A/N: Thanks for all the reviews guys. I am still totally loving them! And see, it hasn't been that long between updates....I don't think so anyway.
I think you guys are going to like this chapter. It could easily be described as a turning point in the story and it is the child of one of my demented dreams. So thank that if you truly do enjoy this one. I really want feedback on it. I'm kinda nervous about it; not knowing if it is going to push someone's buttons or not-maybe it could even be considered controversial. (*gasp!*) So please, please let me know what you think of it. I'm on pins and needles waiting!
So here we go...
*~*~*
After I had finally calmed down and explained who Mary Poppins was, Aragorn picked me up and put me on Hasufel and then climbed on behind me. I looked back at Babes and saw that she was a bit disgruntled with the change of riding arrangements; but she was happy to be rid of the weight, she could show off better.
"What are you doing?" I asked Aragorn over my shoulder. "I'm fine now."
"No you are not. You are still shaking and are in no condition to be riding on your own."
"Whatever." I was actually only too happy to oblige. Lately I had not been getting enough sleep and with Aragorn guiding the horse, there was little need for me to stay awake.
But, before I gave into the urge to sleep, I wanted some questions answered.
I looked over to Gandalf and raised an eyebrow, "Care to explain why my brain was nuked by some eye's thoughts?"
"I do not know child."
"Oh, I get it, now we get to play '20 Questions'. This should be entertaining."
"Please explain yourself."
"Nope, you are going to answer every question that I ask you."
"And if I refuse?"
"Don't. For starters, who is this Sauerkraut guy?"
"Sauron. Sauron is the Dark Lord and he is the reason that we are all here, other than you my dear."
"Don't hold your breath," I mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, continue."
"He wants the Ring and Frodo is the Ringbearer."
"All right, I think I get that. But now what is the Ring, other than a movie?"
"Movie?"
"Never mind! Just what the hell is the Ring?"
"Sauron the Dark Lord forged the One Ring. In it he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all. With the One Ring, none would be able to stand against him. All would fail."
"Whoa! Deep. So, what's the big deal? Just hide the Ring or something. Bury it."
"Sauron can sense the Ring. He would merely dig it back up. He has many servants that serve him. I believe you have met some of them already."
"Are you serious? I have met some of the psycho's cronies? You're shitting me!"
"I shit you not. You have had encounters with both Orcs and Wargs, have you not?"
"Ugh! Don't mention that! I would rather forget those creeps."
"That is what Frodo faces until he can destroy the Ring."
"Well, then how come he doesn't destroy it? I mean are you people all that dense?"
"What do you believe the purpose of this quest is? All nine of us were on a mission to reach the fires of Mount Doom when we came across you. Frodo is on his way there with Sam."
"All right. Kudos to him and Chubbs. But honestly, is it that hard that it takes nine people to get rid of a piece of jewelry?"
"It is no mere piece of jewelry. All of Middle-Earth would like to get it into their own possession. The Ring beckons. It's power is nothing to turn from. I believe that you have even experienced it once."
I thought back to when I had been tied to that damn tree the first night I was with the guys. I had been talking to Frodo and had unmistakably been drawn to him. But it wasn't him that I had been drawn too, it was the Ring!
"Oh my God!"
Gandalf nodded sadly, "No one can stand against its power. That is why Boromir fell. The Ring poisoned his mind."
"Oh no..." I bowed my head and no one spoke for a moment.
Finally I found my voice again, "So why are you guys running around the country side when you should be destroying the Ring?"
"Dear child, I keep forgetting you are completely ignorant in these matters. The Ring cannot be destroyed by any means we here possess. The only way we can truly be rid of the cursed thing is to drop it into the flames where it was forged-Mount Doom."
"All right....and that takes nine of you?"
"Mount Doom is home to the Orcs, Goblins, Wargs and the rest of The Dark Lord's servants."
"Holy shit! And you only sent two frickin' hobbits there!" I squawked.
