A/N: new chappie! enjoy!


Chapter 8: A Rescue

Isolde sniffled, not bothering to hide her tears as she trailed behind an Orc mounted on his Warg, the rope binding her hands tied to the saddle. She stumbled behind it, sobbing in terror and panic before glancing around at the Orcs surrounding her as well. One of them grinned, nastily before reaching for her and she screamed as she ducked him, stumbling and losing her footing to land in the mud, making them all give throaty laughs.

She didn't move for a moment as she let out a sob then cried out when she was lifted up to her feet by her bound hands. The exceptionally large Orc who'd gripping her wrists hung her above the ground, making her kick and flail to be released as she screamed. They all laughed heartily at her as she felt fresh tears roll over her cheeks, still running in the air.

"Enough!"

Isolde gasped in disbelief as she froze, still hanging in the air as the group of Orcs divided to reveal a tall man with auburn hair and brown eyes.

"Please!" she called, desperately as she began running in the air again. "Help me!"

"You've brought the wrong one!" the man barked at the Orcs, making her frown wide eyes at him in shock and confusion as he approached and the Orc set her down, staring at the man. "How hard is it? How many blonde women reside in Edoras—?"

He cut himself off when he finally took a good look at Isolde. She was a shuddering, muddy, sobbing mess, and he wasn't surprised now that the Orcs mistook her for their intended target.

"What's your name, pretty?" he questioned, the Orcs around them gazing on, indifferently.

She swallowed, not answering for a good minute before shuddering, "I-Isolde. I am Lady Eowyn's handmaiden."

The man smirked before giving an understanding nod, then reaching for her, but she pulled back, instinctively. He caught her gaze and smiled, reaching for her again and this time she only pulled back a bit before he gripped her bound wrists and began untying the rope around them.

"My name is Harko," he murmured, making her stare up at him with a frown. "I'm sorry you've been dragged into this…literally. We'll leave you here and you can make your way back to Edoras."

"W-What?" she breathed, looking around as the man walked away, the Orcs following him. "But…I don't know this land! How will I make my way back?"

"I'm sure you're not just a pretty face," Harko smirked as he mounted a horse not too far away. "There must be some intelligence under those gorgeous blonde curls."

"Wait!" she called, almost running after him as he and the Orcs rode off in what seemed like a random direction to her, stopping when she didn't want to become even more lost. "Please! At least leave a horse for me! Wait!"

Fresh tears pricked her eyes as she watched them ride off, then hugged herself against the cold wind that blew through the countryside. She sobbed as she tried to look around the land through tears, then looked to the tracks left in the ground by the group and retraced them.

She wiped her tears away harshly, so afraid she wasn't sure she could keep walking, but she had to. She had to find her way back so that Eomer knew she was alright. That she hadn't been hurt, just taken by mistake. She found herself wondering who it was she could've been mistaken for, then suddenly realized that the only other blonde woman of importance in Edoras was her lady and the sister of the King of Rohan. Eowyn.

With new determination she began running along the tracked trail, her eyes darting around the countryside for a sign of someone…anyone. Not watching where her feet fell, she cried out in pain, falling forward when a large rock tripped her. She caught herself enough so that her face didn't hit the ground and shuffled to stand, but cried out again when her ankle flared in pain. She began sobbing again as she looked around again, hoping someone she knew would ride toward her and save her.

As if on cue, she heard hoof beats and ceased crying with a gasp as she shot her gaze around the field she found herself in. Looking behind her, she saw five riders heading toward her, but couldn't tell who they were through her tears. She stayed still until she heard a call from a familiar voice fall on a gust of wind.

"Isolde!" Eomer called, his horse at a gallop as he rode toward her. She tried standing but her ankle gave way beneath her again and she fell. A moment later Eomer was a few feet away from her, throwing himself off of his horse and hurrying toward her to slide to a kneel next to her. She wasted no time in throwing her arms around him and he hugged her close with a heavy sigh. "Are you alright, Isolde?"

