common =middle earth
english =earth

aqua girl, more like mud girl [rory]

"Who dwells in a forest infested with orcs?
Ror-y-tur-ner,
being followed by foxes and rabbits and hawks,
Ror-y-tur-ner,
she's stupid for leaving those creepers behind,
Ror-y-tur-ner,
but now her lost family, alone she will find,
Ror-y-tur-ner,
she's epic and awesome and water's her trade!
Ror-y-tur-ner,

...OH. What rhymes with trade? Hmm, spade...made...paid...afraid..." I stopped walking for a minute, thinking hard before I realized it really didn't matter that much, I doubted anyone would ever hear my amazing, spongebob squarepants inspired theme tune. It had started off with a Flash Gordon theme tune, but I couldn't remember the whole song and spongebob was way easier.

Something was very off about me since I'd made my daring get away from the crazies, I felt sort of...aloof and not really with it. It was probably down to the fact that I hadn't drank in days, all I'd eaten was cereal bars, oh and I'd been given superpowers and thrown head first into lord of the rings. Yep, that last one probably has made something click in my brain that was obviously mean to stay un-clicked.

I was surprised by how far I'd managed to walk before the sun started to rise especially given how tired I was, I couldn't even see Ḗomer and Théodred and their merry band of men, there were lots of hills and ditches though so they might've been closer than I thought they were.

I couldn't help but be a little pissed off that they hadn't bothered following me, I mean, I'm just a girl, I could like, die out here! Which I might well do, if I didn't crack first, and go all loony. I'd probably stumble upon another forest before too long, forget about my family and hobbits and elves, convince myself I'm a squirrel, climb some trees, worship some acorns, it might not be so bad.

I'd already started talking to myself that had to be at least stage two of losing your mind.

"It's good that they didn't follow you, you don't need them, and you can take care of yourself." I reminded setting off again.

I was really having to force myself onward now, It was gone mid-day and I hadn't stopped, I didn't even know which direction I was heading in, nor did I care. I quite wanted to find a stream or have it rain again, just to see if Elmo or the water lady appeared again.

I wasn't concentrating as hard as I should have been and lost my footing while I walked, falling down a particularly large ditch that had caught me off guard, the grass and mud were still wet and slippery from the night before. I rolled headfirst downwards into a pond of water that had fallen down the slope and gathered in the dip. I discovered quickly it was a deep puddle of mostly very wet mud and I'd ended up completely submerged. I pulled myself up sitting, spitting mud from my mouth and looking down at the brown sopping mess that was me.

I tried really hard to stay calm, to see some sort of positive thing that could come out of this, to maybe try and see the funny side. But I couldn't.

All I could see was mud, thick gloopy, and yucky mud.

Before I knew what was happening I was standing knee deep jumping up and down in anger, yelling, screaming, and letting the world know how unfair my life was. I tried kicking and stomping the mud as I carried on jumping, and lashing out wildly at anything remotely brown, which was basically everything.

I did notice the eyes that had slowly gathered in a circle upon the hill surrounding me, it took a minute for me to notice, but even then I didn't stop my explosive tantrum. I just didn't care.

They watched for a few minutes not quite sure what to do, speaking some in their strange language. They continued to do nothing, maybe afraid to come near me. I lifted my leg up for anther kick at the mud laying in front of me and lost my balance...again, I ended up flat on my back legs sprawled in the air, worn out.

I figured this was the muds way of getting revenge on me for kicking its ass so badly.

I sat up again after my brain had switched back on, weighing up my options.

There had to be like fifty men, all on horses, heavily armed, wearing the same armour as the night before, I noticed a boy, one of the youngest bore a green flag with a horse instead of the spears that all the others seemed to carry. I picked Eomer out of the crowed easily he had such a big build, Théodred sat on his horse right next to him, I recognized the elder man from the day before also, only because he had taken his helmet off to watch my little freak out in the mud. Some of them looked alarmed, others looked angry and very few smiled down at me. There was no way I was going to escape, completely surrounded.

I waited listening the strange words that Théodred barked, I'd forgotten yesterday he was a prince and obviously in charge, about thirty of the men retreated a little, guiding their horses just out of my line of sight.

