After
Take the cloak from his face, and at first
Let the corpse do it's worst.
How he lies in his rights of a man!
Death has done all death can.
And, absorbed in the new life he leads,
He recks not, he heeds
Nor his wrong nor my vengeance- both strike
On his senses alike,
And are lost in the solemn and strange.
Surprise of the change
0
Ha, what avails death to erase
His offence, my disgrace?
I would we were boys of old
In the field, by the fold-
His outrage, God's patience, man's scorn
Were so easily borne!
0
I stand here now, he lies in his place-
Cover the face.
-Robert Browning
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Chapter 21Of Hobbits and the Dark Lady
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Emily's POV
Afterward it got two days for us to pile up the dead bodies of the orcs, everyone had to help with this task but the children. They were hurried off under guard of the Rohairim back to Edoras. With the wall breached Helm's Deep was pretty worthless and the stench of bodies filled the air and choked your breath.
Unlike the movies we did not go off riding to find the hobbits, because we didn't know where they were. At least most of us didn't know, I knew of course and so did Barbie, but she wasn't talking and I knew we would find out sooner or later. At this point we were trying to clean up the filth that was still lying around the Deep.
I had seen Hadrien crying silently as he dragged pieces and bits of his beloved Deep to the large piles of debris. His left arm was in a sling, and he limped a little from a gash on his leg but other then that he was alright. His black head was bowed in a kind of permanent respect and mourning for the ones we'd lost.
Speaking of the ones we had lost, Barbie has been in a strange silent state since the death of the little boy, I never did learn his name, but she helped bury him herself. She had buried him with her bow clasped in his hands, saying, "He deserved a lot better then this."
And that was all, she hasn't cried a tear since that first exhausting night and I am more worried by this silence then anything else. I confided my fears to Legolas and he said, "Just give her time, she is grieving inwardly as the elves do. In time she will see the light again, but now her heart is clouded in darkness."
Well, I don't know about you, but that sure didn't sound too peachy to me. However I wasn't about to gainsay the elf. Especially since I could see the other elves doing the same thing. Of the fifteen elves that Haldir had left with me, only five remained. The other ten had given their live to save ours.
Last night Aragorn, Legolas, Barbie, Gimli, and Boromir and I all gathered to say our last farewell to the elves. They had built a kind of funeral pier and they set fire to it and as if they were dried flowers the delicate bodies were consumed. And unlike the burning of human flesh, the smell was of the earth, sweet and bitter. Tolkien wrote that after death the bodies of elves disintegrate quickly, eager to return to their maker.
"Emily? We 're ready to go."
I looked up and saw Aragorn holding onto Pigeon's reigns. He looked worse then most of us because he had been on the wall when it blew; so his was black and blue all over and moved really stiffly.
"Thank you, have you seen Barbie anywhere?" I asked as I swung up onto Pigeon's back. Aragorn nodded toward the grave of the boy and I saw she was with Legolas so I let it go. As we rode away from the Deep, Theoden and Gandalf in the lead, Eomer's last few men lit the fires around the piles of orcs. With the wind blowing toward us it kept the disgusting smell from following us.
As we rode to ward the newly relocated forest I couldn't help but think that we were just not really going through all of this. We had become warriors in one night and I hardly thought about going home anymore. Home was just a word for a place that didn't exist in the real world, at least not this world.
I looked down at my hands when the reigns were lying between my fingers, a few months ago I couldn't ride a horse. The sun gleamed off my wedding band and I smiled, I hadn't been married a few months ago either. And this reminded me of all the good things that had happened since we came.
I looked over and saw Boromir watching me a small smile tugging on his lips as he rode toward me.
"And what do you think? I think we should go find the hobbits!" I declared.
"But Gandalf sent them back to the Shire, they should be there by now." Boromir answered, but he looked as if the sight of one of the jolly little guys wouldn't have hurt.
"I'll bet you that we'll go to Orthanc and find them eating salted pork and smoking pipe weed." I said fearlessly. Gandalf shot me a look and asked, "What do you know of this Emily?"
