Hey, I've also got 50 reviews! Woohoo, go me! It took me so long with Hope in the Darkness to get this far, and for the sequel I only had 3 chapters posted.
AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!! I just got back from the Evanescence concert in Sydney. Worth the 3km wait in line to go inside. My friend and I had no pity for those who came at about 7:00pm when the concert started at 7:30, only to find that the line weaved around and behind buildings from the concert hall, around the corner, past the gate behind three buildings, past the SCG where Australia was playing Zimbabwe, and all the way past the hall again, finishing somewhere out the front of Fox Studios. A grand total of roughly 9km by the end, I swear. And this is only Evanescence. The concert was sold out and we stood in that line with our pre-booked reserve tickets, best seats in the place, to watch the most awesome concert ever!!! My ears are still ringing!
Finally, I get this posted. Have you any idea the grief I've been suffering trying to fix this chapter. It kept getting too annoying for me! I was saying to myself, why is Éowyn running again? That never happens! So here it is, and hopefully not as annoying.
Disclaimer: I'm proud to say that this story line is mine. The characters and places are Tolkien's creation. I already tried to nab them. Didn't work.
Chapter 4: Race to the CitadelÉowyn and Windfola raced across the Pelennor Fields and turned towards the city. She was eager to see her dear friend again and to visit Osgiliath, for she had never seen it. Since the War of the Ring, the city had been rebuilt as it had been once long ago. The mark of Mordor had gone now, and the city stood proud again under the rule of the Steward, Faramir.
How she desired to talk with him again. She recalled the long conversations during their recovery in the Houses of Healing. He would tell her about his life as Captain of Gondor and his travels through Ithilien while she would speak of happier days in Rohan with her family. Both Faramir and Éowyn had dark pasts, which they longed to forget. Both had borne the burdens that came with it. And each offered strength for the other that could not be found elsewhere. Éowyn prayed that she would find him within the walls of Osgiliath, at the court of the Steward.
Where might he have gone? Why was he not here in the city? Aragorn searched the court of the Steward for Faramir. He was not at Osgiliath. Aragorn passed outside, and walked up to one of the guards positioned at the doors of the court.
"My liege," said the guard hastily, bowing before the King.
"I seek the Steward Faramir," said Aragorn. "Where might he have gone?"
"He rode from the city yesterday, my liege," said the guard. "He has gone to Ithilien."
"Do you know when he will return?" asked Aragorn.
"No, my liege," said the guard. "He did not say."
"When he returns," said Aragorn. "Would you tell him that King Elessar requests an audience with him at the High Court of Gondor."
"Yes, my liege," said the guard, bowing again.
Aragorn walked down the steps and mounted Roheryn to ride back to Minas Tirith. He crossed the bridge and passed through the gates, galloping down the road to the capital. The clouds were gathering overhead. It had grown dark. The skies threatened a storm, but it never came. A cold wind blew across the grasses of the Pelennor Fields. Aragorn shivered slightly, pulling his cloak tighter around himself with one hand. They had not been riding long before a figure appeared on the road in front of him.
Éowyn watched the storm clouds roll across the sky, obscuring the sun. The winds disturbed the grass along the side of the road and throughout the plains. Her hair whipped across her face as another gust of wind came. She spotted the rider ahead of her, riding from the city of Osgiliath. He did not seem to see her at first, but then he stopped.
He had noticed her. Éowyn pulled Windfola to a halt to make out who this rider was. As she looked, she recognised the royal robes of Gondor, the White Tree and the Seven Stars emblazoned on them, the sword at his belt.
It was Aragorn. She froze, unable to move. She had to escape. She turned Windfola sharply back the way they had just come, and set off at high speed. She refused to look back at him as she raced for the city.
Aragorn watched as the Éowyn began to gallop away back to Minas Tirith. He followed her swiftly. He wasn't going to loose her again. The two riders sped across the plains, Éowyn ahead, followed by Aragorn coming close behind her. Windfola gave a burst of speed to break away a little from Roheryn. Éowyn began a series of darts in and out of the grass, in an attempt to put off Aragorn. It failed. Aragorn remained fixed on her tail.
Éowyn tried desperately to think of a way to escape. She saw the walls of the White City looming and made for the gates. Aragorn followed close behind, speeding up as they approached. Suddenly, Éowyn directed Windfola quickly away from the road and set off through the grasses and across the Pelennor Fields.