"We had no choice. The Ring was eating at all of our reserves. He decided to go, we let him," stated Aragorn.
That cooled my temper considerably, "That is so sad. I had wondered why Frodo was so timid and distant from us. Wow... He has my prayers."
"And ours."
*~*~*
After I had finally stopped mulling over these new revelations, I fell into a deep sleep. Well, about as deep as you could sleep while galloping over fields. After a while, I felt Hasufel's rhythmic gallops slowly fade to a walk.
I opened my eyes and groggily asked, "Are we there?"
"Look," said Aragorn.
I did look, give me some credit. But I think I gawked more. There in front of us, was a huge Kingdom built completely on a hill. It doesn't sound amazing, but the architecture sure as hell was. The 'castle' was beautiful and even the huts that sat around it were eye catching.
"Wowza..."
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown and Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong," stated Gandalf with a resigned voice.
"Uh-oh, that doesn't sound good. But why are we here if he is in league with Saruman? I mean that is the Dark Lord after all."
"No, no, dear child. The Dark Lord is Sauron, Saruman is a wizard, he used to be the head wizard of my Order. But Sauron has him now."
"Oh. Right."
"We shall reach it shortly. Come!"
With that we were riding again. Oh goody...
*~*~*
"Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here."
"Uh, Gandalf? Are you serious? I was expecting a huge shebang. I mean where are the streamers, the balloons, the Welcome Wagon?"
They just ignored me, but Gimli added to the conversation with his outstanding wit, "You would find more cheer in a graveyard."
"Nah, trust me on this one Gimli, the company in a graveyard it just dead."
They just ignored me again. But who could blame them? I mean everyone had stopped their work and was staring at us. The other four were just ignoring them, but I was gawking again. What the hell, why not play the tourist?
"Think they have any gift stores? 'I Came, I Saw, I Was Killed By Death-Glares' sounds like a good motto."
Argh, tough crowd.
*~*~*
We finally passed by all the town's people and reached the 'castle'. There, we got off of our horses (after I had to deal with being lifted down by Aragorn) and walked up the huge stone steps to get to the door of the place. When we got there, we were met by some guards that I immediately was wary of. But Gandalf sure as hell wasn't.
He stood there while they were coming towards us grinning from ear to ear. Yeah he snapped.
"Ah."
"Cat got your tongue?"
I was ignored.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame... By order of - Grima Wormtongue," a guard stated arrogantly.
" 'Wormtongue'? Damn, that's one name I am happy not to have. But seriously, 'Worm-tongue', couldn't his mother have come up with something else? I sure as hell hope that his wife kept her maiden's name at their wedding. But, oh! Wait! How could he get a wife with a name like that?"
The guard looked ready to slice me in half. In fact, he already had his sword unsheathed. The rest of my buddies wanted to help me but Gandalf had stopped them with one of his 'looks'.
"Be silent wench of things your puny woman's mind could never comprehend," the guard snarled.
I looked at him calmly and then brought my hand up to my mouth, kissed it and then slapped it down onto my butt. Yeah, he got the picture. I then put on my blankest stare and acted like nothing was bothering me.
Almost immediately he lost interest in me. Figures...
Gandalf was frowning at me, but at the moment I was past caring. Then with a nod from him, everyone else started to unbuckle and hand over their weapons. I figured I had to go with the flow of it, so I unbuckled my sword from around my waste and gave it to the guards. They then gestured to my camera that was around my neck. So yeah, I had to give that up too. What they thought I was going to do with it, I don't know. I suppose I could have tried blinding someone with it...
Finally everyone was weapon-less, but they still wouldn't let us pass.
"Your staff." The guard gestured to Gandalf's staff. I just rolled my eyes.
"Hmm? Oh. No, you wouldn't part an old man from his-walking stick?"
Wily old coot. He was good, you have to admit that much.
The guard just sighed and beckoned us to follow him. Gandalf suddenly looked like his age; he was heavily leaning on Legolas's arm and was even doing a bit of a limp. A little over kill, but whatever works for the guy is fine by me.
