A/N: I am really glad that you guys enjoyed the last chapter. I didn't get one negative comment on it! You have no idea how good that makes me feel!! All I can say about these next chapters is: It's only beginning....
One more thing and then I am done. I would really like to thank and acknowledge my beta reader, LeopardDance. I really appreciate all that you are doing for me. Thanks bunches.
Okay, well here we go kiddies!
*~*~*
"Ouch!"
"Hold still and maybe it wouldn't hurt as much!"
"Shove it. This will hurt no matter how I am standing, sitting of laying; and you know it!"
Aragorn didn't answer; just concentrated on cleaning me up. I wasn't that bad off, but I still needed to be patched up some at least. Lester got the worst of it of course; but the little worm did manage to get me some too. I had some pretty vicious claw marks on my face, neck, and forearms, and I had one black eye from a lucky punch. Other than that, I just had some scratches, bruises and a very volatile temper still.
I sucked in air between my teeth and bit down on my lip. The crap that Aragorn was liberally spreading onto my cuts hurt like hell. I think it was the same stuff that he used last time I needed fixing. You would think I would learn!
I looked over to where Gimli was watching me, chuckling rather merrily, I might add.
"What's your problem?" I growled. "If you didn't notice, Mr. High-and-Mighty here let Lester go while I was winning," I gestured to Aragorn, then shot him a dirty look.
"Aye, I noticed. But I am still enjoying envisioning you tearing into that man again. I never thought that I would see a woman that enraged to take on a full grown man."
I arched an eyebrow and then grimaced at the pain that it caused, "Am I sensing praise?"
He blushed some and then muttered something too low for me to hear properly.
"What was that?" Legolas asked innocently.
"You heard me, you damn elf."
"Aye, I did. But Emily did not."
Gimli cleared his throat and then repeated himself, "You did well, lass. I am very impressed."
Damn, this was good.
I shook off Aragorn, stood up and walked over to where Gimli was sharpening his axe. He saw me coming and was looking at me warily. I completely ignored him and continued on my way. I squatted down and gave him a big hug and then gave him a smacking kiss on each cheek.
"Aw, didn't know you cared."
I then stood up and walked back to Aragorn and sat down again. Aragorn went back to tending my 'wounds', but not before both he and Legolas had a good laugh. I just sat there innocently staring at the floor. When I finally looked over at the Dwarf, I noticed he was still a violent red, and it had been a good ten minutes since my stint. Hmm...
Finally Aragorn stood up and started to straighten up everything and gather his materials.
"Done?"
"Aye. You are now on the mend. Be sure to engage in no vigorous activity."
"Why?"
"You took a blow to the head. There is no telling if there could be a relapse."
"Okay, fine. I guess I don't want to be done in by a shiner. By the way, about how long until the swelling goes down?"
"There is no telling, only time will tell."
"Oh goody."
Aragorn walked over to one of the benches lining the great table and plopped down. Gimli already was sitting across from him and Legolas stood behind Aragorn. Right away Aragorn whipped out his pipe and lit up. That was it, I was outa there.
"Well, I'm gone. I happen to love my lungs, so I will let you pollute yours in peace. See ya!"
With that I was out the door. Besides, there was nothing to do in there. Out here, oh boy, let the fun begin.
*~*~*
I was just walking down the front steps to go find some villagers to scare, when I saw Gandalf approaching me. I was going to just walk right by him, but I saw Théoden in the distance staring at a mound of dirt. Man, that boy seriously needs a life...
I was drug out of my thoughts when Gandalf caught my arm and wheeled me around.
"Hey! Watch it! After being in a fist fight you're a bit sore there!"
"My apologies. How are you handling your new found information?"
I sighed, "Well enough. But it still is a major shocker. I mean I came here because I shoved a film canister in my pocket....Wait a minute! I bet I still have it! Home, here I come!"
I turned and was running back up into the Hall before I had even finished speaking. I threw open the doors and raced in, completely ignoring Aragorn's, Legolas's and Gimli's look of surprise. I spotted my backpack in the corner and ran over to it. But, of course knowing my luck, I hit a slick patch on the floor and ended up sliding over to it on my butt. By now I had most of the servants and all of my companions watching, but did I care? Nah.
I hit the wall to end my slide and was clamoring for my bag. When I finally got it open I just turned it upside down and let everything fall all over the floor. Then I was scrabbling through it trying to find the right film canister. Finally I got it into my grasp and rose to my feet and tore over to where Gandalf was watching my antics with amusement.