Aragorn had to pull Roheryn to a halt just before the gates. Éowyn's move had caught him off-guard and he was forced to stop. He turned Roheryn to follow Éowyn and gave chase again.
Éowyn saw that her plan had not quite gone as expected. This break was supposed to put Aragorn off, but instead, it had encouraged him further and made him more persistent. He was gaining on her now, only metres away from her. Roheryn was not tiring, but Windfola was. He had not yet had time to recover from the five-day ride to Minas Tirith and had only been allowed a day to rest before now.
"I am sorry to put you through this, my friend," Éowyn whispered to him. "But I cannot stay here. I must return home and escape this place."
Windfola whinnied softly.
Roheryn had gained on them, and was now almost side-by-side with Éowyn and Windfola. Éowyn was in a panic and Aragorn drew Roheryn up beside her. He called out.
"Éowyn," he shouted. "Éowyn, stop! I will not allow you to keep running from me."
Éowyn did not answer but tried to push Windfola to ride faster, despite her murmuring apologies to him. Aragorn cut across their path to force her to a halt. Éowyn attempted to ride around him, but he only blocked her path.
"Éowyn, listen to me!" he shouted. "Why are you doing this?"
"Why am I doing this?" she yelled in disbelief. "Why do you think I am doing this, Aragorn?" She glared fiercely at him, her eyes blazing with such fury, as he had never seen.
"You left because I refused you answers," he said. "Your pride was wounded because I would not let you fight, and I would not give you my reasons. I forced you to stay away from the battle. That is why you ran and left without saying goodbye. To travel the lands of Middle Earth until you were ready to face me again. Your wounds forced you back to this city and you did not return in glory. That is why you seek solitude away from the city, is it not?" he yelled.
Éowyn ignored him and dismounted, storming off across the Pelennor. Aragorn, too, dismounted and hurried after her. Éowyn broke into a run, struggling to escape him. Aragorn chased her and seized her arm to stop her. Éowyn spun around wildly and brought a hand to his face, slapping him hard.
Aragorn felt the sting of the blow on his left cheek as Éowyn withdrew her hand from his face. He stood in silence, trying to avoid Éowyn's eyes. Éowyn said nothing to him but continued to glare fiercely at him.
"How dare you," she whispered.
There was a combination of sadness, confusion and pity in the gaze that stared back at Éowyn; all anger and resentment dissolved. For it was then that Aragorn saw, within her eyes, the pain she felt and suffered. Pain he had never known she bore. Pain she had kept hidden for all this time.
Suddenly, Éowyn stopped, her eyes flickering. She began to fall; fall backwards and downwards. Aragorn stepped forward, catching her in his arms.
She had fainted.
The bandage on her side was soaked with fresh blood.
Aragorn lifted her into Roheryn's saddle and took hold of Windfola's bridle, tying it to Roheryn's. He mounted his horse and proceeded to ride with both horses back to the city of Minas Tirith and up to the Houses of Healing.
Éowyn awoke to find herself in a familiar surrounding. She was back in the Houses of Healing. She could not recall how she came to be here, only remembered fading into black, falling forever. Aragorn had no doubt brought her here, and she guessed also that he had made sure the healers did not let her go.
The rage was building up inside her once more. Rage against Aragorn's restraints. Why was he doing this to her when he knew that her only wish was to be free. To be independent. To do as she would, and live as she pleased.
She sat up in her bed and stared out of the window and over the gardens. It was a beautiful sight to be sure, but she was a prisoner here once more, held against her will.
She was caged.
A/N: Well, what about that for a chapter? It had it all; excitement, adventure, surprise, angst, secrets revealed, a little bit of romance, and, of course, A HORSE CHASE! YAY! Sigh Finally I've finished the chapter. It took forever. Good news, I have the next ones ready. Not quite finished (and lets hope I don't have the same problems with these as I did with this one), but close, and hopefully better planned. They make more sense than this one anyway, and aren't quite so irritating (I have a habit of that). Now, to thank some people:
Rosa Cotton – I know, sometimes I have that trouble with reviewing too. Like when I tried to send an anonymous review and had already sent a signed one. It wouldn't allow it. So I hope you liked this little treat of a chapter. Just wait for the next one.
anfieldgyul – Don't feel bad about being late reviewing. I was with your story (I swear I said that in my review too). Éowyn won't die in this story, I promise you that now. HEAR ME! ÉOWYN WILL LIVE!!! Lol. And no, there will be no more sequels after this. So whatever goes at the end, goes. More Leggy/Gimli and Leggy/Éowyn friendship to come! Hope you liked this chapter.