As we entered the Hall, I first noticed the incredibly old guy that was sitting on the throne at the end of the room. I mean this guy looked like death warmed over. And then there was another really ugly guy sitting beside him whispering in his ear. I immediately did not like him, he reminded me of a snake-and someone else that I could not place.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King," said Gandalf dryly.
The smallish ugly man sitting beside the king was still whispering but I over heard him this time, "He is not welcome."
I did a double take and then a few steps closer, then it clicked.
"What the hell are you doing here Lester?!"
He shot up from his sitting position and stared at me unbelieving what he was seeing, "How can this be! How can this be! You should be with Sauron! The Orcs should have captured you that night! The Warg was almost on top of you! I gave them strict orders..." Suddenly he must have realized what he was saying, because his mouth slammed shut with an audible click.
"YOU DID WHAT?" I thundered.
He was now cowering and I was storming towards him, "Answers! NOW!"
"You were not supposed to come here. It was a mistake I had to right," he sniveled. "When you went out for your shoot you took the wrong film canister with you. I tried to get it from you, but you left before I could."
I thought back to the day he was talking about, and everything clicked. Right before I had left, I went into the back room and filled my camera bag with a couple handfuls of film. I even remembered thinking that one of the film canisters looked odd, it had this funny gold marking on it, but I figured it was a manufacture's flaw. Then shortly after that, I noticed that Lester went in the same room and came out very quickly. Suddenly he couldn't wait to help me to my car, help me carry my equipment.
"Lester, what was in that film canister?" I asked calmly.
He must have gotten a second wind of bravery or something because his answer made me see red, "Why the hell should I tell you?"
That was it! Within a flash, I was on top of him. Later, I learned from Gimli that I made a rather admirable flying tackle onto the little worm.
I then leapt to my feet and landed a solid kick to his groin and then a punch to his nose. I heard my fingers crack and immediately my hand started to throb. That was when I noticed all the guards racing over to where I was standing over the whimpering Lester.
I looked at them and they stopped their headlong race, "Take one more step towards me and I will castrate you with my bare hand. Do I make myself clear?"
Suddenly no one was too eager to get near me.
I then turned back to the more pressing matter of beating the shit out of Lester, trying to get him to answer me. But, even if I was stronger than Lester, I still couldn't help but catch a few of his blows.
I pinned him down beneath me and hissed, "Tell me what was in that canister or you are going to have a broken finger." I grabbed him pointer finger on his right hand and started to bend it back for emphasis.
Lester turned his head to the side to spit out some blood and teeth and then answered me, amazingly. "The canister was how I was getting from Earth to Middle-Earth. I was spying for Saruman, after Sauron took over Middle-Earth, Saruman was going to help him take over Earth. The canister also was how I was transferring information between worlds."
I was stunned by his information, but I didn't want him to realize that, "All right genius. If that is the case, then how did you get here after I took the canister? Hmm?"
"Stupid woman!"
"Hey! You are not in a position to be calling names." I gave him another sound blow to his stomach to show him.
After waiting a few minutes for him to get his breath back, he answered my most recent question, "The film canister was merely a convenience for me to travel between worlds. When I used that I did not have to trouble Saruman to bring me to and from Earth. When I told him I lost it to a woman, he was furious."
I cocked an eyebrow, "Do I give a damn? Now why does Sauron want me?"
He struggled a bit to get out from underneath me, but I held him in place.
"He believes you will be able to help him take over Earth."
"Right... How does he think that I will be able to help him? Tell me!"
"I do not know! No one knows!"
"You are full of shit! Tell me now!"
I started to punch him more and in turn he started to claw at my face. Finally the guards decided that was enough and came forward, but Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn took them out before they even got close enough to do anything. I think they were enjoying this little spectacle.
I completely lost control of my rage at this point. I hauled Lester to his feet none to gently and slammed him into the nearest wall, hard.