"Yes," she shuddered as they pulled away slightly and she gestured to her ankle. "I tripped and hurt my ankle. They left me here when they realized I wasn't who they were looking for."

"Where did they go?" was his first question and she gestured in the direction she saw them leave. Eomer waved the four men with him in that direction, ordering, "Leave none alive!"

"Eomer, there was a man with them," Isolde hurriedly informed him, making him frown at her in disbelief. "It seemed he was leading them. He said they mistook me for someone, and I am sure he meant to kidnap Lady Eowyn!"

Eomer's eyes widened before he turned his head toward his horse, whistling at it to approach. The animal trotted toward them as Eomer lifted Isolde in his arms and sat her sideways on the saddle first before mounting behind her. He wrapped his arms around her to take the reins and pulled the horse back toward Edoras.

"Until this band is caught or killed, I shall have guards posted for you and for Eowyn," he assured her. "Did he tell you anything, this man that led them?"

"He only asked my name," she replied, her arms around him as he rode back to the hall. "And told me his name was Harko."

Eomer's grip on the reins tightened as she looked up at him in wonder when he silently seethed.

"Do you know him, my lord?" she wondered murmured.

"Yes," Eomer hissed. "He was one of my trusted Generals of the Rohirrim long ago until he betrayed us."

"May I ask how, my lord?" she whispered and he looked down at her, a warm smile spreading over his lips as he moved a mud-caked curl from her face as his smile slowly fell and he gave a sigh.

"In time of war, he betrayed us to the enemy for a sack of gold," he replied, making Isolde's eyes widen. "He was tried with treason, and banished from Rohan. No doubt he would kidnap my sister for a ransom, or to lure me out to kill me."

He frowned when she buried her face into his chest, hugging him closer and his frown deepened when he felt her begin to tremble.

"Isolde?" he murmured, lifting a hand to wrap it around her shoulders. "Why do you tremble? You're safe now. They cannot hurt you, and they never will again."

"I shudder to think what might have happened to Lady Eowyn if they'd found her there instead of me," she shuddered before looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "Or what might have happened to you, Eomer."

At that, he brought his horse to a gentle stop, still staring down at her and without a word he pressed his lips to hers, making her give a squeak of surprise before she let out a moan of approval that surprised both of them. His kiss was soft and coaxing to have her kiss him in return, which she gladly did. His tongue slipped between her lips, making her moan again as he wrapped both arms around her to pull her closer, deepening the kiss a little more. He pulled away slowly, his teeth gently grasping her lower lip as she did and she moaned.

"Forgive me, little one," he whispered. "I'm so happy you're unharmed and hearing your concern for my and my sister was the last straw. I had to show my appreciation."

"You need not apologize, my lord," she murmured as he tapped his horse to walk on. "And…I have something I wish to speak to you about when we return to Edoras."

"Tell me now," he replied. "We have the time. Besides, if you do not tell me I shall be anxious the entire way back and try to guess what it is you wish to say."

"My lord, I would much rather discuss it when I am in a better state," she smiled, slightly as she glanced down at herself.

"My dear girl, you could be in rags and covered in mud from head to toe and I would not care," Eomer smirked. "But, if you wish to refresh yourself, I will try to be patient. Perhaps we should gallop back to take time off our journey?"

"I rather enjoy this," Isolde murmured, hoping he wouldn't hear her when she lowered her head to say it, but he did and his smirk widened.

"Then again, with my men after the raiding party, I think we can spare some time for a quiet ride," he recanted. "Edoras is not so far away."

Isolde gave a smile before snuggling against him and he straightened, feeling his heart skip a beat. She'd never been so readily affectionate, and he found himself smiling as he pulled her closer with one arm, snuggling his cheek against her forehead as her head rested on his shoulder.

"You should rest after you wash up as well," he suggested through a content sigh. "I can wait until you are fully refreshed for you to speak to me."

"Very well, my lord," she sighed as well, he eyes closed as she began to doze.

Eomer smiled, hugging her closer and hoping their discussion would be about her decision to either stay with him, or go back to Gondor with his sister.


Edoras...

