A/N: So sorry about the impossible delay, but not only did life once again interfere, but I couldn't find a decent transcript to 'The Return of the King.' Since my story has finally reached that far, I was having a bit of a problem and then there were those scary readers that were threatening me with bodily harm if I didn't update. Yeah...
But, anyway, this chapter has seen me take quite a few liberties. Not only have a changed some characters, but I have also changed some building architecture and all that fun stuff. There are some characters in here that weren't in the movie and vise versa, I think. But, anyway, review and tell me what you think of my changes. I have so many ideas!
*~*~*
We had been riding for quite some time now, but I was numb to all that was around me. I couldn't help but remembering Nria's mother's face as her daughter's body was lowered into the ground, the look on Nria's face at her passing. If I had any more heartstrings to strum, they were now in tatters.
I was once again sitting on Babes, following the others through some kind of damn forest. Why am I always the follower?
Babes stumbled and threw me out of my thoughts.
"Watch it there. I would like to stay up here and I really don't think you could use a broken leg right now."
She just took the remark in stride. I was so upset, I was losing my nasty attitude. I couldn't even pull off a sarcastic remark with the one element that it had to have-sarcasm! What the hell is happening to me?
As I was mulling over this new found catastrophe, we were traveling closer and closer to one hell of an ugly building. Seriously, this thing was huge, at least thirty stories, but it was a straight tower. I mean who does that? You can't even call it art-deco, only completely ugly.
I had sunk so far into my self misery, I barely heard the shouted remark directed at us. I whipped my head and looked around blearily. There, I think I did hear something that time...
"Welcome, my Lords, to Isengard!"
'What the hell is 'Isengard'?'
'I think we are looking at it, Babes,' I sent back to her. I just didn't feel like talking much anymore.
'Emily, girl, listen to me.'
'Yes, you know best,' I thought tiredly.
'At this moment, I'm the only one that does! I mean for God's sake, I'm a horse and I have more brains than you. You need to pull yourself together! Nria died for what she believed in! Do you realize that she would rip off your leg and beat you over the head with it if she saw how you were now? Get over it and move on. You cannot spend the rest of your life grieving for something you had absolutely no control over!'
'Thanks Babes, I really do appreciate this. I just need some more time to think-'
'Bull shit!'
With that she threw me off her back and into the water around us. I didn't even know she was standing in any water until I was doing a belly flop. Talk about a rude awakening, eh?
I came up sputtering and shrieking, "What the hell was that for? Good God! What the hell is wrong with you, you pile of walking dog food? I can't even grieve, you are constantly making a friggin' pest of yourself. Take a hint, it's practically hitting you in the forehead. I don't want to talk to anyone!"
'Too late.'
Can anyone else hear the smirk in her voice?
"Wha-oh. He, hi guys. Guys. Guys! Merry! Pippin! Get your asses over here and give me a hug!"
Those two little guys didn't stand a chance, I had them in a couple of bear hugs before they even finished closing their mouths at my little tirade.
"How are you? Are you hurt? I'm so gonna kill those things that took you! Are you hungry? Wet? Tired? Pippin, are you getting a cold? How are you?"
I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and glanced up to see Gandalf smiling at me, "If you let them breath, Emily child, they may be able to answer your inquiries."
"Oh, right. So, how are you?"
"We are fine, Emily. How are you fairing? Aragorn had just finished telling us about your, uh, escapades," Pippin said.
"Pippin! We are not to mention that to her!" hissed Merry.
I quieted a moment and then sighed, "You mean Helm's Deep?" At their nods, I continued. "Yeah, talk about a trip. But, seriously, I'm okay. Let's just say my voice of reason just finished kicking my ass. So, I guess, all is good."
Babes was right. I couldn't spend the rest of my life mourning Nria. She has passed to a better place. There is nothing I could or still can do, all that is left is to continue living. But, don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean that I will forget her, far from it, believe me. She will be remembered!
