Ok, with as many people that have subscribed to this story (thank you all, I appreciate it) I only have four votes for the lucky guy. So I created a poll on my page so go vote! Dream sequence in this chapter is written in italics. Review, review, review!
Bluelibelluel13: You have given me such great reviews. I think if it wasn't for you I probably would have stopped this story after chapter one.
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The place they were sleeping in was one big room. She could only guess that it was the Middle Earth equivalent to a barracks. She was use to sleeping around the other males so it didn't faze her at all, but it apparently fazed others.
"Lady Artemis, you may share my quarters if you like." Eowyn said, causing the girl to stand up straight. None of her boys, as she liked to refer to them, even looked in their direction as they set up their sleeping areas.
"Oh, is it not appropriate for me to stay with them?" She asked and gestured to her four companions. Gandalf was suddenly beside her, a gentle hand resting on her shoulder.
"Of course not, when we are traveling there is no way around it but here it would be most unsuitable for a young lady to share a sleeping quarters with the men." Missy plastered a fake smile on her face and followed Eowyn out of the room. Truth was she still felt uncomfortable in Edoras.
"Eowyn, maybe you can help me. A bunch of men were banished and I was hoping to get them unbanished because, well Eomer saved my life and I-" Eowyn swung around to face her when she spoke his name.
"Eomer? You have seen my brother? Is he well?" She gave her a sheepish grin and nodded.
"Yeah, he is alright. He just misses home." Eowyn smiled softly, happy with the thought that her brother was in good health. She continued to lead her down the hall until they reached a big door with intricate carvings across the wood.
"This is my room." She pushed the door open and Missy was greeted with the sight of a giant bed covered with a fluffy looking blanket. Normally she would have dove onto the bed, grateful for the comforts which she had been denied for so long, but she was uneasy.
"Do you not like it?" Eowyn asked noticing her apprehension.
"No, it's lovely! I guess I'm just ify about being separated from my friends. Every time I'm not with them something bad happens." Eowyn gave her a smile and reassured her that they were just down the hall. She excused herself as she had to go take care of funeral arrangements for the next day, leaving Missy in the room. She wanted to explore though, she wanted to see the things that Eomer had spoken of. In a way she supposed she was trying to make up for not seeing Boromir's home. Boromir, he had died for her and the hobbits, and secretly she believed because of her. Her feet began to move as she thought back to that day, how scared she had been. She could have fought, or at least tried to fight. She had let him down, and now he was dead.
"What is wrong now? Lady Eowyn's chambers not as lavish as you would have liked?" She looked up to see Legolas standing a few feet away from her, leaning against a pillar. She burst into tears immediately and the elf straightened up, not sure what he had said.
"Artemis?" He asked and put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's my fault… I didn't do anything! I just stood there and he was fighting so hard to protect us! I could have helped him but…" The next words she spoke were indiscernible due to her crying. Legolas was at a loss, he had no idea how to comfort this woman. He pulled her into his arms without another option; his fingers began stroking her neck. He muttered soothing words in elvish and it seemed to calm her.
"No one expected you to fight; any of us would have died defending you gladly." She pulled back and looked up at him with her big blood shot green eyes.
"I'm sure. You be more likely to use me as a shield." His face was full of compassion and for a moment she was sure he was going to say something nice, but he looked to his left as though he had heard something and then his face changed to annoyance.
"At least then you would prove of some use." He snipped and walked off quickly, leaving her standing there confused. Before she knew what was happening Aragorn was standing in front of her.
"Why is he so mean?" She asked as she wiped the tears off her face.
"I do not know, it is highly out of character for him. You do have a gift, to make even the most constant man act in an unusual way." She raised half her mouth in a tiny smile.
"How do I make you act that is out of character?" He stared at her for a long time, and, despite the fact that it sounded really cheesey in her head, she felt like he was really seeing her for the first time.
"You make me question things I have counted as fact for many, many years." As he strode away she noticed his hand reached up and grabbed a chain around his neck, but she could not remember what necklace he wore. She sighed and turned her attention to the stables, she would brave the smell, since the horses were the only thing in that place that didn't confuse her. ~ * ~
She found her way back to Eowyn's room without having to ask for help and the girls agreed to share the bed. She kept her eyes on the wall as she tried to talk herself into sleep. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf were down the hall, within screaming distance. Her thoughts drifted to Legolas and Aragorn and their meeting in the hall earlier, and as she thought on them she drifted into a fitful sleep.
