Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the characters.
Summary: We have seen them against Sauron, Mary-Sue and Valar knows what else. Now the Fellowship encounters a danger completely unprecedented.
A/N – I have lost my copy of Lord of the Rings so some of the Book parts may be slightly messed up. Also, I placed a question at the end of Chapter Three. (Should Boromir live?) Those who answered voted 'yes' so he will be in this chapter even if he is only mentioned. Whether or not he stays depends on how the story progresses and what my reviews say.
Thanks to everyone and on to Chapter Seven!
Chapter Seven
Bella, Eowyn and I were back in our rooms after our exit from the Great Hall. Eowyn was at the window, looking at something, while I explained to Bella exactly why I wanted her to stay where she was if she woke up and I was not there.
"I was very worried when you went missing. What if you had gotten lost and we never found you? Next time if you wake up and we are not there just wait until one of us comes back, OK?"
Bella nodded her head and started playing with a lock of my hair. If short hair did not make me look so horrible I swear I would chop it off. I have no idea why children find is so fascinating.
I could always brush my hair out later, so I allowed Bella to continue and turned my attention to Eowyn.
"Coin for your thoughts, Eowyn? You've been staring out the window for quite a time now."
My friend looked at me, "Natasha, what do you think of Lord Aragorn? He seems a paradox of so many different things."
I raised an eyebrow in her general direction, trying not to move my head, "What do I think of Aragorn romantically or what do I think of Aragorn in general"
She shrugged. "Either, both, I'm not sure"
I considered the question. "Romantically, I really have no idea. Defiantly not my type, though. In general, like you said, he's a paradox. He had a bearing that could make you think he was a king but his personal hygiene habits leave a lot to be desired." I smiled at her, "Why? Are you interested?"
Eowyn blushed and shot me a Look. "And if I am? What would you say or do about it?"
I lifted my hands in an 'I don't know' gesture. "Not my place to interfere, I'm not about to do anything. I'll give you some advice though. I'm not interested so I'm not saying it to put you off. Anyway, all I think is: wait until the war is done. It only hurts worse if you love someone and they are taken away or cannot return the feeling."
Eowyn gave me another look, "You sound as though you speak from experience. Did something like that happen to you?"
I gave my friend a rueful grin, "I was twelve, there was a boy that I had known for most of my life. I fancied him and I knew he liked me in some way." I pulled a face, "It turned out that he regarded me as a sister and loved my younger sister instead."
Eowyn winced. "That had to have hurt."
I nodded my head then flinched as my hair was tugged. "Alright, Bella, enough fussing with my hair for now. I want to know what is going on back in the hall."
In the Hall, we met up with the fellowship, or what was left of it. It turned out that Boromir had survived and arrived about an hour behind them. I started to worry about what other changes my presence may have caused.
We also met two children, brother and sister, who had travelled to warn King Theoden of the Wild men's attacks.
It was obvious that they had not slept or eaten in several days, so Eowyn and I fed them and got a brief explanation about what happened.
The girl began to get upset, asking where her mother was. None of the men answered, too busy talking about what to do about the events. The girl, Freda, began to cry, apparently fearing the worst from their silence. I tried to sooth her, rocking her in my arms and saying that I did not know where her mother was but I was sure that she would see her soon. I decided not to mention that my definition of 'soon' was probably different from hers.
There are probably going to be objections over that, but which option do people prefer? That I say her mother is probably dead, which may or may not be true, or that I say that I don't know where her mother is but they will see each other soon? Call it a white lie if you must.
Either way, it seemed to work. Good.
I have noticed that for some reason, it is usually either Carmen (one of my Co-workers) or I that the children in our centre come to when they are upset about something. I don't know why, Ila or Sitara (my other two Co-workers)both have children of their own so they would be the more obvious choice.
Back to what was going on with the men, King Theoden had made the decision to make for the fortress of Helm's Deep. He had just sent a Guard to inform the rest of the city when Boromir's injuries started acting up again.
He protested that it was just a passing pain, but the healer in Aragorn decided to check anyway.
They apologized for the impropriety of undressing in mixed company. Eowyn had gone to get bandages from somewhere and I was still holding Freda, facing the other direction. I suppose I could have phrased it differently, but my mind was busy elsewhere when I shrugged, saying "Nothing I haven't seen before."
Silence fell with an audible 'thud' behind me while Eowyn- who had helped care for Bella and knew what I was talking about - snickered quietly as she re-entered the room.