I came out of my thoughts when Babes bumped my shoulder and gestured to my left. I glanced over just in time to see Pippin start wadding through the water over to a curious glowing. I followed at a distance.
He bent down and lifted a faintly purple-ish glowing orb from the water and stared into the center. Deep inside of me, I could feel this unexplainable pulling sensation. I was just about to reach for it, when Gandalf broke through my reverie.
"Peregrin Took. I'll take that, my lad."
He was shaken as he handed it up to Gandalf and then much to my curiosity, Gandalf would not touch it directly. He grabbed it from Pippin using his cloak and immediately wrapped it up and set it in his lap. Odd...
"What the...!" I trailed off. That was the exact moment that I finally noticed the very large, very alive tree that was talking to Gandalf.
All eyes turned towards me.
"It's a, a, tree!" I said pointing.
'If it has a trunk and leaves, that's what you would usually call them.'
"Shut up Babes."
Merry edged over to me and explained who Treebeard was before I made more of an idiot of myself than I already was. As he was talking to me, I was looking up at the tower and couldn't help noticing the odd balcony/window thingy maybe thirty feet above us.
That was when I saw someone else was watching me watching the balcony. That is no simple someone--!
Lester. Wormtongue. Roadkill.
He saw me looking at him and raced inside, slamming the doors as he went. Actually, he slammed them so hard, they leapt back open with the force.
At the sound, everyone looked up and I managed to sputter out, "It was Lester! I swear to God it was!"
"Aye, child. I believe you. This is the lair of Saruman. Wormtongue, or Lester as you call him, is in his employ. He is the one that issued the orders for Merry and Pippin's abduction."
"Seriously?" I asked solemnly.
"Seriously."
"They are dead men."
Gandalf grinned and went back to his conversation with the talking tree. I backed up a few paces, quite a feat with water up to my knees, and started to look around me.
After about ten minutes I had a pretty good idea of a hell of a revenge. Muhaha, pure and simple.
"Hey Merry!" I called from where I was standing atop one of the fallen boulders. I hopped down and made my way over to him. "You wouldn't happen to have a bottle, some lamp oil and a cloth here, would you?"
He looked at me, "What will you be making?"
I gave him an evil grin, "Utter chaos."
*~*~*
Finally we managed to find the necessary supplies-that took a while, let me tell you. I kept looking up to the balcony doors, if those shut, my plan was ruined. So far so good, if only my luck will hold out a little bit longer.
I plopped down on a nearby rock and set to work making my chaos element. Within minutes I had everyone's complete attention, even that talking tree's.
First, I filled the empty wine bottle, (how that got here, I don't know), half full with lamp oil, then I twisted the handkerchief that Pippin gave me into one long strip. Okay, now one more step and then show time! I worked the cloth into the bottle until about three inches was hanging out of the neck of the bottle.
I gently set the bottle down on the rock and went over to Babes's saddle bags.
"Do I still have those matches in here?"
'Dunno. I hope so. I think I have a pretty good idea of what you are doing though.'
I laughed and continued digging. Finally I found the wrinkled and crumbled matches at the very bottom of the pack. There was virtually nothing left of the pack itself and maybe four of the matches were still usable. This was the tricky part.
I went back over to the bottle and climbed up onto the boulder with it. Nah, I had to make sure I was accurate. I climbed back down and then went in search of a stone that was roughly the same weight. After a rather long but fruitful search, I found one. I then walked back to the boulder and climbed up again.
I stood there and looked up at the balcony. Okay, now I had to be quick. Both of those men were fairly intelligent, I'll give them that. I have to be quick so they don't know what I am doing, until it is done and over with. Then they better know what I am doing!
As quickly as I could, I hefted the rock and let it fly. It flew up through the air and into the doors with a resounding crash. Good I could make it. Then, I reached down, grabbed a match and flicked my thumb over it. Thank God for sulpher tipped matches! I lit the cloth at the end of the bottle, waited a few seconds until it caught and then let 'er rip!
If you hadn't guess already, I made a bomb and threw it up into Isengard.
