.

Eowyn watched as Eomer lead the prisoner towards the throne. He was a queer looking man with large spectacles' covering his eyes.

Fear was written across his face and demeanor. He was clearly trying not to panic. Sympathy rose within her at the sight of him wincing at the ropes that bound his wrists together.

"Can you untie me please?" His voice was slightly hoarse with a crack. He managed to move his bound wrists upwards with a sharp motion, pointing at her brother. Eomer's hand strayed to his sword, thinking the movement was a threat.

"Not until we find out your motivations in entering our realm," Eomer replied. "These are dark days." The man's face fell at these words.

Grema Wormtounge glared at the prisoner.

"Speak quickly; we do not have all day. Give us your name." Eowyn suppressed a shiver at the hated voice as she kept her eyes on the man.

"My name is Bubbles," he began. "I was helping a couple of friends with some work when I got separated and lost. I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I just want to go back home. I have kitties I need to look after; Food Mountain will only last so long." Eomer shot him a disapproving look at the foul word.

"Not in front of a lady," it clearly said. Eowyn glared at him. She was not a wilting flower who would shrink; she dealt with far worse things than cursing.

"From wince do you hail?" Eomer inquired, face hard as stone. Bubbles gave him a blank look.

"Where do you come from?" Eomer asked in a slow voice, as if he was dealing with a simpleton. Eowyn and Bubbles glared at him.

"I am not stupid you know," Bubbles snapped. "I live in Sunnyvale in Novaschosha Canada." Eowyn looked at him. She had never heard of such a place.

"There is no such place," Grema snarled. "I believe you are lying to cover up for your master. You shall be placed in prison until you can tell the truth; do you not agree my king?" Théoden nodded slowly which took a great deal of effort.

"I don't think that is nessicary," Eowyn called. There was something more to this man's story, and she wanted to find out what. Strange things were happening.

"Be silent woman, and keep out of things that do not concern you," Grema spat.

"Hey, don't you fucking speak to her like that," Bubbles growled, taking a step towards the man. Eowyn secretly hoped that Bubbles would put an end to the miserable snake, but he grabbed Bubbles hard, and dragged him from the room.

"Fuck off you son of a whore!" Bubbles yelled. Eowyn moved to intervene. She did not trust the snake as far as she could throw him. Eomer put a hand on her shoulder.

"Nay little sister, harm shall come to you if you interfere, let us watch and see what events unfold." Her brother too looked angry at the harsh treatment that was shown. As far as Eowyn was concerned, Grema could be the son of a wench. "I must leave you little sister and patrol our borders. The white wizard is cunning, and has many spies in his net. Keep an eye out, and stay safe." Eowyn's spirits fell.

She was being left behind once more in her cage, the one place she loathed to be. She nodded curtly, and watched as he left the hall.

Eowyn turned to her ill uncle, and helped him eat the cooling porridge on his breakfast tray.

"Is that not good Uncle?" she whispered. He looked past her as she fed him that horrible blank and sickly pallor on his face. He was much too young to look in such a manner, she thought, fear clinching her insides.

Grema had a tight hold on her Uncle's mind, and there was nothing she could do about it, but wait on him. Once he ate as much as he could, she motioned for a servant girl to take the tray away.

"He did not eat much this morning My Lady," she whispered as she took it.

"No, he did not," Eowyn agreed. "May haps he shall eat more when the noon meal arrives." The servant nodded her agreement and scampered away as Wormtounge entered the golden hall.

She jumped in surprise when a grip hard as iron caught her elbow.

"I do not take pleasure in your interference in matters that do not concern you," Grema hissed. Eowyn's skin crawled at the icy tone.

"Get your hands off of my person,' EOwyn hissed back, struggling from the iron grip on her arm. "You care not for Rohan and her people; your only concern is to control us. Eowyn's breath was knocked out of her as she was slammed into the cold stone wall.

"You will be mine shieldmaiden," Grema hissed, pinning her against the wall. Eowyn nearly gagged as his foul lips touched her own.

She kicked out, but rough fingers seized her around the throat.

