Title & Chapter Number The Wayward Wish 14/14
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: Tortured Scribes
Fandom: Tolkien
RatingNC-17
Disclaimer Thank you J.R.R. for the wonderful playground of Middle Earth. Thank you Peter for the wonderful playground created by your casting department. I don't own any copyrighted material in this fic, I'm just borrowing it and I promise to return it when I'm done. Did I mention I have no money?
Warnings None
Betas Jay Foppins III and Constance Ambrose
Cast Characters for Lord of the Rings, Original Female Character
Timeline Lord of the Rings AU
Spoilers The Return of the King
Summary The realities of being a modern woman zapped back in time to Middle Earth - minus the fluff.
Notes Elvish is Sindarin; If it looks like Tolkien and it sounds like Tolkien, it probably is. He wrote it first, he wrote it best, I'm just repeating it for storytelling purposes and make no claim that I came up with it. Everyone else has done the Modern Female in M.E., so now it's my turn. Hopefully, I've done it with a bit of style and believability.
Chapter Fourteen: The Road Home
Six weeks passed before the army returned triumphantly to Gondor. Merry, Jessy, Éowyn, and Faramir stood upon the steps that led to the throne room amid the various remaining members of court. They waited expectantly. No word had come as to who had survived other than King Elessar had returned. The name bestowed upon Aragorn by Galadriel.
And then their wait was over, a group made their way through the arch and up the stairs. Jessy searched the group, her heart in her throat. There was Aragorn with Frodo and Sam on either side of him. Next she saw Gandalf's now distinctive white hair and beard. Pippin walked by Gandalf's side. Other then Éomer, she did not recognize the other faces.
She greeted each of her friends as they passed her, all the while a numbness settling into her limbs. Legolas and Gimli were not among them. She stood there on the steps for many minutes unable to move, hoping that perhaps they were late. Her stomach rolled and lurched as a dark dread settled into her heart. Yet still she waited, long after the others had retired inside.
She was still standing there on the steps, staring into an empty courtyard. The center of which had once held the White Tree of Gondor. This was how Frodo found her. Her face was pale and her limbs trembled slightly.
"Jessy, what ails you?" Frodo asked quietly. It took him several tries before she finally looked down and acknowledged his presence. "Gimli and Legolas …" her voice trailed off.
Frodo smiled. "They are fine. Aragorn has a message for you from Legolas."
The words `they are fine' penetrated and Jessy felt like a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"You have missed Aragorn's coronation but the celebration is just beginning." Frodo took Jessy's hand and escorted her inside.
The celebration lasted late into the evening. Jessy had spent most of the evening with the four Hobbits as they recounted their tales of adventure. One by one, the hobbits slipped away to mingle with the other guests. Jessy sat and watched the merrymaking. She was just about to sneak out and retire for the evening when Aragorn approached her.
Bowing in a courtly fashion, he made a motion with his hand towards one of the empty seats. "May I?"
"Be my guest." Jessy was still peeved at him for locking her up but she wanted the message that he was carrying from Legolas. "Frodo told me that Legolas gave you a message for me."
Aragorn smiled. "He and Gimli are both well. They are taking a detour to fulfill vows they made to each other at Helm's Deep. Legolas said he would return shortly to collect you."
Jessy wondered why Legolas hadn't mentioned this vow the night before he left but kept her comments to herself. Stifling a yawn, she thanked Aragorn for the message.
He eyed her for a moment. "You should retire for the evening. The celebration will last well until morning. I will see that you are given an escort." He stood and motioned to one of the guards standing around the perimeter of the room.
Jessy was too tired to argue that she could find her own way home, so she let Aragorn play the gallant.
Seven weeks later there was still no sign of Gimli and Legolas. Jessy could no longer deny the fact that she was pregnant. At first, she had thought she had contracted some kind of stomach flu but other symptoms soon presented themselves. She and Merry had been moved back up to the court living quarters, each given their own rooms. Jessy spent a lot of time in her room trying to figure out exactly what she was going to do. Her uniform no longer fit and both of the dresses that had been donated to her were extremely tight around the middle.
It wasn't long before the entire court knew that she was expecting and her ostracism had reached new and glorious heights although the ladies of the court were extremely careful to keep their snide comments to themselves whenever Aragorn or the Hobbits were nearby. Jessy saw little of Aragorn, who was busy trying to run the Kingdom and planning for his marriage to Arwen. The Hobbits became her constant companions whenever she wasn't in her room. Her only other ally was Ioreth. Surprisingly, the old healer had taken Jessy's pregnancy in stride, offering her services as midwife.
