Author's note: Thank you sooo much if you actually reading this…if you like it, s'il vous plait tell other people since most people don't seem to want to read it…:( *Emma*        

After taking a bath and hearing literally a million apologies from Donovan, Venitia was more than ready to go to dinner.  She was still amazingly sore, but the thought of food made her smile as she left her room for the dining hall.

            On her way there, Venny was surprised to find she could only think of Donovan.  No! Stop it! she thought. Yet the thought of his worried face made her smile.  She shook her head and turned the last corner on her journey to the dining hall.

            To her surprise, she found Donovan on his way out. "Donovan! Why are you not going to dinner?" she asked.

            "Your highness! Oh, well, I, um…" he stammered.

            She smiled. "Come on, you can come with me.  We don't bite, I swear," she laughed.  He still looked nervous. "You saved my life today… the least I can do is take you to dinner," she said.

            He finally smiled and nodded, and she took the arm he offered as they made their way to the enormous room. Not to her surprise, her father had requested a place be set for Donovan, as there was one extra place at the table.  They took their places and the food was served.

            After answering a lot of questions about the horse incident, Venny noticed Donovan looked extremely uncomfortable with the conversation.

            "But it was Donovan who saved me," she said. "If he had not been there, I probably would be in a worse state."

            He blushed furiously and mumbled something.  Everyone turned their attention to him and started asking him a million questions.

            After the excitement had died down, everyone started their own conversations.

            Venitia turned to Donovan. "So, where do you come from?" she asked.

            "Oh…well, originally my family came from Rohan, but they traveled to Gondor well before the war.  They still live on the borders.  I came into the city to be a soldier and fight for your father," he said somewhat dubiously.

            "Why would you want to be soldier? I mean, it's peaceful now, right?"

            "True, but there are still orcs and such out there," he explained. "There is always need for soldiers."

            "I suppose.  But why did you take this assignment? Teaching me has got to be a long shot more boring than fighting orcs," she said.

            He laughed. "And turn down the king? No," he said.

            Venitia was always so surprised when people talked about her father as if he was some unreachable power.  Yes, he was the king, but he was also kind and warm-hearted.

            "Still…I have to admit I know absolutely nothing.  I guess I was a little too sheltered," she said.

            "Well, that makes it more fun.  To see someone go from knowing nothing to knowing everything is amazing," he replied.

            Venny tutted.  "I highly doubt I'll know everything," she said. "I'll bet a year from now I will still be falling off my horse," she laughed.

            He smiled also.  "I have a very strong faith in you.  If the king has agreed to name you queen, there must be something in you that can do it."

            She turned to him and smiled.  He blushed and turned back to his food.

***

            The next morning, and every morning after that, Venitia woke up before dawn, put on her mannish clothes, ate her hearty breakfast, and went to train. To her surprise, she was actually taking to it quite easily.

            One day at dinner, Aragorn asked her, "So, what do you like the best so far, dear?"

            After thinking for a moment or two, she said, "Sword-fighting."

            Donovan laughed. "I am not surprised.  Yesterday she pinned me without me letting her."

            She was making good progress.  Donovan always took the chance to tell her so.  He had finally gotten comfortable with saying 'Venitia' instead of 'your highness', and they got along quite well.

            One sunny afternoon, while they were riding horses, (without Venny falling off,)  through the grassy field that surrounded the north side of the palace, they somehow got on the subject of the future.

            "Will you get married Donovan? I know I'm prejudiced, but…well…will you?" she stumbled.

            "I don't know.  Haven't thought about it since…well, I mean…I haven't really thought about it," he said.

            "Oh.  Waiting for the right girl?" she asked.

            "I suppose so.  It's just…"

            "Yes?"

            "Well…" he sighed in what seemed like resignation. "The truth is that I… I was to be married once.  I was betrothed, actually, since birth.  She didn't mind it at all, but I felt…weighed down, or something.  Remember how I told you that I left to be soldier? Well, I left to be a soldier and to leave her…my family hasn't talked to me since," he said sadly.

            Wow, Venitia thought.  Poor guy. "That's horrible.  To have your future just set out for you like that…I could have been like that, except my parents were…well, they were my parents." She paused. "I suppose you know why I'm biased about marriage, huh?"

            "Well…yes, somewhat," he murmured.

            "I guess it was a little pessimistic of me.  My father keeps telling me to have an open mind, and I try, I really do, but…I don't know, it's so hard to," she finished.

            He nodded. "You're absolutely right.  You have a right to be cautious…what human wouldn't be?"

            She stared at him.  "You know you are the first person to agree with me," she said. "Everyone else has just told me I'm being silly or cynical."

            "Well, sometimes it is wiser not to listen to what everyone says and just listen to yourself," he said, looking straight into her eyes.

            They rode on for a minute or two, both lost in their own thoughts.