Disclaimer: I don't own it. Sorry. Everything belongs to Professor Tolkien.
Summary: See previous chapters
A/N – Unless stated otherwise, the story is from Natasha's Point Of View. Just to clear up confusion.
Chapter Ten
I take back what I said before. As nice as it is to have something familiar around, did it really have to be my siblings in the same place at the same time?
One, I could handle, but both of them together – on top of everything else – is just too much for me to grasp right now. I need to speak to Gandalf about this. Maybe there is a way to keep them away from the immediate danger zone and away from me for a while.
We returned to the rest of the party, who had not moved much from where they had been standing when I had left. I had been right; various people were telling off my sisters. Legolas saw us first and beckoned us over. Conversations broke off and we mounted up to join the survivors of Helm's Deep on the journey back to the Golden Hall. Then a mild dilemma reared it's irksome head.
The hobbits were small enough to share with someone, but Alice and Sarah had no means of transportation.
Eowyn, Bella, Gimli and Boromir wanted to leave them here, but Treebeard would not allow it. Interesting to think of how even an Ent, with supposed infinite patience, couldn't stand having them around. We discussed various other ideas, but none of them really worked out. Finally, Eowyn came up with an idea.
"Bella, would you mind riding with me on the way back?" Bella shook her head. "Good. Now if Natasha would let her sisters borrow her horse and if MoonDark will let those two ride her, Natasha could ride double with someone until we rejoin the others." It was the best idea that we had had yet, although neither Sarah or Alice were particularly keen on horse riding, so we re-mounted our horses and set off again.
Originally, I would have rode with one of the Fellowship, but Legolas and Gimli already rode together, Gandalf was taking Pippin and Aragorn was sharing with Merry. Obviously, I was not going to ride with the King of Rohan, and Eowyn was carrying Bella. That left Boromir, whose shoulder injury just happened to start hurting again.
That was Bullshite, by the way. He just didn't want Eomer glaring at him for the entire journey.
The final option (also my personal favourite) was Eomer himself. So I spent the long way home to Meuslad settled against Eomer and happily ignoring the nasty looks thrown in our direction.
When we returned to the Golden Hall, King Theoden announced a minor feast to celebrate our survival and to honour those who died in the Battle of Helm's Deep. It was late when we got back, so everyone decided to sleep now and start the preparations in the morning. I think it was a good idea, personally. Everyone was dead on their feet and there is no point trying to set up a party when everyone is so tired that it will take three or four tries to get things done right. Especially if you want the party done quickly. Some things have to be done fast, others take time and patience to do.
For example, in a fast food restaurant, you have to get the order done in a certain amount of time, hence the 'fast' in the name.
By contrast, I can assure you from experience that while changing nappies is something that most people would like to get over with quickly, it is far better to learn how to do it properly, go slow and get it right than to rush through and have to do it all over again.
Anyway, we rose with the sun – Eowyn made sure that my siblings were out of the way – got everything set up and just before the sun went down, we paid our respects and toasted the dead.
Things became a bit rowdy after that, with people dancing and singing on the tables.
Nearby, I saw Eowyn offer Aragorn a cup, saying something that I couldn't hear over the racket.
Merry and Pippin were two of those jumping around on the table, singing their heads off.
"You can search far and wide,
You can drink the whole town dry,
But you'll never find a beer so brown,
As the one we brew in our hometown!
You can keep your fancy Ale's,
You can drink them by the flagon,
But the only brew for the brave and true,
Comes from the Green Dragon!"
They finished, only to join Gimli and several of the Rohirrim in starting a drinking game and coercing Legolas to take part. I looked around the hall and spotted one person who was not making merry.
Boromir was looking downcast, so I tuned the Hobbits out and sat down near him.
"Boromir? What is wrong?" Maybe drink would loosen his tongue enough to make him stop bottling things up and tell someone what was troubling him. Honestly, men simply will not tell you anything if they think it will make them appear weak!
He let out a deep breath. "I fear returning to my city. I do not know how I will face everyone."
I raised an eyebrow. Certainly not what I had expected. "Why do you say that?"
Boromir looked up at me. "At Amon Hen, just before the Fellowship was parted, I tried to take the ring from Frodo. It called to me, promising me anything my heart desired. My father looked to me to make things right. I failed him, and I failed in my oath to protect the Ringbearer. How can I face my people, having done such things? My brother has always looked up to me, but I am not worthy of his regard. The ring called to me, and I allowed myself to be tempted."
My other eyebrow rose to join its partner. "That is what has you so upset? It doesn't make you all that special, you know."
