A/N: Got the rest of the chapters uploaded, so I can update whenever I want now.

Jazzcat - "And yes, I'm aching to know how Eomer will explode out of bed and miraculously heal once he realizes his Kareswen is actually in Edoras, and in pain... ;-) " Oh, come on! It's me! That would be too easy! (see below)

The Truest Friends

Chapter 5

All three of them were up fairly early despite the late night. Daelwyn offered to fix breakfast while Linwe checked on Kareswen. Kialmar had the wagon hitched and standing by for their departure. Over the meal, Linwe suggested, "Why do you not ask Eomer King to provide an escort to return to your village. I am sure he will want you to go in safety, and he will want to know of the Orc attack, as well."

Kialmar nodded, "I will do that. It is a long trip to make with little sleep." When he rose to head up to Meduseld an hour later, not wanting to arrive at the palace too early, the dog suddenly appeared at his side, a parchment letter in its mouth. He reached for it, thinking it was for him, but the dog growled warningly and he withdrew his hand. He watched the dog curiously as it followed him out of the healer's house and accompanied him toward the palace on the hill.

Once there, he watched as the dog dropped the letter in front of a guard and nudged it toward him with his nose. The man looked around in surprise, wondering at this strange behavior but stooped to pick up the letter. He did not recognize the name 'Kareswen', to whom it was addressed, but when he turned it over, he was perplexed to see the King's seal upon it. When they knocked for Gamling, to advise him of the King's visitor, they gave him the letter and told him where they got it. Gamling glanced at the dog and then went to announce the visitor to the King.

Eomer was still breaking his fast with Eowyn and Faramir when Gamling put in appearance. He told of the villager wanting to see him, the Orc attack and then held out the letter. "Most curious, lord, is this letter that has come. It is one you appear to have sent to someone, but it was brought here by a dog."

Eomer's head jerked up and he dropped his fork, "Let me see that!" He instantly recognized his letter to Kareswen, noting that the seal had not been broken. But why would Dog show up here with the letter? "Bring the man and the dog to me, at once."

As Gamling moved away, Eowyn asked, "Brother, what is it? What is wrong?"

"I'm not sure. Let's see what this man has to tell us."

A few moments later, Kialmar and Dog trailed in behind Gamling, who bowed and presented them. Eomer greeted the man pleasantly but his eyes were fixed on the dog - he had no doubt it was Kareswen's dog. "Where did you get this dog, and this letter?" he demanded.

Kialmar looked surprised, "They are not mine, lord. The dog belongs to a woman who sometimes trades in our village. She was injured while defending us from Orcs and we brought her here to the healer. I do not know where the dog got the letter, but as I made to leave the healer's house and come here, he appeared with it in his mouth and accompanied me."

With much effort, Eomer was on his feet, "She is here? In Edoras?"

Kialmar wasn't certain who he meant but asked, "The woman? Yes, lord. She is at the healer's house, unconscious, even as we speak."

"Gamling, Faramir - help me! I must go to her." He was wrestling with his crutch, trying to both hurry and not fall, but was perilously close to the latter when the two men reached his side. Kialmar assumed he should go with them, so he turned and led the way out of Meduseld and down the hill. It was no easy task with the extent of Eomer's injuries making hand holds difficult to find.

They had to stop several times and let all three of them rest a moment. During the second such stop, a thought came to Eomer, "Where is the woman's horse?"

"He is still in our village, being cared for. He was injured in the fall and could not make the trip with her, though he clearly wanted to do so."

"She will not be happy about that!" Eomer said, struggling to his feet, and indicating he was ready to travel a bit further. He glanced down at the dog who followed their slow progress, and sighed. This was not how he had hoped to see her again, and from the sound of it... He checked the thought that she might not recover, not wanting to accept that possibility.

When they finally arrived at the healer's house, Eomer was sweating profusely from the effort. He had become seriously out of shape during the past month, between captivity and now recuperation. Linwe was more than a little startled at seeing the King, his brother-in-law and Doorward entering to visit her new patient. And from the looks of the King, he might need her attention as well. However, he brushed off her concerned questions and made his way to a chair by Kareswen's bed.

"How is she?" he asked, reaching for her hand.

"Not good, my lord. She apparently struck her head when her horse fell and has not regained consciousness. There is little we can do but wait and hope she awakens."

