When dawn came the next morning, Kiana woke to the sun peeking through the curtain, and Éomer's arm was still draped over her.

'He looks so peaceful now.' Kiana reached up and brushed aside a strand of hair that had fallen across the young lord's face. 'I should hurry with that mixture for him... it's not as though I can accompany him into the field...'

Éomer stirred at her touch and pulled her in closer, groaning as the sunlight shone directly on his eyes.

Kiana chuckled. "Morning."

Éomer cautiously opened his eyes and looked at her, a sleepy smile playing across his lips. "Morning."

"How did you sleep?"

Éomer rolled onto his back and sighed. "Better than usual, once I could get to sleep."

"It seemed like a rather rough night," Kiana noted as she propped herself up on her elbow. "I wish there was something more that I could do for you..."

"Kiana, you have done me a great service already." Éomer gave her arm a squeeze before pulling her back down onto his chest. "If only every night could be like last..."

Kiana's face erupted into a rush of heat. "W-Would it not be strange to continue sharing a bed with a woman who is not your lover nor your wife?"

Éomer chuckled at that, noticing how flustered she looked. "Then perhaps that should change."

Before Kiana could answer, an urgent knocking came at the door and Éomer released his hold on her so that they may get up. When Kiana went to answer the door, Guthleth was on the other side just as he had been weeks before.

"Pardon the hour, Kiana, but is Lord Éomer with you?"

"I am here, Guthleth, what is it?"

Guthleth bowed to Éomer, reminded of the first time he had come to Kiana's home in search of the young lord. "Forgive the intrusion, my lord, but there is an urgent matter that you must see to immediately."

Éomer nodded. "Give me a moment?"

Guthleth nodded and stepped back as Éomer closed the door.

"I hope everything is alright," Kiana said, helping Éomer gather his things.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Éomer replied, slipping on his boots. Standing, he joined Kiana by the door and looked down at her. "I am sorry that I must leave so early."

Kiana shook her head, offering him a reassuring smile. "It's alright, such is the life of a man of your importance."

Éomer reached forward to grasp her hand in his own, pulling her a bit closer. "May I come find you once the matter has been resolved?"

Kiana smiled at that and nodded, squeezing his hand. "I would like that very much."

Éomer returned her smile, then brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss upon its back. "Then I shall resolve it swiftly."

Kiana blushed and watched as Éomer took his leave, closing the door behind him before taking the road up towards Meduseld.

Kiana went about her morning as she normally did, but it wasn't long before someone started banging on her door. She could sense the urgency behind it and quickly went to answer it, finding Gármund with a grim expression on his face.

"Gármund, what is it?"

"Éomer has been banished."

Kiana's heart dropped. "What..?"

"He and those loyal to him are to leave Edoras at once."

Kiana stepped outside and closed her door, hurrying to the main gates with Gármund- who knew that she would seek out the young lord- as quickly as they could.

"What reason would the king banish his own nephew?!"

Gármund sighed. "Grima."

Kiana knew then that Grima had coerced the king into signing off on the order, taking advantage of his poor mental state. "That snake..!"

They reached the main gates as the éored gathered, readying for departure. Kiana searched for Éomer as Gármund went to ready his things as well, finding the young lord just inside the stables.

"Éomer?"

Éomer barely acknowledged her as he finished the final preparations for his horse.

"Éomer." Kiana reached up to touch his hand.

"Kiana, you shouldn't be here."

"Gármund came to get me, he told me what happened..." She gave his hand a squeeze. "Where will you go?"

"We'll ride north, do what we can to continue to protect our lands."

"The king is not of right mind, he can't have meant for this to happen..."

Éomer sighed and pulled her into his arms. "I know..."

"What will we do without you here? What of your sister?"

"Grima will try to worm his way into her heart as well and I fear that she will lose the will to fight."

Kiana looked up at him. "Then I will look after her."

Éomer pressed his forehead to hers. "I know you will, just be careful."

They stayed like that for a moment before one of his men approached them. "My lord, it is time."

Éomer sighed and nodded. "I must leave..." He mounted up as Kiana stepped back. When he looked back down at her, she took his hand and placed something into it.

"This amulet has always brought me good luck. Take this with you so that it may keep you safe."

"Kiana..." He looked down at the amulet, seeing a Rohirric design engraved into the silver.

"For however long it takes, I will wait for you, Éomer. I have faith that things will work out someday, so until then, please stay safe and come back to me alive."

"I will." He pulled the chain over his head and tucked it into his armor for safekeeping. "Until we meet again."

Kiana stood back as he gave the signal to move out and cantered out of the stables, taking his place at the head of the éored. She hurried to the battlements, watching as they left Edoras. She lingered until the éored was indistinguishable from the rest of the landscape, then made her way to Meduseld to comfort Éowyn.