A/N: Wow, this is my longest time not updating!! I feel so bad, and I
apologize! With spring break and meeting up with friends and such, I've
been totally neglecting my writing! Thanks for being so patient; now that
Spring Break is winding down, I'll be on time with the chapters! ^.^
Just a note, I'm doing this book verse. Some people had remarked on Éowyn and the women, elders, children, etc. staying in Edoras. In the movie they went along with the men, but in the book they stay in Edoras. Go read 'The King of the Golden Hall' if you don't believe me. ^_^
Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate them!
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Disclaimer: If you think I'm Tolkien, get your head checked.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
**Chapter 8**
Boromir was glad he had only traveled a short distance, as he was able to return to Edoras in a little over an hour. Each time the horse's hooves hit the ground, bringing him closer, he felt stronger. By the time he hurried past the guards, he was feeling like his old self.
He couldn't remember where Steph had been staying, and being the brilliant problem solver he was, he stood in front of Meduseld and pounded on the doors. Disgruntled mothers and elders shouted at him from their small houses and at last a servant came to the door, looking sleepy and angry.
"What is it?" she hissed, squinting at him through the dark.
Boromir wondered for a moment why she wasn't paying him more respect, before remembering the darkness. "I am searching for Lady Stephanie."
She beckoned for him to follow, leading him down a dark corridor. The door to Steph's room was slightly ajar, and he was able to push it open without making much sound.
Steph was asleep, the blanket wrapped around her head like a cocoon. Boromir wasn't sure how to wake her, as past experiences with waking Steph usually ended in pain.
Carefully, he shook her shoulder, softly calling her name.
She moved away from his touch, grumbling a curse into blanket, which had fallen over her face. Boromir sighed. He didn't have time for this. Seizing her by her arms, he pulled her into a sitting position and shook her.
Immediately awake, Steph blinked, trying to register what was going on. She saw Boromir, and her sleepy look turned to a death glare.
"Come back for me, assclown?" she snapped, shoving his hands away.
"Yes, I've come back for you. We need to leave as soon as possible."
She snorted. "Screw that. I'm going back to sleep. You left me, it won't kill you to wait."
Boromir seized her arm and pulled her back up before she could lie down. "We are leaving now. Get up."
She sent him a rebellious glare. "Make me."
Glaring back, he picked her up and swung her over one shoulder. The woman was still standing there, looking rather shocked. Steph was cursing and beating on Boromir's back with her fists, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Is Lady Éowyn awake?" Boromir asked, shrugging his shoulders in an attempt to soften Steph's fists.
"I will find out, my lord." She said, now aware of Boromir's identity. She hurried away, a puzzled expression on her simple face.
"Put me down." Steph demanded.
"I will not."
"Put me down now."
"No."
She sighed irritably. "I swear, if you don't put me down in 5 seconds, I'll bite you."
Boromir smirked. "Oh really?"
"One..two.."
"I won't put you down."
"Three..four.."
He was beginning to chuckle.
"Five." Steph waited, hoping that he would put her down and she wouldn't have to bite him. He probably tasted gross, like death and dirt. Eww.
"I'm warning you." She prompted, trying to stall.
Boromir smirked again. "I won't put you down."
Just as she prepared to sink her teeth into his shoulder, Éowyn and the servant woman started walking toward them. Éowyn looked surprised to see them.
"Lord Boromir!" she exclaimed, eyeing Steph, "What has happened?"
"Lady Stephanie-"
"STEPH!" Steph corrected loudly, trying to twist her head at an angle so she could bite his upper arm, "Can't you ever get it right?"
Both women looked taken aback by her comment, but Boromir continued, unphased. "I have decided to bring Lady Stephanie along with me. It would be much more convenient."
-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Steph reluctantly followed Boromir to the waiting horse. She had been given a knife to replace the one she previously had, and it hung in a scabbard at her waist. She was not at all pleased with it, as having a standard female figure it kept sliding down her hips and hilt kept thumping against her waist. She was positive that a large bruise was forming.