"Lots, now if you just take us in that direction I can say that we will find them very happily in the care of Treebeard and his fellows. Besides I am sick of this place and want to see some happy hobbits!"
Theoden and Gamling exchanged looks that clearly said "She's gone crazy!" But they didn't say anything. Barbie looked at me and said, "I think that, they think that you're crazy. At least they're not saying anything!"
"That's a good thing because now I have a big burly husband to kick your bottom if you look at me wrong! I answered with a wink at Boromir were was trying not to laugh. It was terrible to be laughing, but if we didn't laugh, we would all be crying.
After Theoden, Gandalf and Aragorn talked about where we should go Legolas showed Barbie how to talk to trees and thank them for their help in the battle. She seemed a lot more calm after that, it was as if the trees had in some way comforted her. Finally Theoden called out, "We make for Orthanc!"
"Yippy! We're off to see the Wizard! The wonderful Wizard of Orthanc!" I sang, I was feeling oddly giddy. Go figure.
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Barbie's POV.
I am a tree.
I am really, really, really, tall.
Ha, and I have a green, bushy head.
I can feel every single leaf on my boughs, like every strand of hair on my head.
I am alive.
Slowly, and reluctantly, I pulled away from the tree I had beendon't laughhugging. It's, um, therapeutic. Oh, and you don't really talk to a tree. You absorb it's thoughts, if that makes any sense. It's hard to explain to someone who's never done it, but it's actually easy after a bit. And if the tree likes you, you can read it like an open book.
"Barb?" Emily's voice broke me out of my reverie.
"Yes?" I said, giving "my" tree a last, comradely pat before turning away.
"Are youhmok?" She looked worried, and I wondered vaguely why. Then I snickered a little. I must have looked a little odd, standing there, hugging…a tree.
"Um, yeah. I was just communing with nature, you know?" Emily looked relived, and laughed a little too.
"Ok, I was just…wondering." she said. I shook my head was she rode away. Emily could be so weird sometimes.
As we were making our way to Isengard, I thought of Eowyn, and the women. The poor thing was shooed off to go and…I'm not sure what she was going to do, but it definitely wasn't as interesting as what we had to do. She was always getting the short end of the stick. But no matter. I knew she'd be getting hers in the next few weeks.
Speaking of our Rohirric friends, you should have seen the reunion between her and Eomer, our knight in spiffy armor. He and Theoden were being all stiff, and very dignified ( Oh, you like my tie? I didn't think it looked too bad myself.) when she came running up.
"Eomer!" she screamed out, flinging herself at her brother. " 'Wyn!" He cried and grabbed her up like a little girl, whirling her around, his relieved laughter ringing all over the shattered remains of the Deep.
When we had to leave of course, it was really sad, they hugged, and he gave her a kiss on the top of her golden head, and she tried to pretend she wasn't about to cry, and he tried to pretend that he couldn't have used a Kleenex about then.
I wasn't fooled a bit, though, even if he is a really big, six-two Rohan warrior. Well, actually, that makes him three inches short of Boromir's height, and four of Aragorn's, but he's six inches bigger around. No, he's not fat, just really built, especially around the shoulders. Think, really compact, really built, really hot…where did THAT come from? Anyway, shorter is better. I think.
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Emily's POV
We could tell we were nearing Isengard when the horses started sloshing through murky water. Hadrien had been sent on to Edoras with Gamling and the rest of Eomer's men. Thandiel had insisted that I take at least one of the elleths with me. I had picked Erumára because she was quiet and calm; and I thought if we ever needed a calming influence, it was now.
She was lovely really, not like the other Lorien elves. Instead of the light blond that most of them had she was black haired like Elrond and Arwen. But instead of blue eyes she had these odd colored eyes that seemed to change color depending on what she was wearing at the time. Sometimes slate grey and other times even tan. Her name meant Heavenly One, and she almost never spoke. At times I forgot she rode with us, but still she was good to have around for safeties sake.
I had ridden up to where Theoden and Aragorn were talking with Gandalf as we reached the tree line.
"I doubt Saruman will show his face now. Not after that defeat." said Aragorn his eyes going to the huge black tower.
