Chapter Two

April 8th

I need to write down my thoughts to keep from going insane. I don't know what happened...I just can't seem to remember. I know that I was watering the horses and then...then what? The next thing I remember was waking up to see Boromir. Okay, I should start by writing down all that I can remember of who I was before I became the adopted daughter of the Steward of Gondor. I am Keladry of Mindelan, the youngest of the three daughters, youngest child of Baron Piers of Mindelan and his wife, Ilane of Mindelan. My Father is a diplomat while my three older brothers, Anders, Inness and Conal, are all knights of Tortal. My two older sisters were presented to court the past midwinter. I am the first female page and squire in the history of Tortal...or rather first official page after Lady Alanna. I have a beaten up dog named Jump and a war gelding named Peachblossom who has a great attitude. Oh, and I also have a flock of sparrows who help me out a lot.

I know that I had many friends until...until...until whatever it was happened. Oh, and there was a time when I had a crush on Neal. He is about Boromir's age if not a year older. I don't know what I would have done without him. He always supported me. Now I find that my best friend here is Faramir, maybe because we are so close in age. Lord Denethor makes us study a lot...but that's fine since I also am allowed to continue in training to be a knight though here in the White City it's a slightly different concept. Oh, and as I am writing this Faramir is looking over my shoulder.

May 2nd

My hair grew too long in the past month. It constantly is in my face and since I never had a problem with it before and have absolutely no way of putting it under control, I couldn't do anything about it. I stormed the castle for three days in this annoyed and angry state, forgetting everything I ever learned at the Isles. But then I felt embarrassed and (after crying in my pillow during the night), I came up with a cold yet reasonable solution. I was sitting in front of the mirror in one of the forgotten rooms, dagger to my locks, when someone opened the door. Surprised and slightly frightened, I turned to face the stranger, trying to keep an indifferent mask on. Boromir took in the situation right away and sighed, closing his eyes with his hand.

"Don't," was all he said after a few seconds and turned to leave. I let out a confused breath but he just smirked. "I like it long," and with that he left. I sat there for a long time trying to understand what has happened in that moment. I guess he accepted me a sister, though the way he phrased that last comment to me sounded more...Oh, I don't know. It's not like Neal or the other boys ever showed any feelings beside friendship towards me. But still...

June 12th

I can't believe it! I am to take dancing lessons and Lord Denethor is not about to change his mind. Oh, and who shall I learn with but with Faramir? I thought that he was mature but I can't believe it. Me and the dance master both had to force him to hold my hand and place a hand on what I consider my non-existent waist. That day I had three bruised toes and was red with embarrassment. Never in my life had I ever lost my temper with anyone.

So now, two weeks later, Boromir stopped to watch as we were in the middle of a waltz. He leaned against the wall, a soft shadow of a smirk playing on his lips. When Faramir once again messed up the steps and stepped on my toe, his older brother pushed off the wall and shook his head.

"Faramir you are forgetting that this is a lady," he scolded as my friend turned to him.

"She's not a lady!" he protested turning slightly pink. "She's a girl! And it wasn't fully my fault because she messed up too."

"Perhaps," Boromir looked in my direction and smiled. "But at least she doesn't show it!"

"If you are so special, you try dancing with her," muttered Faramir but Boromir only shrugged and bowing deeply before me extended his hand.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked, his grey eyes playful and yet searching. I have no idea what he was searching for in that moment but after a small hesitation I placed my hand in his.

"Positions!" the quiet until then dancing master raised his hands, cleared his throat, checked to make sure everyone was ready and signalled for the four lone musicians to start the tune. Boromir bowed and from that moment on I was pulled not into a dance, but into something much more. We became one for those two minutes, each anticipating the other's moves and flowing to keep rhythm with them. I was alone with Boromir and I was closer to him in that time than to anyone else. It scared me...

We stopped, I curtsied while he bowed. Boromir took one of my hands and gently pressed his lips to the tips of them. I raised an eyebrow. Then, straightening and dropping my hand, he took out a small penny and threw it to Faramir, leaving me even more confused than before. I will never truly understand that man and while I was thinking, the dance master was jumping around me, praising the dancing and showing his disapproval at Faramir who just shrugged it off. I can still hear his happy exclaims of "Unbelievable!" Oh, and I am happy to say that I haven't thrown up on my birthday which seems a great improvement.