"TELL ME!" I roared.
"EMILY! That is enough, dear child. Besides, your efforts would be wasted anyway."
I looked, and sure enough, my last little bought with Lester had knocked him unconscious.
Suddenly a feeble voice reached my ears, "Gandalf-Stormcrow you are not welcome nor your wench. Leave my Halls."
Gandalf whipped out his staff and immediately the king started to cower. At this point Legolas and Aragorn came and drug me off of Lester and Gimli took over the position over him.
"That is enough, Emily." I sagged against them, too tired and overwhelmed to do anything but watch the scene that was unfolding.
"Théoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in shadows," established Gandalf.
With this, Lester came to consciousness again and Legolas had to hold me back, I was ready to jump right back in and continue my 'interrogation.'
"Hearken to me! I will release you from the spell."
You would have never thought that Gandalf could be that, well, scary.
"Hahahahahahahaha! You have no powers here Gandalf the Grey. Haha! Ah!!"
Okay, so Gandalf was no longer the crazy old guy, the king definitely was.
"I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."
Holy shit! Saruman was in the king? This is just too much like 'The Exorcist' for my liking.
Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw a woman dressed in a white dress try to run up to Kind Théoden, but Aragorn stopped her.
"Wait," he muttered.
Amazingly, the woman complied.
I then tuned back into the showdown going on, suddenly the king started talking in a completely different voice.
"If I go, Théoden dies."
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him."
He had a very valid point there, you have to admit.
"Rohan is mine!"
"Be gone!" ordered Gandalf in a strong voice.
Théoden then lunged at Gandalf with a crazed look in his eye, but Gandalf shoved him back into his throne with his staff. Then as suddenly as Théoden moved, he sagged forward into his seat. The woman broke free of Aragorn's grasp and ran up to him, pushing him back into the seat before he fell out. He was still alive, but panting, then all of a sudden, his face changed, it seemed to be melting. By the time it finished its transformation, it looked like the king was about thirty years younger.
He looked at the woman beside him and said, "I know your face." He said it like he could not quite remember where he had seen it before, but had definitely seen it.
Then they went onto some emotional little reunion and the king grabbed hold of his sword for the first time in a long time I understand. But frankly, this was just too sentimental for my blood lust at the moment.
"Come on Legolas, let me go! I want to kill the little sonofabitch."
"Calm yourself Emily. I shall not let you go no matter how you struggle."
"Damn you!"
The guards that I had previously threatened with castration moved forward and grabbed hold of Lester and started to drag him out the door, obviously it had been decided while I was arguing with Legolas that he was a traitor. The king looked at him puzzled for a moment in his rage.
"Who bloodied the traitor so thoroughly?"
All fingers in the room pointed to me.
"She did it?"
One of the guards then piped up with his opinion on the matter, "A woman scorned is like no other."
Well at least I know where that phrase comes from now...
The guards then carried Lester from the Hall and threw him down the steps. He landed, rolled and then stopped at the bottom, even more hurt then he had been. It was great.
Théoden started down the stairs with sword in hand when Aragorn leapt in front of him and stilled his hand, "No my lord! Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account."
Lester didn't waste the moment, he promptly staggered to his feet and pushed through the growing crowd of town's people.
Aragorn then bent his head and stated, "Hail, Théoden, King!"
Likewise the people of the village answered and then bent down on their knees, when they stood back up as a whole they didn't immediately go about their business.
Obviously the story of what I did to Lester had spread, almost all of them were openly staring and/or pointing at me in awe.
I laughed to myself, even though Lester got away, and growled and bared my teeth at the people. All of them gasped and drew back from me.
Ah, this is what memories are made of.
*~*~*
A/N: I told you it would be different, didn't I? Well I certainly hope that it answered some of your questions and that it wasn't too bloody of violent for anyone. I really apologize for that, but I had to. Normally I am not that blood thirsty.
As you can now see why I am a little worried about this chapter, I really hope that you will leave a review letting me know what you thought about it.
