Laurelin awoke the next morning with a splitting headache. Everything seemed dim with pain. After a few hours of just lying on her cot, fighting the ache, it left as quickly as came.
Laurelin stood from her cot. They had given her a notably larger tent than the other soldiers with a flap in front of the entrance for privacy. She saw in the corner a basin of water for washing. She walked over to it and splashed some of the water on her face. She looked into the water's surface once it had calmed. She looked terrible. She eyes were red and puffy from crying last night and the headache that morning. Her hair was in disarray. She brushed in the best she could with her fingers and decided that would have to do for the time being. She saw next to the basin a new set of clothing. She smiled with relief and happiness. It would be nice to have something new for a change. She dressed in the soldier's clothing, the leather soft on her sore skin. She tied her hair back with a leather cord she found among the folds of the tunic. She set her old clothing on her cot and put on her boots.
The light of the sun irritated her eyes terribly, the rays tearing into her conscious like bee stings. In the glare she saw Kale and Eldarion approach. She suddenly felt embarrassed for her behavior the night before and kept her eyes to the ground.
"Well, well! How do you feel today Morwen?" She heard Kale ask.
Laurelin looked up, "Ghastly," she said and meant it.
Kale laughed, "That happens, we'll just have to keep the beer out of your reach next time,"
Laurelin shrugged, "You won't need to," She admitted, earning a laugh from both men.
"You must come with Eldarion and I," He continued, "We are scouting out the area. From what Eldarion has told me, we should keep our eyes open for any unexpected visitors."
Laurelin nodded and walked along side them, trying to keep up with their long stride. She had always been told she was tall, but now among such giants, she felt small.
She was given her own horse this time. It was a dapple grey color with a speckled mane. It was gorgeous.
"What's its name?" She asked stroking its grey velvet nose.
"The king's Army usually doesn't name its horses," Kale said mounting his own horse, the one from the day before, "But you can name it if you wish."
Laurelin thought for a moment looking into the horse's unusual blue eyes, "Belle," She said with a small smile, "Belle shall be her name,"
Laurelin looked over at Kale and Eldarion for approval. Kale smiled widely then set to fixing his reins. Eldarion looked at her for a second, a strange grin on his face, then shook his head and turned his own black horse about.
Laurelin had not realized that her cheeks had begun to burn brightly under Eldarion's gaze.
"What's the matter with me?" She thought to herself, mounting the horse, "I'm acting like a bashful scullery maid." She held her head high as she led Belle in a trot after Kale and Eldarion, "And I'm not a mere maid. I would dare to liken myself to a shield maiden."
Kale led them down a rocky outcrop. It was rough going and the sun beat down ravenously upon them. Nothing could be seen for miles.
"Come along!" Called Kale behind him to his comrade, "Let me show you a spot my men and I found the other day."
Curiosity rose in Laurelin's heart as she followed behind. They soon were following a lazy creek, flowing thick and brown. They entered somewhat of a forested area. They then came to a small glade, green with spring. It sloped gently, the little creek running along the edge of it. Kale led the horse to the creek's edge and dismounted. Eldarion and Laurelin followed suit. Laurelin let Belle wander along the grass and flowers, grazing as she went. Laurelin came to the water's edge and cupped some of the water in her hand. It was clear as glass. She swallowed deeply of it. She tasted every single rock and every single raindrop that it had ever flowed past or was drunk into its greedy rivulet.
"Pretty isn't it?" Kale said looking out over the landscape.
"Yes," Breathed Laurelin dropping her hands once again into the water.
Kale crouched by the water running his fingers through it lightly. Laurelin looked over and saw Eldarion approach him from behind. She knew what was going to happen. She watched with amusement as he shoved Kale into the waterl. Kale came up sputtering like a drowning dog and shaking the water from his auburn hair. With a growl he lunged toward Eldarion and pulled him in, boots and all. Laurelin laughed as she watched them splash water at each other.
"Good thing you don't have that pretty mail shirt on Eldarion!" She called out in delight, "You would have sunk straight to the bottom!"
Immediately she had made a mistake by drawing attention to herself. Kale and Eldarion looked over at her.
"Why Morwen!" Called Eldarion coming up to her, "You look surprisingly dry this morning!"
"Oh no," She said backing up, "I plan on staying that way, thank you,"
"Maybe you do, but I don't," He said and with one fell swoop picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.
Laurelin screamed as Eldarion bounded back into the creek, Kale laughing all the while, and threw her into the water. The creek engulfed her, cold entering all her senses in a pleasant rush of liquid. She could have stayed under forever, suspended like a bird in air, but soon her lungs began to ache for new air.
"You monster!" She yelled coming to the surface smiling and laughing.
She ran toward him splashing with Kale doing to the same.
"Mercy!" Eldarion cried, laughing, "Mercy please, I beg of you!"
"What is the meaning of this?!" Came a voice from behind them.
They turned to see a dignified older looking man on a white horse. He looked like a high-ranking officer with more soldiers behind him on horse back.
"Who are you and what are you doing away from the camp?" The man demanded.
Kale and Eldarion stepped forward, "I am the commander of this regiment sir," Kale said, picking a leaf from his hair.
"And I am Eldarion, son of the King Elessar," Said Eldarion in a much more dignified voice.
Laurelin hung back behind the two men, hoping the officer on the horse would not notice her.
"I see," Said the man dismounting, his grey hair glinting off the water's light, "What are you doing so far from camp. We might have been a battalion of orcs or other such nonsense. How might have you protected this young lady from harm?" He reprimanded.
Laurelin felt her old temper flare up, "I would need no protecting sir," She said.
Eldarion and Kale parted looking at her in amusement. The man eyed her as if she were a child,
"Oh, I see," He said walking to the bank's edge, "You would have just defended yourself against them with that impertinence and obvious rage of yours?"
"She could've," Eldarion muttered, Kale smirking.
Laurelin ignored them, "No," She answered, "I would defend myself as any other soldier would with strength and strategy."
The officer seemed entertained by her answer but pressed her further, "And what makes you think that you are a soldier?"
Eldarion answered before Laurelin could, "Because I made her one,"
Now it was Laurelin's turn to be astonished. She looked over at Eldarion.
"You did?" The officer asked, just as surprised as she.
"Yes, I did a long time ago. She has fought bravely in battle and is one of my Captains," He continued, Laurelin's mouth dropping farther with every word.
A Captain? She could have jumped to the sky and caught a cloud.
"Oh," Mumbled the officer, looking down at his feet in embarrassment, "I am sorry, my lady. I apologize for I did not know-"
"All is well," She interrupted, casting a smile over to Eldarion, "It occurs all the time."
She had proven herself to the Prince. She felt as though her cheeks would burst she was smiling so wide. She had been heard this time and her answer counted. She had found a place where she mattered.