Ch. 23
Amy grew steadily stronger over the next couple weeks. When Arwen arrived, she had nearly recovered. Arwen and her escort stayed there in Lothlórien for a week, resting and getting ready for the rest of their journey. Elrond spent a lot of time with his daughter, so Amy found herself spending much of her time with Galadriel, resting and reminiscing. She also became better acquainted with Arwen, and the two of them became friends.
Once things were ready, they set out, with Galadriel, Celeborn, and some of the Lothlórien guard accompanying them, as well as Amy and her human companions. The humans were a little intimidated by everything. They were beginning to realize the significance of what was occurring. This would also be the first time they had met other humans in this world, save Aragorn, who was himself more than a little intimidating.
Not surprisingly, the couples paired up as they rode. Amy smiled to herself about it. She kept to herself, without going out of her way to talk to them. She wanted to give them time to themselves as much as possible. The young people, though, weren't quite ready to left to themselves. One evening, they cornered her.
"How are you doing, Amy?" Beth asked. "We've barely heard from you recently. Are you trying to be antisocial or something.?"
"No, not at all. I just haven't wanted to be an extra wheel for any of you."
Beth rolled her eyes. "Extra wheel, my foot. And what about you and Elrond?"
"What about us?"
"What about the future? Don't tell me the two of you don't have any plans." Mark wasn't going to let it slide.
"We plan to marry once this is all over. I don't know exactly when it will be." That was met by congratulations and catcalls. Amy rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Go to bed, guys. We're going to be on the road a while."
A few days later, they met up with Elrond's sons on the road. They were happy to see their father and sister. When they heard of Amy's engagement to Elrond, they embraced her warmly. They had hoped this would happen as much as Galadriel. A couple days later, they reached Edoras. The people there were mourning their king, but despite the mourning, Amy's human companions quickly connected with the people there.
When they arrived, Éowyn came out to meet them. After introductions, she showed them to rooms where they could rest before dinner. The last room was the one she gave to Mattie, Kim, and Beth.
"Forgive my curiosity, ladies," Éowyn began, "but I wonder—how did Men and daughters of Men such as you and your companions, come to travel with the Elves? It is a strange thing, though no stranger than many I have seen."
Mattie answered for them. "We've been traveling with Almare. We followed her from a far-away place where she was living." They had rehearsed their answers to such questions many times.
Éowyn shook her head. "It is, indeed strange, but far stranger things have happened. Well, be welcome here in Edoras." With that, she left the room. During the time there, though, Mattie and Éowyn quickly became friends, even in the short time they spent there. When they left, it was with an invitation from Éomer to visit whenever they could. The party set out after a short rest, riding for Gondor and Minas Tirith.
One night, after everyone had laid down to rest, Mark go up, restless, and walked a little ways away. After a moment, Mattie joined him, and they moved a little farther from the camp, far enough to talk without waking the humans, and at least far enough away that the Elves would ignore them, even if they could hear them.
"Couldn't sleep?" Mattie slipped an arm around Mark's waist.
"No. You?"
"Nope. Haven't you been riding hard enough or something?"
"No. I'm just restless."
"I think I must fall into the same category. I'm tired from riding, but my mind won't shut down."
Mark snickered a little at that. Mattie punched him lightly in the arm. "I'm sorry, Mattie. You were begging for that. At least I didn't say anything."
"I know. I needed a laugh, anyway."
"You OK?"
"Yeah. Just a little apprehensive over whatever is coming. It's strange to realize I knew all of this once, but can't remember."
"No kidding. Speaking of the future…" Mark paused, and started fidgeting a bit.
"Yeah?" Mattie nodded him on.
"I was thinking, and, um…"
"Go on, you can say it." Mattie smiled softly, nervousness and confidence warring in her gut. She had an idea what he was trying to say, but she wasn't certain.
"I'm not sure I can." Mark laughed nervously.
"Then I will. Will you marry me, Mark?"
Mark gaped at her for a minute, then nodded. He stood there, speechless, and Mattie kissed him. When they broke it, she grinned up at him. "Didn't expect me to make it quite that easy, did you?"
Mark chuckled and shook his head. "Not really. I kept rehearsing it in my head, and it came out different every time. I wasn't even thinking about it tonight, but then it came up, and…"
"I know." She rested her head against his shoulder. After a few minutes, she spoke. "I suppose we really ought to get some rest. Morning is going to come pretty quickly."
Mark nodded agreement, but held her for a few more minutes before they finally separated and found their bedrolls. Mark fell asleep within a couple minutes, but Mattie, laying a few yards away, couldn't sleep. Morning eventually arrived, and Mattie went through the motions of getting ready in a bit of a daze.
"Are you OK, Mattie?" Amy asked, hiding a grin.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Mattie didn't catch the smile.
"Did you sleep all right?"
Mattie looked up at her, catching on. "Someone needs to plug those Elvish ears of yours."
