Disclaimer: You've heard it before and know that I don't own the LotR characters. I'm just reminding myself that I don't.

Things Worth Fighting For

Chapter 2

They were too late.

It was clear from the second they reached the first village. Even in the dark they could see it all so clearly.

The houses were burned. Blood was everywhere. Bodies of men, women and children were lying all around the houses, some inside, many nothing more than burned flesh. Many horses had also been slaughtered, others had escaped but that was not many.

Éomer stared at the scene before him, and it was as if time had stopped and he had no choice but to look at the bodies before him, the ruined homes and all the destruction.

He turned at his men. "Look for survivors! And bury the dead!" Then he turned his gaze at the sight before him. He swore that these enemies of the Mark would pay for what they had done.

Dol Amroth.

It was a good morning, Imrahil thought. Nothing was wrong and most of the palace was still asleep.

Since it was still early and quiet, the prince enjoyed an early breakfast in his study. Later he would have a meeting with his councillors about Lothíriel's marriage to Lord Talon. Imrahil reminded himself that he had to send a letter to Lord Mardun, Talon's father, and arrange a meeting for them so they could discuss the formalities about this wedding.

Elphir had not exactly been thrilled that Imrahil had arranged Lothíriel's marriage. He meant his sister was too young to be wed now, and that she at least should be allowed to have something to say about all this.

Erchirion had reacted about the same way as Elphir. He too meant she was too young. But Erchirion would rather see his sister not married to anyone. He was far too protective of her. They all were.

Amrothos had reacted with most temper, telling their father that he should allow it be Liriel's own choice if she married or not.

Imrahil had told all of them that this was best for Lothíriel. One of the arguments he had used was what if they all died in the war? What would become of their sister then? At least now she would not be alone when she married Talon, since he wasn't a soldier and would defend Dol Amroth against the enemy rather than travel to Minas Tirith or east to Mordor and fight the Dark Lord. That was something he had agreed with Talon when he signed the contract.

Imrahil was lost in his own thoughts when the door burst open and the three princes of Dol Amroth hurried inside Imrahil's study.

"See what you have made her do now!" Amrothos shouted.

"How could you, Ada?" Erchirion asked.

Imrahil looked puzzled at his sons. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

Without a word Elphir stepped forth and gave him a letter. Imrahil read hastily through it, his face darkened. He dropped the letter to the floor and looked at his sons. "When did you..?"

"We found out only a few minutes ago," Elphir said. "I have sent out people, but I fear we are too late."

"It is your fault!" Erchirion said angrily.

Amrothos agreed. "Had you not forgotten who she is... how she used to be... this never would have happened."

Imrahil could hear his voice but not his words. All he could think was that his daughter was gone.

The night before...

Lothíriel had not gone to this place for months. She actually hated this place, but tonight she could not find answers anyplace else.

She looked at the white stone before her. The head of a swan was carved in the stone, and under the swan was some Elvish letters.

Liriel felt a tear travel down her chin, followed by several others before she wiped them away. "I miss you so much... I wish you were here. Im baur lle." Tears came and she could do nothing to stop them. She had not been here since the funeral. She could never bring herself to come.

"Im car ú-ista man an car, Naneth,"Lothíriel whispered. Things had been so different since Princess Irinya, wife of Prince Imrahil, died.

Irinya had been loved by her husband, her children and her people. Lothíriel was not the only one to think that she had died too early, but no one needed Irinya more than the princess. The one that perhaps missed Irinya more than Liriel was Imrahil.

But Lothíriel did not know that. All she knew was that after her mother's death three months earlier, her father had not been the same as when she lived.Lothíriel had not been the same.

Lothírielwiped the tears from her face. "I am so sorry, Naneth... I have not been behaving as I should... I know I am not a common person... I know I am a princess and that I have responsibilities I have cared nothing about lately. Perhaps that is why this has happened..." she took a deep breath. "Ada has arranged a marriage for me. And I don't know what to do." She wished that somehow her mother would provide her with an answer, as she had done whenLothíriel had been troubled in the past. She knew deep inside that she would never hear the answer her mother would give her if she were alive.

But then again, if Irinya had been alive, Imrahil would probably never get this idea that it would be good for Lothíriel to marry.

"Lothíriel." Sheturned around to see Valinea standing behind her.

"This is the first time I have been here, Val..."Lothíriel whispered while she wiped away her tears. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to know what bothers you," Val answered. "Liriel, I cannot give you advice as your mother used to do. I cannot even tell you what I think you should do. All I can is to support whatever decision you make."

"Hannon lle, Val," Lothíriel said. She stood up. "I know what to do now."

Less than an hour later she was in the stables. Val had been waiting for her. Lothíriel was not dressed in a gown, but trousers and a shirt under a dark-blue cloak that had belonged to her mother.

