The doors swung shut behind me and I will admit I begrudged having to leave not only Clyro but Rohan in general. What business was it of mine to go gallivanting off to Rivendell?

The elves have always kept to themselves in recent years since their alliance with man had failed, but now suddenly they were inviting us to cross into their lands and speak in a meeting conjured by a wizard. indeed, a unique situation this was and I wondered who else would be in Rivendell when we arrived.

Rubbing the creak out my neck, there was a fine scrape of a foot slipping on the hard floor that others may not have noticed, only I had trained my ears to the faintest if sounds. Still soothing my aches and my eyes closed, I said, "if you truly believe you have evaded me then you are a fool."

There was silence, until out from the shadows stepped a small figure with their head bowed low, a head almost as bright as the flame of a firepit, wild with curls.

I crossed my arms to scrutinize her, "hello again, Brenna."

Chewing her pink lip and staring intently at her feet, the girl at least had the decency to look guilty.

I pointed my thumb over my shoulder to the hall I had just left, asking with a sharp tone of disappointment, "Hear anything of interest?

I never did like eavesdroppers. It betrayed my trust in people I was supposed to regard as sisters and I couldn't believe that even Brenna would be that foolish and do something which was an act of blatant lack of respect. I had it in my right to box her ears, but I don't suppose I would hear the end of it from Kya. Besides, I don't think it would do much good.

Brenna was notorious within Clyro for being quite the rule breaker and I could not count the times her guardian had sent Brenna to me for one punishment or another to bring her back in line with the other girls, who were a rather obedient lot, knowing their circumstances were good here and not wanting to risk losing the stability. Same can't be said for this one though. she has given me many a promise to be better in the future, but has failed to make any progress in that prospective.

Most times I do find her audacity amusing, even if I don't express it, however this was not one of those instances and I quirked a brow in waiting for an answer that had yet to come. And I was losing patience…

Nervously, she struggled to finish her sentences, "I wasn't, I didn't mean…"

Her honesty was of greater preference, so needless to say the attempted search for an excuse was disappointing and she knew it.

Sighing, Brenna's body hunched down in defeat, "I take it I'm going to be mucking out the stables for a while, huh?"

I nodded, "three weeks at most."

I could taste her want to argue, only she bit down hard on her tongue and I credited her for it, since God knows it was a skill I had not acquired over the years, especially if I felt strongly about what I had to say, which again made this meeting all the more worrisome, for I would hate to make an enemy out of it for causing insult.

Then a thought occurred to me with Brenna here and I bent down to her level to cup her freckled cheeks, "as it goes Brenna, I could actually use you."

She seemed surprised and suspicious of my gentle hand, for her green eyes darted downwards and her nose scrunched.

With a smile that I knew she would find disturbing, since I put effort in making it appear sweet, I fluttered my lashes doing my best impersonation of Kya, until Brenna was all but panicking. Only then did I grunt, tightening my hold and forcefully shaking her head from left to right.

She swatted me away, rubbing her reddening cheeks and sparing a minute to be still and let her mind stop rattling from my torment.

"For what?" she screeched at a high pitch, probably imagining me in some fatal situation or another, while counting the days perhaps when her training was complete, and she was able to challenge me. I will be a fair age by that time to work in her favour and I don't doubt she will be carrying a lot if pent up frustration from me years if pestering her. I chuckled in hope that she might prove a good fight and may yet overthrow me in my position.

I straightened my back and started walking off, "Go find Erin and Merith. Tell them that we are to leave Clyro as soon as their ready and to meet me at the gates."

"Why?" she called and I turned on my heel with a questionable look. I had after all just caught her listening in on my conversation with Gora.

Again her shoes became of interest to her, "it's hard to hear through the door."

That came to me as a relief. Word of a gathering taking place in Rivendell might stir the air in my holdfast and I'd rather Gora lie to them actually, to keep that from happening and save me a storm of questions when I returned. I might favour Brenna, but I didn't want to risk her spreading gossip or rumour concerning my strange destination.