Jessy was lying on the bed in her room trying to convince her stomach that it didn't really needed to empty itself of the food it currently contained when there was a knock at her door. Too sick to actually get up and answer it, Jessy called out "It's open".
Frodo and Sam enter the room both of them near bursting with excitement.
"You will never guess what news we have, Ms. Jessy." Sam gushed.
"The scouts have returned with news that a party of Elves is to arrive here today. Aragorn is riding out to meet them and escort them to the city." Frodo supplied the information with a little less gusto than Sam.
"And we get to ride along! We are leaving within the hour!" Sam was nearly beaming with pride at the thought of riding out as part of the escort.
"That's great." Jessy managed to stammer out before she leapt from the bed and ran to the chamber pot. Apparently, her stomach was in severe disagreement about the final disposition of breakfast. When she finally came up for air, she found the room had been deserted.
Sighing, she figured that she should at least try and make herself presentable for the wedding party's arrival. After several attempts, Jessy realized that with Aragorn gone from Minas Tirith, the odds of getting a servant to arrange for a tub of water to be brought to her room so she could bath were about zero.
Jessy managed to take a sponge bath though washing her hair was out of the question. She tried on the first dress and found that the waistline wouldn't fit over the bulge of her abdomen. Cursing, she tried on the second dress; she had just started to pull it down when she heard the telltale sound of a seam ripping. The side seam of the dress had split unable to accommodate the girth of her stomach any longer.
Jessy did what any woman in her condition would do; she dropped to a floor in a heap and bawled. Cursing Legolas and the whole of his ancestry for putting her in this predicament.
The arrival of the future Queen of Gondor had thrown the entire court into action. Chambers were aired and made ready for guests; the kitchens were thrown into controlled chaos as an evening feast was prepared, the court nobility digging through their closets for their best garments.
The hall was mostly deserted except for the household servants when Aragorn, Arwen and the others arrived. After the introductions were made, the wedding party was lead to their rooms to freshen up and rest before the evening banquet.
Galadriel eyed the stone chamber that she and Celeborn had been led to by a young servant girl. It made her long to return to the Golden Wood but she smiled at the maid when she was asked if the room would serve.
"It will do quite well."
The young girl hesitated for a moment but noting the handmaiden that had accompanied the regal Elven couple she bowed and turned to leave.
"One moment if you please." Galadriel stopped the girl. "Our ward has been a guest of King Elessar for sometime, could you tell me where I may find her room?"
The maid frowned. "There be no other of the fair folk here, Mi'Lady."
"She is human. Her name is Jessy." Galadriel clarified.
The maid became suddenly nervous for she had just that morning been rude to Jessy. She had not known that the pregnant lady was related to such nobility and was now afraid of the repercussions. "I… She be housed in the north wing near the Little Folk."
It was Galadriel's turn to frown. The young maid looked as if she had been forced to swallow some sort of foul brew. "Is there something wrong with her?"
The maid paled. "Not really my place to say but the lady had got herself in a bit of trouble. She's in the family way if you know what I mean."
Galadriel regarded the maid with a raised eyebrow. "Thank you." She dismissed the maid with a wave of her hand. Once the girl was gone, she looked over at Celeborn. "It is as I feared. Much of her future is still hidden from me but I think that this child will play a roll."
Celeborn nodded. "Until then we can only see that they both are safe. Will you bring Jessy back with us?"
Galadriel considered his question for a moment before answering. "Everything still tells me that she is still to go with the Hobbits."
Celeborn could not argue with her though he personally thought Jessy should return with them. He opened the door to summon Haldir, Ondollo and Melui. They had been part of the personal guard that had escorted them from Lórien.
Galadriel walked through the halls with the others at her heels. It didn't take her long to discover exactly which room Jessy was staying in. Galadriel found her in a heap on the bed sound asleep. She left Haldir and Ondollo outside while Melui followed her in with the extra baggage Galadriel had packed for Jessy.
Galadriel regarded the room in disgust. It was quite obvious that little had been done to see to Jessy's comfort. She really couldn't blame Aragorn for she doubted he had time to see to the household staff considering everything else on his plate.
