Kiana woke one morning, stretching after a long night at the loom, and went to wash up. She had stayed up late once again, trying to finish her most recent order of bandages, slings, and wraps for the soldiers. With talk of war coming more frequently as of late, the demand for supplies was higher and her workload increased. She did her best to keep up with the orders being placed, but she was beginning to get burnt out a bit and needed a break. She decided to go out to the meadows just outside of Edoras to pick some flowers to take Éowyn since she was already heading up towards Meduseld to deliver her latest completed order to the infirmary.

As she prepared to take on the day, Éomer himself was waking from a restless slumber filled yet again with nightmares. The nightmares just would not subside, and he found himself constantly tossing and turning, barely getting any sleep- decent sleep, at least- and he was surprised that it had yet to take a toll on his ability to complete his duties. As he sat there rubbing his temples, Éomer took a few moments before getting himself ready for the day. With war looming over the horizon, the frequency in which the éoreds would be sent out on patrol or to battle began to increase, and with it, Éomer's guilt-driven nightmares. Things seemed bleak, hopeless even, and Éomer was losing faith in ever seeing peace and happiness return to his life.

Éomer left his chambers and made his way across the great hall towards the kitchens, stopping for a moment when he heard the main door open. He watched as Kiana stepped inside, humming quietly to herself and smiling brightly as she offered him a small curtsey- which was all that she could manage given her full hands.

"Good morning, my lord. How are you this fine day?"

Éomer glanced outside at the cloudy skies, then looked at her with a brow raised. "And what is it that makes such gloominess into a 'fine day'?"

Thunder sounded softly outside and Kiana's smile grew. "I've always loved the rain and the way it feels on my skin, the way it makes the earth smell once it has vanished, and the way the sky gets that almost ethereal glow as the storm clouds part to allow the sun to shine through once more. Something about the rain makes me feel comforted, at ease, knowing that the storm won't last forever and the light of day will come back to us once it has passed."

Éomer is surprised by her answer, finding far more wisdom in it than he would have expected.

"Water is essential for all living things," Kiana continued, looking back up at the young lord- finding that he stood just over a head taller than her. "And with rain comes flowers, renewed rivers and springs, and rich soil for our farms." She blushed when she saw his look. "Forgive me, my lord, I tend to get rather passionate about the things I adore."

"I would assume that would also apply to people?" Éomer teased, much to his own surprise.

Kiana smiled at that, her blush deepening for a moment as she replied, "Only to those whom I deem worthy."

"Kiana!"

Kiana and Éomer turned to find Éowyn approaching, a weary smile upon her lips when she spotted Kiana.

"Good morning, my lady." Kiana presented the flowers she carried in her basket to Éowyn. "These are you for."

Éomer watched his sister's eyes light up and Kiana accept her embrace. It was rare to see his sister in high spirits, so this moment spoke volumes about Kiana's character.

"Have you had breakfast?" Éowyn asked.

"I had a bite this morning, but it's been hours," Kiana replied.

"Would you care to join us, then?"

Kiana smiled, then glanced over at Éomer. "If it's not an imposition?"

"You would be welcome to join us," Éomer stated. "Anyone who can make my sister smile like that is always welcome."

Kiana was taken aback for a moment, seeing the young lord smiling for the first time since she had met him, but she returned his smile and nodded. "I'd love to then."

As they enjoyed a meal together, Éomer thought over everything he knew of Kiana or had seen for himself. She was a friendly person, buried herself in her work, was always trying to help people if she could. He himself buried himself in work or secluded himself with a drink in hand, so he hadn't really gotten to spend much time with her like the others. But the more he interacted with Kiana, the easier and "lighter" things seemed to be. She seemed to bring a warmth to his days that he would not expect in such times, and he found himself wanting to spend more time with her.

After breakfast, Kiana and Éowyn went to put away the linens and other items Kiana had brought from the infirmary- having been asked to take them with her to Meduseld since she was already headed there- while Éomer went to see to his duties. The storm had reached Edoras and the rain battered the town for hours with no signs of stopping any time soon. Éomer, like many of the others in the town, could only see the gloominess of the storm and it did nothing to lift his spirits as the depression sank in again. He called it a day after several hours and returned to Meduseld, surprised to see that Kiana was still there.

"Should you have not returned home by now?" he asked when he reached her.

Kiana simply smiled and pulled her cloak tighter around herself. "As much as I love the rain, even I know better than to travel in a downpour." She held out her hand a bit. "At least it looks like the rain is letting up a bit. I should take advantage and try to hurry home."

"Do you need an escort home? The roads are not too muddied, but one should still be careful."

"That might be wise, but only if the young lord himself is offering," Kiana replied, winking at him.

That little moment brought a smile to Éomer's lips, the first genuine one he had managed in a long time. "Very well, allow me then." He offered his arm to her, his smile growing when she accepted with a tad bit of overexaggerated gratitude.

They walked carefully back down the stone steps leading from the Golden Hall to the main road, then followed it until it turned towards Kiana's home. When they did reach her home, Éomer tried to take his leave once he was sure that she would be fine on her own- only to be stopped when Kiana reached forward to grab his hand.

"Wait, my lord, the rain is starting to pick up again. Won't you come in and at least wait until it lets up once more?"

Éomer was taken aback by her offer, but her expression reminded him of a pup trying to get its way. He chuckled and nodded. "Very well."

Kiana's smile grew and she pulled him inside. "I'll get the kettle on, please make yourself at home."