Saida grew up in warm regions of the forest of Region. She loved to swim in nearby lake with her friends – they always came back home all soaked and their parents send them off to sleep in the wooden tree house instead of their respective homes. Not that they took it as a punishment and even their parent knew it was not supposed to be one.

Their settlement was quite a big one – they even had a large stable for all the horses that were in the village and ther was one wooden cot to gather their grains and reserves for winter. Saida often helped with cleaning the stable and taking care of the horses and when she grew up she helped with gathering wood from the forest – they took one of their two huge, heavy horses that was able to drag heavy trunks and Saida was the one to lead the horse back and forth, while the wood-cutters prepared another trunks.

Her mother was a herbalist and her father worked the leather and animal hides. Both of them were pretty skilled hunters as well, and they taught Saida how to use a bow and place traps. Saida loved them like nobody else – they were the closest family she had. She knew her mother's kin lived in the settlement in the forest of Neldoreth and beside them, Saida knew only her aunt - her mother's sister who lived in the same settlement as they did. Her father never spoke of his family and Saida never pressed this matter.

When Saida grew up she didn't really found a place for herself. Every one of her friends had a profession – one was a woodworker, another was a professional hunter, one of her friends was a wonderful mother and had a loving home with her husband, another friend was a fishermen. But Saida was a bit of everything and she was able to help everywhere – truth be told she did what needed to be done or where there was not enough elves to work. And Saida never backed away from anything she was asked to do.

Life in her settlement was truly peaceful. Idyllic views were magnificent and Saida loved to rest on her hammock listening to the sounds of the forest. But rest was only possible when the work was done – never earlier and never too late. They didn't have much problems with wolves although they bred a lot in the forest of Region, but their hunters were skilled in driving them away. Besides their brave dogs kept the wolves at bay - if anything any clashes happened during winter when there was not many animals to prey on and wolves approached their settlement hoping to find any easy food.

But one time in the middle of summer, Saida decided to turn her life upside down. And she did that on her own.

To their settlement arived few riders under the banner of the Wolf. They were soldiers of Menegroth – the great city build underground. Saida had never been in the Caves, but those elves who had been there spoke of it with awe. Saida focused on the words the riders spoke – they said that the great army of Doriath extended their ranks and anyone who wanted to join would pass by the basic training and become a soldier under one of three Banners.

'New divisions of archers and swordsmen are created. Everyone is welcome to join.' the rider said. 'You may either ride with us to Menegroth or arrive to the city later, on your own. The training for new recruits begins at the beginning of Autumn.'

Her decision was impulsive, which was truly rare for her. But she had this weird felling in her guts that this was a path she should follow. Out of her settlement, only Saida declared as a volounteer and she agreed to come with the soldiers immediately.

The hardest thing was not hastily gathering her belongings and her beloved small things that gave her luck, she quickly took her bow with quiver and a dagger and hastily got them on her back and waist. She took few of her clothes and one more pair of shoes – all of this she placed in a large bag. But truly hardest thing was saying goodbye to her parents – they didn't really tried to stop her, she was grown up elleth and she did what she believed was the best for her. Her father kissed her heartily, her mother as well – they gave her one of their two horses for the travel and a bag of coins. Saida even shed few tears when she embraced them both one more time before leaving. Then she jumped on her piebald horse and held a bag in front of her – she didn't take away a saddle with her. They could not afford many of those and her parents would surely get another horse for themselves and they will need this saddle. In comparison to the riders of Menegroth this looked a bit miserbale. Even her horse paled when compared with the muscled military steed.

She waved her parents a goodbye and she moved on entirely new path she created for herself. Saida knew she will miss her home and beloved parents, but she knew she will visit them as often as she possibly could.

Beside her, few other elves from other settlements decided to begin immediately their new duty. When they arrived to Menegroth, Saida stared with wide eyes as the Great Gate slowly opened before them. They entered the deep Caves with no hesistancy and those same elves that brought them here showed them their places to stay in. Commonly, those were called baracks, but truly they were rather comfy huge cottages, just that many elves could live there. Saida got pretty accomodated immediately and as the time went on the baracks began to be more and more full.