Boromir bowed to Lady Éowyn in parting, before striding over to where Steph was standing.
"I see you're behaving yourself." He remarked, mounting the horse.
Steph put her hands on her hips, frowning at him. "I need help here."
"With what?"
"Duh! Mounting the horse!"
Boromir snorted. "By the Valar, what do you learn in your world?"
"We have cars, assclown, horses aren't needed."
Sighing, Boromir offered his hand. Steph made a face but took it, and clumsily mounted the horse. Boromir spurred the horse onward with his heels, making Steph seize his arm, fearing she might fall off.
"I'm going to fall off!" she cried, tightening her grip on his arm.
"You will not." He said, trying to concentrate on making the horse go faster, "You are safe, I assure you."
"I hate horses." Steph grumbled, seizing Boromir's arm again as the horse picked up speed. "How far is it to Helm's Deep?"
"Forty leagues and more as a bird flies."
Steph made a face. "Ok..is that a lot?"
Boromir snorted at her ignorance. "Yes."
Still holding his arm, Steph scanned the plains about her. This was going to be a long trip.
"I hate horses."
Boromir frowned at the land in front of them. The sun had long since set, and now the plains were bathed in a white gold. He hated traveling at night, especially on a way he didn't know. If the circumstances had been different he would have stopped and rested at the very moment, but he desperately needed to get to Helm's Deep. If there was to be a battle, he wanted to be included in it.
He would not be left behind again. With this thought in mind, he kicked the horse's sides, spurring him forward.
After some time, clouds rolled over the moon, making it impossible to see anything. Cursing, he dismounted the horse and looked over the plains. They had traveled an hour or so, and they were just beyond the place Boromir had stopped last. He helped Steph off the horse.
"We will have to rest here," he explained, grimacing at the land, "It is too dark to continue."
Steph yawned sleepily. "I was wondering when you would admit that."
Setting up a small camp, Boromir let Steph sleep first. After a while he woke her up again, instructing her to get him up at dawn. She nodded, stupid with sleep, and tried furiously to stay awake.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Steph had long since fallen asleep, but by some miracle, she awoke as the sun peeked over the horizon.
"Boromir," she said, nudging him with her foot, "It's dawn. Get up."
The two started off again, crossing small streams and fords in a green country. The Misty Mountains were far ahead, looming dark and tall. The sky itself was dark and stormy, making Boromir uneasy. The air was heavy with something he could not place, and it frightened him.
Steph had fallen asleep against his chest. He was glad to see that she was sleeping again. When she was awake she'd stare off into the distance silently, or make small talk that made no sense. She was mostly silent. This worried him, as quiet wasn't her natural state.
It was almost noon when Boromir saw Helm's Deep far ahead of him. There lay a green comb where a gorge opened in the hills.
Steph stared at it in awe. "Is that it?"
Boromir nodded. "Yes, that is Helm's Deep. It is named for a hero of old who made his refuge there."
There were high walls of ancient stone and a large tower. The walls wound around, barring the entrance to the gorge. Steph stretched, squinting at the figures on the walls.
"Is there anything in Gondor like this?"
Boromir straightened up with pride. "There are many things in Gondor that greatly surpass Helm's Deep."
Steph grinned at him. "You are so weird sometimes."
He appeared to have not heard her comment, as he was looking past her in horror.
"What?" she asked, twisting in her seat to see what he was looking at, "What is it?"
"There has already been a battle here!" he swept his hand over the many bodies that lay piled about, awaiting burial from the workers around them. One of the workers spotted the pair on the horse and cried out in surprise. Soon, a man rode from Helm's Deep to meet them.
"Hail strangers!" he said, glaring at them suspiciously, "Be you friend or foe of Théoden King?"
Boromir put his hand to his chest in greeting. "Hail! We are friend to Théoden King. We travel from Meduseld to gain his council. The Lady Éowyn said that he was here, along with a Company of three, clad in Elven garb."
The man's look grew even more distrustful. "How do you know of such a company?"
