Calen kept her eyes closed as her uncle led her outside. Gandalf walked somewhere beside her. She wondered where she was being led. Her uncle had told her of Gandalf's offer, and she had accepted by the end of his second sentence.

She heard heavy doors open and the smell of the stable wafted on the air.

"Gandalf, if you would, please..."

Calen heard the sound of hooves on stone, then Theoden released her arm.

"Open your eyes, Calen," he said.

She did, and gave a small gasp. Before her stood an exquisite snowy white mare, smaller than most horses but still every bit as strong.

"Oh," she breathed, moving closer. The mare turned her head and fixed an intelligent eye on the girl.

"She has been trained to fit your needs," Calen heard her uncle say as she ran her hands admiringly over the horse's body. "I had been waiting to give her to you when you were given a proper title, but it seems to me you need her now," he explained.

"Proper title?" Calen asked, confused. She wasn't sure she liked that term.

"Yes. Take Eowyn, for instance. Soon, she will be known as the White Lady of Rohan."

"I don't need a title," Calen hastily assured him.

"Of course you do," Gandalf insisted. "If you are going to be meeting new people you will need a title. It's mostly for show, anyway. It gives people something to remember you by."

Calen rolled her eyes and turned back to the mare, who was prancing from side to side.

"You have a fiery nature," she whispered to the horse.

"Calen," her uncle said.

"Hmm?"

"Your name... It means 'green' in elvish?"

"Yeah," Calen looked at her uncle, confused.

He nodded to himself. "Right. All right, then. Calen, you have just become the Green Lady of Rohan."

Calen simply stared at him.

"Sure. Okay. Thanks," she lied.

Luckily, Gandalf saved her.

"What is her name?" he asked, nodding to the horse.

Calen stared into the depthless, liquid brown eyes. They stared back. In them, she saw a courageous and lively personality.

"Fiery, indeed," she whispered softly to herself.

Reaching up, she ran her fingers through the long, silky mane.

"You're a beauty, aren't you, Fe," she whispered.

The horse pricked up her ears. Calen frowned to herself. Where had that come from?

"Well then," she said, turning to face Theoden and Gandalf. "I guess this is Fe."

"'Spirit' in the elvin tongue. A fitting name," Gandalf voiced his approval.

"So... when can we leave?" she asked.

"First thing tomorrow," Gandalf replied. "If you can be ready by then. You wont need to bring much. We can restock our supplies in Rivendell, as well as get you some more clothing that is better fitting for the climate."

"Great! I'll meet you in the Great Hall before dawn tomorrow," Calen looked towards the setting sun. "In the meantime, I have some things to take care of."

Gandalf and Theoden nodded and wandered off, deep in conversation. Calen turned back to Fe.

"Supposedly, you're trained like the mounts for the Rohirrim," she said. "Let's see."

Calen turned and walked away. Glancing behind, she saw Fe following obediently. The girl smiled as an idea came to her. Eomer had first explained to her how it was done, and she had since then tried it several times. She gave the first signal, then backed away slowly, watching the horse to make sure she didn't move. Fe waited patiently, just as Calen had expected. When she found a good spot, Calen made sure she had the right position and gave the command. Fe shot towards her in a flash of white. As the horse passed, Calen leaped onto her back. Fe immediately obeyed her commands, and Calen gave a joyous shout. They did several laps around the stables before Calen noticed that numerous villagers were giving her strange looks. She slowed Fe down to a walk, blushing.

Just then, the gate to the inner city opened and the Rohirrim trotted in. Calen waved to Eomer, who waved back. Then she urged Fe into the stables just before the men dismounted and entered. She led the horse to a large corner stall that had been left empty for her and let Fe in, then started grooming.

Eomer came in just as she was about to put her brushes away.

"Who's this?" he asked, looking at Fe.

"Her name's Fe. I'll be right back, I just have to put these away," Calen explained. "Take a look-tell me what you think of her."

