Disclaimer: I'm not Tolkien. Right. I knew that.
A/N: Patience is a virtue. You all love me. Let's just leave it at that.
LEGOLAS'S POV
The fair view of Edoras in the early morn was now before us. We had been riding through the night, heading south on the great valleys that belonged to the kingdom of Rohan. Gimli slept in the saddle before me, while the rest of our small group stared before us at the golden dawn and the view of the home of the horse lords.
I placed my glance on Gandalf and the little hobbit lass Elli that he carried in his saddle before him. What a sense of maturity she had, yet it was stained with a childlike innocence. She was a constant joy to have around, for she seeked adventure whole-heartedly and was as ferocious in battle as a hobbit could possibly be.
I turned my gaze towards Boromir whose sandy colored steed stood in front and to the right of me. Caitlin sat before him; her shoulders alert and focused, her back straight and awake, as if she had been awake throughout the night on watch. Boromir looked the same, yet his grip around the girls waist showed he was straining, as if holding back on something. I watched them both a moment, but when his movements didn't alter, I let it go. He was probably exhausted from the nightlong ride.
"Edoras, and the Golden Hall of Meduseld," remarked Gandalf, his voice softly booming so as to be heard by those that slept. "There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan. Saruman has taken the mind of the King, and has overthrown his thoughts, turning him into little more than a moving corpse. Do not look for any welcome here."
With that said, he gave Shadowfax a nudge with his foot and away we rode. Gimli stirred in the saddle before me, letting me know that he had awoken.
"We are at Edoras, my friend," I spoke softly to him. "Are you fairing well?"
"Indeed, indeed. I'm awake, and I'm alright." His voice was gruff and throaty, having slept for a few hours. I gave our horse a soft nudge with my foot and we began to follow the others. Edoras was still an hour's ride before us, and we would be arriving at its gates when the sun was further in the sky. We were going at a trot, careful not to wear out the horses. We rode in a small pack, Gandalf before the three of us, and I right behind him. Aragorn rode to my forward left, and Boromir and Caitlin rode to my upper right.
I glanced at the young elven girl, aware that she was exhausted and worn from travel. Boromir's grip on her waist was still strong, and I was concerned that something was amiss there. He seemed awfully protective of her all of a sudden. What had caused this sudden demeanor?
I shouldn't have asked, I knew that that young girl was captivating. She intrigued me; rather greatly she did, too. I couldn't place why though. She was human at heart, but so many characteristics of the elven race had been given to her. I couldn't explain it. Why was I so curious to learn more about her? I enjoyed my time with her; I hated to see her suffer. The night she had despaired over Elli, I had held her and spoke my home language to her, certain that it would calm her but knowing she wouldn't understand.
She was charming, headstrong, womanly, and captivating. But at arms length I'd keep her. I was an elven warrior, a skilled archer of my people. I had no purpose of being intrigued by someone as strange as her.
We rode up the hill and towards the opening gate into Edoras. The guards had spotted us on the coming horizon, and saying nothing, they welcomed us. We pulled the horses to a walk, and slowly entered the solemn community.
Sad they all seemed, worried and frightened. They must have recognized Gandalf, and whispers were quickly cast about as to why we were here, and who those in his entourage were. Elli and Caitlin exchanged hurried glances, their eyebrows raised in question. Was something amiss here in Edoras? It wouldn't surprise me, seeing as how much had changed with the arrival of these two.
The horses' hooves clopped along the brick and stone of the ground. We came forward to some stable men, and then descended from the horses. Helping Gimli down, I watched as Boromir grabbed at Caitlin, nearly pulling her off the horse and towards him. His behavior seemed to have done a drastic change since he began his ride with Caitlin. She seemed very wary and uncomfortable about it all, and leaving Gimli, I showed up at her side to calm her.
Startled, she looked up at me with wide-eyes. I smiled, and squeezed her shoulder. She returned it, and then walked on, chasing after Elli who walked at the wizard's side.
Boromir in turn gave me a seething glance, and then walked on as well. None happened to have seen it but me.
The steps into the Golden Hall were of old sanded stone, weathered and flattened from many ages of use. At the top on the overlook stood the doormen and the guards. Being halted to stop, we gathered around them in the sunrise as the wind whistled a saddened tune.