"Eomer, come and fetch her with me will you please? I don't want to upset her again, she'll recognize you best, I think"

I watched Eomer and Théodred as they dismounted and carefully slid down the ditches slope to join me. Eomer was giving Théodred filthy looks all the way down the hill. Neither of them I noted bitterly fell and rolled headfirst into the mud. They both walked slowly towards me with short deliberate steps stopping a few feet from me.

To be honest I'm surprised they recognized me I was that covered in mud, it clung to me like a thick, second layer of skin.

Théodred stretched his arm out palm facing me, encouragingly.

Eomer copied Théodred reaching his hand out to me.

"I'm not a dog." I snapped annoyed, I didn't understand why they weren't speaking English. I'd think I read somewhere they spoke Rohirric too though, so maybe they just didn't speak...common tongue. I pushed myself up off the ground too quickly and fell back down on my bum again embarrassed. I raised my eyebrows in disbelief as Eomer laughed out loud at my humiliation, openly.

Toby was the only one who had ever laughed at me and gotten away with it, ever.

I scoped both hands into the wet mud collecting handfuls of the soppy gloop and hurled them both in his direction. One missed completely flying off and hitting the other side of the puddle, the other hit him square in the face.

"Bulls eye"

He was too stunned to move for a minute, but when he did, he moved so quickly I didn't have time to react before I'd been pinned to the ground by my wrists with a very angry Rohirrim leaning over me, knees holding my legs down to stop me from attacking him again.

"Eomer! Do not scare her, she is still hurt!" Théodred rushed over pulling Eomer from on top of me and I was glad. I knew from yesterday he was strong but yesterday I'd had an arrow sticking out of my leg and a busted arm. He'd put all his weight on me, and I was more worried about being crushed to death than having to deal with his rage.

Ah, Eomer was not a guy to be messed with, ever.

He backed off after Théodred had spoken to him and I took the hand that Théodred offered me again, a little shaken up. If someone throws mud at you, you don't pin them to the ground! What the hell kind of guy does that, Théodred is safer, stick with Théodred.

He helped me up the hill pulling me back up when I slipped and led me back to his horse, I wracked my brains trying to remember a name.

"Brego?" I looked the horse in the eye, standing a few steps away. I'd never liked horses. I didn't dislike them or anything, I was happy for them to chill in their fields far away from me, I just didn't particularly want to ride one. Despite just slipping and plummeting into a large pool of mud, I still felt better on my own feet, more in control.

"You know my horse's name?" Théodred spoke something gently to me, so I just smiled back at him not wanting to upset the only person who had been kind to me so far. He carried on looking at me, bemused. He looked so adorable smiling down at me in his funny little helmet with hair sprouting out of it, not like Eomer. I turned back to look at Eomer who had already mounted his horse and was trotting off away from us. Stupid Eomer, with his stupid beautiful horse, and his stupid stubbly beard. He smelt too, stupid, smelly Eomer.

Théodred drew my attention back to the horse, Brego and put his hands out, giving me a boost onto its back. I managed to get on, uneasily and wrapped my arms securely round its neck. Théodred pulled my arms away from the horse and placed them at my sides till he'd mounted in front of me and we sped off, back in the direction that I'd been walking from for hours, me clinging round his stomach for dear life, head tucked firmly into his shoulder blades.

The men talked a lot as we rode, and laughed a lot. I didn't know who was talking and who was laughing but everyone seemed so relaxed, like this was a completely normal thing for them all to do, fair play to them, they had kidnapping down to an art.

We didn't stop again till dark and my bottom was very sore by this point. I'd been given water and bread twice through the day and would never under appreciate their value ever again.

Théodred removed his helmet, helped me down and led me in the direction of a few of the men that had arrived before us and started a fire, there was ten maybe and another few fires had been started around the little camp they had made up with the rest of the men gathered up.