Go me!
But anyway, it took the same path the rock had taken. It made it through the wide open doors and exploded into a fiery cloud. Immediately the air was filled with the screams of Lester and who I guessed to be Saruman.
I know the bomb more than likely caused no bodily damage, but one can wish. Besides, at least now they know that I will not stop at beating the shit out of them. Dual purpose you know.
Actually, I don't condone bombs. I think they are one of the worst things a person could use, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
I jumped back off the rock and glanced over to Gimli who was laughing like a mad man.
"That's me girl!"
Wasn't he the one that didn't like me?
"What was that?" Pippin asked in wonder.
"That my friend is called a bomb. Or, in other words, complete chaos."
*~*~*
My fame with the people of Middle-Earth was growing very, very quickly. It was absolutely crazy. We were traveling with the Rohannian people back to Edoras, their hometown. Every night that we stopped to camp, more children and elderly people would come to just see the amazing Emily, the men would come to thank me for my "prowess on the battlefield," and the women would all come to congratulate me on the men congratulating me. It was enough to turn a person's head.
I wasn't the only one that was getting so much attention. Babes was getting endless 'yes/no' questions, once the people had finally realized she was intelligent to answer them. One stomp on the ground was yes, two no. She was absolutely loving it. Amazingly, with one very perceptive child asking the questions, Babes managed to spell out some of my more embarrassing moments. Actually, this did nothing but further our fame since everyone loved the idea of a 'hero' with flaws. It was crazy. I think I already said that though...
After almost a week of this, we had finally reached Edoras. As soon as we crested the final hill, everyone started cheering and racing towards it. Surprisingly, the city was left untouched.
Babes and I walked through the gates and saw the mad rush to the houses. The children were once again gathered in groups, playing whatever they play here. The women were already rushing to get vegetables from the gardens, laundry done, name it, they were doing it. The men were all clustered at the blacksmith's, getting their swords sharpened, armor fit, mainly slapping each other on the shoulder and congratulating him on being manly.
Even though it was a much different homecoming than I would have expected, it still was a welcome sight for both Babes and I. I had whole-heartedly expected a solemn procession, the people once again grieving for their dead now that they were home.
'See, you could take a lesson. I don't think anyone is wallowing in grief.'
"Babes, have I told you how much I appreciate you?" I asked while rubbing her neck.
'I never tire of hearing it.'
I laughed and started walking up to the Golden Hall, as these people call it.
"Take it easy!" I called back to her.
'You too. Wonder what kind of feed they have...' she said to herself more than to me.
Always the horse.
*~*~*
I had found Éowyn almost right after I entered the Hall and she had lead me to a room where I could crash. When I finally woke up again, it was dark outside and Éowyn was trying her damnedest to wake me up.
"Emily, come! You must awaken! There is a gathering tonight and you must be in attendance."
"Love to, but can't," I mumbled into my pillow. "Don't have anything to wear. Everything covered in nasty crap."
"I know, that is why I took the liberty to choose something from my own clothing for you. I know you do not care for dresses, but there is naught to choose from but those."
As she had been talking I sat up and swung my feet over the side of the bed. I was rubbing my eyes and trying to make some semblance of order out of my hair when I heard the word 'dress.' I groaned and whined, "Do I have to?"
"Aye," she said with a grin.
"Damn."
*~*~*
I had to hand it to Éowyn. Dresses weren't really that bad to tell you the truth.
She had managed to turn me into a princess. Well, a princess without all that royal crap about her. The dress was a confection of the softest pale blue wool that I have ever felt. It reached all the way down to the floor and flowed and tightened in all the right places. I looked good, if I do say so myself. My hair had finally been convinced to lay flat and Éowyn had managed to coax a few well-placed braids in it. I looked really good.
If I looked really good, Eowyn looked absolutely amazing. Not only was she always gorgeous no matter what she did, but she seemed to glow tonight. It was a good sign of what was to come.
I took one more look in the mirror, then I turned to Eowyn and presented my arm, "Shall we milady?"