Steph sighed, but said nothing. Did they always have to ask the same questions?
"I was a member of the company. Quickly! Tell me where they are, as I am in great haste to speak with them!"
The man sighed. "There was a great battle fought here," he swept his hand over the bodies, "We defeated the army, and now Théoden King and the company which you speak of have traveled to Isengard."
Boromir face fell, and he clenched his hands into fists. Cursing, he wiped away the sweat that had been forming on his forehead. "Then we have traveled all this way for naught!"
Steph turned around in her seat. "Then we'll follow them." She turned back to the man, "When did they leave?"
"Only an hour or so ago." He said, just then noticing Steph.
Boromir sighed. "We will rest here, then we will start after the company." He sighed dejectedly. He had missed them again! It would take at least a day to catch up with Théoden and the others.
As the two set up camp on the hard stone, the same thought rushed through their minds.
"Why us?"
Steph pulled her jacket around her, blocking out the cool air. "Do you think we'll catch up with them?"
"I hope so. We will rest here, and then we will start to Isengard."
"What then? Are you going to leave me there or something, Mr. Brilliant Problem Solver?"
Boromir snorted. "I'm not going to leave you anywhere. You're coming along with me."
Steph looked at him skeptically. "Why the change of heart?"
"Go to sleep. You'll need it." He said, turning away from her. Something told him he shouldn't tell her about needing her near him to keep him alive. If she was angry with him, she could always get as far away from him where it wouldn't kill him, just cause him a great deal of pain. But was she really that cruel? Maybe he was being selfish with the information..
He shook his head. He wouldn't tell her. That was final.
"You're changing the subject." She said, breaking his thoughts.
"I am not changing the subject." he said brilliantly, as he couldn't remember what the subject was.
Steph frowned. "You are too. Quit being an assclown. Why did you come back for me?"
Boromir turned a shoulder to her and settled against the rock. Meddlesome females...
-~-~-~-~-~-
A/N: Sorry everyone, I know that one was a bit boring. Maybe after both of them have had some sleep they'll stop crabbing at each other like old people and do some actually bickering! ^_^
Thanks for reading!
Enednilwen*
Just a note, I'm doing this book verse. Some people had remarked on Éowyn and the women, elders, children, etc. staying in Edoras. In the movie they went along with the men, but in the book they stay in Edoras. Go read 'The King of the Golden Hall' if you don't believe me. ^_^
Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate them!
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Disclaimer: If you think I'm Tolkien, get your head checked.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
**Chapter 8**
Boromir was glad he had only traveled a short distance, as he was able to return to Edoras in a little over an hour. Each time the horse's hooves hit the ground, bringing him closer, he felt stronger. By the time he hurried past the guards, he was feeling like his old self.
He couldn't remember where Steph had been staying, and being the brilliant problem solver he was, he stood in front of Meduseld and pounded on the doors. Disgruntled mothers and elders shouted at him from their small houses and at last a servant came to the door, looking sleepy and angry.
"What is it?" she hissed, squinting at him through the dark.
Boromir wondered for a moment why she wasn't paying him more respect, before remembering the darkness. "I am searching for Lady Stephanie."
She beckoned for him to follow, leading him down a dark corridor. The door to Steph's room was slightly ajar, and he was able to push it open without making much sound.
Steph was asleep, the blanket wrapped around her head like a cocoon. Boromir wasn't sure how to wake her, as past experiences with waking Steph usually ended in pain.
Carefully, he shook her shoulder, softly calling her name.
She moved away from his touch, grumbling a curse into blanket, which had fallen over her face. Boromir sighed. He didn't have time for this. Seizing her by her arms, he pulled her into a sitting position and shook her.
Immediately awake, Steph blinked, trying to register what was going on. She saw Boromir, and her sleepy look turned to a death glare.
"Come back for me, assclown?" she snapped, shoving his hands away.
"Yes, I've come back for you. We need to leave as soon as possible."
She snorted. "Screw that. I'm going back to sleep. You left me, it won't kill you to wait."
