Chapter Three
The Golden Hall
At the gates they were stopped by a number of guards, and they in turn conversed with Gandalf in a language Elora did not understand. Upon gaining permission, they rode up through the city, and soon stood before the steps of a large building. The wind blew Elora's curly hair everywhere, it lashed her face, reminding her painful of her dash through the forest. She looked up at the building, recalling the name of it to her mind, she smiled at her small accomplishment as it came to her and she whispered it aloud, the Golden Hall. Aragorn removed a dagger from his side and cut the rope which had bound her to him. He slid off and then looked up at her with his hand outstretched, waiting to help her down. Elora took it, thankful she had someone to hold on to because just then...she didn't think she'd be able to stand on her own. Walking up the steps the four were stopped by a guard.
"I cannot let you see Theoden so heavily armed." Said the one who approached him, his sandy brown hair was long, draping over his broad shoulders except for the bit he had pulled away from his face.
Reluctantly they started pulling out their weapons, Elora didn't have any so she stood, watching silently. She, in turn, received a number of curious stares from the surrounding guards and looked down so that they would not see her face flush deep scarlet. Well you look weird too. She thought hotly in retort.
"Your staff?" The man said, gesturing to Gandalf's long, gleaming white pole which he held protectively in one hand.
"Oh." He glanced first at the staff fondly and then at the guard. "You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" The guard frowned, but Elora could see a gleam of hope in his eyes as he let them pass. Legolas slipped his arm under Gandalf's elbow as they to strengthen the effect. They walked through the double doors into a large hall. At the far end there sat an old man. His clothes were pale as his skin, dull with age. He almost looked dusty. His beard and hair were in disarray. Sitting at his left side was a smaller man, his pale skin, running eyes, and conniving expression as he smiled smugly at them. He started to whisper into the old man's ear.
More soldiers outlined the room, there was thick tension in the air. The soldiers moved in closer as the four companions approached. Gandalf began to speak angrily to the sick looking man, Grima Wormtongue, she told herself smugly. The name suited him, and never had she felt as much disgust as she looked upon him. She wasn't really listening to what was being spoken between the wizard and the thin man, but as Gandalf's face went livid she jerked to his loud shout.
"Quiet! I did not pass through fire and death to battle words with a witless worm." Gandalf pulled out his staff which had lay hidden beneath his cloak and now seemed to glow in the dull light of the room. Theoden eyed him warily, his haunted face not seeming to see more then Grima had told him.
Grima took a step back, clearly horrified. "His staff! I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
That was it, the soldiers outlining the room rushed in and attacked them with startling speed. Unfortunately, that was all the three hunters had been waiting for. They sprang on their attackers with ferocity, and Elora, infuriated when one turned on her as well, fought one closest to her with a snarl. She received many blows in return, but her anger had reached a boiling point and it had felt...well...natural.
The others, including the guards at the door, had joined in, and soon there were no longer any to oppose them. Gandalf, during this time, had approached Theoden, the old, sick king on the throne. Elora couldn't see much, a few guards had blocked her view. Her vision blurred due to a sharp bolt of pain from her forehead. But she did see a woman dressed in white rush from the doorway and catch the old man as he fell from his throne. Elora could vaguely remember that part from the films, it was eery, dream like.
The old man looked up, his sickly pallor was gone, and he appeared centuries younger. He looked at the woman, a soft smile seeping into his features. "I know your face," he whispered. "Eowyn."
The lady in white, Eowyn was crying as she helped the king to his feet. Gandalf had a pleased look on his face said,
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better, if they grasped your sword."
The guard from the gate, who she could remember to be called Hama, came up and placed a
sword in Theoden's hand. The king looked at in fond recognition and amazement, his grasp tightening around the hilt.
But Elora didn't see anything more, for she had sunk onto a bench in the shadows, weariness creeping into her mind. She closed her eyes, rubbing her bandaged forehead in an attempt to ease the throbbing there, and was soon unaware of all things.
When Elora woke once more, she was still one the bench. A blanket had been draped around her shoulders. She could see Gandalf, who sat next to Theoden on his throne. Both were looking at Eowyn as she spoke to them. She stood next to, two small children, both hungrily gulping down food.
"Where's Mama?" One of them asked, a young girl. Eowyn whispered soft words to her that Elora could not and did not try to hear. As Elora stood, stretching sore muscles that she didn't even know she had, Gandalt briefly caught her eye and nodded before continuing his debate with Theoden. She clutched the blanket around her tightly, wishing suddenly for a bed. Her head was throbbing again and she wondered with a grimace how deep it was.
Aragorn saw her and nodded as well, it seemed to be a polite, but brief greeting. "Sleep well?" He asked, looking with the eyes of a healer at her bandaged head and noting the sores around her wrists where the ropes had rested.
She rubbed her stiff neck and smiled shyly, "As well as can be expected on a bench." She won a smile from him and felt an immediate burst of pleasure with the knowledge that she had pleased him. Aragorn had always been her favorite in the books, and she felt a desire to make herself favorable in his eyes. Thus far, she had no idea what would please the Ranger. Again she tried to reach deep into her memory for a recollection of what happened next in the story, but was rewarded again with only the frustrating result of blankness. "I was tired." I am still tired. Her mind corrected, she moved closer to one of the many pillars outlining the room, trying to catch a small part of the conversation going on around her.