Basic training flied past immediately and Saida didn't even know when. They were trained with sword mastery, archery, dagger handling. All of them worked out hard and Saida improved her condition visibly. Commanders were strict, harsh and demanded a lot – just like Saida imagined being in the army. But at that time she had little concept of what it truly meant be a full time soldier, dedicated to her duty and people she had to protect.

After the training they splited them into divisions – smaller groups within a single regiment. Typically, there were around thirty divisions in the regiment and every division had their own lieutenant who reported to the lower ranking officer. They were one of the few divisionss their officer was leading.

Saida was the best soldier in her division - she could even defeat Seron, the leader of her team. None of her fellow soldiers could beat her.

She knew it should have been her to lead the division, but when it formed she kept quiet to not gain attention, which was her mistake. Second one was doing what she was ordered without showing off her skills. Third one was not giving her own initiative. She could not blame anyone but herself that she was not chosen as a leader.

Since then Saida grew up and she understood well that no one will give her anything on their own and she needed to fight for it. She acknowledged her mistakes – her lack of determination and resolutness. Since then she worked hard, pushing and shoving everyone aside to get her voice heard. Right now, Saida often helped Seron with reports and taking care of their division. She was good at it and everyone knew it - soldiers listened to her with no objections, she proved to be resourceful and handled the warriors well.

Seron appreciated her work and Saida enjoyed working with him - they met during the basic training in the army and she quickly joined him and the elves who would later be her division. Back during those days, she was quick to join anyone. Who other would want her?, she asked herself.

Seron once said to her that she should be in a division of some officer, who held the lead of few divisions within a regiment. He said that he would recommend her if he will have such a chance, but this chance seemed to never come or she was not good enough to catch an interest of any officer. And sometimest this quiet voice would say: Are you truly that surprised that no one wants you? You are not that good, take what you have and be grateful.

But she knew she can be something more. Someone more. She didn't leave her home for nothing, to be kept within the walls of Menegroth. Saida knew that if someone would care to give her a chance she would take it, she would prove what she can do. She just needed this chance!

But opportunites always passed by her division. Saida didn't know if those were commanders who thought her team to not be good enough or if it was Seron who prefered this stable vegetation in his ranks - they had not many responsibilities. Truly, their orders concerned mostly carting corns and beetroots for horses or helping in wood delivery. Nothing to be ashamed of - someone needed to do such a thing and it was a work like many others in Menegroth and this was a work that needed to be done nonetheless. But this was what Saida was doing for almost all her life and in her new life she wished for something else entirely.

Saida was no longer a quiet one she used to be in youth or even at the beginning of her training. She grew up from it and overcame it for her own good, or so she was telling herself. She learned to speak her mind aloud, she learned to get her voice heard. It was hard for her and such openess and resolution didn't suit her. At first, when Saida began to speak aloud among large groups she felt her hands shaking, which she tried to hide as best as she could. Saida spoke only when she wanted to add something to discussion and most of the times her words and ideas were taken well, which improved her confidence.

Saida and her division was a part a swordsmen regiment under Wolverine Banner. They were lead by Nelledir, the high ranking officer who was a part of General's personal division - Nelledir reported and answered only to him and the General of the Wolverines was known for his harshness and high demands. He required the best from his soldiers and every soldier of his banner needed to show more than decend skills in handling weapons. And the officers made sure that his order was carried through.

'Saida, get everyone ready!'

Startled, she looked up at Seron, who gathered things from his bedding. Currently, they stationed in the baracs - many of the soldiers lived in the settlements outside Menegroth and they didn't have a place to live in the city. Saida was one of those - her family lived in the forest of Region, much too far to travel back and forth for her duty.

'What happened?' she asked getting up from her bedding.