I handed him the object, "Here! This is it! Now how do I use it to go home?"
He took it from my hand and started to inspect it. "Hmm."
"Hmm what?" I asked excitedly.
He then handed it back to me with a bleak look on his face.
"You cannot use this to return to your home, dear child. I sense no magic on it. Either Wormtongue was lying to you, or Saruman has closed off the connection. It is worthless."
I stared at it for a moment and then hurled it at the wall with as much energy as I had. I then let off a stream of expletives. That had all the servants scurrying. Or maybe it was Gandalf's death glare?
I finally settled down to talk normally, "So you mean that I cannot get home with this? That damn Saruman is not letting me? Or maybe its the damn eyeball that is seriously in need of some eyedrops? Or Santa Clause? Are there are any other bad guys I should know about? I mean how did Saruman know that I was going to try to use it?"
Gandalf paused a moment and then told me something that made my hair stand on end, "Ever since I have met you those few days ago, I have sense a power surrounding you. It is not your own power, obviously. Someone is watching you, and I have been led to believe that it is not for your well-being."
"What!"
"Yes, child, I believe that they are watching you. That is how they knew about your idea."
"Right, okay. Thanks, Gandalf. I think I'm going to go outside for a while," I said with no power in my voice. I was just too stunned. As if it wasn't enough that I was here, I was being spied on too!
I walked outside and down the steps. I then just sat my butt down on the middle of the bottom stair and lowered my head into my arms. If someone wanted to go up the stairs, they damn well could go around me!
I sat like that and then got an idea. It wasn't a very good idea, but it was an idea all the same.
I stood up and started to sing, not caring that people were stopping to watch me. I just wanted to get my message across to whomever was watching me.
"Long lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there.
Watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you loving you
I won't let you pull me down.
Hunting you I can smell you-alive
Your heart pounding in my head.
Watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me raping me
Watching me.
Ahh.
Ahh.
Feel you pull me down.
Ahh.
Ahh.
I won't let you pull me down!"
I finished and then noticed that I had gathered quite a crowd-including the king, Gandalf and the others.
I had the decency to blush, but only that. I just turned on my heel and strode back up the stairs and past Gandalf, the smirking idiot.
*~*~*
I walked over to where the woman that was hell bent on getting past Aragorn earlier, was tending two children. Actually, she wasn't doing much tending, mostly standing back and letting the kids wolf! Jeez, were they a bit hungry?
I flopped down across from the kids and grabbed a plate of my own. I piled it with food, but then didn't feel like eating much anymore.
I glanced up and saw that the little girl, she was about six, had finished eating, although her brother, he looked to be about nine, had not, and was staring at me.
"Hey there, sweetie."
At this, she ducked her head but I noticed the timid smile on her face.
"You know, that was a lot of food that you put away for such a small one. Where did you put it?" I then made a big show of checking under the table and around me. I then walked over to where I was standing behind her, and dropped to my knees and checked under the bench she was sitting on.
"Nope, not there..." I turned to the boy that was sitting beside her, "Did you see where she put all that?"
He just grinned and shook his head.
I then did a pretend double take at his plate, "Dear Lord! You ate even more than she did! I think we are going to have to get some guards in here to roll you two out of here when you are done eating!"
At this I had both of them laughing and giggling openly. I looked away from them and noticed that Gandalf, the king, the woman, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were all smiling themselves and looking at me strangely.
"Hey, just because I can beat the shit out of a man doesn't mean I have no heart."
Almost instantly all six heads bowed in a show of embarrassment. Oh yeah, go Emily!
Suddenly the little girl piped up, "Where's Momma?"
Uh-oh.
I looked to the woman for this answer, but she just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. Okay...obviously the girl was not the only one that didn't know where her mother was.
"Well, hun, she had to go find more food for us. Since you guys came and ate everything if she didn't, we would all starve!" I put on a fake mortified face. "In my eyes, you mother is a saint. No food! What a way to go!"
The girl just started to giggle again, her question forgotten for the moment.
I looked at the woman and say that she was smiling in a relieved way and mouthing, 'thank you'. I just grinned back and winked.
"By the way, I didn't catch you two monsters' names. Mine's Emily."
Finally the boy spoke, "I am Tedúr and this is my sister Freda. It is nice to meet you, Lady Emily."
I cuffed the little guy gently across the top of his head, "Argh! No 'lady'!" I pointed to my black eye, "Does this look like something a 'lady' would have?"
