Revised 2/21/04
See Part 1 for disclaimers and such.
Chapter 4"How far are we from Edoras?" Erin asked, clenching her teeth as each jarring stride of the horse bumped her painfully against the saddle.
"Two days at this pace," Aragorn replied, his voice close to her ear. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I don't think I'm going to be able to get off this horse when we stop. I can't feel my legs, and my butt feels like it's going to fall off."
She felt him chuckle behind her and had to smile.
"I'm sorry, Aragorn," she said when his chuckles subsided. He didn't answer right away, and she wondered if he'd heard her apology, so she tried again. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at you - you were only trying to help me, and I was being stubborn."
She felt his sigh, a warm breath of wind against her ear.
"It is I who must apologize, lady, for treating you the way I did. It was perhaps a bit extreme."
She twisted slightly in the saddle, no easy feat on a galloping horse, and turned her head so she could see his face. He was, naturally, watching where they were going, but she caught his eye briefly.
"Maybe, maybe not," she replied. "You did what you felt was necessary, and I appreciate the fact that you were doing it to save my hide." She faced forward once more, watching the scenery flash by them. "I don't hold it against you."
He was quiet for a few moments, and she felt a gentle squeeze from his arm around her middle.
"The men of your world must be quite different."
A snort escaped her. "You could say that. The world I live in is different than yours, so of course the people who live there are different."
"I take it the women of your world are much more independent?" he asked curiously, wondering if the traits he had seen in her were common. He felt her shrug.
"Depending on which country you're in," she replied. "I live in a country called America, and yes, the women are fairly independent and have worked hard to be that way. In other countries, it isn't that way at all."
"Do you have a husband?"
He felt her stiffen at the question.
"No," she said shortly, without elaborating, and he wondered at it. She was easily the age that women married, he thought. Her body was firm and pleasing to the eye, and her face, under the dirt, hinted at her fairness.
"Why not?"
Erin bit her lip, not liking the way the conversation was headed. The last thing she wanted to talk about was her break-up with her fiancé, a man she had dated for four years and trusted with her heart, body, and soul. It still galled her bitterly that he had been dating someone else for the last two years of their relationship, a fact she hadn't discovered until he'd finally broken off their engagement.
"I don't want to talk about it, Aragorn," she said finally, her voice tight.
He heard the pain in her voice and let the matter drop. They rode in silence, the only sound was Hasufel's hoofs drumming a cadence against the ground as they each fell to their own thoughts.
"What about you?"
Aragorn jerked out of the reverie he had fallen into, realizing she had asked him a question.
"Hmm?"
"Are you married?" Erin asked, honestly curious.
Aragorn smiled at the question. "I have a lady," he replied. "We are not yet married."
Erin grinned, hearing the sudden warmth in his voice. "But you will be?"
He chuckled. "If she will still have me when the day is done."
"So long as you don't go throwing her over your shoulder, I think you're pretty safe," Erin couldn't resist teasing.
"Hmmph," came the reply, tickling her ear.
Aragorn pulled her from the saddle and set her gently on the ground, were upon she promptly fell on her butt, her tortured legs refusing to hold her up.
I'll never be able to walk again, she thought as her leg muscles cramped painfully. She looked crossly up at Aragorn, who had the nerve to grin.
"You've crippled me, you heartless bully!" Erin struggled to get to her feet, only to fall back again with a groan.
Hearing her comment, Legolas looked over sharply from where he was unsaddling Arod, wondering if the tension between the two was still there. He was relieved to see that they were both in fairly good humor, despite Erin's obvious discomfort.
"Aye, lass, I feel your pain," Gimli commiserated with her. "Short legs were never meant to straddle a beast as broad as that."
Erin looked at the dwarf in astonishment, and then, to everyone's surprise, burst out laughing.
Gandalf's lips twitched briefly as he watched her laugh. Like the others, he did not understand the source of her sudden merriment, but enjoyed seeing it nonetheless.
Aragorn left her, still chuckling on the ground, and unsaddled Hasufel, turning the horse loose to graze with Arod and Shadowfax in the grass nearby.
