She took a deep breath and planted her feet ready for the wild man to attack. All she needed to focus on now was to knock the sword out of his hand without getting hurt.

"Come on little woman..." He took a step closer, but before he could lunge at her as he intended, his face twisted in pain and he clutched his hand towards his abdomen as blood oozed out of his clothing, and then finally fell to his feet.

She stepped back in horror only to notice the broad figure behind him.

"Gettin into trouble again eh Princess?" He grunted kicking the man away.

"Dwalin?!" She couldn't believe it! She rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him, grateful for a familiar face after what she had dealt with recently. And then she pulled away to check again, sure that he was not just a hallucination. "But...how did you find me...?"

"Well...it became obvious after I thought about it...and strangely one of the fords to Lorien was flooded - and it's never flooded at this time of year, so given ye have some connection with the lord of the waters, I thought that it was a sign and took the road to Rohan instead..."

She blinked surprised at his thinking. She knew he was a clever strategic warrior, but she had not expected him to have thought about the matter so deeply.

"And I had a little help as I got closer..." He turned back as a another taller figure made his way over in the dark corridor.

Of course - Thorongil!

"So then Thorin knows?" Her first thought now was that he would come and stop her from going home.

"Not unless you wish it, Princess. I am here for you now..." Dwalin spoke solemnly. It was a sorry state, but she had not deserved such cold neglect, as far as he was concerned. So if supporting her would be seen as betraying his best friend and King, then this would be the first time for it!

She remained silent for a moment wondering why Dwalin would say such a thing when Thorongil interrupted her.

"My lady, I shall have to interrupt your warm reunion - for we have a greater issue unfolding in the King's Hall." He revealed. "Where are the little ones? Are they safe? And what are you doing out?"

"They are in the room still. But I heard a baby and a woman - she - was...um...being - " she paused unable to find the words to use. "So I had to help her..."

"A woman and babe...? Do you mean the Princess Theodwyn...And young Prince Eomer?" Thorongil looked towards the door that she pointed at worried.

"She is safe now..." she whispered back now realising who the little baby was! "They are all in our room, and the baby is fortunately fine..."

Dwalin peeped into the room she had pointed at, briefly flinching as he saw the man laying there bloody-faced and then looked at her surprised.

"Ye did this...?" He inquired again still somewhat disbelieving that the bloodied mess of a wildman was at her hands.

It was enough of a question to draw Thorongils attention to look in.

"Not bad, my lady..." Thorongil raised his eyebrows in agreement with the dwarf.

"Alright guys, he WILL live. I am pretty sure that even MY pent up frustration isn't capable of bludgeoning a man to death!" She replied a little irritated and ashamed. Had the man died fighting in battle, she would have felt far more guilty. But the atrocious act that she had found him committing had been nothing short of vile and unnecessary.

"Yes, he will live - looking like an orc for the rest of his life I imagine." Thorongil remarked teasingly. It prompted a wry grin from Dwalin in return.

"Aye, and look Princess...it's nought to be ashamed of...after all Thorin probably gave ye a thorough seeing to every chance he got..and now ye miss that -"

"Not THAT sort of frustration!" She complained, grateful for the darkness that hid the flush on her face. "Now what is the bigger problem...?"

Thorongil looked at her attempting to hide his amusement at the dwarfs comment.

"A small group have captured the King. And many of the Rohirrim are outside fighting them..." He whispered. "Prince Theoden managed to sneak back in with me - when we found a certain dwarf. He stands guarding the corridor a little further ahead..."

"How many in the throne room?"

"Fifteen or twenty at the most." He replied.

"We could take on a few each, no problem lad!" Dwalin snarled. "But it's better if we could use the element of surprise to our advantage..."

Thorongil and Dwalin both looked at her briefly before looking back at each other, as if in silent communication.

And she hated that - because to her it was becoming increasingly clear what they were thinking of! Males of any race had this irritating thing of attempting to silently communicate what they were so obviously thinking.