"By order of the King, and of Grima Wormtongue, I cannot allow you to enter his halls so heavily armed, Gandalf Grayhame."
Gandalf turned and gave us all a nod, telling us to hand over our weapons to these men of Rohan. With a swift hand I removed my bow and quiver, then the daggers on my belt. Both the ladies seemed reluctant to hand over the small swords they'd been given, probably afraid of them not getting returned. But in the end all the weapons were in the arms of the guards.
"You're staff, Mister Wizard?" asked the main guard, his expression questionable and scared.
Gandalf took a second glance at the staff, feigning surprise at the fact that it was still in his hands and that they wanted him to hand it over. He didn't budge though, and the guards made no move to take it at Gandalf's excuse that it was rather a walking stick for the old man. And with that we entered, with Gandalf precariously leaning on his staff and Boromir's left arm for effect.
We entered the Golden Hall of King Théoden, it's walls lined with tapestries of ancient days and the floor of old paved stone. Touches of gold and horse motifs were everywhere, this land being the home of the horse lords for many hundreds of years.
Before us stood a burning pit, and beyond that stood a golden throne, and a grizzled zombie-like man was in it's seat. A black garbed man with a pale face and freakish eyes was leeched to the old King's side probably Grima Wormtongue himself, and behind the throne stood a tall, white maiden, the niece of the King, Lady Éowyn. Made of stone and ice she seemed, and the scene before us looked like an old painting made during the fall of a mighty kingdom. Grim were all their faces, sad and worn with fatigue. They had been through much, and suffered harshly.
The slimy looking man whispered towards the man, his words venomous and conniving and barely heard in my ears. He was no good to the King, that much was obvious. The poison had been set though, and Gandalf would have his work cut out for him. Too far was the King's mind overthrown. Too far for me to see a good end.
"What has happened to the courtesy of your Hall, Théoden King? It has lessened as of late, and travelers needing assistance need be wary to look for it here, even if they claim to be friend over foe!"
The old man had more words whispered into his mind, and then slowly he rose from his chair and leaned himself on a gnarled, blackened staff. "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow? You bring bad tidings wherever you go, and you bring travelers with you I have never met before. Who are these women that you take on your journey's with you now? What wenches are these?" With his ghostly voice hushed, he made to sit down again in his throne, much too big for his now gangly body that was having the life slowly sucked from it.
Elli and Caitlin exchanged a quick look, and then Elli stepped forward a couple of steps. She spoke as she walked, calmly and to the point as she made her way to stand before the King. "I am Elanor O'Neill, daughter of Rose, and this is Caitlin Bing, the daughter of Charlotte and Albert. We are not foes, my lord," she answered, and she placed a hand over her heart in oath and bent down upon her knee. "We mean to bring peace to the people of Rohan, and to you King Théoden."
Then Elli stood and stepped back a bit, allowing Gandalf to step forward, his staff raised and poised at the King in disguise. Caitlin stepped forward and grabbed Elli, and it was then that I realized that the King's whispering scoundrel was slowly charging at her with a blade grasped in his hand. Aragorn intercepted before I could step forth, but I quickly grabbed the girls, and took the hobbit-lass from Caitlin. Aragorn twisted Grima's arms behind his back, bringing him to his knees upon the floor in a scream of agony.
"So far it's going according to plan," whispered Elli, as she lie in my arms watching the scene before me.
"Aye, I shall take your word, and it seems Gandalf is having an easy time as well. Do you perceive anything out of place, little one?"
Before she had a chance to answer, the white lady that stood behind the King's throne suddenly gave a shout and jumped out from her place of perch. Quietly she had been standing there, watching the scene in her cold stare, but at the sight of Gandalf's staff causing agony and pain to appear on the face of her uncle, she gave a start and rushed forth between the wizard and the King.
"You will leave my uncle alone, he has been through enough pain!" she cried. Her voice was stern and she stood tall and erect between Gandalf and her uncle with arms outward at her sides in a sing of protection. She was proud, and would not move by any of our means.
