Author's Note: I have tried to incorporate some of the book into my story verbatim. I deeply respect J.R.R. Tolkien's work, and am in no way attempting to steal or plagiarize it. I am merely attempting to work my story into his plot, and capture the rich language he uses. A "-----" means that a direct book quote has either begun or ended.
Chapter 2
MEGAN was awakened the next morning by the sharp bite of hunger. She noted to her great surprise that it was still dark, but her stomach was protesting too painfully for her to take advantage of this and sleep some more. I'll just go downstairs and get a quick snack, she thought. That way I can come back and get some more sleep before my alarm goes off. She looked over toward her alarm clock, hoping that it was only three o' clock ( which would give her another two hours of sleep).
Her clock was not there.
Heart pounding, she started to sit up, and her foot brushed something that felt suspiciously like another person's leg.
Suddenly all the memories came flooding back: their strange arrival in Middle Earth, their discussion with Gandalf, Pippin's appearance…It's real, she thought. It's not a dream. Part of her wished it were.
"Megan?" Adrienne whispered. "You awake?"
Megan sighed with resignation and replied. "Yeah." It didn't seem like she was going to get any more sleep tonight. Or this morning; maybe someone had closed the curtains.
As if reading her mind, Adrienne asked, "Any idea what time it is?"
"Dinnertime?" Megan answered hopefully as her stomach let loose another loud growl.
"I'm hungry too, but I don't think there's any food in here, and we aren't supposed to leave the room. Remember what Gandalf said," Adrienne replied.
Oh yes, remember what Gandalf said, Megan thought somewhat bitterly. He was certainly exactly as Tolkien had described. Even down to the bushy eyebrows and mysteriousness. I just wish he'd be a little less mysterious, and tell us a little more. Megan had always valued the feeling of control she drew from making her own decisions, but it seemed Gandalf was taking the situation out of their hands. Certainly they were unfamiliar with Middle Earth's society and customs, but he had basically said "Don't worry at all, I'll take care of everything," without asking them. That was what frustrated Megan.
Suddenly a sleepy voice muttered from the floor, "Where am I?" Adrienne sat up a little more and peered over the foot of the bed. "Morning, Erin," she greeted.
Erin rubbed her eyes, as if making sure they weren't playing tricks on her. "Adrienne?" she said in a puzzled voice.
"Shh!" Adrienne cautioned. "Sarah and Kavila are still sleeping." Erin's eyebrows came together in an expression of bafflement. "Sarah and Kavila?...ohhh yeah…" she ended, her confused look replaced by one of comprehension. Then, finally registering what Adrienne had first said, she whispered, "Good morning. It's dark in here, isn't it?"
"I never knew you were such a morning person," Adrienne replied sarcastically, and Megan laughed.
"Who else is awake? Oh wait, nevermind, you just said that." Erin said, as Adrienne and Megan doubled up with almost silent laughter, trying to keep from waking the others. Despite their efforts, a fourth voice spoke up from the bed. "I'm up, Dad, I'm up…"
Adrienne, Megan, and Erin exchanged glances before breaking into laughter once more. By the time they had gotten control of themselves again, Sarah was sitting up in bed with a bewildered expression on her face. "Adrienne? Erin? Megan? What…ohhhh yeah…" she said as her sleep-hindered mind finally dragged forth her memories of last night.
"See? I'm not the only non-morning person!" Erin declared indignantly, and started to untangle herself from the blanket. Her movements woke Kavila, who sat up with a dazed expression. She, however, did not make a fool of herself by speaking before her memories returned. "Morning everybody!" she said in a surprisingly cheerful voice after rubbing her eyes clear.
"Morning!" chorused four voices in various stages of wakefulness. Kavila stood up, stretched a little, and remarked, "I'm hungry!"
"Well as far as we can tell there's no food, so…" Megan trailed off.
Everyone was silent for a few seconds. "Why don't we see if there's a window we can open?" Erin suggested. All five girls began making their way slowly to the perimeter of the room, feeling their way through the darkness.
Kavila found the wall first, recoiling from the feel of cold stone. She followed the wall, feeling all along it for some sort of fabric that might be a curtain. Cold stone…cold stone…suddenly she cried out as her hand met coarse, thick material. "I think I found it!"
"Where are you?" called Sarah.
In answer Kavila drew back the curtains to reveal the city of Minas Tirith.
"We're not in Kansas any more," she breathed as she caught her first glimpse of the White City.
Their room, it seemed, was in one of the uppermost levels of the city, and commanded a spectacular view. Beneath them the lower levels of the city stretched like giant, uneven steps down the slope to the Pelennor Fields. Far in the distance Kavila could just barely make out the glittering ribbon of the Anduin. People moved hurriedly through the streets below them, mostly men dressed in armor, patrolling or running errands to prepare for the coming battle.
But what struck Kavila most was the sky. A ceiling of roiling black clouds blocked out the sun, casting the land beneath them in the eerie glow of twilight. Fires flickered like sparks in front of every house, making the darkness seem all the more impenetrable.
"Oh my god," whispered Erin as she came to the window, the other three following close behind.
"Why is the sky…" Sarah trailed off, eyes fixed on the clouds.