"Aye, milady."
We both started laughing.
*~*~*
Our laughter did not last long.
We reached the great hall and saw that it was filled with men. That was not what stopped our gaiety, it was the looks on their faces. It looked like they were attending a funeral; sadly, to many it was. This was the first time that many of these people had gotten a chance to mourn the ones that were lost at Helm's Deep.
We quietly moved through the people until we were standing next to Théoden. I was just going to go find my own seat somewhere-I didn't think I should be so disrespectful to sit next to the king. I was just walking away when I heard Théoden call to me.
"Nay, Emily. I would be honored for you to sit with my niece and I."
"Well, hell. Don't that beat all," I muttered.
I went back and took a vacant seat and watched as a group of five women moved around the room giving and filling cups. They came to me and I was going to refuse, I'm not a big drinker mind you, but something about the woman's eyes or the look in them stopped me.
Finally, everyone had a drink and was quiet, waiting for Théoden to say something. He stood and raised his cup, all followed his lead.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country." He held his cup a moment longer and then called out in his booming voice, "Hail the victorious dead!"
Everyone then drank deeply from his or her cup. I took a bit of a sip and then saw Éowyn looking at me. I just looked back and then I saw her mouth, "Sing."
I just stared for a minute and then followed her orders.
I started softly, just barely audible.
"Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913,
made his great grandchildren believe you could live to a hundred and three
a hundred and three is forever when you're just a little kid so
Cyrus Jones lived forever
Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Muriel Stonewall 1903 to 1954,
she lost both of her babies in the second great war
now you should never have to watch your only children lowered in the ground
I mean you should
never have to bury your own babies."
As I sang this last verse, I sought Nria's mother and our eyes met. I could see the tears corsing down her cheeks and almost felt my control snap. Not yet...
"Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Ring around the rosy
pocket full of posies
ashes to ashes
we all fall down.
Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
oh Gravedigger
Little Mikey Carson, '67 to '75
he rode his bike like the devil until the day he died.
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
oh, 1940 to 1992.
Gravedigger,
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Oh, Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger."
I slowly drifted off and then noticed that not a single eye in the great hall was dry. Not only did I sing a song in tribute to the dead, but I now totally depressed everyone else. Damn it!
I started singing again, this one had to do something.
"I'm coming round to open the blinds
you can't hide here any longer.
My God, you need to rinse those puffy eyes
you can't lie still any longer.
And yes, they'll ask where you've been,
and you'll have to tell them, again and again.
And you probably don't want to hear tomorrow's another day,
but I promise you, you'll see the sun again.
And you're asking me why pain's the only way to happiness,
and I promise you you'll see the sun again.
Come on, take my hand,
we're going for a walk, I know you can.
You can wear anything, as long as it's not black.
Please don't mourn forever, she's not coming back.
And yes, they'll ask where you've been.
And you'll have to tell them, again and again.
And you probably don't want to hear tomorrow's another day,
but I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And you're asking me why pain's the only way to happiness
and I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And I promise you you'll see the sun again.
Do you remember telling me you'd found the sweetest thing of all?
You said that one day of this was worth dying for.
So be thankful you knew her at all,
but it's no more.
And you probably don't want to hear tomorrow's another day,
but I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And you're asking me why pains the only way to happiness,
and I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And I promise you you'll see the sun again."
I finished that song and got the cheers and applause that I was shooting for. Although many people still were crying, I was hoping that those were tears of joy that they had finally found their release.
What can I say? Always the optimist.
*~*~*
A/N: Well, I am once again a writing fiend! Aren't you all so incredibly proud of me?
The first song was 'Gravedigger' by Dave Matthews. The second was 'See the Sun' by Dido (gotta love her, eh?).
I just want to add that I do not agree with bombing no matter what, but as I/Emily said, it was more of a scare tactic than anything. I also don't believe that makes it any better, but don't you think it was about sometime that someone bombed Isengard? It was just too good to pass up.
