Ailith read the list with horror. Half of the herbs she had never heard of before. She bit her lip and then tucked the small piece of parchment into a pouch on her belt. She picked up her short practice sword and sheathed it before tying her cloak on her shoulders and making her way to the courtyard.
The huge beast of a man with black hair was in the courtyard, running through training exercises with some of the men. When she walked down the steps, they stopped. A few bowed to her but he stared at her coldly. His eyes flicked to the sword at her side.
"Let me see that," he rumbled. She hastily drew it and handed it to him.
"Can you use this toy?" he asked as he examined the blade and tested the balance.
"It's not a toy!" she snapped. "It was made for me by the Royal Armourer; its twin is borne by the Lady Éowyn, the King's niece!"
He laughed darkly and threw it at her. She caught it one-handed as he drew his own great-sword.
"This, child, is a sword."
His blade whipped round and met hers with a clash. The little sword jerked out her hand and went bouncing away across the ground.
"I wasn't ready!" she complained. His eyes darkened and he raised his sword so the tip of the blade was under her chin.
"When an orc is swinging his blade at you; when a Warg charges you down; when one of the name-less horrors of Mirkwood is prowling in the darkness; you must be ready. If you want to bear a sword, learn how to use it properly. It will mean the difference between life and death."
He turned and walked away.
"Don't worry, little Rohiril," a voice said behind her. Beleg walked past her and scooped up her sword. "This is a good sword," he said as he handed it back to her. "Grimfast is right though, it is a toy. If you want to learn to fight with a sword properly then you should get a new one."
She sheathed it irritably.
"You said we were family," she said. He smiled.
"My mother was your mother's oldest sister. I believe that constitutes a family bond. And I think, since you cannot handle a blade properly, I should accompany you on the grand herb expedition."
"In the unlikely event that I am attacked, I will be fine!" she snapped. He gave her a little mocking bow but still led her from the Fortress.
They walked across the hills, Beleg pointing out the little hamlets to her. Any shepherds they met bowed to Ailith respectfully and then Beleg introduced them properly. After the fifth time, she asked him why.
"You must know your people, little Rohiril," she was told. "They will look to you in times of hardship and they will receive more comfort from someone who knows them personally as opposed to the grandly dressed figure who occasionally rides past their homes."
After an hour's walk, they arrived on the flora-covered banks of a river. They walked along the water's edge, Beleg pointing out various plants and their uses. Where one corresponded to Merewald's list, they picked it.
"And this, little Rohiril, is a cowslip. If you make it into a tea, it helps with insomnia. You can also use it to treat lung disorders," Beleg said. Ailith took the small yellow flower from him.
"There are so many. How do I know which ones I need when?"
"It will come to you in time. Besides, the only herb you will ever need is this one," he said. From some inner pocket, he drew a small-leafed green herb. "Athelas," he said. "Known by some as Kingsfoil."
She took it warily.
"How do I use it?" she asked.
"It calms the mind when crushed and added to boiling water. A useful property when you are trying to heal someone panicked or in shock. Promise me that you will always carry some."
"It's not on Merewald's list," she said. He sighed.
"Little Rohiril, Merewald is not the Lady of the Wold. You are."
"Why do you call me that? Aren't you of the Rohirrim as well?" she asked, looking at the rippling waters of the river.
"My mother was one of the Rohirrim, as you know. My father was not and I was raised by his people in the North," he said.
"We are North," she replied, causing him to laugh heartily.
"Do not let Grimfast hear you say that. This is not North. Grimfast is from lands North of here and my people's lands are even further North," he chuckled.
"Grimfast scares me," she admitted, bringing fresh laughter from him.
"He scares a lot of people. He is a Beorning; they aren't known for their compassion."
"So, what are you?" she asked.
"I am Dúnadan."
He said it proudly, as if it was a great honour or title. Ailith had heard of the Dúnedain in stories but she had always thought that they were merely a legend. A race of Men for others to aspire to.
"Do they really exist?" she said.
"Of course they do!" he said indignantly. "I am one and I exist!"
"You are half a Dúnadan!" she laughed.
"I was born among them, I was raised among them, I am one of them!" he said. "I know where my people are."
"So do I. I have half a mind to get back on my horse and ride to Edoras. I don't feel welcome here," she said sadly. He sighed again and fixed her with a glare.
"What I am about to tell you, you cannot repeat to anyone. Your father is dying and with no male heir, Merewald, Grimfast, Folcred, Léonere, all of them are terrified," he said. "The Wold has been governed by your family for generations. Things have not changed for centuries. With no male heir, the King must appoint a new Lord to the Fortress and with a new Lord will come changes, changes they won't like."
"Well, what am I supposed to do?" she asked.
"You are fifteen. By the time you are twenty, you could take the Oath of the Riders and rule the Fortress on behalf of your father until you have a son of your own to carry on the line."
It was so ridiculous, she didn't know whether she should laugh in his face or walk away in pure disbelief.
"A female Rider?" she said derisively. "I could never do that! And Folcred and Grimfast, I can't see them letting me become a Rider."
Beleg smiled thinly.
"I'm sorry, little Rohiril, but you are already being trained for it. The ride here was your first test. You completed it in two days."
"Folcred said he would leave me if I didn't keep up!" she complained.
"If it looked like you were struggling, he would have slowed the pace! You are the only child of his Lord, he wouldn't leave you on the Plains by yourself! Grimfast may terrify you but he is easily one of the best warriors in the country and he will train you to the best of his abilities if you so ask! I can't stay with you forever but Merewald and Léonere will serve you for as long as they have breath in their bodies. Merewald has a knowledge of herb-lore unlike anything I have seen outside of my own people and Léonere knows nearly every law, custom and tradition of Rohan. However, they need a leader, they know that themselves. Without a single unifying force, they scrap at each other's throats constantly. Without a Lord they are lost, so they tried to compensate with the closest thing, a Lady. That is why you were brought home from Edoras."
"Then I have no choice in the matter," she said sadly. "The North waits for no Man." He raised his eyebrows.
"You keep saying that and they will definitely follow you," he said drily.
"Do you really think I could do it?" she said eventually.
"You most certainly could, my little Rohiril," he smiled.