"It is Sauron's darkness. He seeks to cover the world in it, until the end of time," came a voice behind them. All five girls whirled, exclamations of surprise on their lips that quickly became sighs of relief as Gandalf strode briskly through the doorway.
"Morning to you too," Megan remarked.
"This is not a matter for mirth," the wizard retorted, stalking over to the bed. "Here are some proper clothes for you to wear." He threw a pile of fabric onto the bed. "Dole them out as you see fit."
It was rather plain that the wizard was not in a good mood, but Megan's stomach was being insistent. "Um…you didn't by any chance bring some food back, did you?" she asked tentatively.
"Food?" Gandalf glanced up, then chuckled slightly. "Forgive me, my guests, you will be wanting something to break your fast. I shall go to the mess hall and procure some bread and fruit for you. If they question the amount of food I ask for, I shall merely tell them it is for a hobbit!" He then turned and left, still chuckling.
There was stunned silence for a few moments. "Well, it seems he's in a good mood again," Sarah remarked.
"Talk about mood swings," Adrienne shook her head. "He's worse than my mom!"
Erin had moved to the bed and was sorting through the clothes. "These are going to be so much fun to wear!" she exclaimed with a grin as she held up a periwinkle-colored dress with long, open sleeves.
Kavila grabbed a box that had fallen partway open on the bed. "Oh my god," she breathed as she poured the contents onto the bed. "look at this jewelry!"
Adrienne picked up a silver chain fashioned like a girdle of flowers. "Erin, this would be pretty with that blue dress you had," she said, holding it up. Erin gasped and grabbed it, grinning from ear to ear as she examined it.
Soon everyone had chosen a dress. Kavila had found a dark green dress and a gold leaf brooch. Sarah had chosen a dress of dark blue fabric, cut modestly at the neck, with a silver necklace and bracelet. Adrienne had found a maroon-colored dress with long, flowing sleeves like Erin's, and a gold chain to fasten about her waist. Megan had chosen a dress of fabric similar to Kavila's, but with a simple silver chain patterned with flowing lines.
"Ah…one problem with this," Megan said when they had all chosen dresses, "No dressing room."
Adrienne closed the curtains as best she could and answered, "Everybody take a wall, and just face the wall and change."
"There are only four walls, and five of us," Sarah remarked.
"Well, somebody can share their wall then!" Adrienne retorted.
"I'll stand by the door in case Gandalf comes back," Erin said, and everyone else soon claimed their own area. In a few minutes, the girls had dressed relatively without incident, though all needed help with the fastenings of the garments. They were still putting on their jewelry and fighting for a place in front of the single mirror when Gandalf returned.
"Ah!" he exclaimed as he entered. "I leave behind five plainly dressed girls, and when I return they have become beautiful ladies!"
"We may look like ladies, but we don't have their manners!" replied Adrienne. "Give me some of that food!"
Amid the general laughter and good cheer, all five girls managed to sate their hunger. The fare may have been poor, but it wouldn't have mattered; it was gone in a matter of minutes.
"Hobbits the size of Men!" Gandalf chortled when they were through. "Or at least Men with the stomachs of Hobbits!"
"Ah…we're women, you know…" Kavila said, bewildered.
"He meant the race of Men," Erin whispered in her ear, loud enough that all could hear.
"Oohhh…" Kavila laughed, and everyone joined in. Erin took another swig of wine. "I never knew this stuff was so good!" she exclaimed. "Mom and Dad always made out like it was horrible!"
"Perhaps in your world," Gandalf replied with a chuckle. "In Middle Earth, the making of wine is a fine art."
There was a moment of companionable silence, and then Adrienne asked in an embarrassed tone, "Um…where is the ah…not bathroom, but…"
"Washroom?" Gandalf asked. Adrienne nodded with relief. "Ah, yes, you will be needing to relieve yourselves! Adrienne, I will take you first, and then you may show the others the way. 'Tisn't far."
"Thanks." Adrienne replied, blushing slightly with embarrassment as she rose. The two left the room, turning right down the hallway. As soon as they were out the door, the remaining girls broke into laughter. "Relieve ourselves!" Megan giggled.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. All four girls looked at each other, mirth replaced by alarm. The door opened to admit a plainly dressed man, whom the girls immediately identified as a servant. Erin rose gracefully, infusing a tone of disdainful nonchalance into her voice, "Yes?"
The servant looked quite flustered, probably not expecting to find five finely dressed young women here rather than one white-robed wizard. "Is this the room of the wizard Gandalf?" he inquired.
"It is." Erin replied, while her friends stared at her, surprised by the ease with which she adopted this noble persona.
"When he returns, please inform him that the Lord Denethor requests his presence at once, as well as that of Master Peregrin," the servant said, barely waiting for acknowledgement of his message before he backed hurriedly out of the room.
When Gandalf and Adrienne entered the room, they quickly discerned that something had occurred in their absence. Erin told Gandalf about the servant, and the wizard lapsed into thought. "You cannot stay here much longer, or the Lord Denethor will become suspicious." he said finally. "I shall arrange for you to stay in an inn not far from here, and I shall meet with you there, on the occasions when I am not busy with other matters. In the meantime, I suggest that you remain here. I shall find you some attire more suited to common life, for you will be noticed if you leave this room with those garments. However," he rose and took up his staff, "a summons from the Lord Steward cannot be taken lightly, and I must leave you now. I shall return as soon as I may." And with that, he left.
