The Strangers in Middle Earth

I do not own the rights to Lord of the Rings

Chapter Two

The Wizards Words

I sat in a corner of the Golden Hall of Edoras cleaning my sword while Eothain and Freda spoke with a young woman named Eowyn, the niece of King Theoden. The Golden Hall appeared to be the centre of Rohans leadership. The room we were in was the main hall where meetings were carried out and the king gave audiences. Sitting at the head of the hall on an ornately carved throne was King Theoden. Sitting next to him was the old man in white robes whose name was Gandalf. He appeared to be some sort of advisor and he slightly reminded me of the wizard Merlin who I had heard about in stories when I was a boy. Also in the hall were soldiers and a few others who I wasn't sure what their purpose was including a short man with a massive beard and a tall blonde man who had pointed ears. I had noticed that they looked at me with something that resembled either recognition or confusion. The King listened to the two children as they told him of their home village being burned to the ground by Orc's and wild men. Their mother had said that she'd meet them at Edoras but there was no sign of her. I looked at the floor and shook my head. It was more than likely she was dead.

'They had no warning,' Eowyn said to her uncle. 'They were un armed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the West Fold burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree.'

'There is still something I do not know,' Theoden said and looked at me. 'What part do you play in this?'

I put my sword back in its sheath and stood up. While the two children had been explaining what happened to them I had planned my own story. I didn't know what was happening so I decided to create a story of my own.

'I was lost,' I explained. 'When I saw what had happened to a village I decided to come here to find out what was happening.'

'I don't think questioning John Harris will accomplish much,' Gandalf said to the king. 'We have now seen a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron.'

I didn't know who or what they were talking about. I remained silent and kept my face impassive, a skill I had learned at the feasts at my uncles castle when I had to be polite to guests.

'Ride out and meet him head on,' Gandalf advised the king. 'Draw him away from your women and children. You must might.'

'You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak,' a man who was smoking a pipe reminded Theoden. 'Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king.'

'They will be three hundred leagues from here by now,' Theoden said and stood up from his throne. 'Eomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want from me but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war.'

'Open war is upon you,' the man with the pipe told Theoden with remarkable confidence, 'whether you would risk it or not.'

All eyes turned towards that man in surprise at his boldness for essentially telling a king he was wrong. I know I wouldn't have dared to do that.

'When last I looked,' Theoden said in a way which emphasised his authority, 'Theoden, not Aragorn was King of Rohan.'

'Then what is the king's decision?' asked Gandalf.

After a few moments of thought Theoden made up his mind.

'Hama,' he said to one of his soldiers, 'tomorrow morn announce that the city will empty and we shall go the Helm's Deep.'

'Yes Theoden King,' the man named Hama answered, bowed and then left the hall.

'Gandalf, as you ride Shadowfax I ask you to find Eomer.'

'Of course I will,' the old man answered.

'John Harris,' Theoden said and looked at me, 'I take it that you are a soldier.'

'I'm a knight,' I clarified.

'Then I may have need of your sword. We'll pay you for troubles.'

'I'm not a mercenary,' I said quickly. 'I'll be happy to help though after what does animals did.'

'Thank you,' the king said and turned to his servants. 'Prepare rooms for our guests.'

He then left the main hall to work on the plans for leaving while I was left thinking. In all my life I had never heard of a land named Rohan or a place named Helm's Deep. Something was very wrong.

'John,' said Gandalf, who I somehow didn't notice had approached me, 'may I have a word?'

'Of course My Lord,' I responded.

I followed Gandalf through the main doors and out into the cool night air. The stars were partly covered by clouds but the few that were visible were shining brightly. The city was silent except the sounds of singing and shouting coming from an inn.

'Now tell me John, how long has it been since you came through the portal?'

Obviously I was taken aback by the question. How did he know about that?

'How did you know I came through a portal?' I asked him; slowly I started to think that he was a wizard.

'Several months ago an elven lady named Galadriel foresaw that portals would open from here to another world,' he explained.

'Another world?' I asked him. 'You mean, this isn't the world I was born and raised on?'

'No. Can you think of another explanation? This land has no name you know and the mountains and forests and rivers are not any you remember. Trust me John, you are not the first man I have met that has travelled between worlds.'

'There was another?' I asked him.

'There have been others yes. The last time this happened was some sixty years ago.'

'Is there a way back?' I asked him.

'No. The portals are a very rare event and I'm surprised they have happened twice in a man's lifetime.'

I thought about my cousins and uncle. We had been riding the same direction towards the portal. When I told Gandalf about that her nodded.

'If they came through the portal as well then they are bound to have come this world. And I doubt it will just be your family.'

'What do you mean?'

'Galadriel predicted that there would be more than one portal. I think it is likely that more than just you and your family came through.'

'I see,' I murmured as I tried to take all of this in. I had more or less volunteered to fight in a war that I really had no need to be in and this man was claiming that I was in another world. I tried to think of every possible explanation, a Lancastrian trick. Unlikely. Maybe these people were all insane. No, they all appeared sound of mind. Maybe I was dreaming. That was possible. 'Can you tell me what Helms Deep is?'

'Helm's Deep is the greatest fortress of Rohan. No attacker has ever breached its walls.'

'Good. A strong defence is always a good idea.'

'Excuse me,' Gandalf and I turned and saw one of the servants behind us. 'Lady Eowyn asked me to show you to your room Lord John.'

'Oh thank you,' I said to her. 'I'm no Lord,' I added. 'I'm just a knight.'

'John,' Gandalf said to me before I went back inside, 'you will do great things in this world. Believe in yourself and you will accomplish wonders.'

'I'll keep that in mind,' I said to him and then went inside.

She showed me to a small but comfortable room with a bed, desk and small wardrobe. I immediately got ready for bed not knowing that a great adventure awaited me.

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Review responses:

TimC34: I hope you enjoyed this one as well.

KiyaJinnskywalkerKenobie (Damn that's a mouthful): It took me a while to figure out what Gandalf would say to John. I hope you think I did it well.