I have never been a morning person. This was troublesome in my normal life, but I knew it would create real issues during my journey to Rivendell and wherever that would take me. So when I had to get up before it was even light out the next morning, I was not happy about it. When I had gotten home late last night, Olfete told me she already knew I was going, because I had been away so long and that could only mean one thing. She said we would save our farewells for later as she was planning on accompanying me at least until we reached the border of the Mark. I hugged her in thanks, happy that I would not start off my journey on my own.

When I arrived at the stables a little later, I saw I could not have been more wrong and I would be far away from being on my own just yet. Olfete was there already, but so was Eomer and at least half his eored. I felt an anger rising in me and I had to remind myself there could be a very reasonable excuse for them all being there that had nothing to do with me. I saw Eomer between his men - somehow I could always find his face, no matter how big the crowd that he was in. I also knew he knew I was there, because he was busying himself with Firefoot's straps that were already tightly secured and he looked everywhere but where I was. But he knew as well as I did there was no avoiding each other in the stables as my horse, Hefric, was kept next to Firefoot.

'Before you chastise me in thinking I am joining you; I am not. I am to go patrol the borders to work our way through the lands. There have been more and more reports on stolen horses and we aim to find out who is responsible,' see, I told myself, perfectly reasonable excuse. He turned to look down on me, not in the negative way but because he was so ridiculously tall and I a fair bit shorter than him. He had an unreadable expression on his face, but there was definitely fatigue. He was not a morning person, either.

'I was not going to chastise you, Eomer, I was just simply wondering what mission of yours could be so urgent you had to rise before dawn, as I had,' I did not sound angry, but I did not sound particularly warm either, so I added, 'I had hoped to see you before I left, because our farewell of yesterday did not go at all the way I wished it had,' like receiving a parting kiss, for example.

'It seems we do not have to say our goodbyes just yet after all. As we set out in the same direction, Eothain and I decided to accompany you to the border before you…' he mumbled the rest, but it sounded like continue on this wretched mission on your own. I did not want to fight with him now, so I hugged him.

The truth was, I was scared out of my mind to go on this journey and I had not allowed myself to give in to that fear. Yet when Eomer told me they, he, would join me at least at the beginning, I was overwhelmed by the relief I felt.

'Thank you,' I said to his chest. I wanted to say more, wanted to voice my worries, but I had to be careful because if Eomer knew just how scared I was, he would do anything within his power to stop me from going. Even if that meant going himself.

'Are you certain you want to take Hefric?' he suddenly asked. I let go of him and wanted to take a step back, but he grabbed hold of my hands again. He did that a lot lately.

'Yes, why?'

'He is not a warhorse, he is not trained to be out on the fields when-' he stopped mid-sentence and I knew where he was going with it, when there are orcs and other creatures trying to kill you, 'Hefric is one of our fastest horses and was gifted to you when we no longer needed him to carry our messenger to and from Gondor,' Eomer continued. Not so long ago, the Mark and Gondor faced a mutual threat for nearly half a dozen years in the form of wildmen and Gondor was in close contact with us, talking about strategies. When the wildmen were chased away, the messenger retired but Helfric was still fit and was still one of the fastest.

'You might need a horse that is more accustomed to the things you might face,' he concluded and I felt one of his hands tremble. I swallowed.

'I am sure I want to take Hefric, I will need a steed with the power of the ocean in his strides for I know I need to make haste to go to Rivendell. And Hefric has carried me when we fought the orcs not so long ago. We are good together,' I also knew he would happily order one of his men to give their horse to me and I was not sure I would be comfortable on a big, temperamental war horse. Not to mention that specific man would voice no objections, but would not thank me for it, either. The men of the Mark bonded with their horses that was uncommon in the rest of Middle Earth, and to part with one's horse would grief any Rohic. Eomer nodded as if he was part of my thought process.

'Very well. Have you packed everything? A cloak? Enough Arrows? Equipment to forge new arrows? Tell me you also brought a sword, or at least a dirk,' I almost laughed at his fussing as it was so out of character for him. Almost. And then I saw the look on his face and all there was to see was worry.

'I have the cloak Eowyn gifted me three Yule's ago, about five dozen arrows, of course I brought the materials to craft new arrows and I'm guessing there will be an abundance of wood as most part of my journey takes me through forests,' I was strapping my cloak on the back of my saddle, but stopped as I came to the last item on Eomer's list.

'No, I did not bring a dirk. I have not had the chance to get a new one after that little… hiccup at the lake last summer,' during one of the many hot summer nights on a more seldom pieceful day, many people of Edoras had gone to the lake to celebrate a moment of piece. I had lost a bet that resulted in me losing my dirk to the winner. I was not a sore loser, Eowyn thought it was hilarious, but Eomer was particularly angry that the winner was prancing around proudly with his new possession for the rest of the day. To my surprise, Eomer laughed at this.