'The officers wish to see regiments of swordsmen! We better get moving if we don't want to be late!'

'They should say much earlier about such things.' Mael muttered above her. Ther shared a two-storey bed and she chose the bedding on the lower level. Mael arrived not long ago wishing to have a little rest or even take a nap, but truly Saida doubted he did anything productive to deserve it.

'Shut up and take your stuff!' she hit him with a pillow and grabbed her own things.

'Alright!' Mael growled not comforted at all by leaving his own bedding.

Saida left the barack and managed to find the rest of the division. They were quite large grup, counting fifteen soldiers, where a typical division counted around ten or even less. She waited with Seron until all of them will get their outfits and weapons and then they headed towards the fields where visitation will take place. As Seron said before, all three regiments of swordsmen were gathering there, but since the order was given suddenly they were all on foot, without their horses.

Seron saw to it that they presented themselves efficiently and placed them in two rows. Two officers, Nelledir and Alagos, were already present there, speaking with lower ranking officers, but they were enough distance away that Saida could not hear them. The fields were almost full with soldiers and regiments arrived prepared and ready for visitation. The question why all three regiments had to be presented soon was blown away when their General arrived with the rest of his own division.

Their presence was overwhelming, especially for those who have not saw the officers many times and was not used to their presence. Taranir, the second in command, scanned the ranks with cold iron of his eyes and Saida despite herself swallowed – his eyes were truly in the colour of steel. Without a doubt Taranir was a born commander - tall with straight back and with duty burned in his eyes. Few would dare to stand against him. Saida kept staring, tracking every step of her commanders. After Taranir came Orthon – the most vicous warrior in all of Menegroth, stronger than any average elf and some say that even more cruel. Stories about this elf were sometimes hard to believe and Saida preferred to think about them as just anecdotes, but surely, Orthon was not the warrior to be meddled with. Out of them all only officer Faron seemed easy enough to approach and Saida knew soldiers, who actually did what she just thought of - any report that needed to be presented to higher ranking officer was heard by no one other but Faron.

General Oropher had his hair gathered into ponytail, simply braided only on sides. Orhton was said to loose a duel only to one elf – to Oropher, but Saida didn't know if this was truth or just another story. Oropher stopped before them and Nelledir with Alagos stood on his both sides speaking their reports. Numbers of divisions, grade of armature and weapons, level of training and possible upskills of certain divisions - Saida was sure her own was not counted among this group.

Oropher was not only a soldier and their General. He was a member of House Elmo – he was a Prince of Doriath and the only son of the Head Councillor to the King, Erthor Elmoion. He was nothing like his father, many said and even more wondered from whom he inherited such flaming temper. They said he can be even greater than Galadhon Elmoion, the legendary Commander who with Prime General Mablug led the warriors of Doriath during the First Battle. Oropher was known for his rigour and fierceness - many avoided his anger, some even feared it. He was said to calm during long centuries and if this was indeed truth than Saida didn't want to imagine being under his Banner those centuries ago. There were stories told here and there from the times when Oropher was a troop soldiers just like them and as with Orthon, Saida was not sure to believe heartily in any of those.

Oropher moved from his place to enter the rows of soldiers and Saida felt the warriors near her congeal like statues. Probably they wished to stop breathing rather than get General's attention on themselves.

'Lieutenant Rivalt and his division of eleven.'

Saida heard officer Nelledir present a nearby team and the soldiers saluted before their commanders. She was sure more than few teams will be chosen for upskill training, some will be delegated to train with divisions from other regiments and only few will remain as they were and Saida was sure her division will be in those few. She wished her division was good enough to catch the attention of the officers.

'Lieutenant Malfind and his division of nine.'

'Lieutenant Lanc and her division of eleven.'

'Lieutenant Fingaer and his division of twelve.'

Alagos and Nelledir kept calling out the leaders, but Oropher kept his silence. It was hard to read him, but for some reason Saida knew he was not pleased. His eyes only scanned briefly the lieutenants, considering them, but he was not satisfied with what he saw.

