The Road to Middle-Earth

A fanfiction by MushrooomsPTook

Disclaimer: I own nothing. You might as well say it owns me!

A/N – Chapter warning – Alcoholic consumption

Chapter Eleven: Information

"Well, you're lucky," said the doctor. "Ain't no doubt about it. Could be a lot worse, young master."

The doctor had been sent for as soon as we were in our room. While we waited, we were led to a private washroom where we can bathe and get cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothes that were waiting for us. Tom didn't much like the idea of bathing, but I warned him if he didn't, I would sick Alice and her staff on him. That did it. Now Tom lay in bed, sighing deeply as the doctor bandaged his feet. I knew it must have been dreadfully painful, but I could have been fooled by his determined face, and at least he was getting treatment.

"How long must he stay off his feet, Doctor?" I asked, peering down at the boy.

"Hmm." The doctor rubbed his forehead with his finger in concern. "It's hard to say. Depends really on a couple o' things. First off, he needs to have this salve rubbed into his feet twice a day, and he'll need his bandages changed twice daily, as well."

Tom sniffed at the jar of salve and scowled. "Ugh! I'll smell like a girl!"

"This has to be strictly administered in order for him to heal properly." The doctor took his eyes off Tom after giving him a warning look and returned his attention to me. "Now, assuming that it is done properly and also that he remains off his feet, at least until the swelling stops and the blisters are gone, I should think he could be just as good as new in, uh," the doctor looked at his watch, "a month."

"A month?"

The doctor shrugged. "Shouldn't let young boys run around barefoot, especially through a...desert, was it?"

I sighed. "Correct."

The door opened and a round face popped his head in. It was Bert, the innkeeper who had showed us to our rooms and insisted us not paying. I was sure he would be in demand for some money after a month, however. In his hands he held a large tray with some food on it. My mouth watered at the sight. Finally, a home-cooked meal.

"'Lo, Will'am," said Bert.

"Bert." The doctor nodded once at firmly.

"May I come in, Miss Alayna?"

"Yes, please do. We, uh, have something to discuss."

Bert scooted inside and shut the door. He walked quietly over to where I was sat next to the doctor, who had just finished wrapping the bandages around Tom's poor feet.

"How's it comin', Will'am?" Bert asked the doctor, grimly.

"It's bad," sighed the doctor. "Though not terribly bad. I'm sure I've seen worse in my years o' practice, and this lad is lucky to be sure. But it'll take some time to heal."

"I'm afraid we'll be occupying your room for a month," I apologized to the innkeeper. "I'd be willing to do some chores around your inn to help pay for a little bit at least.

"Ah, now, that's all right. I couldn't have ya doin' all that. Ya need to be with the boy."

"I can look after him," offered Alice, and then she sneezed.

"Bless you!" everyone said.

"Well, I don't know how we'll manage. I don't have any money to pay you either, Doctor."

William opened his mouth to say something, protest probably, but Bert threw him a warning look and beckoned to him.

"Uh, e-excuse me, Miss Alayna. Will'am, can I see you outside?"

The doctor nodded and Bert ushered him out the door, closing it behind them. I knew what I was about to do was wrong, but I felt like I had a right to know what they were talking about. After all, I was in their debt, and I knew they weren't making any kind of leisurely weekend plans. I crept to the door and put my ear to the wood.

"Hey!" called Tom. "You're—that's—"

"I know what it is, Tom! Pipe down now, it's not like you've never eaves dropped." Tom shrugged and laid his head back down, while Charming, attempting to groom his feathers, watched me with suspicious eyes. I pressed my ear deeper in and listened intently.

"Are you sure?"

"No doubt about it. I saw it with my own eyes, as plain as the look on yer face."

"But I thought that was all legendary nonsense."

"So did I, Will'am. But the prophecies are true—I looked it up myself. It's the exact same one as in the book, or call me a cobbler. That's why they must be treated with the best sor' of respect we can manage. That girl has more power to run this town, I reckon. Not that I think she'd use it."

"Should—do ya think we should tell the mayor?"

"No. Not yet anyways. Now let's get back inside. I reckon they'd like to get some rest after their journey. 'Sides, they'll be wonderin' where we went off to."

The door opened and I hurried to make myself busy pretending to eat on the floor. It wasn't too hard, as I was really hungry and thought I wouldn't survive another second without food in my stomach. Alice and Charming joined me on the floor and I handed Tom a beautiful sandwich.

"Um—I'm sorry, Bert," I said with my mouth full of my food. "I was just so hungry."

"Don't you fret, Ma'am. There's plenty more if you'd like any."

I swallowed my food and thanked him.