"Do not underestimate the greed and power of Saruman, he is set on reaching power. I don't think that one set back…" he trailed off as we saw the ruins of Orthanc castle.
First the black spike of the tower loomed above us into the bright blue sky and then around it the watery ruins and crumbled partitions that had once been a garden wall and bridge.
"Well, looks like someone was having a party while mom and dad were away." I said as Barbie rode up. She snorted a little and said, " While the Valar are away the Istari will play!"
"But not you Gandalf." I said quickly as he looked a bit miffed. As we rode through the water I was busy looking for the two hobbits. It didn't take long to find them as they were both singing a song in rather bleary sounding voices.
"But the only brew….gigglegigglegiggle…….for the brave and true….giggglegiggle comes from.. Merry I can't sing if your chucking walnuts at my mouth every few seconds!" Pippin's indignant voice came to us from the other side of a wall.
"You've been singing all morning, can't you stow it for now? I'm trying to get my beauty sleep."
"Goodness knows you need it, I never did see such a stubborn chin and pug nose in the same face in my life." muttered Pippin.
"Boromir has a very fine chin." said Merry. We all smiled and traded glances while Boromir looked slightly embarrassed. "In fact I fancy myself quite like him really."
"And that's all it will ever be Merry, a fancy, because you will never look as good as him. Pippin said laughing as he did so.
"Well then don't go giving yourself airs about having Aragorn's profile, I know your thinking that Pip. And I can tell you this, not in a million years!"
"You just go back to that salt pork Meriadoc Brandybuck, I could think of a lot of nasty things to say about you too, so now!"
As we rounded the wall we heard sounds of slurping and munching and then Pippin's voice trying to finish his song.
"But the only brew for the brave and true.." he began again and then as we came into sight Barbie and I finished from the Green Dragon!"
"Hey!" shouted Pippin struggling to get up and falling back down again. Merry, who was not as….tipsy as Pippin stood and uttered those famous words.
"Welcome, my Lords! To Isengard!"
"You, young rascals!" Gimli sputtered from his spot behind Legolas. "A merry hunt you've lead us on, and now we find you feasting and...and smoking!"
"We are sitting on the field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts." smirked Pippin as Merry blow a smoke ring in the dwarf direction. "The salted pork is particularly good."
"Salted pork?" Gimli said, his face softening as he said it. His voice had an almost wistful sound to it as he said pork.
"We're under orders! From Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard."
Just then Erumára, Eomer and Boromir came around the wall, at the sight of which the two hobbits went crazy with happiness. They launched themselves off the wall toward him. Merry made it, but Pippin fell short and hit me full on. And into the drink we fell, girl, hobbit, and all ingloriously.
The water was cold! And dirty! And I had a hobbit struggling around his feet hitting me in the stomach as he tired to get up. I wound up drinking some of the water as I pulled up and gasped the air, gagging as Boromir helped me up and smacked my back a few times. (And it hurt just as much then has it did months ago! He just doesn't know his own strength.)
Pippin was dangling from Eomer's arm and coughing up the brown water as well.
"Well," I gasped "At least everything's back to normal!"
Pippin was sputtering an apology his little face red from coughing. I hugged him and said "Don't worry, I'm just glad to see you two alive."
And then a big….tree came over and spoke!
"Young master Gandalf. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there's a wizard to manage here; locked in his tower."
"And there Saruman must remain. Under your guard, Treebeard." Said Gandalf.
"Well, let's just have his head and be done with it!" Gimli said practicality. I grinned as I dragged my hair out of my eyes and Boromir lifted me back onto my horse. My poor dress….
"No, he has no power anymore."
"You want to bet?" Barbie asked as she urged her animal toward the black tower. After Pippin and Merry were given sits we all followed. The tower was dark and seemed to reek evil from inside it's black depths. Treebeard didn't hear and was waxing poetic in a slightly absentminded way as he walked with us.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here." Silly old tree! (Did I just write that?)