They continued their inspection and silence in the ranks was only interrupted by soldiers training on the other fields and horses neighting in the stables. Orthon stared on the whole military fields with arms crossed on chest. He was the tallest elf Saida ever saw in her life and she was sure his strength matched his body. He was not someone Saida would want to fight with. Faron stood near Orthon with hands clasped on his back and he spoke with Taranir quietly.

Soldiers around her congealed anew when officers passed by them again, going back at the head of the ranks.

'How about those last two? I am sure one of them would fit to our division.'

'Neither of them is good enough. I prefer to wait rather that choose a soldier who won't meet my expectations.'

'As you wish.'

When officers went back where they started their inspection, lower ranking officers started to read aloud divisions and their knew placements. But Saida listened to none of this, she knew her division won't be chosen for anything.

She felt a shiver go down her spine. The inspection had more than one purpose – General was looking for a soldier to join his team. His own personal division, who performed duties with him. This was an honour anyone could wish for, while many never dared to even dream of it. Their team was one of the best in whole army of Menegroth – they were strong as a team, like an iron wall no one would cross and singly they were swift and deadly, more than practiced in weapon mastery.

What an honour it would be. All those chances that Saida had missed or that were taken from her now faded and turned pale before the occasion she had now. It was one of a kind, one like no other. Saida was sure nothing like this will ever happen again.

But how could she? This was ridiculous! How could she even allow such a thought to flourish?

Few division were ordered to muster immediately for training, but many were dismissed to come back to their previous duties or get their rest. The fields began to slowly empty, but Saida stood were she did and moment by moment she felt fear and doubt overwhelming her courage. If she would follow Seron and her division she knew she won't turn back again, but follow them blidly. Before that happened, before the last spark of her bravery dimmed out she moved from her place. Her feet were heavy all of sudden and she felt her body shaking. Her whole body shook clearly overwhelmed by her feelings, by what she was doing now.

General stood with his back turned from leaving soldiers and he was rounded by his officers. They spoke freely, discussing next steps and orders for three regiments. It was now Taranir who spoke, explaining arrays he made and what divisions will train together master them. Saida was close enough to hear the second in command clearly. She glanced from one officer to another, suddenly feeling impossibly small among them. Saida never spoke to any of them, she rarely even spoke with the officer Seron reported to. As Saida glanced through them, a shiver went down her spine when she met a pair of unwelcoming golden eyes. Orthon stared at her, not threateningly, but he obsered her every move and Saida could not stand the strength in his eyes. She quickly turned her eyes away only to gaze into blue eyes boring sharply in her. Nelledir observed her as well, vigilant as ever and Saida felt her knees weaken, but she walked still towards them and stopped only when she though distance to be enough.

If two wolves spotted the prey the whole pack backed them up. Faron precisly considered her and Taranir turned his steel eyes to look at her as well. Only Alagos seemed to peer at her curiously from behind. And now all of them looked at her awaiting her words, but her words were meant for none of them.

'What is it?'

Oropher turned to her with arms crossed on chest. His green eyes were like spring in forests of Doriath, like well known grasslands in the forest of Region - it was well known wilderness of her home. And there was impatience. After all, she interrupted their discussion and Saida knew she will do well to speak her mind quickly.

'General!' Saida saluted and she felt her confidence rise up when she realized her voice have not shook even one bit. There was no need to explain herself why she approached him. There was even no time for it! Saida knew she needed to say her request straight forward. 'Allow me to become one of your soldiers!'

They were silent. All of them. There was no laugh, there were no mocking smiles on their faces. They stared at her taking her in all seriousness and Saida began to wonder if it was not even worse - now she had to face the consequences of her request.

Saida swallowed trying to hold the crushing glance of her commander. Oropher clearly considered her and she could read nothing from the jade green of his eyes. Saida though she tought herself how to handle much stronger personalities – she had to face them everyday in the army. She didn't learn this - Saida had no one to learn this from, she had to teach it by herself, but standing before them proved to be experience like no other. They said Oropher's division was one of a kind and now Saida knew what they meant.

