I know I said I'd have it up within a day, but I was having internet
problems, so it got posted a day late. Sorry?
Disclaimer: The voices in my head tell me I own Gundam Wing and Lord of
the Rings. I don't know how I own them, since I don't even own my own
computer. But Merry never lies. I must own them both.
Like the last however many chapters, this is dedicated to Ed and Lisa(and
no, my math teacher is not insanely gorgeous. But math teachers seem to
be the best looking. Compare them to the english teachers and you'll
know what I mean.)
It is also dedicated to Kat, faithful beta girl, Rper, source of warmth, and
now reviewer! ^^ Thanks, Kat!
***
October 30, Edoras
It flew up into the sky, heading towards the south. As the large gray bird
sped away for the second time that month, the young woman standing
below, leather glove on one hand, ink quill in the other, sighed. It had
been almost five months since she had last heard from her friend living on
the southern coast.
She turned around, and followed the dirt path, winding over small grassy
hills and mounds covered in small white flowers, towards the large city of
Edoras.
She wore a long dress, the skirts a shade of olive green, the bottom
bordered with a green of a deeper tone. The bodice was a light cream
color, her hair fell in two braids down her shoulders.
Casting a last glance over her shoulder, she walked in through the
wooden gates and into the city.
Passing several small houses, she scanned the crowds of people,
hundreds of blonde heads washing by under her gaze.
As she walked further into the town, the crowds thinned, the clothing
becoming richer and the people better fed and groomed.
Sally sighed.
She didn't like having to come all the way in here, it always made her feel
guilty. However, this was where she would find Relena.
She exhaled again, the guilt trip starting as she passed a wealthily
dressed woman and was reminded of her own clothing. Sure, they were
not as rich or fancy, but they were too similar for her liking. Climbing up a
flight of stone stairs, she reached the gates of the castle.
As she walked around to a smaller side exit, she caught sight of three
chattering young girls whom she vaguely recognized as a few of Relena's
friends.
The first one, a tall girl in a lavender dress, flipped her brown hair over
her shoulder and continued talking to her friend. The friend in mention
was a shorter girl in a orange dress with blonde hair, tightly pulled back.
She was currently clapping her hands in delight of what the first one had
just announced. The third girl had black hair, causing her to stand out
among the light haired people of Rohan, and a light pink dress. The last
one caught sight of Sally and waved her over.
Sally let out an inward sigh of exasperation.
The girls were nice enough, but they were all so immature.
Forcing herself to smile, she walked over and quickly asked the third one
where Relena was, trying not to wince at the girlish shrieks of laughter
coming from her left.
"Miss Relena? I'm not sure."
Sally had to admit that she liked this one the most. She wasn't
as...bubbly as the other two.
"I think she went towards the stables."
She thanked her and quickly left, leaving the sounds of giggles and fast-
spoken gossip behind her.
"Lord," She muttered to herself, "Relena needs some new friends."
True, these school age girls were more of a fan club than friends, but they
still followed Relena around, and she did speak with them.
Not that the young Relena was much better, Sally thought grudgingly.
She still had the same effervescence about her, and a slight lacking of
effort when it came to doing what was expected of her.
Still, Sally amended, she had a lot of potential. That, and another, more
personal reason, was why Lucrezia Noin had always taken part in her
personal safety.
And now, with Noin traveling in the west, it was her job to make sure that
the young daughter of one of many high ranking officials stayed alive and
well.
And in order to fulfill that promise to Noin, she had to regularly check up
on the girl. Spending time with her wasn't in itself so bad. It was mainly
the fan club popping up everywhere. That, and Relena's childish view on
the world made her job a living...
"Oh, hello, Relena," Sally said, snapping out of her thoughts and greeting
the young girl in front of her. She was wearing a long sleeved dress, a
pattern in gold woven into the pink top, the skirt a pale yellow with light
rose colored embroidery.
"Hello, Sally."
Relena smiled, two braids bouncing in her loose hair as she nodded her
head.
Sally twitched a corner of her mouth upwards. It was obvious that the
younger girl was hiding from her fan club. She was sitting on top of an
overturned box, normally used for storing hourse blankets, behind a tall
wooden wall, drawing pictures in the dust surrounding her with the tip of
her black shoe.
"So. What are you doing here?" Sally asked, sitting beside her, figuring
that if she had to baby-sit the girl, she might as well be comfortable.
"Me?" Relena looked up, "I'm waiting for father to finish sitting in a
meeting. He has to be there. He's a member of the court," She sighed,
staring down at the ground.
"I've been waiting all day now."
She let out another sigh.
Against her will, Sally began to feel bad for her. It wasn't her fault she
had no one to be with, save the few girls her age who deeply admired
her.