Please?
~A~
I think you guys are going to like this chapter. It could easily be described as a turning point in the story and it is the child of one of my demented dreams. So thank that if you truly do enjoy this one. I really want feedback on it. I'm kinda nervous about it; not knowing if it is going to push someone's buttons or not-maybe it could even be considered controversial. (*gasp!*) So please, please let me know what you think of it. I'm on pins and needles waiting!
So here we go...
*~*~*
After I had finally calmed down and explained who Mary Poppins was, Aragorn picked me up and put me on Hasufel and then climbed on behind me. I looked back at Babes and saw that she was a bit disgruntled with the change of riding arrangements; but she was happy to be rid of the weight, she could show off better.
"What are you doing?" I asked Aragorn over my shoulder. "I'm fine now."
"No you are not. You are still shaking and are in no condition to be riding on your own."
"Whatever." I was actually only too happy to oblige. Lately I had not been getting enough sleep and with Aragorn guiding the horse, there was little need for me to stay awake.
But, before I gave into the urge to sleep, I wanted some questions answered.
I looked over to Gandalf and raised an eyebrow, "Care to explain why my brain was nuked by some eye's thoughts?"
"I do not know child."
"Oh, I get it, now we get to play '20 Questions'. This should be entertaining."
"Please explain yourself."
"Nope, you are going to answer every question that I ask you."
"And if I refuse?"
"Don't. For starters, who is this Sauerkraut guy?"
"Sauron. Sauron is the Dark Lord and he is the reason that we are all here, other than you my dear."
"Don't hold your breath," I mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, continue."
"He wants the Ring and Frodo is the Ringbearer."
"All right, I think I get that. But now what is the Ring, other than a movie?"
"Movie?"
"Never mind! Just what the hell is the Ring?"
"Sauron the Dark Lord forged the One Ring. In it he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all. With the One Ring, none would be able to stand against him. All would fail."
"Whoa! Deep. So, what's the big deal? Just hide the Ring or something. Bury it."
"Sauron can sense the Ring. He would merely dig it back up. He has many servants that serve him. I believe you have met some of them already."
"Are you serious? I have met some of the psycho's cronies? You're shitting me!"
"I shit you not. You have had encounters with both Orcs and Wargs, have you not?"
"Ugh! Don't mention that! I would rather forget those creeps."
"That is what Frodo faces until he can destroy the Ring."
"Well, then how come he doesn't destroy it? I mean are you people all that dense?"
"What do you believe the purpose of this quest is? All nine of us were on a mission to reach the fires of Mount Doom when we came across you. Frodo is on his way there with Sam."
"All right. Kudos to him and Chubbs. But honestly, is it that hard that it takes nine people to get rid of a piece of jewelry?"
"It is no mere piece of jewelry. All of Middle-Earth would like to get it into their own possession. The Ring beckons. It's power is nothing to turn from. I believe that you have even experienced it once."
I thought back to when I had been tied to that damn tree the first night I was with the guys. I had been talking to Frodo and had unmistakably been drawn to him. But it wasn't him that I had been drawn too, it was the Ring!
"Oh my God!"
Gandalf nodded sadly, "No one can stand against its power. That is why Boromir fell. The Ring poisoned his mind."
"Oh no..." I bowed my head and no one spoke for a moment.
Finally I found my voice again, "So why are you guys running around the country side when you should be destroying the Ring?"
"Dear child, I keep forgetting you are completely ignorant in these matters. The Ring cannot be destroyed by any means we here possess. The only way we can truly be rid of the cursed thing is to drop it into the flames where it was forged-Mount Doom."
"All right....and that takes nine of you?"
"Mount Doom is home to the Orcs, Goblins, Wargs and the rest of The Dark Lord's servants."
"Holy shit! And you only sent two frickin' hobbits there!" I squawked.
"We had no choice. The Ring was eating at all of our reserves. He decided to go, we let him," stated Aragorn.
