Disclaimer: I don't own any of the following things, save for my version of Brunhilde and her world -- though Brunhilde is a character extracted from the legend of the Nibelungs a Viking love legend/myth, her character has been changed around a little to suit my story -- Eomer, Rohan, The Hobbits, Uruk-Hai, Orcs... you get the picture. This is a canon, though parts change only to suit the story and Brunhilde. Hope you enjoy, if so please leave a comment. Thank you (Mrs Huggins) for pointing out my disclaimer error, I didn't realise it, Brunhilde doesn't belong to me, I simply borrowed and altered her from the legends.

Video; To anyone interested I made a video for this story, a fanfic trailer. I also have other videos, all fanfic trailers, that you can look at also. Some of the stories the videos are related are posted on here also. The link to the video is; (you'll need to remove the spaces, I can't put the link of here otherwise) w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v l c Q a W G I z t e U.

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Thanks to (Lady Arya, wife of EragoneragonsharienaScottishgal112SilverLight05Elfsire, and aerojo05. Sorry it took me so long to update, but I was looking for a beta. I found one and they did a wonderful job, helping me. I won't be able to update for a few weeks, because I am going into hospital and won't actually be able to get to the computer, so I posted this for everyone who was eager to read the next part. Anyway, reviews would be great as I love to hear what you all think.

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Chapter 8

The Rohirrim rose well before dawn, and began packing. Gandalf approached the two sleeping women, knelt by the side of their bedroll, and gently shook his daughter awake. She moaned sleepily and sat up as she opened her eyes. Brunhilde soon followed.
"Be ready soon," he told them before walking off.
Brunhilde stood awkwardly - her legs felt stiff - and looked around the camp. Men were packing their things, saddling horses, and checking their weapons one last time. The immense tension among the men gave her butterflies in her stomach. "There are some caves near Helm's Deep, just before the fortress of Helm's Deep came within view. We'll have to stay there, until the battle is over," Aaricia remarked as she and Brunhilde packed up the bedroll. "How will anyone find us when the battle is over?" "Because Gandalf and I will be the last people to see you," Eomer answered. He had walked over,
leading his mount, Firefoot, as Aaricia spoke. "One of us will come and get you when the battle is over." She nodded and moved to saddle the horse she'd been given yesterday, but her mother was
already tending to it. "I believe you tamed a horse yesterday. You ride him," she said to Brunhilde. "It's not everyday you tame a horse and get a chance to ride it." Brunhilde looked over her shoulder at the dark horse, who stood tethered to a tree. Sighing, she
walked over and took the blanket from Murnan as she passed him. Taking small, slow steps, she held the blanket up, showing it to the horse.
"Easy boy. I just need to put this on your back," she said to him, hoping that he wouldn't kick out. Gently placing the blanket on the horse's back, she watched him for a minute. When he stayed still, she turned and took the saddle from Murnan. When she turned back to the horse, she found he had somehow managed to pull the blanket off, dropping it to the ground. She huffed, handing the saddle back to Murnan so she could pick up the blanket replace it on the horse's back. As she did so, a pair of hands covered hers and moved the blanket higher on the horses back. She jumped at the sudden contact, then swallowed as a lump grew in her throat when the person's hands stayed on hers for a bit longer than was strictly necessary.
"Keep the blanket up high. Then he won't pull it off," the hands' owner told her. She recognised the deep voice and quickly withdrew her hands from underneath his.
"Thank you, Lord Eomer," she replied, turning to face him. He nodded and headed back to his horse. Brunhilde watched him, then met her mother's gaze. Not wishing to maintain eye contact with her, Brunhilde looked away and quickly finished saddling the horse. She climbed into the saddle, righted
herself, and caught up with her mother.