"Uh, Alayna," said William, rubbing the back of his neck. "Don't worry about the money. All I ask is that you get this boy some shoes! And keep him off his feet. Until then, I'm just around the corner if you need me. You can have Bert send for me anytime and I'll be here faster than you can say 'blister'!" At that the doctor turned an eye on Tom, who blushed and seemed as if he were trying to hide himself among the sheets. "Well, good day, Miss Alayna, Bert." The doctor nodded politely to Alice and left the room.

I sighed and scowled at Tom. "You!"

"Me? What did I do?"

"Oh, nothing at all, of course," I replied sarcastically. "But you'd better thank this good man for letting us use his room and be ready for a shopping spree as soon as your feet touch the ground!"
"Ah now, don't be too hard on 'im, miss. I'm sure he didn't mean it all right. And it's fine by me however long 'e needs to get healed good and proper. There ain't no rush." Bert chuckled, and then something nervous crept into his voice. "Does the room meet yer exp'ctations"

I chuckled, still too curious as to what he and the doctor had been discussing. "Of course, Bert. It exceeds my expectations, in fact. I couldn't thank you enough."

"Ya don't have to, miss. Will ya be needing anything else tonight?"

"No. Thank you, Bert."

"Well, my employees and I stay 'round here during the nights. We'll be just down the hall if ya ever need any of us."

I smiled and Bert nodded to us before leaving. Even though I felt safe and happy to have some food in my stomach, I frowned. I wanted to know more about what Bert and William had discussed. When I met the gazes of my other three companions, it was not hard to guess at what they were thinking. But I looked away. I needed to know more myself before I told them what I'd heard. I wasn't sure if I wanted to pass on this information in any case.

Apparently, having guessed my thoughts, Charming stretched out his wings with a noisy yawn, letting loose some more feathers. I glared. How could something so small be able to shed so much even after a bath?

"Well," he said and fluttered his wings, so that he hopped on top of the bed where Tom lay. "I'm turning in." He plopped down beside Tom, who grumbled a bit, and tried to inch out from under him. He drew an invisible line in the bed, and I wondered if the division was not so perfect; Tom had given himself just a few inches from the edge of the bed.

The next morning I woke up very refreshed next to Alice. She was awakened sitting up in the bed. I could tell from her face that she was not her usual self. She seemed quiet and dismal, and her face held no expression.

"You all right?" I asked, sitting up. She nodded simply but didn't say anything for a while.

"I didn't sleep much," she said.

"I'm sorry, Alice. Tell you what. Tonight we'll get you something warm to drink, and maybe I can tell you a story before bed. I think you won't mind going to bed a little early."

Alice made no response, so I assumed she was agreeable with the idea, and hopped out of bed to wake up Tom so that I could nurse his wounded feet. Tom didn't like it at all and wiggled his feet out of my hands more than once before I warned him that I wouldn't help him at all if he resisted. This seemed to please Tom, for a wide and triumphant grin stretched all across his face, so I fought with him once more. Finally, he relented and let me apply the salve. His face scowled as he caught the flowery scent. After that I dressed his feet in the bandages and announced that I would be getting breakfast for everyone. I yearned to sneak off for a bit, and wished I could have breakfast on my own before bringing my companions any, but I knew they were just as hungry.

I walked downstairs and was greeted kindly by Bert, who was rushing to get plates served to various tables. I had to wait a bit before I caught an employee and asked for some breakfast to be delivered to our room. The employee, who didn't seem nearly as in a frenzy as Bert, promised it would be up shortly. "Oh, and please add one coffee," I added before turning round and heading back upstairs.

1I did manage to sneak off that afternoon for a stroll, and to acquaint myself with our surroundings. Everyone was in such a hurry and I was a little anxious to be thrusted into such a busy environment after days of near solitude with the children. Dust was kicked into the air as horse-drawn wagons went by and everyone was dressed as if I had stepped back in time to the Old Wild West. There were many shops there and the prices seemed ridiculously cheap, but they also seemed very expensive for someone who didn't have any money.

Everywhere I walked, I was greeted with a suspicious and inquisitive stare from the locals. They weren't ashamed when they pointed and whispered and even chuckled a bit. I didn't see what was so curious about me. I was a human being, like them. But I did my best to ignore them.

When evening came around again, I applied the second dose of salve to Tom's feet. He was annoyed but he wasn't fighting me anymore. I redressed the bandages and soon after, was met by Bert, who took our order for supper, and brought a small glass of warm milk for Alice. It was nice to have a regular intake of food again. I would, of course, have to eventually clean out my backpack and restock it with supplies, assuming that Bert would oblige to me carrying off a few of his items.