He looked at me sharply. I let out a sigh, men can be so dense! "You don't think you were the only one who was tempted, do you? Think! The ring calls to anyone who it thinks might be able to return it to its master! I was exposed to it for less than a month and it tried to tempt me. It had much longer to learn your desires and fears, and to use them against you. I probably would have given in far before you did."
It seems curiosity won over self-pity. "What did it tempt you with, Lady? Being able to return to your home?"
I shook my head. "That was it's fall back plan. I always wanted to be more like my sisters, did you know that? Sarah has innocence about her. She is so ignorant about some of the world's harsher sides. I lost that innocence too soon, and wanted to be able to see the world as I once did, without all the terrible things that happen. I wanted to be more like Alice. She is smart, and popular. Also strong and Athletic. She never had problems interacting with people, and I was always so shy when it came to such things."
Boromir blinked at me. That obviously was not what he had been expecting, either.
Eowyn came over. I had the suspicion that she had been eavesdropping. "But you are so many other things instead. Why would you wish to be someone else?"
I gave a very inelegant snort. "Like what? Alice was the smart one, Sarah was the innocent, and I was just plain old Natasha. Nothing special, I was shy, with few friends. I passed in school, but never did anything particularly outstanding. And I was never really the sports type."
Eowyn looked at me. "Like what? You looked past my being a shield maiden and princess of Rohan. You managed to stay strong on the outside and give others confidence even when you were inwardly screaming with fear. You are nice and caring and you have a patient gentleness and a gift with children that I could only dream of!"
Eomer had come over from where Gimli and Legolas were still trying to drink each other under the table and agreed with his sister. "Gandalf told me of what happened in Lothlorien. You had a chance to return to where you were from but you gave it up so that two others who were less likely to survive could go in your place. I can think of very few who would have gone through the pain you have without breaking down."
I looked at him. "Life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something. And I would have thought my outburst near Isengard would qualify as breaking down."
Boromir snickered. "I think Eomer meant that few would have lasted that long before breaking down like that. I can think of still less who would have managed your sisters for as long as you did."
I smiled at that. I had heard that more times than I can conveniently count.
Just then, the rest of the hall seemed to run out of things to sing. Eomer turned to me, "Do you have anything to sing for us, Natasha?"
A cheer went up, they seemed to think it was a good idea. I,on the other hand,went pale and started to protest. "NO! My voice sounds like a mad owl with its beak trapped in a log! I really am not a good singer!"
Perhaps it was 'opposites day': 'no' means 'yes' etc. Either way, my protests were ignored.
I got pulled up to the front of the hall, Boromir and Aragorn insisting that I was going to sing. They were so going to pay for this. Oh well. I took a deep breath. Don't let this be too bad… "It isn't exactly a drinking song, but it is close enough.
"It's lonesome away, from your kindred and all,
By the campfire at night, when the wild dingoes call.
But there's nothing more lonesome, morbid or drear,
Than to stand at the bar of a pub with no beer.
Now the publican's anxious, for the quota to come,
There's a faraway look on the face of the bum.
The maid's gone all cranky, the cook's acting queer,
What a terrible place, is a pub with no beer.
The stockman rides up, with his dry dusty throat,
Strides up to the bar, and pulls a wad from his coat,
But the smile on his face quickly turns to a sneer,
When the barman says sadly, 'the pub's got no beer'.
There's a dog on the veranda, for his master he waits,
But the boss is inside, drinking wine with his mates.
He hurries for cover, cringes with fear,
It's no place for a dog, a pub with no beer.
The traveller comes in, covered in dust and flies,
He puts down his pack, and rubs the sweat from his eyes.
He looks all around, and says, 'what's this I hear?
I've trudged fifty bloody miles, to a pub with no beer?'
Old Billy the Blacksmith, for the first time in his life,
Has gone home cold sober, to his darling wife.
He walks into the kitchen, she says 'You're early my dear'
Then he breaks down and tells her, 'the pub's got no beer.'
It's lonesome away, from your kindred and all,
By the campfire at night, where the wild dingoes call.
But there's nothing more lonesome, morbid or dread,
Than to stand at the bar of a pub with no beer."
People were actually cheering for me! That was defiantly a first, when I sing all I usually get is Alice complaining and telling me to shut up.
Eowyn pulled me away, laughing. Eomer grinned and raised his glass. Boromir, Aragorn and the Hobbits were cheering for more.
I tried to escape, but gave up when Eomer gave me a look that I've seen people use when trying to charm their way into something. I remembered watching 'King Arthur' at the movies and remembered a song that might pass.