I inhaled deeply as I thought of a reply, "it's been a while since I've explored our borders. I want to make sure all is well."

Thankfully, she appeared none the wiser to my lie and nodded like the answer was an obvious one.

"Now go, you're wasting time."

With her given task, Brenna left with some urgency. Merith would be the easy one to find, but who knew with Erin and I wished her luck and bravery for where she might have to venture to find the madwoman. I wanted to shout my advice to look up some tree or another, but Brenna had disappeared, and I had my own person to find.

Again I was outside in the chill and heading towards one of the stables we had constructed here. This particular stable is where my horse Torra was kept and it worked out well, since I needed to saddle the mare anyway, and it just so happened that she resided in the stall next to Kya's own beloved Nox, who she was scarcely parted from.

I unlatched the gate and swapped stone for hay underfoot, hushing some of the beasts I passed to get at the end and as I suspected, Kya was with her mare settling her in for the night by giving her a thorough groom.

Humming a song, she was in trance and didn't notice me standing there watching with utter contempt. I was getting irritated by waiting and kicked my foot to jolt the gate and break Kya's attention from the horse. It worked and she jumped with a startle and was clueless to the reason for my expression.

"You look in a good mood," she joked, carrying on with grooming Nox, who was stomping her feet now that is had it stopped. If she thought the horse was temperamental, she had no idea just how 'good' a mood I was in.

"So you felt the need to tell Gora about that incident I had in the woods, did you?"

I was trying to imagine how that might have happened. The two of them in the same room, laughing at my expense. I bet the promise of keeping it a secret was still fresh when she lurked her way to the old bat and eagerly wagged her tongue about it.

My teeth grated over one another while she looked at me in confusion. She was either a good actress or genuinely hadn't a clue about what I was talking about. It didn't matter which was correct, since neither saved her from my anger.

"Oh that," she exclaimed, shrugging it off like nothing was done wrong, "well it slipped out, what more can I say."

"Slipped out!" I snarled.

She hung the brush on its hook and took the corners of the blanket I was leaning on, whipping it out from under me and covering her horse gently like it was an autumn leaf caught on a breeze.. Her attitude with me, however, wasn't as calming.

"Sonya would you relax! it's good for people to know that you still have some qualities which are human."

For a moment I was silent, letting her words sink in, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Stepping out of the stall, she pointed an accusing finger at me, "Don't think you've gotten off with how you spoke to Brenna earlier. She's only a child for pity sake."

That was an excuse I was sick of hearing around here and stepped forward to meet Kya head-on, although she stood some inches taller than me.

"Yes well, it's our job to turn them into warriors and make them put aside childish ways."

Whenever they fell down and cried, whenever they wished to run off into the forest and play or regard a situation with an immature frame of mind, it has always been me that steered them clear of it. Of course, I was resented as a result, or thought to be cold but I refused to be judged harshly for it, when actually everything I do is for their benefit.

I thought Kya knew that, but clearly I was wrong.

"Says the woman who got caught in a net and retaliated by punching someone without explanation, and sure enough it was a reasonable one. I swear, you were fortunate they didn't decide to arrest you for assaulting the king's nephew Sonya!"

I scoffed, "Please, his ego wouldn't have allowed anyone in Edoras to know he got bested by a woman. I could have beaten him black and blue and still receive no punishment for it."

Kya shook her head and I noticed the bags under her pretty brown eyes, which were as dark as Gora's against her usual flawless pale skin. She looked utterly spent and when I retrieved my saddle and reins, it appeared almost too much for her to keep standing.

As I opened the stall where my own horse waited, frantic with anticipation after listening to the sound my voice, I threw back at Kya in defence, "Anyway, Brenna knows how I am. I've just seen and spoken with her, everything's fine between us."

Kya didn't say anything for a long while sat atop a barrel. She just watched me prepare Tora for our journey, her hands flat at her side and her long stature stiff as a board, when suddenly her sad voice said, "Until the day that it's not, Sonya."

