Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 for full disclaimers.

Diola lle, my friends!

Evenstar/Elaine... No, I couldn't resist the "worm" comment. Thanks for the review, my friend.

Mercury Gray... No worries. Honest feedback is always welcome when it is meant to be constructive and your insights have always been balanced, honest, and very welcome.

MITrooper... Welcome! You'll get more, I promise. Thanks for reading my story.

Pasha ToH... Thank you, and welcome! There will be a few more chapters, so I hope you like them as well. And what a lovely quote...

Chapter 2: Care and Kindness

The last of the Rohirrim rode out of Helm's Deep. As they reached the foothills that would lead them back to Edoras, Theoden reined in Snowmane and turned back towards the fortress.

"My King?" asked Grimbold as he and Gamling turned their horses as well.

"I wish we could start rebuilding the outer wall now," said the King with a hint of wistfulness in his voice. "I would not be the King who left Helm's Deep laid bare to Rohan's enemies."

"It will not be laid bare for long," said Gamling.

"No," agreed Theoden, shaking off his melancholy. "After we regroup at Edoras and discover what ill plan is brewing in the heart of Mordor... then we will return to Helm's Deep and rebuild."

He turned Snowmane back towards the Golden Hall and trotted away. "Grimbold," he said as they rode, "ride ahead and have the Golden Hall prepared. We will honor our victorious dead when I return, and tell Lord Aragorn that I wish him to stay in Edoras for a time."

"As you command, Theoden-King."

"Gamling, ride with me for a time."

"As you wish, My Lord," Gamling said to his King.

They rode in silence for a time, the King lost in thought. Finally, he turned in his saddle and looked at Gamling. The King's Man felt his heart grow heavy when he saw the sadness in Theoden's eyes.

"So much is shrouded in fog," said Theoden. "So much was stolen from me. My dignity, my crown... even my son. I don't even remember your young bride, and you, Grimbold, and Hamar were akin to brothers to me. How can I not remember something like that?" For a moment both the King and Gamling shared sorrow as they remembered Hamar, felled by the Warg scout who ambushed them on the way to Helm's Deep.

"My Lord, anything you fear you lost was regained at Helm's Deep," said Gamling.

Although he would never show it, Theoden was grateful for Gamling's faith and his words. It was not I who saved the people of Rohan, he thought Theoden. But the King did not want to dwell on unhappy memories. There would be more than his measure of sorrow, death, and war once he returned to Edoras; for now he wanted a happy memory.

"Tell me of your wife, Gamling. Carly is her name? How did the King's Man find himself wed to a young maid?"

Gamling shook his head. "I wonder that myself, My Lord," he said. "As for how I came to meet Carly? It was near two years ago now. There had been a report of Orcs on the prowl and I rode out with Eomer and Theodred..." He hesitated for a moment on the name of the King's son.

"Do not fear to speak my Theodred's name," said the King.

"The Orcs challenged us," said Gamling, "and I was wounded. It was in my arm and I made the mistake of belittling it. By the time I returned to Edoras, it was inflamed and infected. I was fevered. Eomer brought me to the healers. Once they had broken the fever, they put me in the care of women..."

Gamling groaned as he shifted. He looked around the room, thinking of how much he missed the open skies. Sitting on the edge of his bed was a young woman he'd seen a few times. She was pretty enough to make him notice her but not so lovely that she would be the center of attention. Her hair was brown and her eyes were hazel green. When she smiled she had dimples, and the merriment of her grin extended up to her eyes, making them sparkle.

"You're awake," she said with a smile.

"Who are you?" asked Gamling.

"My name is Carly; I help the healers when I can." She leaned over and pulled a cloth out of a steaming pot of water. "Give me your arm."

"My arm?"

She tugged at Gamling's left wrist and he winced as he extended his arm. Then he remembered the injury. Looking down, he saw it was still red. She deftly pulled the loose bandage off and pressed the hot cloth against the cut. Gamling winced; the flesh was tender and the cloth hotter than he expected. She held the cloth on him until it was lukewarm.

Taking it off, she examined the cut. Gamling looked down just as Carly put her hands on each side of the wound and squeezed. A pile of white pus erupted out of the cut, and Gamling felt his stomach turn over. Carly wiped the foul infection away and squeezed again. This time only red blood came out.

"Good," she said with some satisfaction. "That should be the last of the infection. I'll have to drain it one more time to be sure." She pulled a second cloth out of the warm water and used it to pat down Gamling's face.

"She was so kind," Gamling said to the King as he thought about Carly. "And she was always there while I was sick." He looked ahead, towards the horizon, and towards Edoras.

Theoden rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "I am in her debt then, for caring for you so well while you were injured. Tell me more of your Carly," said the King.

Well, that's all for chapter 2. Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed so far. Please keep letting me know what you think!