I learn that Theodred was the dead guy on the bed when I arrived in Lord of the Rings. Some men carry his body towards his tomb on a bier made of shields and spears. For some reason, I'm told to sing. They asked for it. I try to think of something appropriate. Kansas should do.
"I close my eyes only for a moment, and the moment's gone. All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity…Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind. Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea. All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see. Dust in the wind. Now don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky." Hm. Theoden seems pretty upset. Better keep singing.
"It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy. Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind…Dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind. Du-" Aragorn puts his hand on my shoulder. Théoden bursts into tears. Maybe my song choice wasn't great.
The funeral procession begins to meander back inside. I notice one of the riders of Rohan staring at me. I pretend as if I didn't see him, and I slip into the crowd. Then I break off and hide behind a stone wall. As the guard walks past me, I steal his sword and push him again the wall.
"Who are you and why are you…Nemo?" I say, shocked. I lower the sword.
"I'm honestly a little surprised you recognized me."
"I'd know that stupid smirk anywhere." I say. There's an awkward silence between us as we both wait for the other to say something.
"I'd like to apologize-" We both say in unison.
"Don't ever do that again." I warn, a little freaked out.
"Yeah. That was weird. But I do want to apologize. I thought about what happened, and maybe you have a point about everyone being equal. I just…I just didn't want you to get hurt or get the attention of the Editors or Aslan because, well I didn't want to lose anyone else-" Nemo begins.
"I accept your apology, but only if you accept mine." I force myself to say. Apologizing is hard, but I realized the Phantom and Raoul had good points. I continue. "I was being stubborn and maybe I should have listened to your side of the story before getting pissed off. Afterall, you were just looking out for my best interests. And it would be nice to have a friend."
"And the bow and arrows appearing and the berries and everything else, that was you?" I ask.
"Sorry about that. I was just trying to be helpful." Nemo says.
"A little stalky, but I'll let it pass. Nemo, were there been other "Jumpers" or whatever we are?"
"Yeah but-"
"Something happened to them right? Is that why you're so worried?" I ask. I think I hit a nerve. Nemo's easy swagger is gone.
"I've been in here a long time. I can't really remember how I got in here. I can't remember their faces anymore…"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring on the male-angst. You don't have to tell me if you don't-"
"I do remember one person though."
"OOOkay. I guess you do want to tell me."
"He teached me everything there was to know about being a Jumper. He showed me how to jump, how to become a main character or become a background character, how to keep mementos from previous stories, how to decide which story to go to-"
"Wait, are you telling me you know how to go to a certain story this entire time and you never-"
"And I remember when he just disappeared. Never saw him again. I never learned if he got out or if the Editors got him or if he died. He just never showed up again. It was as if he was never there in the first place."
"Geez, that's heartbreaking."
"So, I'm sorry if I can be clingy sometimes, but I can't lose another friend. I don't want to be alone." He says. I take his hand.
"Well, good thing you're not then."
"What about when you leave? When you go back to your family?"
"My family?" I had forgotten about that. I hadn't thought about them in a while. Then a thought occurs to me.
"Nemo…Do you remember your family?" The look on his face answers my question. "And you don't remember your name either do you? And I'll never remember mine, will I?"
Nemo shakes his head. I sigh.
"Oh well. I gave up on trying to remember my name a long time ago. It's was probably something stupid, like Ethel (no offense to Ethels, I just don't picture myself as one). But Nevermind that. Let's go-"
"Wait, one more thing." Nemo says, and he holds up his hand. In it is a small glowing rock.
"You found the glowing rock thing I left!" I say excitedly. It's the rock from the Mortal Instruments.
"Thought you'd want it back."
"Thanks." I say. "Although, I can't imagine it'd be very helpful anymore. I'm surprised it lasted this long."
"The mementos last as long as you use them." Nemo says.
"What?! This whole time?!...Wait, but what about when my ice wand stopped working?" I ask.
"That was probably because it's a magical device and it's connected to the Ice Queen's powers. Once you weren't her, the power began to diminish."
"Okkaay." I have no idea what he just said. "And what was that thing about being able to travel to whatever story you like? I feel like that would be very useful."
"It's very complicated. It requires the Jumper to be an expert and have expert focus. You also have to have the maximum energy from completing entire series. You don't have nearly enough energy."
"Great. Thanks for the helpfulness!"
"My pleasure."
"And more of your sarcasm. Fantastic."
"You're one to talk!"
"Hey!" We keep bickering as we walk back to the Great Hall (or is it called a palace? Who knows…). Someone shoves past us looking very official.
"What's all that about?" I ask. Nemo looks ready to answer, but then we enter the Great Palace/Hall/Fancy-place-where-people-live. Everyone is hurrying around in a rush.
"Did we miss something?" I ask Aragorn as he quickly walks by.
"We?" He asks. I give Nemo a glance. He shrugs his shoulders.
"You could have told me you were doing that 'invisible' thing again." I tell him. Aragorn looks at me, and then follows my eyes to Nemo (who he can't see). Nemo tries to conceal his laughter because he knows I'm about to bitchslap him.
