- - ÉOMER - -
By the time they had returned to camp, the woman had gone limp in his arms. He found Frumgar sitting around the campfire. "She has overworked herself." He declared as they rode up. Frumgar rose from the ground and came over them. Carefully enough, Éomer handed her over to the medic who moved her back onto the ground.
Éomer dismounted his horse and followed after him towards the dying fire. For a moment Frumgar was silent as he kneeled down to assess her. He rose and looked grimly back at his commander. "Her condition has worsened. She requires medicine beyond what I have in my supplies."
The younger man looked down to the woman as she lay on the ground, 'If she truly is who she claims to be, her death would spark hostility between Rohan and Gondor. With war already upon us, I cannot risk such a thing.'
"Do what you can for now. I will have Fasthelm bring her to Edoras for further treatment."
"Are you sure she will be welcome?"
"Fasthelm will claim to be seeking refuge from the Wildmen. That way their allegiance to us will remain unnoticed."
Frumgar gave a tilt of the head, "Edoras is no short journey from here. In her condition, I am not sure she will survive. Might I suggest Haleth go as well?"
"You are certain the boy can handle such a task?"
"He may be young, but he has learned well. His presence will increase her chances of survival."
"Very well. He may go." Éomer condeeded, glancing back down at the woman one last time. Her face was now exceptionally flush and her chest was heaving. "Let us hope she survives the journey." The commander then turned about and left the medic to tend to his patient.
.
By this point, the crimson sunrise was lingering only faintly as the ever encroaching blue sky of morning began to press down upon them. The medic's apprentice was now beside Frumgar, watching his teacher finish readying their patient for travel. Haleth was too old to be considered a child, but not yet a man. His youthful face was focused on the task at hand and he only looked up when Éomer arrived.
Éomer was leading two fresh horses towards them, with Fasthelm at his side. As ordered, the Rider had removed his armor and was dressed in simpler clothes, much like Haleth. He passed the reins of one horse to Fasthelm and the other to Haleth. "May your journey be swift and without incident."
The youth climbed onto his mount, a medicinal pack strapped to one side of the horse and their rations to the other. Frumgar walked up to his pupil, "Change the bandages daily and make sure she takes the tonic twice a day. Hopefully it'll keep her fever down. With luck, your supplies will last and she will survive the journey." Haleth nodded resolutely.
Fasthelm was now in his saddle as well. Frumgar walked over and carefully handed Calina up to him. Once she was settled in front of him, Éomer gave them a final nod before they headed off through the rolling hills.
- - CALINA - -
She woke to the taste of something violently bitter being poured into her mouth. She reflexively gagged before coughing aggressively. "Forgive me!" A voice from in front of her said. She opened her eyes to see a youthful blonde in front of her. Calina found herself back on the ground being held upright by the young man. He had a dark brown bottle in hand while another man stood nearby, the reins of two horses in his grasp as they nibbled on the grass.
"Who are you? And where am I?" She asked, trying to come to her senses, still gripped by fever.
"I am Haleth and this is Fasthelm." The boy spoke and then gestured to the man by the horses. "We are in the Westemnet, traveling to Edoras so you can receive better treatment."
"What?" Calina said, baffled at the situation she found herself in.
"Éomer ordered it." Fasthelm interjected curtly.
Calina sat there for an instant, processing the information. "We should carry on. But first you must take this." Haleth motioned the bottle towards her.
She visibly grimaced, but took the bottle, taking a large swig. After she pulled the bottle away she made a disgusted face before wiping her lips with the back of her hand. "That stuff is horrible."
"It's working though." Haleth said with a smile. He then rose from his crouch and stood before her, "Can you stand?" He asked as he extended his hands out to her.
"I think so." She then managed to get to one knee and bring herself upright, grabbing Haleth's hands.
His grin widened, "Excellent. Now, let's get going."
The three of them returned to their mounts and carried on. 'I have to trust that Boromir and the others will go after Merry and Pippin.' She thought, trying to keep her thoughts from drifting down to darker possibilities.
