A/N: Again I have merged two chapters together! I shall probably do the same again and again so bear with me.
The next day dawned clear and bright the sun riding high over the horizon. Laurelin woke to someone shaking her.
"Morwen, Morwen!" Said a voice.
Laurelin looked up and saw Rolen nudging her with the toe of his boot, "It's time to rise lass, we must be off. Remember?"
Laurelin stood brushing the grass blades and horsehair off her clothes. Linad had left her to join the other horses and the absence of her warm body left Laurelin feeling cold.
"Where is this Prince now?" She asked, Rolen already walking in the direction of the camp.
The camp was being disassembled. The fire from the night before was a grave of smoldering ashes, simmering with remembered heat. Rolen led her to the largest of the remaining tents. The entrance was flanked by two banners decorated with the emblems of Gondor. Rolen tapped the thick canvas.
"Enter!" Came a voice.
Rolen obeyed. Laurelin lingered outside uneasily than followed. The interior was nothing special. There was a cot in the corner where someone had slept and a table at the center with maps and other papers littering it. The Prince stood with another soldier fitting a mail shirt over his head.
"Yes Rolen?" He asked, but than his gray eyes trailed over to Laurelin, "Ah," His eyes resting upon her, "The little runaway. Did you have a good supper? I thought you would have left by now."
Laurelin straightened to her full height, "No sir I have not."
"Did we not feed you enough for your work?" He asked.
Before Laurelin reply, Rolen spoke.
"Actually, beggin' your pardon your highness, I spoke with the lass last night and it seems she has no place to go,"
"And that pertains to me how?" Asked the Prince.
"Well, sire, she did a wonderful job with the horses last night, and seeing that we not be the best cooks, us soldiers, I thought that 'haps Miss Morwen might come along with us, to do the cooking and the horse carin'. She wishes it as well." Rolen spoke carefully as if he was afraid he would trip over a word.
"Absolutely not," Said the Prince sharply looking over at him, "This is a company of soldiers. The maid would not last a day and I have no wish to drag dead weight all the way to Moria."
"Dead weight, your majesty? How are you to know?" Laurelin challenged, unable to hold her tongue.
The Prince looked up startled. No one had ever defied his authority before. The soldier dressing him in his amour stepped back as the prince approached Laurelin. He was much taller and more intimidating up close, but she stood her ground. He was scented with earth and lamp oil. She had to admit that despite his nature, he was handsome.
"What did you say?" He asked firmly.
"You haven't even given me a chance, your highness," Laurelin answered, trying to keep her voice even, "You merely assumed that I was weak and venerable, not even able to take care of myself."
The Prince gave her a stern questioning look, "Well," He said, relaxing, "What else can you do besides care for horses and cook?"
Laurelin felt her courage rise, "I have a fairly good shot and I can wield a smaller axe. Though my swordplay needs improvement, I can speak Sindarin elvish. Like any good maid of Rohan I've been riding since I was a babe." She answered looking hopefully at him.
Prince Eldarion's face broke into a reluctant smile and he laughed softly, "I like your spirit and honesty. You could probably defend yourself if we ran into trouble so none will have to be spared to protect you," He seemed to make his verdict, "You can come along, Mistress Morwen, as long as you do your share of work and don't get underfoot. We'll feed you and I'll see that you are fit up with a bow and quiver of arrows."
Laurelin smiled widely at the Prince, "Thank you, your highness," She said her voice ringing.
"Good, leave now and ready the horses." He said waving his hand to the door.
Laurelin slid out of the tent before another word was said. Rolen followed shaking his head and laughing,
"Oh lass, I've never seen anyone afore stand up to the prince like that, especially never a maid." He said slapping his knee.
That day was full of strenuous riding for the company. The prince was determined to reach their next destination by sundown. Linad and Laurelin spent the morning riding in behind the burden animals to make sure they did not wander or lag behind. Linad was a great help to Laurelin when controlling the stubborn donkeys and burros. Rolen was at the head of the legion making it impossible for Laurelin to see him. The other soldiers seemed to ignore her and not give her any trouble.
At the peak of the golden sun the company passed over the Snowbourn Stream. The cool waters of the rivulet came from the Entwash. The Snowbourn split from its mother river and cut across Rohan then to Gondor and from there all the way to the sea. It was quite a restless stream.
The Prince ordered they take a rest for a while and take advantage of the fresh water for they would not find another stream till they reached Fangorn Forest. Laurelin saw to it that Linad and the other horses drank first, than knelt by the waters in return and drank. As she knelt a shadow fell over her. She looked up. The Prince loomed over her. She stood and looked him in the eye.
"I saw to it that the horses drank before me," She said, holding her head up.
"Good. Always the horses first." He answered. He held a saddlebag in his hands.
"I had a soldiers bag put together for you," He dropped it at her feet, "It has a mail shirt, and eating bowl and such in it."
She leant to pick it up, but he put his boot on it before she could.
"First, I want you to validate your statements about your skill with bow before you come with us any further." He spoke arching his eyebrows. Laurelin struggled to keep composure, "I also wish to challenge you to a race, or rather hold you to your challenge this morning when you said you could ride better than I."
Laurelin looked at him in amusement. So the prince wished to fancy himself a better rider than she. She would just have to do something about that.
"We shall try the bow first." Laurelin said, narrowing her already small eyes.
"Fine," He answered with a smile and drew a bow and quiver of arrows from the soldier's pack.
Laurelin took them and strapped the quiver onto her back. The Prince stood ready with his bow in his hand.
