A/N: Hello there, and welcome to my story . . . thing. . . Anyways, I got this inspiration from a picture I saw from the Two Towers (extended version) when they're at Helms Deep. Eowyn was defending the Glittering Caves, you know the ones, and so . . . yeah. So why not do a story about another woman wanting to be a soldier?. . . And I own nothing but the character of Whyn (and the others that I make up too, and the horses. Hehe). So anyways, here's the beginning chapter and I hope you like it!

Chapter 1

A small girl was lying on her back, looking up into the blue sky atop a small hillock covered with swaying grass. Her hands were behind her head as she chewed on a piece of hay. The few clouds that were overhead swirled in and out of the young girl's sight. She could hear the distant neigh of horses from the vast stables of the city. Coming with the sound of the horses came a shrill, high-pitched whistle. The girl, as if on cue, jumped up from her grassy spot and looked out towards the city.

A wind picked up, causing the girl to squint as her golden hair flew behind her. The smell of the stables came with the wind, and she stood tall and erect, as if waiting for a sign.

The city stood a distance away from her grassy hill, but she knew she could still be seen from the wooden buildings perched on top of the stony hill the city was built upon. Rising above the domestic wooden buildings, gleaming in the afternoon sun, was the Golden Hall of Meduseld. She knew that there dwelt Théoden, King of the Mark of Rohan. This was Edoras, her home.

The whistle came again, and she jerked her head to the stables, seeing a tall figure just beyond them looking out towards her. She ran down her small hill and in the direction of the figure: her father.

"Whyn, how many times must I tell you not to wander too far from the city?" her father, Eohir told his small daughter as he picked a blade of grass from her hair.

"I'm sorry Papa, I just like to venture beyond the gates," the girl named Whyn told her father innocently. He laughed and shook his head.

"You're a troublesome one you are; but come now. Help me in the stables."

Whyn nodded her head as she followed her father. Soon they came upon the wooden stabling of the horses of Edoras, and they entered to the sound of many horses neighing and whinnying.

Eohir strode over to his chestnut mare. Whyn smiled as she reached up to pet her own horse. She had named him a long time ago, when she and her father raised him from a foal. His name was Derngold, named after her grandfather who had passed on many years ago, before she was even born.

Derngold looked at Whyn with kind brown eyes, as if an understanding between them was there. Whyn reached for a brush and started to groom her brown gelding as her father tended his own chestnut: Sadroth, named after Whyn's mother who had passed on giving birth to Whyn's younger sister Theohir.

Derngold nudged his nose into Whyn's shoulder, and she laughed as she attempted to climb the horse. She had the help of a stepping stool, and she was soon atop the horse's back, petting him lovingly.

"How will I get any brushing done when all you want to do is play?" she asked him. He neighed in reply as she continued to brush, promising she would ride him another time.

As she finished, Whyn patted Derngold's neck as she and her father made their way towards the city. As the dirt path led onwards up to the gate, they entered and passed the wooden houses as they located their own, standing off at the side with the snowy hills stretching beyond it.

Inside, Whyn pulled off her boots as her younger sister Theohir ran down the hall.

"I'm hungry!" she screamed as Eohir set down his own boots. He laughed as the small child gave a pouting look.

"Well then, let us go get dinner started," he informed the young one. He picked her up and carried her to another room in the small house, as Whyn watched them go. She decided she would wait for dinner rather than help cook it.

She passed in front of a long mirror and looked at herself. Her golden hair was slightly disheveled, with here and there a blade of grass intertwined within the strands. She wore no dress or skirts like the other girls, but wore a small tunic and breeches instead. She nodded proudly at her look and walked on.

Soon she came upon her father's sword, Grendhold, hanging from the wall and gleaming from the sunlight coming through a window. Whyn smiled broadly at the sword. One day that would be hers, when the time came. How she longed for that day when she could wield a sword like the Riders of Rohan did, or the soldiers. The women of the country of Rohan learned the art of sword-fighting long ago, and Whyn planned to be a shield maiden of Rohan someday.

A/N: So, this is when Whyn is around . . . probably 'round the age of 10 or so at this moment. Keep that in mind! Or not. Your choice. Eh……whatever.