He bowed his head and muttered an apology, but I realized he was fighting off laughter. I noticed he wasn't expecting me to do anything else, so I grabbed him and gave him a noogie.
It was great to watch. The poor kid was screaming like a little girl!
"Gerr off! Gerr off!" he was shrieking. Freda thought this was hilarious, and was sitting there watching laughing and clapping her hands.
I stopped my noogies for a minute, and then reached over and started to tickle her. She started shrieking with laughter and pretty soon Tedúr was tickling me. I ended up on the ground on my back with both kids sprawled out on top of me laughing.
I squirmed out from under them and picked up Freda and helped Tedúr haul himself to his feet, "All right! All right! Let's get you guys settled in for a nap. God knows we all need one."
"You are going to take a nap too, Emily?" asked Gimli.
I widened my eyes and nodded at the kids. All of a sudden they all decided that they should take a nap too. Gandalf even added a pretty convincing stretch and yawn. This was good, maybe the kids would actually want to go to sleep now that they thought the grown-ups were going to. Everyone knows kids hate to take naps.
"Ahh, do we have to?" asked Tedúr.
"Yup, everyone else is. Look even the king Théoden is," I pointed to where the kind was stretched out on a bench. As I had been cajoling the kids into leaving the room, everyone had found a spot to lay down on and were letting forth fake snores. But in Gimli's case, I don't know if they were fake or not.
*~*~*
"There!"
I walked back into the room, quite kid-less this time. I had a bugger of a time getting them to bed, but after I kept telling them that everyone else was going to take a nap they finally settled in. Little Freda had fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow and Tedúr followed suit not long after.
Everyone had abruptly stopped talking the instant I walked into the room, and then seeing that I had no kids in tow, started their conversations again.
"You guys do realize that I owe you one right?"
"Yes, we do. It is not every day that a king will pretend to nap for the sake of two children."
I looked over to the king and grinned, "You big softy, you were having fun, just admit it."
He turned his back on me, but not before I noticed his smile. I looked to the rest of the people in the room and immediately zeroed in on one person.
"Aragorn, put out that damn pipe!"
*~*~*
A/N: Well that's it until next time. I hope you guys really like it. Who would have thought that Emily had a thing for kids, eh? And the plot thickens...
Just so there is not infringement of copyright laws, that song was 'Haunted' by Evanescence. I thought it fit in nicely with the scene.
~A~
One more thing and then I am done. I would really like to thank and acknowledge my beta reader, LeopardDance. I really appreciate all that you are doing for me. Thanks bunches.
Okay, well here we go kiddies!
*~*~*
"Ouch!"
"Hold still and maybe it wouldn't hurt as much!"
"Shove it. This will hurt no matter how I am standing, sitting of laying; and you know it!"
Aragorn didn't answer; just concentrated on cleaning me up. I wasn't that bad off, but I still needed to be patched up some at least. Lester got the worst of it of course; but the little worm did manage to get me some too. I had some pretty vicious claw marks on my face, neck, and forearms, and I had one black eye from a lucky punch. Other than that, I just had some scratches, bruises and a very volatile temper still.
I sucked in air between my teeth and bit down on my lip. The crap that Aragorn was liberally spreading onto my cuts hurt like hell. I think it was the same stuff that he used last time I needed fixing. You would think I would learn!
I looked over to where Gimli was watching me, chuckling rather merrily, I might add.
"What's your problem?" I growled. "If you didn't notice, Mr. High-and-Mighty here let Lester go while I was winning," I gestured to Aragorn, then shot him a dirty look.
"Aye, I noticed. But I am still enjoying envisioning you tearing into that man again. I never thought that I would see a woman that enraged to take on a full grown man."
I arched an eyebrow and then grimaced at the pain that it caused, "Am I sensing praise?"
He blushed some and then muttered something too low for me to hear properly.
"What was that?" Legolas asked innocently.
"You heard me, you damn elf."
"Aye, I did. But Emily did not."
Gimli cleared his throat and then repeated himself, "You did well, lass. I am very impressed."
Damn, this was good.
I shook off Aragorn, stood up and walked over to where Gimli was sharpening his axe. He saw me coming and was looking at me warily. I completely ignored him and continued on my way. I squatted down and gave him a big hug and then gave him a smacking kiss on each cheek.
"Aw, didn't know you cared."
I then stood up and walked back to Aragorn and sat down again. Aragorn went back to tending my 'wounds', but not before both he and Legolas had a good laugh. I just sat there innocently staring at the floor. When I finally looked over at the Dwarf, I noticed he was still a violent red, and it had been a good ten minutes since my stint. Hmm...