"Well, looks like we've got some time to kill," Megan sighed.
"Hey Kavila, where's that physics book of yours? We can start working through that, and see if it gives us any ideas," Erin suggested.
"But you haven't taken physics yet!" Kavila said.
"I'm ready and willing to learn," Erin retorted.
"And you want me to teach you?" Kavila said incredulously.
In response, Erin called around the room, "Anyone else here know physics?" Everyone shook their heads. She turned back to Kavila with a triumphant expression.
"I get the point," Kavila sighed. "Okay, let's do it on this desk here." The two girls moved off, leaving Adrienne, Megan, and Sarah to find their own entertainment.
"Anybody got cards?" Sarah asked hopefully.
"Maybe," Megan replied, and walked over to the pile of backpacks. Suddenly she stopped, reaching down and grabbing something that was definitely not a backpack. "Look what else came with us!" she exclaimed, holding up none other than Erin's stereo.
Even Erin and Kavila turned around. "If only we could plug it in…" sighed Kavila wistfully.
"Don't worry, it runs on batteries!" Erin replied with a grin. "We've all got our CD collections too!"
"Watch out Middle Earth, here comes the 21st century!" Adrienne laughed.
"What CDs did you guys bring?" Megan asked Adrienne and Sarah, who promptly began digging in their backpacks for their CD cases. Kavila and Erin turned back to their book, shaking their heads. "Keep it down so we don't attract attention, you guys," Erin gave one last admonition from her seat at the desk, before concentrating once more on the annoyingly complex and numerous equations of physics.
"Who, us?" Megan put on an innocent face before all three broke into laughter. Before long, music was emanating softly from the stereo's speakers.
GANDALF strode briskly down the hall, footsteps echoing harshly against the stone of the passageway. Though he passed several curious servants, he paid them no heed, too immersed in his own thoughts. What could Denethor possibly want him for? Had he found out about the girls? It wouldn't have surprised the wizard, for he had guessed by now that Denethor had one of the lost Seeing Stones in his possession. But if that was so, did that mean Sauron knew of them as well? That could be troublesome. That could be very troublesome.
Suddenly a small figure down the hall caught Gandalf's eye. He came out of his reverie and looked up to find Pippin walking towards him. "Hullo, Gandalf!" said the hobbit when the wizard had reached him. "Where are you going?"
"To answer the Lord's summons," Gandalf replied. "The summons mentioned you as well, so you had better come with me. But I beg you, say nothing of the girls. Or if you must, do not reveal from whence they came. Answer rather that you do not know, if the question is asked."
Pippin fell into step beside the wizard. "How did they come here, Gandalf?" he asked.
Gandalf did not answer at once. "'Twas a gift of the Valar, I think," he said at last, a faraway look cast upon his face. "I felt their song, soft as silk against my skin, and my heart was joyous to hear it. When I opened my eyes, there sat the girls."
Pippin did not speak again for some while. "What do you suppose Lord Denethor will have me do?" the hobbit asked finally, somewhat anxiously.
"Whatever suits his fancy," Gandalf replied without looking at Pippin. "After all," he turned a slightly disapproving look to the hobbit, "you are his sworn servant."
Pippin said no more the rest of the journey.
-----BEFORE long he was walking with Gandalf once more down the cold corridor to the door of the Tower Hall. There Denethor sat in a grey gloom, like an old patient spider; he did not seem to have moved since the day before. He beckoned Gandalf to a seat, but Pippin was left for awhile standing unheeded. Presently the old man turned to him, saying, "Well, Master Peregrin, I hope that you used yesterday to your profit, and to your liking? Though I fear that the board is barer in this city than you could wish."
Pippin had an uncomfortable feeling that most of what he had said or done was somehow known to the Lord of the City, and much was guessed of what he thought as well. He did not answer.
"What would you do in my service?" said Denethor.
"I thought, sir, that you would tell me my duties," Pippin answered.
"I will, when I learn what you are fit for," replied Denethor. "But that I shall learn soonest, maybe, if I keep you beside me. The esquire of my chamber has begged leave to go to the out-garrison, so you shall take his place for awhile. You shall wait on me, bear errands, and talk to me, if war and council leave me any leisure. Can you sing?"
"Yes," said Pippin. "Well, yes, well enough for my own people. But we have no songs fit for great halls and evil times, lord. We seldom sing of anything more terrible than wind or rain."
"And why should such songs be unfit for my halls, or for such hours as these?" Denethor retorted. "We who have lived long under the Shadow may surely listen to echoes from a land untroubled by it? Then we may feel that our vigil was not fruitless, though it may have been thankless."
Pippin's heart sank. He did not relish the idea of singing any song of the Shire to the Lord of Minas Tirith, certainly not the comic ones he knew best; they were too, well, rustic for such an occasion. Yet he was spared the ordeal, for the present. He was not commanded to sing. Denethor turned to Gandalf, asking questions about the Rohirrim.
