A/N: Another chapter already! When I get on a kick, I can't stop.

Fair warning; this is NOT, by any stretch, a happy chapter. It contains a scene that could be disturbing to a younger audience. It will be clearly marked and you can easily skip over it if you wish. While it is vital to the story, it is not vital that you read it.

- Elegant Couture

Her head had never hurt so bad in all of her life, even when she had had some pretty terrible hang overs. She groaned and rolled on to her side, wincing at the soreness in her body. Slowly sitting up, she took a look around as her head swam in dizziness and pain. She was in a bare room with naught but a door and the uncomfortable cot that she was laying upon. She wanted to stand but every muscle and bone in her body protested the movement.

She remembered the Rohirric courier rushing to her, and his face had seemed oddly familiar. He had said Éomer was hurt but now she doubted that was the truth. She cursed herself for falling so easily in to that trap.. and the memory of that backhand kept her from jumping to the door. She released a sigh and lay back down, turning away from the door. Éomer would find her. Closing her eyes, she prayed silently. He had to find her.

Hours later she heard the door creek open and she faked sleep. She felt fear stirring in her heart, especially considering that she was no longer just the Princess of Dol Amroth. Her kidnapping could be very valuable.

She felt someone sit on the bed beside her, and a calloused hand slid over her exposed arm. Before she could resist, she was rolled over and lips descended on to hers. She 'woke' then, her hands feebly pushing against the man as she refused to return the disgusting kiss. He pulled away and his laugh sent chills down her spine. She sat up quickly and moved away from him.

"Who are you? What do you want?" She hissed as she glared at him. He was tall, somewhat thick, and dull looking. He had long black hair that was stringy and disgusting. She instantly recognized him as a Dunlending.

He sneered at her and rose off the bed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Ernach is my name, your majesty, and you are what I want. Too long has Rohan taken my lands, and using you, I shall get them back."

"Never." She spat, her arms crossing over her chest. "Éomer will never give up lands for me. He will deal with no ransom, our people come first."

"Oh it is not ransom, Queen. It is something much more complicated than a simple trade." He rose off the bed with a laugh and crossed to the door. "And do not even think of trying to leave or we will kill your king."

He was gone before she could say anything more.
Éomer led the men in to the clearing where he and Lothíriel had last been together. He clearly saw the tracks of a horse leading up to the spot and then two leading away. They were easy to follow and eventually he found a sight that left his blood cold. The clearing that they walked into was full of track marks; several different men and one defining mark that showed where Lothíriel had been thrown from her horse. In the center of the clearing there was an arrow piercing the grown and a note through it. The note had blood on it.

Jumping from his horse, he strode over and snatched it from the ground, hurriedly unrolling the parchment.

"King of Rohan,

Your wife is ours now. This is just the beginning of the revenge we seek for the lands you have taken. "

He clenched his fist as fury swept through him. Turning back to his soldiers, he narrowed his eyes. Pointing to some of the soldiers, he barked out orders. "Return to Edoras, gather one hundred more soldiers. When you get there, have Eowyn pen a letter to King Elessar of Gondor concerning the fact that the Queen has been kidnapped by the Dunlendings and that we may need his help, should they take her to Gondor or if we need fresh arms." They nodded eagerly and quickly left to do as they were bid. Turning to the rest, he glared. "Come with me, we will follow these tracks."

When next she awoke, she felt the solid weight of an arm stretched over her waist. She froze, her body stilled as she felt the sick weight of a heavier man next to her. She tried to return to sleep, to pretend this was not happening to her, but instantly she felt a knife at her throat.

"So the whore awakens." Ernach snickered as he rose, his hand groping her hip to force her on to her back.

"If you touch me, I will kill you." She hissed, her body shaking with fear and anger. She knew these men had no morals, no reason to not do what they wanted with her. The way they treated their own women made her shudder. The cold knife pressed to her throat brought her back to reality.

"I do not believe you are in a position to make threats, queen. Mmm.. My, my you are a pretty piece of flesh. You must keep the king quite happy in order for him to have married a Gondorian whore. Your people hate you, you know, that is why that Rohirric courier helped us. He hates that there is a foreigner on the throne." His breath stank and with each word he lowered closer to her face. She shut her eyes tightly, tears threatening to fall. How had he known her deepest fears? The knife disappeared but something worse replaced it; the disgusting lips of her captor.
This section was rather difficult to write because I wanted to balance details and being too graphic. I hope it's ok. You can skip over it if you cannot handle implied rape.

Her small hands were lost against his broad shoulders her cries quickly silenced by his hands. He glared at her as he pinned her body down against the mattress, his sneer making her stomach turn. "If you move, I will find your King, tie him in here and make him watch me take you.. And then I'll kill him in front of you."

Tears sprang to her eyes at his words, and she instantly froze.

"Now that's a good girl." He purred as he slid his hands over her arms, dragging her dress down with it.

Her lips trembled as she looked away, unable to stand the sight of him baring his body. She wanted to throw up and she nearly did when she felt his hands on her thighs, pulling.

