Éomer woke the following morning much as he always did, but this particular morning left him feeling heavy-hearted when he remembered that Héoláf was gone.

Héoláf was a good lad, wanting nothing more than to protect his older sister- the only family he had left after their father's passing- and he had always felt that being a soldier and serving in an eored was his way of doing that. He was well-liked by the others, strong and stubborn but dedicated to the éored and never questioned orders. He had always had Éomer's back, even for simple things like knowing where he had placed an item but couldn't find it again or knowing just when he was hungry and always being there with food and a smile. He had become a rather skilled swordsman and had taken to learning how to use a spear just before he was promoted to Éomer's second in command. His prowess on the battlefield was unexpected for one as young as he had been, but unsurprising given that his father, Héogrim, had fought by the king's side for many years. Éomer- as well as Éowyn and Théodred for that matter- had grown fond of him and come to see him as a younger brother, one who could always make them smile and feel at ease regardless of the happenings around them. But now that he was gone, it was like a giant hole had been reopened- one that had since been filled after the death of their parents- and Éomer didn't know what to do.

While Éomer went about his daily morning routine, Héodis was in the kitchens trying to keep herself busy until later that day when she could take the rest of the day to herself to prepare for her brother's funeral. She was kneading dough for the daily loaves of bread, then she would check on the pottage over for the fire while the dough rested. As she turned to finish preparing the food for the royal family's breakfast, she noticed that Éomer had come into the kitchens and was waiting hesitantly in the doorway.

Ignoring his presence, Héodis kept her attention on her work.

"My lord, good morning," one of the servants said, greeting him, "Was there something we could do for you?"

Éomer glanced over at Heodis for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the servant. "The king is feeling a bit under the weather this morning, more than usual, so he will be taking his meal in his chambers."

"Understood, my lord. Breakfast will be ready shortly. We can send Ulfgar with the ale if you would like to wait in the great hall?"

Éomer nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course, will there be anything else my lord?"

Éomer looked to Heodis again, noticing that she looked more exhausted than he felt. "How is she doing?"

The servant, Saewyn, shifted her gaze to Heodis and her face fell. "She is not doing well, my lord. She has been up nearly all night, burying herself in work. She is nearly done with her duties for the day already, but she plans to take the remainder of the day to prepare for her brother's funeral rights."

"I see... thank you..."

The servants watched as Éomer took his leave, one last glance at Heodis before he disappeared through the door. They knew that he and Heodis had been close for years, and seeing how much of a toll that Heolaf's death was taking on them both broke their hearts.

Saewyn approached Heodis as she turned to slide the loaves of bread into the oven to bake. "Héodis, why are you so angry with him?"

Héodis' chest tightened and she barely looked at her. "He said that he would be safe, but now my brother is gone..."

Saewyn reached up to wipe away the tears slipping down her cheek and pulled her into a hug. "One can never know the true outcome of a battle."

"I never should have let Héoláf join an eored... I never should have let him go off to war..."

"You mustn't blame Lord Éomer for something he could not control."

"He promised, Saewyn..." Héodis said, looking up at her. "He promised that he would keep Héoláf safe... he promised to look after him..."

"Héodis..."

"I-I need some air..." Héodis hurried off, making her way outside. The chill in the wintery air soaked into her skin, her tears cold against her cheeks. She stood there alone, taking a few moments to recompose herself. As she tried to calm herself down, she thought back on the life she and Héoláf had lived.

They had lived in a small village in the West-March, but it was frequently attacked by Dunlendings. One such attack had taken their father, Héogrim, and their home was burned to ash. They had begun to flee with the other villagers, but Éomer's éored had come to their rescue and slew the Dunlending raiding party. Feeling as though it were the only way that he could protect his sister and become stronger, Heolaf had asked if he could join the eored and train to become a Rider of Rohan. Éomer accepted, taking him on as a squire, and offered Héodis work in Meduseld should she want it. Having nothing left by way of family or home, Héodis agreed, and she and Héoláf gathered what little had survived the fire that consumed their home, buried their father with their mother, then accompanied the eored back to Edoras.

Héoláf began his training with Éomer and the others while Héodis took work in Meduseld, cooking and cleaning or tending to the sick and wounded- wherever she was needed. Héoláf eventually rose through the ranks and became Éomer's second in command, and Héodis became well-liked in the capital as well thanks to her cooking and skills as an apothecary. And because of how often the éoreds would be sent out on patrols, Héodis didn't see much of her brother unless he was home in the capital and even then it would only be for a few days if they were lucky.

Despite that, Héoláf and Heodis grew close with Éomer, his sister, and the king's son. Their father had been good friends with the king, so they were treated just like family. Éowyn had even asked Heodis to help her look after the king when his mental state started to take a turn for the worse, which strengthened their bond. Héodis did whatever she could to help ease Éowyn's mind, comforting her when she needed it- and trying to do her best to keep the weaselly snake of an advisor to the king, Grima, away from her. She often sat with Éowyn and they would contemplate life together, and her ladyship trusted Héodis enough to even speak with her on things she rarely shared with anyone else.

"What will I do without Héoláf...?"