A/N:
Last Chappie for a week because I'll be in Wales tomorrow, as I've told you so many times, so enjoy... I hope it's long enough for you....
Toya: Hmmm... should I help you? Yeah, if you can get me out of trouble more often... do ye want to meet up soon... (i.e., Sunday/ Monday) PLEASE HELP ME ON MY ENGLISH!!! (i.e., read your mail!!) cya ASSBB!!
Marlene: Yeah, they're meant to be obnoxious pests. Keeps them away from being mary-sues (well, not so much Laila). Anywho, this story is going to end up quite long, and there might even be a sequel, and YES it was slow to start with, I'm not denying that, but I am trying to keep them away from the 'Mary-Sue' side of things as much as possible, capish? Your second paragraph doesn't quit make sense... yuh that was the 1st step – quitting their stupid pranks... who the Hell said they were meant to be more likeable by now? Definitely NOT me. Also, she's meant to be kinda taking the piss outta JS. If its not working, tell me how to improve it, and I might... also, I really don't care if you think it's crap – why did you read it if it's so rubbish? Though I do think you could flame for a living... I'm not trying to change them – I'm trying to write something different, like, I mean, there are loads of Mary-sues, and loads of ones that aren't. I'm trying to write something different, ok? You're probably laughing at me right now. And what do you want me to do bout the change in format? Do you want me to change it back. I'll say this: YOU ARE A VERY GOOD FLAMER and I do appreciate your review, but if I did all you've told me to do, it would be exactly like most 'girls fall into ME' story. Anywho, do you think I should change the format? Cya. Ta for reviewing.
Crecy: dude, thanx! I'll keep writing. ASSBB!!
Jupiter's Light: kewl AND great AND super? Dude, that rox! Thankies almighty insane one! ASSBB!!
Kumarasgal23: thanx... sorry I insulted you in the first place... THANKIES!! Woohoo Hyper!! O yuh, have a good Spring Break :D !!
Allasea2: dude... band from the internet... that Sux.. I mean SERIOUSLI sux... have a good time... P.S where did Cybertoodles cum from? Cya.
Well... last 1 for a week... enjoy it!!
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Chapter 16 - Returned From The Dead
The rest of the journey was not exactly what you'd call happy. Wounded on horses, everyone going in the same direction. We had been hoping to catch up with Éowyn and the rest of the group that set off from Edoras. Gimli was always deep in thought, and Legolas was getting over the loss of his friend. We arrived at Helm's deep not long after the others.
Gamling: Make way for Théoden!
Soldiers: Sire!
Gamling: Make way for the king!
Éowyn rushed down to meet them. I walked to the side, not wanting to be in anyone's way.
Éowyn: So few. So few of you have returned.
Théoden dismounted. Théoden: Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives.
Gimli approached Éowyn, knowing someone would have to tell her. Gimli: My lady...
Éowyn: Lord Aragorn, where is he?
::Let's interrupt juuuuust... here.::
Keikæ: He fell.
Éowyn seemed shaken at this and raised teary eyes to Théoden who looked down and walked away, confirming her unasked question.
Keikæ: I'm so sorry.
::Now that is difficult to say with a straight face.::
It was sinking in.
Keikæ: Milady, I am so, so sorry.
And for once, I meant it. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. I put my arm around her shoulder and whispered in her ear.
Keikæ: Trust me, he'll come back – savvy?
I nodded at her and left, leaving her in peace. For once I felt like I hadn't been a complete Bastard to someone in grief... er... if that makes any sense....
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Théoden: Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate, and set a watch on the surround.
I couldn't be bothered for all this, I wandered around, knowing Aragorn would still be here. I found Legolas first. He still seemed completely out of it.
::What the hell – just offer what little comfort you have.::
Keikæ: Legolas...
Legolas: Please tell me, Keikæ – you know things. Just tell me what you came here to tell me. Keikæ: Ah. Well... I think he's still alive.
Legolas looked up at me.
Legolas: What?!