I looked over my shoulder at the mixed expressions. Gandalf had obviously come to the same conclusion as Eowyn and was looking amused. Legolas and Gimli didn't react; Elves and Dwarves seemed to be a lot more relaxed about such things. The Men, however, wore slightly uncomfortable looks in varying degrees of surprise.
I realized what they must be thinking and rolled my eyes. I glared at them and snapped, "Get your minds out of the gutter! I look after children, for heaven's sake! They do get dirty and sometimes do need help changing! I have seen naked bodies before and there is not much difference between yours and Collum's!"
Theoden, Aragorn and Boromir all relaxed, looking faintly embarrassed. Eowyn burst out into full laughter and Gandalf gave them an amused look.
Eowyn brought her mirth under control at a look from her uncle and raised an eyebrow in their direction. "What on earth did you think she was talking about?"
We both knew exactly how that had sounded so it was obvious that Eowyn just wanted to make them squirm.
They did not answer but busied themselves with looking at Boromir's injuries and starting to pack what would be needed.
Eowyn and I gathered the children and left to pack.
We left Edoras shortly after and moved toward Helm's Deep.
Gandalf had taken Shadowfax and gone off to look for Eowyn's brother, Eomer, and his company of riders, nearly running Bella over as he galloped off.
I muttered a physically improbable obscenity about maniac riders not watching where they were going, then picked up Bella and went to join the rest of the city's population.
The warrior's rode on horseback while most others walked. I was certainly fine with that. Nothing personal, but I didn't like riding. Walking is much better for One's health. Besides, walking there is less distance to fall if you stumble. Walking you will get maybe a grazed knee or hands, some blood at the very worst. Fall of a horse and you are likely to break something.
It was when we made camp the first day that I found out that Shield maiden or not, Eowyn should not be let near food before it was cooked and set on the table.
I saw Boromir and Gimli smirking about something and looking to where Aragorn and Eowyn were talking. My friend was holding a cooking pot. I asked them what was going on, not sure if I actually wanted to know.
They told me about how Eowyn had offered Aragorn some soup that she had made and how he was stuck having to eat it. Apparently he tried to tip it out when her back was turned, but then she turned around and asked him a question. All of this was said in a 'better-him-than-me' tone.
Later, Eowyn offered me some as well. I wanted to see how she was at cooking, so I tried a taste of it. I barely managed to avoid pulling a face, hoping she didn't ask me what I thought.
She did. I really wanted to spare her feelings, but I didn't want anyone to get food poisoning, either. I caught my breath; there was way too much pepper in that. "Honest opinion or spare your feelings?"
My friend looked somewhat downcast, but opted for the latter. "When we get the time, remind me to organize cooking lessons. No offence, Eowyn, but stick to bread and cheese and don't go near the cooking fires."
Gimli was telling Eowyn, Bella and I about Dwarves and the ways to distinguish between men and women. He told us that they were so alike in voice and appearance that the dwarf-women were often mistaken for dwarf-men. Eowyn shot Aragorn a questioning look. Aragorn indicated his beard. I bit back a snicker.
Gimli continued as if he had not heard. "It has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf-women and that we simply spring out of holes in the ground! Which is of course ridiculous." The rest of what he was saying broke off as his horse chose that moment to break into a canter, tossing Gimli off in the process. Eowyn ran to help him up as the Dwarf tried to tell everyone that it had been deliberate.
I overheard Theoden talking to Aragorn with an almost wistful smile on his face as he looked at her face, glowing with laughter.
"I had not seen my niece smile in a long time. She was just a girl when they brought her father home dead, and watched her mother fade in grief. Then she was left alone, to tend to her king in growing fear, to look after an old man who should have loved her as a father." His voice held a note of regret.
Nearby, one of the Rohirrim mentioned that she had smiled more after we had arrived. I tried to look as though I had not been eavesdropping and moved toward Eowyn, rolling my eyes as the rider asked if I was attached to anyone.
A few minutes later, things took a turn for the worse when Aragorn came running back from where he and Legolas had been scouting.
Theoden called to him, asking what was wrong. The answer chilled me to my bones.
"Wargs! We are under attack!"
A/N#2 – My first Cliff-hanger! Next chapter should be up soon, so don't kill me. (Especially you, Winter Queen, as you are only two rooms away from me right now.)
A/N#3 – Whether Boromir stays or goes is up for voting so tell me in a review!