After we ate in silence, I tucked Alice into bed. She was looking rather pale now—probably from too little sleep—but I still had my concerns. After feeling her warm forehead, I ordered for her to drink the milk ("all of it," I added). I kissed her head and told her a short story, not from our favorite book, however, but Alice thankfully kept her protests to herself.

A little while later, after Alice had fallen asleep, I decided I would head downstairs for a bit and have a drink. I hadn't had one in so long, a couple years at least. I was unusually depressed tonight, although I wasn't sure from what. But I thought I might have been homesick. I'd been thinking of it off and on now and having the time to let my thoughts wander, I felt as if I'd rather have gone on and leave my thoughts behind me. Of course, I couldn't ask that of Tom—I sighed—or Alice, I supposed. With a warning to Tom about opening the door to strangers, I left the children and Charming to their own devices. It was good to be on my lonesome for the second time today, and the saloon was very lively. There were a good many thick clouds of smoke that hovered over most of the tables, but I didn't mind, much to my surprise. My intent for coming here was plain and simple: to heal my heart and drown my woes. After ordering an ale from Bert, I squeezed into a table that occupied three men and a woman. They eyed me carefully but I took no notice. I occupied myself by drinking the mug of ale quickly.

"You, uh, ain't from 'round these parts, are ya?" asked the woman suspiciously. She was taking every detail of my person into account, and I started to feel uncomfortable, but pretended not to care. I shook my head, not making eye contact. "I could tell, 'specially last night. Ye carry quite the baggage with ya." I shrugged my shoulder. I wasn't here to socialize and I forced myself to remember that when I looked down at my empty mug. I got up without a word and went to get a new and bigger mug of ale.

No sooner had I sat back down than the woman went back to speaking. "Name's Trixy. And this is Joe, Frank, and Pete." I nodded at the occupants briefly and forced a small smile. The men were also staring at me in earnest, and I was sure they were begging to ask questions. The shortest and the fattest of the three, Pete, was smiling genuinely. He seemed the least interested and I could tell that he was itching to carry on his previous conversation.

"You know," said the woman, "it's only proper an' all for you to tell us yer name as well."

I sighed and put down my mug. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't want to talk. I'm just here for...for...well, it doesn't matter. Just carry on without me, if you please."

"Well, hell!" said Trixy with a scuff. "I didn't know people from foreign lands were so snobbish! We was just wantin' to make some conversation, wasn't we boys?"

Pete shrugged, but the other two nodded.

"And you can't blame us," said the taller, skinny one. His name was Joe. "It's not everyday now that ya see such int'resting folk passin' through. What with that duck an' all—why that..." The man trailed off into laughter and I tried to take no notice, but I could feel a glare creeping up into my eyes.

"Knock it off, Joe," said Trixy, slapping him upside the head. "She don't want to talk, 'member?"

"Yeah, but it was a sight anyways," said the third man, Frank. He had a goatee. "Now look here, ma'am, we promise we won't make no fun. Just tell us a bit about yerself, see. Can't hurt really, seeing as yer gonna be stayin' here for 'bout a month. We'd like to get ta know ya."

I slammed my mug down and my eyes flashed. "Who said I was going to be here for a month? Who talked to you?" The others seemed to be quite taken aback and hid in their chairs at my sudden outburst. "I swear if it was Bert, I'll—"

"Calm down, honey," said Trixy. "'Course we didn't hear it from Bert. He's too scared of passin' on any kind of information. Never shares his recipes with nobody."

"Yeah, but ye can't say the same 'bout his 'mployees."

"Yeah, they don't know 'ow to keep them mouths shut."

I sighed. "Well—it's seems like you know enough about me that I..." My mug was empty. Not nearly enough, I thought. "My name's Alayna."

"Where ya from, Alayna?" asked Joe.

"Chicago. It's a ways...behind-ish. It's somewhere back there."

"Where ya headed?" asked Frank.

I paused with uncertainty and tapped the side of my empty mug. "I...I don't know. Excuse me."

I got up from the table quickly and hurried away where I could spill out the shriek that was coming up quickly. I found a small corner table that was surprisingly unoccupied, and I unleashed a fury of tears that had been boiling up within me. What was wrong and why was I so sad? I couldn't tell if it was the ale, or the talk of home, or the fact that I felt like I'd led my companions onto a fruitless journey that would provide no results as to Alice's question long ago. I hated myself, that much I knew. I hated me for the fact that I got us imprisoned and then nearly killed, and after finding a stupid road, getting Tom's poor feet singed. Now I found that I wanted, more than anything, to wake up and find myself back at home.