The place they had chosen camp for the night was open, surrounded only by waving grassland, but positioned high enough that they could see the area around them for miles. Nothing would be able to sneak up on them here, so long as they kept careful watch, and Aragorn hoped that the night would prove as uneventful as the previous one.
They did not build a fire that evening. It would attract attention, most likely unwanted attention, Gandalf explained to Erin, as it would be visible for miles, a beacon of light when darkness fell.
It was colder out on the plains, Erin noted, shivering slightly as a particularly cold wind nipped the back of her neck. She wondered what the seasons were like here, and if they were even the same as back home, deciding, if the opportunity arose, to ask Gandalf.
Her pack was by the saddles, and she retrieved it, looking for a relatively flat spot to set up her tent for the evening, when Aragorn stopped her.
"It will not rain tonight," he said, taking the bag that held her tent from her and placing it next to the saddles. "It would be best if you did not use your tent tonight."
Erin frowned, not happy with the thought of sleeping in the open. "Why?"
Aragorn quirked an eyebrow at her in surprise. "Several reasons, lady. If we were attacked at night, you would slow us down, waiting for you to get out of it. It might also be visible, sticking up above the grasslands."
Sighing, she nodded, pushing the hair that had blown into her face out of her eyes irritably. "Makes sense," she agreed. "That wouldn't have occurred to me."
Aragorn's eyes twinkled, but his expression remained serious. "It will also be harder for you to oversleep."
She scowled at him. "Does your lady know you're so bossy?" she grouched, causing him to chuckle.
"Aye, I expect she does."
Dinner, thankfully, was not Lembas. Erin was proud to contribute her remaining packets of freeze-dried food to the cause, and delighted in amazing them with her small Sterno camp stove. Between the reconstituted beef stew, stale bread and warm cheese, they ate their fill, Legolas tossing each of them an apple for dessert. It was simple food, but tasted good, flavored by hunger.
Erin leaned back, stretching her sore muscles, wishing once again she'd thought to pack some Tylenol. She was going to be sore tomorrow.
"Aragorn tells me you know something of this world, Erin," Gandalf said from his place across from her, the smoke from his pipe curling around his head. "Would you speak of it?"
"I know very little, actually, but I'll tell you what I know," she said, folding her hands across her full stomach and taking a moment to think. "In my world, what is happening right now, the whole ring thing and the dark lord what's-his-name, is nothing but a story. A work of fiction written by a man named Tolkien a long time before I was born."
"A story, you say?" Gandalf replied, his bushy white eyebrow rising slightly. "Interesting. Go on."
"It's a really popular story, I mean, so many people have read these books. And now they are making a movie out of the first one." She saw the puzzled looks on their faces and hastened to explain. "A movie is a picture that moves and has sound. People go to them to be entertained."
"Like a play?" Aragorn asked, looking up from sharpening his sword.
Erin nodded. "Kind of. Only its not live - I mean, the people are just pictures that move on a screen. It's hard to explain, but you get the general idea?"
The wizard nodded encouragingly, so she continued. "Anyway, like I was saying, it's a story that most people know. A couple of my friends are total fans and have read the books over and over."
"But you have not?" Gandalf asked quietly.
She shook her head. "Now I wished I had, at least I'd have some idea what was going to happen. But I only read a little of the first book - to the part where the Fellowship leaves Rivendell. I know from my friends a little bit more - like I know Frodo and Sam have left on their own, and that they'll run into Gollum eventually. I know that there will be a huge battle in the end against the bad guys and, at least according to the books, the good guys win." She turned to look at Aragorn and gave him a brief smile. "I know you will be King."
Aragorn's eyes narrowed thoughtfully and he gave her a brief nod.
"According to the story?" the wizard said, tapping his pipe on the ground and emptying it.
"Yes."
Gandalf looked up at her, his gaze sharp. "And is there any mention, in this story, of a woman from your world?"
Erin shook her head. "Of course not." Her eyes widened slightly as the wizard continued to regard her, his expression serious. "Oh my god," she said, feeling the blood drain from her face. "If the books are somehow based on your reality, then I'm messing everything up!"
The wizard nodded once. "You are like a pebble that has been tossed into a still pond. Your presence here will create ripples, no doubt. Therefore we cannot expect that what happens in your story will for certain happen here."