"Éowyn!" Caitlin shouted. The young maiden turned her head to look at the elven girl with an attitude who came storming towards her. Her stare wasn't blank, along with shock and questioning. "He's saving him. Step aside with me," Caitlin remarked, and took her by the arm. Even though Éowyn argued and tried to pull away, she went almost willingly.
"How do you know my name? Who are you?" she demanded as she was dragged to the side once more.
"Long story, I'm sure we'll have time later," Caitlin answered, hushing her.
And with that Gandalf resumed his exorcism upon the King, as Aragorn kept his foot upon the back of the slimy worm, and Caitlin held back the white maiden of Rohan by her forearms.
"Rohan is mine!" came the voice from the King's mouth, but his voice it was not, and Gandalf kept urging it to leave, his white wizard form now revealed, for his cloak had fallen upon the floor in his fight to keep the staff pointed at it's mark.
"GO!" screamed Mithrandir, his voice echoing in the giant hall. "Leave him, and be gone! You will NOT kill him!"
Théoden twisted in his seat, his face contortioned and his arms gripping the edges of the arm of his throne. His mouth gaped open in some soundless cry that had not escaped his mouth. His knuckles had turned pale in his attempt to gain control of the menace that had taken shelter in his weak body and the force that was being issued to remove it.
Some more groaning was hear, and Gandalf uttered some more phrases to move things alone, when the doors burst open and there stood the guards in a fit of anger at what they saw before them. Quickly they rushed in, and I looked at the hobbit that had suddenly whispered something remarkable in my ear.
"I'll go get the weapons," she replied nonchalant. I placed her on the floor in a fluid motion and scooted her towards the door. The men, being so caught up with attacking Gandalf and those near enough to him, did not see the hobbit lass scurry beneath their legs and around their feet to where our armory was being held. In a moment I lost her as Aragorn threw a few men my way and punches were thrown. Aragorn still had Grima mashed beneath his heel, and fought off a few good of his own attackers.
Gandalf's chanting grew louder as the fighting became easier. Many of these guards looked to be wild men in the uniform of Rohan. They were quick to anger, and fierce warriors. A few nipped at my arms, and a knock on the head taught them otherwise.
Suddenly I felt my daggers belt being thrust into my hand. I looked down and saw Elli making her way quickly to Aragorn and Boromir to rescue them with their much-needed weapons. I took a peek at Caitlin, who was having a hard time fighting off men and keeping Éowyn in her clutches. I made my way swiftly over to her, but not quick enough.
Gandalf's chants were loud and many of the attackers had turned their attention to the exorcism of the King. In a quick moment, a light shone from the end of his staff. At that same time, Caitlin lost her grip on Éowyn, and she bolted towards her uncle at the same time that the light from the staff was made to strike the demon out of the King.
Caitlin gave a scream, as did the white lady as she fell to the floor and then lay motionless. The beam of light had still struck the King, and he too fell forth from the seat on his throne, weary from his battle. They both hit the floor some few seconds apart. Groans of pain and weariness issued forth from the King's throat though, while Éowyn lay still, her face pressed into the cold stone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Will she be alright?" Elli asked Caitlin.
"Yes. She wasn't harmed, only knocked out. She'll be good as new in just a few days. She had no inner demons, so the spell that Gandalf was using only stunned her."
"Ok, good," answered the hobbit. "For a while I was wondering if we really screwed with the story line! Glad to see things will still be going as close to the story as possible."
The ladies, Boromir and I were in their chamber, having been told by Gandalf to keep an eye upon them both. Grima had been issued forth from Edoras, and the King was wandering around his lands in a stunned way. Gandalf was with him, as was Gimli and Aragorn, for they were curious for information. Boromir and I had volunteered our time to watch Elli and Caitlin.
The ladies had been deep into conversation, always seeming to have plenty to speak of, even with all the time they spent together. They had informed Boromir and I of the way the story should have come out by this point, and we in turn asked if they had any guesses for what was to come. Neither of them were sure, but they were scared, yet hopeful.
Boromir had been silent since our arrival, and had been eyeing Caitlin in an odd way. I worried for the elven child, for the look in Boromir's eyes was on of lust and desire. It was the kind of look I suppose the girls had expected to see on his face when he came into contact with the Ring. Boromir had never lusted for it though, there had been no proof and no lie of what he spoke there. But I worried that he was lusting for something much more unachievable than that. Caitlin seemed purely frightened by his behavior this way, and stuck herself to Elli's side.
