...Of the Dunedain: Leola
Disclaimer:
Of course I don't own this! Well, Leola... She's mine.
A.N.:
Too short for me! Gah! Must. Make. Next. Chapters. Longerrrrrr!
It was the year 2993 in the Third Age though those in the Riddermark did not quite know that. All the women-folk knew was that a child was being born this eve and all the men-folk knew was that it was going to get very loud very quickly. The men continued to drink their mead and their ale and the woman made all the proper preporations for the arrivval.
"Eressil, you must relax." a wise, old woman soothed softly.
"I-I do not know what to do, mother!"
"But your body does. Let it do the work for you." she advised gently and sure enough she was right. Eressil did as she was bid and it wasn't long before she hear a tiny wail. "Well, aren't you a bonny, wee lass!" she heard Rowenna murmurr as she pressed the babe into Eressil's arms. "She'll be quick, that one!"
"Hello there, little one." she said, looking into her child's face. It was round and red like any other baby's face but it wasn't any other child that had been born. It was hers and like her she could already see a shock of dark hair growing. It was unusual among the Horse-lords to have dark hair but not unheard of. Eressil could see bright, blue eyes with hidden depth for one just born.
She was running just as fast as her little legs would carry her. She was faster than the boy; she knew that for certain. His laughter followed her all the way up the hill. She collapsed at the top, unable to run any farther. She hear him huffing his way up to the top before he fell down beside her, his hair shinning golden in the bright day.
"I'm... I'm glad I won't have to go again." she said quietly. "Da' says we c-c-can stay here now."
"Why be glad? Your mother is-" But he cut himself off quickly. She was younger than him, closer to his sister's age than his own. Her sharp, blue eyes threatened to tear up. He sat up and ruffled her dark hair affectionately. "I... D'you forgive me?"
"Always." she sniffled and grinned up at him. "I'll race you back, Éomer?" she offered in the same way that all children offer a race. In other words, it was not to be refused. He seemed to think for a long moment before returning her grin. He jumped to his feet faster than she could and raced down the hill.
"You won't beat me this time, Leola!" he called over his shoulder but she was already showing signs of overtaking him. Leola, the Doe, she was often called. She could outrun a doe; she could outrun nearly any grown man... if she wanted to, that is. She rarely did though. Let 'em keep their pride! she had said before tearing through the golden halls of Meduseld. In the end, she let him win but he didn't know that. Boys are so silly, she thought as she watched Théoden-King and the Worm- Everyone calls him that. Da' says I shouldn't but I do 'cause the other adults do too!- were bent in close, quiet conversation. She watched them strangely for a moment when the Worm's cold eyes flicked over to her. She felt a little chill run down her spine and found someplace else to be quick enough.
She was watching again though admittedly it wasn't the King or his counsel. Instead she was watching Théodred and Éomer as they practiced with wooden swords. One day, they would hold real swords and be great warriors. She thought it was so romantic. Maybe they'll come and rescue from some dragon that's kept me locked in a tower. But she shook her head. What a foolish thought! She wasn't a princess and there were no more dragons. Even she knew that. No, they wouldn't resuce her or slay dragons with a mighty arc of their fable swords; the problems of the Horse-lords were much closer to home. They would fight Wild Men and roving trolls, not fantastical creatures she had never seen.
"I wanna fight too!" she called suddenly, unable to stop herself. Théodred paused just long enough for his cousin to knock his sword from his hand.
"You cheated!" he teased Éomer as he got to his feet and brushed his breeches off. He shrugged and laughed, looking very princely she thought. "No matter, then." He held out his wooden sword to Leola. She looked at it as thoug she had never seen anything quite like it. "Take it, if you want to learn." he said, placing it in her hands. "We can teach you, can't we?" Éomer looked between the two of them breifly before grinning again.
"I suppose we could..." was all he said. She grinnned back up at them then as her heart pounded with excitement.
Well, there ya' have it! I finally uploaded it.