Eomer growled with frustration, "We need Aragorn! He would know some Elvish remedy that would help!" He leaned back in the chair, thinking, then asked the healer, "Would you mind attending her at Meduseld? I would like to move her there. It will make it easier for me to visit."

"Certainly, lord. As you wish."

Kialmar stepped forward, "I have a horse and wagon already hitched outside, Eomer King. We could move her and you back up the hill in that, if you like."

Eomer nodded, and they set about transferring Kareswen to the wagon bed, along with her belongings, and then Eomer trailed out to sit on the back of the wagon for the climb.

Once Kareswen was in a guest bed, Eomer ordered an escort for Kialmar and Daelwyn on their homeward journey, and thanked them for their help and care of Kareswen. He made sure one of the escort party was one of his men most skilled in treating injured horses so he could tend to Leander, and bring him to Edoras when it was possible.

When it became clear that Eomer was not inclined to move from Kareswen's bedside, they brought a more comfortable chair for him to sit in and a small cot for him to lie down on when he needed to rest.

Eowyn at last got a glimpse of the woman that had her brother so agitated, but to whom she was greatly indebted for his very life. She asked Linwe, "Have you tried athelas? That might cause her to awaken."

"I have heard of this plant, my Lady, but I do not know how to use it," Linwe responded.

"I learned to use it in the Houses of Healing at Minas Tirith," Eowyn told her, as she looked regretfully at her husband, "but I do not know where to find it here."

Eomer sat morosely staring at the floor for a long while and then suddenly straightened, "Bring me her packs! She may have had some with her!"

Faramir moved to where the packs lay, keeping a watchful eye on the dog studying him. "I am not sure we should be going through her things, Eomer."

"Dog, athelas?" Eomer called out. The dog rose at the question and went to nudge the packs, but then gave a whimper and lay back down.

Not sure what that meant, Faramir chanced that it was okay to look where the dog had nosed, so he brought the pack to Eowyn who went through the contents. She finally set it aside with a sigh, "There is a tiny bit, but not enough."

They eyed one another dejectedly, until Eomer's eyes lit up again, "Dog - find athelas. Show Eowyn." He pointed to his sister.

Dog stood slowly and looked uncertainly at his mistress, but apparently decided to follow the instruction for he moved to stand at the closed door, waiting for Eowyn to follow him. Faramir exited with his wife and they headed for the stable to saddle their mounts and gather a few escorts for the excursion outside the city walls.

Once they were gone, Gamling suggested to Eomer, "Lord, perhaps you should lie down while they are gone and take some rest."

Eomer considered a moment, then sighed in acknowledgement of the wisdom of it, "I suppose you are right. If the athelas brings her around I will not want to be too exhausted to speak with her."

xxxxx

Though not at all confident that this dog was going to lead them to athelas, Eowyn and her escorts fell in behind him and, to her amazement, half an hour later she was looking at a nice growth of the plant she sought. She cast a rueful grin at her husband as she dismounted to collect some and he stepped down to assist her.

They had only been at the task a short while when their escort noticed a group of riders approaching from the west, and took up a defensive position around the two nobles.

When the riders drew closer, they could see that it was a small party of Elves and they relaxed their stance somewhat, waiting to receive them. Moments later they were near enough that Eowyn and Faramir were startled to recognize Elrond of Rivendell in their midst. They stepped forward of their guard to greet him. "Lord Elrond," Faramir said, "this is an unexpected pleasure. What brings you to Rohan?"

Elrond alit from his horse and stepped toward them, "Truthfully, it was not my intent to stop in Rohan, but rather to journey directly to Minas Tirith. However, I have a sense there is a reason I need to be here just now. I hope my unexpected arrival will not be a burden."

"Not at all," Eowyn told him. "In fact, your arrival is most timely. I was just collecting some athelas to use in treating an injured woman. As your skill in such matters is far greater than mine, perhaps you could be prevailed upon to assist."

"I am happy to help in any way that I can," Elrond responded.

Eowyn turned back to her horse as she answered, "We should have plenty now. Let us return to Edoras." Faramir stood by to assist his wife in mounting, though she hardly needed or made use of his help, and then climbed back into the saddle himself. The group quickly struck out for Edoras at an easy canter.