"There, there," said a voice. I looked up and saw no one. "I find that many tears are common when alcoholic beverages are involved."

I stared hard and saw the shape of a crescent moon levitating in the empty chair across from me. But I knew it was no moon, and I knew that it was not levitating. A pink, fuzzy face appeared, followed by a little round, fluffy body.

"Cheshire cat! Oh, I'm so glad to see you."

"Indeed?" I nodded, though I had no idea why I was happy of the cat's sudden presence. "Well then, please enlighten me. Tell me what is wrong."

"It's just..." I choked. "I—can't explain!"

"Here," said the cat, and he disappeared for a moment, and then reappeared with a pitcher of ale in his paw. "Have another ale. It'll help." I nodded eagerly as the cat poured the brown stuff in my empty mug. I drank deeply and found that I had become incredibly thirsty. After I paused to breathe, the cat topped off the mug again and then propped its elbows on the table, pressing his head into his open hands. "Now, try again."

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "I think I'm homesick, or something like that. I don't know. I'm just mad, and upset, and frustrated, and..." Here I paused, taking another swig. "I'm not so sure that Middle-Earth exists. I mean, I thought it did, but the more we go on, it seems the worse things happen to us." I looked intently at the cat. "Does it exist, Cheshire cat, really?"

The cat shrugged and the smile never left his face. "I suppose it's as real as you want it to be."

I shivered a bit at the answer that had echoed my own when Alice asked the same question.

"Well, it doesn't matter. I just want to go home."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" The cat took a gulp of ale from my mug and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

"Oh!" I hadn't thought about the answer to this question and it came as a surprise. "Well, I don't know. I haven't thought of it before."

"Well, you'd better," said the cat, "unless going back the way you came is appealing."

"No, you're right. I can't come back the way I came. Tom's feet couldn't—Oh, Cheshire cat! Can I get back? What if I'm stuck here forever?"

"Well," said the cat, drinking the rest of my mug and filling it up again, "you might ask Bert if he'd welcome a permanent resident." He lifted his eyes and I caught a smirk from the cat as I heard footsteps approaching.

"Why, Miss Alayna!" I jumped and turned around. It was Bert and he did not look happy. His hands were bundled into fists, which were hooked into his hips. He had a grim expression and I looked across my table in question, but the seat was empty. It was just me, the mug, and an empty pitcher. "What're ya doing, sitting here by yerself and hoggin' all the ale?"

"I—I...I can...I can—"

"No, ya can't." Bert picked up the pitcher. "Empty too!"

"It is?"

The man sighed and I was thankful that his fierce expression lessened. "Now, see here, Missy. I'm not goin' ta pretend to know what's goin' on—not that it's any o' my bus'ness in the first place—or why ya couldn't 'ave just asked for another 'ne, but ye've got to understand—I'm a bus'ness owner—and I got other cust'mers to 'ttend to. Don't take it the wrong way, but ye shouldn't be drinkin' so much as ya are. It...well, 'tain't proper. Now go on, run along."

I stumbled out of the chair quite perplexed, wondering when I ever went to steal a pitcher of beer, and if I did, how I was able to drink so much, and headed for the stairs in a humiliated state. I had never been kicked out of a bar before, not even when I'd been in college. I stopped at the first step, however, having walked passed what sounded like an interesting conversation. The three men I was originally sitting with were closing in around each other. The woman, Trixy, was no longer there.

"I'm tellin' ya. Things is becoming a bit spooky 'round here," said Pete.

"Not this again, Pete. You find somethin' spooky in everythin'." It was Joe.

"I ain't kiddin'. Somethin's really spooky this time—well, maybe spooky ain't the word. Maybe the word I'm looking for is—"

"The word you is lookin' for is hogwash!" said Frank.

"He's right, Pete," said Joe. "You is makin' up hogwash again. Can't ya just have a serious conversation?"

"I am bein' serious!" Pete slammed his fist down on the table. Bert, who happened to be walking by, threw Pete a warning glance. "But you two 'ave ears, ain't ya?" Pete asked the two men in a milder tone.

"'Course we does, Pete," said the skinny man.

"Then you been 'earing them."

"What?" I was surprised to hear my own voice asking. "Hearing what?" I had been caught up in their discussion. All three men turned to look at me, obviously just as surprised to hear my voice and see me looming over them.

"Coyotes," replied Pete, nodding to me. "They're 'owling, they is."

"They is—uh—they are?" I said, leaning in.

"Yes, ma'am," nodded Pete.

"Pete, ya fool," said Frank. "Coyotes is always howling. That ain't nothin' new and you knows it!"