And would you believe it or not, Orthanc was empty? Somehow Saruman had crept out and away when no one was looking! So we didn't have the big scene with Grima and the wizard dying. I can tall you that was weird. What was evener weirder (is that a word?) was going through the tower looking for clues as to what was going to happen next. Of course Barbie and I knew, but no one ever asked us these things.
The tower was big and made of black marble, the rooms were beautiful with vaulted ceilings and gothic designs on everything. But then everything had a feel of being….dirty, infected with evil. Gandalf told us on to touch anything because you never knew what would wind up on your fingers.
"Yeah," Barbie whispered, "Like deadly killer dust!"
"I guess they need some strawberry bubble bath!' I said and we shared a smile. I was glad because Barbie was too serious the last few days. Now as we went through the castle with the Fellowship and the Rohirrim king and prince I felt….safe. Even if this was Orthanc, it felt safe to a certain degree.
Besides Orthanc wasn't always an evil place, and I don't believe that you can just rid a whole place of its goodness in a few months.
"You know this place would be pretty nice is we could redecorate in warmer colors." I whispered to Barbie. She snickered and said, "I think that lavender or spruce would be nice, perhaps even some white!"
Yeah, things were back to normal, besides bringing the palanatir with us.
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"This seems so utterly…
"Surreal?" finished Gamling helpfully.
"Exactly." I agreed, mouth still hanging slightly open as I surveyed the colorful scene before me.
We had reached ( insert deep, impressive British voice) "The Golden Hall" a bit late in the day, and all I wanted to do was crash. Well, apparently that wasn't an option here, unless you wanted to try and crash a party. And what a party!
I couldn't even begin to count the number of people there, finding a friend was hard enough in that jostling crowds. But even if you did get bumped a bit, every one seemed in high good humor, obligingly stepping out of the way for you, or giving their friends a hearty shove to accomplish the same.
I had also apparently made some friends I had no idea even existed, mainly guys who had survived Helms Deep. They even argued over who had seen me there and who had not.
"There she was." one said, taking a long pull at his tankard…thing "Letting off arrows like a full-grown warrior, and her no bigger than a flea."
"You did not you big oaf." another fellow with twinkly brown eyes "I saw you, and you were fighting at the opposite end of the wall the entire time, so you couldn't have seen her!"
"Well, I did, maybe I have remarkably good eyesight." the other shot back. I was sortive smashed in-between them, unable to slip away. Brown-eyes turned to me.
"Did you ever see him? Ever?" he said, appealing to me like a judge. His friend smashed his cup down on the table.
"That wasn't the question Aldor!" he growled "It was if I saw her and I did!" He looked at me for confirmation. "Didn't I?"
I was becoming very confused. He saidnot Aldor, the other guythat the argument was over whether he saw me, or Aldor did, not whether I saw him or Aldor see me. And then henot Aldor, the other oneasks me if I saw him see me!
"Personally." I retorted "I wouldn't have cared to see either of you in the battle. Your bad manners are more appalling than the Uruk Hai's."
They both stared at me for a minute, and then burst into uproarious laughter, Aldor's eyes twinkling even brighter as they guffawed.
"Haha, Freawine ( pronouncedthis is the honest truthFree-wine) too bad they didn't have her shooting insults at the enemy instead of arrows." Aldor wheezed.
"Right. Then we wouldn't have even needed Lord Eomer's help at all! They would've all run back to Saruman shrieking in terror!"
Finally spotting my chance to get away, I managed to squeeze between them and find a nice, quiet spot in the corner. I had already eaten enough to shame an Oliphant, and now I was content just to sit back and watch. I've never really been a partier myself, I prefer just silently observing.
The food was spectacular, even though I didn't now what everything was. Figuring ignorance is bliss, I just didn't ask, deciding I'd rather eat something gross like wild boar than to actually know that I was eating wild boar. The meal was composed mainly of meats and things like that, so I had to figure vegetarians must be severely discriminated against in Rohan. Though I have to admit, I didn't see anyone whip out their tofu bars!
I had only been sitting in my corner long before I was joined by Gamling, who looked as if he were running/sneaking from something.
"What are you doing?" I asked. He put a finger to his lips, shushing me.
"What are you doing?' I asked again, whispering this time.