Erin covered her face with her hands, feeling sick as the implications hit her. What if her presence here ruined their chances of succeeding in defeating the enemy? What if she said the wrong thing at the wrong time and changed the course of events that would have happened naturally?
Gandalf saw her shoulders tremble, her face buried in her hands. "Do not worry," he said kindly. "For I still feel that there is a purpose for you being here, books or no books."
Aragorn slid his sword back into its scabbard and nodded. "Aye. Perhaps this Tolkien you speak of does not know our true story. I for one do not place my faith in the events of a book from another world. I will put my trust in the things that I know, and the things I have learned."
Gimli grunted in agreement. "Like the fair Lady of the Galadhrim's magic mirror, there is no certainty in the things that have not yet come to pass. Do not worry over the things you cannot change."
Erin's head lifted and she wiped her face clumsily with her sleeve. "I'd have liked to have met her," she said, feeling slightly better from their words. "My friends went on and on about Lothlórien and Galadriel." She managed a weak smile.
"Aye, 'tis more fair than any place on this world," Legolas said softly, his smile wistful. "I hope to see it again before I leave these shores."
The sky had turned a deep shade of blue that was almost black, and stars began to twinkle down at her, and Erin realized how tired she was. She bit back a groan as she stood up, the muscles in her legs protesting and threatening to give way. Each step to her pack was torture, but she managed anyway, not having much choice. She tried hard not to think about how bad she was going to feel tomorrow.
"I might be able to help," a soft voice at her ear made her gasp in surprise, startling her greatly.
She looked crossly at the elf. "Make some noise when you come up behind me," she said, feeling her heart pounding against her ribs. "You scared me."
Legolas looked bemused. "I will try to remember," he replied with a light laugh.
Erin gave him an exasperated look, moving gingerly to retrieve her sleeping bag. She winced, her thighs trembling from the effort of bending.
"Let me help you," Legolas said, taking the sleeping bag from her.
"I'm not helpless," she snapped, her temper shortened greatly by the pain, not to mention the havoc his nearness was playing on her senses. At his swift intake of breath, she felt terrible for snapping at him. "I'm sorry, Legolas. I didn't mean to bite your head off."
He tilted his head slightly, puzzled by her expression.
She turned, unable to keep from wincing again as her legs protested against any movement whatsoever. "I didn't mean to be cross with you," she rephrased it. "I'm not at my best at the moment."
He nodded, tucking the sleeping bag under his arm. He offered her his other one, and she took it, tucking her hand over his arm and allowing him to assist her back to where the others were sitting.
Gandalf watched her gimping across the campsite, leaning on Legolas for support, and looked at Aragorn.
"Do you have anything that might help her sleep tonight?" he asked the ranger, pitching his voice low so that Erin would not overhear.
Aragorn nodded. "I might. If you can heat some water for me."
Gandalf chuckled, laying aside his pipe. "That I can do easily enough," he said, taking the cup that Aragorn handed him and folding his long fingers around it. He wrapped his other hand around the cup as well, and closed his eyes.
Aragorn sifted through the small supply of plants and herbs he carried with him. He didn't have very much to choose from, but he considered each carefully before selecting one he thought might help ease the pain that the woman was obviously suffering.
Gandalf's eyes opened and he handed the cup of warmed water to Aragorn silently, watching the ranger crumble a bit of dried willow bark into it, setting the cup aside to let the concoction steep.
Legolas tossed the sleeping bag down on the ground beside the other sleeping rolls, unrolling its length until it lay flat.
"Thank you," Erin said, taking her hand from his arm and slowly lowering her body to sit on the slippery nylon material.
"You are welcome." He looked down at her, his blue eyes glinting briefly. "Get some sleep, Erin," he said. "You will feel better in the morning."
Liar, Erin thought, watching the tall elf walk back to where the others sat. She knew she'd feel even worse when she woke up. Groaning softly, she eased her way into the sleeping bag, whimpering quietly with each movement.
"This will help," Aragorn said, startling her. He held out a metal drinking cup towards her.
"You're as bad as Legolas," she groused, looking up at him. "Sneaking up on people."
His teeth flashed briefly in the dark. "I will take that as a compliment, lady. Drink this, it will help the pain."