Presently Denethor waved to Pippin and dismissed him. "Go to the armories of the Citadel," he said, "and get you there the livery and gear of the Tower. It will be ready. It was commanded yesterday. Return when you are clad!"
-The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien
-----
AND so Pippin departed, gratefully leaving the steward and wizard to their planning. Soon afterward Denethor tired of questions about the Rohirrim, and his talk turned abruptly to a subject much less desirable to Gandalf. "My servants have told me of five girls in your room," the Lord stated. Gandalf met his gaze evenly, saying nothing. "Might I ask from whence they came?" Denethor said.
"A faraway land," Gandalf answered.
"And what, pray tell, is your purpose in bringing them here? For I perceive it must have been some wizardry of yours that summoned them so quickly at such a convenient time." Denethor said, a strange glint in his eye.
"They may be useful in the days ahead," Gandalf replied.
"Useful indeed!" Denethor said derisively. "When shall you see it, wizard? You presume to help others who cannot defend themselves by bringing them with you into the heart of the danger! What if they do not wish to be present during such dark times? But they shall be useful, you say. How, if they can wield no weapons?"
"They wield the weapon of the mind. I believe they have knowledge that we may use," Gandalf replied.
"Weapon of the mind!" Denethor exclaimed. "Your tale becomes more incredible each time you speak! They are but young girls!"
Gandalf began to get angry. "They bring knowledge from their land, knowledge that we do not possess! Why should we not use it?" It occurred to him, momentarily, that he echoed the words of Boromir in the Council of Elrond. Though Boromir had spoken of the One Ring, the thought was a sobering reminder that the girls' knowledge must be viewed with caution.
Denethor did not reply for a moment. "Wizard, you shall bring more death than you know," he said finally, tone dark and menacing. "Your foe is greater than you have ever imagined. For each legion that marches to this City, five more remain behind the Gates of Mordor. And when Isildur's Bane is returned to His hand, his power will increase a hundredfold!"
"Faramir fights still, and Theoden's Riders shall come," Gandalf answered.
"Were Theoden to bring me a hundred thousand spears, it would be of no avail against the might of Mordor. And speak not to me of Faramir! Alas, Boromir, now is the hour when your country calls loudest in need, yet you are not here to answer!" said Denethor, and bent his head once more in grief.
Gandalf stood a moment longer before the sorrowful steward. "Hope lives yet, though you know it not, lord, and I hold to it still," the wizard said, his thoughts lingering upon Aragorn.
"Naught but a fool's hope." Denethor said softly, but Gandalf turned and strode from the hall with his head high, paying no heed to the steward's words.
WHEN Gandalf returned to his lodgings, he was greeted by an astonishing picture. There was music playing, somewhere in the room, but none of the girls held any instruments. The wizard was further confused by the fact that the only instrument he recognized in the music was drums, and even these were unlike any drums he had ever heard.
Adrienne, Sarah, and Megan all halted their conversation when he entered, shutting the door quickly behind him. As he looked on with a bewildered frown, Sarah moved backward to reveal the source of the music. However, this only served to confuse him more.
It was a metal box with many odd, raised shapes scattered across it. Sarah pressed one of these with a finger, and the music stopped. There were also two black circles that looked to be made of fine black netting at either end of the metal box.
"It's a stereo, or CD player," Adrienne said, noting his puzzled expression. She pushed another button, and a part on top rose up as if moved by an invisible hand, revealing a metal disk inside. Gandalf stooped closer as Adrienne lifted the metal disk out. "This is a CD," she continued, then paused. The wizard's bewildered look did not change.
"We have a way of…saving music onto these CDs. When you put them in the CD player, it projects them back, as if the musicians were playing right next to you in the room. These buttons," Adrienne indicated the raised circular shapes, "control the music, making it louder or softer, and stopping or playing it." She looked at Gandalf, who nodded hesitantly.
"I believe I understand," he said, "but I cannot imagine it."
"Well that can be remedied!" Megan exclaimed, and replaced the CD. She pressed a button with a strange rune engraved on it, like a triangle pointing to the right with two lines parallel to its smallest side. There was a strange whirring sound, almost like the wind when it is slashed apart with a sword, except lasting much longer. Suddenly Gandalf jumped, startled, as music filled the room. An instrument unlike anything Gandalf had ever heard began to play, bringing to mind a stringed instrument such as a banjo, but bearing only a faint resemblance. A man's voice followed a moment afterward, singing in a strange accent that Gandalf found difficult to understand. When you feel all alone / and the world has turned its back on you / give me a moment please / to tame your wild wild heart / I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you / it's hard to find relief / and people can be so cold…Megan pressed the strange button again, and the music stopped, although the stereo continued to make that whirring sound.
Gandalf considered the device a moment more, then stood up with a weary sigh. "That is very interesting, but I am afraid we have some preparations that must be made." The girls noticed that he carried a pack which seemed rather full. He moved to the bed and set it down, quickly tossing out many different bits of clothing, all of much more coarse fabric and faded color than the dresses the girls were wearing. "I have arranged for you to stay in an inn on the third level. I shall draw you a map of the city while you change into these clothes," he indicated the garments he had just brought back. Several of the girls threw him resentful looks, and he chuckled, "Much as I enjoy the company of five such finely dressed women, you shall draw too much attention if you go to the inn clothed like that. Fear not, I will keep the garments in this room, and perhaps an occasion will arise when you may don them once more."
