Eomer leads his men to a spot where the village couldn't be seen. Turning he looks at his men. "I want you 10 men to take your horses and make a perimeter circle around the village, not close enough to be spotted right away, but close enough to catch any that try to escape. The rest will follow me. Quietly now. I want to ambush them, not have that happen to us." He dismounts and ties the reigns of his horse to a tree, like all the others. Then he leads Gandalf, Faramir, and the others down towards the village, his sword drawn and ready.

Faramir nods to Eomer and pulls his bow off his shoulder, pulling an arrow from his quiver and drawing it to a ready point. He then follows after Eomer and the others, silently. It is his arrow that takes down the first wild man that runs at them. When the battle begins he uses each of his arrows quickly and with deadly accuracy. Dropping his bow in a safe place he pulls out his sword and starts to cut down any enemy that comes at him. The battle is fierce and more than a few of their men are slain, and even more are injured. It takes hours before all of the enemies are killed or on the run. Even though they had a perimeter set up around the village, a few Orcs and wild men escape.

Finally, he pulls his sword from the stomach of one of the wild men and moves over to the porch of one of the houses, sitting down on it and holding his arm where it was cut by one of the enemies. He pulls off his shirt, revealing the bandages that covered his torso. He looks up as a shadow crosses his line of vision. He takes the offered bandages from Eomer and goes about changing his own bandages. He looks up as the rain starts, it had been threatening to since that morning. He quickly pulls his shirt and leather armor back on and gets up. He uses a piece of clothing from one of the dead Orcs to clean the blood and grime off his sword. Putting it back into it's sheath he turns and starts looking for his arrows, intending on taking them back as he always did if he had the chance. He picks up his bow again and slings it over his shoulder before he starts to help the others move the bodies out of the village and into a pile where they could burn them.

She has a long time to think about everything that had happened that morning, from the Orcs to Faramir's very casual kiss that morning. He had snuck into her tent, past her brother sleeping in front, and kissed her as if he were just saying good morning. It wasn't that she didn't like the kiss, even now the memory of it brought a tint of red to her cheeks, it was that he treated it like it was nothing. And it wasn't even a proper kiss either. Their first kiss had been nice, sweet, tender, but short. Far too short for her way of mind. It had definitely left her wanting more. Even now, as she rode, alone at the front of the line, alert for anything that may show, she could think of nothing more then his lips, soft against hers. She wanted more, much more. She wanted his arms around her, his body pressed to hers. Then suddenly her thoughts are interrupted by what he was doing. He had gone with her brother to fight Orcs and wild men, a fight she could have helped a lot with. But instead they had sent her on her way, as if she were the handmaiden. Yes, Eomer had sent his four best men with her, but was it to help her or because he felt she needed the protection? In the hours that followed, her mind goes over every aspect of it. From the fact that Faramir was the one that suggested she was too weak to fight, to the simple fact her brother had affirmed that suggestion. It is those thoughts that cause the storm on her face, and cement the frown in place, a frown that even the sweet hobbits couldn't get off of her with their jokes as they pull into Helm's Deep. The only thing that eventually takes it away was a look from Dolwern, a smile that shone in confidence, somehow seeming to pump up her own feelings about the situation. So when he comes over to help her unpack her horse at Helm's Deep for lunch, she gladly lets him, even agreeing to have lunch with the men. She would let him help her forget her worries for awhile. Maybe it is what she needed. That way when she saw her brother and Lord Faramir again, she would be a little less upset with the world.

It takes an hour to get the pile of bodies piled up, then it takes another half an hour to find Eomer's men that were dead and to wrap them in their cloaks. Then comes the task of burying them in graves outside the village. It takes another two or three hours to do that. Finally though they are finished and ready to leave. He nods as Eomer calls out for them to follow him and he taps his heel against his horses side to get him moving. Once on their way he finally relaxes, wincing at the pain in his body. He probably should have gone along with Eowyn. He wasn't completely healed yet. And the rain wasn't helping. He pulls his cloak around himself more, shivering a little.