"You are going to use me as bait right..." She huffed. It didn't matter. She knew this was not optional. "Okay, so what do you need me to do..."

...

She took slow steps, so that she was able to turn back quickly. Step by step she added a stagger, to look as though she was injured.

Thorongil, Dwalin and Theoden had spent a few minutes ruffling her clothes and messing her hair to look as though she had been attacked. Theoden had finally stepped back and after a moment of thinking carefully (and apologising in advance), he had pulled at the neckline of her dress roughly, so that both of her shoulders were well exposed. (And frankly, she had worried her breasts would have spill out any moment!)

In fact, she was surprised to say, the crown Prince of Rohan, seemed to rather enjoy 'dressing' her for the role of being 'bait' far too much!

Taking a few more steps forward she added a soft moan, as though she had been hurt.

A few steps further and it seemed to work as two men appeared from within the Great Hall, where they had captured the King. The men looked carefully at her, surprised to have seen her emerge.

"Bor enjoyed himself too much eh...?" One grumbled to another, as she looked at them terrified for a moment and began to step back.

It was enough to draw them closer.

And after waiting for them to approach her a little closer still, as if she was frozen in terror, she turned and began to run back.

The two men were quick to follow, clearly being on guard.

And just as she ran back a little more, Theoden and Dwalin were quick to dispatch them, springing out of where each hid either side in the corridor.

Thorongil finally picked up a sword and gave it to her.

It was not something she had ever imagined. But she was here now. And if this was the price of her making her way back home safely with her children, then it was the price she would be willing to pay.

Taking a deep breath and grasping her hands around the sword as she had been taught, she looked over at Thorongil, who gave her a nod.

She took a deep breath, filling her lungs and let out a good scream.

Meanwhile, Dwalin and Theoden hid back in their places.

And it wasn't too long before another handful of wildmen and rushed in towards her down the corridor.

This time there were five, so she would need to be ready to engage. She reminded herself that although she was no 'warrior-chick' she had survived this long in middle earth, which was a savage place!

Holding her ground as they ran towards her, she again reminded herself, that she needed to survive for her children.

As they neared her, Dwalin and Theoden were once again quick to pounce, with Thorongil appearing from somewhere just in front of her.

And with vicious precision, all five men were also dispatched before any could reach her.

"Well, that's seven down..." Dwalin muttered wiping his axe clean on one of the dead men. "I like me chances now, what dya say eh lads?"

But Thorongil and Theoden both paused to look back at her. This time their faces were sceptical.

"Ye think ye could muster up the anger that helped ye do that number before, eh Princess...?" Dwalin gave her a grin.

"No. we cannot be sure to protect her if we are all being attacked. One of us must hold back." Theoden stated with firm conviction, glancing over at her again - as far as he was concerned she barely held her sword correctly. "The Rohirrim will take care of those fighting outside. But someone should protect the young - my nephew...in case I do not survive, then he will take the throne when he is old enough..."

"Then it should be ye, Prince Theoden. Ye can protect the Princess as well..." Dwalin was ready for the fight. "And we need more Kings like ya! Let us tackle the bulk of them!"

"Calm your cockles Lord Dwalin... We need a plan - it is better to preserve our element of surprise for as long as we can..." Thorongil peered around the corner of the corridor into the Great Hall. "We must sneak up behind the throne and attack those nearest the King first, take care that they do not strike him..."

"Very well...I will follow yer lead..."

They seemed to crouch low and sneak in around the corner constantly communicating with silent signals, while Theoden stepped a little ahead of her and out of sight.

She strained her ears to hear as the sound of metal clanging began suddenly. There were several scuffles going.

Her heart raced as she worried about how to deal with the any possible attackers coming her way. She would be the only one holding them off from reaching the children!

Suddenly there was silence, apart from a few quiet voices.

And then the sound of footsteps half dragging towards her!

Quickly she spotted a shiny shield and placed it quietly on the opposite side of the corridor. Then she hid herself behind a large pillar.