She was a marvelous specimen, one that I myself would like to stare at in such a way that Boromir did. But she would return home before the end of trip. And even if she didn't, she was not elven, and would never journey forth with my kind to the Undying Lands. There was no point in vying for her. She was attracting, but I was more intrigued by her manners and her partial elven style and future human ways than by anything else. Sure, she was beautiful, but she had yet to steal my heart completely from me.
The girls suddenly stopped talking and looked behind us to see Aragorn standing in the doorway. Evening had begun to fall, and he was calling us to have supper in the King's Hall.
~*~*~*~*~*~
On watch that night, I looked out over the mountainous landscape and into the starry sky. The Rohan guards that did not appear to be wild men were on watch as well, but Gandalf had me out to look for anything I could catch that they could not. So in the shadow I stayed, careful to avoid them.
A noise from the door I had come from startled me out of my hideaway. Slowly I listened as the latch was lifted and the door softly creaked open.
"You heard that, didn't you?" the voice asked as it emerged from behind the darkness. It wasn't questioning itself, it had none I was out there and knew my hearing could hear her approaching. In a moment Caitlin had wedged herself from behind the door and had swiftly and quietly closed it. She stepped with me as I hide back in the shadows.
"I couldn't sleep so I figured I'd come and keep ya company. I should become exhausted enough after a bit of this," she joked. I gave her a playful jib in the ribs, and she laughed softly.
"If Gandalf has no plans for tomorrow for most of us I suppose Elli and yourself will be allowed to sleep in a bit. You both seem so tired from all this early rising."
"Yeah, I'm not used to falling to sleep at the height of the moon and then waking up a few hours before dawn." She was silent a moment and thought over what she had just said. "No, scratch that. I am used to it. I fall asleep at late hours of the morning and then wake up before dawn to get my butt to school."
I looked down at her and smiled. I held my hands in front of me, standing straight on my watch. Caitlin had her hands folded across her chest.
"Are you cold?" I asked. She turned her head to look at me.
"No, no I'm not. Why are you asking? Because my hands are folded across my chest? No, actually, I haven't been feeling any changes in temperature. Only really drastic things. It's weird. I really feel like I am becoming more and more of an elf each day."
She seemed unconcerned about this, as if she was expecting it to happen. "Are you ok that you're becoming an elf?" I asked.
She was silent while she thought over the question. "I guess I am. I've been noticing little elfin characteristics in myself ever since Elli and I are arrived here. So I guess I'm not that phased anymore."
Her ways were ever new to me. She didn't seem affected by much that had happened, at least not the things I expected her to be affected by. She was close with Elli, and when bad things happened with Elli, she was greatly affected. But things that happened to her only seemed to make her more charming. She was wonderful under pressure when it didn't involve her friend, either because she knew this tale or because, to her, it wasn't quite a big deal.
She was strong in mind and somewhat in strength. A little sword practice and she'd be battling many great beasts that only the best of the elves could take on. She was a constant wonder to me.
Caitlin was looking out over the horizon, staring ahead at the star filled sky and the outline of the mountains. The moon reflected on her hair, it's color brown with deep red glowing from almost within it. If Boromir was falling for this lady, I could see how. She stared before her like one with confidence and pride, as if she were some womanly maiden set high upon a pedestal. Her beauty was enchanting, almost breath-taking. But she and I had nothing, nor would we ever.
She would return home one day, while I would journey with my people away from Middle-earth forever. Every glance I gave her was a waste, for even though her beauty would one day be equal to the elf maidens of ancient and glory filled days, she and I were unalike. She deserved a man that was able to control her without taming her. I feared even I could not do that.
Therefore, we stood there for most of the night, silent on our watch, until she left to try and sleep once more. Morning was swiftly coming over the horizon when I left to find Gandalf.
(A/N: I suppose you're all screaming and ready to post comments about how much you loved this chapter, am I right? Well, I won't keep you long. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, for although it was hard for me to write, I had a great pleasure in doing just that. So please review and tell me how much you love me! 'Til next time lovies!)
