The ride to Edoras was a quiet one for the four companions. The Hobbits were switched to their position in front of Suladân and Braelorn. None of them talked, even though the Rohirrim around them were exuberant, almost jolly by comparison. Suladân felt guilty for not noticing Braelorn and Telk's plight when Geld had gone down. He made a solemn promise to never get so caught up in battle again.

As a short-term measure, Suladân bound the wound in his left shoulder with strips torn from the bottom of his traveling cloak. He hoped it would be enough for now. Braelorn's chest and back were covered with bruises. While his armor had protected him from flesh wounds, the impacts still made small movements twinge painfully. He kept his back erect and kept himself going with the thought of a warm, soft bed waiting for him.

At first, Telk had been shaken by how close he had come to death. He'd never felt so helpless and small as when he had been standing on his own, awash in a sea of Orcs. Now, he was completely over his fear, and was trying to tell Braelorn of how much he had enjoyed the experience and couldn't wait for the next battle, but the Knight was too focused on moving as little as possible.

Cina's mind constantly wandered back to the images of rabbling Orcs all about her, the bursts of blood as Suladân plunged his spear again and again into their flesh. The panic she had felt when Suladân had been smote in the shoulder. She hoped to never experience another battle again.

While all of the companions were absorbed in their own thoughts, the ride went quickly. The city soon came into sight, but the companions were too tired and battle weary to appreciate the city's homely beauty. They rode through the open gates, stabled their horses, and settled in to rest for the remainder of the night in the lodging provided by Éomer.


Suladân woke up first the next day, and moved out into the city, seeking some form of aid for his injured shoulder. He received directions from one of the city guard, and headed off to the local healer, who had just set up after the battle. As he walked, he could see people coming into Edoras, peasants that had been evacuated to Helm's Deep, but were now permitted to return to their homes.

The rest of the companions woke at irregular intervals. Cina was first, but she remained in the room provided by Éomer for the companions, looking out a window for Suladân. Then Telk awoke. Within a matter of minutes, he was marching about the room, reenacting the battle, using a wooden spoon as a sword. Then, Braelorn awoke with a moan. The bruises still hurt when he moved.

Braelorn watched Telk bandy about, and saw that he was imitating Braelorn's role. He laughed aloud as Telk gave a spectacular imitation of Braelorn rolling end-over-end when he was unhorsed. Telk looked up at Braelorn, and Cina glanced briefly from her vigil. Braelorn sat up with a groan, thinking, A cold bath would be good right about now.

"I'm going to go out for a while. Stay here until either myself or Suladân return." he ordered the children, whom both gave their assent. Braelorn set out wearing only his knight's surcoat, his breeches, and his riding boots. He wandered about, looking for some place to get a bath, but then he was reminded of the horse he rode into Edoras. It wasn't his, and he should seek out the owner. He headed first for the stables where he left the chestnut mare.


He was surprised to find a woman waiting there. He stopped and couldn't help but stare. She had long, silver blond hair that reached to her upper back. She had a slim, elegant build, like the kind he had only heard of Elves possessing. She wore a white blouse with a rich green waistcoat over it. Braelorn was surprised to see a woman wearing a pair of brown trousers and knee-high riding boots. Braelorn stared in awe, watching her brush the chestnut mare's mane.

"You'll catch flies, with a mouth that wide-open." the woman commented. Braelorn jumped, not aware that she had known he had been standing there. He closed his mouth quickly with a clomp that brought a smile to the woman's face.

"I'm sorry, it's just I came to check on the horse-" Braelorn began to explain, but the woman cut him off.

"Her name is With." she corrected idly, not looking away from her work.

"Oh, right, well. During the battle at Helm's Deep, my horse was killed, and well...I jumped on the first horse I saw that was unowned. I was protecting a child at the time, and I wanted to be in the safest place possible.

"A child? In a battle...that wasn't very wise. It-" the woman started to reprimand Braelorn, but he cut her off.

"Telk. His name is Telk." he corrected with a small smile.

"I see...Telk should've been with the women and children in the caverns." the woman stated, an edge creeping into her voice.