"Stop.." She whimpered, her hands gripping the bed sheets.

Before she felt another thing, he slapped her across the face. Her lip began to bleed.

"You'll enjoy it, wench." Tears fell to her cheeks unchecked. She gasped for breath when she felt him pry her legs open, and she turned her gaze to the ceiling, praying that he would simply kill her. She felt his disgusting hands clawing at her soft skin, his fingers gripping so hard to her arms as he moved above her that she was sure bruises would form. She tried not to sniffle, tried not to let him see what he was doing to her. With each movement he made, she felt as if a piece of her soul was being ripped away.

How could she survive? How could she ever let her husband touch her again? She choked down a sob and tried to pretend she was elsewhere, as if she could take flight from the room.

She came to, hours later. Her body was sore and she did not dare look at the fresh bruises and scratches that marred her breasts, stomach, and thighs. Tears sprang to her eyes again as she tried to breathe normally, but all she could think of was Éomer. She had shamed him. He hardly even remembered her and now, if he found her, he would not want a wife who had lay with another. She was a dirty whore to him, and he would send her back to Dol Amroth in shame. Twisting her head to the side, she softly sobbed in to the pillow, her body aching with each movement.

Laughter made her stop her tears, and as much as it hurt, she slowly sat up to face Ernach. "You have had what you want; now you stay to humiliate me?" She whispered, her swollen lip aching.

"No, my Queen, I stay to relish in my success. Before long you will be pregnant with the Heir to Rohan.. by my seed." He hissed, the sick grin on his face making her pale. "Not only will this throw Rohan in to Chaos, but Gondor as well. Then, my people will slay the Rohirrim and take back what is ours. And it will only be complete when your King arrives here and I will take great joy in slaying him. After you give birth, I will simply kill you as well. Until then, you are mine for whatever I may wish.."

He laughed and turned to leave, his eyes raking over her naked body. "I will have food brought to you.. no doubt you are hungry." With a triumphant look on his face, he left.

She hurried put her clothes back on, despite the protests of her body. She lay back down, face down on the pillow. What she would not give to have some way to simply kill herself. How could she ever face Éomer again?

Her mind raced and suddenly she sat up so fast that her vision spun. She had carefully hidden her elven dagger in the skirts of her dress, and in his haste to get it off her, she was sure Ernach had not found it. Digging in to the hidden pockets, she found the twelve inch blade, curved dangerously and incredibly sharp. She carefully hid it under the pillow and lay back down. The next time Ernach fancied a go, it would be his last.

"My lady, riders approach." Eowyn nodded to him and rose from her chair, Faramir quickly at her side. They walked beyond the doors to the Golden Hall and watched as Soldiers approached quickly. As they dismounted, several hurried off and began shouting orders to other soldiers. One approached Eowyn.

"My lady, we bring word from the King. The Queen has been kidnapped.. the King has gone after her and requested more soldiers and that you send word to Gondor." Eowyn gasped and looked to Faramir, who looked as if he could kill someone. She placed a hand upon his arm, looking to him while speaking to the soldier.

"Thank you, you may go." As soon as he was gone, she slid her arms around her husband. "She will be alright.. Éomer loves her, he will find her."

"It is not the finding that I fear, but more what has happened to her already." He murmured, his face pressed to the golden stands of his wife's hair. "Will you need me? I want to help look.."

"Go," She whispered, tears in her eyes. She loved Lothíriel as much as a sister and she feared for her. "Her father and brothers shall be here in two days time, Imrahil will be beside himself. But perhaps it shall comfort him to know his own kin is looking for her. Few are better than the Ithilien Rangers." She smiled sadly up at him, and he eagerly captured her lips in a kiss.

"I would be beside myself if they had taken you.." He sighed, his hands stroking her cheeks. "I would kill them. Éomer.." He trailed off, knowing it need not be said.

"Go." She urged again, her finger placed to his lip. He gave her a nod and the look in his eyes warmed her. She watched him sprint back inside. She knew he left to find his ranger garb, and that he would be gone within the hour. Closing her eyes, she prayed for the safety of her brother, sister, and husband.
Éowyn looked up from the letter that she had started to King Elessar, and Faramir stood there. There was something in his eyes that she had rarely seen before, and it sent a chill down her spine. Pity crossed her mind as she thought of the wretched souls that held Lothíriel, for their demise would not be swift. The room echoed with his heavy footsteps as she rose and crossed towards him, their arms eagerly tangling about one another.

"I only have a minute.. They await me." He whispered in to her hair.

"Be careful. I long to go with you, but my place is here."

Their kiss was sweet, deep, and passionate, and all present turned their gaze away. When finally they parted, Faramir turned to go, but was called back by the touch of his wife's hand upon his arm.

"Watch Éomer.. I fear in his condition, and his newly found feelings for her, that he may be a bit.. Rash." Her soft voice was grim, and said just so that her husband would hear. He gave her a solemn nod and kissed her soundly again.

"I love you."

"And I, you." She murmured as he hurried from the room.

Hurrah for another chapter. I hope that was not too much for you guys :/

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