Amy just laughed. "Actually, I didn't hear any of it—honestly. I did see the two of you talking, though, and I took a guess. So what exactly was said?"
Mattie laughed and hugged her. "We're engaged."
"Finally!" The call came from the other four humans.
"Who won the bet?" Mark asked. The others looked at him, surprised. "We bet on Randy and Kim. Don't tell me you weren't betting on us, too. So who won?"
Randy reluctantly pointed at himself. Mark aimed a mock punch at his midsection, then shook his hand. Randy slapped him on the back before giving him a quick hug. "You know, that leaves just you and Kim." Mark grinned.
Kim looked down at the ground. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make things awkward." Mark apologized.
"It's OK, Mark." Kim looked up at him. "It's just something we haven't discussed yet."
"Perhaps it's time to discuss it." Randy's voice didn't betray any nervousness, but his eyes did. Kim looked up at him, confused. Randy walked over to where she was sitting on a log. He dropped to one knee and took her hand. "Here goes." Everyone laughed nervously. "Kim, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?"
Tears came to Kim's eyes, giving Randy a moment of fear, but she nodded, and he stood up, taking her in his arms. Everyone else slipped off, giving them a moment of privacy.
"You OK, Kim?"
"Yeah. That was just sudden."
"I'm sorry. I should have waited until we were alone."
"No, it's fine. That was kind of fun—just overwhelming." She grew quiet.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Boromir. There was never anything between us, and there never could have been, but I feel badly that he was killed. The whole thing seems crazy. I just wish people didn't have to die."
"Me, too. I suppose that's what war is about, though. It's not pretty or honorable, and people die, even good ones."
Kim nodded, and just held him for a moment. "I think it's time for a subject change."
Randy laughed. "I suppose so. It's probably also time to get on the road."
Kim tried to pout, but failed, and they both ended up laughing. He kissed her quickly, then they rejoined the group and got their things together. After a few minutes, they were back on the road, Mattie riding in front of Mark, often sleeping. Galadriel asked Amy about it, and Amy told her the morning's events, explaining that Mattie hadn't slept at all.
Galadriel smiled at that. "It has been a long time since I was so overwhelmed by emotion to not even sleep. It is good to see the couples betrothed."
Amy nodded her agreement. "It is, but I still wonder what will become of them."
"They seemed to connect with the Rohirrim rather well."
"I noticed that. I'm not certain what to think about it."
"Do not dismiss it too easily."
"I won't. Perhaps we will return sometime and they will be able to spend more time here." Galadriel nodded at that, and they continued riding in silence.
Amy grew steadily stronger over the next couple weeks. When Arwen arrived, she had nearly recovered. Arwen and her escort stayed there in Lothlórien for a week, resting and getting ready for the rest of their journey. Elrond spent a lot of time with his daughter, so Amy found herself spending much of her time with Galadriel, resting and reminiscing. She also became better acquainted with Arwen, and the two of them became friends.
Once things were ready, they set out, with Galadriel, Celeborn, and some of the Lothlórien guard accompanying them, as well as Amy and her human companions. The humans were a little intimidated by everything. They were beginning to realize the significance of what was occurring. This would also be the first time they had met other humans in this world, save Aragorn, who was himself more than a little intimidating.
Not surprisingly, the couples paired up as they rode. Amy smiled to herself about it. She kept to herself, without going out of her way to talk to them. She wanted to give them time to themselves as much as possible. The young people, though, weren't quite ready to left to themselves. One evening, they cornered her.
"How are you doing, Amy?" Beth asked. "We've barely heard from you recently. Are you trying to be antisocial or something.?"
"No, not at all. I just haven't wanted to be an extra wheel for any of you."
Beth rolled her eyes. "Extra wheel, my foot. And what about you and Elrond?"
"What about us?"
"What about the future? Don't tell me the two of you don't have any plans." Mark wasn't going to let it slide.
"We plan to marry once this is all over. I don't know exactly when it will be." That was met by congratulations and catcalls. Amy rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Go to bed, guys. We're going to be on the road a while."
A few days later, they met up with Elrond's sons on the road. They were happy to see their father and sister. When they heard of Amy's engagement to Elrond, they embraced her warmly. They had hoped this would happen as much as Galadriel. A couple days later, they reached Edoras. The people there were mourning their king, but despite the mourning, Amy's human companions quickly connected with the people there.
When they arrived, Éowyn came out to meet them. After introductions, she showed them to rooms where they could rest before dinner. The last room was the one she gave to Mattie, Kim, and Beth.
"Forgive my curiosity, ladies," Éowyn began, "but I wonder—how did Men and daughters of Men such as you and your companions, come to travel with the Elves? It is a strange thing, though no stranger than many I have seen."
Mattie answered for them. "We've been traveling with Almare. We followed her from a far-away place where she was living." They had rehearsed their answers to such questions many times.