"Hiding." he said simply, pulling a chair next to mine, deep in the shadows…ya, ha, ha.
"Um, ok." I said, a bit bemused at this odd response.
So we just sat there together, two ant-socialsjust kiddingenjoying not being the life of the party. What a dynamic duo! Then, about half-way through the evening, it hit me.
The drinking game!
"Gamling." I asked "Please look over the crowd, and tell me if you can see Legolas, or Eomer ok? Gimli should be there too, but I don't think you'll be able to see him."
"Alright." he said, and stood up, scanning the crowd. Suddenly he pointed somewhere off to the left.
"They're over there, Legolas, Eomer and the Gimli-who-you-can't-see."
I still had no idea where "there" was, so I climbed up on my chair, and looked around. Spying Legolas wasn't difficult at this height, considering his shimmering hair acted as a sort of a beacon guiding a floundering ship through treacherous reefs to the safety of the soft, silver beach. Sorry, I only wax poetic once in a while.
"Thanks Gamling!" I said, even though he hadn't actually helped.
"Hoi! There he is!" Three people in the crowd suddenly spotted Gamling. He paled visibly, and gave me a nervous nod.
"I'll see you later." he said, and commenced trying to sneak quietly away.
Wondering who those people were, I began trying to shove my way through the crowds again. It wasn't working too well, when Eomer suddenly shouldered his way through, and grabbed my hand.
"Come on." he said jovially "You wouldn't want to miss this!" I was dragged through the crowd like a too small tug-boat being pulled by a very friendly, drifting barge. Or maybe he's more like a bulldozer…
"So it's a drinking game?"
I got there just in time to hear those lines! Oh epic lines!
"Yes!" all the men surrounding Legolas and Gimli raised their mugs en-unison. Since Eomer had so kindly yanked me along with him, I was respectfully given more than three inches of breathing room.
"Last one standing wins." Gimli chortled, a glint of challenge in his beady little eyes.
"What'll we drink to?" asked a voice, and I turned to see Freawine there, who was waving his silly mugas in, a drinking container, not his facearound again
"Let's drink to victory!" shouted another man, and the others agreed, shouting out his words "To victory!"
"This should be interesting." I muttered as I watched Gimli glug his tankard down with gusto, emptying it at light speed. Legolas was slower, taking a cautious sip of the ale or whatever it was that they were drinking. His nose wrinkled slightly in aristocratic distaste, but he threw his head back, and drained the rest of the glass as quickly as he could.
Eomerthe rascalwas aiding them by refilling glass…after mug…after tankard…after pint…after what seemed to be small buckets of ale again and again. It was fascinating to watch them at their game, even if I don'tand am too young fordrinking.
Legolas invariably took that first, tentative sip before he would drink the rest, as if he were hoping this one was better than the last, even though he was keeping up neck-and-neck with Gimli…not literally of course.
Gimli on the other hand, slurped his down with gusto, slopping ale all over the place. He could sense most of the men were rooting for him, and he took to bragging outrageously as the game progressed.
"Forty-three." he slurred "And it would'veglugbeen more if I hadn't had togulp rescue that scrawny elfbamboozleat least a hundred times that night!"
"Thatsipis notglugtrue at all."
Eomer continued to fill the tankards from a really big cask, with a little twisty knob. I looked up at him for a minute.
"I notice you aren't drinking anything." I said pointedly. Eomer grinned.
"That's because I'm not a fool." he said, handing Gimli another mug.
I snickered into my sleeve, and settled myself down for a long wait. I heard mutterings in the crowd, as people made their own predictions, and tried to count how many both Gimli and Legolas had each had.
"I'd stake me money on that dwarf." one man said "At least he just drinks it straight without fussing about." There was a general murmur of agreement, and sage noddings of heads.
"I wouldn't be so sure." I said, lifting my chin up haughtily "Sometimes it's the quiet ones that win out in the end, not the braggarts." Only a tolerant chuckle met my remark, and I bristled. If they wanted to throw away their money on gambling, that was their decision.
Suddenly, Gamling appeared at my elbow, slouching behind the cask, and peering about in a furtive manner.