She sat up, accepting his help gratefully, and took the cup from him, sniffing its contents suspiciously. "What is it?"
"Willow bark tea," he replied. "It helps relieve pain."
Her eyebrows rose and she eyed the drink again, taking a tentative sip and nearly gagging on the bitter taste. "That's awful," she shuddered.
"Drink it all," he said firmly.
He saw the stubborn glint in her eye, but she did as he ordered, gulping the tea as quickly as she could to minimize the bitterness, making a face as she handed the cup back to him.
"Thanks, I think," she said, shuddering again.
His lips twitched briefly. "You're welcome. Sleep well."
Erin watched the ranger leave and rejoin the others, taking a seat next to Legolas. Darkness had fallen completely, but she could just make out the forms of Gandalf, Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas by the light of the moon that rose above them. Feeling the effects of the tea beginning to take hold, Erin rolled to her side, wincing slightly, and cradled her head on her arms. She closed her eyes, and felt sleep take her.
By the time they reached Edoras, Erin's legs were becoming more accustomed to the daily abuse of riding, and she found she wasn't nearly as crippled when Aragorn helped her dismount. He saw it as well, if his encouraging smile was any indication, and she felt a sudden surge of gratitude that he was here to help her.
They had been stopped at the gates by armed and wary soldiers, guards of the city, who would not have let them pass within if it hadn't been for Gandalf. By order of their king, none save those who spoke their language were allowed to pass.
They regarded Gandalf suspiciously as well, but between him and Aragorn, they convinced the guards that they were not enemies, and they were finally allowed beyond the gates.
Erin, of course, understood none of the conversation between Aragorn, Gandalf, and the guards, as it was in a different language. Once past the gates, Aragorn had filled her in, explaining the King's order and his reasoning for it.
"Not many speak the tongue of Rohan," he said, "Save those that are close to its people, both in thought and deed. Théoden hopes to keep enemies from entering the city."
It made sense to her. "I don't speak that language," Erin had said worriedly. "How will I know what is happening?"
"Stay close to Legolas and Gimli, and do not speak. Gandalf will undoubtedly explain your situation once we have reached the king." He had glanced at her strange garb and wished she had something else she could wear, for she would certainly cause a scene, dressed as she was. It was not because she was wearing breeches, like a man, for there were shield maidens among the women of Rohan who affected the dress of men. It was the strangeness of the materials that would catch their attention. Aragorn hoped it would not cause them difficulty.
They had ridden single file up the hill that led to the hall of Théoden, Gandalf leading the way on Shadowfax. Erin was aware of the stares that had been directed their way and shifted nervously in the saddle, her apprehension growing with each step. Despite Aragorn's words, she was worried about the kind of reception they would receive, remembering the hostility of the riders they met on the plain.
Now they stood outside the great hall of the king, watching the stable boy lead Arod and Hasufel away. Shadowfax followed them at Gandalf's request, promising the stallion good food and a rub down for all his hard work.
She walked beside Legolas up the steps leading to the doors of the hall, wishing she could hide behind the tall elf as they stopped in front of the guards.
The man nearest to them spoke briefly, looking at each of them in turn and pointing at their weapons.
Silently, Legolas handed the guard his knives and bow, sliding the quiver off his back in a graceful movement. The elf spoke in the language of the man, and Erin saw the wonder and awe in the man's eyes as he took them, placing them quickly against the wall, as if afraid to handle them too long, and wished she knew what had been said. When he turned back to Legolas, he spoke again, and she saw the elf nod in acceptance.
She saw Aragorn hesitate, obviously loath to part with his sword. He said something to the guard who held his hand out for it, and shook his head. The guard replied, his tone brooking no argument, but Aragorn was not through. He spoke at length, and Erin recognized his name and Théoden's somewhere in the midst of his speech. To her dismay, she saw the guard was not impressed with whatever he had said, and Aragorn's shoulders stiffened.
Gimli added his argument to Aragorn's, and Erin saw the guards stiffen in anger.
Gandalf spoke quickly, frowning at his friends, and unbuckling his sword, handing it to the door guard easily. He turned and looked pointedly at them, still speaking, until both Aragorn and Gimli gave up their weapons as well.