Finally Aragorn stood up and started to straighten up everything and gather his materials.
"Done?"
"Aye. You are now on the mend. Be sure to engage in no vigorous activity."
"Why?"
"You took a blow to the head. There is no telling if there could be a relapse."
"Okay, fine. I guess I don't want to be done in by a shiner. By the way, about how long until the swelling goes down?"
"There is no telling, only time will tell."
"Oh goody."
Aragorn walked over to one of the benches lining the great table and plopped down. Gimli already was sitting across from him and Legolas stood behind Aragorn. Right away Aragorn whipped out his pipe and lit up. That was it, I was outa there.
"Well, I'm gone. I happen to love my lungs, so I will let you pollute yours in peace. See ya!"
With that I was out the door. Besides, there was nothing to do in there. Out here, oh boy, let the fun begin.
*~*~*
I was just walking down the front steps to go find some villagers to scare, when I saw Gandalf approaching me. I was going to just walk right by him, but I saw Théoden in the distance staring at a mound of dirt. Man, that boy seriously needs a life...
I was drug out of my thoughts when Gandalf caught my arm and wheeled me around.
"Hey! Watch it! After being in a fist fight you're a bit sore there!"
"My apologies. How are you handling your new found information?"
I sighed, "Well enough. But it still is a major shocker. I mean I came here because I shoved a film canister in my pocket....Wait a minute! I bet I still have it! Home, here I come!"
I turned and was running back up into the Hall before I had even finished speaking. I threw open the doors and raced in, completely ignoring Aragorn's, Legolas's and Gimli's look of surprise. I spotted my backpack in the corner and ran over to it. But, of course knowing my luck, I hit a slick patch on the floor and ended up sliding over to it on my butt. By now I had most of the servants and all of my companions watching, but did I care? Nah.
I hit the wall to end my slide and was clamoring for my bag. When I finally got it open I just turned it upside down and let everything fall all over the floor. Then I was scrabbling through it trying to find the right film canister. Finally I got it into my grasp and rose to my feet and tore over to where Gandalf was watching my antics with amusement.
I handed him the object, "Here! This is it! Now how do I use it to go home?"
He took it from my hand and started to inspect it. "Hmm."
"Hmm what?" I asked excitedly.
He then handed it back to me with a bleak look on his face.
"You cannot use this to return to your home, dear child. I sense no magic on it. Either Wormtongue was lying to you, or Saruman has closed off the connection. It is worthless."
I stared at it for a moment and then hurled it at the wall with as much energy as I had. I then let off a stream of expletives. That had all the servants scurrying. Or maybe it was Gandalf's death glare?
I finally settled down to talk normally, "So you mean that I cannot get home with this? That damn Saruman is not letting me? Or maybe its the damn eyeball that is seriously in need of some eyedrops? Or Santa Clause? Are there are any other bad guys I should know about? I mean how did Saruman know that I was going to try to use it?"
Gandalf paused a moment and then told me something that made my hair stand on end, "Ever since I have met you those few days ago, I have sense a power surrounding you. It is not your own power, obviously. Someone is watching you, and I have been led to believe that it is not for your well-being."
"What!"
"Yes, child, I believe that they are watching you. That is how they knew about your idea."
"Right, okay. Thanks, Gandalf. I think I'm going to go outside for a while," I said with no power in my voice. I was just too stunned. As if it wasn't enough that I was here, I was being spied on too!
I walked outside and down the steps. I then just sat my butt down on the middle of the bottom stair and lowered my head into my arms. If someone wanted to go up the stairs, they damn well could go around me!
I sat like that and then got an idea. It wasn't a very good idea, but it was an idea all the same.
I stood up and started to sing, not caring that people were stopping to watch me. I just wanted to get my message across to whomever was watching me.
"Long lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there.
Watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you loving you
I won't let you pull me down.
Hunting you I can smell you-alive
Your heart pounding in my head.
Watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me raping me
Watching me.
Ahh.
Ahh.
Feel you pull me down.
Ahh.
Ahh.
I won't let you pull me down!"
I finished and then noticed that I had gathered quite a crowd-including the king, Gandalf and the others.
I had the decency to blush, but only that. I just turned on my heel and strode back up the stairs and past Gandalf, the smirking idiot.
*~*~*
I walked over to where the woman that was hell bent on getting past Aragorn earlier, was tending two children. Actually, she wasn't doing much tending, mostly standing back and letting the kids wolf! Jeez, were they a bit hungry?