A/N: Patience is a virtue. You all love me. Let's just leave it at that.
LEGOLAS'S POV
The fair view of Edoras in the early morn was now before us. We had been riding through the night, heading south on the great valleys that belonged to the kingdom of Rohan. Gimli slept in the saddle before me, while the rest of our small group stared before us at the golden dawn and the view of the home of the horse lords.
I placed my glance on Gandalf and the little hobbit lass Elli that he carried in his saddle before him. What a sense of maturity she had, yet it was stained with a childlike innocence. She was a constant joy to have around, for she seeked adventure whole-heartedly and was as ferocious in battle as a hobbit could possibly be.
I turned my gaze towards Boromir whose sandy colored steed stood in front and to the right of me. Caitlin sat before him; her shoulders alert and focused, her back straight and awake, as if she had been awake throughout the night on watch. Boromir looked the same, yet his grip around the girls waist showed he was straining, as if holding back on something. I watched them both a moment, but when his movements didn't alter, I let it go. He was probably exhausted from the nightlong ride.
"Edoras, and the Golden Hall of Meduseld," remarked Gandalf, his voice softly booming so as to be heard by those that slept. "There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan. Saruman has taken the mind of the King, and has overthrown his thoughts, turning him into little more than a moving corpse. Do not look for any welcome here."
With that said, he gave Shadowfax a nudge with his foot and away we rode. Gimli stirred in the saddle before me, letting me know that he had awoken.
"We are at Edoras, my friend," I spoke softly to him. "Are you fairing well?"
"Indeed, indeed. I'm awake, and I'm alright." His voice was gruff and throaty, having slept for a few hours. I gave our horse a soft nudge with my foot and we began to follow the others. Edoras was still an hour's ride before us, and we would be arriving at its gates when the sun was further in the sky. We were going at a trot, careful not to wear out the horses. We rode in a small pack, Gandalf before the three of us, and I right behind him. Aragorn rode to my forward left, and Boromir and Caitlin rode to my upper right.
I glanced at the young elven girl, aware that she was exhausted and worn from travel. Boromir's grip on her waist was still strong, and I was concerned that something was amiss there. He seemed awfully protective of her all of a sudden. What had caused this sudden demeanor?
I shouldn't have asked, I knew that that young girl was captivating. She intrigued me; rather greatly she did, too. I couldn't place why though. She was human at heart, but so many characteristics of the elven race had been given to her. I couldn't explain it. Why was I so curious to learn more about her? I enjoyed my time with her; I hated to see her suffer. The night she had despaired over Elli, I had held her and spoke my home language to her, certain that it would calm her but knowing she wouldn't understand.
She was charming, headstrong, womanly, and captivating. But at arms length I'd keep her. I was an elven warrior, a skilled archer of my people. I had no purpose of being intrigued by someone as strange as her.
We rode up the hill and towards the opening gate into Edoras. The guards had spotted us on the coming horizon, and saying nothing, they welcomed us. We pulled the horses to a walk, and slowly entered the solemn community.
Sad they all seemed, worried and frightened. They must have recognized Gandalf, and whispers were quickly cast about as to why we were here, and who those in his entourage were. Elli and Caitlin exchanged hurried glances, their eyebrows raised in question. Was something amiss here in Edoras? It wouldn't surprise me, seeing as how much had changed with the arrival of these two.
The horses' hooves clopped along the brick and stone of the ground. We came forward to some stable men, and then descended from the horses. Helping Gimli down, I watched as Boromir grabbed at Caitlin, nearly pulling her off the horse and towards him. His behavior seemed to have done a drastic change since he began his ride with Caitlin. She seemed very wary and uncomfortable about it all, and leaving Gimli, I showed up at her side to calm her.
Startled, she looked up at me with wide-eyes. I smiled, and squeezed her shoulder. She returned it, and then walked on, chasing after Elli who walked at the wizard's side.
Boromir in turn gave me a seething glance, and then walked on as well. None happened to have seen it but me.
The steps into the Golden Hall were of old sanded stone, weathered and flattened from many ages of use. At the top on the overlook stood the doormen and the guards. Being halted to stop, we gathered around them in the sunrise as the wind whistled a saddened tune.