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Eldarwen groaned in pain as Aragorn set her down on a bench in the hall. She watched the guards bracing the doors with whatever they could find, including the tables and benches. She wanted to help, even though her side hurt. When she stood up and went to help, Legolas stopped her. He glanced at her side and pushed her back down into the seat.
"You can not fight any more without hurting yourself. Stay here," he ordered. Then he left, not giving her a chance to argue. Sighing, she leaned bakc on the table behind her and shut her eyes, hoping that she could rest. But the noise around her was too loud. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the noise grew louder. Groaning in dismay, she got up and walked over to Theoden.
"Let me help outside," she said. He took one look at the dark red stain on her clothing and, without hesitation, said, "No." He shook his head and she knew that was the end of it. Theoden was king and that meant she had to follow him while she was in Rohan. "You would better serve me staying out of trouble." She didn't believe him, but she had no choice in the matter. Gimli and Aragorn were outside, trying to free the causeway as best as they could. She scowled, but
reluctantly moved back to the bench and sat down. Looking around the hall, she searched for a familiar face; more specifically, a pair of bright blue eyes and long blonde hair. But it was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he go?" she asked herself aloud. Then she heard his voice outside. If not for her acute hearing, she wouldn't have even thought he'd leave her alone inside. Standing up, Eldarwen picked up the nearest weapon - a spear. Making sure no one was lookng, she made her way to the hidden entrance that led to the outer halls of the Keep.
Outside was chaos. It was as if the Valar had suddenly unleashed hell on Helm's Deep. Looking around, she spotted Legolas hanging over the wall, trying to pull something up by way of a rope. Running over, she helped him pull it up, despite the pain in her side.
"Eldarwen," he said sternly. She shook her head, knowing the silent question he was asking.
"I'm not going to sit aside be treated like an infant because of one small injury!" she shouted over the clanging of swords and fierce yells in battle. Legolas watched her for a minute before remembering that Aragorn and Gimli were still hanging from the opposite end of the rope. He and Eldarwen pulled both man and Dwarf over the wall. Eldarwen winced when Aragorn used her body to steady himself, his hand inadverdantly brushing against her wound. The group was worn out and what was worse, Eldarwen could barely stay conscious. But despite Legolas' pleas, she would not sit down. "We have to get back inside!" Gimli called. Legolas grabbed Eldarwen and lifted her into his arms when she made to follow Aragorn and Gimli. They were quick to get back into the hall, where Eldarwen collapsed from blood loss. Aragorn grabbed the guard nearest him and Legolas placed Eldarwen into his arms. Aragorn pulled the guard close and spoke: "Take her to the caves and be quick about it. Make sure nothing happens to her, or I'll have your head." The guard nodded and headed off. Legolas grabbed the nearest table and tipped it, so it's contents spilled across the ground. His anger was strong and right now he wanted to fight, not cower in the Keep like a child. Two guards ran over to him and helped him move the table and use it to brace the doors.