She left Eomer and pushed her way through the crowd of men and horses, deposited her brushes in the tack room, and hurried back. When she entered the stall, Eomer was giving Fe a sugar cube.

"What do you think?" she asked him.

"She's one of the best horses in Rohan, no doubt," he said. "Very loyal. As soon as you left, she went to the door and tried to follow you."

Fe finished her sugar cube and searched Eomer's pockets for more, then did the same to Calen.

"Did uncle give her to you?"

"Yeah. He said he was waiting to give me a 'proper title' or something like that, then decided to give her to me now," Calen said.

"Why?"

"You knew Gandalf was here, right?" she asked him.

Eomer nodded.

"Well, he invited me to go with him while he travels."

"And uncle is letting you go? How long will you be gone?"

"A... a year. Possibly a bit longer," Calen admitted. "I think he's letting me go just to get me out of his hair. Everyone knows I haven't exactly been cooperative lately," she explained.

The stable was emptying, so the two of them decided to go back to the Golden Hall. When Calen said goodbye, Fe pushed her head into her side affectionately.

"A whole year," muttered Eomer as they walked. "Lucky."

Calen raised an eyebrow at him.

"Then again," he continued, "maybe not. Where are you going?"

"Rivendell, as far as I know. But I'm sure we'll be going other places," she said.

"Well, I'll miss you," her cousin said, then smiled. "One last race before you go?"

Calen chuckled at the mention of their childhood pastime-seeing who could run up the shallow stone steps of Meduseld the fastest.

"You're doomed."

They took off running. Eomer stumbled up the steps, but passed Calen as they burst in the door.

Theoden glared at them, startled.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded.

Calen and Eomer stood as straight as they could while still panting.

"We gasp were racing..." Calen explained, breathless.

Theoden shook his head. "You would think you were only ten," he muttered. "Well, go on and pack, Calen."

Calen nodded and left the Hall, Eomer following. As soon as the door had closed, they both burst out laughing.

"You'd better pack," commented Eomer when he wasn't doubled up. "I'll see you tomorrow morning before you leave."

Calen waved and walked down the hallway to her room. About an hour later, she heard a knock on her door.

"Come in," she called as she threw some things into her pack.

"I cant believe you could be so fortunate," called a familiar voice.

"Hello, Eowyn," Calen muttered.

"Hi. I suppose you're rather pleased with yourself, aren't you?" Eowyn accused.

"What are you talking about?" said Calen indifferently.

"You tricked that wizard into inviting you to go with him!" the older woman hissed. "Then you did something to make uncle agree to let you go."

Calen just started laughing. She couldn't believe her cousin could be so naïve.

Eowyn ignored her.

"You're so..." for a moment Eowyn was tempted to say 'selfish'. But the last word came out as a softer "lucky."

Calen looked up.

"Eowyn, why would you say that? You love it here. This is your home. Your people. Why would you want to leave?"

Eowyn looked Calen squarely in the eyes.

"Same reason as you, I would guess. I'm tired of being shut up here, in this cage of duty and responsibility and expectations. But I cant get away. How did you do it?" she pleaded.

"I... didn't," Calen stammered. "Eowyn, I don't really belong here. I know you're my family and all, but there's a part of me that just cant stay put for long. Besides, only my mother was from Rohan..."

Eowyn had never heard the truth about Calen, and as much as she didn't like to, the girl decided to keep it that way for a while longer.

"I'm going so that I can learn some things about myself... things I didn't know."

Eowyn bowed her head in defeat.

"I know... I understand. But I cant help wishing I could go too..."

"You cant," Calen murmured soothingly. "You're needed here. People look up to you. Especially the women in our country. Things are starting to change with us, Eowyn, much thanks to you. You'll be fine, you'll see."

The older woman smiled slightly, then stood up and left and abruptly as she's come.

Calen sighed and went back to her packing.