Boromir seized her arm and pulled her back up before she could lie down. "We are leaving now. Get up."
She sent him a rebellious glare. "Make me."
Glaring back, he picked her up and swung her over one shoulder. The woman was still standing there, looking rather shocked. Steph was cursing and beating on Boromir's back with her fists, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Is Lady Éowyn awake?" Boromir asked, shrugging his shoulders in an attempt to soften Steph's fists.
"I will find out, my lord." She said, now aware of Boromir's identity. She hurried away, a puzzled expression on her simple face.
"Put me down." Steph demanded.
"I will not."
"Put me down now."
"No."
She sighed irritably. "I swear, if you don't put me down in 5 seconds, I'll bite you."
Boromir smirked. "Oh really?"
"One..two.."
"I won't put you down."
"Three..four.."
He was beginning to chuckle.
"Five." Steph waited, hoping that he would put her down and she wouldn't have to bite him. He probably tasted gross, like death and dirt. Eww.
"I'm warning you." She prompted, trying to stall.
Boromir smirked again. "I won't put you down."
Just as she prepared to sink her teeth into his shoulder, Éowyn and the servant woman started walking toward them. Éowyn looked surprised to see them.
"Lord Boromir!" she exclaimed, eyeing Steph, "What has happened?"
"Lady Stephanie-"
"STEPH!" Steph corrected loudly, trying to twist her head at an angle so she could bite his upper arm, "Can't you ever get it right?"
Both women looked taken aback by her comment, but Boromir continued, unphased. "I have decided to bring Lady Stephanie along with me. It would be much more convenient."
-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Steph reluctantly followed Boromir to the waiting horse. She had been given a knife to replace the one she previously had, and it hung in a scabbard at her waist. She was not at all pleased with it, as having a standard female figure it kept sliding down her hips and hilt kept thumping against her waist. She was positive that a large bruise was forming.
Boromir bowed to Lady Éowyn in parting, before striding over to where Steph was standing.
"I see you're behaving yourself." He remarked, mounting the horse.
Steph put her hands on her hips, frowning at him. "I need help here."
"With what?"
"Duh! Mounting the horse!"
Boromir snorted. "By the Valar, what do you learn in your world?"
"We have cars, assclown, horses aren't needed."
Sighing, Boromir offered his hand. Steph made a face but took it, and clumsily mounted the horse. Boromir spurred the horse onward with his heels, making Steph seize his arm, fearing she might fall off.
"I'm going to fall off!" she cried, tightening her grip on his arm.
"You will not." He said, trying to concentrate on making the horse go faster, "You are safe, I assure you."
"I hate horses." Steph grumbled, seizing Boromir's arm again as the horse picked up speed. "How far is it to Helm's Deep?"
"Forty leagues and more as a bird flies."
Steph made a face. "Ok..is that a lot?"
Boromir snorted at her ignorance. "Yes."
Still holding his arm, Steph scanned the plains about her. This was going to be a long trip.
"I hate horses."
Boromir frowned at the land in front of them. The sun had long since set, and now the plains were bathed in a white gold. He hated traveling at night, especially on a way he didn't know. If the circumstances had been different he would have stopped and rested at the very moment, but he desperately needed to get to Helm's Deep. If there was to be a battle, he wanted to be included in it.
He would not be left behind again. With this thought in mind, he kicked the horse's sides, spurring him forward.
After some time, clouds rolled over the moon, making it impossible to see anything. Cursing, he dismounted the horse and looked over the plains. They had traveled an hour or so, and they were just beyond the place Boromir had stopped last. He helped Steph off the horse.
"We will have to rest here," he explained, grimacing at the land, "It is too dark to continue."
Steph yawned sleepily. "I was wondering when you would admit that."
Setting up a small camp, Boromir let Steph sleep first. After a while he woke her up again, instructing her to get him up at dawn. She nodded, stupid with sleep, and tried furiously to stay awake.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Steph had long since fallen asleep, but by some miracle, she awoke as the sun peeked over the horizon.
