Ch 2 The Prince is alive?

Darkness, a scream of terror and pain, a gun shot. Tyler watched as her mother's once joyful face turned sheet white. She saw Brian standing with a hand gun, a haunting, malicious smile plastered on his red, sweaty face. "Tyler…." Her mother's weak voice came from far off. " I…..I love you……..remember that…always……" Her eyes dimmed and closed, never to reopen.

"No…..no….NOOOO!!!!!!! MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!"

"MOTHER!!!!!" Tyler screamed as her eyes snapped open and squinted at the brightness of the clear blue sky. Her whole body was stiff, she could hardly move. She mustered up what strength she had and Stumbled to her feet. "Well…..I'm not going back there….There is no way I am EVER going back……..This will sound wrong…even to me….But I am glad that mother is dead….She doesn't have to live with him any more…NO more beatings because of too little coffee. Now to find out where I am……." She looked around carefully, doing as much turning as her battered body would permit her to. She saw that she was standing in the middle of a large field. The green grass was up to her mid calf and no matter what direction she looked in, all she saw were trees, hills, and grass. "Well Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas any more." She focused on one hill in particular and saw a group of men on horses coming towards her at a gallop. She knew there was no way she could out run these men even if she had the strength to, so she simply waited for them to come and did not move. They reached her and enclosed her in a large circle of men and horses. The two who were obviously the leaders were in front of her. They removed their helmets and Tyler instantly knew where she was. The one she recognized had long, frizzy, dirty blonde hair. His face looked hard, but his eyes betrayed him. They were misty and clouded over with sadness at the sight of her state. "Who has done this to you lady? And why are you dressed as such?" The other one asked, noting that she was covered in blood and was wearing clothes completely different from any that he had ever born witness to.

Tyler looked down and saw that she was wearing a pair of really short shorts and a once white tank top that was now torn and covered in her own dark blood. "Well….first of all…..Hello my lords…my name is Natallia. What are your names, if you don't mind my asking?"

Both of the men blushed at this for not having given a proper introduction and she heard a few of the men snicker, trying to hold in a laugh. "Now…..I know who you are…..You are Eomer, son of Eothain. Correct?" Natallia asked cautiously. The one with dirty blonde hair nodded at her statement. She turned to face the other. His hair was dark, his eyes were a sky blue and he was pale, but beautiful at the same time. " And…I know you…..I know that I know you…..But my memory is a little foggy at the moment…I am sorry.."

The other shook his head as if to say 'not at all'. He took a bow as he introduced himself. "I am Theodred, son of Theoden. Prince of Rohan. Cousin to Eomer and his sister Eowen."

"Are you kidding me?...I'm actually in Rohan?...It's before the war. At least I know that much, how much more before, I know not...How in blazes did I get myself here….?" She wondered quietly enough that people could tell she was mumbling, but they couldn't understand a word she said, for it was all in Japanese, a language which she was fluent in. She also happened to be fluent in Elvish.

"Lady?" Eomer spoke up gently as he unmounted his horse. "Who has given you these wounds?" He gently brushed the blood gushing from her nose with a handkerchief.

"oh……." Natallia started, noticing the blood. "The man my mother married….he did this to both of us…"

"Your FATHER?!" Theodred asked, clearly shocked out of his wits.

"NO!...sorry….no…..My father died a long time ago. My mother remarried this man, Brian, two years ago and I've woken up worse than this most mornings.

"So he's been doing this since she married him? Why?" Eomer asked as calmly as he could.

"Who knows…..But…..please don't make me go back to him? Please just take me to some village that could use me. I don't care where as long as it's not the city. Please?" Her pleading crystal eyes were met by compassionate hazel ones.

Eomer nodded his head and asked, "was that you screaming? Before we got here?" Natallia nodded. "Out of pain?"

"No, I do not cry out of pain. I just saw my mother get killed by Brian. That is why I am no longer afraid to leave him. I was only staying because of Mother…..but now I have no reason at all." Eomer nodded and turned to get on his horse when Natallia fell to the ground clutching her stomach, coughing up blood. Eomer quickly turned back and most of the men started in their saddles. He knelt beside her and held her long raven hair away from her face.

"Please, what are your injuries?"

"I have, a few broken ribs, and broken nose, and…..split lip, gash in the side of my stomach is the worst…..I…..I'm going to sleep……just give me my own horse…..I hate looking weak in front of those I don't know…they tend to underestimate me….." With that she passed out into his arms. He settled himself on his horse with Natallia sitting in front of him and talked briefly with the prince before telling the group what was to happen.

"Alright…..we are going to take her to a village just east of here. I know a couple that would love her and have a great need of her. Let's move."