Théodred sat down next to me and looked up at me tugging on my muddy sleeve pulling me down next to him. I sat reluctantly, I wanted to walk after spending so long sitting on Brego. The elderly man I kept recognizing walked towards us bags in his hands, smiling warmly at me. As he got closer I realized he only held one bag in his hand, in the other he carried a blanket which he handed kindly to me, kneeling on the other side of me speaking to Théodred.

"Théodred, Eomer says we ought to check the girl's injuries after such a long day of riding. They should have been seen to this morning, but..."

I held the blanket in my arms listening pointlessly, to the conversation they held in front of me, their accent was unlike any I'd heard before and all words they spoke came out unusually harshly, despite the gentleness in the man's voice. Whatever was said, I was sure it had something to do with me, because the circle of men all turned towards me at the words.

"I'd forgotten completely! Ah, we should have stopped sooner, she must have been suffering silently all day." Théodred frowned towards me.

I had no idea what I'd done wrong this time, I'd been trying very hard to behave myself since I'd thrown mud at Eomer childishly. The elderly man pointed to himself and spoke at me this time, garbled nonsense once again. I shrugged my shoulders and tried to look apologetic before turning to the young prince sat next to me hopefully.

"My name is Théodred." Théodred spoke slowly again pointing to himself before the elder man drew my attention and repeated Théodred's words, pointing to himself.

"My name is Grimbold. Grimbold."

Ah, Grimbold. I nodded in understanding, letting the blanket fall from my hands and pointed turning back to Théodred touching his armour with my finger.

"Théodred." I spoke clearly before turning back to Grimbold finger touching his armour, like Théodred before speaking clearly again.

"Grimbold." The relief was plain on their faces, apparently they'd just thought I was plain stupid. I couldn't help feeling a little proud of myself at their reactions. I pointed to myself before speaking clearly, like I had done with Théodred and Grimbold.

"Rory." Théodred smiled pointing at me and repeated my name turning into a question.

"Rory?"

"Rory." I nodded smiling slightly back at him.

Ugh, he looked so cute just sat there smiling, It wouldn't hurt to go back to Rohan, wait for my family to come to me. If it really would take them a month to get there then, the chance of finding each other with me wandering round aimlessly for the next few weeks was dangerously low. I'm pretty sure if I behaved myself then Théodred wouldn't let anything bad happen to me, Eomer was the only one I really needed to look out for.

"Rory." Grimbold was smiling at me again, what was it with these people and smiling, it made me feel like I should try smiling back "Eomer is going to see to your injuries again, come."

"Eomer?" I scrunched my face in distaste, causing those close to us to scoff and snicker.

"Eomer is kind really, he won't see any harm come to you." Théodred and Grimbold both stood each holding their hands out to me encouragingly. I sighed in frustration taking both their hands and letting them lead me back towards the horses and a waiting Eomer.

He didn't look particularly happy to see me either. I let go of their hands and dropped down in front of him unsure, crossing my arms and legs.

He kept a very neutral face as he emptied his little first aid kit again. It clicked in my head that he must want to check out how my leg and my arm were doing, my dislike for him wavered slightly, Théodred must have asked him to do this.

He was fumbling about with only light from the fire again. I pulled the forgotten torch out of my pocket, clicking the button, nothing happened. I hit it against the ground trying to shake it into working to no avail, after everything we'd been through together it made me kind of sad. When I looked up again Eomer, Théodred and Grimbold had all stood up, Eomer and Théodred had swords pointed at me, glaring.

I dropped the torch and put my hands in the air, like I'd seen criminals do on the TV, mouth open, I wondered why Grimbold didn't have a sword pointed at me as well. Eomer had seen what me and my torch were capable of together, I understood why he was so defensive. I lowered my hand rolling it towards Théodred.

"I'm sorry," I whispered confused still, I didn't like way Théodred had looked at me, he looked different without a smile on his face. He picked the torch up and fiddled with it before passing it to Grimbold after Eomer refused to touch it, he just carried on riffling through his bag. He looked younger than I'd seen him so far, and very tired he had a bit of a black eye from our first meeting but other than that his face was perfect, no blood no mud, no stupid hairy helmet, just perfect.