Keikæ: I guess you learned to say that from me, savvy?
Legolas: I wouldn't know – you come out with the strangest of phrases.
Keikæ: Ok, well... I think he's still alive.
There was silence from Legolas.
Keikæ: At least, he should be alive, but I may have mucked things up a bit.
Legolas: Sorry?
::I don't think I should have said that last bit
Keikæ: He should be here by now.
He started towards the gate. I joined him.
We were there just as he rode into Helm's Deep, to the amazement of all.
Refugees: He's alive!
Gimli pushed and shoved his way through the crowd.
Gimli: Where is he? Where is he? Get out of the way. I'm gonna kill him! You are the luckiest, the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew! Bless you, laddie!
Aragorn: Gimli, where is the king?
Gimli gestured to the hall. Aragorn walked straight into us.
Legolas: Le ab-dollen. [You're late.]
They smiled. I grinned.
Legolas: You look terrible.
That was the line. I burst out laughing. Both looked at me strangely.
Keikæ: Sorry. Dude – I love that line!
Legolas: Right.
Aragorn: Yes. Well, er... Keikæ, I would like to speak to you later.
I reduced my grin to a smile, and caught sight of Éowyn who also smiled with relief while Legolas gave back the Evenstar pendant. I gave Éowyn a small wink.
Aragorn: Hannon le. [Thank you.]
I followed Aragorn into the keep.
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Théoden: A great host, you say?
Aragorn: All Isengard is emptied.
Théoden: How many?
Aragorn: Ten thousand strong at least.
Théoden: Ten thousand?!
Keikæ: It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall.
Théoden: Let them come!
::Idiot.::
Théoden: to Gamling I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall.
Gamling nodded and went off. Théoden stood at the gate of Helm's Deep, speaking to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli.
::Yeah, just because he was talking to them specifically, don't mean I can't... join in with the conversation.::
Théoden: We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg.
Gimli: This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad.
Théoden: I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep.
::Oi! Don't dis the dwarf!::
Théoden: They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown; homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them.
Keikæ: No, they won't. Saruman has weapons unimaginable to you right now but please, just listen for once. He will breach the deeping wall.
I said this bit slowly, and clearly, but only so that he could hear it. I continued in this manner.
Keikæ: They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child.
Théoden turned his gaze to me.
Théoden: What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance.
Aragorn: Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid.
Keikæ: C'mon dude, you gotta do somethin'.
They looked quite surprised at me speaking to the King in this way. Théoden ignored my comment.
Théoden: And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead.
Aragorn: Gondor will answer.
Théoden: Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon... – No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone.
He began to walk away. I felt something had to be done.
Keikæ: Oh, for Pete's sake. Why the hell not?
Théoden: Why call, when no one will come?
Keikæ: That's not an answer. And you don't know who will come until you try. Just for once, let go of ya damn pride and do what you know is right.
By the way he paused, I could see I had overstepped the mark. He turned and marched towards me, whispering.
Théoden: Do not tell me what to do, young Lady. It is not your place. He walked away again, calling out orders Get the women and children into the caves.
Gamling: We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord –
Théoden: Cutting him off There is no time. War is upon us!
Rohan captain: to the soldiers Secure the gate!
::NonononoNOOOOO!!! This is all wrong – I know exactly what's going to happen. Gooooood how STUpid does he GET::
I felt well and truly told off. It was as if I was 9 again, but knowing the kings mind was made, I left to see the women and children in the caves. Ok, I know, not the best thing to do, but I wasn't going to hang around.
Soldier 1: Move back! Move to the caves!
Soldier 2: Keep moving!
Soldier 3: Quickly now!
I was regretting that choice. It's all doom and gloom, every person looking like they were going to their funeral. That's just 1 side of it. Most people were crying, not knowing when or if another would return. I found nothing comforting to say, so I wandered to the armoury. Before I got out of the caves, a little girl tapped my hand, not able to tap my arm. I recognised her as Freda, the girl who had come on horseback to Edoras.
