A/N: Once again, I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful reviews. As of right now, I have over four hundred! Can you believe it? I know I sure can't!
I promise this story is going to pick up in the action department and we will learn a bit more about why Emily is actually in Middle-Earth a little later. So hold on to your pants, kiddies, there is still a lot more to go!
*~*~*
I want to dedicate this chapter to Cassie-bear01. Happy birthday, dear. I hope this was a surprise!
*~*~*
Alrighty, on with the story!
*~*~*
"Hallelujah and praise be! I can breath again!"
Needless to say, I finally got Aragorn to put out the pipe, no easy feat might I mind you. That man is addicted to that pipe, or maybe it is what is in it...
I plopped down on one of the benches and started eating with all the rest that happened to be there. For the small amount of people that we first saw when we came into the Hall, there were a lot of people now! I looked across from me to see who I could make conversation with and saw the woman that was with the two kids earlier.
"Howdy."
"Hello. I would sincerely like to thank you for what you did with those two children."
"Hey, don't sweat it. It's odd, kids just seem drawn to me. For the life of me I cannot think of what would have them do that. I mean, most people don't like me to begin with, let alone kids."
"Why would someone not like you? You seem to be very cheerful and at one with the world."
"Uh, sure. But, most people don't like me because I am too opinionated and independent. And why am I telling you all this? I don't even know your name for God's sake and here I am telling you my deepest and darkest secrets!"
"I was wondering when you were going to notice that," piped up Gimli.
I threw him a dirty look and growled, "Shut up if you value your beard. I know for a fact you are a heavy sleeper, so I would be able to shave it off without you knowing about it-until you wake up that is."
He looked at me skeptically and I could just see the wheels turning in his head. Suddenly he paled slightly and looked away.
"Ha! Told ya! Just out of curiosity, might it have something to do with a log, lake, and you not being able to swim? I think that kinda proved to me that you are a heavy sleeper."
He whipped around to face me, but then looked away again. I guess he wasn't going to run the risk of pissing me off. After all, I did have some backing behind my threat.
I looked to the woman in sitting in front of me, thinking I should apologize for ignoring her, but only to see her enjoying our bantering. I cocked an eyebrow at her but that only got her chuckling to become full fledged laughter.
I felt all the eyes in the room on us and blushed slightly. But then I actually looked around me and saw that all the men were actually staring at the woman. I mean yeah, she did have a nice laugh, but then again, I am a woman myself. I dunno, I just didn't think that a laugh warranted all that attention.
'What? Is Emily feeling jealous?'
I leapt to my feet with a slight shriek. Instantly all the people's faces turned to me to see what I was screaming about. I completely ignored them and started to lay into Babes.
"What the hell are you doing! You are not to go through my thoughts! I thought we covered that aspect of our relationship! But, no....Babes the All-Powerful Horse is better than that!"
I stopped to take a breath and then noticed that I had been ranting out loud. Everyone, except the ones that knew about Babes, were looking at me like I was insane.
"Yes, I am talking to my horse that is currently...." I stopped to ask Babes were she was, "...in the stables half way across the town. Do you have a problem with that?" I glared around, but everyone was suddenly busy eating.
I quickly finished my 'conversation' with Babes and sat back down. I looked up when I heard more laughter, only to find the woman was shaking her head and chuckling.
"What?"
"I think you are the first woman that the Guard has ever been leery of, if not frightened."
"Yeah well after you beat up a guy, you tend to get a lot more respect."
I fingered the bump on my head and then my black eye; they were getting better-not so tender anymore.
"Oh! By the way, I'm Emily." I stuck out my hand to shake hers, but she just looked at it a minute and then answered, "I am called Éowyn." She then clasped her hand on my forearm and then let go.
"Alrighty. I still can't believe that I forgot to introduce myself. So anyway, why are you here?"
"I am King Théoden's niece."
"Oh, I see. So you guys do the extended family thing?"
"I do not understand your meaning, Lady Emily."