'Ah, yes. You thought Aldin would not be able to climb the Spring tree higher than Ryce. You were so convinced Ryce would win that you wagered your dirk,' his face lit up for a moment as he thought back at happier times. His face became all business soon enough as he reached down to his boot and pulled out his own dirk. I went rigid.

'Eomer, no. That was your father's,' when his father passed, Eomer inherited all his armour and possessions. He never used the armour as Eomer did not fit in it - his father was not as ridiculously tall as he, and the sword was at his home. He once told me he did not yet feel worthy to wield his father's sword. But he had kept his dirk on him ever since.

'I am aware,' he said dryly, 'but I have another and you have none. Take it,' I looked up at him and in that moment unspoken words passed between us, that I would give back the dirk when I would see him again. If I would see him again. The girl in me squirmed at the realisation that I would also marry him if I would see him again. I took the dirk and tucked it safely in my knee-high boots.

'Thank you,' I said, but I hoped I never had to use it. As good as I was with my bow and arrows, I did not know what I was doing with a sword in my hands most of the time. It just felt unnatural to me and that does not work, as a sword is supposed to be an extension to your arm. I just found it a heavy nuisance. A dirk was a fine compromise, though: bigger than a dagger but way smaller and lighter than a sword. I looked around and saw that the stables had emptied and that only Olfete, Eomer and I remained. Olfete gave me a look before she headed out herself and I could only interpret that look as hurry up, foolish love sick child. I cleared my throat and took some distance from Eomer to guide Hefric outside, causing me to let go of Eomers hand. I started to feel uneasy as soon as I let go, but we had to start moving if I was to reach the border in time. Eomer seemed to think the same as he walked over to Firefoot, but not before he took one of my saddlebags and secured it to his own.

'What do you think you're doing?' I said in protest. I tugged on the reigns to move Hefric and started to move out of the stables all the while trying to reach over to Firefoot to get my own bag back.

'What have you stored in this bag?' he asked. I gritted my teeth. The fact that I could barely reach my bag he had secured on Firefoot did nothing to improve my temper. I sighed heavily before answering.

'Spare clothes, some bandages, needle and thread, strings for my bow, and other things that are none of your concern now give me back my bag, Eomer,' I summarized impatiently. Eomer burst out laughing.

'Easy there, firebug. You must know it has become entertaining for me to see you flare up when I answer one of your precious questions with a question of myself. You will get your bag back when we part ways, for now I think Hefric is packed heavily enough. He is not used to carrying so much weight, so we need to ease him into it, giving him time to get accustomed to the extra weight,' and with that, he unclasped another bag of mine - the one where I stored some books, a couple of embroidered cloths, extra boots, and a small clay horse. It was a heavier bag and Eomer shook it once, a look of clear puzzlement on his face as he wondered what I kept in that one. I felt my face turn red and asked the Valar that he would not ask me what else I had packed.

'And this one, then?' he asked just before we stepped outside the stables. I stopped; I did not want others to hear what I was going to say next.

'Some books -' I couldn't even finish.

'Books! You think you will be making a leisurely stop at a nice valley where you can just sit back and read? Or perhaps go to a library to exchange your volumes for others? Honestly, Sorrun, if you thought bringing books was a good ide-' I was too hopeful to think this day would pass without Eomer and me fighting, but sometimes he just really was as subtle as a broomstick.

'There are two books, one that used to belong to my mother that holds poetry and small drawings of her and Olfete and me. The other one is the one you gave me when Eowyn gave me the cloak three Yules back,' needless to say that that one held drawings of him, Eowyn, Theodred, Olfete and all the other people I knew from the Mark, 'I was going to give them both to Olfete when we would part ways at the border, but now I have half a mind to chuck them in Hefric's stable and shoot a quick prayer that they will survive the dirt and weather and come out unscathed!' I knew Eomer almost my entire life and I could count on one hand the times he was at a loss for words - most of them caused by me, and it never disappointed to see him like this. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times, making him look like a fish on dry land. Despite the situation, I laughed.

'Do not jump to conclusions so fast, Eomer, not everyone has the Angelic patience I possess,' I joked.

'I am sorry, I thought you meant the other kind of books. I guess I must count on Eowyn to keep me from my more traitorous traits,' he paused.

'Indeed, give them to Olfete before you leave, I trust her to keep them safe,' but nonetheless he strapped the bag to his own saddle and walked out of the stables.

I thanked Bema I had come out of this situation relatively fine, but I would wager my dirk all over again that Eomer would lose it if I had told him I had also taken the miniature horse that he knows represents him.