The last words he'd said to her were, "Stay here and mind your manners." So, that's what she did. She stayed in the corner where the sun came in, quiet and not underfoot. The nice old man brought her meals and she took walks in the courtyard and gardens, but she always returned to where he'd left her so she wouldn't miss him. It had been so long since she'd seen him and she wanted to be the first one to welcome him home. Sometimes she wondered if he'd forgotten about her, but she knew that would never happen. She was his princess; her daddy would never abandon her.
Across the barn a strange man looked at her. He was taller and darker than Daddy, but seemed just as kind. Next to him, a lighter man studied her too. She liked them both immediately. The darker one called her as the nice old man joined them and she left her blanket on the floor to say hello. After all, it was only polite since he'd been kind enough to speak to her.
"Well hello there little one. Who is your master?" the dark one asked.
"She was Captain Boromir's, my Lord," the old man said. "Been here since he left on his journey."
While they talked she thought about asking them if they'd seen her daddy, and looked up at each with sad brown eyes.
"She's stayed in that corner for over a year?" the dark one asked, patting her head.
"Aye," the old man said. "She just lays there watching the door. Goes outside, then comes right back and waits. I had to bring her food out here, otherwise she won't eat."
The light one offered his hand and she investigated it well before greeting him too.
"So much faith, little one," he said rubbing her back gently. "You are a true friend indeed."
She decided they probably didn't know where he was as they took their horses from the barn. She should just be a good girl and wait. Daddy will come back, she thought with a sigh as she lay down on her blanket to wait. Someday.