She could see a large wild man edging backwards, very slowly in the mirrored surface of the shield.

The reflection was not clear and he moved very slowly. So she peeped from behind the pillar for a better look.

He held a knife to the kings neck as they backed away from Thorongil and Theoden. The latter two continued to talk, in an attempt to coax the man into seeing how futile his efforts were - presumably because the other attackers had all now been dealt with.

She was now the only one who could help King Thengel. And she owed him for hosting her as he had done, without prior formal agreement between himself and Thorin. He had welcomed her and her family without question.

But she was not a skilled warrior so she needed to be careful. As her heart beat wildly she placed her hand on her chest for a few seconds to almost calm herself down.

As she thought fast of the few things she could do, a plan came to mind. It would require some firmness...

Silently, she took a step out from behind the pillar, but apparently everyone was too busy to notice.

Gaining a little more confidence for not being spotted, she snuck out a few more steps, until she stood virtually behind the man.

If she let him leave, he would take the King. Alternatively he might take the children if he reached their room.

She knew what she needed to do...

Silently she unsheathed a small dagger that she had picked up earlier and tucked in the belt of her dress. Then she took one last step closer and lifted the sharp tip up to hover over the top of his neck.

Despite everything, it was difficult to bring herself to do what she needed to.

Finally with one last steadying breath, she drove the tip of the dagger into the top of his neck, at the base of his skull.

At first it took him a while to realize what had happened.

But seconds later the knife he held to King Thengel fell onto the floor! The man too went limp and landed on the floor with a thud.

Heart still racing she looked down at her bloody hands in disgust and stepped away. She had not studied medicine to do such awful things, but the only way to ensure the man didn't harm the King was to sever his spinal cord.

Life in middle earth was cruel - particularly away from the relative protection she had been afforded by Thorin in Erebor.

She covered her mouth and stepped away, no longer able to look at the man, who lay gasping.

Thorongil was quick to finish him off, where he lay.

"Och Princess! I've never seen that done before!" Dwalin looked at her shocked.

It was a sentiment that Thorongil shared, albeit silently since he had come to understand the strange way in which she thought even of those he considered the enemy.

"Well I for one am most grateful, my lady," King Thengel bowed his head, even managing a slight smile, as Theoden grasped his father's shoulder glad that he was unharmed.

"We need to check on the children...and Princess Theodwyn..." Her thoughts turned back to them as soon as her head had a moment to recover, and she began to make her way towards their room.

"And where is my wife...?"

She could hear Thengel and Theoden speaking, but she couldn't stay there another moment longer.

Moving over the various corpses that lay in the grand corridor of the royal wing or Edoras, she hurried back to their room.

To her surprise she had found the door was not barricaded as well as she had initially done, and was greeted by a warning from Arun and Thrain as she entered.

The two princes stood with their small swords a few steps away from Lola and Theodwyn who were both huddled in a corner with the sleeping baby and toddler.

"Mama!" The boys sheathed their swords and came over to hug her.

"My beautiful boys." She whispered kissing their heads, and grateful to be back.

"My lady...?" Theodwyn looked up at her worried.

"King Thengel is alive and safe now..." She reassured, glancing over at Lola who nodded, still holding a soundly sleeping Seraeya close.

"My mother..." Theodwyn blinked tearfully, clearly still reliving the memories of her own nightmare.

"The King was looking for her -"

"She hid inside my large wardrobe..." Theodwyn whispered back sadly.

...

She swept up more broken shards of glass and wood along the front steps to Thengels Halls, and stood up to pause.

Even with the debris gone, there were still many blood stains that would need washing. At least the bodies had been quickly cleared, with the fallen Rohirrim being buried that very day, and the dead Dunlendings being burned in a pile at the borders of their land. The plume of black smoke billowed up in the distance from the large pyre, like a horrible creature in the distance.

Lola sat with Seraeya and the twins in a corner of the large covered stone walkway outside the hall. They were happily playing. And again she worried about the journey they were taking.