"Boromir," she said, nudging him with her foot, "It's dawn. Get up."
The two started off again, crossing small streams and fords in a green country. The Misty Mountains were far ahead, looming dark and tall. The sky itself was dark and stormy, making Boromir uneasy. The air was heavy with something he could not place, and it frightened him.
Steph had fallen asleep against his chest. He was glad to see that she was sleeping again. When she was awake she'd stare off into the distance silently, or make small talk that made no sense. She was mostly silent. This worried him, as quiet wasn't her natural state.
It was almost noon when Boromir saw Helm's Deep far ahead of him. There lay a green comb where a gorge opened in the hills.
Steph stared at it in awe. "Is that it?"
Boromir nodded. "Yes, that is Helm's Deep. It is named for a hero of old who made his refuge there."
There were high walls of ancient stone and a large tower. The walls wound around, barring the entrance to the gorge. Steph stretched, squinting at the figures on the walls.
"Is there anything in Gondor like this?"
Boromir straightened up with pride. "There are many things in Gondor that greatly surpass Helm's Deep."
Steph grinned at him. "You are so weird sometimes."
He appeared to have not heard her comment, as he was looking past her in horror.
"What?" she asked, twisting in her seat to see what he was looking at, "What is it?"
"There has already been a battle here!" he swept his hand over the many bodies that lay piled about, awaiting burial from the workers around them. One of the workers spotted the pair on the horse and cried out in surprise. Soon, a man rode from Helm's Deep to meet them.
"Hail strangers!" he said, glaring at them suspiciously, "Be you friend or foe of Théoden King?"
Boromir put his hand to his chest in greeting. "Hail! We are friend to Théoden King. We travel from Meduseld to gain his council. The Lady Éowyn said that he was here, along with a Company of three, clad in Elven garb."
The man's look grew even more distrustful. "How do you know of such a company?"
Steph sighed, but said nothing. Did they always have to ask the same questions?
"I was a member of the company. Quickly! Tell me where they are, as I am in great haste to speak with them!"
The man sighed. "There was a great battle fought here," he swept his hand over the bodies, "We defeated the army, and now Théoden King and the company which you speak of have traveled to Isengard."
Boromir face fell, and he clenched his hands into fists. Cursing, he wiped away the sweat that had been forming on his forehead. "Then we have traveled all this way for naught!"
Steph turned around in her seat. "Then we'll follow them." She turned back to the man, "When did they leave?"
"Only an hour or so ago." He said, just then noticing Steph.
Boromir sighed. "We will rest here, then we will start after the company." He sighed dejectedly. He had missed them again! It would take at least a day to catch up with Théoden and the others.
As the two set up camp on the hard stone, the same thought rushed through their minds.
"Why us?"
Steph pulled her jacket around her, blocking out the cool air. "Do you think we'll catch up with them?"
"I hope so. We will rest here, and then we will start to Isengard."
"What then? Are you going to leave me there or something, Mr. Brilliant Problem Solver?"
Boromir snorted. "I'm not going to leave you anywhere. You're coming along with me."
Steph looked at him skeptically. "Why the change of heart?"
"Go to sleep. You'll need it." He said, turning away from her. Something told him he shouldn't tell her about needing her near him to keep him alive. If she was angry with him, she could always get as far away from him where it wouldn't kill him, just cause him a great deal of pain. But was she really that cruel? Maybe he was being selfish with the information..
He shook his head. He wouldn't tell her. That was final.
"You're changing the subject." She said, breaking his thoughts.
"I am not changing the subject." he said brilliantly, as he couldn't remember what the subject was.
Steph frowned. "You are too. Quit being an assclown. Why did you come back for me?"
Boromir turned a shoulder to her and settled against the rock. Meddlesome females...
-~-~-~-~-~-
A/N: Sorry everyone, I know that one was a bit boring. Maybe after both of them have had some sleep they'll stop crabbing at each other like old people and do some actually bickering! ^_^
Thanks for reading!
Enednilwen*