She was running. She tried to go faster but her legs would not break their rhythm. She reached the end of the long hallway and slammed the door behind her, bracing it with her hands. "Artemis…" She heard her name whispered through the room and when she turned she was staring into a great fiery eye. "Artemis…" He said her name again and she shook her head as she began to cry. "Artemis…Areona." She suddenly straightened up and smiled a sickeningly evil grin, terrifying herself when she said, "Yes my love, I have returned."
Missy shot up like a rocket, sweat pouring down her face. Eowyn didn't even stir as she sat there panting as though she had just run a mile. She was shaking, and the images of her dream would not leave her. She quickly stood up, wrapping a fur blanket around herself and padded softly out the door. She rushed down the hallway until she reached the room she knew her friends were in and slipped inside as silent as she could. Gandalf was sleeping with his eyes open, as always, on a cot in the corner. Gimli was in a sitting position but he was snoring softly. Aragorn was lying on the floor by the far wall and Legolas was sitting by his head, the elf was in a deep meditative state since he did not need sleep. She quickly moved towards the Ranger and laid down beside him.
"Artemis…" Legolas whispered and she glanced up at him with her fear ridden eyes.
"Please Legolas, just don't be mean this once… I need you." She rested her head on the elf's thigh and then grabbed Aragorn's hand. He opened his eyes in a flash at the contact but did not move as he could see what Legolas had seen, she was terrified.
"Please, don't let her get me." She whispered as she held his hand close. Aragorn shared a small look with his elf friend and it was silently agreed that they would keep a close watch on her.
"We will guard you with our lives." Legolas said softly and gave her a smile when she looked up at him.
"Aye, now sleep little one, you are safe." Aragorn squeezed her hand and watched as she closed her eyes. He prayed that he would never again see her so scared. ~ * ~
Theodred's funeral was held early the next morning. Missy kept to the back of the group since she didn't know the customs or the man who had died. She also felt bad because she didn't have anything black to wear. When it was finally over she took a stroll to clear her head. She had slept fine after moving to the barracks, as she called it. She had changed though, she just knew it. Whatever the orcs had made her drink, it had infected her brain and she was afraid she would become that woman. The woman she had seen kill Aragorn, and beat Pippin. The woman who was Queen and lover to the big bad guy. She swung her staff around, trying to do a cool hand flip with it when she noticed a horse with two children coming towards Edoras.
"What are you guys doing?" She asked as she approached them. The boy suddenly fell from the horse like a rock. Missy ran to them and checked to see the boy was out cold, the little girl was crying.
"It's okay honey, I need you to get down." She held out her hands and the little girl jumped into her arms. Missy quickly put her on her feet and handed her the staff, then she scooped the little boy up into her arms and began running.
"Come on sweetie…HELP!" She shouted as she got closer to the gate. Aragorn hadn't been to far away, since he had been keeping an eye on her, so he was beside her instantly.
"He fainted and fell off the horse." Missy cried and Aragorn took the boy form her arms and continued towards Meduseld. Without thinking she grabbed the girls hand and her staff and followed after him. The message the children brought was a dark one, war was upon Rohan.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. Ride out and meet him head on, draw him away form your women and children." Gandalf stared at the King, hoping to get him to agree.
"We must fight." The King did not seem convinced so Aragorn attempted to help Gandalf.
"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you, his men will return and fight for their king." Missy perked up at this, she missed Eomer, though a war was not how she had planned to see him again.
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Eomer can not help us. I know what you want of me but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." Aragorn seemed annoyed with his way of thinking.
"Open war is upon you whether you would risk it or not." The look Théoden gave him was murderous.
"When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan." A hand was placed on Aragorn's forearm and he glanced at the tiny slip of a girl who was now standing beside him.
"Aragorn is only trying to help. He's smart and I know he doesn't mean to undermine your authority sir, but he knows what he is talking about." Aragorn placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a look and she sighed before stepping back.
"What is the King's decision?" Gandalf asked.
"We shall make for Helms Deep." Missy sighed and then leaned in towards Legolas.
"What's a Helms Deep and am I gonna hate it?" The elf spared her a side long glance and nodded.
"It's a refuge in the mountains. There will be a lot of people and very little space. Yes, I believe you will hate it." He told her and she looked back at the others who were now staring at her, perplexed once again by her lack of respect and discretion. She plastered on her fake cheerleader smile and gave them two thumbs up.
"Helms Deep… Can't wait… Good choice Mr. King."