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Brunhilde heard the sound of the Uruk-hai long before they came in sight. Thankfully, she wouldn't have to look at the accursed creatures. Aaricia took hold of her daughters hand and squeezed it tightly in her own. She had seen the effects of war on children; to have her daughter so close to a battle that could turn on the Rohirrim in a heartbeat frightened her.
"Mother?" Brunhilde questioned, looking at her mother with a confused expression. It was then that Aaricia realised that Eomer was talking to her.
"Stay close to entrance of the caves. It is easy to lose your way in there," Eomer said. Both women nodded at the Horse Lord and climbed from the saddles of their horses. Aaricia lead her daughter into the fathomless, pitch black caves. Taking her mother's hand, so as not to stray, Brunhilde turned to look over her shoulder and saw the sun light start to fade as they took a straight path.
"You like him." Her head whipped around when her mother spoke and she noticed they had stopped. "The Horse Lord." She could see the smile on her mother's face and shook her head.
"No, I don't. We have barely spoken. I can't like him, even if I did," she answered. Aaricia reached out and touched her daughter's cheek in the darkness, before pulling three thick pieces of wood from her saddle packs and set them on the ground nearby. She then pulled out some flint and a rock. After a few tries, the fire burst into life. Brunhilde noticed her mother regarding her. She turned her back, so she didn't have to look into her mother eyes - the eyes that criticised her feelings and expressions. Aaricia stood up and walked over to her daughter. "How is your father?"
"Fine," she replied. Aaricia looked around and put a hand on her shoulder, noticing how the muscles tensed up beneath her fingertips.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Brunhilde turned around and hugged her mother, who returned. "I have to marry Gunther." Aaricia eyes darkened with anger and she pulled back to look at her daughter who kept her eyes on the ground. "I don't want to."
"Brunhilde, I… it's hard to explain, but your father would only make you do things that are to either help you or… his home," she explained. Brunhilde's shoulder slumped and she nodded, moving to sit down by the fire, quietly staring into its depths as if she had a fascination with it. Looking at the dark tunnel they had travelled through, Aaricia sighed heavily before joining her daughter. Wrapping an arm around Brunhilde's shoulders, Aaricia heard the sounds of the battle echo through the caves and envelop them with a feeling of dread. Brunhilde tightened her hold on Aaricia's arm, tears staining her cheeks. "Don't cry, you won't have to marry him for quite some time." Brunhilde's eyebrows furrowed. What did she mean?
"I don't understand," Brunhilde asked. Aaricia smiled and shrugged as she leaned back against the rock wall behind them. Looking at the woman who she had previously thought to be dead, Brunhilde noticed saddened looks pass across her mother's eyes and took her hand between her own two smaller ones. Aaricia smiled at her daughter. Suddenly, a low growl reached their ears. Aaricia jumped up. Brunhilde looked up at her mother and followed her on hands and knees to the edge of their illuminated hideaway. Aaricia drew the sword from her hip upon hearing another growl come from the shadows. Whatever was out there wasn't friendly.
Brunhilde stood up, trying to see whatever it was that was growling. "Mother…" Something rushed from the dark and shoved Brunhilde back to the ground, knocking her mother down as well. The fire went out a few seconds later and both women climbed to their feet, only to be knocked to the ground again. "What is it? How come we can't see it?" Brunhilde said, afraid.
"I don't know," her mother replied. Looking at Brunhilde from where they lay flat on their backs, Aaricia slowly stood up, hoping that the thing would not catch her off guard again. But she was knocked off her feet. Brunhilde rolled onto her back and felt a hot rush of air hit her face. The smell of rotten flesh and dried blood made Brunhilde start to heave, feeling like she was about to be sick, and covered her mouth, trying to breath as little as possible. The feel of something running down her cheek caused her to inch away. "Brunhilde, where are you?"
She wouldn't dare speak. Whatever was above her knew she was there and was waiting for her to move. Raising one of her legs, she used her strength and rolled, kicking the thing in the head as she had planned to do. Standing, she turned and felt for an opening that led away from the creature. Brunhilde found what she wanted, and heard the creature start to rise. With a sudden feeling of dread, she remembered it was safer to stay close to another person when in trouble. She started to feel her way through the darkness, desperately trying to keep her distance between the creature. Something grabbed her by the waist and she instinctively reached out and hit the thing, trying to get away as she cried out when something sharp cut her arm. She was turned violently and shoved up against the wall, her cries blocked by a hand covering her mouth. "Quiet!" The something was really a someone. Brunhilde heard the creature come within a few feet of them, and felt the man raise his sword up to challenge the creature. She identified the sword as an Uruk-hai by its size and build in the growing dim light. The creature growled; it knew they were there. Looking over her shoulder, Brunhilde recognized the man: Eomer. Meeting his gaze, she stared at him in fear. He slowly pulled his hand from her mouth, placing it around her waist and backing away from the creature. It followed every step that Eomer took, matching his strides with its own. As he pushed Brunhilde behind him and tightened his grip on his sword, it snarled. She pulled the dagger from Eomer's belt with the utmost care, preparing for the worst case scenario. Just as the creature rushed the Horse Lord, an arrow pierced the creature's throat, and a second arrow hit him in the leg, just above his thigh. With a deep groan, it slowly fell to the ground. Legolas stepped into their sight and nodded at Eomer before taking off into the cave. "Come on." Said Eomer, taking her hand and leading her through the caves. "What about Legolas, and my mother?"
"Legolas has good eyesight. He will bring her back safely," he answered as they finally stepped into the late morning sun. Brunhilde nodded and followed him over to where, his horse and a second horse stood obediently. Looking at Eomer, she noticed him watching her and immediately turned her
back on him.
"Thank you." Eomer turned back to Firefoot, pretending to busy himself with fixing his mounts saddle. "There is no need to thank me, princess." Brunhilde turned to look at him and noticed a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. Walking over to him, she placed her hands over his and waited for him to look at her. "How did you know I was a princess?"
"Your mother. Most of the children years ago were told that Aaricia, Gandalf's daughter left Middle Earth to marry a man she saved once; a king. You're her daughter, born of two lands," he said, pulling his hands free from hers as she tilted her head to the side. Eomer was covered with Uruk-hai blood and dirt, he looked gritty and he felt like it as well. She met his gaze defiantly.
"You know more about me than I know about my own mother, and you only met me less than two days ago," she said, reaching up to touch his cheek. Eomer nodded and looked down at her, watching the young woman standing in front of him. Watching his dark eyes, Brunhilde felt the sudden urge to lean up and kiss him, but decided against it and pulled her hand away. He was about to stop her, but he noticed Legolas and Aaricia appearing from the caves.
"I listen to the stories that told of your coming."
"My coming? What are you on about?" she questioned. He swung up into the saddle and watched as Aaricia handed Brunhilde the reins to her mount. She looked up at him and shook her head before climbing into the saddle.