August 1st

I hate him! I hate Boromir with all my heart! I never hated Joren as much as I hate this...this...this stuck up, brave, stupid commander. He humiliated me in front of all the soldiers he could, in front of his father! I hate him! I have never been so degraded in all of my life by anyone. And it all started with the stupid animal he gave me.

Zigzag. That's her name. She's a sleepy eyed bay mare with a white blaze down her nose that gives her that name or that's at least what I thought. Boromir lead her up to me as I petted the nose of Faramir's gelding. At first I thought he meant her for himself, for after Peachblossom that animal seemed almost a disgrace. She was small and light; build for a hunt than the war. Her eyes were sleepy, reminding me of the mare that I had declined on the first day as a page. As soon as she stopped, her ears drooped in two different directions.

"Who's that?" I asked as Sunflight nudged my hand for more caressing.

"Your horse," Boromir answered giving her a whole hearted pat. "You said you knew how to ride, well then prove it!

I nearly laughed at the last comment, but decided that it would be way better if I proved to be in total control before mentioning anything. So, shrugging, I easily swung up onto the small mare, and settled in. Boromir was still holding the reins.

"You can let go now," I said smiling. He shrugged, gave the mare an affectionate pat and left. Faramir swung up onto his own mount.

"You don't have to be so harsh on him," he remarked, as he settled down. I shrugged, knowing that perhaps he was right. After all, Boromir never saw me on Peachblossom, never saw me ride.

"Come on, slowpoke!" I laughed kicking the mare with my heels like I used to do to my pony. That was probably the mistake. Instantly the mare's ears flew forward and she took off, with me barely holding on. I tried pulling on the reins but all that did was...nothing. This mare was incontrollable. I hung on, trying to gain my balance but she ran faster and faster. I couldn't understand why...and I slightly leaned to the side. The animal made a quick turn in that direction, dropping me neatly into the dirt before slowly trotting back to where Boromir was standing, unsuccessfully trying to hide a smirk.

I slowly stood up and dusted the dirt off my breeches, while everyone was smiling or laughing, looking at me with smirks of their own. Faramir trotted up to me, laughing.

"You okay?" he asked, hopping off his stallion, slightly holding onto his stomach but he stopped almost immediately as soon as he saw my face. I sniffed, straightened my back and stormed off to where Boromir was watching with amused eyes. With each step I took his smirk slowly slipped off his face.

"Is this what you call a good animal?" I yelled at him, standing up on my tippy toes and trying to force him to look into my eyes. "Is this your idea of fun? I could have gotten killed!"

"You should have thought before kicking a trained war horse into a full head gallop. I'm surprised she's alive with that careless riding of yours," Boromir replied coldly.

"You idiot! Don't you understand that I don't need a horse that can run! I need a horse that can fight! I am training to be a knight and I don't want to spend time training a new animal!" Boromir gave me an icy glare but instead of answering, whistled for the mare and swung onto the saddle. As soon as he got on and leaned slightly forward, the mare swished her tale and started at an energetic walk out where we were heading with Faramir. Then the mare stopped and turned to face the rest of the audience and me. Boromir demonstratively dropped the reins and immediately leaned back. The mare reared up, kicking with her front hooves out, then took flight from that position seemingly to be directed by thought alone. Smiling Faramir grabbed two swords, swung up onto the huge chestnut and galloped towards his brother.

Tossing Boromir a sword, Faramir too dropped the reins, and nudged Sunflight forward. The two horsemen manoeuvred their mounts in ways I never seen before. It seemed as if the two horses were controlled not by the riders but rather by the thoughts of the two men who concentrated on nothing more than knocking the opponent's sword out of their hand. I stood there, watching the wonderful sight, feeling both embarrassed and influenced by their grace and skill.