Toodles until next time, and hopefully that won't be three months from now.
~A~
But, anyway, this chapter has seen me take quite a few liberties. Not only have a changed some characters, but I have also changed some building architecture and all that fun stuff. There are some characters in here that weren't in the movie and vise versa, I think. But, anyway, review and tell me what you think of my changes. I have so many ideas!
*~*~*
We had been riding for quite some time now, but I was numb to all that was around me. I couldn't help but remembering Nria's mother's face as her daughter's body was lowered into the ground, the look on Nria's face at her passing. If I had any more heartstrings to strum, they were now in tatters.
I was once again sitting on Babes, following the others through some kind of damn forest. Why am I always the follower?
Babes stumbled and threw me out of my thoughts.
"Watch it there. I would like to stay up here and I really don't think you could use a broken leg right now."
She just took the remark in stride. I was so upset, I was losing my nasty attitude. I couldn't even pull off a sarcastic remark with the one element that it had to have-sarcasm! What the hell is happening to me?
As I was mulling over this new found catastrophe, we were traveling closer and closer to one hell of an ugly building. Seriously, this thing was huge, at least thirty stories, but it was a straight tower. I mean who does that? You can't even call it art-deco, only completely ugly.
I had sunk so far into my self misery, I barely heard the shouted remark directed at us. I whipped my head and looked around blearily. There, I think I did hear something that time...
"Welcome, my Lords, to Isengard!"
'What the hell is 'Isengard'?'
'I think we are looking at it, Babes,' I sent back to her. I just didn't feel like talking much anymore.
'Emily, girl, listen to me.'
'Yes, you know best,' I thought tiredly.
'At this moment, I'm the only one that does! I mean for God's sake, I'm a horse and I have more brains than you. You need to pull yourself together! Nria died for what she believed in! Do you realize that she would rip off your leg and beat you over the head with it if she saw how you were now? Get over it and move on. You cannot spend the rest of your life grieving for something you had absolutely no control over!'
'Thanks Babes, I really do appreciate this. I just need some more time to think-'
'Bull shit!'
With that she threw me off her back and into the water around us. I didn't even know she was standing in any water until I was doing a belly flop. Talk about a rude awakening, eh?
I came up sputtering and shrieking, "What the hell was that for? Good God! What the hell is wrong with you, you pile of walking dog food? I can't even grieve, you are constantly making a friggin' pest of yourself. Take a hint, it's practically hitting you in the forehead. I don't want to talk to anyone!"
'Too late.'
Can anyone else hear the smirk in her voice?
"Wha-oh. He, hi guys. Guys. Guys! Merry! Pippin! Get your asses over here and give me a hug!"
Those two little guys didn't stand a chance, I had them in a couple of bear hugs before they even finished closing their mouths at my little tirade.
"How are you? Are you hurt? I'm so gonna kill those things that took you! Are you hungry? Wet? Tired? Pippin, are you getting a cold? How are you?"
I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and glanced up to see Gandalf smiling at me, "If you let them breath, Emily child, they may be able to answer your inquiries."
"Oh, right. So, how are you?"
"We are fine, Emily. How are you fairing? Aragorn had just finished telling us about your, uh, escapades," Pippin said.
"Pippin! We are not to mention that to her!" hissed Merry.
I quieted a moment and then sighed, "You mean Helm's Deep?" At their nods, I continued. "Yeah, talk about a trip. But, seriously, I'm okay. Let's just say my voice of reason just finished kicking my ass. So, I guess, all is good."
Babes was right. I couldn't spend the rest of my life mourning Nria. She has passed to a better place. There is nothing I could or still can do, all that is left is to continue living. But, don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean that I will forget her, far from it, believe me. She will be remembered!
I came out of my thoughts when Babes bumped my shoulder and gestured to my left. I glanced over just in time to see Pippin start wadding through the water over to a curious glowing. I followed at a distance.
He bent down and lifted a faintly purple-ish glowing orb from the water and stared into the center. Deep inside of me, I could feel this unexplainable pulling sensation. I was just about to reach for it, when Gandalf broke through my reverie.