That cooled my temper considerably, "That is so sad. I had wondered why Frodo was so timid and distant from us. Wow... He has my prayers."
"And ours."
*~*~*
After I had finally stopped mulling over these new revelations, I fell into a deep sleep. Well, about as deep as you could sleep while galloping over fields. After a while, I felt Hasufel's rhythmic gallops slowly fade to a walk.
I opened my eyes and groggily asked, "Are we there?"
"Look," said Aragorn.
I did look, give me some credit. But I think I gawked more. There in front of us, was a huge Kingdom built completely on a hill. It doesn't sound amazing, but the architecture sure as hell was. The 'castle' was beautiful and even the huts that sat around it were eye catching.
"Wowza..."
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown and Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong," stated Gandalf with a resigned voice.
"Uh-oh, that doesn't sound good. But why are we here if he is in league with Saruman? I mean that is the Dark Lord after all."
"No, no, dear child. The Dark Lord is Sauron, Saruman is a wizard, he used to be the head wizard of my Order. But Sauron has him now."
"Oh. Right."
"We shall reach it shortly. Come!"
With that we were riding again. Oh goody...
*~*~*
"Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here."
"Uh, Gandalf? Are you serious? I was expecting a huge shebang. I mean where are the streamers, the balloons, the Welcome Wagon?"
They just ignored me, but Gimli added to the conversation with his outstanding wit, "You would find more cheer in a graveyard."
"Nah, trust me on this one Gimli, the company in a graveyard it just dead."
They just ignored me again. But who could blame them? I mean everyone had stopped their work and was staring at us. The other four were just ignoring them, but I was gawking again. What the hell, why not play the tourist?
"Think they have any gift stores? 'I Came, I Saw, I Was Killed By Death-Glares' sounds like a good motto."
Argh, tough crowd.
*~*~*
We finally passed by all the town's people and reached the 'castle'. There, we got off of our horses (after I had to deal with being lifted down by Aragorn) and walked up the huge stone steps to get to the door of the place. When we got there, we were met by some guards that I immediately was wary of. But Gandalf sure as hell wasn't.
He stood there while they were coming towards us grinning from ear to ear. Yeah he snapped.
"Ah."
"Cat got your tongue?"
I was ignored.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame... By order of - Grima Wormtongue," a guard stated arrogantly.
" 'Wormtongue'? Damn, that's one name I am happy not to have. But seriously, 'Worm-tongue', couldn't his mother have come up with something else? I sure as hell hope that his wife kept her maiden's name at their wedding. But, oh! Wait! How could he get a wife with a name like that?"
The guard looked ready to slice me in half. In fact, he already had his sword unsheathed. The rest of my buddies wanted to help me but Gandalf had stopped them with one of his 'looks'.
"Be silent wench of things your puny woman's mind could never comprehend," the guard snarled.
I looked at him calmly and then brought my hand up to my mouth, kissed it and then slapped it down onto my butt. Yeah, he got the picture. I then put on my blankest stare and acted like nothing was bothering me.
Almost immediately he lost interest in me. Figures...
Gandalf was frowning at me, but at the moment I was past caring. Then with a nod from him, everyone else started to unbuckle and hand over their weapons. I figured I had to go with the flow of it, so I unbuckled my sword from around my waste and gave it to the guards. They then gestured to my camera that was around my neck. So yeah, I had to give that up too. What they thought I was going to do with it, I don't know. I suppose I could have tried blinding someone with it...
Finally everyone was weapon-less, but they still wouldn't let us pass.
"Your staff." The guard gestured to Gandalf's staff. I just rolled my eyes.
"Hmm? Oh. No, you wouldn't part an old man from his-walking stick?"
Wily old coot. He was good, you have to admit that much.
The guard just sighed and beckoned us to follow him. Gandalf suddenly looked like his age; he was heavily leaning on Legolas's arm and was even doing a bit of a limp. A little over kill, but whatever works for the guy is fine by me.