She flailed about, gasping for air as she fought back panic. Bringing up her knee, she rammed it hard into the man's stomach. He released her in surprise. Eowyn flew down the hall towards the kitchens to grab some food for the prisoner.

The servants in the large chamber stopped what they were doing as she entered.

"I need food for the prisoner," Eowyn said as she fought to keep her composure.

"What happened my lady?" Eowyn shook her head at the woman as she was handed a tray of food. Why wouldn't her hands stop shaking?

"I bid you do not ask me," Eowyn replied, grabbing the tray in a firm grip. "I advise you all to keep your guards up around Worm tongue like I have told you previously. Come to me if any trouble springs forth." The women nodded their heads in understanding as they got back to work. Eowyn could hear them whispering to one another as she left the chamber. They deem you weak, a cold voice hissed in her head.

"They are not wrong either. Eowyn scowled as she walked down the corridor. She was beginning to think the voice was right. She could not help her uncle or protect the servants as well as she wished to.

Shame flooded her as she felt her neck where she could still see the marks of the snake's fingers. I cannot even fight him.

"I wish to see the prisoner," Eowyn said to the guard. The guard gave her a superior glance that had her blood boiling in an instant.

"He is to have no visitors," he said, gazing down his nose at her like she was a piece of dirt. 'By orders of Grema Wormtongue."

"If I may recall, Grema is not our king, Théoden is. I do not take orders from such as he, now let me pass else I break down the door. I have food for him." The guard glared at her one last time as he unlocked the cell door. Eowyn shivered from the cold draft of air.

May haps I should have gotten a blanket as well, she thought as she stepped inside?

"Good day Sir," she greeted him. Bubbles looked up from his lap at her entrance.

"Hello," he replied quietly. He gave her a look that was half wary, and half fearful. He scooted towards the wall, as if that would be an adequate hiding spot.

'I shall not harm you," Eowyn said in her most gentle tone as he shielded his face, body tense as if to prepare himself for a strike.

"Do you promise?" he asked, gazing at her through his fingers.

'You have my word my Lord," replied Eowyn, slowly walking towards him with her hands held out in front of her.

"I am not a lord,' Bubbles replied with a snort. "Far from it."

"I do not mean to offend you," replied Eowyn. Bubbles gave her a small smile. "I have the noon meal for you if you so desire it."

"Thank you, what is your name?" Bubbles reached for the tray as he spoke.

"I am called Eowyn, daughter of Eomund, and niece to his Majesty King Théoden. Bubbles quickly got up to bow, but Eowyn waved her hand.

"Do not bow I beg you," she said. "The title means naught to me; it has given me naught but a cage. I am but a woman who is to always stay behind whilst the men do great deeds of renown." Eowyn had no idea why she told him this; his eyes looked so kind and compassionate. They did not stare at her with pity.

"Speak not a word to any of what I have told you," she said, a harsh note appearing in her tone.

"I won't," Bubbles said quietly. "I am sorry Eowyn; I didn't mean to upset you." Her eyes softened at the remorse in his eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive; it is I who must ask for your forgiveness, I did not mean to raise my voice at you." Bubbles gave her a small smile. Eowyn watched as he gazed around the tiny cell. A hint of fear flitted across his face as he gazed at the size of his cage.

"How long am I going to be here?" he asked, a quiver of fear entering his voice. "I need to go home, I have my kitties to look after."

"I know not Bubbles," Eowyn said softly. Her eyes grew sad at the fearful look that entered his own. "I am sorry."

"I want to go home," whispered Bubbles, blinking back tears.

"I wish to go home as well," Eowyn replied.

'I thought this was your home," said Bubbles as he ate the chicken and carrots. Eowyn watched him for a second before speaking.

"This is not a home anymore, it is a cage." Once Bubbles was done eating, Eowyn took the tray and turned to leave.

"Please stay," Bubbles said, "I don't like it down here."

Eowyn gave him a sad smile, she had never liked this part of the castle either, it was dark and scary when she was a child, now it was cold and void of cheer, rather like the rest of the country.