Erin sighed. "Adrienne, you'll have to show us how to get to the washroom, so we can all change." Gandalf moved to the desk, drew out a sheet of parchment and a quill, and began sketching as the five girls started down the corridor.
Erin walked briskly through the halls behind Adrienne, thoroughly enjoying the feel of being in a castle. She was loving this experience, though homesickness did catch up to her once in awhile. Much as she disliked the admission, having chafed to escape from her family while she was home, she missed her parents and sister. She tried to imagine what her little sister's reaction would have been to this experience, and found herself smiling. Kelsey would have been delighted to dress up like they had this morning. But on the other hand, this would not have been a good time for an eight-year-old girl to live in Minas Tirith, with the impending siege. No, it was probably best her family was safely at home in their world.
The girls reached the washroom, Erin surprised to find a carved stone bathtub rather than some small wooden tub. There was also a wooden basin for washing one's face and hands, and a small closet off to one side in which was kept…a very primitive-looking toilet? It was a mere hole in the floor with a chain hanging above it, yet it astonished Erin even more. She had not considered that Middle Earth's technology would have gone quite this far.
Adrienne came up behind her, saying, "Gandalf called it a water closet. He said that only the king's palace and a few of the wealthiest lords have them. Here, this is how you use it." Adrienne showed Erin how to pull the lever to release a current of water into the hole from a valve in the wall behind it. "Clever," said Erin with a smile. She closed the door and tried it herself, then changed clothes quickly. When she came out, her friends were taking turns washing hands and faces, vainly attempting to straighten their unruly masses of hair. A night and morning without a hairbrush was already taking its toll on them. Erin vaguely wondered what their hair would look like in a few days, then decided to abandon that track of thought. Hopefully they could just ask Gandalf to buy a hairbrush. If not, well, Erin supposed they would look the part of commoners.
Finally all four of the others had used the water closet and changed clothes. They hurried back to the room, praying the entire journey that they would run into no servants. Their luck held, and when they had safely reached the room, all five let out sighs of relief. Gandalf turned from his seat. "Ah," he said, smiling. "It seems you are ready to go to your lodging. Here is the map I have drawn, with all seven levels of the city. I have marked places you may want to visit, such as the armory and library." He placed them carefully in the pack, then returned to the desk and picked up Kavila's physics book, which he also packed. "I will come to you when I can, and hear any ideas you have found for the city's defense," he said. "I have also written notes of permission so that you may be allowed into the library and other such places. Though I am not lord here, I do command a certain amount of respect, and such a note should gain you entrance and quiet any suspicions." He held the pack out, and Sarah took it, while the others each grabbed their backpacks. But Gandalf shook his head and said, "Leave those packs here; they shall be noticed." Then all was ready, and they departed.
As they walked through the streets, Erin was amazed at the diversity the White City had managed to achieve. Though Kavila and Megan's somewhat dark skin stood out among the fair-skinned Gondorians, there were a few others similar to them in looks, and the Men of the White City did not confront them. For the most part the diversity was in the culture, the wares being sold and the accents of the merchants. Everything from jewelry to weaponry to livestock was sold in the many markets the five friends passed on the way to their inn.
Nevertheless, though they were not confronted, all five girls could feel the stares being directed their way. The people of Minas Tirith took interest in travelers as exotic as they seemed to be: five young girls, who should have been settling down in a peaceful marriage, dressed in ragged traveling clothes and led by the renowned wizard Gandalf the White. There was a tale worth telling there, make no mistake, the townspeople whispered. Erin supposed they probably would have gone less noticed if Gandalf had not been with them, but he was well-known and respected among the people.
As Erin's eyes drifted from the streets about them to the country surrounding the city, she drew an involuntary breath of wonder. The White Mountains were stunning, even in the near-darkness. They were rough and jagged as if carved by an inexperienced stoneworker, more wild-seeming than the Rockies. The white of their snows was the same color as the stone of the city, which Erin found to be more breathtaking from here than from the window of Gandalf's room. The full expanse of the city could now be seen, with its jutting precipice like the bow of a ship sailing from the mountain waves. Erin found herself wishing suddenly that the sun would shine down upon the white walls and reveal the city in its full glory.
All too soon Gandalf turned down a narrow, high-walled alley, blocking the awe-inspiring view. He took a few quick turns, passing under laundry strung out to dry and other marks of a common lifestyle. Then he stopped next to a stone wall, turning to face them.
"One of the maps I have included contains this path. It leads to the backdoor of the inn, which I would advise that you use. Denethor is highly suspicious of you, and I would keep your activities as much of a secret as possible." He turned his attention to Kavila and Megan. "You at least, Kavila, will need to stay indoors. I do not think it is particularly advisable for you to be out in the city during these times." He received five bewildered looks, and sighed. "Sauron has drawn many Men to his army, and some of them are similarly dark-skinned. Since most Gondorians are unfamiliar with their customs, it would be all too easy for the people of Minas Tirith to jump to conclusions and brand you a spy." The wizard held up a hand, forestalling her protests. "Take your chances if you will, but I plan to tell Aragorn and the others of your involvement after the battle, and then you would be able to wander the city freely, without fear of attack or false accusations." He looked critically at Megan. "I believe you can pass for a very sunbrowned country girl. But avoid speaking; your accent will raise questions, unless you can learn to speak like the people of Minas Tirith."
