We finally have some action, and a cliffhanger! I'm truly sorry, I just had to... -evil laugh- But my next two chapters are almost ready and I'll make sure to publish them quickly, unlike this one.

Also, I guess I need a disclaimer thingy? Well, characters belong to Tolkien. I just took them out to play.

Chapter 3

/EPOV/

I don't know what they call "party spirit" but I definitely don't have it. The party is to start in an hour and here I am standing in front of my wardrobe without a single idea what to wear. I'm so not wearing the dress Pippin suggested, thank you very much. Me in a pink sundress and black stilletos? Ha. No. But I don't feel like my Lunachicks T-shirt and blue jeans, either. Ugh. I might as well not even go... only that Aragorn will.

Oh, fuck me.

I take the dress and let out an annoyed sigh. Pippin is going to be happy, one of us at least. You could say I owe the kid that. He and his cousin are the closest to friends I've had in a while. They're both like pocket suns - how they manage to always remain cheerful and optimistic is an unsolved mystery to me. Despite my dedication, Zen I can't manage to be. Therefore Merry and Pippin are my Zen-bringers, in a way. I met them in my English Lit class freshman year, and we clicked instantly. It was not long after the car crash that took both my parents' lives and my world was threatening to fall apart - they kept me from letting it do so. I have a small smile on my face as I put the dress on. It does look good on me, as much as I deny it. Uncle Theoden bought it for my 15th birthday, but I haven't really grown much since then and it fits me like a glove. It's some dark, dusty shade of pink, with tiny black dots all over the skirt and a black bow right under my breasts. Maybe too cute and dolly, but that's just how uncle liked "his girls" - me and his wife. Sadly, he doesn't notice either of us anymore.

The motives behind his son's suicide, no one could tell. Theodred was such a bright kid. We grew up yard to yard and I never saw the shadow of depression in his eyes. Mum used to say her brother was as good only in front of us but could do far better at his own home; I couldn't know about the yelling, the drinking. I did know, though, that Theoden truly loved his son. I guess he just didn't tell him so, and then it was too late. Aunt left soon after the funeral. Now I only see uncle on holidays, and he never speaks. Eomer says he has melancholia.

Fuck, Eomer will be at the party!

Probably with the Rohirrims.

Definitely drunk.

Okay, then. One more reason to keep away from tequila.

Not that my brother is over-possessive or something, he just likes acting like a father when he's drunk(check) and with his arm-wrestling-team buddies(check). He's not necessarily bad though. We simply have different ways of dealing with losing our parents - his emphasizing on violence and alcohol, mine on achieving peace(and, well, alcohol). I really do my best, by the way. I mean it when I say I'm a Buddhist. I'm learning how to look at things from a new perspective and I actually believe in all of this - in loving, in accepting, in really being there. I'm trying, I am. It's just hard being Zen when you're surrounded by basic bitches and you have no one.

I look myself in the full-length mirror. Shiny new stilletos, legs that could be more tanned(my whole skin could use some tan, actually, but I guess I'll have to live with ivory since I have a sun allergy and all), lovely(in a way)dress. No necklace, no bracelets, no rings, no earrings. Nothing to weigh me down. Hair falling freely. Hm. I could use some makeup.

After I apply mascara and some lipstick, I grab my bag and hit the road. It might seem ridiculous to some, but I hardly leave the house without a book... or five. I'm currently reading "The Catcher in the Rye", again. It's become somewhat a tradition of mine, reading this babe. Sallinger definitely knows his shit.

I get in a cab and roll my eyes at the radio station chosen by the driver. I can't stand cabs and cheesy pop. Normally, "Helm's Deep"(the local Irish pub and residence of the party-to-be) isn't that far from our place and I'd walk the distance effortlessly - were it not for the damned heels! Ugh. I hurry to pay and get out of the car in a rush. Britney is so not my thing. Eomer digs her, though. Go figure.

The pub is, well, crowded. It's the last party before Christmas break and pretty much everyone I know is here. But I can't see my main purpose for dolling up. Funny, he should be here. Yet when I finally notice him making out with a girl, I wish I weren't here. Of course he has a ladyfriend. Of course she looks better than me, all smudgy lipstick aside. Arwen Undomiel. I should've known better.

Now, what I should do is be happy cause he's happy, forget shit and move on.

What do I do? Order a tequila shot.

Someone hugs me from behind as I slam the empty shot glass at the table. I turn around and a tiny curly mess shouts excitedly at me. "Oh sweetheart, do you look amazing!" I giggle and grab Merry for another hug. "How could I know, now that I've seen perfection?" "So you saw Grima too?" What. "I meant you, silly, how could that misogynistic snake be perfect?" I try damn hard not to laugh at the idea. What is Merry even talking about? "Sweetie, the things I want him to do with that tongue, oh... Also he's not misogynistic, all he is is hot," he exclaims and I can't help an annoyed snort this time before quickly telling Merry about my last encounter with the... thing. And Merry has the nerve to laugh at me! "Oh, sweetheart, you're fifty shades of wrong about him. You completely misunderstood him," Merry takes a deep breath and stops laughing. "He just hasn't had a girl agree with him, ever. He probably likes you a lot. The guy is a shy fuck-up but he's nice, I tell you." And I thought the night couldn't get weirder. "How do you know?" "He kind of talked to me yesterday. I invited him over here actually. He said something about everyone hating him apart from Gollum who is weird, and I think he didn't mean just here. He's quite terrified of... well, life. But he's not as horrible as you portray him, missy."

I hear a familiar voice behind me, accompanied by girly giggling, and I quietly order and end another shot of poison. Merry raises an eyebrow; I snort. "I can't deal with the Lovedoves right now," I get off my chair and head for the exit, shouting at the guy that I need air. But the sight outside the pub rather startles me.

What the...