Ailith sighed and looked around her little room. It felt the same as ever; it was as if she had not been away. She started the long process of removing her armour, laying each piece on the bed until she was left wearing only her undershirt and riding trousers.
"Hala, fetch some water," she began and then faltered. Hala was many leagues away. She sighed again and opened her packs. As she was pulling her mother's dress out, a gentle knock sounded on the door and it opened.
"Éowyn!" Ailith cried. She threw the dress aside and rushed at her friend. Éowyn moved forward as well and they met in a tangle of hair and limbs, both of them crying with laughter and relief. Ailith's arms were wrapped so tightly around Éowyn she was half afraid that Éowyn would suddenly cry out in pain.
"Oh, I am so pleased to see you again!" her friend sobbed into her shoulder. They released each other but still held hands. "When you sent no word, I thought I would never see you again."
"Éowyn, forgive me! I did not know that you wanted me to write!" Ailith said, fresh tears welling in her eyes. She quickly hugged Éowyn and then led her to her bed. She pushed the armour aside to clear a space for them to sit. "Now, you must tell me what is happening. Éomer has hardly said a word to me, the Riders all exchange looks behind my back and the atmosphere out in the City, it is unbearable! What ails the King?"
Éowyn sniffed miserably. "The King is ill," she said. "He has not been himself for years. I - I'm not sure exactly when it started. He suddenly seemed to become weaker and frailer. Now, I help him between the throne and his bedchamber, I keep his chambers straight, I deal with some of the day-to-day runnings of the Hall which he used to authorise. He doesn't usually speak but he likes it when people speak up. Most tread around him softly as if they were walking over hot rocks; that is why he found your outburst at Gríma so entertaining-"
Her voice broke off into a high-pitched giggle and she pressed a hand to her mouth.
"Sorry, but his face when you kneed him!" she laughed. Her smile slowly faded. "He deserved it. I feel his presence, even when I am not around him." She shivered, despite the warmth of the room.
"Éowyn, has he ever forced himself upon you?" Ailith asked, her voice low and dangerous. Éowyn's grey eyes widened and she shook her head quickly.
"No, no, nothing like that. He just watches me. All the time, following me like a second shadow."
"Why do the Council tolerate him? He is a disgusting worm!" Ailith spat.
"The Council no longer exists. Gríma is the only one who is allowed to give counsel to the King now."
"And Théodred?"
"Théodred is the Second Marshall. He is based at Helms Deep and he rarely comes back to Edoras now."
Ailith sat back and shut her eyes. The fighting on the Wold seemed to be trivial compared to the upheaval of the court in the face of Théoden's illness. She had thought that the lack of communication between Meduseld and the Fortress always meant peace but now she saw how it could be damaging for the integrity of the country.
"Ailith, are you really a Rider?" Éowyn asked quietly.
"I'm not sure anymore. I completed the training and I took the Oath but it seems like things are done differently down here. On the Wold, everyone knows how to defend themselves so there is no stigma attached to a woman if she wants to fight."
"Everyone?" Éowyn breathed, her eyes shining at the idea.
"Everyone! Even my maid carries a dagger and she certainly knows how to use it!" Ailith laughed. Her face fell. "What am I going to do now? I daren't go home; not with the future of Rohan in this perilous state. But, I have nothing to do, no duties."
"I'm sure we can find something for you to do," her friend said. She smiled and passed her sword to Éowyn.
"Come on, let's see how rusty you are," she said.
AN - I had a hug like Ailith and Éowyn with a cousin of mine who I love dearly but don't see very often. I can recommend it, it is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. :)