"Woah! Hold up! Just drop the 'lady' bit. That bugs the hell out of me. But, should I be calling you Lady Éowyn?"
"Nay, you have no need. I consider you a friend, and friends have no need for a title."
"Good, because there was a snowball's chance that I would have remembered."
We both turned our attention back to our food then. I mean it wasn't a lack of things to say, but nature was running it's course then-I was hungry! After I had devoured a good portion of the food on my plate, I finally tuned in enough to hear what the others were saying around me.
"You must draw him away from your women and children; ride out to him. You must fight!" Gandalf stated impassioned.
Aragorn added to this before Théoden could say anything. "You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."
Théoden sighed, "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is that you want of me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
I just had to add my two cents worth, "Well, if you don't make the first move now, the enemy will instead and then you will only be in a defense position instead of the offense. If that happens, you will be able to do nothing but sit and wait to see what happens next. If I were you, I would want to be the one to instigate the occurence, not have to second guess."
Everyone just stared at me in surprise.
"What? You haven't heard of football?"
Aragorn grinned and then spoke again, "Open war is upon you. Whether you would risk it or not."
"When I last looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
Aragorn had the decency to blush and then started a conversation with Gimli.
"Hmm," I said tiredly, "Good point. But last time I looked, Aragorn wanted to do something instead of waiting around like an old woman-Théoden did not."
I glanced up just in time to see that Théoden's face was turning a satisfying shade of purple. Good, he needed it, the high-handed jerk.
"You dare to call me an old woman!" We now had the attention of the entire Hall.
"Well, yes, I suppose so. But if the shoe fits, wear it."
"I shall have your head for this lack of respect! I shall lop off your head myself!"
I leapt to my feet, just as furious. "Bring it on! It is just like you men to want to lop off a defenseless woman's head. It has barely been a week since I had another ass like yourself," Théoden gasped. "Yes, you heard me, ass, like you want to lop off my head. Only this man was young enough to actually catch me!"
Éowyn moved in-between Théoden and myself and asked, "This man, that threatened to behead you, did he look something like my uncle?"
"Yeah, he did."
Aragorn then added, "Aye, Lady, 'twas your brother, Éomer, that she speaks of."
"Impossible! Éomer would never harm a woman!"
"Very true, he did not harm Emily, but only bristled at her insults."
"I had every right to insult him! He kept me prisoner for three days, without any food or water, might I add!" I defended myself.
"He did not!"
"Yeah, Éowyn, he did. And he was a total ass about it too. He thought I was a spy for Saruman. Can you believe it! Me, a spy? And for Saruman none the less!"
Éowyn started to laugh at this, and Théoden settled down enough that he no longer threatened me with a loss of a limb.
Gandalf walked over to where Théoden was now sitting and asked gently, "What is the king's decision? There is no time to delay."
*~*~*
After we had all finished eating, Théoden had the entire village assemble below the steps to the Hall. It was his decision on what to do that had everyone fidgeting. No on was foolish enough to not be worrying about what the outcome of his decision would be.
One of the guards stepped forward from the ranks and shouted, "By order of the king, the city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourselves with treasures. Take only what provisions you need."
"Damn," I muttered. I was not the only one.
Immediately the villagers dispersed to begin the packing. They only had until the morning, when we would move out.
The people that were staying in the castle returned there and sought out their beds only after they too were ready for the journey-all except Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf and myself. We followed Gandalf to the stables where he readied Shadowfax.
I gave Babes a glare for her earlier exploits, but she chose to ignore it. I tuned in again just in time to hear Gimli complaining about the king's decision.
"Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?"
Aragorn sighed, but he did see the logic in the choice, "He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past."
"That may be true for the past, mind you. There is no guarantee that it will save them, us, now." Legolas nodded his agreement. Aragorn just sighed again.
"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses HAVE to hold," Gandalf said.
It was only too true. Since the king decided to wait for the enemy to make the first move, we were only able to play the defense. There would be no chance to wreak our own vengeance on them. If our defenses fell, so did we. Not a nice thought...