"Peregrin Took. I'll take that, my lad."
He was shaken as he handed it up to Gandalf and then much to my curiosity, Gandalf would not touch it directly. He grabbed it from Pippin using his cloak and immediately wrapped it up and set it in his lap. Odd...
"What the...!" I trailed off. That was the exact moment that I finally noticed the very large, very alive tree that was talking to Gandalf.
All eyes turned towards me.
"It's a, a, tree!" I said pointing.
'If it has a trunk and leaves, that's what you would usually call them.'
"Shut up Babes."
Merry edged over to me and explained who Treebeard was before I made more of an idiot of myself than I already was. As he was talking to me, I was looking up at the tower and couldn't help noticing the odd balcony/window thingy maybe thirty feet above us.
That was when I saw someone else was watching me watching the balcony. That is no simple someone--!
Lester. Wormtongue. Roadkill.
He saw me looking at him and raced inside, slamming the doors as he went. Actually, he slammed them so hard, they leapt back open with the force.
At the sound, everyone looked up and I managed to sputter out, "It was Lester! I swear to God it was!"
"Aye, child. I believe you. This is the lair of Saruman. Wormtongue, or Lester as you call him, is in his employ. He is the one that issued the orders for Merry and Pippin's abduction."
"Seriously?" I asked solemnly.
"Seriously."
"They are dead men."
Gandalf grinned and went back to his conversation with the talking tree. I backed up a few paces, quite a feat with water up to my knees, and started to look around me.
After about ten minutes I had a pretty good idea of a hell of a revenge. Muhaha, pure and simple.
"Hey Merry!" I called from where I was standing atop one of the fallen boulders. I hopped down and made my way over to him. "You wouldn't happen to have a bottle, some lamp oil and a cloth here, would you?"
He looked at me, "What will you be making?"
I gave him an evil grin, "Utter chaos."
*~*~*
Finally we managed to find the necessary supplies-that took a while, let me tell you. I kept looking up to the balcony doors, if those shut, my plan was ruined. So far so good, if only my luck will hold out a little bit longer.
I plopped down on a nearby rock and set to work making my chaos element. Within minutes I had everyone's complete attention, even that talking tree's.
First, I filled the empty wine bottle, (how that got here, I don't know), half full with lamp oil, then I twisted the handkerchief that Pippin gave me into one long strip. Okay, now one more step and then show time! I worked the cloth into the bottle until about three inches was hanging out of the neck of the bottle.
I gently set the bottle down on the rock and went over to Babes's saddle bags.
"Do I still have those matches in here?"
'Dunno. I hope so. I think I have a pretty good idea of what you are doing though.'
I laughed and continued digging. Finally I found the wrinkled and crumbled matches at the very bottom of the pack. There was virtually nothing left of the pack itself and maybe four of the matches were still usable. This was the tricky part.
I went back over to the bottle and climbed up onto the boulder with it. Nah, I had to make sure I was accurate. I climbed back down and then went in search of a stone that was roughly the same weight. After a rather long but fruitful search, I found one. I then walked back to the boulder and climbed up again.
I stood there and looked up at the balcony. Okay, now I had to be quick. Both of those men were fairly intelligent, I'll give them that. I have to be quick so they don't know what I am doing, until it is done and over with. Then they better know what I am doing!
As quickly as I could, I hefted the rock and let it fly. It flew up through the air and into the doors with a resounding crash. Good I could make it. Then, I reached down, grabbed a match and flicked my thumb over it. Thank God for sulpher tipped matches! I lit the cloth at the end of the bottle, waited a few seconds until it caught and then let 'er rip!
If you hadn't guess already, I made a bomb and threw it up into Isengard.
Go me!
But anyway, it took the same path the rock had taken. It made it through the wide open doors and exploded into a fiery cloud. Immediately the air was filled with the screams of Lester and who I guessed to be Saruman.