The room was not much different from the tower room that Jessy had been previously been housed in with the exception that this room had not been cleaned in sometime. Even though the weather was warm, it did little to lessen the dampness in the room. The fireplace had not been emptied in sometime though it didn't matter because there was no wood with which to build a fire. Galadriel picked up the discarded gowns at the foot of the bed, noting with disapproval their frayed and worn condition. On the table near the window was a tray that held the remnants of Jessy's lunch, she hadn't been able to stomach very much of the greasy, stew the kitchen had sent up.
Galadriel frowned when she took a closer look at Jessy. Her hair had obviously not been washed in sometime and she knew that Jessy had insisted on bathing daily during her stay in Lórien.
She turned to Melui and spoke quietly as not to wake Jessy. "Start unpacking the things I brought while I see to a bath for her."
Galadriel crossed to the door and opened it briefly. "Haldir, see if you can get one of the servants to bring up a tub and some hot water. Also, we need wood for the fireplace and something palatable from the kitchen, some fruit and vegetables would be good."
Haldir nodded and left immediately to do his Lady's bidding.
Galadriel shut the door and helped Melui unpack. It was not long before several servants arrived with a tub and after several trips it was filled with hot water. The fireplace was cleaned and a fire burned merrily. It was no surprise that Jessy managed to sleep through the preparations considering her condition. Had Galadriel not been disposed to long, moments of deep reverie when she had been carrying Celebrían, she might have been concerned.
Haldir had returned after creating quite a stir in the kitchen for he had seen personally to the tray of food. Even the head cook, who was considered quite a harridan by the rest of the staff, was complete charmed by the handsome Elf.
Finally, Galadriel gently woke Jessy with a shake.
It took Jessy a moment to register that it was really Galadriel standing next to the bed and then she promptly burst into tears.
"Hush." Galadriel sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the emotional girl into her arms. She had also been prone to tears during her pregnancy. "All is well now."
"Sorry, I'm just glad to see another friendly face." Jessy managed to get out between hiccups.
"I have a bath waiting for you." Galadriel didn't add that the girl was in desperate need of one.
"Thanks. I tried to get them to bring one up earlier but was ignored as usual." Jessy's tears had stopped as promptly as they had started.
"Why have you not spoken to Aragorn about the problems you have been experiencing?"
Jessy sat back and rolled her eyes.
Galadriel had come to recognize the expression as one of exasperation.
"He's a little busy to worry about whether or not the servants bring a tub of water when I request it. Usually, Merry will order a second bath in the afternoon for me. The servants must think he's the cleanest Hobbit in The Shire. Him and the others usually share their wood with me so I can have a fire. Just with them riding out today, I was left on my own."
"That still does not explain why you have not spoken to Aragorn." Galadriel was not about to drop the subject.
Jessy sighed, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Look, I've become something of an outcast here considering my current condition. I didn't think it would help Aragorn much if he was seen favoring the court whore."
"Is not Legolas the father?" Galadriel thought maybe she had mistaken the vision The Mirror had given her.
Jessy blushed. "Yeah, but what doesn't change the fact that I'm pregnant and unmarried."
Galadriel would never understand the complexities of Men and their incessant need for pomp and ritual. The joining was a noble enough event and was just as binding as any words spoken. Jessy had seemed to be more Elven in her upbringing so Galadriel concluded that she felt no shame in her condition just irritation at the stigma attached to her by members of Aragorn's court. She could see the conversation was beginning to distress Jessy so she changed the subject. "The water is starting to cool. We should see to your bath." She rose to help the pregnant girl.
"I can do it. Besides I sure you have more important things to worry about. Like Arwen." Jessy felt a little weird about having help for something she had been able to do on her own since she was four. "I can still handle the chore."
"Very well. I will leave Melui here to help if you need it. Celeborn and I have brought you some clothing and things that you will need." Galadriel smiled warmly at her charge before continuing. "There is to be a banquet this evening. I will send someone to escort you to the dining hall."
Before Jessy could weasel her way out of having to dine in public, Galadriel swept from the room, which seemed to dim a bit when she was gone.
Jessy made a mental note never to get on Melui's bad side. She became a complete terror once Galadriel left the room. Before Jessy could protest, she was bathed, dressed and seated at the table by the window with a stern order to eat. The tray holding the noxious stew had been removed and placed near the door.
Jessy had watched with amusement as Melui marshaled servants into the room. The tub was removed, bed linens changed, and the room given a thorough cleaning. None of the servants thought twice about disobeying the stern-faced Elven warrior. Finally, Jessy had been tucked between clean sheets with orders to rest before the evening's festivities.
