AN: Hey all, Bantam here! This is my very first fan fic posted here, and the very first fan fic I've written about the Dark Tower. It's been awhile since I've read the first five books, and I'm in the middle of book 7 (my boyfriend stoles it from me and I can't finish it yet! grr) so bear with me if I get things wrong. Don't get too dissapointed if I don't protray the characters right, please, I'm new at this sort of writing. Also, the fic isn't finished as of yet. I want to take my time with it so as to try NOT to dissappoint DT fans too bad. Please read and give me constructive criticism! BTW, the italic writing at the bottom is directly quoted from The Dark Tower IV, Wizard and Glass pg. 161. If this is not allowed, please let me know.

-Bantam

The chimes, the bells, they echoed all around, never ceasing never stopping as he slept upon the ground ...

Had he been able to, Eddie Dean would've groaned. His thoughts were a jumble as he floated through the realm of todash, and just as he felt he could bear it no longer ... they stopped. The young man stood hesitantly, and shook his head to clear his thoughts. Where was this place?

All around him were trees, trees of a type he'd not seen before. He was in a forest somewhere, that's all the former junkie could discern, yet there seemed to be a familiar ... feeling ... to this place. Rubbing his slightly aching head he began to walk forward, where else was there to go? Birds absently chirped in the tree tops, the wind played a soft melody in the tree branches high above, and all Eddie could think was "Where the fuck am I?".

Last thing he knew he'd been sitting by the fire as the others slept, keeping a steady vigil over his companions till it was his turn to sleep.

"Way to go Eddie Dean, ya fell asleep didn't cha?" He muttered to himself.

A fist swung around to collide with the trunk of the nearest tree as he vented his anger. The sage and eminent junkie was only proving himself right once more. Can't do something as simple as staying awake could ya? Cute wittle Eddie had to take a nappie, playing wif his wittle wanger just tired him out. Thinking about that nigger bitch when you were given it a pull, weren't ya? Eddie's eyebrows furrowed together in fury as the voice echoed through his head, and he shoved the heels of his hands hard against his temples as he tried to chase Henry's voice away. Was this why he'd been sent here? To be tormented in private by his dead older brother? A bitter laugh escaped him then, perhaps he still had a monkey on his back, and it wasn't his addiction anymore.

It seemed his brother's taunts had left him, for now, and Eddie took another chance to look at his surroundings. Again there was that feeling of familiarity, like he'd been there before. Of course, logically he knew he'd never been to this damned forest, but it still did not chase away his intuition.

Love, o love, o careless love,
Can't you see what careless love has done?

Eddie snapped around as the sweet notes of the song carried to his ears and his hand whipped to the empty belt at his waist, fingers searching for the gun that wasn't there. His muscles were tense as he crouched, ready to leap out of the way should anything attack.

After a few moments, he shook his head once more. Perhaps it was just his head playing tricks on him? He felt a bit stupid as he stood up, and ran a hand through his tousled, greasy hair. One didn't get many chances to take a shower when chasing after the Dark Tower, no siree can we say thankya.

It was not merely the fact that he was surprised to go todash without warning, but the question of why it had taken him here. Ka. That's what old tall dark and ugly would've said. Ka-ka. A small grin came unbidden at the thought. But still, why here and not some when in New York? Why not to some place where people drank Nozz-o-la and drove Takuro Spirits, some place that was just simply nineteen?

Oh enough of this Eddie, you sound like one ah those dumb broads from the television shows. Why? Why me? For cryin' out loud, yer a gunslinger! Or so you'd like to think. What would Roland do? Heh, it sounded like on of those cheesy bracelets people used to wear, WWJD; What Would Jesus Do? Screw Jesus, WWRD, Roland's the only god he knew now, Roland and his Gan ... and ka.

Up ahead, just then, he caught sight of a flash of white, and the sound of someone humming teased his hearing as Eddie wandered further up the path. His head cried out danger, that it could be a trap, yet Eddie pushed onward. It was his gut that he listened to, and he had a gut feeling that there was something important up ahead. Carefully he placed his feet, trying his best not make a sound on the dry twigs, though he was near positive none could hear or see him even if he were to dance a commala in a tutu before their very eyes.

Nineteen. Nineteen steps and he had been brought to a clearing were a small wooden cabin sat tiredly, as if it was just ready and waiting to go to the clearing at the end of the path, may it do ya fine. Eddie then saw what it was that glinted ivory white in the sparse overhead sunlight. It was the gaping skull of some birdlike creature, seeming to grin wickedly at him as it hung from its perch on a tree branch. Nearby was a horse, content to munch away at the same section of grass, and from within the cabin came the humming.

There was a tingle at the back of his head as he took in what seemed to be a peaceful scene, the tingle alerting him to exactly where ... when he was. He took a deep breath and began walking towards the cabin and the merry tune drifting from within. As he came closer, the horse pulled up its head, its ears laying flat against its skull. Nervously it shifted its weight and looked towards the spot where Eddie stood, now frozen. The steed whickered in fear as it began to back away from Eddie, and at this sound of fright the humming stopped, replaced by a light, teasing voice.

"What is the matter with ya Glue Boy?"

Glue Boy? The horse whinnied rather shrilly as its eyes stayed firmly upon Eddie, or so it seemed. The horse couldn't really see him, could it?

"Fie, ye damned horse!"

Eddie watched the door of the cabin as he heard some steps approach the front door of the cabin.

"... a dark shape stepped out from behind the tree where it had been keeping. Halfway across the clearing, it resolved itself into a tall, narrow-hipped boy who was barefooted below his jeans and barechested above them. In one hand he held an enormous antique revolver- a kind which was sometimes ..."