"I take it you were with them, in the caverns?" Braelorn inquired.

"Yes, and it took two soldiers and a locked door to bring me down there and keep me down there." she said, her hand balling into a fist, still tangled in With's mane. "Still, protecting a child in the midst of battle. A truly Knightly act."

Braelorn opened his mouth to ask her why she knew he was a Knight, but the woman cut him off yet again. "Only a Knight would gallivant about protecting children in the midst of battle when his own life is at stake. Also, the silver filigree on your surcoat didn't help either." Braelorn looked down at himself with a nervous smile.

"You do seem to know a lot about Gondorian Knights, for a woman." Braelorn could tell rather quickly that he made a mistake, as the woman turned on him, quick as blink, with a dagger in her hand, holding it up to his throat threateningly.

"And what makes you think that that kind of knowledge is unfit for a woman?" she stared at Braelorn for a few moments, then she added, "My names is Erianne, thank you for bringing my father's horse back." she kissed the Knight's broad cheek briefly, before walking off, sheathing the dagger in her belt.

Braelorn watched her leave, a bewildered expression on his face. "I think I'm in love..." he murmured under his breath.


Braelorn wandered back to their lodgings, the bewildered expression still on his face. He walked in and sat in a chair, not responding to Telk's immediate questioning. Moments later, Suladân entered, his exposed left shoulder bandaged. "What's wrong with Braelorn?" he questioned casually, noting his blank expression and his apparent detachment from the world around him.

"I don't know, he hasn't said anything for as long as he's been here." Telk reported, staring up at Braelorn, prodding him in the knee once or twice, but getting no response. The companions all settled down, either sitting in silence, watching others sit in silence, gazing out a window, or pouring over Braelorn's map of Rohan and Gondor.

Suladân looked up from Braelorn's map as a knock came at the door. It was Éomer, leader of the Rohirrim. Éomer directed a nod at Suladân, whom returned it. Their earlier squabble was settled. "I came to apologize for my earlier distrust. You fought well in the battle, and there is no longer any doubt in my mind."

Suladân nodded in response and was about to return to studying the Northern edge of Braelorn's map, when Éomer added, "There is to be a celebration later in the night. You are all invited." then he left without another word, and the room returned to silence once again.

Braelorn seemed to come back to them just as Éomer left. "Are we going or not?" he inquired, causing his companions to jump at the unexpected noise.

"Well, I'm not. I don't feel like dealing with a bunch of drunk foreigners." Suladân remarked, still scanning the Northern edge of Braelorn's map for some sign of Lothlorien, but the map stopped in the midst of Fangorn Forest.

"Are you going Braelorn?" Telk inquired, grinning ear-to-ear.

"Of course, I'm hardly one to miss out on high spririts!" the Knight cried, jumping to his feet and lifting Telk up with him. He made towards the door, tucking Telk under his arm, the child screaming in delight the entire time. As he passed her, Braelorn inquired of Cina, "Are you coming?" the child shook her head, not taking her gaze from the world outside.

With a shrug, Braelorn set off from the room, following the crowds of people outside filtering uptown to the Hall of Meduseld.


After a few minutes of silence, Suladân said aloud, directed at Cina, "I know you feel guilty about lying to me and Braelorn. And I understand why you didn't want to be left behind. I was alone for much of my youth. If you wanted to stay with Braelorn and me, all you need to do is ask." During this entire speech, Suladân didn't look up from the map.

When he did, he was surprised to see Cina running at him. He fell onto his back in surprise, and soon the small child had her arms around Suladân's neck with a vice-like grip. Suladân was completely surprised by the gesture and patted the child on the back akwardly until she let go. "I'm sorry for surprising you, Sue, but I was just so happy you weren't angry at me." Cina admitted, a wide smile on her face.

"It's quite alright." Suladân consoled, returning the smile.

"I think I'll join Braelorn and Telk." Cina stated, rushing off and into the street.

Shaking his head at the child's foolishness, Suladân rolled up Braelorn's map and returned it to his pack . Looking about the empty room, Suladân decided there couldn't be much harm with going to the celebration, for a little while at least.