"Who are you hiding from?" I inquired.
"My nephews." he whispered "There's three of them, all walloping monsters who are convinced that I am their most favorite person in the world."
"Oh." I said, giggling at the thought of three monsters giving Gamling a slimy group hug.
"There they are!" he whispered in horror, ducking his head, and trying to look inconspicuous. I looked over the crowd, and saw three bewildered boys looking through the crowd.
"I was sure he was right here." one said in whiny tone. One of the other cuffed him on the head.
"Well, he isn't around here now stupid, so he must be somewhere else." His logic was irrefutable, and they were soon lost in the crowd.
"They're gone." I said.
"Thank Eru." Gamling sighed with relief. I studied his slouching figure.
"Why do you hunch over like that?" I asked.
"Because I do." he said dryly. "I just like it."
"Right ." I said with spirit "Then I dub thee...Sir Hunch-A-Lot of Rohan, fearless in the face of orcs, but one who cowers in terror before his nephews." Gamling looked thoughtful for a moment, rubbing at his lower lip.
"All right then." he said "I shallhe turned to Eomerdo I have your permission my Lord?"
"Of course." Eomer said, with a sneaky smile.
"Then I dub thee… the Dark Lady Of Rohan!" Gamling said, and grabbing my hand, turned to the crowd.
"What say you men." he shouted, ignoring my furious blush "I present to you the dark Lady of Rohan!"
"Yes!" the men shouted back, cheering madly, and clinking mugs. If they were drinking my health, then were certainly ruining their own, I thought, but smiled, and tried to look as heroic as I knew how. Like…Joan Of Arc...only much, much prettier. Heehee.
Just then Gimli who had finally reached his breaking pointbroke. And fell over backwards off the bench. Legolas smirked and said "Game over." Disappointed groans came from the men who had bet on the dwarf.
Emily came up looking flushed and I hate to say itpretty and said ," I just heard about you new title my Lady."
"At least I'm not known as the Rose." I retorted delighting in the confusion her my sister's face. Teeheehee.
"I don't get it." she finally said.
"Well, you and Boromir are being called the Briar and the Rose, which ranks as a 10 on the Sap Factor Scale." I sniggered.
She frowned and nodded, "That is pretty bad, besides I resent them referring to my lovely Boromir as a briar! Really some people have not respect for position."
She probably would have gone on to say more about how wonderful Boromir wasblah-blah-blah-Boromir-blah-blah-so handsome-blah-blah-blah-greatest man who ever walked the earth-blah-blah.
But she was cut off by three little boys who sprung out of nowhere and tackled Gamling.
"WE FOUND YOU!" they screamed as they wrapped themselves around his limbs.
"Aha!" he said in the tone you would use if you suddenly came upon a murdered person. I don't know if it's me or was he just not wanting to be around these kids? Baaaa-baaaa-baaaa (I know I know, terrible pun!)
"You love us, don't you Uncle Gamling?" one of the three asked his face bright and expectant.
"Oh yes certainly." he answered wearily.
"Then let's play a game!"
"Oh yes a game, a game! The other two joined in. Gamling sighed and then I saw a funny light come into his eyes and he said, "Alright the first one to bed wins!"
The boys were off like a shot and down the hallway as fast as they could go. Gamling looked at us and shrugged, "They win!"
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Emily's POV
The level of energy in the Meduselde was high as music played and people were laughing and drinking. Now, I never drink and all that, so it did get a bit tiresome to have everyone saying how much they liked you in a alcohol laden breath.
The musicians weren't bad, but the music was not your run of the mill party music. It was hard and fast to the point you couldn't even tap your foot to it. I said this to Boromir, who leaned over to Hadrien, who leaned over to the musicians and they nodded. After they talked among themselves a few minutes they began playing a lyrical melody that sounded elvish of all things!
Everyone turned their attention to the music and even the really drunken men stopped their arguing and listened. Then to my massive pleasure Legolas pulled Erumára onto the cleared dance floor and they began to dance! They bowed to each other and then joining hands began in slow and measure movement to sway and move with the music.
