Chapter Five: Confirmed Blessings Make Things Easier
(Today is a glorious day, for in the land of Gondor, Van and Halbarad are getting married. Actually, they were just married. And now they find themselves greeting their friends. We currently see Van talking to Legolas.)
Legolas: Were you nervous?
Van: A little. It wasn't quite so hard because we had that talk a few days ago. That took away most of my fears.
Legolas: Well, I am glad to hear that! Go now, off to your husband. He shouldn't have to greet others alone!
Van: (skooting over to where Halbarad is) Hiya.
Halbarad: (smirks) Well hello there. Very glad you could make it today!
Van: (whaps him with an arm) Of course I could make it for my own wedding, silly. But I am glad you showed up on time. You have that small habit of being late.
Halbarad: (mock gasp) Me, late for my own wedding? Never!
Van: You're so silly. Come on, let's go see Stevie. I want to make sure she's okay.
Halbarad: That sounds like a wonderful idea.
Stevie: (hugs Van) Hey there.
Van: Hey nothing, silly! How are you feeling?
Stevie: (forces a smile) Well enough. I didn't hurl on any of your guests, so you should be grateful for that.
Van: And I am, but really, how are you holding up?
Halbarad: Aye, how are you? I've heard you've been very ill as of late, and this heat of late must not be easing your illness.
Stevie: (sighs) I really feel like crap, but I am so happy for the both of you, and happy for my baby, that it makes it bearable.
Aragorn: (appears next to Stevie) Halbarad, Van, I wish to congratulate you both.
Halbarad: Thank you, but don't congratulate us. Take your poor wife inside to lie down and get some rest. She doesn't look well.
Stevie: I'm fine! I just need to sit for a bit.
Aragorn: I think that is a wonderful idea.
Stevie: I do not wish to lie down! Go away, you pain you!
Van: Stevie, please do, for a few minutes at the least. It would make me feel better if you would. Really, it's all right. Aragorn will be more than willing to help you back to the celebrations when you've awoken from your nap.
Stevie: (sighs) You would think that when you're old enough to bear your husband's child that you'd be old enough to do as you wish and not be bossed around.
Halbarad: You know it's only out of the greatest concern for you that we do. Go now! We shall see you later, and if not, we shall see you on the morrow.
Stevie: Fine. Tata you guys.
(And so Aragorn carts Stevie off to go take a nap and Halbarad and Van are left to greet others. Eventually they end up inside and are having a grand time when a messenger comes in with a letter addressed to Van, which she reads.)
Halbarad: Who is it from, Van?
Van: (reading through it) It's from Shplurgsie! Kit, come here!
Kit: (moves towards Van) What?
Van: I just received a letter from Shplurgsie! It's talking about how he's up north, he doesn't say where, but he's making a nice home for himself. He says that he regrets that he cannot be here for the celebrations, but that he heard all about them. He says it would be foolish of him to come here.
Kit: Well, it would be. He'd be shot on sight.
Halbarad: Who is this Shplurgsie you speak of?
Van: He's an Uruk we met at Isengard. He took care of us and became our friend.
Halbarad: You befriended an Uruk?
Kit: That's exactly the reason why he isn't here with us now, poor guy.
Halbarad: I ask again, you befriended an Uruk?
Van: Yes, we befriended an Uruk. A really nice one. He took good care of us and prevented us from going entirely insane while locked up in Orthanc.
Kit: He was a really great guy. He's one of a kind.
Halbarad: I can imagine. I don't know many Uruks who go around helping young ladies out of the goodness of their blackened and deformed hearts.
Van: Well, Shplurgsie did, so don't go ragging on him. I miss the poor dude. Anyway�..
Halbarad: Say, where are Boromir and Harper?
Kit: Oh, they are over there trying to explain to Faramir and Imrahil the reasoning behind his sheep raising thing that he's doing.
Van: Speaking of sheep! Eomer! Stop giving Shutty ale! Sheep are not supposed to be drunk, you weirdo!
Eomer: Oh, but this is so much fun! I can't resist!
Van: Lothiriel! Get this crazed man away from that sheep!
Harper: (strolling over to where Eomer and Shutty are) Hey, Kinglydude, what do you think you're doing to my sheep?
Eomer: I am turning your lovely little lamb here into an ale connoisseur.
Harper: Is that so?
Eomer: Aye.
Harper: Yo, Shutty, do you want to be an ale connoisseur?
Shutty: (belches) Maaaaa!
Harper: (raises eyebrows) Well, in that case, by all means carry on!
Van: You're letting the King of Rohan, Eomer Eadig, get your pet sheep drunk?
Harper: (shrugs) Somebody was bound to do it. Besides, it sends Lothiriel into giggle fits and the two start flirting adorably.
Halbarad: If that wasn't so funny I'd say it was very, very wrong. You are a very odd person.
Kit: And don't we know it.
Harper: Well, hopefully, by the time the celebrations are over the sheep will be the only one completely wasted.
Kit: I have never seen a wasted sheep before. I await the results of Shutty's connoisseurship anxiously.
Halbarad: You are all insane, so before you can poison my bride's mind any further than you already have, I am taking her away.
Van: Oh, well I think it's too late to save my mind�..what little of it I actually have, but that's okay! Away we go, hubby dearest!
