I know, I know. I've started yet ANOTHER story, but this one has been haunting my dreams for weeks. I hope you enjoy!
I DON'T own Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings. They belong to their respective authors.
Prologue
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"Okaasan! Otousan!" A little six year old squealed happily. "Guess what?"
Her mother smiled indulgently. "What is it, Usa-chan?"
"I made lotsa new friends today!" 'Usa-chan' was glowing with happiness. "And we got to make paper airplanes and then we had hot chocolate and then Take-sensei let us pick where we sat and then she taught us how to count to 100,000! It was so much fun! I wanna go back right now!"
"Slow down, Usagi-chan!" Her mother chuckled. "You can go back in the morning, but how does ice cream sound right now?"
"Yummy! Let's go!" Usagi squealed, pulling her parents towards the arcade.
Kenji and Ikuko, Usagi's parents, smiled at their daughter. Returning their smile, she ran ahead, chasing some geese towards the pond. Stopping suddenly, Usagi turned and ran up to them.
"I'm hungry!" She whined. "Can we go home now?"
"Let's go." Kenji smiled, picking her up. "I'm getting too old for this."
"No you're not, 'tousan! You can never get older!" Usagi stated.
"What do you want for dinner, Usa-chan?" Ikuko asked, changing the subject.
"Ooh! I want some curry with nori and tohu!"
"Okay. We'll stop by the market on the way home."
When they got to the market, it wasn't the scene they were expecting. A large youma was attacking people left and right. Looking on in horror and the death and destruction, Usagi began to cry.
"'Kaa-san, what's going on?" She whimpered.
"Shh." Ikuko hissed. "We must be quiet. Head towards the door, Usa- chan. I'll be right behind you."
"Okay." Sniffing, Usagi led the way towards the door of the market.
Suddenly, Kenji screamed in pain. The youma had chosen to attack him. Screaming, Usagi tried to run towards him, but Ikuko threw her back and cried out,
"Usagi-chan, run! Hurry! Remember that I'll always love you! Go!"
Sobbing, Usagi turned and stumbled towards the door. But before she could get there, a purple light surrounded her, and she disappeared.
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"Gomen nasai, hime-sama," A woman in a senshi uniform whispered sadly. "But these people will have greater need of you, and you of them. Go now. And may this world help you grow better and stronger than ever before. May the grace of the Valar protect you."
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Groaning, Usagi rolled over, only to feel a stick dig into her leg. As she slowly opened her eyes, she realized one thing, wherever home was, it wasn't here. But then, she realized that she didn't know where home was to begin with. Sniffling, she slowly stood up. Looking around, she noticed a small village that wasn't too far away. Walking towards it, she began to think, 'who am I? Where am I?'
As tears slid silently down her cheeks, she continued towards the village. However, before she could reach the outer row of cabins and huts, someone stopped her.
"What's a young child like yourself doing out here alone?" A kind looking woman knelt down to Usagi's level. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Sniffing, Usagi looked at the woman. "I don't remember my name."
"Oh you poor child!" The woman exclaimed. "I am Eowine, and I'm sure that my husband, Eogen would be happy to have you come live with us! You could become our child. Does that appeal to you?" Eowine spoke softly.
"Yes, ma'am. I would like that very much." She replied. "But what will my name be?"
"Do you like the name Serein?" Eowine asked softly.
"Yes." She replied. "It sounds pretty. I like it."
"Then we shall call you Serein. Come. Let's go and meet your new father."
"All right." Serein replied.
Eowine smiled and took Serein's hand in her own. Leading the way back to the village, Eowine began to speak about the kindness of her husband.
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The years passed, and Serein now had a little brother and sister. Her brother had been born two years after she'd been 'adopted' and her sister had been born four years after her brother. Her past had been long forgotten, and she was regarded as the daughter of Eowine and Eogen. Whenever a child turned seventeen in their village, there was a large celebration, and this was Serein's day to shine.
Looking all around her, she smiled brightly. Nearly the whole village had come to celebrate, except for the guards that now protected their borders. There had been reports of nearby villages being ravaged by the wild men of Dunland. The trouble had began several years ago. Sighing, Serein tried to banish troubling thoughts from her head. Smiling at her brother and sister, she turned her attention to her father.
"Now as I was saying, since you have turned seventeen, it's now time for you to begin to consider marriage. I am getting on in years, and I do now wish to leave this world without my eldest daughter being bethroed, at least, to a respectable man who will take care of her." Eogen spoke with a fatherly air.
"Father, you know that I wish to marry for love, and for nothing else. I do not wish to disappoint you, but I want to wait until I find the one who will love me forever. I know it's childish, but I wish to choose, and not be rushed." Serein spoke carefully.
"There are many fine young men in this village who have asked for your hand in marriage. Why not marry one of them and appease this old man?"
"Father, I-" Serein was cut off as one of the guards came galloping up the street.
"An attack! My lord, the men of Dunland are coming! Already, they are but one league away! We must save the women and children!" With that, the man fell over, dead.
A deadly hush had fallen across the people. Turning, Eogen began to give quick orders.
"Gather all the women and children and have them run away from where the battle will begin. Send out a rider to warn Theoden King! Quickly!"
As one, the villagers began to run away from the center of the village. Making sure that her brother and sister were with her, Serein led the way, taking a less used route. One that would prove to save their lives.