I have never in my life seen such a beautiful thing as the two elves dancing in the lamp lit hall, their long hair gleaming in the light and, their feet never making a sound as they moved across the floor. ( oh my gosh! That was a run on sentence!) Some of the women were crying and I heard Pippin give a contented sigh.
Then just as we thought the song was winding down to a gentle end and the elves stood toe to toe, they broke apart and twirled as the music burst into new life! One of the musicians gave a whoop, and others soon joined the elves on the floor. Unfortunately Boromir is not a dancing sort of man, and I was content to watch, but Hadrien whirled by and after asking permission of Boromir he whisked me away into the dance.
Thankfully I am not a Mary Sue so unlike them I didn't learn the steps of the dance in a snap and finish the song with a lovely flourish and gain the praise of all present. Rather I made mistakes the whole way through and ended up laughing at myself instead. I had a marvelous time!
And that night we got to sleep in a real feather bed! Life is good indeed, and everyday Frodo moves closer to Mordor.
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AnnamariahAs I am writing this Winkle is at his desk slowly licking his Easter bunny to a sticky death. Gag! Yes, about the boy dying, it was very hard to read but that is the price of battle, innocent people die. I hope you liked this chapter!
Slayer3 : Slightly obsessed fangirl? I'm beginning to wonder!
Valiant Pancake : Yes, with battle comes the sad loss of life even those of young children. I am sorry if it caused you any undue grief or sadness, but we simply publish it the way Emily and Barbie sent it to us. About the Princess Bride, we'll see what we can do. If Peter Falk is in it then maybe our parentsersponsors will like it. Grin
Siriusly Sirius Lily BlackHappy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Lily! Happy Birthday to you! And a lovely one at that! This could be your early birthday gift! Luv, huggers and kisses!
Winkle : Oh yes, very much! Many happy returns!
Primevera TookOh now I feel really guilty! I am so sorry for causing you nightmares! Poor sweet Primy! (gets pat on head) We'll be there in about a week, I hope you'll have sweeter dreams by then. And gave those two hobbit's a pince for Barbie, she says they deserve it for all the pranks they pulled on her over the months.
BubblyLOTRfan : I love new reviewers! Yes, I love new reviewers ! And I am so glad you like the story, please keep reading and reviewing of course! So sorry about the whole dragged-drugged thing, we do use a spell check because Winkle is a terrible speller!
Winkle : I am not! We use it because you can't spell your own name!
Snodgrass : I most certainly can spell my name! It spelled C-a-l-v-y-n!
Winkle : I hate to disappoint you sir, but Calvin is spelled C-a-l-v-i-n.
Snodgrass : Oh shut up!
Kelsey Minnick : We are certainly going to keep this up! As long as we receive such lovely reviews from people we will! And welcome to the fold of our reviewers! I hope you keep up with us!
chelsey-pudgeYou appear in this chapter as…yes…yes..yes you are indeed Erumára. Yes…calm down dear….yes..we know you danced with Legolas….yes you're very lucky…of course…yes….you're welcome.
AnbuShinobi379 Not all the elves died! But thank you for the offer, you are too sweet. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. I still can't believe we have gotten this far! I hate war.
Darafeth : Oh my Lady! I am abased by your presence! Your clever tongue and ready wit are know throughout the land as well as your use of the word woot. I gavel at your feet! (Snodgrass gets down on his knees and begins kissing her feet. Winkle kicks him and says, "It's gravel not gravel sir, now get up your making a fool of yourself and getting the lady's shoes all wet!)
ellinde : The last line was a reference to the chapter where Emily and Boromir talked about people always trying to marry them off to someone. They lost the game in the sense that they did marry…each other! It's a beautiful thing? We salute you back!
Elvin BlueEyesDramatic effect darling. No really the reason the boy died was because as sad as it is the poor child was slain during the battle. I am sorry if it makes you sad but that is how things are.
AraelMoonchildWinkle loves to use the word "nimrods" I don't but I can't stop him. I am so glad you enjoyed the last chapter! Kisses!
Snodgrass & Winkle Co.