I didn't know what to make of that and stroked my fingers through me horse's ashy mane. What did Kya mean, until the day that it's not…

We here at Clyro were bound by much more than blood. We call ourselves sisters for a reason and I couldn't imagine anything standing in the way of that. My attitude was perhaps unfavourable at the best of times, but I would never harm any of my girls or betray them, so I shook off her warning like water from a wing.

"I'm leaving for Rivendell shortly."

"Rivendell?" Kya asked, though the interest seemed feigned with her mind elsewhere. I could see in her eyes she was distant, and her thoughts preoccupied, so I knew that it must have something to do with what Gora wished for me to speak with my friend about.

"Some gathering or another" I elaborated, leading Tora from her stall, "I'm sure the elves are just wanting to project that piety of theirs during these trying times. Allowing them to believe that they have done their part, as one by one they sail for the undying lands."

Still the fair maid failed to remove the impassive mask she wore, that was so unlike her as she muttered, "maybe."

My nostrils flared at the frustration. This was not a version of Kya I liked or was used to. Normally it was a hassle to silence her and very rarely did she not have a smile plastered upon her face. It annoyed me for someone to be that inexplicably happy, but not nearly as much as this version of the shieldmaiden did, as it was totally out of character. obviously something was bothering her to bring about this distracted and solemn demeanour and unfortunately for her, I had lost my will to be patient with breeching the matter.

"I wanted to take you with me, but Gora discouraged the idea. And when I wanted to know why, she told me to ask you. So here I am, asking."

That did the trick, because now her face had broken into an expression of pure worry.

"what? But she said she wouldn't say a word, not until I was ready to tell you."

Trusting my mare to stay where she was, I released the leather reins and stepped forward, putting a hand on Kya's shoulder, "Tell me what Kya?"

To my astonishment, tears started to trickle past her cheeks and as if in shame, her hands cupped over her lips, willing the words to stay at bay, but she could not lie to me now, so she took a deep breath and at the end of being exhaled, she spoke what needed to be said.

"Sonya, I'm with child."

The confession remained stirring the air, while shock froze my body and left my mouth hanging open as I tried to come to grips with the information, because Although it wasn't totally unheard of, generally a shieldmaiden never did have children and it has been many generations since the last to share in Kya's circumstance.

We were women who, if need be, would have to risk our lives in battle without the slightest hesitation, which I child might cause. Women whose obligation must be fixed solely on our duty and nothing else, and for most, the desire to have their own child never did exist. Any child is given a guardian to become that mother figure for them and the bond I have seen grow is very much like mother and daughter.

But not only that, the children are all assuredly girls, while those who we would have to wait to be born pose the risk of being boys, and as tradition dictates boys are strictly forbidden to live within our holdfast. It defeats the purpose for what we stood for if a male joined our ranks and because of that, the expectant mother always relinquishes her place as a shieldmaiden and forever leaves Clyro.

Only, I refused to let that happen to Kya.

"why wouldn't you want to tell me?" I asked, somewhat hurt she went to Gora first when we have been so close since her arrival when I was no older than seven and she a year younger, terrified at being abandoned at Clyro by her parents. If I remember correctly, she hadn't stopped crying for two solid weeks and instead of forcing her to quieten down, it was I who assured her that she was not alone while drying her tears and the rest from there out, was history.

crumbling into my arms, I was reminded of that little girl she used to be, when she sobbed, "I wasn't sure how you would react."

And the same as I did all those years ago I dried her eyes again and reminded her that I would always be by her side. Nothing would ever change that.

"How I would react, Kya; I am happy for you, really."

She sniffled, remaining where she was since she was aware my want to comfort her was sincere and that I wasn't about to lecture her for being so careless. Although, I would be a liar if I said I wasn't curious as to who the father of her unborn child was and how this whole thing came about, but for Kya's sake, I did not ask.

With the close proximity, my awkwardness couldn't be ignored much longer and I started shuffling on my feet. Kya caught on to my discomfort, knowing I wasn't very enthusiastic to have my space invaded and she let go with a final squeeze.

