Chapter Twenty-Seven.

51 2 0

by mel-mel95

by mel-mel95

Rimdir of Erebor's POV.

Sitting with everyone, I watched Éowyn brought her Uncle a cup as he would then address us, raising his cup the King was about to speak, Aragorn and I led the men in standing up. "Tonight, we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!" the crowd answered back without hesitation, "Hail!"

But I felt myself hesitate then realized Aragorn had as well before taking his sip of ale. Dismissed for the rest of the party, I patted Aragorn's back and he nodded to me, walking around the crowd, I noticed Gimli and Legolas standing in front of Éomer, and several other men. I smiled softly when I saw that the two of them were going to engage in a drinking game.

Growing up with both of them, I knew that Legolas could drink everyone under the table, not including me. I seemed to have an iron stomach. Waving to my sister who stood next to Éomer, she waved back before double taking and looking at Gimli as he did something disgusting. Laughing to myself I continued to walk around until Éowyn came over with a cup,

"Westu, Rimdir, hál." (Be-thou Rimdir well.) Taking the cup gently I took a gracious sip before handing it back to her, never taking my eyes from hers and she smiled at me, returning the cup, I went to join the other men and enjoyed the night. Finding Aragorn and engaging in conversation with him.

Third person's POV.

Théoden joined Éowyn, watching Rimdir as he found Aragorn to talk to. "I am happy for you. He is an honorable man." Théoden says Éowyn looks at him and smiles softly, "You are both honorable men." The two continue to talk as the night goes on, and soon Rimdir was back at the drinking game just in time to see Gimli topple over,

Smirking at Legolas he looked at Rimdir then to the downed dwarf before saying, "Game over." Laughing slightly, Rimdir picked up the dwarf and laid him on the bench to avoid him being stepped on. The sound of singing drew the black-haired prince to the two hobbits on the table singing and dancing.

They were merry and joyful till Pippin stopped to look at Gandalf, "Pippin?" Merry called when his friend had stopped singing, and they looked at each other before continuing, Rimdir and Aragorn slipped in beside Gandalf, Aragorn asking, "No news of Frodo?" Gandalf shook his head discreetly, "No word. Nothing." Rimdir set his hand on Gandalf's shoulder and the white wizard looked at him.

Gandalf had to remind himself that the Dwaelf before him was not the stubborn Dwarf, he knew 60 years prior. "We have time. Every day Frodo moves closer to Mordor." Aragorn said drawing the Wizard's attention, and filling him with a beam of hope. But doubt still lurked, "Do we know that?" squeezing Gandalf's shoulder Rimdir answered,

"What does your heart tell you?" smiling Gandalf looked to the Dwaelf and answered "That Frodo is alive. Yes. Yes, he is alive." Falling into his thoughts Rimdir went and got an ale feeling his thirst finally rise.

Rimdir leaves, carrying his pipe. But he pauses to stoke a fire near a sleeping Éowyn, her slim feet showing out the bottom of her blanket, as Éowyn stirs, Rimdir covers her feet and shoulders with a blanket, her soft sleep filled voice sounds as she asks, "What time is it?" his hand slipping from the fur around her blanket he answers,

"Not yet dawn." About to leave, her hand slips out and she grabs him, she likes the feeling of his hands. She didn't know if it was the warmth or the familiar callouses of war and battle. Or the feeling of security and the idea that she was safe in his hands, she liked them nonetheless. Opening her eyes, she looked at him but they seemed deep in the dream she had woken from.

Kneeling to her level she spoke, her voice barely steady as it quivered in fear, "I dreamed I saw a great wave, climbing over green lands and above the hills. I stood upon the brink. It was utterly dark in the abyss before my feet." Her eyes seemed to fill with tears that did not fall. He just continued to listen to her knowing it was better to listen than to comment.

"A light shone behind me but I could not turn. I could only stand there, waiting." Speaking softly, he said "Night changes many thoughts. Sleep, Éowyn." As he set her hand back on the sofa bed, tucking it into her chest as her eyes closed and she fell back into her sleep. Standing he added even more softly,

"Sleep... while you can." Heading outside to smoke as he would have done earlier he saw Legolas standing to his left, his hood drawn up and his bow in his hands as he watched in the distance. His eyes seeing further and much more than Rimdir's ever could. "The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice. The Eye of the enemy is moving."

Rimdir lights his pipe and watches as well, seeing but it was blurred more than anything, and doing it gave him a headache so he stopped and trusted what Legolas told him, there was a few moments of quiet until Legolas looked at Rimdir as said, "He is here!" running back inside, Legolas ran to get Aragorn,

Then they continued to where the feeling of evil came from and then the shouts of Merry as he called out for help. Rimdir enters with Aragorn and Legolas right behind him. Everyone awakes because of the opening slam of the door. Pippin, stuck to the burning orb, writhes in pain. Rimdir takes the and falls to his knees.

Only to have Legolas and Aragorn catch him, The Palantír falls from Rimdir's hands and rolls across the floor. And Gandalf jumps up to throws a cloth over it. Merry rushed to Pippin's side.

***