"Ah, Gandalf, can we go inside?" Sarah asked before he could continue. "My back is killing me. You'd think this backpack had more in it than just a textbook and some scrolls."
He laughed merrily. "Indeed we can! Watch carefully, all of you!" The wizard reached down into a crack in the stone that was virtually invisible unless one were looking directly into it. Then he pulled back, and the door opened easily, with a creak of…wood? Yes, Erin found as they filed inside, the door was merely (and quite skillfully) painted to resemble stone. The backdoor of this inn, it seemed, was not often used. They went a few steps down a narrow hallway, at the other end of which was a second door. Erin thought she heard a woman singing and the sound of a broom being swept across the floor. That must be the common room.
Instead, Gandalf led them up a stairway to the left, at the top of which was another, slightly shorter hallway. There were more doors here, and Erin caught a glimpse of a bed and table as they walked past the first door. Gandalf stopped at the second door on the right, motioning for the girls to precede him into the room.
It was small and cramped, with a single bed and a low table. There was no window, but there was a rug on the floor and a basin in the corner for washing.
"Half of you will stay here," Gandalf said, as the five girls filed into the room. "and the rest of you in the next room. If you wish for a bath, one of the maids will bring you a tub and some warm water." He tossed a pouch of coins to Erin. "Each room costs five silver a night, including three meals. Anything else: a bath, extra drinks, and so on, will require more coin. I believe that should be enough, for a few days at least."
"Don't think you'll have to worry about the drinks thing," Kavila said with a laugh.
Gandalf did not smile. "Nor do I. In fact, it would be best if you all stayed out of the common room during the evenings, I think. Have your suppers brought to your rooms. I must go, I have business to attend to. I will meet with you this afternoon, if I can." He nodded to each of them, and then swept out the door in a flurry of white robes.
The girls stood silently for a few moments. Finally Erin said, "Kavila and I ought to room together, since we'll be studying together. We may be up late studying, so it's probably better if you three room together." She indicated Adrienne, Sarah, and Megan, and they nodded. "We'll take the other room," said Adrienne. Then they left, leaving the pack with maps and physics book in Erin and Kavila's room.
"Well, we'd best get studying," said Erin with somewhat forced enthusiasm. Her first taste of physics back in Gandalf's room had not sparked her interest. "I don't know how long we have until this battle, but I think it might be as little as three days."
"Wait, let me look this stuff over by myself for a couple of hours," said Kavila. "We're getting to the stuff I didn't really understand first semester. I'll see if I get it better the second time through."
"All right," Erin said a little reluctantly. "But only a couple of hours. I think I'll go to the armory and see if any of the weapons can give me an idea."
At that moment, a horn call sounded loud and clear, ending on a high note. Erin and Kavila looked at each other in surprise. "I wonder what that was," Erin said.
"Come on, let's go see!" called Adrienne as the other three girls rushed past their door.
"Whoa, wait, we need the map. Whoever's got the map goes in front!" Erin said, digging through the pack Gandalf had given them.
The seemingly winding path Gandalf had led them on to get to this backdoor really wasn't all that complicated, as the girls found when they navigated their way out in under a minute. They immediately ran to the nearest battlement, looking down into the Pelennor Fields.
There they saw the Fields spread out below them. In the air over the Fields swooped five of the Nazgul, their steeds screeching aloud. Fear gripped the hearts of the five girls with icy fingers, blanketing their minds, scattering and slowing their thoughts. Kavila and Sarah dropped down behind the stone wall with a cry. Adrienne, Megan, and Erin crouched down reflexively as one of the fell riders swooped near, peeking over the wall.
The Nazgul seemed to be harassing something upon the ground, Erin saw. But the darkness made it hard to tell what it was, and Erin stood up a little more to get a better view. Finally she made out some figures on horseback, and as they neared, she saw there were four of them. Five Nazgul against four mortal horsemen; certainly not good odds, Erin thought.
Suddenly one of the Nazgul made a quick turn, flying almost level with Erin. Adrienne and Megan flattened themselves against the wall, but Erin was frozen with terror. She knew she should get down, but her body was no longer under her command. Time seemed to slow as she watched, her horror growing until she felt she could not stand another moment.
The wraith turned its head and looked at her.
It seized her stare and held it in an iron grip of terror that she could not break away from. The distance between them seemed to narrow, until she could see the empty darkness within the wraith's cowl, the plates of the mailed hand reaching out toward her. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as she felt a coldness seep into her mind, tendrils of frigid fear weaving through her thoughts, drawing them out like water from a faucet.
Then the wraith broke the connection, swooping away.
Erin slumped against the stone, breathing heavily as relief robbed her of her strength and the breath she had been unconsciously holding. Beneath her a white flash caught her eye, speeding across the dark plain toward the four horsemen. "Gandalf!" she whispered, and all but Kavila rose and peered over the wall. "That's Faramir!" gasped Adrienne as she recalled this exact scene in the books.
