A/N: Sorry it's been a while. 2 holidays with 2 days in between.Short chapter I'm afraid, but I didn't have alot of time to type up alot. Anywho, enjoy.

elvenstorm: Yeah me too, though I kinda don't know why.

Thank you Jupiter's Light for your... er... interesting review.

xkuroxshinobix: 'Cos she was getting annoying and had nothing to do with the storyline.

Ta Moralinde! OC? Orange County? Argh! Need Coffee!

Allasea2: O yeah, forgot about that. Ah well, I can make it fit nicely into the storyline.... Haha GO ME!! Thanx

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Chapter 25 - Words of the Wise

At that, the meeting ended, and I dragged Bex off to attempt to find out what had happened to him.

"Ok, so everything went according to plan?" I asked Bex, hoping the answer would be yes.

"Well, ont exactly."

I gave Bexa look that clearly said: 'Tell me or I'll eat you.'

"ok, well Steward headcase did eventually die, and yes he did burn himself, though not exactly in the way I think should have happened."

"Go on." I said. Bex took a deep breath.

"Ok, well I Saved the Robin Hood Dude by shoving him off the fire, then Shadowfax kicked Denney's ass and he came off the fire too then Pippin and I then left for a time for Gandalf to deal with the psychopath but I came back to see if the wizard was still alive and found he was absolutely fine, but Denney was sulking in a corner so I offered him a cigarette and he said yes, though I don't think he knew what it was, then I lit it for him and he choked on it and everything went pear shaped and he ended up setting fire to himself 'cause he was still drenched I oil and he went psycho and jumped off the roof and I pretended I had nothing to do with it and I am really really sorry." Bex concluded.

"Ok, now you can breathe." I said. "Hang on - you don't smoke."

"I know."

"Then why were you carrying cigarettes?"

"Good question. I'll tell you the answer once I find out."

"No, I mean how did you get them?"

"Laila gave them to me."

"But Laila doesn't smoke either." I said. Bex tried focusing on the floor. Very uninteresting. "Doesn't she?"

"Well, she gave up for a time, but she knew you wouldn't like it, so she kinda smoked when you weren't around."

I sighed. It made a lot of sense and explained strange things that had happened back home. "One of the many secrets of Laila. Most which I'll never find out." I muttered to myself.

"I wish she was here, Keeks. It would make things so much easier."

I stayed silent.

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Some time later, Bex found Keikæ in her room, staring into space.

"Knock knock? Anybody home?" Bex asked.

"Yeah." I said absent-mindedly.

"What's up Keeks? You never lock yourself away unless you're sad or depressed."

"Damn. You know me too well." I said.

"Well then, what is it?"

"I can't go. I can't go to the last battle." I said quietly.

"Tha's a bummer."

"Yeah. I can't walk the distance and even if I could ride there, I wouldn't be able to fight on foot easily."

"Hell. I'm sorry Keikæ, I really am."

"I know." Short uncomfortable silence. Stare into space and look stupid.

I started thinking of Laila. Why had she gone? Why wasn't it Éowyn and Merry that destroyed the Witch-King? I sat bolt upright as I remembered something else.

"Éowyn can't go to the Black Gates." I said suddenly.

"What?"

"She can't go. In the books, as far as I can remember, the whole point of her defeating freaky dude was so that she would get injured, stay in Minas Tirith, and get to know the Son of Mister Psychopath."

I took a while for Bex to take this in. After a few seconds something clicked and her eyes widened as she finally got it.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh. We have to find her."

Bex pulled me upright and made for the door. It swung open and she came face to face with Éowyn, who had her hand raised, as if she was about to knock.

"Oh look - I've found her Keikæ!"

"Blonde Brain." I muttered to myself.

"Hello?" Éowyn started, "Sorry have I interrupted something?"

After a number of reassuring 'No's from Bex and I we invited her in.

"Keikæ, I know you want to go to war. Either for revenge or your friendship with Bex or another reason that I do not know, it is obvious and I do not think anyone has the right to stop you. Seeing you, seeing your friendship with Laila and Bex, it has made me realise what I really want from life. I simply want to be happy, free, to be healed, and going into battle would now do nothing for me. I admired Laila for her courage and for her unbreakable friendship with you two, and I think you should go to war if that is what you really want."

Short silence. Feel uncomfortable. Don't know what to say.

"Wow nice speech." Bex said.

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

"But what I really wanted to ask you," Éowyn continued, "Is if you would want to go instead of me."

I was lost for words. So instead I Hugged her, whispering: "You are the best."

Éowyn looked slightly surprised at first, but smiled.

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A/N: Yup, Short one peeps. Next chapter will be out much sooner as I'm going back to school and will have more time to type stuff up.

assbb