Well it's finally here. I'm terribly sorry! But school work does come first. My teachers decided that they should all assign big projects before spring break, so by the time I got done typing every night I was too tired to do much else on the computer. I know, you guys don't want to hear my excuses, so on with the story right? I'm on spring break now, so if all goes well we might have another chapter in the week : crosses fingers : Enjoy!
What We Do With It
Chapter Six
'Okay, girl, you can do this. One…two…three!'
Crysta lifted an exceptionally heavy piece of wood, and placed in next to her small pile of lumber. She had cleared away the remains of the destroyed house, simple moving the pile further down the hill since she didn't know what to do with it. She was currently scavenging the town for stray pieces of lumber. Fatigue, thirst, and blistered hands weren't going to stop her…yet anyways.
"What are you doing girl?"
Looking up Crysta saw man standing across the path. He was no different from anyone else in the town, but he was the first one to bother talking to her. However she knew he was just here to poke fun at her, and she wasn't in the best of moods.
Trying her best to be polite, she answered, "I'm moving lumber, sir."
"Well, I can see that girl!"
"Then why did you ask if you already knew?"
"Don't fool with me wench!"
"I'm sorry sir." Crysta truly was sorry; she didn't know what came over her to make her snap back like that. Back home it would be different, but here…everything was different here.
"You're wasting your time," he said in a low menacing voice, "there is no hope left in this city." With that said he waited for an answer, mocking her, though he expected none.
"There's no hope, simply because you don't want there to be any."
With that said, the man turned with a huff and walked away, leaving Crysta to her work.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Shhh, hush love, we don't want them to hear us."
Eowyn gentle stroked the frightened mare, though she couldn't blame the horse. In her desperate state, Eowyn had snuck to the back of the stable, and after arranging some stray barrels and crated into a type of tower, had climbed through the small window and the top of the structure. Unfortunately Eowyn had not taken into account the drop after climbing through the window.
And the damn horse wouldn't calm down.
"Eh, who goes there?"
Eowyn didn't bother looking in the direction from which the voice came. She scrambled to find a place to hide herself. It couldn't be in any stall, the horses would make it obvious she was there. Frantically searching, she had to settle for the only place near her as she heard to door screech open, in the bags of feed
Eowyn had just enough of a gap to see the guard that had stopped her the previous night. He walked over to the distraught mare and tried to comfort her.
"Come down gal, no one here is wanting to harm you." Eowyn had never heard the guards speak like this. Whenever she was around, they were much more proper and dignified. She liked this perspective of the guard much better. He seemed easier to relate to.
"Well no wonder you're all in a fuss! You haven't been fed today have you? Well, we'll just have to fix that now wont we?"
Eowyn changed her mind and decided she like the proper guard who always asked for permission before doing something.
The guard walked over and picked up a bag of grains near Eowyn. If he had looked over towards the food from the stall, he would have clearly seen her. But Eowyn knew if she moved it was much more likely she would be discovered.
"There ya go. We'll have to make sure that doesn't happen again, now won't we?" Then, absent-mindedly, he threw the bag of grains back into the rest of the pile, successfully hitting Eowyn's exposed arm. She covered her mouth with her other hand to cover a small yelp that escaped form her.
It was not completely unheard though. The guard paused in his steps, but only briefly, and soon continued on his was out of the stables.
Sighing in relief, Eowyn scrambled out of the feed, and after brushing her now content mare, climbed back out of the stable, this time by climbing on the side of a stall and carefully swinging herself up to the window. It took her a few tries, but she eventually managed it. She was dusting her dress so as to appear presentable and "Lady-like" when she happened to gaze upon the spot of the fire. Instead of seeing the pile of rubble as expected, she saw a nicely cleaned area. And then she saw Crysta dragging scraps of lumber to for a pile.
Eowyn decided it best to go check on Crysta to make sure the poor girl didn't do anything too rash. As she came closer, she noticed the sweat dripping from Crysta's brow and her blistered hands. "Perhaps you should come back with me for a mid day meal."
Unfortunately, Crysta did not notice Eowyn approaching, and so when she was spoken to she dropped the wood in her hands out of pure shock. And the large piece landed right on her toes.
"My apologies! I didn't realize I would startle you! Are you alright?" Eowyn felt terrible, but Crysta's face did cause her to grin, if only a little. The teen was trying keep from screaming out while still trying to respond to Eowyn.
"I'm fine," Crysta gasped out. In all truth it didn't hurt awfully, the pain would die down within the next minute. It was the initial shock of pain she was trying to over come. "Really…it'll pass, soon, maybe."
