Dropped Into Where???

Disclaimer:

Cass: Since Em is going practically out of what little mind she has right now, I'll be nice and say that she's too poor to own anything affiliated with LotR. Yells offstage Em, disclaimers' done.

Me: from offstage Damn you! It was 'sposed to be a disclaimer, not an embarrassment!

Chapter 7: The City

We rode towards the gates of the city, but when we reached them we were stopped. Two guards stood next to the wooden framework, alert, and holding long spears. One, apparently the leader of the two, came up and looked us over.

He said something in a different language, then sighed. He began to speak in very rough... Westron, or English. He asked us what our business in Edoras was, then who we were and where we were from. Cassy and I answered alternatively and told basically our entire story, starting when we found the herd of horses.

When we had finished, he looked back at the other guard and raised his eyebrows. The other one shrugged his shoulders and gestured for us to ride forward.

The wooden gates creaked open bit by bit. We rode through, and came into a small square, with a road that stretched away in front of us, leading to Meduseld, which perched atop the hill.

As we road past, people stopped their business and watched us, looking at our willow bridles with contempt and our horses with amazement.

When we reached the Golden Hall, we were stopped and told to put down any weapons we might have. Cassy and I simply looked at each other and laughed. We were never even allowed within the vicinity of a weapon. And if our parents had anything to say about it, it would probably never happen.

Suddenly I got an elbow in the ribcage. I glanced at Cass, and she nodded toward the small pile of weapons already sitting by one of the guard's feet. Two long-swords, a bow and quiver, a few small throwing knives and a huge axe rested in a pile. I glanced back up at Cassy, and a slow smile started to creep over her face. Either she was thinking the same thing as me in that we had found the Fellowship (or rather, what was left of it), or she was considering stealing a sword. A very stupid thing to do, and yet a very Cassy thing to do. I grinned back, then shook my head.

The guards watched us and (most likely) tried to figure out what we were "communicating". Quite a funny picture I must admit.

We set our staffs down in the pile of other the Fellowship's weapons and walked towards the looming doors. Two of the guards pulled them open just as a shout of "His Staff! I told you to take the Wizard's staff!" came from the shadows near the throne. We ran in, and saw Grima trying to run out the open door, which we had stupidly left ajar.

"Get him!" I shouted to Cass over the melee. She nodded and threw herself (how she did it without her back splitting in half, I shall never know), and caught Wormtongue around the ankles. He fell, and Gimli ran over and placed his boot on Wormtongue's chest, muttering "I would be still if I were you."

The confrontation between "Theoden" and Gandalf began, with Theoden/Saruman losing eventually. Theoden really did become younger in the space of moments. It was a little unnerving to watch.

Later, after the two children had been seen and brought into the great hall, Aragorn and Gandalf took Cassy and I aside to question us. Theoden had said that he would speak with us after conferring with Freda and her brother.

"Where did you say you came from?" Gandalf asked for what seemed like the millionth time.

"California." I sighed. This was getting literally nowhere. We needed to find out what was going to happen to us, and soon.

"And where exactly is this 'California'?" Gandalf asked, also for the millionth time. Cass groaned in exasperation. We were just wasting the little time we had.

"Gandalf?" Cassy said nervously. "We have barely 13 days until... until Sauron strikes," she said, covering up for what would have been Until Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom. I shot her a thumbs up and mouthed nice save. She grinned shakily and continued. "We can't waste time worrying about where we're from. Em... Leodwyn and I can fight, if we have to."

What the...? Why on earth is she using my Rohirric name? Unless she wants them to think that we're Rohirrim! But why? We don't look Rohirric! Neither of us has blue eyes, let alone blonde hair! I wondered.

"Ca... Lathwen, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"O... k..." she muttered.

"Dude, what the hell was that about?" I asked once we were out of earshot of the others. "Why did you use the names that I got off the Internet?"

"Because they don't believe that we aren't, like, Gondorans that ran away to Rohan or something like that," she commented dryly. "We need to pretend that we're... different. Not that hard for us, is it?" She smirked.

"Dude, that's really not funny. And because you 'informed' them that we were Rohirrim, they know we can ride, and they need messengers. That and you just told them that we can fight. We can fight hand-to-hand. Neither of us has any sword training, and that's the kind of fighting there's going to be. I'm an archer, so I might be useful, and you're a... a singer. Ok, that's really helpful, and since you got us into this shitload of trouble, you're getting us out!" I yelled the last line.

"What on earth?" A blonde head poked out of a nearby doorway.

"Shit," I gritted from between my teeth. I turned to her. "Lady Eowyn?" I queried.

"Yes..." she responded, still not knowing who I was.

"Apologies, my lady," I began, knowing that I was going to have to hit myself over the head a thousand times after this. But then, Cassy would probably take care of that. "My companion here was being an idiot, and I was getting slightly fed up with her stupid actions. Next time I will try to stay away from this general area when I reprimand her." I bowed and began to walk backward, dragging Cassy with me.

A/N: Don't you just hate it when that happens? You get so far in a chapter then boom! You can't think of anything else. I'll type it up when it comes to me (unless it's one of those ideas that goes in one ear and out the other).

Rosie: You finally got on the Internet! Thanks for reviewing!!! And no, it's not normal horse behavior, but who cares?

Ladyof Rivendell: Fellowships here!

Puka-Shells: There, happy Cass, I finally updated! Now you get to!

SpiderSquirrel: Thanks.

I have black hair and brown eyes, and Cassy has brown hair and hazel eyes, so there is no way that we could be mistaken for Rohirrim.