"They will hold," stated Aragorn with feeling.
"They better," I mumbled. Babes just snorted.
Gandalf reached up to Shadowfax and stroked his nose, "The Grey Pilgrim... that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time. Good luck. My search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."
Gandalf then heaved himself onto Shadowfax's back and without even a touch of his heel, Shadowfax was in a full out gallop. Legolas had to leap aside to avoid being trampled.
Atop Shadowfax, Gandalf cut an imperial picture. He was power. He was wisdom. He was our only hope.
*~*~*
Since I had nothing to pack, all of my stuff was in my backpack again, I just wandered aimlessly around the keep.
Soon I found myself back in the Hall. I was going to cross it and go outside again, but Éowyn was in there and I really didn't want to talk to her right now. I was still kinda sore about her laughing at me for being Éomer's prisoner. Yeah, I know, not very adult of me, but could I help it?
I was just turning to go back the way I came, when I saw Aragorn enter through another door. He came in just in time to see Éowyn take out a sword from a chest and start thrusting and parrying at the air. Aragorn walked up stealthily behind her and blocked her parry when she whipped around.
Even from where I stood, clear across the room, I could see that she was surprised, but she still didn't miss a beat.
"You have some skill with the blade," Aragorn just managed to get out before he had the tip of her sword touching his neck.
"More then just some skill, I would say," I muttered to myself.
Éowyn stepped back and sheathed her sword and said nonchalantly, "Women of this country learned long ago that those without swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain."
Wowza...remind me to keep her on my side!
"What do you fear, my lady?" asked Aragorn with true curiosity.
"A cage," she stated bluntly. "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
She sure has a way with words.
"You are a daughter of kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan." Aragorn then, too, sheathed his knife. "I do not think that will be your fate."
He then bowed to her and walked towards me. Uh-oh, I was caught spying! But, amazingly, he barely looked at me, only nodded as he went past. Can you say distracted. I think Arwen, whoever she is, had better watch out. Maybe she has a bit of competition?
I shrugged and turned to follow Aragorn's path. I needed a bed and I needed one now!
*~*~*
I felt someone shaking me and jerked awake. I looked up to see Éowyn.
"Wha ya wan?"
She just looked at me. I cleared my throat and tried again.
"What do you want?"
"Oh. We must leave."
"What?" I glanced to the window to see that it was still dark out. "Why? It's still dark out."
"Precisely." She didn't say anything else, but just stood up and walked out of my door. Hmm, I need a new wake up call.
I took a few moments to wake up and then followed her. I entered the Hall and saw that the doors were open and villagers were milling here and there at will.
"What's going on?" I asked Gimli when I found him.
"Everyone is just rechecking that they did not leave anything of value. Then we shall be off."
I yawned, "Oh goody."
*~*~*
"Damn, it's a mass exodus."
'Yes, that usually happens when there are that many people going somewhere at once.'
"Thanks Babes, as if I didn't already know that."
'Just thought I ought to help you out.'
I ignored her last comment and looked out behind us. Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, the king and his Guard, and of course me, were out in front of the people and I was craning my neck behind me to see them all. The first thing that I noticed were all the small children running here and there. No one was making too much of an effort to stop them, and some of the kids were getting quite far from the rest of the people.
"Hey, Theoden!"
"Aye?"
"Some of the kids are getting too far away from the rest of the people for it to be safe."
"And you need to tell me...."
"They are your people too, aren't you worried?"
"It is the parents' responsibility to watch after their own young ones. I must concern myself with the adult's safety, not a few children's."
"That is about as twisted as you could possibly get. But what ever works for you. Me, on the other hand, am not going to let this go on." With that, I rode back towards the people.
When I finally got into the midst of the people, I found a man that was struggling to lug along a very long length of rope.
"Hey!"
He looked up at me.
"Let me use that rope for a bit and then you won't have to carry it. And when we get to Helmet's Deep you can have it back all right?"