Still, the girl had to respect that her father was working for the better of
the people.
Sally turned her head to the right. She was now looking straight at the
largest building in town, the great hall, Meduseld. Guards patrolled
around the main entrance and the Rohan flag flew at the front.
Inside, a gathering of country officials were meeting, discussing what to
do about Gondor and the fighting to the east.
However, things weren't going well. There were too many options to
choose from.
Sending help to Gondor, riding off to fight Mordor themselves, remaining
impartial and waiting for the battle to come to them.
And on top of it all, a new face was on the scene. A small, older man, with
slimy black hair and heavy-lidded eyes. He had joined the city crowds a
short time ago, his pale face was first seen inside the great halls soon
afterwards.
He was quickly gaining the lord's trust and confidence, and something
about that frightened Sally.
It all reminded her too much of her earlier travels with Noin; heading
down through Mirkwood and then, later, to the east.
This man reminded her of that time, and not of the companionship she
enjoyed on the way.
Relena didn't care for him either; he simply reminded her of a slug.
A bird winged it's way through the air, it's presence reminding Sally of her
own messenger bird. Her heart leapt as the thought of a response from
an area too long silent appeared in her mind. The idea was soon
quenched as she realized that the creature was a light brown, too large
to be her own, and not dark enough to be the ones from the coast.
Besides, her own Altron would not have had enough time to reach the
other side of the Nimras mountains, much less be able to reach the
southern coast and return, all within an hour.
Feeling a crick in her neck, she stopped staring at the sky and stood up,
brushing off her skirts.
"I have things to do. You'll be fine, Relena?"
"Hm?" The girl in question looked up from the ground. "I'll be all right. You
don't have to watch me. I'm not a baby."
Sally paused, startled that Relena had realized she was watching after
her, before smiling.
"No, you are not a baby. But you are a young girl. Almost the same thing,
you know."
Sally turned around, heading for her own home.
"See you later, Relena."
She walked around the side of the wall, blonde hair still swishing around
it with the tip of her green skirt when the rest of her was already out of
sight.
The remaining figure let out a long audible sigh, letting her head drop and
watching her foot draw in the dirt.
After a short time, she too stood up and left, heading towards the main
gates in the hope of catching a moment with her father.
A single, dress-clad person, all alone, stood in the dust, in the drawing
beneath the box.
problems, so it got posted a day late. Sorry?
Disclaimer: The voices in my head tell me I own Gundam Wing and Lord of
the Rings. I don't know how I own them, since I don't even own my own
computer. But Merry never lies. I must own them both.
Like the last however many chapters, this is dedicated to Ed and Lisa(and
no, my math teacher is not insanely gorgeous. But math teachers seem to
be the best looking. Compare them to the english teachers and you'll
know what I mean.)
It is also dedicated to Kat, faithful beta girl, Rper, source of warmth, and
now reviewer! ^^ Thanks, Kat!
***
October 30, Edoras
It flew up into the sky, heading towards the south. As the large gray bird
sped away for the second time that month, the young woman standing
below, leather glove on one hand, ink quill in the other, sighed. It had
been almost five months since she had last heard from her friend living on
the southern coast.
She turned around, and followed the dirt path, winding over small grassy
hills and mounds covered in small white flowers, towards the large city of
Edoras.
She wore a long dress, the skirts a shade of olive green, the bottom
bordered with a green of a deeper tone. The bodice was a light cream
color, her hair fell in two braids down her shoulders.
Casting a last glance over her shoulder, she walked in through the
wooden gates and into the city.
Passing several small houses, she scanned the crowds of people,
hundreds of blonde heads washing by under her gaze.
As she walked further into the town, the crowds thinned, the clothing
becoming richer and the people better fed and groomed.
Sally sighed.
She didn't like having to come all the way in here, it always made her feel
guilty. However, this was where she would find Relena.
She exhaled again, the guilt trip starting as she passed a wealthily
dressed woman and was reminded of her own clothing. Sure, they were
not as rich or fancy, but they were too similar for her liking. Climbing up a
flight of stone stairs, she reached the gates of the castle.
As she walked around to a smaller side exit, she caught sight of three
chattering young girls whom she vaguely recognized as a few of Relena's
friends.
The first one, a tall girl in a lavender dress, flipped her brown hair over
her shoulder and continued talking to her friend. The friend in mention
was a shorter girl in a orange dress with blonde hair, tightly pulled back.
She was currently clapping her hands in delight of what the first one had
just announced. The third girl had black hair, causing her to stand out
among the light haired people of Rohan, and a light pink dress. The last
one caught sight of Sally and waved her over.
