Yay! So I found out today that my youth group is having an all nighter this weekend and guess what movies we're watching! The Lord of the Rings! All three of them! I freaked out when I got the email. Perfect for my writing. Now I don't have to go looking clips up on youtube, not that there's anything wrong with youtube :)
Anyways, ignoring my fangirl freak-out, I hope you enjoy this chapter. ~Crystal
Chapter 3 – Means of Escape
Entering Edoras was solemn.
"You could find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli stated and I completely agreed with him.
We dismounted at the stables and I watched Riley refuse Boromir's help. I too refused Legolas's help.
After leaving the stables we made our way up the stones steps to the hall where the 'possessed' king resides.
We were stopped at the doors by a smaller man clad in armor. I knew him from the movie but his name evaded me.
"I cannot let you before the King so heavily armed."
I pulled by bow from its strap on my back and looked at it sadly; I didn't want to give it up. Boromir caught my gaze and put his hand on my shoulder, giving me a reassuring nod. I held my bow out and one of the soldiers took it, then I unstrapped my short sword and handed that over too. I watched Riley hand over her axe and the guard looked at it questioningly.
The four of us were faster at de-arming then the others. It makes sense considering we carry less than the others. Take Aragorn for example, that guy had like 5 daggers hidden in different places.
"Your staff" the man motioned to Gandalf.
"You wouldn't part an old man from his walking staff now would you?" The guard grumbled but let us past. I heard Tosha snicker as we saw Gandalfs wink.
As we entered the hall my eyes were immediately drawn towards the King and Wormtounge. I didn't think it was possible but he was even uglier in person.
"Théoden your hall seems to have lessened of late." Gandalf comments
Gríma whispered to the King who then spoke in a long unused voice, "Why should I welcome you?"
"A just question my liege. The hour is late in which this sorcerer appears." Wormtounge stalked forward, "Ill news is ill guest."
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth." spat Gandalf
"Théoden I have come to release you from the spell. To long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf points his staff towards the King.
"The staff! I told you to take the wizards staff!" cries Gríma
Guards start running at the advancing Gandalf but Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir seem to have everything covered. Though I do get some action when a guard tries to grab me. I spin out of his grip and knee him where it counts. It's times like these that I love my dad for teaching me self defense.
When Théoden laughs I'm shocked, it's like 10 times creepier than I remember, "You have no power here Gandalf the grey."
Gandalf threw off his grey cloak and Théoden was-as Riley or Tosha would say-shocked by his awesomeness.
"I will draw you Saruman as poison is drawn from a wound."
Éowyn runs towards her uncle but Aragorn grabs her.
"If I go, Théoden dies."
"You will not kill me and you will not kill him." Gandalf came closer to the throne.
"Rohan is mine!"
"Be gone!"
Théoden jumps forward and Gandalf lunges his staff forward and I can picture Saruman in Isengard being thrown back, defeated by Gandalf. Meanwhile Théoden collapses back into his throne. Éowyn rushes forward to catch him as he falls forward again.
"I know your face." I can hear him, even though I'm behind Aragorn and Boromir. "Éowyn."
Gandalf starts to back up and Théoden looks up, obviously confused. "Gandalf."
"Breathe the free air again my friend."
Théoden shakily stood up, "Dark have been my dreams of late." Théoden looked down at his hand.
"Your fingers would remember their strength better if they grasped the hilt of your sword."
The nameless man holds the sword out to the King and he wraps his fingers around the hilt and he pulled it from the sheath.
I heard Wormtounge quivering and as Théoden's eyes rested on him then he ran for the exit. He doesn't make it too far before he's thrown down the stone steps.
"Please do not send me from your side!" he pleads
Théoden raises his blade to strike but Aragorn stops him.
I watch as the little excuse of a man runs back to Isengard.
Théoden sheaths his sword and looks at the crowd of people around him.
"Where is my son?" he asks
I back up, unsure of how he'll take the news. Éowyn and the nameless man come and start to lead the King back into the hall but my attention is distracted.
"Riley! Tosha! Cierra! Jeffrey!"
Three figures in dresses charge down the stone steps, past Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir and right into the four of us. I'm pulled into a group hug, smothered by multiple people.
I take a step back, "What is going on?"
As the mass of bodies separate I can make out a wavy blonde haired girl, a straight blonde haired girl and a curly brown haired girl.
"How are you guys here?" asks the curly haired girl.
"We could ask you the same thing Nani." says Tosha
"I pardon the intrusion but I will repeat Cierra's question. What is going on here?" asks Legolas
"These are our friends." Tosha says happily. She gestures to the curly haired girl in a lavender dress, "This is Leinani, Nani for short."
I turned to the curly blonde haired girl in a light green dress, "This is Mia."
"This is Lexie." Tosha gestures to the straight blonde haired girl in a dark blue dress.
Before we could finish Jeff interrupted.
"We need to talk." He demanded, dragging Nani and Lexie up the steps. The rest of us followed wondering what was up.
He walked around to the side of the hall and abruptly stopped.
"What is it?" asked Mia; who had luckily, not been dragged around by Jeff.
"We need to talk about our cover up story."
"That's probably a good idea." I agreed "What have you guys told them?"
"Nothing. They've been too busy to ask us questions. Éowyn is usually the only one who pays us any attention." Nani answered
"Well that makes things easier." commented Riley
I nodded, "Well our story is that we're nomads and our group was attacked by Orcs and that we somehow managed to escape."
"So when they ask we tell them that we managed to get away too?" asked Mia
"Yah. We can say that you guys escaped on horses on the opposite side of camp." Jeff's story was okay, I wasn't sure how believable it was but we'd have to deal.
"Wait, but we didn't get here on horses. They found us unconscious outside the gates." Mia said
"We can say you guys collapsed from exhaustion and your horses ran off." Tosha says
"I'm not sure this will work but we have to try I guess." Riley said doubtfully.
"Why can't we just tell them the truth?" asked Lexie, who had been silent the whole time.
"How do you explain to someone that you're from another world and that this world is a movie?" Jeff retorts
"Oh…" Lexie looked downcast.
"You don't have to be so mean about it." I glare at Jeff.
"But it's the truth." he shrugs
-Note to self: Hurt Jeff later-
"Where did you guys end up?" asks Mia, trying to diffuse the tense air.
"The mines of Moria." says Tosha
"Cool." Mia pauses "You guys got to see Gandalf die then."
"Yep. It wasn't pretty though. I think even Jeff cried." joked Riley
"Why's Boromir still alive?" Nani asked suddenly
"Oh, we decided to save him." Jeff says casually
"Won't that change things?" asks Mia
"Yah, but I don't think anything bad will happen." Tosha answers
"Are you sure?" asks Nani
"Mostly sure." Jeff says confidently
"What are you lasses and lad doing huddled up over here?" Gimli had come up behind us.
"Smokin' dope." answers Tosha
Gimli looked at her confused.
"I don't think he knows what dope is." I whispered
Remember that I will be answering question in either the next chapter or chapter 5. If you're confused about anything feel free to ask or if you want to ask the guys random questions that works too!
~Crystal