"By order of the King, and of Grima Wormtongue, I cannot allow you to enter his halls so heavily armed, Gandalf Grayhame."
Gandalf turned and gave us all a nod, telling us to hand over our weapons to these men of Rohan. With a swift hand I removed my bow and quiver, then the daggers on my belt. Both the ladies seemed reluctant to hand over the small swords they'd been given, probably afraid of them not getting returned. But in the end all the weapons were in the arms of the guards.
"You're staff, Mister Wizard?" asked the main guard, his expression questionable and scared.
Gandalf took a second glance at the staff, feigning surprise at the fact that it was still in his hands and that they wanted him to hand it over. He didn't budge though, and the guards made no move to take it at Gandalf's excuse that it was rather a walking stick for the old man. And with that we entered, with Gandalf precariously leaning on his staff and Boromir's left arm for effect.
We entered the Golden Hall of King Théoden, it's walls lined with tapestries of ancient days and the floor of old paved stone. Touches of gold and horse motifs were everywhere, this land being the home of the horse lords for many hundreds of years.
Before us stood a burning pit, and beyond that stood a golden throne, and a grizzled zombie-like man was in it's seat. A black garbed man with a pale face and freakish eyes was leeched to the old King's side probably Grima Wormtongue himself, and behind the throne stood a tall, white maiden, the niece of the King, Lady Éowyn. Made of stone and ice she seemed, and the scene before us looked like an old painting made during the fall of a mighty kingdom. Grim were all their faces, sad and worn with fatigue. They had been through much, and suffered harshly.
The slimy looking man whispered towards the man, his words venomous and conniving and barely heard in my ears. He was no good to the King, that much was obvious. The poison had been set though, and Gandalf would have his work cut out for him. Too far was the King's mind overthrown. Too far for me to see a good end.
"What has happened to the courtesy of your Hall, Théoden King? It has lessened as of late, and travelers needing assistance need be wary to look for it here, even if they claim to be friend over foe!"
The old man had more words whispered into his mind, and then slowly he rose from his chair and leaned himself on a gnarled, blackened staff. "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow? You bring bad tidings wherever you go, and you bring travelers with you I have never met before. Who are these women that you take on your journey's with you now? What wenches are these?" With his ghostly voice hushed, he made to sit down again in his throne, much too big for his now gangly body that was having the life slowly sucked from it.
Elli and Caitlin exchanged a quick look, and then Elli stepped forward a couple of steps. She spoke as she walked, calmly and to the point as she made her way to stand before the King. "I am Elanor O'Neill, daughter of Rose, and this is Caitlin Bing, the daughter of Charlotte and Albert. We are not foes, my lord," she answered, and she placed a hand over her heart in oath and bent down upon her knee. "We mean to bring peace to the people of Rohan, and to you King Théoden."
Then Elli stood and stepped back a bit, allowing Gandalf to step forward, his staff raised and poised at the King in disguise. Caitlin stepped forward and grabbed Elli, and it was then that I realized that the King's whispering scoundrel was slowly charging at her with a blade grasped in his hand. Aragorn intercepted before I could step forth, but I quickly grabbed the girls, and took the hobbit-lass from Caitlin. Aragorn twisted Grima's arms behind his back, bringing him to his knees upon the floor in a scream of agony.
"So far it's going according to plan," whispered Elli, as she lie in my arms watching the scene before me.
"Aye, I shall take your word, and it seems Gandalf is having an easy time as well. Do you perceive anything out of place, little one?"
Before she had a chance to answer, the white lady that stood behind the King's throne suddenly gave a shout and jumped out from her place of perch. Quietly she had been standing there, watching the scene in her cold stare, but at the sight of Gandalf's staff causing agony and pain to appear on the face of her uncle, she gave a start and rushed forth between the wizard and the King.
"You will leave my uncle alone, he has been through enough pain!" she cried. Her voice was stern and she stood tall and erect between Gandalf and her uncle with arms outward at her sides in a sing of protection. She was proud, and would not move by any of our means.