I know the bomb more than likely caused no bodily damage, but one can wish. Besides, at least now they know that I will not stop at beating the shit out of them. Dual purpose you know.
Actually, I don't condone bombs. I think they are one of the worst things a person could use, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
I jumped back off the rock and glanced over to Gimli who was laughing like a mad man.
"That's me girl!"
Wasn't he the one that didn't like me?
"What was that?" Pippin asked in wonder.
"That my friend is called a bomb. Or, in other words, complete chaos."
*~*~*
My fame with the people of Middle-Earth was growing very, very quickly. It was absolutely crazy. We were traveling with the Rohannian people back to Edoras, their hometown. Every night that we stopped to camp, more children and elderly people would come to just see the amazing Emily, the men would come to thank me for my "prowess on the battlefield," and the women would all come to congratulate me on the men congratulating me. It was enough to turn a person's head.
I wasn't the only one that was getting so much attention. Babes was getting endless 'yes/no' questions, once the people had finally realized she was intelligent to answer them. One stomp on the ground was yes, two no. She was absolutely loving it. Amazingly, with one very perceptive child asking the questions, Babes managed to spell out some of my more embarrassing moments. Actually, this did nothing but further our fame since everyone loved the idea of a 'hero' with flaws. It was crazy. I think I already said that though...
After almost a week of this, we had finally reached Edoras. As soon as we crested the final hill, everyone started cheering and racing towards it. Surprisingly, the city was left untouched.
Babes and I walked through the gates and saw the mad rush to the houses. The children were once again gathered in groups, playing whatever they play here. The women were already rushing to get vegetables from the gardens, laundry done, name it, they were doing it. The men were all clustered at the blacksmith's, getting their swords sharpened, armor fit, mainly slapping each other on the shoulder and congratulating him on being manly.
Even though it was a much different homecoming than I would have expected, it still was a welcome sight for both Babes and I. I had whole-heartedly expected a solemn procession, the people once again grieving for their dead now that they were home.
'See, you could take a lesson. I don't think anyone is wallowing in grief.'
"Babes, have I told you how much I appreciate you?" I asked while rubbing her neck.
'I never tire of hearing it.'
I laughed and started walking up to the Golden Hall, as these people call it.
"Take it easy!" I called back to her.
'You too. Wonder what kind of feed they have...' she said to herself more than to me.
Always the horse.
*~*~*
I had found Éowyn almost right after I entered the Hall and she had lead me to a room where I could crash. When I finally woke up again, it was dark outside and Éowyn was trying her damnedest to wake me up.
"Emily, come! You must awaken! There is a gathering tonight and you must be in attendance."
"Love to, but can't," I mumbled into my pillow. "Don't have anything to wear. Everything covered in nasty crap."
"I know, that is why I took the liberty to choose something from my own clothing for you. I know you do not care for dresses, but there is naught to choose from but those."
As she had been talking I sat up and swung my feet over the side of the bed. I was rubbing my eyes and trying to make some semblance of order out of my hair when I heard the word 'dress.' I groaned and whined, "Do I have to?"
"Aye," she said with a grin.
"Damn."
*~*~*
I had to hand it to Éowyn. Dresses weren't really that bad to tell you the truth.
She had managed to turn me into a princess. Well, a princess without all that royal crap about her. The dress was a confection of the softest pale blue wool that I have ever felt. It reached all the way down to the floor and flowed and tightened in all the right places. I looked good, if I do say so myself. My hair had finally been convinced to lay flat and Éowyn had managed to coax a few well-placed braids in it. I looked really good.
If I looked really good, Eowyn looked absolutely amazing. Not only was she always gorgeous no matter what she did, but she seemed to glow tonight. It was a good sign of what was to come.
I took one more look in the mirror, then I turned to Eowyn and presented my arm, "Shall we milady?"
"Aye, milady."
We both started laughing.
*~*~*
Our laughter did not last long.