She had decided to make camp at Helm's Deep. The rain had come on so fast and hard that they hadn't seen it coming. She didn't want anything to happen to the poor hobbits, and it was dry in Helm's Deep, so she starts instructing everyone on breaking camp. They had already passed the road that was the one that would merge from the place her brother and Faramir were. So she knew that when they were done fighting, they would have to pass by Helm's Deep. She wasn't afraid they had already passed because of the location the men had gone. They had basically had to take the long way around. So she knew there was no way they could have fought and made it past this place ahead of them.

It didn't take too long to get unpacked, and bedding set up in some of the rooms, as well as getting the horses fed and watered. All that gave her something to occupy her mind with. Yet still she would find hers at a window looking out far off to the north to see if she could see them. She wasn't sure which she wanted to see more. She tells herself she doesn't want to see either of them, but she still keeps finding her eyes drawn to the window. Soon she gives up, having skipped lunch because she couldn't think with them missing, and just sat at the window, the rain coming through it and getting her wet. She was worried, very worried. But none so much as Dolwern. He had been hovering over her for over an hour when he finally gets blankets and wraps them around her shoulders, pulling them tight to keep most the rain off her. He moves her chair back, just enough so that she could see out, yet she was no longer getting soaked. He hoped that he hadn't been too late in doing so, fearing she had already caught a fever. So he brings her hot soup, telling her they would be here soon enough. But she didn't seem to be listening to him, she just sat there in the rain looking out the window and watching for life. She had a bad, he could tell, he only wished she had it that bad for her. Faramir was a lucky man, and if he got the chance he would tell him so too.

Faramir lowers his head and closes his eyes, drifting off into a light sleep. When he awakes hours later, he notices the rain had not stopped yet, instead it had gotten worse. It now felt cold and biting. And it was sticking to his wet clothes, freezing enough so that he would have to actually brush it out of his horse's mane and off his neck. He wonders why Eomer was not calling a stop but he knew why. He would not have told his rangers to stop in weather like this. Not if they were only an hour or so away from their destination. And that is how long it takes before they finally see Helm's Deep off in the distance. They could see lights in the windows of the upper keep. Good, he was freezing and would dearly love to rest inside a warm room. Urging his horse on he follows the small group towards Helm's Deep. Sighing softly he smiles as they ride inside and over to where the horses were being stabled. He climbs off his horse and begins getting him settled in one of the stalls. He may be freezing cold, tired, and hungry, but he would take care of his horse before he took care of himself.

Eomer curses whatever magic brought the storm on. It wasn't rare to have rain in Rohan. But this rain just seemed....strange. As if someone was trying to freeze them and their horses. He couldn't help looking back at the injured as he leads everyone along to Helms Deep. His eyes rest on Faramir for a moment, swaying in his saddle, looking to all the world like he was asleep. He could tell that he was resting. If not for the face he saw a puff of smoke every time Faramir exhaled he would think the man was frozen to death. He was covered in ice, as they all were. He turns back around in his saddle and looks at Gandalf. He was mumbling something to Shadowfax. Or maybe it was he was saying magic. Maybe the storm was worse than this. With a shrug he looks ahead again, wondering why he felt dread the closer he got to Helm's Deep. Probably because of the fact his sister would not be happy with him, or Faramir. Well it was for her own good. She was skilled with a sword, yes, but he was not about to risk her life unless needed. He remains silent and in thought for the rest of the journey to Helm's Deep. He stops when he finally sees it. Ah yes. Finally a place of warmth. He calls to his men that they were almost there, his eyes landing on Faramir again. He was awake now, though he looked very cold. As they all were. With a sigh he moves his horse forward and heads toward Helms Deep. Once inside the gate he rides over to the stables and inside. Instantly he feels the numbing pain as the heat in the stable hits his frozen fingers and skin. But he ignores it and climbs down off his horse before leading it into one of the stalls and pulling his saddle and equipment off the horse. He glances at Faramir as he comes in, noticing his slow movements. He shakes his head and tends to his horse, brushing him dry and then laying a warm blanket over his back before he puts warm water and a warm mash into the feeding and watering trough in the stall. Finally he leaves the stall and heads out of the stables. He walks up to the upper keep where the lights were and walks inside, Gandalf and the others following him, all except Faramir, whom had come in last and was still tending to his horse in the stables