"Éowyn!" Caitlin shouted. The young maiden turned her head to look at the elven girl with an attitude who came storming towards her. Her stare wasn't blank, along with shock and questioning. "He's saving him. Step aside with me," Caitlin remarked, and took her by the arm. Even though Éowyn argued and tried to pull away, she went almost willingly.
"How do you know my name? Who are you?" she demanded as she was dragged to the side once more.
"Long story, I'm sure we'll have time later," Caitlin answered, hushing her.
And with that Gandalf resumed his exorcism upon the King, as Aragorn kept his foot upon the back of the slimy worm, and Caitlin held back the white maiden of Rohan by her forearms.
"Rohan is mine!" came the voice from the King's mouth, but his voice it was not, and Gandalf kept urging it to leave, his white wizard form now revealed, for his cloak had fallen upon the floor in his fight to keep the staff pointed at it's mark.
"GO!" screamed Mithrandir, his voice echoing in the giant hall. "Leave him, and be gone! You will NOT kill him!"
Théoden twisted in his seat, his face contortioned and his arms gripping the edges of the arm of his throne. His mouth gaped open in some soundless cry that had not escaped his mouth. His knuckles had turned pale in his attempt to gain control of the menace that had taken shelter in his weak body and the force that was being issued to remove it.
Some more groaning was hear, and Gandalf uttered some more phrases to move things alone, when the doors burst open and there stood the guards in a fit of anger at what they saw before them. Quickly they rushed in, and I looked at the hobbit that had suddenly whispered something remarkable in my ear.
"I'll go get the weapons," she replied nonchalant. I placed her on the floor in a fluid motion and scooted her towards the door. The men, being so caught up with attacking Gandalf and those near enough to him, did not see the hobbit lass scurry beneath their legs and around their feet to where our armory was being held. In a moment I lost her as Aragorn threw a few men my way and punches were thrown. Aragorn still had Grima mashed beneath his heel, and fought off a few good of his own attackers.
Gandalf's chanting grew louder as the fighting became easier. Many of these guards looked to be wild men in the uniform of Rohan. They were quick to anger, and fierce warriors. A few nipped at my arms, and a knock on the head taught them otherwise.
Suddenly I felt my daggers belt being thrust into my hand. I looked down and saw Elli making her way quickly to Aragorn and Boromir to rescue them with their much-needed weapons. I took a peek at Caitlin, who was having a hard time fighting off men and keeping Éowyn in her clutches. I made my way swiftly over to her, but not quick enough.
Gandalf's chants were loud and many of the attackers had turned their attention to the exorcism of the King. In a quick moment, a light shone from the end of his staff. At that same time, Caitlin lost her grip on Éowyn, and she bolted towards her uncle at the same time that the light from the staff was made to strike the demon out of the King.
Caitlin gave a scream, as did the white lady as she fell to the floor and then lay motionless. The beam of light had still struck the King, and he too fell forth from the seat on his throne, weary from his battle. They both hit the floor some few seconds apart. Groans of pain and weariness issued forth from the King's throat though, while Éowyn lay still, her face pressed into the cold stone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Will she be alright?" Elli asked Caitlin.
"Yes. She wasn't harmed, only knocked out. She'll be good as new in just a few days. She had no inner demons, so the spell that Gandalf was using only stunned her."
"Ok, good," answered the hobbit. "For a while I was wondering if we really screwed with the story line! Glad to see things will still be going as close to the story as possible."
The ladies, Boromir and I were in their chamber, having been told by Gandalf to keep an eye upon them both. Grima had been issued forth from Edoras, and the King was wandering around his lands in a stunned way. Gandalf was with him, as was Gimli and Aragorn, for they were curious for information. Boromir and I had volunteered our time to watch Elli and Caitlin.
The ladies had been deep into conversation, always seeming to have plenty to speak of, even with all the time they spent together. They had informed Boromir and I of the way the story should have come out by this point, and we in turn asked if they had any guesses for what was to come. Neither of them were sure, but they were scared, yet hopeful.
Boromir had been silent since our arrival, and had been eyeing Caitlin in an odd way. I worried for the elven child, for the look in Boromir's eyes was on of lust and desire. It was the kind of look I suppose the girls had expected to see on his face when he came into contact with the Ring. Boromir had never lusted for it though, there had been no proof and no lie of what he spoke there. But I worried that he was lusting for something much more unachievable than that. Caitlin seemed purely frightened by his behavior this way, and stuck herself to Elli's side.
