Once Upon a Time in Middle Earth
Disclaimer-see prologue
Summary- What happens when three LOTR obssesives, a LOTR fan, an anti LOTRinger and her boyfriend get sent to middle earth. Well 3 of them join the Gondorian army and the 3 others are put to work as servants- for the moment! Please RandR
PG-13- for some minor swearing and kissing and stuff
It has been a while since I last updated but here is my next offering. Hope people like it!
Chapter 4
Jo and Rose had supposedly finished their work for the morning and had sloped off to explore the city. Both knowing it was made up of various levels they were walking down to see what each level had to offer.
Neither had any money and so were admiring the city and the many soldiers on duty. Both fitted the mould of a Gondorian citizen, being tall, with brown hair and grey eyes for Rose and black hair and green eyes for Jo. It was the length of their hair however that made people glance their way. The two girls had rather short hair, with Rose's reaching her chin and Jo's under her ear.
The two probably had less patience combined then any of the other girls (with the possible exception of Nell) and were becoming annoyed with the glances and whispers directed their way.
Jo was shooting death glares at anyone who was looking their way and Rose was scowling under her breath.
As they reached the lowest level they came to a large wooden gate with a square in front of it. The gate was open and a stream of horses were pouring through. Rose a keen horsewoman had been looking for evidence of a stable on her way down but had found nothing. Wondering where the horses would be stabled the girls began their assent following the soldiers.
Nell was stood outside one of the many ladies rooms and was eavesdropping on a conversation between a lady and her maid. She had been trying to find out all of the castle gossip and how she could use it to improve her station. This information gathering had led her to this particular room.
Rumour had it that this particular lady was displeased with her maid and searching for another. The rather loud conversation was about a dress which the maid had chosen for he lady to wear, one which they lady hated.
It didn't take long before the poor maid ran out in tears and Nell seized her opportunity with both hands.
Knocking she entered with clean towels in her arms. The lady had her back to her and Nell quickly put the towels away. On her way out she audibly muttered "What a horrendous dress".
The woman turned and looked at Nell. "That it is", the lady replied.
"If you don't mind me saying my lady, a more simple gown in blue to bring out your eyes would do much better", Nell offered.
The woman looked her over and replied with "You are right. What do you think about this necklace?"
So with very little effort Nell had become a ladies maid in only her second day of living in Middle Earth. She was inwardly smirking to herself all day and could not wait for lunch to lord her new status over Rose and Jo. She did however only briefly wonder where Stephen was.
Meanwhile over on the archery courts the other three were all standing round one target wating to be told when they could start shooting. Stephen was looking excited at this new challenge as he eyed the unstrung bow infront of him. To begin with they had been told they would start using recurve bows and would only move on to the more difficult longbow when they had mastered this one.
Anne on the other hand was feeling quitely confident as she listened to the speech by their training masters. Unknown to the others she had taken up archery over a year ago and so could use both the recurve and the long bow proficiently. However she was worried about the extra weight on these old bows and the lack of modern gadgets like sights.
She was also worrried about Stephen and Jess. Stephen looked as though he might explode with excitement at any given moment and Jess looked as though she was going to throw up. The fact was that they were expected to have a basic knowledge in archery as well as in their other activities and if they stood out to much they would probably get discovered and then who knew what could happen.
So as Taranca gave them the signal to string their bows Anne hissed to the others to copy her. As a credit to her teaching both did manage it although Jess was last out of everyone.
Assuming the correct position in Anne's case the three fitted an arrow, pulled back the string and released to watch their arrow fly. Anne's did to her relief hit the gold, which it should at the very short distance they were firing at. Stephen's arrow had hit the target but was in the red, he however was very pleased with himself and for his first attempt it was impressive that he did actually hit the target.
Jess's arrow however had hit a target and was even in the gold but it was however the target at the other end of the court. Taranca walked down the line of boys and assessed where each of their arrows landed. He seem pleased with their shots (even with Stephen) as nobody had gone outside the red. He was not however pleased with Jess.
"Where is your arrow?" He demanded to a visibly shaking Jess.
"Over there," Jess squeked pointing at the end target. Taranca scowled.
Walking back along the line he shouted "Everyone seems to have a basic but pleasing grasp on how to use a bow. Your position however needs work. When I say you will take aim and hold your position so that I can pass judgement on it and tell you exactly what you are doing wrong and how you can improve it. Everyone that is except blondie (who turned red and hung her head) who will go over to the spare target on the other side of the court and will learn how to use a bow without there being a danger to the rest of us. You (he said as he came to stand behind her) will work twice as hard to become as good as the rest of the group. My Lord Boromir will help you. Now go".
Jess who had visibly brightened at the thought of help from the rather attractive Lord Boromir moved quickly to the other target followed by the man himself.
