Life Sucks
By: Honolulu
Eowyn placed a wet rag on Maria's forehead. Instructed by her Uncle, Eowyn was to watch over Maria while Legolas spoke with the others. Two hours had already passed since she was told. Giving off a big sigh, she grabbed the rag and wet it again with cold water. Unnoticed by her, Maria's eyelids started to flutter. She slowly opened her eyes only to shut them again. She shifted on the bed catching Eowyn's attention. "How do you feel?" She asked while dabbing her face.
"I feel like a crapfactory that still hasn't stop producing its days work." Was her response.
"What?" Eowyn asked, confused by her answer. Maria merely waved her off.
"How long have I been out?" She asked. Running her hands over her tired face.
"Nearly three hours, what happened?"
"I'm not entirely sure, all I know is that it felt like my head was ready to explode. Imagine dozens of sharp pins being rammed into your brain." She saw Eowyn wince. "Now you understand how I feel. Where is everyone?"
"They are speaking with one another about what happened and future plans for us." She nodded, drinking the water Eowyn handed to her.
"Why aren't you with them?" She asked between gulps.
"You think I want to remain here?!" Maria raised an eyebrow. "I mean no offence,"
"None taken."
"My uncle refuses to allow me in any thing he thinks is dangerous or harmful to me,"
"He thinks talking is dangerous?"
"He forbids me to go outside the gates afraid something will happen to me."
"You have a strange uncle." Maria was mumbling to herself, barely paying attention to Eowyn.
"That is besides the point! How I envy you, your companions respect you even my Uncle respects you! Yet he refuses to acknowledge my own strengths and ideas." Wincing at the crack her back made, Maria slowly sat up but stopped at Eowyn's comment. She shook her head and gave a small laugh. Removing the blankets covering her legs, she got off the bed and stretched.
"You think that respect came easy?" She thought about it for a second. "Okay, maybe some of it did but when it came to letting me join this whole quest thing, I had to step up."
"What do you mean?" Maria pinched the bridge of her nose and motioned her to take a seat.
"My friend Boromir, I had to fight him to even consider the idea of letting me go. He had that whole notion in his head that 'woman-are-weak-and-not-allowed-to-fight' crap. I fought him and won but not without some bruises. It was easy enough to convince Aragorn and Legolas because they are my friends and they understand me. They also trained me and know what I'm capable of. Now that I think about it, I had to fight a lot of people to just be here." Maria looked her straight in the eyes. "I understand where you're coming from, I do. But the difference between me and you...I'm more of an idiot than you are."
She laughed at the expression on Eowyn's face. "I want to make this clear to you as possible. Despite what you may think, this is not fun and games." She raised her hand to stop her from speaking. "I know what you're going to say. But somewhere in you, you think this is a game or something where you can prove yourself. This is nowhere close to something fun. Hell! I know. This is life and death, hesitate or be distracted for just a second on the battle ground and you'll find yourself six feet under the ground."
"I understand that you want to help. It's okay to think like that but you also got to consider other people. When I was asked to join, I totally freaked out. I was scared and did not want to do it but yet another part of me wanted to say yes because it seemed exciting. I could help solve some of the problems but I was more focus on thinking it was a game. It didn't truly hit me until I lost someone close to me and nearly got myself killed." Eowyn listened with somber eyes. "This scar didn't come out of nowhere." She rubbed her shoulder. "When I say consider other people, I'm talking about people like your Uncle. I also can relate from where he is coming from. He cares for you deeply, I see it in his eyes and I know it would devastate him to see you hurt. On the battle field, you are more concerned about yourself than anyone else."
"Its either kill or be killed, you or the enemy. I sure as hell don't want it to be me. You have to focus more on the cause than your loved ones, your comrades. That distraction will get you killed; it got me killed! Trust me when I say that it's not a great experience. Try to avoid it. Your Uncle is afraid that he'll be too worried about you and will not pay attention on surviving himself."
"But I can handle myself!" Eowyn protested.
"That's still not good enough!" She took a deep breath. "Look. Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn can fight and keep themselves safe, that doesn't make me worry any less! But I have to have enough confidence in their skills to keep them alive! I joined this quest without really giving a thought to my friends and I know that they're worried about me. They have no choice but to accept my position here and have confidence in me as well. Your Uncle hasn't reached that level of confidence yet. He will, trust me he will."
"That's not good enough! When will he allow me to help?!" Eowyn stood up and started to pace.
"Are you that anxious to get hurt or even killed in battle?" She sent Maria a sharp look. "It sure looks like it to me. I don't think your fully grasping what I'm trying to say."
"I understand."
"If you did, I wouldn't have to tell you all of this and you wouldn't be acting this way right now." Maria crossed her legs and thought some more. "Tell me this, have you really been in a full on fight? Where blood is spilled?" She shook her head no. "Have you ever killed anything, except maybe for food reasons?" Another no. "That's what I thought."
"What's your point?"
"You think you've felt fear? You know nothing until you are out there; blood spilt on your hands, your friends, comrades dying around you. Enemy all around you, you don't know who is going to become your next opponent. It's going to hit you, hit you hard. The shock of it all, pray it happens before you step out onto the field." Eowyn opened her mouth to say something when a knock on the door interrupted her. "Come in!" Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli stepped inside.
"Lady Eowyn, your Uncle requests that you come see him immediately." Legolas said. She nodded.
"Oh! Eowyn!"
