Chapter 6: A New Home

I had longed all that day to get to Edoras, but when we finally entered the gates, I felt a sudden dread enter my heart as I watched the villagers stand and stare at us, their eyes bitter and their bodies unmoving from the ground on which they stood. They were silent and you could tell by the way that they glared at us that these were no times of happiness for this once majestic city. There was no sound, save the heavy footfalls of the worn out horses and the swiftly falling rain that pelted my face with ice cold fury. The wind rustled Theodred's hair and flung it back at me. I swept it away with my hand and turned my face to the side, tired of being whipped by his tangled and badly taken care of hair. I sighed deeply and shivered as the wind sent a huge and unexpected blast that almost threw me from the horse. I wanted so much to sleep and eat good food. Not the stale bread that I had been forced to eat out of starvation.

"Maddy," whispered Theodred as we stopped at a stone staircase and he slowly dismounted, "This is the Hall of Edoras. I advise not to speak with my father, he is…not well. Do you need help?" I nodded and he gently pulled me off the horse and set me on my feet.

"Thanks," I said and yawned. He started up the stairs and I gingerly followed. If only I had a cane, I thought and then accidentally laughed out loud as I realized how funny I'd look walking up the stairs with a cane. Theodred turned and looked at me questioningly.

"What have you found so humorous?" he asked and looked back at me.

"Nothing," I answered quickly and then after a pause added, "I was just thinking how funny it would be if you were watching me instead of where you were going and tripped over the third to last step and fell flat on your face." He turned around so quickly that he did trip on the third to last step and fell. I gasped and rushed to help him up, holding back laughter. He stood up and stared at me, his face showing pure confusion.

"How did you do that?" he asked and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I didn't," I answered, grinning, "You did it yourself." He sighed and turned, walking carefully up the last two steps and through the large doors into a great hall. I followed him closely, eyeing the guards as we passed into this new building.

"Theodred!" exclaimed a voice from behind us and I turned to see a fair-haired woman rushing from the door, "You're back!" she threw herself into Theodred's arms and then stood back to look at me.

"Eowyn, this is Maddy. We found her and two young boys on the rim of Fangorn. Maddy will stay here, with you, and," he paused and laughed, "I'm sure you'll find her very interesting company."

"Well," said Eowyn, "You certainly will not stay in those clothes while you stay here. Come, dear, let's find you a nice dress. I'm sure one of my old dresses will fit you perfectly…" I tuned out her voice and looked back. Theodred was still standing there, and he smiled at me when I looked back at him. I smiled back and then turned towards Eowyn, who apparently hadn't noticed that I wasn't paying attention and kept on talking. We soon entered a large bedroom with nicely decorated walls and a cozy-looking bed. I walked in behind Eowyn and sat on the edge of the bed as she walked over to a large trunk began sorted through various fabrics and dresses.

"Here it is!" she said suddenly and pulled out a beautiful, deep red dress. I gasped when I saw it; it was just like those Gwenwyfar would wear during the King Arthur times.

"Oh, it's…it's…it's pretty, but you really don't expect me to wear that do you?" I asked, eyeing the dress. If there was one thing that I resented more than high heels, it was dresses. I just felt so awkward wearing them.

"Of course you are to wear it!" she exclaimed, handing it to me, "I wouldn't dream of letting you go about the Hall wearing…wearing…well whatever it is you're wearing." After about six minutes of senseless arguing, I finally gave in and put on the dress. She smiled and held my hand in hers.

"You look beautiful! Oh, I haven't worn this since I was fifteen, but it does fit you quite well." She said, smiling the whole time, "Oh, you must be hungry! We're to dine tonight with the men. We'll be having stew and-"

"Umm…I'll just have some bread. I…I…I'm not used to your type of food." I stuttered. She nodded and stood up.

"We should be heading to the Dining Hall anyway, and I'm sure you'll change your mind later." I smiled and followed into a large and decorated room with many tables lining it. When we entered, a large group of men that had been talking in hushed voices turned to us and motioned for us to come and sit. I followed Eowyn to the outer rim and we both sat down.

Well, all I can say about the meal and conversations is that it was the most boring event of my life! At the end of the three hours we were there in the Dining Hall I politely excused myself and walked out onto the deck right outside of the doors I had first entered from. The guards didn't even move as I walked around them, and had the sudden impulse to say something to them, or perhaps poke them….Well, I didn't.

"Damn fate!" I said under my breath and sat down on the cold stone floor, looking over into the sunset. Its rays cheered me up a little and the cool breeze was very nice, and welcome.

"Why did you leave?" asked a voice, and I turned to see Theodred walk up and sit beside me.

"No particular reason," I answered flatly. He was smiling again, watching me.

"I doubt that." He said and I turned to him.

"Why? Is it wrong for someone to not want to sit in a large room watching drunken men sing and talk like idiots? Am I supposed to just sit and…and do nothing? Honestly, you people have no sense of fun…or table manners for that manner." I said ferociously and sighed angrily, averting my eyes from him.

"No, I do suppose you were right to want to leave, but do you think Eowyn is any less bored than you? She wanted to talk to you and sit with you tonight. It has been too long since she has had the opportunity to share the evening meal gossip with another woman." There he went again, proving me wrong. I hated being wrong, and more than that I hated feeling guilty. He was right, though, Eowyn was just as bored and anxious as I was during the meal, and I had no sense of feelings what so ever to just leave her like that. I looked down at the village below us, wishing that Theodred would just go away.

"You're right," I finally said, defeated, "I'll go back and sit politely like a young woman should, and be bored to tears while you men drink your good health away. And I do not appreciate this whatsoever." He nodded and laughed, helping me up to my feet.

"And, Maddy," he said as I began to walk away, "Whether you want to believe it or not, this is your new home. Good night." I would have argued further, but when I turned back, he was already through the doors and more than likely back in the Dining Hall.

"Settle in," I mumbled, walking down another hallway to the room Eowyn had said was mine, reaching it and stepping inside. That was the last thing I wanted. I closed the door and walked over to the bed. Awaiting on top of it was a nightgown. I picked it up and chucked it into a corner, putting on a T-shirt and shorts from my backpack instead. I crawled into the covers and curled up, trying to rid my body of the cold temperature of the room, and dreading morning. Theodred was right; this was my new home, and whether or not I wanted to believe it, I was probably stuck here for good.

"Home, sweet, home," I mumbled softly as a single tear slid down my cheek, and closed my eyes humming to the tune of "Once Upon a December" from Anastasia.

Author's Note: I hope you like it! Oh, and please, please, please read and review! Oh, and for those of you who I confused in chapter 4, you know about the not riding in six years thing, well, I fixed it, and I hope you weren't too baffled(lol) and I'm very sorry about that. Well, I've got to go, and I'll try to update soon, I'm just kind of busy at the moment. Oh, and thank you guys for your reviews!