He thought about it and then said, "It is Helm's Deep, miss." But he did drop the rope and walked away.
I slide off of Babes's back and grabbed the rope. I slide one of the loops of it over my shoulder and staggered at the weight of it. Hmm, well let's see, I need someone strong enough to carry some of this for this to be able to work.
My sight set upon Babes. Perfect!
"Oh Babes," I called in a sing-song voice.
'What?' She answered wearily.
"Get your ass over here if you want to stay with us."
Amazingly, right away she moved over to stand beside me. That's what you call power, baby!
"Thank you. Now hold still."
She did just that too. I tossed one of the ends of the rope over her back, no easy feat. I then caught it and tied a loose loop around Babes's middle.
"There!"
'What did you do?'
"Watch. Hey kids! I have a game for you! Everyone come here!"
Instantly all the kids came running over to me. What can I say? I have the magic of children.
"Are you all ready to play a really fun game?"
There was a very loud chorus of 'aye's.
"Good. Okay, listen closely. The game is to hold onto the rope and follow exactly where the horsy goes and move and neigh like her. All right?"
A huge cheer went up and the kids went racing for the rope. Yeah, I know, not very fun for us. But remember, these kids did not have the Internet, television, or video games. Their idea of fun was to throw rocks at a wall.
'What are you doing Emily!'
"Am I sensing some panic on your part?"
'Yes! I do not like young ones, human young ones even less!'
"Well, just let your maternal instincts kick in."
'I do NOT have maternal instincts.'
'Sure you don't. But you owe me for making a fool of myself when you started to talk to me when we were eating last night."
Babes didn't answer, but she did grumble some more.
I just couldn't let it go, I had to get one more dig in.
"Hey, look! Babes's is Mother Goose!"
*~*~*
A/N: Yes, I know. It is not one of my better end lines. But you just have to imagine what Babes looks like with close to fifty little kids following her. Come on! It's priceless!
Okay, well this is if for Chapter 31. I will get the next one out post haste, I think.
~A~
I promise this story is going to pick up in the action department and we will learn a bit more about why Emily is actually in Middle-Earth a little later. So hold on to your pants, kiddies, there is still a lot more to go!
*~*~*
I want to dedicate this chapter to Cassie-bear01. Happy birthday, dear. I hope this was a surprise!
*~*~*
Alrighty, on with the story!
*~*~*
"Hallelujah and praise be! I can breath again!"
Needless to say, I finally got Aragorn to put out the pipe, no easy feat might I mind you. That man is addicted to that pipe, or maybe it is what is in it...
I plopped down on one of the benches and started eating with all the rest that happened to be there. For the small amount of people that we first saw when we came into the Hall, there were a lot of people now! I looked across from me to see who I could make conversation with and saw the woman that was with the two kids earlier.
"Howdy."
"Hello. I would sincerely like to thank you for what you did with those two children."
"Hey, don't sweat it. It's odd, kids just seem drawn to me. For the life of me I cannot think of what would have them do that. I mean, most people don't like me to begin with, let alone kids."
"Why would someone not like you? You seem to be very cheerful and at one with the world."
"Uh, sure. But, most people don't like me because I am too opinionated and independent. And why am I telling you all this? I don't even know your name for God's sake and here I am telling you my deepest and darkest secrets!"
"I was wondering when you were going to notice that," piped up Gimli.
I threw him a dirty look and growled, "Shut up if you value your beard. I know for a fact you are a heavy sleeper, so I would be able to shave it off without you knowing about it-until you wake up that is."
He looked at me skeptically and I could just see the wheels turning in his head. Suddenly he paled slightly and looked away.
"Ha! Told ya! Just out of curiosity, might it have something to do with a log, lake, and you not being able to swim? I think that kinda proved to me that you are a heavy sleeper."
He whipped around to face me, but then looked away again. I guess he wasn't going to run the risk of pissing me off. After all, I did have some backing behind my threat.