As we entered the Hall, I first noticed the incredibly old guy that was sitting on the throne at the end of the room. I mean this guy looked like death warmed over. And then there was another really ugly guy sitting beside him whispering in his ear. I immediately did not like him, he reminded me of a snake-and someone else that I could not place.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King," said Gandalf dryly.
The smallish ugly man sitting beside the king was still whispering but I over heard him this time, "He is not welcome."
I did a double take and then a few steps closer, then it clicked.
"What the hell are you doing here Lester?!"
He shot up from his sitting position and stared at me unbelieving what he was seeing, "How can this be! How can this be! You should be with Sauron! The Orcs should have captured you that night! The Warg was almost on top of you! I gave them strict orders..." Suddenly he must have realized what he was saying, because his mouth slammed shut with an audible click.
"YOU DID WHAT?" I thundered.
He was now cowering and I was storming towards him, "Answers! NOW!"
"You were not supposed to come here. It was a mistake I had to right," he sniveled. "When you went out for your shoot you took the wrong film canister with you. I tried to get it from you, but you left before I could."
I thought back to the day he was talking about, and everything clicked. Right before I had left, I went into the back room and filled my camera bag with a couple handfuls of film. I even remembered thinking that one of the film canisters looked odd, it had this funny gold marking on it, but I figured it was a manufacture's flaw. Then shortly after that, I noticed that Lester went in the same room and came out very quickly. Suddenly he couldn't wait to help me to my car, help me carry my equipment.
"Lester, what was in that film canister?" I asked calmly.
He must have gotten a second wind of bravery or something because his answer made me see red, "Why the hell should I tell you?"
That was it! Within a flash, I was on top of him. Later, I learned from Gimli that I made a rather admirable flying tackle onto the little worm.
I then leapt to my feet and landed a solid kick to his groin and then a punch to his nose. I heard my fingers crack and immediately my hand started to throb. That was when I noticed all the guards racing over to where I was standing over the whimpering Lester.
I looked at them and they stopped their headlong race, "Take one more step towards me and I will castrate you with my bare hand. Do I make myself clear?"
Suddenly no one was too eager to get near me.
I then turned back to the more pressing matter of beating the shit out of Lester, trying to get him to answer me. But, even if I was stronger than Lester, I still couldn't help but catch a few of his blows.
I pinned him down beneath me and hissed, "Tell me what was in that canister or you are going to have a broken finger." I grabbed him pointer finger on his right hand and started to bend it back for emphasis.
Lester turned his head to the side to spit out some blood and teeth and then answered me, amazingly. "The canister was how I was getting from Earth to Middle-Earth. I was spying for Saruman, after Sauron took over Middle-Earth, Saruman was going to help him take over Earth. The canister also was how I was transferring information between worlds."
I was stunned by his information, but I didn't want him to realize that, "All right genius. If that is the case, then how did you get here after I took the canister? Hmm?"
"Stupid woman!"
"Hey! You are not in a position to be calling names." I gave him another sound blow to his stomach to show him.
After waiting a few minutes for him to get his breath back, he answered my most recent question, "The film canister was merely a convenience for me to travel between worlds. When I used that I did not have to trouble Saruman to bring me to and from Earth. When I told him I lost it to a woman, he was furious."
I cocked an eyebrow, "Do I give a damn? Now why does Sauron want me?"
He struggled a bit to get out from underneath me, but I held him in place.
"He believes you will be able to help him take over Earth."
"Right... How does he think that I will be able to help him? Tell me!"
"I do not know! No one knows!"
"You are full of shit! Tell me now!"
I started to punch him more and in turn he started to claw at my face. Finally the guards decided that was enough and came forward, but Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn took them out before they even got close enough to do anything. I think they were enjoying this little spectacle.
I completely lost control of my rage at this point. I hauled Lester to his feet none to gently and slammed him into the nearest wall, hard.
"TELL ME!" I roared.