Run! Treacherous voice shouted at her, but she threw it away. She stood before them like a hare under hawks and she waited. Her heart beated so loudly she was sure they heard it.

Saida watched Oropher turning away and her heart dropped. He said nothing. And this silence was even worse than a laugh she imagined not long ago. She would very much preferred to be laughed at or even chased away rather than be ignored like this.

'Faron.' Oropher called his soldier shortly and Saida looked at him feeling her throat tighten.

Faron moved after his commander, briefly catching sight of her. Then he tilted his head showing her to follow them - she didn't know if he did that out of kindness, but she was grateful nonetheless. In the state she was in, she wouldn't have ever guessed to follow Oropher.

With renewed hope she swallowed to get rid of treacherous bump that started to form in her throat. She followed Oropher and Faron, walking through remaining officers. Saida prevented smile from entering her face. Now, she just needed to prove she was able to fight as well as they did. She needed to show she can be much better than she was now. Saida will endure everything - she worked out hard, she trained everyday, she knew how to give orders. She will show them what she was made of!

Faron and Oropher spoke quietly in front of her. Faron had his long beautiful bow on back and quiver at waist. Oropher's sword impressed even when it was sheeted. If Faron was with them then maybe Oropher wished to test her archery. Saida's eyes flashed. She was a very good archer, in this she had a chance to impress them.

To her surprise they entered not the training fields or even archery range. They entered one of the many stables that were placed in the military area. Horses sticked out their heads immediately, to see who was coming. Few reached out wishing to get a treat or a simple pat on the nose, but they moved on almost half-way through the building before Oropher finally stopped.

'This is Niphredil. She is not gentled yet.' Oropher said when a white horse peered from the wooden stall and perked ears at them clearly interested about the agitation around her. Oropher approached the mare and smoothered her neck and then he turned to Saida. 'Your job is to train her into military working horse. You have time till the end of summer and then Faron will ride her and check how good was she is. If he will be content with your work then we will think of your training.'

'Yes, Sir!' she saluted and Oropher nodded to her then turned his attention back at the horse.

'What is your division?' Faron asked glancing at her with arms crossed.

'Twenty fifth division under the lead of lieutenant Seron in the regiment of officer Nelledir, Sir!'

'Be sure to take care of your other duties.' Faron said and then he glanced at Oropher before they both walked away, leaving her in the stable alone.

Saida watched them leave before she finally approached the mare who was still sticking out her head. The horse was good-tempered and wished for contact with any elf that approached her. This was a good sign.

Well then, she was supposed to train a horse. This was not what Saida expected, but it was not so bad after all. Saida was pretty handy as it went to horses. She liked very much those animals and she was a good rider herself, not once gentling a young foal back at her home in the forest of Region. She did it either for herself or others and everyone was pleased with the work she had done. Her horses always worked eagerly and listened to their rider. Saida patted Niphredil's neck confident in the task she was given.

Then a dreadful shivers passed by her as she anylysed the words of the General once more. Niphredil was to be trained for a military working horse and Saida had not idea what type of training that meant. She had no idea what elements she should train, how fast the horse should respond to rider's demands, should she train the horse at the archery range as well, how high the horse must be able to jump, what type of obstacles the horse need to know, she never trained a horse to get used to weapons, she needed to get a saddle for Niphredil, she must train the horse to move in arrays, at what pace a horse like this should be moving with?

Now that Saida looked at it, she felt about digging a deep hole for herself. She would molder there and never come out again.

Saida opened the stall and invited Niphredil to come out, but the horse didn't seem to really know what she wanted and the mare perked ears at her, interested that something was happening around her. And Saida wondered if this horse was even tought to follow the rider.

Saida sighted and gathered a light lariat to train the mare in the basic of the basics. Wearisome work had just begun and the time was known to pass unrelently.