We reached the great hall and saw that it was filled with men. That was not what stopped our gaiety, it was the looks on their faces. It looked like they were attending a funeral; sadly, to many it was. This was the first time that many of these people had gotten a chance to mourn the ones that were lost at Helm's Deep.
We quietly moved through the people until we were standing next to Théoden. I was just going to go find my own seat somewhere-I didn't think I should be so disrespectful to sit next to the king. I was just walking away when I heard Théoden call to me.
"Nay, Emily. I would be honored for you to sit with my niece and I."
"Well, hell. Don't that beat all," I muttered.
I went back and took a vacant seat and watched as a group of five women moved around the room giving and filling cups. They came to me and I was going to refuse, I'm not a big drinker mind you, but something about the woman's eyes or the look in them stopped me.
Finally, everyone had a drink and was quiet, waiting for Théoden to say something. He stood and raised his cup, all followed his lead.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country." He held his cup a moment longer and then called out in his booming voice, "Hail the victorious dead!"
Everyone then drank deeply from his or her cup. I took a bit of a sip and then saw Éowyn looking at me. I just looked back and then I saw her mouth, "Sing."
I just stared for a minute and then followed her orders.
I started softly, just barely audible.
"Cyrus Jones 1810 to 1913,
made his great grandchildren believe you could live to a hundred and three
a hundred and three is forever when you're just a little kid so
Cyrus Jones lived forever
Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Muriel Stonewall 1903 to 1954,
she lost both of her babies in the second great war
now you should never have to watch your only children lowered in the ground
I mean you should
never have to bury your own babies."
As I sang this last verse, I sought Nria's mother and our eyes met. I could see the tears corsing down her cheeks and almost felt my control snap. Not yet...
"Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Ring around the rosy
pocket full of posies
ashes to ashes
we all fall down.
Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
oh Gravedigger
Little Mikey Carson, '67 to '75
he rode his bike like the devil until the day he died.
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. Vertigo on the flying trapeze
oh, 1940 to 1992.
Gravedigger,
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Oh, Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
Gravedigger
when you dig my grave
could you make it shallow
so that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger."
I slowly drifted off and then noticed that not a single eye in the great hall was dry. Not only did I sing a song in tribute to the dead, but I now totally depressed everyone else. Damn it!
I started singing again, this one had to do something.
"I'm coming round to open the blinds
you can't hide here any longer.
My God, you need to rinse those puffy eyes
you can't lie still any longer.
And yes, they'll ask where you've been,
and you'll have to tell them, again and again.
And you probably don't want to hear tomorrow's another day,
but I promise you, you'll see the sun again.
And you're asking me why pain's the only way to happiness,
and I promise you you'll see the sun again.
Come on, take my hand,
we're going for a walk, I know you can.
You can wear anything, as long as it's not black.
Please don't mourn forever, she's not coming back.
And yes, they'll ask where you've been.
And you'll have to tell them, again and again.
And you probably don't want to hear tomorrow's another day,
but I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And you're asking me why pain's the only way to happiness
and I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And I promise you you'll see the sun again.
Do you remember telling me you'd found the sweetest thing of all?
You said that one day of this was worth dying for.
So be thankful you knew her at all,
but it's no more.
And you probably don't want to hear tomorrow's another day,
but I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And you're asking me why pains the only way to happiness,
and I promise you you'll see the sun again.
And I promise you you'll see the sun again."
I finished that song and got the cheers and applause that I was shooting for. Although many people still were crying, I was hoping that those were tears of joy that they had finally found their release.
What can I say? Always the optimist.
*~*~*
A/N: Well, I am once again a writing fiend! Aren't you all so incredibly proud of me?
The first song was 'Gravedigger' by Dave Matthews. The second was 'See the Sun' by Dido (gotta love her, eh?).
I just want to add that I do not agree with bombing no matter what, but as I/Emily said, it was more of a scare tactic than anything. I also don't believe that makes it any better, but don't you think it was about sometime that someone bombed Isengard? It was just too good to pass up.
Toodles until next time, and hopefully that won't be three months from now.
~A~