"Good job Boromir!" a familiar voice sounded just to my left. I looked to see Lord Denethor watching his two sons. Then, noticing me looking, he gave me a rather upset look. I bit my lip and looked back where Boromir neatly disarmed Faramir and nudged the mare away from the stallion, holding the victory in his hands. Then, both boys trotted back to the waiting group together. Boromir swung off of Lightning, handed the reins to a stable boy, nodded to his father and stormed back into the castle. Denethor gave Faramir a rather cold gaze and headed after his older son with most of the commanders.

"Sorry about that," mumbled Faramir as he started to lead Sunflight back into the stable. I was standing there, thinking back on how easily I lost my cool with Boromir. It was my mistake, I was scared and I yelled at him when he was right. Besides, he was the older one and the more responsible. I should beg forgiveness, now that I figured it out who was right and who was wrong. But only if he says sorry for humiliating me. Only then...

November 2nd

I was sword fighting today with one of the best swordsman in Gondor, the best being Boromir. Well, I finally, after six months managed to win. And it all happened when Boromir was practicing nearby. He observed quietly as Lord German and I parried and blocked, lunged and attacked, feinted and disengaged in a complicated dance that was exhilarating and frightening at the same time, one that was beautiful and deadly, one that was treasured and easily given up. But as we circled, I could feel the grey eyes on my back. I was so absorbed by that thought that I missed a simple motion and my sword went flying from my hand, burning my wrist.

"You weren't focussing," Lord German scolded lightly as I grimaced and went to retrieve the fallen weapon. "You never miss that disengage nor do you seem so distracted."

"I'm fine," I replied, shacking the dust off the blade and walking back. "Let's start again."

"Are you sure you are alright?" the Lord asked taking position.

"Quite," I managed through clenched teeth. Some soldiers exchanged amused smirks, but I didn't notice any of that. All I noticed were the grey emotionless eyes. Boromir was standing behind German, hands crossed, leaning against the wall in his usual arrogant way. I snuffled but focused my anger into my sword. We stood for a few seconds and then...

Block, attack, parry, turn around...duck, lunge, block, try to disengage...We were off again. CLANK! Our swords caused sparks to fly in all directions. CLANK! Sweat dripped down my forehead, sliding down my cheeks. CLANK! My hair started escaping the leather bounds and clinging to my forehead, blocking my vision. CLANK! I started to tire, breathing hard but one look in those cold eyes...CLANK! One look and I forgot about the throbbing pain in my shoulders and arms. CLANK! I did the last desperate thing I could and with a scream made the opponents sword fly out of his grip, the point digging into the sand. As fast as lightning my sword's point was at German's throat.

We froze there, both breathing hard. It wasn't until one of the soldiers started clapping that I lowered my blade slowly to the ground, the fight going out of me. German let out a breath and his face broke into a smile of amazement and awe. Bowing slightly and giving me a comrade pat on the shoulder, he went to retrieve his sword. I just stood there nodding and trying to regain composure as all the other soldiers gathered around, smiling and laughing, congratulating me on my win and clapping me on the back. Then they slowly started towards the barracks where they would be served hot food. After ten minutes, the area became empty. I let out a relieved sigh and turned around. My mouth froze half open as I watched Boromir, his grey eyes still hard.

"You were sloppy," he commented. I stiffened.

"But I—"

"I'm not done," he stopped me by uncrossing his arms and walking over to me. "You were sloppy but-" he looked down then back at me, his grey eyes soft and sad. "—but you did good. This doesn't mean though that it will get any easier, it just means that tomorrow you will be fighting me and I won't go easy."

I stood there with my mouth open. He never spared me a compliment before. Never had he said that I did good. He praised Faramir all the time yet this seemed to be the first time it was just me. To be sure, I slowly looked around, thinking perhaps he wasn't talking to me. There was no one else in the courtyard. As Boromir walked passed me, he paused and pressed something into my hand the quickly continued on, his long legs quickly taking him back to his rooms. I slowly looked down at what he gave me...a rough carved horse with a mighty fighter on its back, hair trailing in an invisible wind. I turned it over and over, admiring the work when my fingers traced some grooved on the bottom. Flipping it to read the letters, heart beating fast, I managed to see the words "forever" and "mine".