I was guided from the sinister hall down into one of the lower circles of the city , nearly being run down by a couple of horses. We entered the last gate and turned into what was called Rath Celerdain , the Lampwright's street. After dodging another few carts and nearly crashing into a vegetable seller's booth , I was directed into a small shop. Immediatly I was swamped by old ladies who smelled of roses and mothballs.
"Oh , what a dear ! " they chorused.
I had to get out of there. Fast. I ran for the door but one of them stopped me. I could've screamed. Escorted to the back and seated behind a screen , they nearly drowned me in puffy fabric.
" Red ? Or maybe yellow for this one . No blue. Black is too serious for her."
" Red , please. " I said trying not to push them all away.
" Oh , and so polite too ! What a dear !"
After being poked and prodded to fit a dress , it was ready. The harpies certainly knew their trade well.
The dress was scarlet red , with long trailing sleeves , straight shoulders and a bit of it trailing behind.
" Oh what a dear !" they squealed.
Still dazed I was hauled to a washtub. Uh-oh. Someone scrubbed me till my skin hurt and another kept yanking my hair back into the water which was now getting murky with dirt.
I got out and was enveloped in fluffly towels while another was wrapped around my short hair. Pushed to sit beside a fire that was roaring was fine with me. Zen enveloped me until one of the ladies grabbed my hair back with a brush and ripped out half my scalp with it . I whimpered. My hair settled finely on my ears while the dress was pulled over my head again. Well , that wasn't so bad, I thought.
Until I saw it. The Box. I squirmed and was snatched back.
" Nooooooo , not the makeup !" I screeched.
" Nonsense dear , it'll be fine."
An hour later , I looked like Raggedy Ann . I blended in the blush and brushed some of the white powder off. The only thing I liked was the raspberry flavoured lip tint. A flower crown made of roses was put on my head , and I was free to go.
I ran out the door , smelling of soap. I got a bit lost in the street and decided to stop in the next building to ask for directions . Which happened to be a inn or something. A group of boys were playing in front kicking up dust. I brushed around them careful not to get my dress dirty. I felt as Little Maiden-ish as possible. On second thought , I decided to ask directions from the kids. I mean they lived in Minas Tirith. I tapped one of the bigger ones on the shoulder.
" Um , excuse me , but I'm really lost and I need to get back to the white tower and , "
" Little Maiden ?! "
" Pippin ?! Jeez , I didn't recognize you !"
He laughed. " They call me Ernil i Pheriannath , meaning Prince of the Halflings. And you Little Maiden , you look every bit your name ! "
"You got out of the tower alive? So what's been happening? "
Pippin explained about Beregond , the butteries , his room , Shadowfax, and Bergil (who was standing next to him).
" Hello , Bergil , " I waved. Bergil blushed.
We decided (me , Pippin and Bergil) that it would be a capital idea to explore the city. The rest of the day sped past , and news came of armies coming through. Running down to the great gate we saw knights in armour come in. Forlong of Lossarnach , the men of Ringlo Vale , Duinhir and his sons Duilin and Derufin. Villagers , fishermen , Hirluin the Fair , and Imrahil - Prince of Dol Amroth. Less than three thousand had entered.
Dusk had arrived , ashen grey as if to herald the battle that was to take place. The trumpet sounded for the closing of the gate.
Bergil directed me back to the white tower , my hair thankfully still intact. I ran at a sprint and no one stopped me from entering the hall. There was no one there.
" Hello ? " I called.
I sighed , I could only wait. Sitting on the steps of the dais , I ran over what had happened. A while later a figure stepped in.
"Stand up , and let me look at you." Denethor. I stood up and twirled around.
" Little Maiden , I can see why Boromir chose that name , " he sighed.
" If you don't mind , lord , I'm awfully hungry and I . .."
" Yes , yes , Gareth will direct you to the kitchens."
" Goodnight , and thanks."
" Dark night, " he mused.
And with that to think on I was led to the kitchens. The smell of cooking made my stomach rumble. I sat down at one of the trestle tables and waited.
" Why hello , dearie !"
Oh no , not another dear person. An middle aged chef with a balding head stood before me.
" What's your name? " I wasn't a three year old.
" Little Maiden."
" Well Little Maiden , what d' ye be wanting?" He smiled . I wouldn't deny the guy was nice.
" I'm hungry."
" Well if ye weren't , you wouldn't be in the kitchen would ye?" I nodded.
" Busy night , with all those fancy lords upstairs , would ye like to sample what they're havin' ? "
I grinned , knowing I'd be the first to test it. A huge platter was laid in front of me , loaded with vegetables and some bird thing with parsley on top. A creamy looking sauce was laid over top of it. Sure I didn't know what it was , but it looked real good. I ate until I swore I couldn't eat again.
"Ye sure that's all ye be wanting ?"
I groaned . " How bout dessert? "
Dessert , I had to cave to dessert. I perked up as whipped cream covered with mounds of what looked like chocolate was laid in front of me. I hadn't had anything sweet in God knows how long. The man rushed about the kitchen , pulling things off the giant stove and clanging dishes in the bathtub sized sink. His face became redder and redder with the heat , and from yelling at the waiters not to drop anything. The heat was making me sleepy , like cats in front of a fireplace. I fell asleep with my head in my arms , and was borne away to an alcove on the north side of the kitchen.