Failing, she reached up to rub her forehead and grimaced again when she noted the dampness of the coarse cloth. It had been stupid to run through the forest. She leaned heavily against the pillar, watching the goings on of the others in the room. Most were speaking in a language she did not know...Rohirric. She knew little of the languages of Middle Earth...and with good reason. Less then a day ago this place had only existence in a vivid place in her imagination. Elora knew a little Sindarin...but that was it. The Golden Hall was every bit as grand and magnificent as she had imagined it to be, every part of the room was carved into intricate designs, telling the history of the house of Eorl.
"Elora?" She turned at the sound of her name and found herself looking into the face of the Ranger once more. Blinking in uncertainty and surprise as she realized that Aragorn had been trying to gain her attention for some time now. Eowyn was standing next to him, and slightly behind him stood Legolas and Gimli who were talking quietly to one another. "Lady Eowyn has offered to take you to your room, she will see you to your comfort."
Elora blushed a deep shade of red, not meeting either of their gazes, steeling her face and fighting her rising feeling of shyness and embarrassment. She nodded slightly to Eowyn in respect, awkwardly avoiding the feeling that had also risen to curtsey to her. She couldn't remember anyone curtseying in Lord of the Rings, and she wasn't going to make a fool of herself now.
"It is my pleasure to meet you Elora." Eowyn said, a smile upon her pale face.
"As I you Lady Eowyn."
She looked back at Aragorn, glancing once at Gandalf. She was anxious to speak with the wizard, she had so many questions to ask, for there were so many things that she did not understand. "Thank you Aragorn." She said quietly.
He smiled, bowed his head. "Sleep well."
"You wear strange garments Elora, where do you come from?" Eowyn asked as she led Elora down the halls to a room on the far end.
Eowyn had a soft, yet firm voice. Her slim form was carried with confidence that easily marked her as a daughter of Rohan. Elora, still slightly dazed from the events of the past day, turned to her with a slight jerk. "Oh...um...far away. Nowhere near here."
"Oh." Eowyn's reply was awkward as had been Elora's, but frankly, she had no idea how to respond to that question. So...I'm from another world billions of years into the future and you are only a fairy-tale character where I come from? Ah-no. I don't think so. "You must have had a long journey. What brings you to Edoras?"
"I was...traveling with Gandalf and Aragorn." She didn't say more to that. She knew Eowyn was only trying to be polite, but all these questions were becoming increasingly difficult to answer.
"Here we are." Eowyn said at last, pushing open a door to a room and lighting the fireplace inside. It was a cozy room, small, but dainty. It held a rustic feeling, added to by the equestrian designs in the walls and in the furniture.
"This is wonderful." Elora murmured, a trace of awe in her voice as she looked around.
"My room is just down there to the right." She said, pointing to a door further down. "A maid will come in the morning with fresh garments for you to wear and breakfast. She will tell you where Lord Aragorn and Gandalf are if you ask."
"Thank you so much Lady Eowyn."
Eowyn smiled softly, "Just Eowyn. And thank you, your coming with the Gandalf has brought changes sorely needed to this country. Rohan is grateful to you and your friends."
"I did nothing–" Elora protestedat once but was silenced by the lady.
"Yes, you did. You are a brave young woman Elora. It will bring you far in this world."
Speechless, Elora could only gape and Eowyn smiled once more. "Sleep well Elora."
"Yes...thank you La-...um...Eowyn. You too."
Eowyn closed the door softly behind her and once she had left, Elora turned to survey the room. It was lit only by the dull light from the fire. But it gave the room a warmth that immediately made her drowsy. She washed her face in cold water left out in a basin on a dresser-like piece of furniture and then upon approaching the bed, slid off her muddied boots, and sank into it's soft comfort.
Within seconds she was drifting off into a place between reality and fantasy, and soon her flight through the woods, her coming to Rohan, and even the painful memory of Snowy's death seemed only a distant memory.
And that's the third chapter. - Nothing much to report, only I wanted everyone to see how I am changing Elora's character slightly here, she is not so fiery as in the Original and more withdrawn and in awe of her whole situation. I mean, heck, I'd been out for a week...no...a year if I woke up in Middle Earth. Also, a note on the language barrier here, I never gave much thought to Westron being different then Modern Day English and I basically consider them one and the same. Now, I know this is not true and that Westron IS considered a wholly different language then Modern Day English, but hey, this is only a fanfic and it is mine and that's the way I feel. Just felt like making that clear. :)
Mystical Full Moon Maiden: Just wanted to reply to your review. I assumed you were referring to me not posting a disclaimer on chapter two. Um, I did post a disclaimer at the beginning of this story, (note first chapter) and I do consider myself to be a true Tolkien fan nonetheless. ;) I just find it repetitive and annoying to the format to keep writing disclaimers so I don't do them for every chapter. I believe I made it clear in my first chappie that I would NEVER DARE to steal Tolkien's work. I mean, it's like a second Bible to me. :) Just wanted to run that by you and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story. :)
Thanks to all my new reviewers and to all my old. (Thanks everyone!) And thanks to my beta, Kiann. :)
Namarie,
Luthien Anaclime
TO BE CONTINUED...