"Eomer?" I waited till he looked up from his bag before I carried on making eye contact "I'm sorry. About your face," I touched my nose still looking at him, "I'm sorry"

He tilted his head in a very Théodred-like-fashion but his face remained expressionless, just looking at me till I turned away. I remembered for the first time since I'd gotten down from Brego that I was still covered in mud; hair, face, clothes, arms, legs, the lot. I started picking away at what I could, brushing everywhere that there was any trace. It took a long time, and I knew the others were waiting patiently but I felt like it had to be done, even when I'd gotten the worst off my skin still looked unclean.

Eomer coughed and I looked up to see him gesturing uncomfortably to my leg again. I tsst and pulled my dress up again showing him my very dirty but fully healed thigh. He seemed to forget all embarrassment as he moved closer holding my leg down again to inspect. He poked and prodded, I was too tired and sad to be embarrassed either. I just watched his amazement warily, I'd had enough of his freak outs for a day.

Once he was done with my leg, he straightened up pulling my muddy jacket sleeve off to poke my arm. Worst of all was when he'd finished poking my arms he put his hand against my cheek and started poking around at the other side of my face.

It was super awkward, I could feel my heart beating hard as his fingers brushed against my cheek trying to find any cuts, and he was being gentler with my face than he had been with my leg or arm. Stupid thoughts ran through my head having his face this close to mine, it turns out he didn't smell that bad at all really, a bit sweaty but he smelt a bit like wet grass does when it's just been cut, fresh and familiar.

I pulled away when I'd had enough, I really hated being touched at all. I listened to him telling the others my cuts and such weren't there any more in his unfamiliar language, they talked for a long time and I didn't even try listening to their conversation I was that exhausted, I couldn't believe I'd been here for a whole day and a half already, the cave felt like, well weeks ago. I wish I'd thought to bring the blanket with me, I hadn't realized how cold I was till I started shivering.

I shook my head in defiance. They couldn't tell me what to do, If I wanted to get some sleep then I damn well would. I stood up and they stopped talking and watched as I walked back towards where Théodred and I had settled before none of them tried to follow me. The eight or nine men that still sat in the circle watched as I approached the blanket avoiding looking directly at any of them. I sat where Théodred had at first, next to the blanket, taking what was left from my pockets out and laying them on the ground next to me. My poor torch, I hope they didn't hurt it, it had more sentimental value than my purse, playing cards and a soggy box of matches did, it had probably saved my life from that orc yesterday.

I looked up at the boy next to me, I'd felt his eyes on me long after most others had drifted away. It was the same boy that had carried the horse-flag earlier in the day, I blushed thinking of how crazy I must have looked head to toe in mud lashing out wildly, like an animal. The boy didn't even look any older than I was, much too young to be a soldier. He had blonde hair too, as long as Eomer- everyone seemed to have blonde hair here.

I clicked my tongue not sure what to do, not wanting the boy watching me anymore, I'd had enough of being watched today.

"Rory." I pointed to myself and then stuck my hand out for him to shake it, he just looked at it for a second before taking it in both of his, kissing it and letting it drop. I let it hang in front of me, bewildered before I tucked it back on my lap eyebrows raised at the funny boy.

"It is an honour my Lady, I am Flyn son of Forlin," He bowed his head slightly, nodding at me.

"Flyn?" I pointed to him questioningly. He nodded.

"Yes my Lady, you need not fear, I shall watch over you until Lord Théodred returns."

"Théodred." I repeated glancing back towards the three men stood, in silence still watching me closely. I sucked in a breath taking my jacket off and laying it on the grass to sleep on top off. Flyn's eyes widened in horror and he looked away blushing bashfully. Aw, what shy guys these Rohirrims were. I waited for him to turn back after he'd realized I wasn't undressing completely. I felt my face spread into a dopey grin as sleep finally caught up with me.

"Night Flyn" I spoke saluting him dorkily before pulling the blanket over me and lying to face Théodred, Eomer and Grimbold. I watched Théodred patting Eomers shoulder and start to walk back towards me before my eyes shut firmly and I drifted into a deep and uneasy sleep.

i feel like a creepy, wide, teeth showing smiley face is necessary so here goes: :D