Freda: Why are you dressed funny?
I was already surprised that no one had asked me about this. At least, I guess I did better than Laila and Bex cos I was usually wearing my jacket, and blended in quite well. However, I had just taken it off when the little girl approached me.
At this point, I dropped the Jack Sparrow act – I didn't know if it had been a month, my watch didn't tell the date, but I didn't think she'd get the slightest idea of what I was talking about if I acted and talked like a pirate. Then, I wasn't entirely sure she'd get what I was saying if I spoke with my normal, South African accent.
Keikæ: Because I'm not from around here. I come from a place far away. Your name's Freda, isn't it?
Freda: Yes. You fought against them, didn't you? I saw you ride off on the journey here. I also saw you in Edoras. Why is your accent so strange?
Freda's mother walked up behind her.
Freda's-mother-who's-name-is-Morwen: Freda! You mustn't say such things! To me I'm sorry, milady.
::Wow! Did she just call me a lady?!::
Keikæ: Nah – Tha's cool. Um... that means it's ok.
Her face was blank, completely expressionless.
Keikæ: It's alright, I don't mind. I'm actually quite surprised that no one's commented on my strange clothes and accent yet, except for Freda here.
She still said nothing, looking completely stoned.
Long embarrassing silence
Keikæ: Uh. Well... I'll be around.
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In the armoury, weapons were being distributed. I saw Aragorn pick up a battered sword, just to toss it back.
Aragorn: Farmer, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers.
Gimli: Most have seen too many winters.
Legolas: Or too few.
Keikæ: Look at them. They're frightened.
Legolas seemed to have gotten used to me saying other's thoughts.
Legolas: You can see it in their eyes.
The men around us fell silent. Legolas spoke to Aragorn.
::Ooooooooooooohnonononononononono.::
I covered my face with a hand. Gimli, took this as an indication that something was going to happen and fell silent.
Legolas: Boe a hûn: neled herain dan caer menig! [And they should be... Three hundred against ten thousand!]
::Ooooooohnononononononononooooooo.::
Aragorn: Si beriathar hýn. Amar nâ ned Edoras. [They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras.]
Legolas: Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú-... ortheri. Natha daged aen! [Aragorn, we are warriors. They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!]
::That was not the right thing to say. Ohnonononononononononononono. Don'tsayitdon'tsayit. Crap.::
Aragorn: Then I shall die as one them!
::Shit. He said it. You were MEANT to say that in elvish.::
Keikæ: to Aragorn In future, think before you open your oversized Gondorian mouth, please?
::Is he Gondorian? I thought he had numenorean blood? Hang on – he's one of the Dunedain. Ah! Books are to confusing!::
He walked away. Legolas made to after him, but Gimli stopped him.
Gimli: Let him go, lad. Let him be.
Keikæ: Scheisse.
Gimli gave me a confused look.
Keikæ: Dritt, Shit, crap, whatever you want to call it, capish?
With nowhere else to go, I followed Aragorn, to the armoury. Villagers were handed their weapons. An oversized helmet was placed on a wide-eyed boy. Another stared at the axe that he was handed with frightened eyes. Another child wearing oversized chain mail takes up a huge shield. I saw Théoden stand inside the main hall of the keep, his back to the entrance where a bright white light is streaming through.
Théoden: To whatever end... Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountains. Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west. Behind the hills, into shadow. How did it come to this?
::Because of ya damn pride.::
I found Aragorn is sitting on the steps.
Keikæ: You wanted to speak to me?
Aragorn: Yes. I wanted to say thank you.
::Why the hell would he want to say that? What the hell have I ever done for him?::
He answered the question himself.
Aragorn: For what you did. I don't think anyone else would throw themselves off a cliff simply to grab my hand and stop me from falling.
::I was not expecting that.::
Keikæ: Simply?
::What does he mean, simply? I ONLY tried to stop the future king of Gondor from falling off a cliff. In doing so, I could have killed him.::
Keikæ: Actually, I was just being plain stupid. Something I do quite a lot. Long and awkward silence. I get a feeling, that last line you said was meant to be in a different lingo.