Sally let out an inward sigh of exasperation.
The girls were nice enough, but they were all so immature.
Forcing herself to smile, she walked over and quickly asked the third one
where Relena was, trying not to wince at the girlish shrieks of laughter
coming from her left.
"Miss Relena? I'm not sure."
Sally had to admit that she liked this one the most. She wasn't
as...bubbly as the other two.
"I think she went towards the stables."
She thanked her and quickly left, leaving the sounds of giggles and fast-
spoken gossip behind her.
"Lord," She muttered to herself, "Relena needs some new friends."
True, these school age girls were more of a fan club than friends, but they
still followed Relena around, and she did speak with them.
Not that the young Relena was much better, Sally thought grudgingly.
She still had the same effervescence about her, and a slight lacking of
effort when it came to doing what was expected of her.
Still, Sally amended, she had a lot of potential. That, and another, more
personal reason, was why Lucrezia Noin had always taken part in her
personal safety.
And now, with Noin traveling in the west, it was her job to make sure that
the young daughter of one of many high ranking officials stayed alive and
well.
And in order to fulfill that promise to Noin, she had to regularly check up
on the girl. Spending time with her wasn't in itself so bad. It was mainly
the fan club popping up everywhere. That, and Relena's childish view on
the world made her job a living...
"Oh, hello, Relena," Sally said, snapping out of her thoughts and greeting
the young girl in front of her. She was wearing a long sleeved dress, a
pattern in gold woven into the pink top, the skirt a pale yellow with light
rose colored embroidery.
"Hello, Sally."
Relena smiled, two braids bouncing in her loose hair as she nodded her
head.
Sally twitched a corner of her mouth upwards. It was obvious that the
younger girl was hiding from her fan club. She was sitting on top of an
overturned box, normally used for storing hourse blankets, behind a tall
wooden wall, drawing pictures in the dust surrounding her with the tip of
her black shoe.
"So. What are you doing here?" Sally asked, sitting beside her, figuring
that if she had to baby-sit the girl, she might as well be comfortable.
"Me?" Relena looked up, "I'm waiting for father to finish sitting in a
meeting. He has to be there. He's a member of the court," She sighed,
staring down at the ground.
"I've been waiting all day now."
She let out another sigh.
Against her will, Sally began to feel bad for her. It wasn't her fault she
had no one to be with, save the few girls her age who deeply admired
her.
Still, the girl had to respect that her father was working for the better of
the people.
Sally turned her head to the right. She was now looking straight at the
largest building in town, the great hall, Meduseld. Guards patrolled
around the main entrance and the Rohan flag flew at the front.
Inside, a gathering of country officials were meeting, discussing what to
do about Gondor and the fighting to the east.
However, things weren't going well. There were too many options to
choose from.
Sending help to Gondor, riding off to fight Mordor themselves, remaining
impartial and waiting for the battle to come to them.
And on top of it all, a new face was on the scene. A small, older man, with
slimy black hair and heavy-lidded eyes. He had joined the city crowds a
short time ago, his pale face was first seen inside the great halls soon
afterwards.
He was quickly gaining the lord's trust and confidence, and something
about that frightened Sally.
It all reminded her too much of her earlier travels with Noin; heading
down through Mirkwood and then, later, to the east.
This man reminded her of that time, and not of the companionship she
enjoyed on the way.
Relena didn't care for him either; he simply reminded her of a slug.
A bird winged it's way through the air, it's presence reminding Sally of her
own messenger bird. Her heart leapt as the thought of a response from
an area too long silent appeared in her mind. The idea was soon
quenched as she realized that the creature was a light brown, too large
to be her own, and not dark enough to be the ones from the coast.
Besides, her own Altron would not have had enough time to reach the
other side of the Nimras mountains, much less be able to reach the
southern coast and return, all within an hour.
Feeling a crick in her neck, she stopped staring at the sky and stood up,
brushing off her skirts.
"I have things to do. You'll be fine, Relena?"
"Hm?" The girl in question looked up from the ground. "I'll be all right. You
don't have to watch me. I'm not a baby."
Sally paused, startled that Relena had realized she was watching after
her, before smiling.
"No, you are not a baby. But you are a young girl. Almost the same thing,
you know."
Sally turned around, heading for her own home.
"See you later, Relena."
She walked around the side of the wall, blonde hair still swishing around
it with the tip of her green skirt when the rest of her was already out of
sight.
The remaining figure let out a long audible sigh, letting her head drop and
watching her foot draw in the dirt.
After a short time, she too stood up and left, heading towards the main
gates in the hope of catching a moment with her father.
A single, dress-clad person, all alone, stood in the dust, in the drawing
beneath the box.