Disclaimer: rite... i never ever we own the lovelies... y? ... o well... i own my characters... woo lol

Chapter 3:

Halie's eyes fluttered open and she freaked out. Not in a bad way, of course, but the fact that the bedroom chamber in Edoras was so much similar to that of the movie just really threw her off. She was extremely excited and began pacing around the room. It was certainly larger than her own bedroom and the walls and floor were made of stone, which kept the rooms cool during the sweltering months, like now. She rolled up her sleeves; the stone wasn't keeping her that cool and she was beginning to burn up. Well, it's not like I knew I would be touring Middle-Earth in ninety degree weather when I put on this turtleneck! In the corner of the room lay her bag alongside her sword and sheath. Halie walked over to her bag and opened it up. She was glad to see that everything was still in it, even her CD player with Hotel Paper in it. She took it out and slipped it into her pocket, put on the headphones and listened in comfort to the music of Michelle Branch. Unconsciously, she began to sing aloud along with Michelle Branch, not as greatly, but she was still doing it because it kept her mind preoccupied. She bent over and grabbed her sword and started practicing her techniques. She thought to herself, left foot, right foot, swing, turn, left, right, jab, jab, twirlie…. She jumped when someone tapped her shoulder from behind. She turned around sharply and raised her sword. She almost started crying with laughter because she saw it was only Éowyn and took off her headphones and placed the sword on the bed. If it had been Grima Wormtongue, she might have attacked, but it wasn't…too bad.

"Sorry, how long have you been there?" Halie asked the pale woman.

"Long enough to know that you're a pretty good singer," replied Éowyn with a laugh.

"I highly doubt it," Halie said with a smile, "I'm Halie Hunter," and she extended her hand to be shaken, but Éowyn just stared at it in confusion, "never mind," she said and took back her hand.

"I'm Éowyn, daughter of Eomund, niece of Théoden of Edoras," said Éowyn.

"I know," said Halie.

"You do? How?" Éowyn asked her.

"Oh, Éomer told me something about that and said that you were his sister, was he wrong?"

"Oh no, of course not, when our parents died, Théoden took us in as his own."

"I'm sorry for your loss, how is Theodrid?" Halie asked, "He seemed in pretty bad shape." She didn't know this, of course, but she had seen the movie enough to know that, hopefully nothing had changed movie and book wise to the story.

"He is badly wounded, but that was not why I was sent here. Éomer wanted to know what region you from are from, because you dress oddly." With that, Éowyn glanced strangely at her clothes.

"My clothes aren't strange, I just come from a place really far away, no one has ever heard of it. Ever. It's really far away from here and in this place, women and men can dress anyway they want."

"Oh, okay. I'll tell Éomer. First, I must attend to Theodrid, though."

"Here, I'll help you. I have a small first aid kit with me."

"What's a first aid kit?"

"Don't worry your head about it," said Halie and with that, she trotted over to her bag and took out a small white metal box with a big red plus sign on it, "okay let's get to it."

"Whoa!" That was Halie's initial reaction, when Éowyn first drew back the blanket that covered Theodrid. "You could have mentioned how serious this was." Of course, she had seen the movies, but up close, it was a gory sight.

"How bad is it?" inquired Éowyn. She was deeply troubled with the thought of losing her beloved cousin.

"I'm hoping not as bad as I think it is," said Halie, "do you happen to have a bucket of water and a big cloth or something?"

"Yes, I will get it at once."

Halie opened the first aid kit and took out some necessities that she would need. She took out a small cloth and a tube of Neosporin and then waited patiently for Éowyn's return. Halie stared at Theodrid. He was kind of good-looking, in a rugged, dying sort of way. She hoped that she would be able to save him from his untimely death, which made her recall her own personal experience. If I survived that, he can survive this! Be strong Theodrid, son of Théoden, Éowyn is almost here! A sound interrupted her thoughts. She turned around and was taken aback by the sudden blow to her head that sent her off her feet and into an unconscious state.

"You shouldn't be here," came the slithering voice to Halie's unconscious body, "Theodrid is meant to die, and he will die; Edoras will fall." With that, the snake-like character walked out of the room and into the shadows. While Halie lay unconscious on the cool stone floor, Theodrid's life hung but by a thread.

Maeve was beginning to tire and decided to stop and rest beside a tree. Aragorn was up ahead and Legolas was even further ahead scoping out the terrace, but fortunately for herself, Gimli was trudging slowly behind, trying to keep up. She took a swig of bottled water that she had found in her bag and continued on her way. She didn't feel like waiting for Gimli, but she heard some twigs crunching, so she knew that he was nearby.

When she caught up with Aragorn and Legolas, she saw that they were atop yet another cliff, which was really annoying, but also near a town. Woohoo, town means rest, but it also means food!

"Oooh…are we going to stop to rest and eat." inquired Maeve.

"This town has been evacuated, do you not see the fire and smoke that rises from the houses?" asked Aragorn.

"Look, we're high up on this cliff thing and I'm practically blind and evacuation means that the people ought to have some food behind. I must feed my inner hobbit!" shouted Maeve excitedly. Legolas arched an eyebrow.

"Must you shout so loudly? The Uruk Hai of Isengard may still linger!" whispered Aragorn hurriedly and furiously.

"Well, sorry!" said Maeve and stuck out her tongue.

"Wait, you're blind?" asked Legolas, who was still pondering the thought.

"You're a hobbit?" asked Gimli, "I mean that would explain your odd eating habits…"

"My eating habits are not odd!" shouted Maeve once again, "And I'm not blind!"

"But you just said that…" trailed Legolas and Gimli. Maeve thrust on a pair of crimson red horn-rimmed glasses.

"There! Do I look blind to you!" asked Maeve, even though it was a rhetorical question.

"What are those?" asked the trio, Aragorn actually curious for once.

"My glasses, I need them to see clearly." Maeve stated and began to slowly calm down.

"Why have you not needed to wear them before?" asked Legolas.

"Because I didn't find them particularly necessary and as I said before I'm not entirely blind," said Maeve,

"They magnify your eyes a little…is that supposed to happen?" asked Legolas.

"I don't know; is it?" snapped Maeve.

"Okay, I think we should continue on our way, I see a path down over there," said Aragorn and began to sprint over there.

"Oh yeah, for the record I see the smoke and burning houses!" Maeve shouted to him.

"Maeve, we must be on our way," said Legolas because Maeve wasn't moving.

"I may need glasses, but I am not deaf!" Maeve shouted.