The guard looked at her, his eyes flicking curiously over her strange clothing, and spoke a phrase to her. She opened her arms wide, silently showing him her lack of weapons and he nodded, understanding her gesture, and turned back to Gandalf, gesturing to his staff and speaking.
Gandalf smiled, and before her eyes, he appeared more frail, more ancient and helpless, leaning upon his staff like a crutch. He spoke gruffly but persuasively to the guard, and after a moment, the guard nodded, and allowed them to pass.
Following Legolas, with Gimli close behind her, the five of them entered the great hall, the doors closing behind them, sealing off any escape route, and leaving Erin feeling trapped.
Erin tried very hard to follow what was going on, although she could not understand a single word of it. She got the general gist of things, however, when the slimy looking man practically slithered over to them, speaking in a harsh and sinister-sounding voice. He looked them over with a sneer, his eyes lingering a little too long on Erin for her tastes, and she wished again that she could simply disappear behind the others.
Théoden, the king, was an ancient man, from the looks of him. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes were glazed over with a dull film, his voice barely rising above a whisper when he spoke. The slimy man, as Erin called him silently, had slouched and slithered back to his side, and was whispering into Théoden's ear.
Gandalf's voice boomed out, startling Erin with its sudden strength, and his gray robes flew off, revealing the brilliant white robes beneath them. No longer did he stoop like a frail old man, clutching his staff for strength. Instead, Gandalf roared in his powerful voice, pointing his staff at the king.
Erin covered her ears, crouching in fear as Gandalf's voice grew. She did not see the change that came over the king, how the color crept back into his cheeks and the light returned to his blue eyes. There was silence, and finally Erin dared to look up, stifling a gasp at the change she saw.
The slimy man was laying prone on the floor before Gandalf, and Théoden was rising from his throne, looking nothing like the shade of the man he had been just a few moments before.
Gandalf spoke gently to the king, and to her relief, she saw a smile creep across his features as he returned the speech. He glanced down at his servant, the slimy one, and toed his prostrate form with his boot, his voice becoming harsh and angry. The pasty-faced man looked up, fear written plainly on his face, but made no struggle as the guards escorted him from the hall.
Erin watched him go with relief, feeling the atmosphere in the hall lift once he was gone. She looked back, and saw one of the guardsmen present the king with a sword on bended knee and watched as the light grew brighter in the king's eyes. She recognized Éomer as he handed the King his sword, hilt first, speaking words in a glad tone.
Gandalf spoke again; whatever he said caused Théoden to look up in surprise, and then glance over at her.
"What strangers do you bring to my hall, Gandalf Stormcrow?" he asked in the common tongue, his blue eyes resting on Erin with obvious curiosity.
Erin breathed a silent sigh of relief at finally hearing something she could understand.
"This lady is Erin Smith, a traveler from distant lands," Gandalf said, introducing her. "She does not speak your language, but her heart is pure and she is not an enemy of Rohan."
Erin didn't know if she should bow or curtsey, but chose the former, since she was wearing pants.
"Ah, I understand your request better now, I think," Théoden chuckled, eyeing the strange tangle-haired and grubby young woman. "If you are a friend to Gandalf, then you are welcome at my court, Lady," he told her. "I will send for Éowyn so that you may bathe and change clothing, as I am certain you wish to wash the grime of travel from you." His eyes narrowed and he looked at her shrewdly, taking in her unusual raiment. "There is a tale here that I would hear from you once you have eaten and rested." The king looked away, searching the hall with is now-sharp gaze. "Where is my sister-daughter? Where is Éowyn?"
"Here I am, Théoden King," came the reply, and a tall young woman of noble grace and bearing stepped forward, tears in her eyes. She dropped in front of him and spoke in their language, obviously overjoyed to see the changes in him. Théoden returned her embrace warmly, and released her, turning her towards Erin.
"This Lady is a guest and companion of Gandalf," he said softly. "Would you see to her needs?"
Éowyn's eyes flickered curiously over their party, lingering briefly on Aragorn, before turning her complete attention to Erin, who shifted with embarrassment under her sharp gaze.
Éowyn smiled, and Erin saw her face light up with interest and curiosity as she approached.