"Ready?" He asked.
She nodded taking an arrow from her quiver.
"We shall aim for the knot in that tree," He said pointing to a lone birch that stood quivering in the breeze by the riverside, "I shall go first," He said drawing the arrow across the now taut string.
The soldiers stopped to watch their Prince test the little maid from Rohan in archery. His dark eyes widened as he let go of the arrow. It sped through the summer air and right into the soft bark of the tree. It was exactly in the middle of the knot. Applause went up for the Prince from the soldiers. Laurelin stood indignantly and hoped Legolas had taught her well enough to make the shot she was now planning. If she didn't succeed, Eldarion would throw her out of the company.
"Your turn, fair maiden," Said the Prince with a mocking bow.
Laurelin smirked at him, feeling the tension grow between them. She positioned herself so she could make an accurate shot. She shut one eye and aimed. A slight breeze came up just as she let go of the arrow. The feathers at the end of it trembled slightly. The breath of wind was enough to send the arrow exactly where it was supposed to be. With a splintering snap, the metal tip of Laurelin's arrow spilt Eldarion's arrow down the middle. Not a being moved. Laurelin let out her breath and smiled at the tree. She looked back at Eldarion. To her surprise, he stood with a grin on his face looking at the birch. He shook his head and looked over at Laurelin.
"It's seems we have a tie," He spoke with a smile, but his eyes were fiery.
It seemed the Prince liked a good competition almost as much as she did.
"I would say so," Laurelin answered back complacently.
"Yet, that does not relieve you from a race." He replied taking off his quiver and putting it carefully on the ground next to his bow.
"As you wish, your highness," Laurelin said looking over at Linad, "I was just thinking your grace. Our horses tire out now from a race, we will not travel far. If we race toward our destination it would be killing two birds with one stone, as one would say."
Eldarion considered her suggestion, "A good idea, considering we want to reach Fangorn before sunset. Alright then," He walked back to the camp, "Mount your horses men," He addressed the soldiers, "As we ride, Maid Morwen and I shall race."
Laurelin smiled. If he only knew he was challenging his own betrothed. Laurelin looked over at the tree. The arrows were still in the knot, or more like hers was. Prince Eldarion's arrow was only half there.
"Let them hang." She thought with a smile, her confidence growing.
She was sure now. She would make the Prince regret ever challenging her.
"I believe you've found a right good enemy in the Prince!" Rolen laughed as they sat by the fire eating, "You should 'ave seen his face when you shot out in front of 'im on that horse of yours! Never have I seen a more surprised look on a man."
"Well, he brought it upon himself," Laurelin boasted with a chortle, "He should know better than to challenge a daughter of Rohan to a horse race. That was a very rash decision of his."
"Well, your now a bit of a hero among the men," Continued Rolen swabbing a last piece of bread around his empty supper bowl, "Now don't mistake us, Miss! We all like the Prince dearly and wouldn't change commanders for the world. He's a good leader and a fine warrior. However if you ask, every soldier in this company would agree that he's fed up with himself. After this day's race and archery match, well you just put 'im in his place right squarely."
Laurelin laughed, "Well than I'm happy to be of service to you and the men. And anytime you want me to do it again, all you need to do is ask." She answered standing, "Well then Master Rolen, I bid thee goodnight."
"I best be gettin' to my cot as well." He replied getting up and walking toward the maze of white-canopied tents.
Laurelin looked after him with a smile. He reminded her of Gimli in a way. Of course he was much taller than the dwarf, yet he had the same caring yet obnoxiously honest nature. She shook her head of the thoughts. Yet she knew she could not completely banish memories from her head.
Shrugging her shoulders she began to walk over to the horses that lay sleeping quietly. A voice stopped her.
"You will need your saddle bag," Said the voice of Eldarion.
Laurelin turned and saw the Prince standing quietly. She walked up to him. He was probably still cross about the race but did not betray his feelings on his face. His eyebrows were arched with impatience and his mouth a thin line.
"Thank you sire." She took the bag from his hands, yet not taking her eyes from his face. She had become less timid of him since the first time she saw him. She turned and began to walk back.
"I hope your victories today do not affect your attitude. You are still not higher in rank than me." He said, his voice taking a sing song bored tone, "I am still commander of this legion and the son of King Elessar, heir to the throne of Gondor and the eastern world. While you ride with us, I expect you to treat me as such."
"I understand that sir," She answered. She was noticing a pattern in her feelings around him. She seemed to always fight to keep her composure. He was an infuriating man to be sure.
"I do not encourage defiance either," He continued, walking up to her, his hands behind his back, "Insubordination leads to rebellion."
"Well sire, you needn't worry about that. The soldiers admire you too much to organize a rebellion." She answered.
"It wasn't the soldiers I was worried about," He replied with a stern glance, "You are under my orders now,"
"Do you not think I knew this when I requested to join your legion?" She answered in a questioning tone, "Respect needs to go either way, your highness; from subject to the authority and from authority to subject. I believe that is a lesson you must learn in order to be a good leader, your highness. Do you not agree?"
Her voice gave an edge she did not mean to come out. Without waiting for him to dismiss her, Laurelin left the prince standing in the dark. She did not stay to risk her tongue getting away from her.
She walked across the cool grass and found that Linad had curled up with the other horses. Not wanting to disturb them she walked out alone into the barren field and laid down. A waxing moon gave off ghostly silver light that shimmered faintly with the ethereal gleam of the stars. A warm breeze rippled the grass slightly about Laurelin, but she did not notice this. She had fallen asleep.