"Oh , what a dear ! " they chorused.
I had to get out of there. Fast. I ran for the door but one of them stopped me. I could've screamed. Escorted to the back and seated behind a screen , they nearly drowned me in puffy fabric.
" Red ? Or maybe yellow for this one . No blue. Black is too serious for her."
" Red , please. " I said trying not to push them all away.
" Oh , and so polite too ! What a dear !"
After being poked and prodded to fit a dress , it was ready. The harpies certainly knew their trade well.
The dress was scarlet red , with long trailing sleeves , straight shoulders and a bit of it trailing behind.
" Oh what a dear !" they squealed.
Still dazed I was hauled to a washtub. Uh-oh. Someone scrubbed me till my skin hurt and another kept yanking my hair back into the water which was now getting murky with dirt.
I got out and was enveloped in fluffly towels while another was wrapped around my short hair. Pushed to sit beside a fire that was roaring was fine with me. Zen enveloped me until one of the ladies grabbed my hair back with a brush and ripped out half my scalp with it . I whimpered. My hair settled finely on my ears while the dress was pulled over my head again. Well , that wasn't so bad, I thought.
Until I saw it. The Box. I squirmed and was snatched back.
" Nooooooo , not the makeup !" I screeched.
" Nonsense dear , it'll be fine."
An hour later , I looked like Raggedy Ann . I blended in the blush and brushed some of the white powder off. The only thing I liked was the raspberry flavoured lip tint. A flower crown made of roses was put on my head , and I was free to go.
I ran out the door , smelling of soap. I got a bit lost in the street and decided to stop in the next building to ask for directions . Which happened to be a inn or something. A group of boys were playing in front kicking up dust. I brushed around them careful not to get my dress dirty. I felt as Little Maiden-ish as possible. On second thought , I decided to ask directions from the kids. I mean they lived in Minas Tirith. I tapped one of the bigger ones on the shoulder.
" Um , excuse me , but I'm really lost and I need to get back to the white tower and , "
" Little Maiden ?! "
" Pippin ?! Jeez , I didn't recognize you !"
He laughed. " They call me Ernil i Pheriannath , meaning Prince of the Halflings. And you Little Maiden , you look every bit your name ! "
"You got out of the tower alive? So what's been happening? "
Pippin explained about Beregond , the butteries , his room , Shadowfax, and Bergil (who was standing next to him).
" Hello , Bergil , " I waved. Bergil blushed.
We decided (me , Pippin and Bergil) that it would be a capital idea to explore the city. The rest of the day sped past , and news came of armies coming through. Running down to the great gate we saw knights in armour come in. Forlong of Lossarnach , the men of Ringlo Vale , Duinhir and his sons Duilin and Derufin. Villagers , fishermen , Hirluin the Fair , and Imrahil - Prince of Dol Amroth. Less than three thousand had entered.
Dusk had arrived , ashen grey as if to herald the battle that was to take place. The trumpet sounded for the closing of the gate.
Bergil directed me back to the white tower , my hair thankfully still intact. I ran at a sprint and no one stopped me from entering the hall. There was no one there.
" Hello ? " I called.
I sighed , I could only wait. Sitting on the steps of the dais , I ran over what had happened. A while later a figure stepped in.
"Stand up , and let me look at you." Denethor. I stood up and twirled around.
" Little Maiden , I can see why Boromir chose that name , " he sighed.
" If you don't mind , lord , I'm awfully hungry and I . .."
" Yes , yes , Gareth will direct you to the kitchens."
" Goodnight , and thanks."
" Dark night, " he mused.
And with that to think on I was led to the kitchens. The smell of cooking made my stomach rumble. I sat down at one of the trestle tables and waited.
" Why hello , dearie !"
Oh no , not another dear person. An middle aged chef with a balding head stood before me.
" What's your name? " I wasn't a three year old.
" Little Maiden."
" Well Little Maiden , what d' ye be wanting?" He smiled . I wouldn't deny the guy was nice.
" I'm hungry."
" Well if ye weren't , you wouldn't be in the kitchen would ye?" I nodded.
" Busy night , with all those fancy lords upstairs , would ye like to sample what they're havin' ? "
I grinned , knowing I'd be the first to test it. A huge platter was laid in front of me , loaded with vegetables and some bird thing with parsley on top. A creamy looking sauce was laid over top of it. Sure I didn't know what it was , but it looked real good. I ate until I swore I couldn't eat again.
"Ye sure that's all ye be wanting ?"
I groaned . " How bout dessert? "
Dessert , I had to cave to dessert. I perked up as whipped cream covered with mounds of what looked like chocolate was laid in front of me. I hadn't had anything sweet in God knows how long. The man rushed about the kitchen , pulling things off the giant stove and clanging dishes in the bathtub sized sink. His face became redder and redder with the heat , and from yelling at the waiters not to drop anything. The heat was making me sleepy , like cats in front of a fireplace. I fell asleep with my head in my arms , and was borne away to an alcove on the north side of the kitchen.