"If you will come with me," the lady said in a velvet voice, "I would be pleased to help you."
Erin glanced at Aragorn and he nodded. "Go with her, Lady."
She had never felt more like an ugly duckling as she did now, following behind the beautiful blonde woman who moved with a gracefulness that Erin knew she could never achieve. She was even more aware of her disgraceful appearance, every tangle and smear of dirt, and the earthy, sweaty smell that rose from her as she followed Éowyn up the long stairs that led to the more private rooms of the hall.
Éowyn stopped at a door and opened it, leading Erin through and closing it behind her, watching bemusedly as the strangely garbed woman looked around her in open curiosity.
The room was fairly big, much larger than the living room of her apartment, Erin thought. It held a bed in the far corner, a decently sized affair with a beautifully carved headboard made of wood, scenes of horses depicted in various poses decorating it. Next to it was a wooden stand, which held a large ceramic bowl and pitcher of water for washing. On several walls there were tapestries, most woven in designs of horses, although there were a few that held scenes of battles. There were two chairs and a small table for sitting at, and Erin mused that one could easily eat there, as well as write letters or read.
"I will have a bath brought up for you," Éowyn said, interrupting her thoughts.
Erin looked at her gratefully. "That is the best thing I've heard all day," she said, pulling at her sweater. "Thank you."
Éowyn nodded, looking at her thoughtfully. "Do you have clean clothing to wear?" she asked hesitantly, not wanting to offend her.
Shaking her head, Erin smiled ruefully. "I'm afraid I don't. This trip wasn't exactly how I planned it."
Éowyn's blonde eyebrows shot up and a brief smile crossed her lips. "I would like to hear your story," she said. "But it can wait until later. As for clothing, I will have to consider - we are nothing alike in size."
Erin resisted the urge to snort at the understatement. Éowyn was tall and willowy, small busted and slim-hipped, just about the complete opposite of her own form.
"I can put this on again," Erin replied, pulling at her sweater again. "Don't go through any trouble on my account."
Éowyn frowned, and shook her head. "Would you not prefer something cleaner and more appropriate to wear when you meet with the King?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Erin sighed. "You're saying I should change into a dress?"
"I think I can find one that will fit you. One of the ladies here is about your build, and I am certain she would be willing to loan you something."
She had to admit, part of her was looking forward to wearing something besides what she had on, something that didn't look like she'd been riding horseback and sleeping on the ground for two days without a bath.
"Thank you," Erin said honestly. "As long as it's not too much trouble."
Éowyn shook her head with a light laugh. "It is not."
It took four men to carry the metal tub in and set it in the center of the room, and Erin watched with curiosity and chagrin as kettle after kettle of warmed water was poured into it. The men left, bowing slightly to Éowyn and Erin, and closed the door behind them, leaving her alone with the other woman once more.
"So that's how you take baths here," Erin commented, stepping over to examine to tub closer. She glanced at Éowyn's puzzled expression and gave her a wry smile. "We have running water where I come from - it comes out of a metal pipe already heated!"
Éowyn was awed. "That sounds like magic."
Erin shrugged. "I suppose you could see it that way. It isn't, of course. Simple engineering and science makes it happen." She stuck a hand in the water and found the temperature to be comfortably warm.
Éowyn placed a bar of soap and a glass bottle of liquid next to the tub, folding the towel she held over her arm. "Are you going to bathe?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow.
She realized that Éowyn had no plans on leaving her unattended, and a flush crept over her cheeks. It was silly to be embarrassed, Erin knew, but she was just the same. Turning her back to the other woman, she pulled her sweater over her head and tossed it on the bed. Her bra and pants quickly followed, along with her underwear and socks. Without looking at the other woman, she stepped into the tub, sinking down in the warm water with a sigh.
"What is this?" Éowyn asked, holding up her bra with a curious look.
Reaching over the tub, Erin grabbed the soap and began the process of washing almost a week's worth of dirt from her skin. "It's called a bra," she replied without looking up. "The women of my world wear them to, er, keep themselves strapped down."
Éowyn's eyes widened in surprise and immediate understanding. "I sometimes use a length of cloth to bind my breasts when I go riding - it is not as painful."