Stephen and Anne watched her go with smiles written on their lips. Assuming their archery positions as Taranca instructed Stephen and Anne waited for him to pass comment. Waiting however proved difficult as the bow was heaving especially once the string was pulled back. Taranca however congratulated Anne on her exemplary position and told Stephen to keep his elbow up, bring the string right back to his lip and to widen his feet.
Archery carried on for another hour at least and Taranca had put Anne along with the seemingly perfect black haired boy shooting at a longer distance. Stephen was now hitting the gold and Jess was enjoying her quality time with Boromir.
Over with Anne and the black haired boy who were shooting at a longer distance, Anne couldn't help but notice how rather attractive he looked. The quick glances she sent his way were full of admiration for him and his archery technique. His glances however were not so friendly and a scowl became fixed upon his lips.
"So fatty", he hisssed to a shocked looking Anne, "what are you acually hoping to achieve by attempting this charade"
"I cannot think what you mean, and I would be grateful if you would call me by my name"
"But that is your name, isn't it fatty"
"No its not", Anne hissed back angrily, wondering now what she had thought was so good looking about him.
The boy just smirked back at her as Taranca walked over to the pair to assess their work and to Anne's pleasure to correct the black haired boys position. Throwing a smirk his way Anne shot her arrow straight in to the centre of the gold.
Boromir sighed in annoyance as Jess once again managed to miss the target.
"Look", he said his fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. "This should be a basic skill to you already and it is not difficult. Should you not have already learned how to use a bow?"
Jess looked up at him with big hazel puppy dog eyes and muttered "My father did not want me to go near one my Lord. He thought it would be too dangerous".
Avoiding looking at her Boromir sighed and repeated his instructions, once again.
Jess was trying her hardest to follow them but the thought of Boromir standing so close was distracting her. Closing her eyes and trying to focus on just the arrow and the target, she took aim and fired. A dull thwack sounded and a big smile appeared on her face.
"You did it" cried a shocked Boromir. "You actually managed to hit the target". Gathering himself together he said, "well try again. Let us us see if that was not just a fluke". When Jess hit the target again he looked like he could have hugged her.
Jess was thoroughly dissapointed when he didn't but continued to try and improve her aim.
Lunch time did indeed come too quickly for the three in the Gondorian army.
Jo and Rose had followed the soldiers round most of the first level until they had lost them. Being the lowest level it was also the widest and Jo was getting bored walking round looking for horses. She was also making this very plain to Rose who was very effectively ignoring her.
"For goodness sake Rose, just give up they are only horses"
"What do you mean only horses! Horses are the most noble and amazing animals. Besides it wont take a minute".
"You said that half an hour ago. Rose I'm tired and hungry and I'm sure we are missing lunch"
Rose ignored her and followed the road round to find a large stable with the soldiers and horses in it.
"Look I told you so"
"Ok, can we go back now?"
"Alright but we will have to come back and see the horses"
Yes Rose", Jo said humouring her.
Back in the citadel Nell was sitting at the ladies maid table and looking down on the other maids like her old friend Carla who was sending her evils. Nell was however dissapointed with the lack of Jo and Rose, who she knew would be severely annoyed that she was once again above them.
It was however especially enjoyable as the two girls walked in looking exhausted to see them look at her with their mouths open. Both looked disgusted as they went to go and sit down at a lower table to eat their food. Satisfied with her progress Nell leaned back to enjoy her food.
The ladies maid next to her was known as Bella and worked for Nells ladie's best friend. Nell had thought she had found a kindred spirit in Bella who had the same ambition and drive as she herself did. Bella also was something of a bitch and had access to all of the latest gossip.
Bella had noticed that one of the higher servants had taken rather an interest in Nell now she had become a ladies maid and especially because she had been promoted so quickly. The man kept glancing her way and Bella leaning over whispered this to the other girl.
Nell only taken aback for a second looked the mans way to find that Bella was correct and sent a smile back. Not even for a mili second did the fact that she already had Stephen cross her mind.
Stephen and Anne were digging in to their plates full of food while Jess sat picking at hers with a wistfull expression on her face.
The seemingly perfect black haired boy sat at the head of his table full friends and kept glancing at the isolated three. When he turned back to his friends each time he whispered something and they burst out laughing.
Anne was the only one who noticed this and when the boy picked up his tray and moved with his friends to sit at their table she sensed trouble.
"Well if it isn't the three most useless boys in the whole hall", he said sneering at them.
Jess and Stephen looked at the boy surprised whilst Anne rolled her eyes and muttered "Ignore him".
"Yes go on little boys ignore me", he sneered.
"Little boys", Stephen said angrily standing up to show his 6 foot frame. The other boy just smirked at him as he stood up and showed that he was indeed taller than Stephen at around 6 foot 2.
"I like what you've done to your hair, very uh attractive", he said as his friends laughed at Stephen's shaved head with only black stubble covering it. The other boy ran his fingers through his shoulder length midnight hair as he laughed.