"Not like this, Frank. It's like they—why, it's like they's singing. And I'm tellin' ya—it's that cowboy who's a-coming. He only comes when they 'owls like they have been."

"Ah, Pete! That's just made-up stuff, just stories. That cowboy ain't real," said Joe.

"He is too!" Pete slammed his fist down on the table again. "I'm tellin' ya, he's real, Joe."

"'Ave ya ever seen 'im?" asked Joe.

"Wha—yes—uh—no!" said Pete and he took another swig from his mug. "What does that have to do with anythin' anyhow?"

"That's just the point, Pete," said Frank. "He ain't real 'cause nobody ain't seen him."

"Who?" I asked curiously.

"Bill," said Pete. "Pecos Bill."

"Well," I said, looking down at the floorboards. "I've never seen or heard of anyone by that name before, but—" I hiccuped "—it doesn't mean they're not real. I believe you."

"Ya see?" said Pete, shoving a finger in Joe's and Frank's faces.

"Yes, we see, we see," said Frank, lowering Pete's enthusiastic hand. "But yer both wrong. That's all legendary, and after seeing what kind of company she came with last night," Frank pointed his finger at me, "I wouldn't be surprised if she believed in made-up places. Fairytales and nonsense. That's all that is."

My cheeks were flushed and I had become very upset. I grabbed onto my stomach as I felt a headache coming on. I staggered a bit, until I felt a rush knock me clean off my feet. I crashed on a nearby table, and the occupants stood and moved out of the way very quickly. The room was spinning as someone pulled me up from the floor. Of course, it was Bert.

"Come along," he said with a heavy sigh. He guided me up the staircase that led to my room. I felt horrible and begged Bert's forgiveness so many times that I started crying, but Bert said nothing but continued to lead me down the hallway by my elbow.

Bert opened the door and I was surprised to see Alice out of bed. She was pale, more so than what she had been, and she looked as though she'd been crying.

"Oh, Alice. Are—are you all right? Why aren't you in bed?"

"I was, b-but—I wet the bed."

Nothing was registering correctly. She wet the bed? Who did? Alice? I was shocked. Surely, Alice was old enough to be past that stage, and I figured she would have gotten me if she needed to go (the bathroom was down the hall). But I couldn't be mad at her, I didn't know how to. I was too gassed, and I suddenly forgot what I was doing, or where I was, or why she was looking the way she did, or why my head was swimming so.

Tom sat up, rubbing his tired eyes. "What's all the fuss?" he said, trying to block out the light.

"Alice?" I slurred, rubbing the sides of my temple. "What are you doing? And where are we?" Whatever I said, it must have upset my cousin a great deal, for she was crying heavily now. "Don't cry, Ally." She hated that name. "Your mommy and daddy will be here soon, and then we can go to Middle-Earth together."

I didn't know Bert had left until he rounded the door, huffing and puffing under a bundle of fresh sheets and blankets.

"Who are you? You can't sleep here! This room is girls only, can't you read?"

"I ain't no girl!" shouted Tom.

I snorted and pointed at Tom drunkenly. "You smell like a girl."

Tom scoffed and folded his arms over his chest defiantly. Then he threw himself back to lie down, turning so that his back was facing me, and pulled the sheets over his head. Bert now proceeded to strip the soiled sheets from our bed and bundle them up.

"Oh," said Bert, plugging his nose. "She's done more than wet the bed."

"I wanna see!" I leaned over excitedly and then pulled away immediately, having caught a whiff of the stuff. "Ew, Alice! Did you do that?"

Alice merely cried and was hunched over so that she looked like a shriveled up ragdoll. I don't know how much time passed by, but I found that standing was so boring and becoming very tiresome. I crumbled to the floor, gazing up at the ceiling, still wondering where we were, when my eyes darkened.

The last thing I heard was a sincere apology from Alice to the strange man who entered our room years ago. But what she was apologizing for, I had no idea. It was long after the break of day when I found out. I woke up and wished I hadn't.

A/N – Now where have I heard those names before? (Bert, Tom, William). This chapter was very hard and awkward to write. I think it turned out okay, though. Let me know what you think.

Next chapter – Let's see...What kind of damage can I do? *laughs wickedly* Things take a nasty turn for the worse. I know I said that last chapter, but expect it in the next one!

Calemirth – She was brave, wasn't she? Don't worry. Charming will have his moments to shine, and then he'll show them all!

Seafarer – Yay, you're back! I'm glad you like it. I'll make sure to add plenty of twists just for you ;) Not that you won't be seeing them anymore after this.

1Soundtrack The Cowboys (John Williams), "Main Title"