"EMILY! That is enough, dear child. Besides, your efforts would be wasted anyway."
I looked, and sure enough, my last little bought with Lester had knocked him unconscious.
Suddenly a feeble voice reached my ears, "Gandalf-Stormcrow you are not welcome nor your wench. Leave my Halls."
Gandalf whipped out his staff and immediately the king started to cower. At this point Legolas and Aragorn came and drug me off of Lester and Gimli took over the position over him.
"That is enough, Emily." I sagged against them, too tired and overwhelmed to do anything but watch the scene that was unfolding.
"Théoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in shadows," established Gandalf.
With this, Lester came to consciousness again and Legolas had to hold me back, I was ready to jump right back in and continue my 'interrogation.'
"Hearken to me! I will release you from the spell."
You would have never thought that Gandalf could be that, well, scary.
"Hahahahahahahaha! You have no powers here Gandalf the Grey. Haha! Ah!!"
Okay, so Gandalf was no longer the crazy old guy, the king definitely was.
"I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."
Holy shit! Saruman was in the king? This is just too much like 'The Exorcist' for my liking.
Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw a woman dressed in a white dress try to run up to Kind Théoden, but Aragorn stopped her.
"Wait," he muttered.
Amazingly, the woman complied.
I then tuned back into the showdown going on, suddenly the king started talking in a completely different voice.
"If I go, Théoden dies."
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him."
He had a very valid point there, you have to admit.
"Rohan is mine!"
"Be gone!" ordered Gandalf in a strong voice.
Théoden then lunged at Gandalf with a crazed look in his eye, but Gandalf shoved him back into his throne with his staff. Then as suddenly as Théoden moved, he sagged forward into his seat. The woman broke free of Aragorn's grasp and ran up to him, pushing him back into the seat before he fell out. He was still alive, but panting, then all of a sudden, his face changed, it seemed to be melting. By the time it finished its transformation, it looked like the king was about thirty years younger.
He looked at the woman beside him and said, "I know your face." He said it like he could not quite remember where he had seen it before, but had definitely seen it.
Then they went onto some emotional little reunion and the king grabbed hold of his sword for the first time in a long time I understand. But frankly, this was just too sentimental for my blood lust at the moment.
"Come on Legolas, let me go! I want to kill the little sonofabitch."
"Calm yourself Emily. I shall not let you go no matter how you struggle."
"Damn you!"
The guards that I had previously threatened with castration moved forward and grabbed hold of Lester and started to drag him out the door, obviously it had been decided while I was arguing with Legolas that he was a traitor. The king looked at him puzzled for a moment in his rage.
"Who bloodied the traitor so thoroughly?"
All fingers in the room pointed to me.
"She did it?"
One of the guards then piped up with his opinion on the matter, "A woman scorned is like no other."
Well at least I know where that phrase comes from now...
The guards then carried Lester from the Hall and threw him down the steps. He landed, rolled and then stopped at the bottom, even more hurt then he had been. It was great.
Théoden started down the stairs with sword in hand when Aragorn leapt in front of him and stilled his hand, "No my lord! Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account."
Lester didn't waste the moment, he promptly staggered to his feet and pushed through the growing crowd of town's people.
Aragorn then bent his head and stated, "Hail, Théoden, King!"
Likewise the people of the village answered and then bent down on their knees, when they stood back up as a whole they didn't immediately go about their business.
Obviously the story of what I did to Lester had spread, almost all of them were openly staring and/or pointing at me in awe.
I laughed to myself, even though Lester got away, and growled and bared my teeth at the people. All of them gasped and drew back from me.
Ah, this is what memories are made of.
*~*~*
A/N: I told you it would be different, didn't I? Well I certainly hope that it answered some of your questions and that it wasn't too bloody of violent for anyone. I really apologize for that, but I had to. Normally I am not that blood thirsty.
As you can now see why I am a little worried about this chapter, I really hope that you will leave a review letting me know what you thought about it.
Please?
~A~