She sees the horses and the men coming long before anyone else does. Probably because she was staring endlessly out the window, warm under the blankets, but shivering from the cold on her face. If she got frostbite she would not be surprised. None of it means a thing as they near the keep, not to her at least as she jumps up and drops the blankets, almost tripping over them as she rushes from the room and down the stairs to the lower levels. She stands at the door to the outside, watching them get closer when it hits her, she was mad at them! They had sent her here because she needed a babysitter. She turns and runs back up to a higher level till she can find an outlook where she can get a good look at them. She could see Faramir, but he looked half dead even from way up there, the way he was slouched over and on himself, he looked about ready to fall out of the saddle. If it wasn't for the fact he was sitting up in his seat she would have thought him dead. After coming to the conclusion he wasn't dead yet, she looks at the rest of the men. It seemed that they had gotten out of it alive, she couldn't see anyone missing. Her brother was at the lead, sitting tall in his saddle. Oh she needed to definitely have a talk with that man. She just wasn't sure as to when. So she just keeps pacing as she tries to think things through until she finally realizes that they had been in the keep for awhile and she hadn't gone down yet. She quickly moves away from the window and rushes down a few flights of stairs, running into him in one of the rooms that the men had started a fire. When she sees him she doesn't know what to think or do. Then almost as if of her own accord she walks over to him and slaps him. Then just as suddenly as she slaps him she throws herself at him, hugging him tight. "You had me so scared! You are late! Even if the battle was long, you should have been here by now!" She knew that it was unreasonable to believe that, but the simple truth was, she had been worried about her brother. Worried that she had lost him and Faramir just like her Uncle, leaving her totally and completely alone. And it is those feelings that causes her tears while she clings to him sobbing.

Eomer was warming his hands by the fire when Eowyn comes into the room. He turns towards her, a smile on his face, but it is gone the second her hand connects with his cheek. It hurt more then ever since he was so cold. But when she hugs him he smiles again and hugs her back. "It could not be helped. We had to bury a few of our men and it took longer than expected. There were more of the enemy than first thought." He lets her go and then turns back to the fire. "You had no trouble along the way?" He looks at her. "If the weather is better by tomorrow morning we'll continue on. If not, we shall stay here." He rubs his hands together and turns to Eowyn. "A foul storm it is out there."

Faramir finishes tending to his horse and after patting his nose for a moment and making sure he was all settled, he leaves the stall and grabs his weapons and saddlebags. He heads out of the stalls and up to the keep, dripping wet again by the time he gets there. Walking inside he is told that Gandalf wished to talk with him. With a nod he lets the man lead him over to the room where Gandalf was. Walking inside he looks at him. "You wished to speak with me?" He stands and waits, cold to the bone but not about to show it, even to Gandalf.

Gandalf smiles slightly, amused by the sight of the new Steward of Gondor. "Yes but I had thought you would have more common sense and had gone to warm up first." He shakes his head. "Still the old Faramir, even with your father gone." He hands Faramir a blanket, watching as the young man takes it and instantly wraps it around himself, as if his life depended on the warmth it might give. "There. Now come sit down and tell me why it is you still dislike fire." He gestures to a chair in the room, then takes a seat in the other, waiting.

Faramir takes the seat gratefully and huddles more under the blanket, his equipment and things forgotten by the door. "I....who told you? Pippin I assume." He sees the nod and sighs, but still smiles. "Yes. I do not like the fire. It reminds me too much....well I see it in my dreams. They are always haunted by it. And I can still feel it. My leg still has yet to heal properly." He looks up at Gandalf. "Was it you who told me to go back? That I still had much to do while alive?"