"I am sorry," she whispered. "But I have my duties to my king that I must perform. I shall come back to visit on the morrow if I am able." Bubbles nodded as she turned from the cell, and made her way towards her invalid Uncle.

Bubbles did not see Eowyn for the next three days. He was quite alone except for his cell guard. He tried speaking with the man, but it was like speaking to a brick wall.

Did he have orders not to speak to him? Bubbles had no idea. He stared around the tiny cell, panic beginning to tighten his chest. He took deep breaths to calm himself down, but it wasn't working all that well.

He could feel the walls of his cell closing in around him, which did not help calm the panic rising inside him. Claustrophobia could fuck itself as far as Bubbles was concerned. Would he ever see Ricky and Julian again? The prospects were quite unlikely at this point. He would probley spend the rest of his fucking life in this cell.

At this thought, he sprung towards the door, and tried to find a weak spot around it, but there was none to be found.

He searched around the entire perimeter of the cell, but it was well built, designed to keep people in.

He knew that screaming for help was useless, the guard would not let him out. He sunk onto the thin mattress which served as his bed. The neighing of horses and shouting of men outside in that strange language made him feel more lonely and frightened than ever.

He curled up on the mattress, hoping that sleep would help him cope. He hadn't slept well these past nights, it got quite cold at night.

Sighing, he closed his eyes.

Bubbles jerked awake at the scraping of a key in the lock. The silent guard ushered Eowyn inside. His eyes filled with concern at the bruise that marred her right cheek.

"It is nothing to concern yourself with,' she said before he could ask. "I came to see you like I promised I would."

"When can I get out of here? I hate it, I don't like closed spaces, I need out of here, I mean look, I'm shaking. I don't work for anybody, I just want to go home." Eowyn gazed at him in sympathy.

"I'm sorry Bubbles, but I can't without the king's leave."

"When can you get that?" Bubbles asked.

"I know not, it might take awhile," replied Eowyn. "Things are complicated at the moment."

'I can't stay here for much longer, I'll lose my fucking mind." Bubbles looked at Eowyn.

" I shall do my best, but I cannot promise anything," Eowyn replied. Bubbles nodded, slumping against the wall.

"So you like cats?" Eowyn asked, sitting beside him.

"I love kitties, they are my family." Eowyn smiled at him.

'I understand, we feel the same about our horses, they are precious to us."

"They are pretty horses," Bubbles replied. "I can see them through the window.

"When I get you out of here, I shall introduce you to my horse," said Eowyn.

"I thought you said it would take you a little while," said Bubbles. He got to his feet to stretch his legs.

"Indeed it shall, but you shall be out, I give you my word." She looked so serious at that moment he had to believe her.

"All right Eowyn, I believe you." She got to her feet, and walked towards the cell door.

"I must take my leave Bubbles, my Uncle expects me, I shall see you when time allows."

"Have a good evening,' replied Bubbles, watching as she closed the cell door.

He fell asleep that night with hopes of getting the fuck out of jail soon.

Bubbles was back in his shed, surrounded by purring kitties. He smiled as he played with them, rubbing their bellies and playing with cat toys while they tried to pounce.

The smell of food had him opening his eyes. A tray of eggs and bacon sat by his elbow, while a real live kitty sat on his chest.

"Who are you little fella?" he cooed, gently stroking his head. The cat licked his face as he continued to purr.

"Lady Eowyn was generous enough to give you that cat," the guard informed him. Bubbles was surprised. The guard normally pretended he did not exist.

"Well, tell her I said thanks," Bubbles replied as he dug into the eggs and bacon. The guard nodded.

"You're a fucking nice kitty, yes you are," he said, stroking the kitty's head and back as he meowed. "I will have to come up with a name for you little guy, it will take me a bit to think of one, but I promise you I will." The calico gently licked his face and neck as he memorized his scent.

His spirits lifted a bit, knowing he would not be alone anymore.

"As soon as we are out of here little fella, you will be a free range kitty." The cat meowed while Bubbles ate his breakfast. I will have to do something nice for Eowyn, he thought, watching the cat explore the cell.