Aragorn: Yes.
Keikæ: He'll come back. He'll apologise. Trust me.
Aragorn: I don't know who to trust... Another long and awkward silence. Keikæ?
Keikæ: Aye?
Aragorn: Your voice. It's changed, though it's no accent I've ever heard before.
Keikæ: Eh?! Oh! Yeah, this is my real voice. Sure, I spend half my life doing impressions of other people, and you've only heard my Jack Sparrow impression, but yes this is my real voice, if that makes any sense whatsoever which it probably doesn't....
Aragorn: I believe you've lost something.
At my confused look, he showed me Bex' hat and jammed it on my head, so it covered my eyes. He laughed.
Keikæ: Thanks.
He then took notice of a young lad in armour holding a sword looking around nervously.
Aragorn: Give me your sword. What is your name?
Haleth: Haleth, son of Háma, my lord. The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless..
::Hang on, wasn't Háma the one that was the first to be killed by a warg?::
Aragorn gave the battered sword a few swings, turned and was blocked by me. We staged a very slow, short fight.
Aragorn: This is a good sword, Haleth, son of Háma.
He handed the sword back to Haleth and leant close to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. I stood behind them, like some statue, speaking Aragorn's mind.
Keikæ: There is always hope.
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Back at the armoury, Aragorn put on his battle gear. I reached to hand him his sword but was beaten to it by Legolas. He nodded and accepted the sword from Legolas.
Legolas: We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair.
Aragorn: Ú-moe edhored, Legolas. [There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.]
They smile and clap one another on the shoulders. Aragorn looked over Legolas' shoulder at me. I winked. My attention then turned to Gimli as he walked up to them, struggling with his chain mail.
Gimli: If we had more time I'd get this adjusted. He dropped the bundle and the chain mail landed with its length right to the floor. It's a little tight across the chest.
It was difficult to not start laughing. So I grinned insanely instead. Aragorn and Legolas bit back smiles. Just then, a horn sounded in the background. I continued to grin.
Keikæ: That is no Orc horn.
We ran out to the battlements, passing guards looking down in wonderment.
Bereg: to another guard Send for the king. Open the gate!
Soldier: Open the gate!
Yep. You've guessed it. An army of Lothlórien Elves marched up the Causeway into the Hornburg, led by Haldir. The Rohirrim soldiers looked upon them in wonderment and delight as they passed.
::Hang on – that was the elf who I met at Lothlorien.::
Théoden: How is this possible?
Haldir: I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together. He looked up to see Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and I running down the steps, and smiled We come to honour that allegiance.
Aragorn: He bows Mae govannen, Haldir. [Welcome, Haldir]
He grabbed Haldir in a huge embrace. Initially stunned, Haldir hugged him back lightly.
Aragorn: You are most welcome!
I grinned. Again. Legolas and Haldir clasp each other on the shoulder. Haldir's gaze turned to me.
Keikæ: You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before? Ah. Bad move. Wrong line. I noticed something the split second after I said it. Yes, I had threatened him before. Sure, it was in the middle of Lothlorien with a fruit knife, but I had threatened him nevertheless. I didn't know what his reaction would be.
::O.o You and your big mouth, Keeks.::
Short and awkward silence.
Luckily for me, he smiled and took it as a joke.
Haldir: It is good to see you, Keikæ. Again. Turning to Théoden We are proud to fight alongside men, once more.
Good? Tha's one way of describing it.
Legolas took his place behind Haldir. I strolled along the line. All of them looked exactly the same to me. Except one.
Keikæ: Ilréthiel?
Ilréthiel: Couldn't resist mate!
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An even longer chapter! Blimey, this is turning into a habit! Yuh, I do have a thing about long/short awkward silences. Long, awkward silence Ok, well... you see that blue-purply colour kinda button? Yup, press it. A lil window will come up and you can tell me wot u think.
ASSBB!!
Kess ;P