"Brother!" Eowyn called, hurrying toward him as he rode into the gates. "Is Isolde alright?"

"She is well, sister," Eomer nodded as Isolde looked to her lady with a smile and lowering a hand to let Eowyn grasp it when they stopped beside each other.

"I was so worried for you!" she breathed, gripping Isolde's hand in both of hers. "You look a mess! We must get you into a bath!" She glanced behind Eomer then looked to him with a frown to ask, "Why have your men not returned with you?"

"Isolde was left by the Orcs," he replied as a man came to take the reins of his horse and Eomer carefully dismounted with Isolde in his arms, carrying her bridal style as Eowyn followed them toward the steps leading into the fortress. "I sent them after the raiding party. Apparently the Orcs mistook your handmaiden for you, dear sister. Harko is the one leading them."

Eowyn's eyes widened in terror and she nearly stumbled as she walked next to them, but Eomer continued.

"What news of the killed and injured?" he asked her as he began up the steps.

"There…There were many injured, brother," she reported. "Mostly from the fires the Orcs set, but none have been killed."

"And Aladon?" Eomer questioned, making Isolde look to Eowyn hopefully.

"It's a miracle, but he has survived," Eowyn smiled with a nod of reassurance to the handmaiden who smiled. "After the Warg atop him was moved, we found he only had broken ribs, as well as one of his legs."

"That's good," Isolde sighed in relief. "He is a good man. I shall visit him soon."

"You will wash up and rest," Eomer ordered gently, drawing her attention to him. "He must rest as well."

"As you will, my lord," she nodded as they turned to head down the hall and Eowyn opened Isolde's chamber door to let them in.

"Eowyn, can you have one of the servants bring in the bath for Isolde and help her?" he hoped, sitting Isolde in the chair by the fireplace. "Her ankle is sprained."

Eowyn only nodded before heading out of the room and Eomer knelt in front of Isolde to take her hands, setting them in her lap and looking up at her, their gazes locking.

"Are you cold?" he asked. "Hungry? Thirsty? You must be. Tell me, Isolde. I will get anything you need. Al I need is your word."

"Forgive me, my lord, but may I be allowed to give you my word?" she smiled, slightly. "It is difficult to answer so many questions at one time."

"Of course," he breathed. "Forgive me, little one, but when Aladon told me you'd been taken…I was so worried."

He moved closer to hug her close and she slid her arms around his neck, leaning forward in the chair. They pulled away to look into each other's eyes again before he leaned up to press his lips to hers for a tender kiss before quickly moving away.

"As much as I wish to stay, I have things to tend to," he sighed. "Tell me what you desire and I shall have it done. Would you like some food sent up?"

"No, thank you, Eomer," she replied, quietly. "I only wish to wash this mud off of me. I'll not delay you any longer."

"Very well, my sweet," he murmured as he stood, still holding her hands as he smiled down at her before leaning enough to press a kiss to her temple and spoke against her skin. "Even covered in mud, you are beautiful."

Isolde felt her face flare before he straightened again, stroking a curl from her face.

"I shall return later," he assured her, making her swallow and nod before he headed toward the door, nearly passing Eowyn as she returned. He gently gripped her arm to pull her outside the room again, making her frown in wonder at him before he pulled her close to whisper, "I know you will, but I feel the need to say it. Take care of her, sister."

"If you wish, I can see to the things that need doing," she offered.

"No, I must see to it myself," Eomer replied. "I am sure Isolde does not want me hovering over her for now. She will need a friend."

"What of Harko?" Eowyn wondered. "Will your men know they must bring him to you?"

"They will know," he nodded, solemnly. "I shall decide his fate when he is brought before me, and believe me, it will not be a light sentence."

"I should hope not," Eowyn nodded, moving toward the room. "I shall tend to Isolde."

Eomer watched her disappear into the room before turning and heading back down the hall. He would have loved to hover over her at this point, even though he knew she would feel like she was being fussed over, he didn't care. He vowed then and there, whether she was his wife or not, as long as she was here in Rohan, nothing like this would ever happen to her again.


A/N: reviews?