Eowyn smiled. But that smile soon dispersed when an apple flew across her shoulder. Both women turned to see a few men glaring at the pair. The men shouted i a language Crysta didn't understand, but she was positive the comments were not proper. Another apple came there way, this time hitting Eowyn on the arm. The shield-maiden winced slightly and that was good enough for the men. They started further up the hill talking boastfully to each other.
Eowyn turned away looking dejected. She didn't mean for things to turn out the way they did. She loved her city…well, more the memory of what it used to be. Crysta noticed the melancholy look, and decided Eowyn could use some cheering up. She was always the one to be bright and cheerful for her sister, no matter what Crysta felt herself. And even though Crysta felt like murdering at that moment, she decided to think before acting.
"Well, those men were very nice," Crysta began causing Eowyn to look up in confusion, "I mean, look what we've got here!" Crysta bent down to pick up one of the fallen apples. She dusted it off with the loose cloth of her borrowed dress. "Ripe apples…and two of them! I think we have a nice mid day meal right here courtesy of them, wouldn't you say?"
Eowyn couldn't help but let a smile escape as Crysta picked up the second apple and dusted that one off as well. "And look here! That lumber you caused me to drop out of my hands will make a fine bench, don't you think?"
Eowyn let out a small chuckle at this. This girl tried so hard to be bright and happy, even though pain and sadness was obvious in her eyes. Crysta sat upon the fallen wood, and motioned for Eowyn to do the same. Crysta then handed the second apple to her hostess, and stared off over the planes while taking a bite of her fruit.
The two sat there for a long time, not saying anything, but enjoying the other's company. Finally Eowyn decided to ask Crysta something that had been at the back of her mind for a long time. She didn't know how to phrase it though, and was glad yet startled when Crysta decided to speak.
"I think there okay."
Eowyn wasn't sure who Crysta was referring to in that statement. "Whom do you think is 'okay'?"
"My mother and my little sister. I don't know why, but right now I have this good feeling inside of me, like everything will turn out alright in the end." Crysta smiled to herself and took another bite of her apple.
"How do you plan on returning to your native homeland?" Eowyn regretted saying it once it was out. She had wanted to ask for a long time, yet couldn't find a good time. And now it sounded as if she wanted to be pessimistic against Crysta's optimistic attitude.
Crysta didn't say anything for a while, occasionally looking as if she were about to speak, but then abruptly closing her mouth.
"Do you think those men who brought me here will come back?"
Eowyn wasn't sure where she was going with this, so answered truthfully. "I have never seen them before you arrived, but they earned a good sum of gold from us and I wouldn't be surprised if they returned."
"Well then, that's how I plan on getting home," Crysta said with a small smile. Eowyn smiled back. This girl wasn't a prodigy in any field what so ever, but she was quick becoming one of Eowyn's favorite companions. At the moment she couldn't place why, none of their conversations were extremely uplifting or thought provoking, but they were nice all the same.
"But enough of this, I have work to do!" Crysta determinedly pushed herself up and went over to her small lumber pile. She had spent time making it nice and balanced, with the larger pieces on the bottom and the smaller ones on the top. It was in that moment however that Crysta realized it was the bottom ones she need to use first.
Eowyn must have realized what Crysta was thinking, because she was trying with all her might not to laugh. But Crysta wasn't going to let this dilemma stop her. Instead of moving all the wood as would have been logical, she decided to try her luck in pulling out a single strip of wood. Crysta easily maneuvered the piece of wood out of place after getting on her knees in order to fully use her strength.
Eowyn saw it coming before Crysta, but knew there was nothing to be done about it. The small tower started to sway back and forth as if it was about to fall. Crysta noticed it and managed to stable the pile before the whole thing collapsed. She was about to stand up when the smallest piece of wood fell from the top of the tower, and on to her head. Eowyn laughed at the dazed expression on the girls face.
"Well, damn."
TBC……….
Well one more out of the way. I realize I'm going to have to do something with her mom and sister in the near future. And no, we have not seen the last of those slave traders back in the first chapter. Hopefully you liked this chapter. A little fluff, a little character bonding and other what not. Please review though I won't blame you if you don't! I feel terrible for not updating in forever, just so you know .
Reviews! Yes I did not forget you guys!
Annamariah – Thanks for the review! Banning Eowyn from riding wasn't one of my main ideas, but it came to me from no where, and I thought, I can have fun with this and her attempts to be with her horses! This will be attempt number 1.
Jousting Elf with a Sabre – I'm sorry I almost made you cry…but ya! That means I'm doing alright Hope this one wasn't a disappointment to you, or anyone for that matter.
APrincessofGondor – Thanks to the review! And I'm glad you like my other story. . I feel terrible for not posting it, and if all goes well I can get it re-going this spring break! Thanks for the support.
And to all reader who don't review if there are any I love you guys too!
