why don't you go inside and say hello to Pippin, and I'll take your horse around back.
He took care of Endumiel, giving her shelter in the shed behind his large estate and some oats. He then returned to the dining room to find Eowyn greedily drinking a warm mug of tea, while Pippin stared at her, open-mouthed.
Merry was as shocked as Pippin. It was strange enough that the lady Éowyn had appeared on their doorstep with absolutely no warning; but she looked so unlike herself! All her beautiful hair was shorn, and her face was gaunt and pale. Merry thought he'd been right, calling her Dernhelm at first-for she more resembled that grim-faced, despairing warrior he'd ridden with than the woman he had grown to know afterwards.
The hobbits ate a hearty meal while Eowyn watched (claiming she had already eaten) and they peppered her with questions: What have you been doing since we last met? How is Eomer? What are you doing this far north? Why did you cut your hair?
That last question was from Pippin, and though Merry kicked him under the table, Eowyn did not grow angry or glum-she merely laughed, and said, It was getting in the way as I rode, so I chopped it all off.
She then told them about her journey north, through Rohan, the Misty Mountains, and Mirkwood; she told them about her battle with the orcs and the strange village of Bree. She did not, however, say one word about Legolas or elves.
The hobbits were satisfied with her tale, and they readied the guest room for her stay, putting two beds together so she could sleep comfortably. Eowyn fell asleep almost immediately (for she was weary from much travel), but was plagued by evil dreams: the same dreams she had suffered after battling the Witch King, in addition to a new, even worse dream:
She was in the middle of a dense, dark forest, in a clearing surrounded by trees. She was tied to a wooden pole, and could not get free; she was surrounded by elves and orcs, jearing and yelling and throwing stones at her. In a corner of the clearing stood her horse, Endumiel; orcs surrounded her, throwing rocks and sticks-one massive goblin was poking her with a flaming brand, laughing as the poor beast screamed and kicked in fear. Eowyn screamed at them to stop it, but no sound came out of her mouth; she was helpless to stop the beating of her horse and herself.
An elf stepped out of the crowd. She recognized him, and called his name, but Legolas only smiled, an evil, sickening grin. He stepped forward and grasped her neck, and she could not breathe, and then she was falling, falling into a deep abyss, and Legolas was above her laughing, and there was fire all around-
She awoke gasping, and for the rest of the night forbade herself to sleep. She was Eowyn, Princess, Rider and Warrior of Rohan-she had never given in to an enemy in the outside world, and she promised herself, in that too-short bed in the village of Brandybuck, that she would never give in, not to enemies on the battlefield, and never, ever to the demons in her own mind.