Jessy continued to muse over the changes that Melui had wrought in an effort not to think about the banquet. She really wasn't looking forward to the stares and whispers. Melui had insisted on helping her get ready. It was eerie having a guardian who could see the future because Jessy noted that the majority of the items were made to accommodate her growing abdomen.
A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts and caused her stomach to do a flip-flop. Jessy got up and walked over to answer it but was stopped short by Melui's order to stop. Melui had just finished changing into a more formal version of the Marshwarden uniform, forest green replacing the gray portions of the uniform. She motioned for Jessy to step back and then she opened the door. After peeking through the crack to see who it was, she stepped back and opened the door further.
Jessy saw that it was Merry and walked over to greet her friend.
"Well don't you look spiffy," she said as she noted that he was dressed in new clothing. Jessy recognized the clothing as having an Elven quality and surmised that she was not the only recipient of gifts from Lórien.
Merry had long become used to Jessy's strange words and had learned to judge their meanings by the tone of her voice. He bowed formally. "Thank you, My Lady. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to dinner." A mischievous smile spreading across his face, telling Jessy that he was up for a bit of fun at the expense of the nobles.
Jessy curtsied. "I would be honored, My Lord."
They both broke into peals of laughter much to the amusement of the Melui and Ondollo. Jessy placed her hand on Merry's shoulder and they started towards the dining hall, Melui and Ondollo falling into step behind them. Jessy noted that Ondollo had also changed and wondered at the escort but kept her questions to herself.
Jessy wished she had a camera to capture the expressions on the faces of the gathered crowd of nobles milling about in the dining hall. When Merry and her had first entered the low din had dropped off to silence. There had been several gasps from the less restrained ladies.
A low murmur followed as Merry led Jessy over to where Aragorn was standing with Arwen. Aragorn smiled as he gestured to Merry and Jessy.
"My dear, may I present Merry and Jessy. Two of my companions who know not the meaning of `stay here'."
Arwen laughed merrily. "I am delighted to meet you both."
Jessy had never seen a more beautiful Elf or Human for that matter. "The pleasure is ours, My Lady."
Merry bowed and then scowled at Aragorn. "I fear My Lady that Aragorn exaggerates for I remember that Jessy and I were the model of good behavior."
It was Aragorn's turn to laugh. He would have said more but there was a hush that swept through the room as Celeborn and Galadriel arrived.
The next thirty minutes were spent the same way as the rest of the Fellowship, minus Gimli and Legolas, and remaining Elven guests arrived. It was a pleasant reunion and Jessy was introduced to the rest of her `family'.
Jessy spent most of dinner trying desperately not to become ill, her stomach still refusing to play nice. She was thankful when the meal was finally over and the entire party retired to a large hall. Jessy found a quiet corner to watch the dancing and listen to the music. It wasn't long before Frodo joined her on the small couch. The burden of carrying The One Ring had left its mark on the Hobbit. He was more somber than she had remembered.
"We will be returning to The Shire after the wedding. Is it still your desire to return with us?" Frodo had become more direct as well it seemed.
"Are you sure you want me there? Considering my condition and all." Jessy respected Frodo and the others and didn't want to bring them undue grief.
"I would not have asked if I did not want you to come with us."
"Ok. I have nothing to hold me here."
"What about returning with Celeborn and Galadriel?"
Jessy sighed. "They remind me too much of Legolas. I just want to forget him."
"It is settled then." Frodo rose and let the girl to her thoughts.
The wedding and subsequent coronation of Arwen had been a spectacular event. The Lórien party had left not long after, Elrond and the Imladris Elves traveling with them. Galadriel and Celeborn had been understanding of Jessy's wish to return with the Hobbits to The Shire but had made it clear should she ever wish it; the gates of Caras Galadon were always open to her.
Two weeks later, Jessy, Gandalf, and the Hobbits left Minas Tirith. Aragorn had arranged for a small pony cart to be given to the travelers so that Jessy could ride in comfort and to carry all their provisions and possessions.
Jessy didn't know what the future would hold but she had come to the decision that whatever power had brought her here was not going to oblige her by sending her back home. She had no choice but to leave her old life behind and live in the now. That notion set in her mind had lifted a great weight off her shoulders but did little to comfort the hurt in her heart.
Maybe one-day Legolas' desertion would cease to hurt. He was dead to her mind. She prayed daily that her heart would recognize that fact and that she would stop loving him. He had no place in her life now.
The End
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