Val was holding Lothíriel's horse. He was tall and white, and in his saddle were a sword and some knives.

"I am sorry we have not been riding much lately, Thalion,"Lothíriel said and stroke the horse over his forehead. She had stopped riding when her mother had died, something she felt very bad for.

Val handed her a cloth with some food in, whichLothíriel put in her saddle. She turned at Val. "I will miss you, Valinea."

"I will miss you too, princess," Val said and they embraced each other. "Uuma ma' ten' rashwe, ta tuluva a' lle."

"Tenna' ento lye omenta."Lothíriel said and mounted Thalion. "I have written a letter to Ada. It is in my room." And with that she rode out of the city of Dol Amroth, leaving the life she knew and her family and friends.

The work in the village took most of the morning. They found three women, five children and one man that were still alive. Two of the children, a boy and a girl, were hurt so bad that they did not expect them to survive. One of the women was pregnant, but lost her child. The man died shortly after they had found him.

"Take them back to Aldburg," Éomer ordered four of his men. "The rest of us will hunt the Orcs and kill them."

The éored mounted and left in the direction the tracks of the Orcs lead. The Orcs had left hours ago and they knew it would be hard to catch up with them.

Hours later they came across a camp.

"They were here not too long ago," One of the riders said. Éomer nodded.

"They cannot be far ahead," Éothain said. He looked at Éomer. "We can still catch them."

Éomer nodded. They rode away from the others. "Where do you think they are headed?"

"It seems like they're heading north," Éothain said.

Éomer nodded. "But at some point they will turn west."

"Why do you think that?" Éothain asked. "Why not turn east where the other scum will be waiting?"

Éomer had never voiced his suspicions to anyone except his cousin. They both thought something suspicious was happening in the west. They were attacked from west as much as east. "Have you noticed the number of Orcs attacking us from the west?" The other man nodded. "Don't you find it hard to believe the enemy have sent Orcs north of Rohan to attack in the Westmark?"

"Yes, but it is not impossible," Éothain said.

"No, but I do not think he would bother to send his scum first across the Riddermark just to attack from west," Éomer said.

"Where do you think they are from then?" Éothain asked.

Éomer didn't answer him, but looked at the rest of the men, waiting for them. "Let's ride."

'Ada.

When you read this I will be gone. I am sorry if this pains you, Ada, but this is something I must do. I am sorry that the last time you saw me I was angry at you. Tell my brothers I will miss them and say the same to Mariel, Alphros and especially Valinea. I love all of you. I am sorry I cannot tell you this face to face.

Aa' isul nora lanne' lle. Lothíriel.'

Imrahil read through the letter again. He had let her get away with much after her mother died. He had been so full of grief that he had let her get away with her behaviour, no matter how improper it had been.

Perhaps she reminded him so much of Irinya that he hardly managed to deny her anything. She looked exactly like his wife, but at some point, he had decided she would have to grow up, so he had arranged her marriage.

Now he wished he had asked her first.

Talon entered Imrahil's study. "Prince Elphir told me you wanted to see me, my lord."

Imrahil nodded. "Yes, Talon, come in." Talon did so and took a seat. "I am sorry about my daughter..."

"We will find her, my lord," Talon said. "As little time as I have spent in her company, I have become fond of her. She is still bound by the marriage contract."

Imrahil nodded. "That is if you will be willing to wed her if she returns."

"I told you, my lord, I have come to like her very much. One day it will perhaps be love between us. For now we must be concerned about getting her back." Imrahil nodded and Talon smiled and left. Once outside the study of Prince Imrahil, Talon smiled. This was perhaps not going as planned, but even if he had to use longer time on this, he would win. No matter what he had to do.

The Rohirrim found the Orcs they had been hunting. They were taking a short break on the plains.

The Rohirrim charged. Éomer had ordered his men to surround them, and they were now attacking from all around the confused Orcs. Many were killed before they understood what happened.

The Rohirrim were warriors, they had trained on killing Orcs since they were boys. And they were highly experienced in cutting Orcs open, cutting their heads off or send their spears through them.

This battle did not last long, since the Orcs were no more than 60. Éomer turned at his men. "We return to Aldburg!"

Translations:

Im baur lle – I need you
Im car ú-ista man an car, Naneth – I do not know what to do, mother
Hannon lle, Val – Thank you, Val
Uuma ma' ten' rashwe, ta tuluva a' lle – Don't look for trouble, it will come to you
Tenna' ento lye omenta – Until next we meet
Aa' isul nora lanne' lle – May the wind fill your sails

Author's note: This ended up a little longer than planned, but I have always been unable to stop while I'm writing down my crazy ideas.

Well, my laptop is working again, so I won't be in such a hurry with the next chapter when I am home next week. Hopefully I will have a chapter ready when I get home.

So, I won't bore you any further with uninteresting details, but please review!