Disclaimer:
I own nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who has created the wonderful fantasy story 'The Lord of the Rings'. Also I took some lines from the movie, as you might notice, they of course belong to Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Hama's Daughter

Chapter 8

On the road…

Her father had been right, she should not have brought her precious wooden box. The road was hard, rocks lay over their path and because of the long grass it was hard to walk properly. And Lathwen was walking next to the horse that was carrying Freda and Éothan, but it was not really like she was leading the horse. The happy conversation that they had had in the beginning of the journey had died down, for Lathwen found it hard to be cheerful to the little boy and girl when it was possible that their mother had not survived.

Some times Freda and her were holding hands while they walked then Freda would tell Lathwen something about her village and her parents.

Lathwen did not know what she could say to that. Her father probably had died in the attack, and her mother as well. Though Lathwen had more hope of their mother being alive then her father. She might have escaped it. She sounded like a very smart woman, sending her children of to safety and in the mean time warning the King of what was happening as well. Lathwen did not know if she would have done the same.

But she would never find that out.

In her hear she already knew that she would not be able to marry anybody else. Theodred had been her one and only love… and would be for the rest of her life. If they would survive this war.

Lathwen had barely had time to talk to Háma on the trip, for he was too busy protecting the long line of villagers. Not that they needed protection, as far as Lathwen knew. The first halt of the journey had been late in the evening. Freda had been complaining that she could not sleep in the open air, so Lathwen had pulled her close and together with Éothan they had fallen asleep on the cold ground.

But now… they were already three hours on the road and the King still had not called for a halt. Lathwen began to wonder if they would ever stop. As her father rode past her she smiles up to him and he smiled back to her quickly but then he proceeded to the head of the column with Gamling. He disappeared over a small hill.

It stayed silent for a while and Lathwen looked around her, a small smile appeared on her face as she saw Éowyn talking to the ranger. She had no idea what the conversation was about, but it was clear to Lathwen that Éowyn was enjoying herself. A smile seemed to seem plastered on her face.

'Theodred would be happy to see this…' Lathwen thought and immediately looked away at that thought. Theodred would not be able to see it anymore. He would not know how his niece and nephew would grow up. If they would marry or not.

Suddenly a shout was heard and Lathwen looked to the hill where her father had just disappeared, she saw Gamling and barely could hear what he was shouting.

"Wargs!"

Wargs! No they could not be here now. They were not supposed to be there. Where was her father? Why did he not come back over the hill.

Freda begins to cry in panic and Éothan wrapped his arms around her tightly, but Lathwen did not notice. It felt as if she was frozen to the spot.

"Get the villagers out of here!" Aragorn, the ranger yelled as he mounted his horse.

"All riders to the head of the column!" Théoden King yelled.

Most of the villagers follow Éowyn' lead, who had hesitated for a while, but now was shouting as well, "Make for the lower ground! Stick together!" But Lathwen did not move. She could not.

Where was her father? Why didn't he come back for a moment to say that he would be alright, that she had to be strong? He wasn't coming…

"Lathwen!" it was Éomer who yelled at her, dazed and confused she looked up to him. The third marshal was standing in front of her with his horse next to him.

"Éomer, where is my father?"

"He has to fight now, Lathwen, follow Éowyn, quickly!"

His horse Firefoot reared, but Éomer managed to keep him in line. "Now Lathwen!"

"Bring him back to me, Éomer!"

Lathwen yelled as the third Marshall disappeared over the hill as well, Éomer raising his spear up in the air was her only answer.

Quickly she followed the other women and children to the lower ground, praying to Bema that everybody would survive, but especially her father.

Helms deep March 3rd.

How they ever arrived at Helms Deep was something that Lathwen could not understand. They were all afraid for their husbands, fathers and friends who were fighting the wars behind them. They had to survive. Or else them leaving for Edoras would have been a very stupid thing to do. The King was there, and all others of the royal house, except for Éowyn of course.

Lathwen was standing next to Éowyn helping the people find a place in the caves, but most of them made themselves comfortable outside. In the fortress itself people were sitting against the stone wall.

Freda and Éothan had been reunited with their mother, who was alive. Much to Lathwen' relieve for she had no idea how she should have told the children that they were alone now. That there parents were dead and would never come back. Perhaps that was to become of her as well…

She was not a child anymore, that much should be clear by now, but she did not know if she could bare loosing her father. Lathwen had just lost the love of her life, the thought of loosing another person close to her heart was something that she could not bear.

Éowyn too, was anxious. And Lathwen suspected that it had something to do with the ranger as well, not only because of her family. Yet Éowyn seemed not so much affected by it. She just went on with her duty and had quickly taken over command in the Keep.

"Let's check the food," Éowyn said, placing a hand on Lathwen arm, who nodded and then followed the white lady to the place were the food was stored.

They both had not expected to see so little food.

"Where is the rest?" Éowyn asked, hoping that some more food might saved somewhere else.

A man, who had just carried a basked inside shook his head and said, "This is all we could save my Lady."

"Take it to the caves," Éowyn sounded a bit disappointed but as some soldiers called that the King was returning she and Lathwen quickly made their way to the stairs where they knew that the King would dismount his horse.

They both look over the crowd to see if they could find their loved ones. Lathwen had no idea that Éowyn had fallen in love with the ranger, but right now she was not really concerned over him. Her father, where was he? He usually rode at the head of the column. Then were was he now?

"So few… so few of you have returned," Éowyn said and indeed that was true. Half of the soldiers had been lost on the battle. But Lathwen' father surely had not fallen… had he?"

"Our people are save. We paid for it with many lives," Théoden said, then he turned to help a wounded of his horse, but Lathwen was still searching over the crowd.

"Gamling!" Lathwen cried out as she saw her father' best friend, but the look on his face said enough, she did not have to ask her question. Traces of tears were seen on the great warriors face. He had seen his friend be killed by a warg, and could not bare to say it yet to Háma' only daughter.

Her face turned completely blank and she staggered away from him. "No," she mouthed, but no sound came over her lips. She was staring to Gamling and shaking her head. This could not be happening. Not after Theodred, not another loss. No.

No she could not bear to lose her father as well. This was a dream it all was a dream…

Soon it all appeared to be like a dream as well. Black, everything turned black around her.

Black and Empty.

TBC...

I love reviews...