I looked to the woman in sitting in front of me, thinking I should apologize for ignoring her, but only to see her enjoying our bantering. I cocked an eyebrow at her but that only got her chuckling to become full fledged laughter.
I felt all the eyes in the room on us and blushed slightly. But then I actually looked around me and saw that all the men were actually staring at the woman. I mean yeah, she did have a nice laugh, but then again, I am a woman myself. I dunno, I just didn't think that a laugh warranted all that attention.
'What? Is Emily feeling jealous?'
I leapt to my feet with a slight shriek. Instantly all the people's faces turned to me to see what I was screaming about. I completely ignored them and started to lay into Babes.
"What the hell are you doing! You are not to go through my thoughts! I thought we covered that aspect of our relationship! But, no....Babes the All-Powerful Horse is better than that!"
I stopped to take a breath and then noticed that I had been ranting out loud. Everyone, except the ones that knew about Babes, were looking at me like I was insane.
"Yes, I am talking to my horse that is currently...." I stopped to ask Babes were she was, "...in the stables half way across the town. Do you have a problem with that?" I glared around, but everyone was suddenly busy eating.
I quickly finished my 'conversation' with Babes and sat back down. I looked up when I heard more laughter, only to find the woman was shaking her head and chuckling.
"What?"
"I think you are the first woman that the Guard has ever been leery of, if not frightened."
"Yeah well after you beat up a guy, you tend to get a lot more respect."
I fingered the bump on my head and then my black eye; they were getting better-not so tender anymore.
"Oh! By the way, I'm Emily." I stuck out my hand to shake hers, but she just looked at it a minute and then answered, "I am called Éowyn." She then clasped her hand on my forearm and then let go.
"Alrighty. I still can't believe that I forgot to introduce myself. So anyway, why are you here?"
"I am King Théoden's niece."
"Oh, I see. So you guys do the extended family thing?"
"I do not understand your meaning, Lady Emily."
"Woah! Hold up! Just drop the 'lady' bit. That bugs the hell out of me. But, should I be calling you Lady Éowyn?"
"Nay, you have no need. I consider you a friend, and friends have no need for a title."
"Good, because there was a snowball's chance that I would have remembered."
We both turned our attention back to our food then. I mean it wasn't a lack of things to say, but nature was running it's course then-I was hungry! After I had devoured a good portion of the food on my plate, I finally tuned in enough to hear what the others were saying around me.
"You must draw him away from your women and children; ride out to him. You must fight!" Gandalf stated impassioned.
Aragorn added to this before Théoden could say anything. "You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."
Théoden sighed, "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is that you want of me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
I just had to add my two cents worth, "Well, if you don't make the first move now, the enemy will instead and then you will only be in a defense position instead of the offense. If that happens, you will be able to do nothing but sit and wait to see what happens next. If I were you, I would want to be the one to instigate the occurence, not have to second guess."
Everyone just stared at me in surprise.
"What? You haven't heard of football?"
Aragorn grinned and then spoke again, "Open war is upon you. Whether you would risk it or not."
"When I last looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
Aragorn had the decency to blush and then started a conversation with Gimli.
"Hmm," I said tiredly, "Good point. But last time I looked, Aragorn wanted to do something instead of waiting around like an old woman-Théoden did not."
I glanced up just in time to see that Théoden's face was turning a satisfying shade of purple. Good, he needed it, the high-handed jerk.
"You dare to call me an old woman!" We now had the attention of the entire Hall.
"Well, yes, I suppose so. But if the shoe fits, wear it."
"I shall have your head for this lack of respect! I shall lop off your head myself!"
I leapt to my feet, just as furious. "Bring it on! It is just like you men to want to lop off a defenseless woman's head. It has barely been a week since I had another ass like yourself," Théoden gasped. "Yes, you heard me, ass, like you want to lop off my head. Only this man was young enough to actually catch me!"
Éowyn moved in-between Théoden and myself and asked, "This man, that threatened to behead you, did he look something like my uncle?"