What if Galadriel could not return them home? Where would they go?

Collecting the swept up bits in a pan she carried them around the corner where they had dug a small fire pit. Some of the wood that now burned within, once part of the buildings emitted some sort of fragrant smell. It strangely reminded her of frankincense although it was certainly not the same.

The Queen stood staring at the flames, lost in some terrible thoughts.

She had no desire to speak to anyone right now, so quietly tipped the debris she had swept up into the fire and turned back.

"Thank you..."

Apparently Morwen was not that lost in her thoughts!

"I have done nothing, your highness - well other than sweep up a few bits and bobs..." She replied.

"No. You saved my daughter and my husband when I didn't have the courage to do anything other than hide," Morwens clearly once beautiful face, in the cold light of day looked worn out. Her pale blue eyes and pale complexion looked washed out. "I could not even protect my own daughter and I hid, even while I could hear him..."

Shobha sighed. She always thought of Morwen as a bit of a hardened battle-axe sort. And seeing her so defeated and frankly pathetic like this felt sad. And yet she found it hard to understand someone who could not find the courage to protect her own daughter.

"Most people don't know how they will behave under such terrible circumstances until they are there in that very moment. You could plan for it all your life and then freeze when you get there..." She felt a little pity for the woman. Morwen needed no one else's contempt, for surely she would have heard her own daughters plight, while she hid in her wardrobe - particularly if Shobha heard it from a nearby room! "Even the bravest warriors find some battles too much..."

"And yet you did not. You had your own children to protect but you still found it in yourself to help mine." Morwen glanced over at her, still avoiding eye contact entirely. "Even though it risked your life..."

"I suppose I felt my actions were to protect my children, ultimately. Or perhaps I felt I had no choice. I am not sure what drove me..." Shobha shrugged glancing at the Queen. "Besides, your highness, I am not certain I have helped Prince Theoden...but rather that he helped me!"

"Actually, after this, my husband came to a realisation that it is time for our son to begin his ascension to the throne. A gentle gain of power, rather than for him to inherit the throne when his father dies suddenly... For we fear this feud with the Dunlendings is far from over."

They both fell silent as each woman contemplated the futures of their own families.

"I once worried that, perhaps you had secretly left your husband. My own son has spent many hours recounting the tale of how you journeyed with the crown prince, hunted by orcs, facing the elves, and even slaying the dragon. And he had done so with so much admiration... But I now see that you fell in love with one, who is now largely changed. He is no longer the one who travelled freely with you before he was King. Now he is a ruler, he is different. And so is your life. I understand that all too well..." The Queen finally looked at her, with sorrowful pale blue eyes. "But I can see that you believe this journey you are making is necessary for your children and not just yourself...or you would allow such risk. And that is why Lord Thorongil and the dwarf warrior both offer their swords to protect you..."

Shobha listened silently. It was her turn not to make eye contact with Morwen and to stop herself from crying. Her decision to leave Thorin had been utterly soul-destroying. She had lost another part of her. But she could no longer live like that. Their connection had been reduced to minimal communication and sex. He didn't even feel he could take her word on an important matter.

"So...while a few days ago I was growing restless to send word to the King or Erebor myself about your stay...now I think I finally understand. And IF you do bear such a secret, then I give you my word that you no longer need to fear that I may reveal it...even to your King..."

They both stood there side by side now, watching the flames flicker as they consumed the new lot of splintered wood that had just been thrown on.

It was then that she realized, Morwen too was trapped and unlike Shobha she had chosen to stay.

For Shobha this was increasingly less of an option, for had she remained, there was a good possibility that Aida would have had her killed. And then what would have happened to her children...?

No, for Shobha, this journey was now essential. And their stay in Edoras had now come to an end thanks to the raid.

Their journey to Lorien and then back home was now more important than ever.

...

Dear all

thank you for continuing to follow this.

TikiKiki - thank you so much, so glad you are enjoying it :) hope to keep posting short chapters but more often. Hope you enjoy this one too :)