As the day rolled on the sea of grasslands stretched out around them in grand lolling plains. Off in the distance ahead of them a string of mountains began to appear. "The White Mountains." Fasthelm announced, gazing out across the plains and towards the rising snowy peaks. They ventured further south drawing ever nearer to a great jagged white peak that pierced the sky higher than all of the others.
A shiver rocketed through her, 'I'm not sure if the fever is causing this chill or if it's actually cold out here.'
Her quiver did not go unnoticed. Fasthelm cleared his throat loudly and looked over to Haleth while pulling his horse to a stop.
The younger caught his elder's gaze and was swift to bring his horse up alongside them. "How are you feeling, Calina?" Haleth asked.
"Cold." She said lamely.
Haleth could see a haze had once again overcome her blue orbs and her cheeks had resumed an excessively rosy hue. The young healer stood in his saddle and leaned forward, bringing his palm to her forehead. Sweat coated his hand as he drew it away. "She grows warm. And I am almost out of tonic. Her condition will decline without it." Haleth confided, looking to Fasthelm with a sense of urgency.
The Rider clenched his jaw, "Then we must quicken our pace."
"But that would run the risk of damaging the sutures."
"At this rate she will die of infection. And I do not want to return to Éomer with news of her death. We ride." Without another word Fasthelm urged his horse beyond their previous modest trot and into a full blown run, with Haleth close behind.
- - CALINA - -
"Wake up."
That voice… it was familiar to her somehow. It was soft, obviously young. For some reason it harbored an upset tone among the lightness it carried. But who was it? Why were they troubled? The voice spoke again, much closer this time. With this newfound closeness, she could sense it was much more desperate and pleading as well.
"Wake up." A name was muttered, but she did not catch it. They spoke again, insistent. "Please wake up."
As if under some unseen spell, Calina opened her eyes, taking in the sudden image of a bright forest around her. Then a boy, maybe seven years old at best, stood in front of her after coming out of the shadow of a large tree. The tree had a large smooth scar halfway up its middle. She found this also to be oddly familiar, though she could not place how.
Her eyes returned to the boy. He wore strange teal clothing and a fur vest, obviously belonging to some foreign strand of culture judging by the look of the outfit. His features, though, vaguely resembled her own. His soft seafoam eyes shone brightly against his sun kissed skin, eyes now gleaming at her in some unknown joy.
As she took in his image Calina's eyes widened by a fraction. She knew him. How, she did not know, but some part of her long forgotten memories began to shuffle in the back of her mind as she watched him approach. Pointed ears, flaming red hair pulled back in a teal ribbon, a foxtail and paws. All of it was so familiar to her…
Yet she could not name him. She merely stared at the young boy as he beamed up at her gleefully. Hesitantly, Calina brought her hand up, reaching out to him. He only smiled, his expression never faltering as her fingers landed gently on his cheek.
The moment her fingers graced his skin he was instantly reduced to ash.
- - ÉOWYN - -
Éowyn was caught off guard when Calina suddenly bolted upright in bed gasping. But as soon as she did, she hissed and arched her back before toppling over onto her uninjured side, facing away from her, now whimpering.
The blonde shieldmaiden did not restrain the string of profanity that flew from her lips as she rushed over to the bedside. 'Wretched fever dreams! She would wake up on my watch.' From where she stood, Éowyn could see blood beginning to seep through the shoulder of the white nightgown. She swore again, making a grab for the fresh cloth on the nightstand.
She pressed it as gently as she could against the bloodstain, "Hild! Come quickly!" She yelled. Her cry had been heard, for the door opened almost immediately and an old woman came into the bedroom.
Though squat and fat, Hild moved across the room with impressive speed. "Give that to me. You may go." Éowyn handed her the already bloodied cloth and stepped back, letting the healer take over. She then hastily exited the room, heart beating hurriedly at the unexpected occurrence.
Éowyn pressed her back against the door and let out a breath as she collected herself. 'I should tell them her condition has changed.' She then pushed herself off the door and set off down the halls in search of Calina's comrades.