"Yeah, he did."
Aragorn then added, "Aye, Lady, 'twas your brother, Éomer, that she speaks of."
"Impossible! Éomer would never harm a woman!"
"Very true, he did not harm Emily, but only bristled at her insults."
"I had every right to insult him! He kept me prisoner for three days, without any food or water, might I add!" I defended myself.
"He did not!"
"Yeah, Éowyn, he did. And he was a total ass about it too. He thought I was a spy for Saruman. Can you believe it! Me, a spy? And for Saruman none the less!"
Éowyn started to laugh at this, and Théoden settled down enough that he no longer threatened me with a loss of a limb.
Gandalf walked over to where Théoden was now sitting and asked gently, "What is the king's decision? There is no time to delay."
*~*~*
After we had all finished eating, Théoden had the entire village assemble below the steps to the Hall. It was his decision on what to do that had everyone fidgeting. No on was foolish enough to not be worrying about what the outcome of his decision would be.
One of the guards stepped forward from the ranks and shouted, "By order of the king, the city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourselves with treasures. Take only what provisions you need."
"Damn," I muttered. I was not the only one.
Immediately the villagers dispersed to begin the packing. They only had until the morning, when we would move out.
The people that were staying in the castle returned there and sought out their beds only after they too were ready for the journey-all except Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf and myself. We followed Gandalf to the stables where he readied Shadowfax.
I gave Babes a glare for her earlier exploits, but she chose to ignore it. I tuned in again just in time to hear Gimli complaining about the king's decision.
"Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?"
Aragorn sighed, but he did see the logic in the choice, "He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past."
"That may be true for the past, mind you. There is no guarantee that it will save them, us, now." Legolas nodded his agreement. Aragorn just sighed again.
"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses HAVE to hold," Gandalf said.
It was only too true. Since the king decided to wait for the enemy to make the first move, we were only able to play the defense. There would be no chance to wreak our own vengeance on them. If our defenses fell, so did we. Not a nice thought...
"They will hold," stated Aragorn with feeling.
"They better," I mumbled. Babes just snorted.
Gandalf reached up to Shadowfax and stroked his nose, "The Grey Pilgrim... that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time. Good luck. My search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."
Gandalf then heaved himself onto Shadowfax's back and without even a touch of his heel, Shadowfax was in a full out gallop. Legolas had to leap aside to avoid being trampled.
Atop Shadowfax, Gandalf cut an imperial picture. He was power. He was wisdom. He was our only hope.
*~*~*
Since I had nothing to pack, all of my stuff was in my backpack again, I just wandered aimlessly around the keep.
Soon I found myself back in the Hall. I was going to cross it and go outside again, but Éowyn was in there and I really didn't want to talk to her right now. I was still kinda sore about her laughing at me for being Éomer's prisoner. Yeah, I know, not very adult of me, but could I help it?
I was just turning to go back the way I came, when I saw Aragorn enter through another door. He came in just in time to see Éowyn take out a sword from a chest and start thrusting and parrying at the air. Aragorn walked up stealthily behind her and blocked her parry when she whipped around.
Even from where I stood, clear across the room, I could see that she was surprised, but she still didn't miss a beat.
"You have some skill with the blade," Aragorn just managed to get out before he had the tip of her sword touching his neck.
"More then just some skill, I would say," I muttered to myself.
Éowyn stepped back and sheathed her sword and said nonchalantly, "Women of this country learned long ago that those without swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain."
Wowza...remind me to keep her on my side!
"What do you fear, my lady?" asked Aragorn with true curiosity.
"A cage," she stated bluntly. "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
She sure has a way with words.
"You are a daughter of kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan." Aragorn then, too, sheathed his knife. "I do not think that will be your fate."
He then bowed to her and walked towards me. Uh-oh, I was caught spying! But, amazingly, he barely looked at me, only nodded as he went past. Can you say distracted. I think Arwen, whoever she is, had better watch out. Maybe she has a bit of competition?