Éowyn shook her head. "It is, indeed strange, but far stranger things have happened. Well, be welcome here in Edoras." With that, she left the room. During the time there, though, Mattie and Éowyn quickly became friends, even in the short time they spent there. When they left, it was with an invitation from Éomer to visit whenever they could. The party set out after a short rest, riding for Gondor and Minas Tirith.
One night, after everyone had laid down to rest, Mark go up, restless, and walked a little ways away. After a moment, Mattie joined him, and they moved a little farther from the camp, far enough to talk without waking the humans, and at least far enough away that the Elves would ignore them, even if they could hear them.
"Couldn't sleep?" Mattie slipped an arm around Mark's waist.
"No. You?"
"Nope. Haven't you been riding hard enough or something?"
"No. I'm just restless."
"I think I must fall into the same category. I'm tired from riding, but my mind won't shut down."
Mark snickered a little at that. Mattie punched him lightly in the arm. "I'm sorry, Mattie. You were begging for that. At least I didn't say anything."
"I know. I needed a laugh, anyway."
"You OK?"
"Yeah. Just a little apprehensive over whatever is coming. It's strange to realize I knew all of this once, but can't remember."
"No kidding. Speaking of the future…" Mark paused, and started fidgeting a bit.
"Yeah?" Mattie nodded him on.
"I was thinking, and, um…"
"Go on, you can say it." Mattie smiled softly, nervousness and confidence warring in her gut. She had an idea what he was trying to say, but she wasn't certain.
"I'm not sure I can." Mark laughed nervously.
"Then I will. Will you marry me, Mark?"
Mark gaped at her for a minute, then nodded. He stood there, speechless, and Mattie kissed him. When they broke it, she grinned up at him. "Didn't expect me to make it quite that easy, did you?"
Mark chuckled and shook his head. "Not really. I kept rehearsing it in my head, and it came out different every time. I wasn't even thinking about it tonight, but then it came up, and…"
"I know." She rested her head against his shoulder. After a few minutes, she spoke. "I suppose we really ought to get some rest. Morning is going to come pretty quickly."
Mark nodded agreement, but held her for a few more minutes before they finally separated and found their bedrolls. Mark fell asleep within a couple minutes, but Mattie, laying a few yards away, couldn't sleep. Morning eventually arrived, and Mattie went through the motions of getting ready in a bit of a daze.
"Are you OK, Mattie?" Amy asked, hiding a grin.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Mattie didn't catch the smile.
"Did you sleep all right?"
Mattie looked up at her, catching on. "Someone needs to plug those Elvish ears of yours."
Amy just laughed. "Actually, I didn't hear any of it—honestly. I did see the two of you talking, though, and I took a guess. So what exactly was said?"
Mattie laughed and hugged her. "We're engaged."
"Finally!" The call came from the other four humans.
"Who won the bet?" Mark asked. The others looked at him, surprised. "We bet on Randy and Kim. Don't tell me you weren't betting on us, too. So who won?"
Randy reluctantly pointed at himself. Mark aimed a mock punch at his midsection, then shook his hand. Randy slapped him on the back before giving him a quick hug. "You know, that leaves just you and Kim." Mark grinned.
Kim looked down at the ground. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make things awkward." Mark apologized.
"It's OK, Mark." Kim looked up at him. "It's just something we haven't discussed yet."
"Perhaps it's time to discuss it." Randy's voice didn't betray any nervousness, but his eyes did. Kim looked up at him, confused. Randy walked over to where she was sitting on a log. He dropped to one knee and took her hand. "Here goes." Everyone laughed nervously. "Kim, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?"
Tears came to Kim's eyes, giving Randy a moment of fear, but she nodded, and he stood up, taking her in his arms. Everyone else slipped off, giving them a moment of privacy.
"You OK, Kim?"
"Yeah. That was just sudden."
"I'm sorry. I should have waited until we were alone."
"No, it's fine. That was kind of fun—just overwhelming." She grew quiet.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Boromir. There was never anything between us, and there never could have been, but I feel badly that he was killed. The whole thing seems crazy. I just wish people didn't have to die."
"Me, too. I suppose that's what war is about, though. It's not pretty or honorable, and people die, even good ones."
Kim nodded, and just held him for a moment. "I think it's time for a subject change."
Randy laughed. "I suppose so. It's probably also time to get on the road."
Kim tried to pout, but failed, and they both ended up laughing. He kissed her quickly, then they rejoined the group and got their things together. After a few minutes, they were back on the road, Mattie riding in front of Mark, often sleeping. Galadriel asked Amy about it, and Amy told her the morning's events, explaining that Mattie hadn't slept at all.
Galadriel smiled at that. "It has been a long time since I was so overwhelmed by emotion to not even sleep. It is good to see the couples betrothed."
Amy nodded her agreement. "It is, but I still wonder what will become of them."
"They seemed to connect with the Rohirrim rather well."
"I noticed that. I'm not certain what to think about it."
"Do not dismiss it too easily."
"I won't. Perhaps we will return sometime and they will be able to spend more time here." Galadriel nodded at that, and they continued riding in silence.