Gandalf raises his eyebrows at that, looking shocked but amused. "Was it my voice you heard?" He watches as Faramir thinks about it, before shaking his head. "Well then it must not have been me. Your father perhaps?" Again the shake of Faramir's head. "Brother?" Again, no. He of course knew who it was, he had been there when Aragorn had pulled Faramir back from the brink of death. It had been Aragorn he had heard. "Perhaps someone else then?" He laughs at Faramir's annoyed look, getting up he shakes his head. "It will be revealed to you in time, as will be the reason. Now come along. I will show you to your room where you can get out of those wet clothes and into something dry and warm." He helps Faramir with his things, leading him from the room and down to another chamber. There was one window but it was shielded from the rain by the mountain. There was a fire going in the fireplace and candles were lit all around the room to give it light. The room was small but it had a bed and that was what was most important. "I will leave you to rest. Do not forget your medicine, Faramir. As bad as it may taste, it is one of the reasons you are still alive." He nods to the young man and then exits.

Faramir gets up and follows Gandalf, carrying his weapons with him. Once in the room he notices the fire and for once is grateful for it, as it made the room nice and warm. He nods to Gandalf, sighing. "Yes I know." He watches the old wizard leave and then winces as he drops his things to the floor. He walks over and stands as close to the fire as he can without freaking out and holds his hands out to it, shivering and wincing as his frozen fingers start to thaw out. He couldn't change into dry clothes until he could use his fingers. It had been painful and hard enough just trying to tend his horse.

Eowyn doesn't like when he dismisses her as if it was nothing. "Eomer! I am angry with you!" She stomps her foot, even if it did look a little childish. She pulls on his arm to make him look at her again. "Eomer! If we had trouble you don't seem to be too worried about it. Yes, this is indeed a foul storm, I should know, I have been sitting in the window, sitting there watching for you." She holds her arms out to her sides still unable to believe that he had not noticed just how soaking wet she was from sitting in the window waiting for them. It is all just too much and she looks defeated. "You two have no clue how you made me feel over the last several hours, do you?" This is finally said softly, her eyes so filled with pain from his actions that she can't hide it any longer. "Get warm, Eomer, your men will need you to make plans for tomorrow. I am going to my room. There is food in the kitchens, Merry and Pippin are in there cooking up a storm. Do not worry about me, I am not hungry and will not eat." Truth be told she was so upset at that point it was best that she be left alone. " If you need me, send a handmaiden, otherwise I wish to be left alone." She turns and leaves the rooms without another word. Her brother had hurt her with words and actions both tonight and she was not sure she could forgive him for that any time soon. First there had been the incident with the Orcs. And now this, making it seem as if her worry for him was nothing. Here she had just spent the worst several hours of her life envisioning his body coming back in so many pieces she could never get them all back together, not to mention Faramir's fate. As she enters her room and shuts the door she doesn't want to think of Faramir again. She had heard he was in the stable, but he was bound to leave there sooner or later and she wanted to be in her room. She didn't know when she would be able to talk to him. So for now, she just rather stay away so that she didn't say something she would later regret.

Eomer looks at his sister, frowning when she leaves. What was her problem? He'd only sent her away because he didn't wish to see her hurt again. Maybe now was time to tell her. Leaving the comfort of the fire he walks to her room and enters without knocking. "Eowyn, I think you misjudge me. You do not know why I sent you away. Yes because I didn't want you there, but not because you can not fight, because I do not wish to lose my sister. I have lost my uncle and cousin. Mother and Father are dead. We are the last, Eowyn. You and I. I do not wish to go on without you. It was bad enough, knowing you were the one who killed the Leader of the Nazgul." He holds up his hand to stop her from speaking. "Not because you did, but because the tables could have easily been turned. YOU could have been dead. You scare me, Eowyn. You do not seem to understand that we all love you, that we do things to keep you from being harmed, even if you think you won't be." He walks over to her and puts his hands on her shoulders. "I love you, Eowyn. You are my sister. I wish not to lose you because you wish to prove yourself. You have nothing to prove, Sister. We all know what you are capable of."