"You will be a good mother Kya and Gora was right to keep you here. It's not just your life you're risking now, but that of the babes."

The notion of venturing outside Rohan without Kya was a strange one. She has always been my right-hand woman, who I have looked to for advice and support, now her place was being taken by Merith of all people. She will be missed I won't deny it.

"thank you, Sonya."

I smiled, walking past her with Tora in tow, "we will discuss it further if you wish on my return. But know Kya, you will not lose a home or family here at Clyro."

Her eyes sparkled with relief and I left her standing in the stables making my way towards the gate. Unknown to me, this must have been tormenting her, as there are no secrets kept between us shieldmaids. Now that I knew however, the worry for what her future had in stall was non-existent. She had the backing of the leader and if anyone here was to give Kya any grief, then they would have me to answer to, for I would certainly set them straight.

Gazing up towards the stars, it was a pleasant night and I was at least glad to be leaving Clyro on good terms, hoping it stay that way for as long as I'm gone. The hope was fresh in my mind when ahead I saw the two figures waiting on me, already on their horses and by being left alone together, the arguments were already in full swing when I approached.

"Really Erin, you're drinking? What if we are attacked on the road?" Merith spat.

I could see she was on top form, her posture as straight as an arrow and critical. Ever critical she was, deeming herself high and mighty, which was all the more fun when those like myself and Erin knocked her back down and watched her stew on it for months on end.

Speaking of Erin, she rode bareback and while not moving on her stead, her legs were crossed as she drank from her pitcher.

"Attacked is it? then be thankful that I am drinking, it helps with my aim."

Erin had her quirks. Powerless to stay still, she would jerk and twitch, with her body rocking like she was on a ship cast off to venture through restless waters and all the while a laugh like a squeak passed her lips, for no reason which I could fathom. It was cold, but she wore nothing but her cotton breaches and shirt topped with hard leather. Erin would be restless to be burdened with layers. She enjoyed the feel of the air far too much and the freedom to move, for she was an animals spirit trapped in a woman's body, something I have said since I met her covered in dirt and hair tangled like a bird's nest. Looking at her now, not much has changed since that day.

Merith, with her yellow hair braided and shaved on the one side, growled and narrowed her gaze, ready to spout another insult had I not cut in.

"she is right. I don't know what it is about that damned stuff she drinks but with it, she can take down triple the number of orcs than she usually would."

Erin leaned forward and drank her fill again of the wine and when it was empty, she flung the tankard for it to shatter on the stones. She laughed and I joined in, hoisting my body onto me horse to join them.

Merith did not share in our amusement, she tossed me my cloak, a thick thing passed down from leader to leader with metal chaining to distinguish us from among the rest of our sisters.

"is it so funny?" she said, "personally I think it weak. I never do need a drink to improve my skill."

Twisting herself to sit properly on her horse, Erin did not shout or rage, but there was something eerie and sinister in her tone that could turn your blood to ice.

"Oh really, then Come at me Merith and let us see just how weak I am!"

Surprisingly, the two have never challenged each other and it was a shame, for it would be a fight I would long to watch, because from observing them in training and such, their style in combat was very different. However, now was not the time for that to happen and with the cloak on, I tapped into being the leader and spoke with great authority.

"If you're both going to bicker the entire journey, then you can just as well stay here!"

Biting their tongues, Merith and Erin bowed their heads like wolves obeying their alpha.

"Apologies Sonya."

I let the scolding linger for a moment to suppress them into the behaviour I wished they attain while we travelled and when satisfied, I called for the gate to be opened by the women who patrolled it.

"you haven't told us where we are going yet," Merith inquired as the gates rattled and creaked.

Subdued by the noise, I knew none but those who were close to me would be able to hear, so staring straight ahead, I answered.

"we ride for Rivendell my sisters" at that the gates were wide open and before I kicked my heels into Tora to bolt, I threw over my shoulder, "and I expect for you to keep up."

And with that, there was nothing but the wind hitting my face from the speed that we ran.