TheOneAndOnlyElbereth – Yes, I did cry when I heard it, but I was lucky that I had the soundtrack. When I saw it, though, it just made it worse. I was almost bawling. I'm so happy you liked Éowyn's line to Leggy. I'm rather fond of it myself (meaning I've been quoting it frequently to my sister and I think she's dying to beat me over the head, lol).
Aurdomiel, Ravenstar – I was going to have Legolas and Gimli realise that she was there, but then I changed it, and just made Legolas suspicious. I had to have that little conversation of theirs with no one else. This chapter has answered your questions, I hope. Watch out for the next one.
yagirl-123 – Well, she hasn't escaped at least this time. You can bet she'll try to run again (I'm getting so sick of this). Oh well, hope you liked it.
Lyggy – Faramir won't get Éowyn, but he won't be lonely forever. I couldn't bear to see him like that. I needed more of Éomer in the story, as he is Éowyn's loving big brother cough j/k. He'll be back soon for more wisdom. Gandalf, too, will be back, and the hobbits. They haven't left for the Grey Havens yet. Can't wait to read the next chapter of 'Pains in the Heart'.
Calleigh – Warning, you will want to beat both characters over the head soon. Their behaviour is getting annoying for even me. And I'm the one writing it. But that's just the way they are. I can't seem to work around Éowyn's stubbornness or Aragorn's for that matter. He always has to be right, and she wants to be independent. They need to sort it out for themselves. (OMG, I sound like a marriage counsellor. Repeats to self these are not real people, and they are not married).
Necole – Well, they didn't meet in the city. But that would be boring. I had an urge to write a chase scene. Something that all good stories must have (and the first one was lacking, oh well). Go the role-reversal! These two are so similar that it fit anyway. I don't like to change characters much, as you know. Hope you liked this chapter.
i cant find the snitch – I know he's irritating. God, sometimes I feel like slapping him myself. That's why Éowyn did. I think in knocked some sense into him. I'm trying to get people to think better of Aragorn. He isn't dim or dumb. He just doesn't understand what Éowyn's going through because she's so secretive. But it's clicked now.
The Dark Wanderer – Yay! No complaints so far about Leggy/Éowyn friendship. Aragorn is slow, yes. I wanted to give him a motor to speed him up, but it didn't quite fit in his head or the story. More angst, definitely. Makes for an interesting ride.
Kiki – Apologies, but no. Arwen will not die in this story (I hate her and Aragorn, and I have no idea why, but she's beginning to grow on me a little………nope, just my imagination, lol). Anyway, where would the fun be in that? She can watch Aragorn make a new and happier life with the woman who stole her fiancée's heart. And she can be bitter and lonely forever!!! Hehehehehe, I'm so cruel.
Emerald Crow – Thank you very much. I have noticed the lack of good Aragorn/Éowyn stories on FF.net. This story will not be as long as the first. I'm estimating about 18 chapters max, but knowing me, that will probably change (meaning less, but longer; very unlikely more). I hope this chapter was a bit more interesting and exciting than you expected. I like to keep my readers on their toes, and the edge of their seats (I don't know if I succeed, but I try). Enjoy the rest.
sora-dragon – I'm getting a lot of people reading the first story now. Why couldn't I have posted the sequel first!?! I would have had more reviews! Lol. Commendations to you as well. You read my story (and liked it, shock horror). My best friend hasn't finished it yet, but I know why. She's not a huge fan of angst. I'm glad you like the Legolas/Éowyn friendship. I think it's sweet and I always wanted them to be friends. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
SPECIAL AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I have entered my final year of high school and, as people of NSW Australia will tell you, this means a hell of a lot of work. Please excuse me if I don't update frequently. I might have a final chapter for you all soon-ish, before I go on my work break (oxymoron there), but don't get excited. Apologies for this, but it's not my fault. If I had it my way, I'd write forever. But things don't happen like that. I expect to post a few chapters slowly over the next 9 months before I return fully with more ideas than ever. There will be a writing spree of 2 months to make up for delays! There's something to look forward to. I will still be receiving e-mails, but no demands for new chapters.
Farewell for a time, my friends, and see you all when I return for visits between now and October,
Lisa