I shrugged and turned to follow Aragorn's path. I needed a bed and I needed one now!
*~*~*
I felt someone shaking me and jerked awake. I looked up to see Éowyn.
"Wha ya wan?"
She just looked at me. I cleared my throat and tried again.
"What do you want?"
"Oh. We must leave."
"What?" I glanced to the window to see that it was still dark out. "Why? It's still dark out."
"Precisely." She didn't say anything else, but just stood up and walked out of my door. Hmm, I need a new wake up call.
I took a few moments to wake up and then followed her. I entered the Hall and saw that the doors were open and villagers were milling here and there at will.
"What's going on?" I asked Gimli when I found him.
"Everyone is just rechecking that they did not leave anything of value. Then we shall be off."
I yawned, "Oh goody."
*~*~*
"Damn, it's a mass exodus."
'Yes, that usually happens when there are that many people going somewhere at once.'
"Thanks Babes, as if I didn't already know that."
'Just thought I ought to help you out.'
I ignored her last comment and looked out behind us. Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, the king and his Guard, and of course me, were out in front of the people and I was craning my neck behind me to see them all. The first thing that I noticed were all the small children running here and there. No one was making too much of an effort to stop them, and some of the kids were getting quite far from the rest of the people.
"Hey, Theoden!"
"Aye?"
"Some of the kids are getting too far away from the rest of the people for it to be safe."
"And you need to tell me...."
"They are your people too, aren't you worried?"
"It is the parents' responsibility to watch after their own young ones. I must concern myself with the adult's safety, not a few children's."
"That is about as twisted as you could possibly get. But what ever works for you. Me, on the other hand, am not going to let this go on." With that, I rode back towards the people.
When I finally got into the midst of the people, I found a man that was struggling to lug along a very long length of rope.
"Hey!"
He looked up at me.
"Let me use that rope for a bit and then you won't have to carry it. And when we get to Helmet's Deep you can have it back all right?"
He thought about it and then said, "It is Helm's Deep, miss." But he did drop the rope and walked away.
I slide off of Babes's back and grabbed the rope. I slide one of the loops of it over my shoulder and staggered at the weight of it. Hmm, well let's see, I need someone strong enough to carry some of this for this to be able to work.
My sight set upon Babes. Perfect!
"Oh Babes," I called in a sing-song voice.
'What?' She answered wearily.
"Get your ass over here if you want to stay with us."
Amazingly, right away she moved over to stand beside me. That's what you call power, baby!
"Thank you. Now hold still."
She did just that too. I tossed one of the ends of the rope over her back, no easy feat. I then caught it and tied a loose loop around Babes's middle.
"There!"
'What did you do?'
"Watch. Hey kids! I have a game for you! Everyone come here!"
Instantly all the kids came running over to me. What can I say? I have the magic of children.
"Are you all ready to play a really fun game?"
There was a very loud chorus of 'aye's.
"Good. Okay, listen closely. The game is to hold onto the rope and follow exactly where the horsy goes and move and neigh like her. All right?"
A huge cheer went up and the kids went racing for the rope. Yeah, I know, not very fun for us. But remember, these kids did not have the Internet, television, or video games. Their idea of fun was to throw rocks at a wall.
'What are you doing Emily!'
"Am I sensing some panic on your part?"
'Yes! I do not like young ones, human young ones even less!'
"Well, just let your maternal instincts kick in."
'I do NOT have maternal instincts.'
'Sure you don't. But you owe me for making a fool of myself when you started to talk to me when we were eating last night."
Babes didn't answer, but she did grumble some more.
I just couldn't let it go, I had to get one more dig in.
"Hey, look! Babes's is Mother Goose!"
*~*~*
A/N: Yes, I know. It is not one of my better end lines. But you just have to imagine what Babes looks like with close to fifty little kids following her. Come on! It's priceless!
Okay, well this is if for Chapter 31. I will get the next one out post haste, I think.
~A~