"Celeste! Calin! Come quickly!" She hissed, pulling them through the waist deep grass. "And quietly!"
Fearfully, she looked around. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, she whistled quietly. Suddenly, the whinny of a horse rang clearly through the air. Celeste and Calin smiled happily at the horse that came to them. One of the Mearas, with a shimmering brown coat, cantered towards Serein. Gently touching the muzzle of the horse, she spoke softly.
"Celeste, Calin, come quickly. You must get onto Govannen. Hurr-" Serein was cut off as Celeste whimpered in fear.
Whirling around, she saw three men of Dunland. Acting quickly, she stepped in front of Calin and Celeste. As they jeered at her, a reckless plan formed in her mind.
"Will you not let two innocent children live?" She spoke carefully.
"Any child can grow strong..." Their leader spoke slowly, using the common tongue. "Strong enough to fight us."
"If you let them go, I shall do whatever you wish." She replied, ignoring the shocked gasp of Calin.
The three men looked at her dubiously and began to confer amongst themselves. After several minutes, one of them stepped forward.
"You will do anything we wish?" He eyed her up and down.
"I swear to you on my life, anything you wish." Serein replied quietly.
"Alright then. The two children are permitted to leave. But no one else. Well, get them gone!" The man ordered sternly.
Nodding, Serein turned to Calin and began to speak swiftly in Rohirric. "Calin, you must get to Edoras to alert Theoden-king, you understand? Go now!"
And with that, Serein spoke a word to Govannen and the horse was off like a flash. Turning back to the men, she spoke,
"Do what you will."
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Calin and Celeste had been riding for nearly four hours. Sniffling, Celeste looked back at Calin.
"Will Serein be coming back soon?"
"Maybe." Calin replied sadly. "But I fear that she too will perish. Come, we must reach Edoras and warn the King."
"Calin!" Celeste suddenly cried. "What is that?"
Off in the distance, there was a great rumbling of hooves as though many hundreds of riders were out upon the plain. Looking to the East, Calin saw many riders, all wearing armour. One was carrying a banner of Rohan. Turning Govannen to face the riders, he screamed as loudly as he could,
"What is the way to Edoras?"
With amazing speed, the steeds of the riders were checked and all were riding towards Govannen. Looking nervously around, Calin tried to pick out the leader of the eored. Seeing that the two upon the horse were but children, two men rode forward.
"What are two children doing alone on the plains? It is unsafe. My name is Eomund and this is my son, Eomer. Why do you seek Edoras alone?"
"My Lord," Calin spoke nervously. "Our village has been ravaged by the men of Dunland and our sister gave her life so that the alarm could be sounded once again. I am Calin, son of Eogen, leader of our village, and this is my sister, Celeste. We beg of you, send word to Theoden King and send riders to our village."
There was a great murmuring among the riders. "Where is your village?" Eomer spoke. "We shall send our fastest rider to Theoden King and come to your village. We must not waste anymore time. You shall ride with me, and your sister with my father. Your horse may run free along the plain."
"We cannot just leave Govannen!" Celeste protested. "She knows the way to our village, we do not. And she would not leave us without knowing the fate of our sister, her master."
"This is one of the Mearas!" Eomund spoke suddenly. "Of course she shall not be sent out to die. Now come, lead the way to your village."
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The eored had ridden hard for two hours, following Govannen. When they reached the village, they instantly knew they were too late to save few, if there were any survivors at all. Looking around, Eomund ordered the men to divide into groups of two and to comb the village for any life. Then, taking Calin and Celeste with them, Eomer and Eomund followed Govannen once more.
Govannen was cantering swiftly around the edge of the village. Stopping suddenly, she whinnied and bent down, using her long muzzle to bump something lying in the grass. Recognizing where they were, Calin slid off of Eomer's horse, and ran forward.
"Serein!" Kneeling beside her, Calin didn't even hear Eomer and Eomund come up behind him. He did hear Celeste trying to catch up. Looking up at Eomund, he spoke softly. "Please don't let her see. Please. Serein would not want her to see. Please."
Nodding, Eomund complied and gently pulled her away. Placing his ear over her mouth, Calin heard soft, uneven breathing.
"She's alive!" He cried out, ready to sob with joy. "Quickly! You must help her! Serein, can you hear me? Serein?"
Eomer, who'd just been getting ready to tell Calin that Serein probably couldn't be saved, was beyond shocked when she moaned softly. Signaling Eomund, he too bent over her prone form. Blinking slowly, her pain filled eyes turned fearfully to him.
"Serein," Calin spoke comfortingly. "This is Eomer, nephew of Theoden King. His Eored found us on the plain. What happened?"
"Wh.wh." she croaked, speaking with difficulty. "Where is Cel.Celeste?"
"She is here." Calin replied, gently pulling a stray strand of hair back. "You need not worry about us."
Calin was gently pulled back by Eomer as three men came forward to wrap her wounds the best they could. Going back to Celeste, he gently hugged her.
"Serein will be fine, Celeste. You just wait and see."
Twenty minutes later, Serein was placed in front of Eomer. Giving a command, the eored moved into a gallop, heading for Edoras, and the king of the golden hall.
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How was it? I know it's not the best, but I think that it's a fairly unique idea. Please review and tell me if I've misspelled anything. Also, does anyone know the name of Eomer's horse?