Finally, when Faramir's fingers stop hurting and he is able to bend them without pain or stiffness, he gets undressed. He pulls out dry clothes from his belongings and pulls them on. He leaves his shirt un-tucked and winces a little as he climbs under the blankets on the bed. It was small but comfortable and warm. And he was exhausted and cold. He shivers under the blankets, then moves around so that he is in a comfortable position. He lays there but for some reason sleep wouldn't come. So he reluctantly gets up and walks over to his things. He pulls the book out and moves back over to the bed, as well as taking some of his travelling food and the medicine. He should probably have gone out and gotten some warmer food, but he just didn't feel like it. He felt weak really. He didn't think he could make it to where ever the food was anyway. So he would just sit in this little room and eat enough of the food he had that would allow him to take some of his medicine. And he would read until he fell asleep.

She was shocked when her brother follows her, not really having expected him to, shocked enough that she stands there and listens, not moving from the spot when he goes off on her. But when he is finally done she stands there in shock, staring up at him. That was what this was all about? He didn't think her unable to fight, he just didn't want to loose the last family member he had! She wraps her arms around him and buries her head in his chest, crying, unable to stop. She hadn't thought that he loved her that much. Sure, they were brother and sister, but that didn't automatically mean you loved the other one and he made her feel like that more important sister around. She hugs him tight, her knees so weak she thought that she would fall. "Oh Eomer!" She keeps holding him while she cries softly into his chest. She could believe she was such a lucky sister, and she tells him as much. When she finally is able to catch her breath, her tears drying up, she looks up at him in wonder. "You were right, Eomer. I did not realize that. I thought that you would not let me into battle because you did not think I was worthy enough. I did not realize, nor think, for an instant that that may be the reason you were doing it. I thought that you thought I was too weak, even after fighting in that battle and showing you just how good I was. Oh Eomer! I am so sorry I have been so upset with you! I did not realize. Will you forgive me for the terrible things I said to you?" Her eyes shine from the tears as she looks up at him with a watery smile, waiting for his answer with baited breath.

Eomer smiles and holds her while she cries, something he hadn't done in a long time, since their father died and left them with their uncle. He rubs her back and then when she pulls away and asks if he could forgive her he can't help but laugh. "Of course I will forgive you. You are my sister. And I should have told you before my reason for not having you along. There was more to it than just your safety. I also wanted someone I could trust to lead the guards around Uncle's body. I do not think you weak, Eowyn. Far from it. I have not thought you weak since the time you bested me in a sword fight." He smiles fondly at her. "No. I would gladly have you fight along side me. But not if it means I could lose you. I am not trying to lock you away, Eowyn, I know you will have to leave sometime, when you fall in love and marry. But for now, I would like you alive and well." He smiles and kisses her forehead. "Now come along. We shall go find something hot to eat as I could use a good meal." He holds his hand out to her, waiting for her to take it.

Unable to sleep because of the numbing cold Faramir felt invading his body, he instead sits with his back against the wall beside the fireplace. He was wrapped in two blankets, shivering under them as his body continues to try and ward off the cold it felt. To keep his mind off the pain he was also in, his shoulder had begun to hurt like mad and although he took the medicine, it didn't seem to be relieving the pain anytime soon. But he would battle through it. A little pain never stopped him before. So he sits on the floor with his back against the wall, as close to the fire as he would allow himself to get, and reads his book, even if he had read it many many times before.

Eowyn takes his hand gently, nodding. "Okay, Eomer, let us go get something to eat that will warm us." She wipes at her eyes, giving him a lopsided grin. "I must look a mess. Let me freshen up and I will be down in the dining room. " She lets go of his hand, rubbing her hand along his arm as she smiles into his face. "I promise, I will meet you down there. I just would like to run a brush through my hair." She looks down at her damp clothing. "I need to get this off and changed." At his questioning look she smiles, giving him another lopsided grin. "I was waiting at the window." Her smile leaves her face as it becomes serious again. "I was at the window waiting for you all afternoon. For any sign, as I was scared." She buries her head into his chest again when he takes her into his arms and holds her. "Oh, Eomer. It has been a long day."