A pure, white light shot out from the wizard's staff, and the Nazgul wheeled away, screeching with anger. It was not yet time for them to confront the White Wizard, and so they left the four horsemen to reach the Gate in peace, Gandalf at the head.
Erin was still trembling when she turned from the battlement, sinking down beside Kavila, taking comfort in the sturdy stone at her back. She took a shaky breath and cleared her throat, turning to Kavila, who was curled into a tight ball pressed into the wall as if she wanted nothing more than to disappear into it. "Kavila," Erin said softly, "they're gone now. It's all clear."
Kavila took a few seconds to uncurl, whispering in a terrified voice, "They're gone? Are you sure?"
Erin put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure. You can see for yourself."
Kavila shook her head vehemently. "Let's just go back to the room."
"Sounds good," Erin smiled. "Hey everybody, let's head back to the room. I don't think Gandalf will be coming to see us any time soon."
"Why?" asked Kavila.
"Faramir just sent a certain two hobbits on their way a few days ago," Erin replied softly. "I daresay Gandalf will want to hear his report."
When they reached the first room, the friends stopped, reluctant to separate. "I'm going to make a trip to the armory." Erin announced. "Who wants to come with me?"
"Oooh! I do!" Adrienne exclaimed, her face immediately brightening at the prospect.
Erin laughed. "I thought you'd like that idea! For everyone else, the rest of the maps are in me and Kavila's room, in case you want to find some way to entertain yourselves."
"Yeah, you guys go have fun with all the sharp, pointy things, and I'll stay here with my nice, blunt physics book," Kavila said.
Erin slipped into the room, returning a moment later with the map and Gandalf's note. "Let's go, Adrienne!"
THE armory was on the fifth level of the city, along with the other artisans' shops. The girls passed many shops selling weaponry and armor, but they nearly missed the entrance to the armory. It was set back from the street, down a narrow stairway. Erin tucked the map away within her shirt, giving Adrienne a brief, excited grin before opening the door.
The moment she stepped inside, Erin's mouth fell open in wonder. The armory itself was not particularly large, but it was certainly well-stocked with the tools of war. On the wall to her left were hung crossbows and longbows, along with quivers full of arrows and bolts. On the back wall were swords, pikes, and knives, every type of blade Erin had ever imagined, flickering torchlight dancing hypnotically across their surfaces. And along the wall to the right were shelves stacked with the livery of the guards, and suits of armor decorated with the White Tree of Gondor. A door in the back wall led onto a small sanded area used for practice, Erin guessed.
Suddenly a robust man dressed in the tunic of a Guard stepped through the door. "Hello! My name is Vilad. I apologize for the wait, but I was—" he trailed off as he realized that Erin and Adrienne were not typical soldiers come for a new weapon or breastplate.
Erin stepped forward. "Hello. We are friends of Gandalf the White."
"You're women! You shouldn't be here! Weapons like these are too dangerous for women to use!" the man sputtered. Erin made an effort to keep her face schooled in a pleasant expression, despite her anger at the man's ignorant comments. He obviously had not heard of the Shieldmaiden of Rohan.
"We've permission from Gandalf the White to be here, sir." she said, handing him the note. He read it through quickly.
"So, I'm to give you some basic lessons in archery and swordfighting, am I?" he muttered. "Well, you know what you can tell that damned wizard? We're on the brink of war here, and I've no time to be teaching young women the arts of battle!"
"He said you're to teach us archery, did he?" Erin remarked offhandedly, ignoring the man's other comments. "Well I don't know that you'll need to worry about that part, for me at least. I have already been taught archery." The man gave her a surprised look, but she continued obliviously. "Have you got a target?"
He nodded, making a vague motion toward the door. Erin stepped out briefly, looking at the target. It had five rings, each perhaps three inches wide. "Tell you what," she said. "If I can hit within the first two rings, using one of your bows, then you give my friend and I crossbow and sword lessons. I get three practice shots maximum, and I shoot from a distance of 50 feet. Deal?"
The man gave her a skeptical look. "Fine," he said briefly. Erin walked to the wall with the longbows. She stood for a moment, marveling at the beauty of the wood and the delicate arches of the limbs. "Are they all the same weight to pull?" she asked. The man nodded, obviously surprised that she had thought to ask. She grabbed the nearest bow and quiver, slinging the quiver into place so that she could reach the arrows easily by reaching over her right shoulder. The bow was taller than she was by a few inches, and she knew immediately that it would be much more difficult to pull back than her bow at home. The taller the bow, the more weight one had to pull back when one drew the string. Her bow at home was perhaps six inches shorter than this one, and definitely much lighter in weight.
Not for the first time, Erin secretly cursed herself. If she lost this bet, she and Adrienne would be laughed out of here, especially if she lost it because she couldn't even draw the bow. She had never been outstanding at archery, even with her own bow, and this one would be much harder to shoot. But she kept her expression optimistic and her head high as she made her way to the practice area.
She went up to the target, then measured out approximately fifty feet, marking it with a line in the sand. Facing the target, Erin called to mind every bit of advice her instructor had ever given her. Plant your feet firmly. Nock the arrow. Make certain the cock feather points out. Bring the bow up, tilted slightly to the right. Hold the arrow to the string with one finger above the arrow, and two below. Aim carefully. Hold your left arm steady, right arm with the elbow level rather than pointing at the sky. Pull back until your middle finger touches the corner of your mouth. Release, and don't pluck the string. Hold your left arm steady as the arrow releases.