- - CALINA - -
The bright morning sunlight tore across her face and pierced through her deadened eyelids, pulling her from her slumber. She squinted and groaned, bringing an arm up to block the rays from her eyes.
"Welcome back." A smooth voice said.
Calina turned her head and found herself in a quaint room in a bed with thick blankets. Small towels, a water basin, and another brown bottle sat on the nightstand. In the chair in the corner of the room sat Haldir, the corner of his lips turned upwards.
"Where am I?" She asked. Though she blinked thickly, she could tell her fever had finally subsided.
"In Edoras. It is quite a feat that you are still among us. You were heavy with fever for quite some time."
"How did you know I ended up in Edoras?"
"We encountered the Riders of Rohan in our pursuit of you and the Half-lings. Éomer informed us that he sent you here due to your injury."
"And Merry and Pippin?" She asked, chest tight with worry.
"They are in the safekeeping of the Ents in Fangorn." Haldir said reassuringly, having stood and was now at the bedside.
She sank into the mattress with a sigh of relief, "Ents?" She then asked.
"Tree-Headers. Shepherds of the forest."
She looked at him skeptically. "You mean the talking trees?"
To her surprise, the Elf let out a laugh, "They would not take so kindly to being addressed as such."
"Alright then, Ents, as you called them." She made an effort to sit up, but slipped. Her back ached at the motion.
"Carefully now. How is your wound?" Haldir then guided her upright onto the pillows.
Tentatively, she tested her shoulder and right arm, moving them around. "There is still some pain, but it is dull."
"If you are feeling well enough, the healer will permit you to get up."
She smiled, her heart at ease. "I think I will."
"I will wait outside."
Once the door clicked shut, she threw off the blankets and stepped onto the cold floor. There was a second small table near the door, and she walked over it to retrieve the dress that sat there. Though it took a moment, she managed to get the dress on without straining herself too much. The dress came in layers of shades of brown and white with long sleeves and a golden tassel on her waist. It was clearly fashioned to withstand the cold weather that was rattling at the window. She then slipped into her boots and with a fluff of her hair, left the room.
She found Haldir leaning across the opposite wall. "The others are in the main hall. So you are aware, they are in a meeting with King Théoden regarding what next steps should be taken in regards to the war."
"I see."
"You will also be pleased to hear that a friend has returned to us."
She couldn't stop her heart from skipping a beat, "A friend?" She asked as they turned down the short corridor.
He only grinned at her as they stepped into the great hall.
The rectangular space had high ceilings with large beams and windows that stretched floor to ceiling on the long walls. A throne on a modest dias was at one end and a grand set of high wooden doors at the other. On the throne sat the King with wavy blonde hair and a short beard. Like the others of Rohirrim she had encountered, he was tall and blue eyed with a tall strong figure.
Beside the King sat an old man. He was clad in white with a modest beard to match. Calina's eyes widened at the sight of him. Her breath caught in her throat, "Gandalf?" She said airily .
The King and wizard looked at her. "So she has awoken." Théoden proclaimed.
Gandalf stepped from the dias towards her with a familiar twinkling gaze. He stopped before her. Tears had welled up in her eyes. "Hello my dear." He said with a smile.
Without thinking, she flung her arms around him in a fierce hug. All of the other occupants in the room were unable to conceal their surprise at the unabashed gesture, but they remained silent. Gandalf only continued to smile and patted her lightly on the back, mindful of her injury. "It is good to see you too."
"How is this possible?" She asked, stepping out of the embrace.
"I have been sent back until my task is done."
From behind them, a familiar gruff voice called out, "Lassie!"
She peeked around Gandalf to see two of her other comrades seated at one of the long tables near an impressive stone fireplace. Gandalf turned and returned to the dias as she hastily made her way over to them. "Aragorn! Gimli!" She exclaimed now standing before them.
"We were afraid we were going to lose you." The Dwarf said, a large plate of food before him and a full tankard in hand.
Aragorn sat beside him, smoking his pipe. He too smiled up at her, "We are glad you are well."
"Sorry to have worried you." Her eyes then searched the room, "Where is Boromir?" No one answered. Her heart began to race, "Where is my brother?"