"Yes?"
"Think about what I said." She nodded, bid them good day and left. When the door clicked shut, all eyes turned to her.
"What?" Legolas sat next to her on the bed and grasped her hand.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm fine, my head still hurts but I'll live. Anyone want to tell me what the hell happened to me back there?"
"What do you remember?" Aragorn asked.
"Pain and lots of it! And some very disturbing images, there was also a voice but I don't remember what it said. Why?"
"Saruman was inside your head. He was trying to break you, in more than one way. It seems that he is pursuing us even harder than before and is interested in what is happening with Theoden since he no longer has a hold on him." Gandalf explained.
"Okay but why go after me? Why didn't he mind probe the rest of you?"
"Legolas and I would've noticed his presence right away, Aragorn has natural defenses in his mind from Elrond and Gimli...well..."
"Don't finish that sentence wizard." Gimli grumbled.
"We're just glad that you're alright. We have some more news to tell you." Aragorn said.
"Good luck!" Maria yelled out to Gandalf as he rode out of the stable. "So what exactly is Helm's Deep? Care to clarify?" She asked the three of them as they walked back to the hall.
"It is a fortress for Rohan. Its been used before to be as a shield defense during war. It has one fault though. It is pinned against a mountain. There is no place to run if we are at a loss." She nodded at Aragorn's explaination. " We are to move out tomorrow, early. Pack whatever you need but try to pack light, we have a way to go before we reach our destination. Get plenty of rest, we're going to need it." Sharing a glance with Legolas, she walked with Aragorn to try to speak with Theoden. Gimli and Legolas went to see about getting more weaponry.
When the two of them entered the hall, they could see most of the servants packing away rations and weapons into large chests. Seeing Theoden, Maria moved forward but stopped when she noticed that Aragorn wasn't following behind her. Turning around, she saw him speaking with Eowyn. Moving behind a pillar, she listened and watched their interaction. She saw Eowyn swing around a sword with skill. She heard the clang as it met with Aragorn's short blade.
"You have some skill with a blade." He said. Moving the sword upward, she brought the blade up to his face. Keeping it there for a second, she placed it back in the sheath and into the chest.
"Women of this country learned long ago that those without swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain."
"What do you fear milady?"
"A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
"You are a daughter of Kings. A shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate." Putting his weapon away, he nodded and walked away. Maria raised an eyebrow at Eowyn's reaction to him. Her face was flushed and her eyes...well...she knew what that look meant. Moving away from the pillar she let her presence be known.
"I see that you didn't let our conversation fully soak in but am I going have to give you a warning?"
"Lady Maria!"
"Hi!"
"Do you eavesdrop now?" Eowyn asked, continuing on putting things away.
"When it concerns someone then yes."
"What is it that you wish to speak about? As you can see I am a bit busy."
"Continue on, this will only take a minute. It's about Aragorn." She got her full attention now.
"Lord Aragorn?! Is something wrong?"
"Yes, 'Lord Aragorn'. I just want to let you know that he's taken." Her eyes got wide.
"I don't know what you mean."
"I think you do. His heart belongs to a good friend of mine. They truly love each other. The necklace he wears, it's from her. Had you two met at another time, I would be happy but unfortunately this is not the situation. Despite what Aragorn is thinking right now, she will wait for him. And I will not let anyone get between them. They both deserve this happiness, especially him." Maria gave her one more glance then left. Eowyn watched her join Aragorn and her Uncle.
Maria joined Legolas in their room. She plopped down on the bed and kicked off her shoes. "Oi. It's been a long day." He smiled at her.
"Have you packed away your things?"
"No! Damnit. I forgot but I don't want to get up!" She complained.
"I already did it for you." She looked up at him.
"You did? Thank you babe." He lay on the bed next to her and simply looked at her. She lay on her side to face him. With her fingers, she took out the braids in his hair. She moved to touch his face. He leaned in to her touch. He pulled her closer to him until her upper body laid on top of his. He placed a light kiss on her lips.
"Will you sing me something?" He asked.
"What do you want me to sing?"
"Anything. I just want to hear your voice."
Dreams to dream in the dark of the night
When the world goes wrong, I can still make it right
I can see so far in my dreams
I'll follow my dreams
Until they come true.
Legolas positioned himself and placed his head against her heart. He felt her chest rumble from the vibrations of her singing.
Come with me, you will see what I mean,
There's a world inside no one else ever sees.
You will go so far in my dreams,
Somewhere in my dreams,
Your dreams will come true
Lately, whenever he would sleep, Legolas would wake up listening to her heartbeat. It was comforting to him and made him sleep better in the night. He sighed in content when he felt her fingers running through his hair.
There is a star waiting to guide us
Shining inside us when we close our eyes!
Don't let go, if you stay close to me
In my dreams tonight, you will see what I see
Dreams to dream, as near as can be
Inside you and me, that always come true
"Amin mela ille." He told her.
"What does that mean?" She asked. When she received no answer, she looked at him. His eyes open and glossy, she realized that he was asleep. Shaking her head, she covered themselves and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead. Closing her eyes, she let her body succumb to the exhaustion.
To be continued...
Authors Note: Okay, so I lied about the next update. I know this chapter is short also but I've been feeling the itch to write and I wanted to write them out before it goes away. I've been writing every chance I get, so here it is. Review! Check my group site to read the original Training Haldir chapter. It's on my bio. Review!