It was as if the arrow were flying in slow motion. Erin saw it arc gracefully, white feathers nearly invisible. She heard the thud as it hit the target, but in the darkness she couldn't tell where it had landed. She brought the bow to her side, flexing her arm as she walked to the target. She almost hadn't been able to pull it back once, but she still had two practice shots left, and then the last shot, the one that counted. Erin knew her arm would probably be too tired to pull it by then. She might have to limit herself to two practice shots.
The arrow was imbedded in the upper left edge of the target.
Not good, since she was supposed to be hitting the inner two rings, not the outer two. Erin wasn't used to this bow at all, and it was showing. Normally she would draw the string back, hold it while she aimed, and then fire after a few seconds. But she wasn't able to hold the string on this bow back for more than a second before her arm started to shake with fatigue. She had to aim before she drew, and that change in technique was throwing her off.
Oh, stop it, Erin told herself. You would have been just fine with your bow shooting at this target, and this bow is only twenty pounds or so heavier. You're no wimp. With a little practice you can hit that target just fine. And you're getting your little practice right now. So concentrate, and you can do it. Once again she took up her stance, adjusting her aim according to her last shot. Pull back, keep the bow steady, and let go. Make it smooth. She braced her shoulders, straightened her left arm, and pulled as hard as she could. The bow shook slightly, but she held her breath and let go. The arrow shot smoothly off the bow, and once again the dull thud echoed back to her. For the second time, she made the short journey down to the target.
The arrow had hit low in the fourth circle.
Erin sighed with frustration, letting go a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She had overadjusted. If the arrow had flown a foot higher, it would have hit the bullseye, but her aim had been low. Perfectly centered horizontally, but low. She rotated her right wrist, pain shooting up her arm. Her arm was going to be limp and useless by the time she was done with this. The first digit of her middle finger was numb and tingling, unused to shooting without a finger glove for protection.
Erin pulled the arrow out and went back to the line.
She stood for awhile, debating. Should she take one more practice shot, and risk being too tired to shoot the last arrow, or shoot the last one now, and risk not hitting it because she hadn't practiced enough? Back in her world, when she went to her archery league, they shot thirty-six arrows in groups of six. The pattern of her scores had always been annoyingly predictable: low in the first third as she warmed up, higher in the second, and lower in the last third as she tired out. The memory clinched her decision.
Erin took a deep breath and called out, "I'm going to skip the third practice shot!" Though she couldn't hear Adrienne's reaction, Erin could almost see her astonished expression. Skipping the third practice shot, when she hadn't looked all that happy after the first two? "What are you thinking?" Adrienne would have said. But Adrienne didn't know how difficult it was to pull this bow back just three times.
Erin's left hand hurt from the shock of the bow's release, without a proper grip and other modern technologies to reduce it. She ignored the discomfort, nocking a third arrow. Her heart was pounding with anticipation and anxiety, her breath coming short. She took a few deep, calming breaths. You can do this. Erin brought the bow up and aimed, trying to find a middle ground between her aim on the two practice shots. She took one last breath, holding it. Then, bracing her shoulders, Erin drew the bow. It shook in her hand as if she were shivering with cold, but she wasn't paying attention to the bow. Her gaze was centered on the bullseye of that target, as she recalled something her instructor had said. "Your arrow will follow your eye. If you look up, the arrow will fly high. If you look at the target, you'll hit it."
The arrow left the string with a twang, sliding smoothly off the bow and into the air. Erin watched it disintegrate into the darkness, unable to follow its progress to the target, still holding her breath. The sound of its impact filtered back to her through the heavy air, and she released the breath, bringing the bow down. She moved slowly forward, half afraid to see the target, to see that she had let Adrienne down by losing the bet. She heard movement behind her, and turned to find Adrienne and Vilad crossing the practice field. They fell into step on either side of her. Erin didn't look at them.
A few more feet, and Erin could just barely make out the lines on the target. But the arrow was still invisible. She moved closer, the other two right behind her. There! A dark line sticking out of the target…
The arrow had pierced the line between the bullseye and the second circle.
Erin felt a wave of relief wash over her, and her knees went weak. That shot had been the passport to something she had dreamed of doing ever since she was little: learning swordfighting. If she had missed it…the disappointment would have been crushing, to say the least.
But she hadn't missed it. Erin could tell when Adrienne and Vilad saw the arrow. Adrienne gave a delighted gasp and hugged her, while Vilad chuckled. "I didn't believe you before, lass, but that's a mighty good shot. Well done. When do you want to start the lessons?"
Adrienne grinned at Erin. "Why not today?"
Erin returned the smile as the weaponsmaster replied, "Why not indeed! Come back to the armory, and we shall begin!"
Note: Those of you reviewers who would know, please tell me if the rate for the inn seems reasonable, and if not, what a more reasonable rate would be. I agonized over this the entire time I was writing the chapter, and I kept going back and changing it. The inn isn't fancy, but it's clean and well-managed.