She was a marvelous specimen, one that I myself would like to stare at in such a way that Boromir did. But she would return home before the end of trip. And even if she didn't, she was not elven, and would never journey forth with my kind to the Undying Lands. There was no point in vying for her. She was attracting, but I was more intrigued by her manners and her partial elven style and future human ways than by anything else. Sure, she was beautiful, but she had yet to steal my heart completely from me.
The girls suddenly stopped talking and looked behind us to see Aragorn standing in the doorway. Evening had begun to fall, and he was calling us to have supper in the King's Hall.
~*~*~*~*~*~
On watch that night, I looked out over the mountainous landscape and into the starry sky. The Rohan guards that did not appear to be wild men were on watch as well, but Gandalf had me out to look for anything I could catch that they could not. So in the shadow I stayed, careful to avoid them.
A noise from the door I had come from startled me out of my hideaway. Slowly I listened as the latch was lifted and the door softly creaked open.
"You heard that, didn't you?" the voice asked as it emerged from behind the darkness. It wasn't questioning itself, it had none I was out there and knew my hearing could hear her approaching. In a moment Caitlin had wedged herself from behind the door and had swiftly and quietly closed it. She stepped with me as I hide back in the shadows.
"I couldn't sleep so I figured I'd come and keep ya company. I should become exhausted enough after a bit of this," she joked. I gave her a playful jib in the ribs, and she laughed softly.
"If Gandalf has no plans for tomorrow for most of us I suppose Elli and yourself will be allowed to sleep in a bit. You both seem so tired from all this early rising."
"Yeah, I'm not used to falling to sleep at the height of the moon and then waking up a few hours before dawn." She was silent a moment and thought over what she had just said. "No, scratch that. I am used to it. I fall asleep at late hours of the morning and then wake up before dawn to get my butt to school."
I looked down at her and smiled. I held my hands in front of me, standing straight on my watch. Caitlin had her hands folded across her chest.
"Are you cold?" I asked. She turned her head to look at me.
"No, no I'm not. Why are you asking? Because my hands are folded across my chest? No, actually, I haven't been feeling any changes in temperature. Only really drastic things. It's weird. I really feel like I am becoming more and more of an elf each day."
She seemed unconcerned about this, as if she was expecting it to happen. "Are you ok that you're becoming an elf?" I asked.
She was silent while she thought over the question. "I guess I am. I've been noticing little elfin characteristics in myself ever since Elli and I are arrived here. So I guess I'm not that phased anymore."
Her ways were ever new to me. She didn't seem affected by much that had happened, at least not the things I expected her to be affected by. She was close with Elli, and when bad things happened with Elli, she was greatly affected. But things that happened to her only seemed to make her more charming. She was wonderful under pressure when it didn't involve her friend, either because she knew this tale or because, to her, it wasn't quite a big deal.
She was strong in mind and somewhat in strength. A little sword practice and she'd be battling many great beasts that only the best of the elves could take on. She was a constant wonder to me.
Caitlin was looking out over the horizon, staring ahead at the star filled sky and the outline of the mountains. The moon reflected on her hair, it's color brown with deep red glowing from almost within it. If Boromir was falling for this lady, I could see how. She stared before her like one with confidence and pride, as if she were some womanly maiden set high upon a pedestal. Her beauty was enchanting, almost breath-taking. But she and I had nothing, nor would we ever.
She would return home one day, while I would journey with my people away from Middle-earth forever. Every glance I gave her was a waste, for even though her beauty would one day be equal to the elf maidens of ancient and glory filled days, she and I were unalike. She deserved a man that was able to control her without taming her. I feared even I could not do that.
Therefore, we stood there for most of the night, silent on our watch, until she left to try and sleep once more. Morning was swiftly coming over the horizon when I left to find Gandalf.
(A/N: I suppose you're all screaming and ready to post comments about how much you loved this chapter, am I right? Well, I won't keep you long. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, for although it was hard for me to write, I had a great pleasure in doing just that. So please review and tell me how much you love me! 'Til next time lovies!)