I shot a look at Aragorn, Boromir, Merry and Pippin. "Last one I'm going to do, understand?" I started again.
"Land of Bear and Land of Eagle,
Land that gave us Birth and Blessing,
We will go home, we will go home,
We will go home across the mountains,
We will go home, we will go home,
We will go home across the mountains,
We will go home, singing our song,
We will go home across the mountains,
Hear our singing, hear our longing,
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home,
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home,
We will go home across the mountains."
There was more cheering as Eowyn and I left the hall.
It seemed that no one was going to bed any time soon. I hoped that they would enjoy the hangovers that they were sure to have in the morning.
I only hoped mine would not be too bad. Two glasses of wine are enough to make me wish my head would fall off and stop pounding. I did not even want to think about what strong ale would do. Alcohol and I do not mix well.
Sure enough, I had theultimate ancestorof all headaches when I woke the next morning.
Pushing aside the urge to crawl back under the covers and stay there until my head managed to kick out the marching band that had taken up residence, I stood up and was knocked back down again by a blonde whirlwind.
I knew something was wrong when Bella did not greet me with her usual smile. Her face was downcast and she looked about to cry. I sat up and lifted her into my lap. "Bella, what is it? Why are you so upset?"
She looked up at me, hazel eyes bright with tears. "I heard some people saying that you were pulled here by magic and that we could never go back home. Is that right?"
I let out a breath. "I honestly do not know, Bella. There was the portal back in Lothlorien that we used to send Gretal and Collum back but I do not know if that will work for us. We might or might not be able to go back home, I am not sure. But if we can not, I promise that I will always be here to look after you."
Bella threw her arms around my neck and buried her face against my chest, starting to weep "I want Mummy. I miss her."
What could I say to that? I began to softly hum a lullaby, holding her close to my heart. I was not going to insult her by saying that she would see her mother again when I had no idea about what would happen. I didn't want to lie to Bella like that, so I just rocked her in my arms, letting her cry herself out.
Later, I left Bella sleeping on my bed and went in search of Gandalf.
With all the refugees currently staying, most of the city was sharing a room with somebody. I finally found Gandalf and Boromir sleeping on the floor in Eomer's room.
It turns out that I was right; there were some monumental headaches this morning, as proven when I tiptoed across the room and they all told me not to walk so loudly. I rolled my eyes and tried not to snicker, then left to find Eowyn to see if she had any advice on waking people up when they were suffering from hangovers.
She did. We returned to the room, shutting the door as hard as it was possible to do without slamming it.
Ignoring the muffled groans and protests, Eowyn marched to the window and threw it open letting in the sun. This prompted several uncomplimentary remarks from the suffering men and wizard. I raised an eyebrow at my friend. "Do you think they are feeling a bit delicate today, Eowyn?"
Boromir groaned, "Do you ladies think that you could skip the 'I told you so's?"
Eowyn smirked. "Where's the fun in that? We tried to warn you, remember."
Her brother opened one eye and glared at her. "Eowyn…"
She ignored it. "We did warn you."
Gandalf gave us a 'I'm-a-powerful-wizard-and-I-mean-business' Look. Eowyn ignored that, as well. "You heard me warn them, didn't you Natasha?"
I was trying very hard not to laugh. "Eowyn give them a rest. I want to speak with Gandalf about something, when he is feeling better."
I left to find something for breakfast. Maybe that would make them a bit more co-operative.
Sure enough, it only took half an hour after breakfast for them to get up without falling over.
Eventually, I managed to get a word with Gandalf.
"When you sent Gretal and Collum home to our world, you said that only two could go and that the price was that the other two would stay in Middle-Earth for a while longer. What I want to know is this: is it possible to send Alice and Sarah back to my world? If so, what is the price to be paid?"
Gandalf looked at me. "Why do you want to be rid off them? It almost seems as if you are trying to avoid your problems instead of facing them. Besides, you may not like the cost."
I shook my head. " I will admit that I do not look forward to facing my siblings any time soon. However, my sisters have even less chance of surviving here than I do. As aggravating as they can be at times, I do not want anything to happen to them."
Gandalf nodded. "It is possible, yes. However, the price is that you stay in Middle-Earth until Sauron is defeated."
I nodded. That didn't sound too bad. Unfortunately, the wizard was not finished. "And your charge must remain with you."
I stared at him. That complicated my choice a bit.
A/N#2 – Chapter Ten is done. Thank you to everyone who took the time to review. Next chapter should be up soon.
Reviews help me write.