Feeling a little less self-conscious, now that the water had become murky from the soap and dirt that floated off of her, Erin laughed. "I know exactly what you mean. I forgot to put it on when I first met Aragorn, and ran for a couple of hours without it. I was so sore later, and not just my legs."
Éowyn's eyebrows shot up in astonishment, and then she laughed as well. "Tell me how you met your companions, and I will wash your hair for you."
Erin sunk lower in the tub, her self-consciousness returning. "You don't have to do that."
Éowyn shook her head. "Let me help you." She did not understand the other woman's embarrassment. "You have no need to be shy, for we are both women." She moved the chair next to tub, at Erin's head, and reached for the pitcher. "Or do the women in your world never bathe in front of another?"
Erin shrugged, feeling the cool water pour over her hair and closed her eyes. "We're brought up to be modest," she replied between bouts of water. "There are times when bathing is shared, I guess, but it's not comfortable really. At least not for me."
Éowyn poured a small handful of soap from the glass bottle beside the tub and lathered it into the snarled mass of brown hair in front of her. "Why is that? You are not deformed or misshapen in any way that I can see."
Erin repeated her shrug, sighing in bliss as Éowyn's clever fingers worked at the knots and tangles in her hair. "I don't really know why," she replied finally. "It's probably how I was raised - nakedness being a thing to be ashamed of. You don't go flaunting your body in front of other people, even if they're women."
Éowyn reached for the pitcher and filled it, pouring the clean water over Erin's head to rinse the soap from her hair. "Modesty is understood," she said, pouring more water. "But to teach your children to be ashamed of their body? I do not understand that." Satisfied that the last of the soap was washed clean, she reached for the liquid soap again, working it into Erin's hair once more.
As Erin bathed, feeling rather spoiled by Éowyn's attentions, she told the other woman how she had met Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas, and the meeting of Gandalf in the forest of Fangorn.
"You must have been very frightened," Éowyn exclaimed. "To have been taken thus from your own world and all that you know."
"You could say that," Erin replied with a short laugh. "I didn't realize how bad it was at first, I kept hoping I was just having a bad dream."
"You were lucky that Aragorn and Legolas were there to kill the Orc," Éowyn added. "You are fortunate to have had their protection."
Erin nodded, grinning briefly. "I wasn't too sure about any of them at first, particularly Aragorn - he seemed a little too bossy for my tastes. But I think we get along okay now." She sighed as Éowyn began to rinse the soap from her hair once more.
When Éowyn finished rinsing Erin's hair for the last time, she gestured for the woman to step out of the tub, handing her the rough woven towel for her to dry herself.
"I will find you clothing," she said, handing Erin a small comb. "I will return in a moment."
Erin sat on the edge of the bed and watched her close the door tightly behind her. Her wet hair dripped rivulets of water down her clean skin, and Erin sighed, delighting in being clean once more. As she toweled the water from her body, she looked critically at herself, noting that her legs and arms were in need of a shave, and she found herself wondering if they had such things as razors for women in Middle Earth. The thought brought a rueful chuckle from her - somehow, she highly doubted it.
The door to her room opened and Erin clutched the towel to her, hoping it was Éowyn returning with clothing.
Éowyn noticed her obvious relief at seeing her and smiled, laying out the dress and small clothes on the bed beside her. "You need not worry that someone will enter unannounced," she said, her blue eyes twinkling with humor. "There are two guards at the door."
Erin eyed the clothing Éowyn had brought with interest. The dress was a simple russet colored gown with gold thread embroidered on the round shaped neckline, made of a soft, velvety material that shimmered slightly in the light. It was slightly worn at the edges, but still quite nice, and Erin was overwhelmed suddenly by the kindness Éowyn had shown her.
"Thank you," she blurted, turning her face away so the other woman wouldn't see the tears that threatened to fall.
Éowyn smiled, sitting back on the bed beside the other woman and taking the comb from her limp fingers. "'Tis nothing," she said calmly, running the comb through the remaining tangles in Erin's hair. "I hope it will fit."
When she felt she had her emotions under control once more, Erin stood, holding the dress up to her body and looking down to see where it fell. It was ankle length, and the cut was similar to Éowyn's.