"Um…" Aragorn makes that all-too-familiar-"you're insane" look. "To answer your question, Théoden has decided to take refuge in Helm's Deep. He has sent men to inform the people to ready to leave."
"That explains that dude leaving in a rush." I say. "Is Helm's Deep that city built into the mountain?"
"Yes."
"Hmm…Is now a bad time to mention I'm slightly claustrophobic?" I ask. Aragorn already left though. Nemo is laughing his head off next to me.
"Stop laughing at my pain!" I say.
"Is this really how you've been going through stories this entire time?" Nemo asks. I frown.
"No…" I mumble. "Hmph. Come on, we'd better get ready to leave. Nemo, where are the swords?"
"I don't trust you with a sword." Nemo says.
"Good thing I don't need your permission." I say. We head towards a promising looking chest. Around us everyone is still packing things. I open the chest and inside is a sword.
"Jackpot!" I unsheathe the sword and start swinging it around. I accidentally impale a nearby wooden beam. "Ops."
I try to pry it out but it's stuck very well. I have a horrible flashback to Narnia, when a similar situation occurred.
"Need some help there?" I hear Aragorn ask from behind me. I turn around quickly. My face flushes and I try to play it off. I casually rest my arm on the sword.
"Help? Help with what?" I ask. Aragorn laughs at me and then pulls the sword out.
"Oh. That…" I say. He hands me the sword. "Thanks."
Suddenly he swings a dagger at me. I quickly raise my sword to defend myself.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" I yell.
"You have some skill with a blade." He says.
"What if I didn't? Then I'd be DEAD."
"What do you fear, my lady?"
"My broccoli mutating and eating me from the inside." I say. Aragorn shakes his head in wonder.
"Better watch out. I hear they're serving chicken and broccoli for dinner." Nemo says. Meanwhile Aragorn sheaths his sword.
"I do not think that will be your fate." Aragorn says, and then walks away.
"I really hope not!" I comment. Nemo nudges me.
"Sometimes when you leave the script, the characters will continue the lines if it makes sense. It's a little complicated. Basically the story just wants to continue on the storyline at all costs. That's why when you deviate far from it, the Editors have an easier time finding you. It's their job to keep the story going. That's why I stay below the radar and don't mess with anything." Nemo explains.
"That wasn't passive aggressive at all." I say sarcastically and then head to the stable to get my horse (aka Eowyn's horse). Nemo trails behind. We find also find Aragorn. He's busying whispering to my horse in a different language.
"Long time no see." I joke.
"Please don't make me watch you two flirt." Nemo says. He has a disgusted look on his face.
"Shut up. I'm not flirting. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean that when I'm making jokes I'm flirting!" I yell at him. Then I see Aragorn staring at me. I remember he can't see Nemo. Nemo starts laughing. I scowl. Aragorn goes back to whispering gibberish to the horse.
"His name is Brego." I say. For once I know this not from Eowyn's memories, but because there's a nametag on the wall. Aragorn looks up at me.
"I know, RainbowDash is a much better name. But I guess Brego's cool too." I say.
"Brego." Aragorn says. Then he whispers some more to the horse.
"Okkaay. I didn't know you were a horse whisperer." I say.
"It is Elven magic. I was raised in Rivendell…for a time. Turn this fellow free. He's seen enough of war." Aragorn says. He takes his saddle and leaves.
"So deep and angsty." I say.
"Seriously. This is whispering-dramatically-to-animals level male-angst we're talking about." Nemo says. I jump.
"Are you okay?" He asks me.
"Yeah. I've just gotten so used to talking to myself I was surprised when someone answered." I say. Nemo raises his eyebrow.
"Should I be concerned at all?" He asks. I tilt my head, thinking.
"Only a little." I answer. I start to climb onto the horse. I wrap my leg around the saddle and my arm around the horse's neck. I kick my other leg in an attempt to thrust myself up onto the horse. I kick harder and fling myself on top of the horse. It seems I kicked a little too hard though because I keep moving and I fling myself over the other side of the horse. I land in a bucket of water.
I stand up, soaking wet and very embarrassed. Nemo purses his lips, trying hard to keep a straight face. I don't say anything, just start to climb back up onto the horse.
"Do you need some help with th-" Nemo starts. I snap my head to glare at him. I pull myself up onto the horse. I get comfortable in the saddle, and push my wet hair out of my face.
"That wasn't so hard at all." I say, triumphantly (even though I'm still soaking wet).
"Great." Nemo says. "Now make room for me."
"Why, whatever do you mean?" I ask innocently.
"I mean, where am I going to sit?"
"I'm sorry, I don't think there's room for you. Unless you'd like to sit in the puddle of water behind me." I say, smiling diabolically. Whoever said revenge is sweet was absolutely correct. "You'll have to walk."
With that Brego and I start trotting away. Nemo stands there for a second and then follows us.
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Thanks for reading! Sorry it's been a while but I had a bit of writers block. Comment if you have suggestions or ideas! i'd love to hear them all!