I flopped down across from the kids and grabbed a plate of my own. I piled it with food, but then didn't feel like eating much anymore.
I glanced up and saw that the little girl, she was about six, had finished eating, although her brother, he looked to be about nine, had not, and was staring at me.
"Hey there, sweetie."
At this, she ducked her head but I noticed the timid smile on her face.
"You know, that was a lot of food that you put away for such a small one. Where did you put it?" I then made a big show of checking under the table and around me. I then walked over to where I was standing behind her, and dropped to my knees and checked under the bench she was sitting on.
"Nope, not there..." I turned to the boy that was sitting beside her, "Did you see where she put all that?"
He just grinned and shook his head.
I then did a pretend double take at his plate, "Dear Lord! You ate even more than she did! I think we are going to have to get some guards in here to roll you two out of here when you are done eating!"
At this I had both of them laughing and giggling openly. I looked away from them and noticed that Gandalf, the king, the woman, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were all smiling themselves and looking at me strangely.
"Hey, just because I can beat the shit out of a man doesn't mean I have no heart."
Almost instantly all six heads bowed in a show of embarrassment. Oh yeah, go Emily!
Suddenly the little girl piped up, "Where's Momma?"
Uh-oh.
I looked to the woman for this answer, but she just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. Okay...obviously the girl was not the only one that didn't know where her mother was.
"Well, hun, she had to go find more food for us. Since you guys came and ate everything if she didn't, we would all starve!" I put on a fake mortified face. "In my eyes, you mother is a saint. No food! What a way to go!"
The girl just started to giggle again, her question forgotten for the moment.
I looked at the woman and say that she was smiling in a relieved way and mouthing, 'thank you'. I just grinned back and winked.
"By the way, I didn't catch you two monsters' names. Mine's Emily."
Finally the boy spoke, "I am Tedúr and this is my sister Freda. It is nice to meet you, Lady Emily."
I cuffed the little guy gently across the top of his head, "Argh! No 'lady'!" I pointed to my black eye, "Does this look like something a 'lady' would have?"
He bowed his head and muttered an apology, but I realized he was fighting off laughter. I noticed he wasn't expecting me to do anything else, so I grabbed him and gave him a noogie.
It was great to watch. The poor kid was screaming like a little girl!
"Gerr off! Gerr off!" he was shrieking. Freda thought this was hilarious, and was sitting there watching laughing and clapping her hands.
I stopped my noogies for a minute, and then reached over and started to tickle her. She started shrieking with laughter and pretty soon Tedúr was tickling me. I ended up on the ground on my back with both kids sprawled out on top of me laughing.
I squirmed out from under them and picked up Freda and helped Tedúr haul himself to his feet, "All right! All right! Let's get you guys settled in for a nap. God knows we all need one."
"You are going to take a nap too, Emily?" asked Gimli.
I widened my eyes and nodded at the kids. All of a sudden they all decided that they should take a nap too. Gandalf even added a pretty convincing stretch and yawn. This was good, maybe the kids would actually want to go to sleep now that they thought the grown-ups were going to. Everyone knows kids hate to take naps.
"Ahh, do we have to?" asked Tedúr.
"Yup, everyone else is. Look even the king Théoden is," I pointed to where the kind was stretched out on a bench. As I had been cajoling the kids into leaving the room, everyone had found a spot to lay down on and were letting forth fake snores. But in Gimli's case, I don't know if they were fake or not.
*~*~*
"There!"
I walked back into the room, quite kid-less this time. I had a bugger of a time getting them to bed, but after I kept telling them that everyone else was going to take a nap they finally settled in. Little Freda had fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow and Tedúr followed suit not long after.
Everyone had abruptly stopped talking the instant I walked into the room, and then seeing that I had no kids in tow, started their conversations again.
"You guys do realize that I owe you one right?"
"Yes, we do. It is not every day that a king will pretend to nap for the sake of two children."
I looked over to the king and grinned, "You big softy, you were having fun, just admit it."
He turned his back on me, but not before I noticed his smile. I looked to the rest of the people in the room and immediately zeroed in on one person.
"Aragorn, put out that damn pipe!"
*~*~*
A/N: Well that's it until next time. I hope you guys really like it. Who would have thought that Emily had a thing for kids, eh? And the plot thickens...
Just so there is not infringement of copyright laws, that song was 'Haunted' by Evanescence. I thought it fit in nicely with the scene.
~A~