"The color suits you," Éowyn said, tilting her head slightly as she looked at the smaller woman.
Carefully, Erin laid the dress on the bed and reached for her bra, sliding the straps over her shoulders and hooking it with well-practiced ease. She was conscious of the other woman's regard as she did this, and looked up once she had it fastened properly. "See how it supports?" she said, turning around to show her the back.
"That is a clever bit of tailoring," Éowyn agreed, fingering the stretchy fabric of the straps on the shoulders. "I would like to see if I could copy this."
Dropping the towel completely, Erin reached for her underwear, making a face. "I really don't want to put these back on," she said with a sigh. "I'm clean, and they aren't."
"Here," Éowyn handed her one of the small bits of clothing she had brought with the dress.
Erin held it up curiously, and it took her a moment before it registered what it was. "Bloomers!" she laughed, holding them up and shaking them. They looked like female boxer shorts, only longer and baggier in the legs than she was used to. She slid them over her thighs and up over her hips, finding the string that tightened the waistline so that they would stay up. Once she had them on, she realized they were quite comfortable.
"These are cool!" she exclaimed, looking up to grin at Éowyn.
"Well, it is still yet some months until winter," Éowyn replied, not understanding Erin's comment. She helped lift the long dress over Erin's head, pulling it down as the other woman slid her arms into the long sleeves.
It was a little big in the waist, Erin thought as she looked down at the dress, and a little snug in the chest, but overall, it was a pretty good fit. With a grin, she spun around quickly, feeling the fabric flair out around her bare legs.
Éowyn laughed, watching the transformation from the grubby and shy stranger to laughing and smiling young woman before her.
"I look like a different woman," Erin declared, looking down at the dress and smoothing the soft fabric with her fingers.
Éowyn nodded in agreement. "How do you wish to wear your hair?" she asked.
Erin touched her damp hair and shrugged. "I usually wear it loose." She looked at Éowyn and smiled. "Do you have a suggestion?"
Nodding, Éowyn beckoned her to sit next to her on the bed, and turned her so that her back was to her. Deftly, she separated several strands of hair at either side of Erin's head and braided them, pulling them together at the back of her head and tying them with a length of green ribbon she had brought. The end result was simple, yet held the length of Erin's hair away from her face.
"There," she said, patting the braids in place. "That will do nicely, I think."
Erin reached up and tentatively touched the braids that swept back from her temple, feeling the ribbon that held them in place. Her emotions rose up once more and threatened to overwhelm her.
"Thank you," she said softly, giving the other woman a tremulous smile. "You've been so nice to me, and you don't even know me."
Éowyn saw the tears that threatened and quickly hugged the other woman. "You looked so lost in my uncle's hall," she replied quietly after releasing her. "It was a simple thing for me to help you. I enjoyed doing it."
"I don't know why I'm so darned emotional," Erin sniffed, wiping her eyes with her fingertips. "I'm not usually so weepy."
Éowyn gave her a quick smile. "You have been through a lot, I imagine, in the last few days. You are a strange woman in a strange land, yet you must be brave to have traveled so far from your home. A few tears are understandable."
Erin nodded, admiring the quiet strength she sensed within the other woman, and resolved to act more like her, if she could.
The hiking boots Erin had worn did not go with the dress very well, and Éowyn presented her with a pair of soft knee high boots that laced at the sides. They had a low heel, and the leather they were made from was both soft and supple. They belonged to Éowyn, and were a bit large on Erin's much smaller foot. The problem was solved with an extra pair of stockings, and Erin found that she could walk in them without them slipping too much.
"I will have your clothes cleaned for you and left here. This will be your room while you are a guest here," Éowyn said, gathering up Erin's sweater and jeans, socks and underwear in a neat pile. "I imagine my uncle is waiting to speak with you, and your companions are probably concerned about you as well."
The two guards at the door bowed slightly as Éowyn passed them, and Erin caught one of them looking at her with interest as she followed her, his eyes taking in her smaller form with silent admiration, making Erin blush and look away hurriedly.
Feeling much improved, and much less the ugly duckling, Erin followed Éowyn down the long stairs to the hall where Théoden and her companions waited.
Read Chapter 5
