William of the Rohirrim
Chapter Three
Will woke the next morning to complete silence. The air around him was chilled with morning. He was sleeping on a mat on the floor with many blankets covering him. Surrounding him lay many men, many whom had passed out from the previous nights drinking.
'They'll regret it later.' Will thought, knowing what Eomer had told him about leaving the next day before noon.
He threw the blankets off of himself, and then stood up and stretched. Light had already begun to pour in through the eastern window. Moving through the maze of sleeping men, Will saw two beds that were empty.
Continuing his walk to the bathroom, (or the top of a hole dug into the ground that happened to be inside four walls) Will spotted Gandalf the White, along with another man he did not know who had dark, shoulder length hair and a shabby appearance. speaking near another the window closest to the latrines. When they heard his movement, they quickly stopped their talking and turned to look at him.
"Sorry to disturb you," he quickly said, before slipping in to relieve himself.
As soon as he'd shut the door, he heard murmuring from the two men begin again, and was even lucky enough to hear a few words…
"That's the boy Eomer was talking about," spoke the voice of an old man, who could only be Gandalf.
"How can you tell?" The next voice sounded concerned, yet authoritive.
"Did you not see his dress? I have never seen anyone on this side of Middle-Earth dressed in such garb. He is a danger to all that we have lived for- all that we could accomplish. He must be sent North."
"I understand where you're coming from, Gandalf, I really do, but send him North? He will not find good company in the North until he reached the Shire, and he does not even know his way from here to Edoras. Eomer has already taken him under his wing. The mere fact that he fought with the Rohirrim has done enough to gain Eomer's trust. King Theoden may not see him the same, but Eomer has of late been making most decisions, and they have not been made ill. When Eomer spoke to me of this boy, he told me there was something around him that made him trustworthy without even a word spoken. I see where he comes from now. I cannot place my finger on it but-"
Will opened the door to the latrine and turned to walk back to bed, despite the fact that he was eager to hear what this man thought of him at only first sight.
"William, please wait."
Will stopped in his tracks before turning around. What could Gandalf want with him? He was nothing more then a crazy person who could turn this world upside down with a few words. But at the present moment, no one knew that. But his mind went back to the two men's words. They wanted to send him North, or at least Gandalf did, to get him out of the way, possibly stop him from causing any trouble.
Getting a longer glance at the man next to Gandalf, he now realized who this must be. Aragorn. No other man would speak with such wisdom yet dress at terribly as he did.
"I know you heard what we spoke a few moments ago, and beyond any doubt, it had affected you."
"Well, hearing I'm about to be shipped North for something I have never thought of doing, nor ever plan on doing has affected me."
"William-"
"Please," he said exaspertly, "Just Will."
"Alright, Will, there are many reasons on how I know where you are from, and what you know. Aragorn here," he gestured to his right, "Knows nothing more then the fact that you know the outcome to this war. And I have vowed to tell no one else know of your secret, lest they be tempted to ask you about it."
"I have promised my self also to tell no one. It's way too much of a danger to every soul here if I told it to even you."
"That I know." Gandalf grinned, before asking Aragorn to leave them both in private. "Will, if you are to stay in Rohan and keep your secret quiet, realize this; you will have to act as any other man of Rohan. You will be expected to fight when called upon, and to act in the duty of all others. You are no longer in a world controlled by politics, but of war. Are you still willing to keep your secret safe and remain here?"
Will didn't know what to think. Back home, he had admitted to himself that he didn't seem to belong, that it wasn't just the misunderstood teenager thing, but a real fact that he was not like anyone else, and no one ever seemed to understand where he came from on anything.
Yet within two days of being in Rohan, Eomer seemed to trust him without question. He had said that for some unknown reason, he liked and trusted Will, and hadn't Aragorn just said the exact same thing? What was it about him, Will, that was so special?
And then there was the fact that he was in Middle Earth. He thought back to all those stories he'd read- they'd all went crazy before acceptance- Will just took it for what it was, no questions asked. What if this was just a dream? None the less, he'd remain here anyway.
"I'll stay."
Gandalf's lips turned up slightly in a grin, and he spoke on last time, "Ride with the Rohirrim to Edoras. And from there you decide you own path."
And with that, the old wizard turned, and departed.
Will stood there for a moment. What the fuck was he doing? He was likely to be killed in this world, and didn't they say that if you died in dreams then you would die with in a day or something?
Despite all this, Will went back to where he'd been sleeping, rolled up the blankets, and walked out to what he believed was the eating hall.
In the movies, Helm's Deep always looked sort of grimy and grungy. Now, it is true that the city takes age, but it still holds beauty. As Will and the rest of the Rohirrim left the city to travel to Edoras, he realized he would miss it, for what ever reason. But when he reached Edoras, he would find beauty and love there that was beyond all he could ever imagine at Helm's Deep.