Boromir rode at full speed toward Edoras. He looked down at Solatiri who sat in front of him. Her head laid against his chest as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She had been that way for hours. Boromir knew she wouldn't last long if they didn't get to Edoras soon.

"Solatiri", he said. "Solatiri, can you hear me?"

"Boromir…" she weakly answered.

"Hang in there. We're almost there."

"Where are we?" Solatiri asked.

"We're close to Edoras. We'll get you some help there."

Solatiri smiled weakly and closed her eyes as she rested her head against Boromir's chest. She knew they would get there in time. She had faith in him.

"I can hold on…a little bit longer…for you…"

Boromir looked at her both surprised and knew she was strong, but was she strong enough to stay alive until they reached Edoras? He had seen her shot by an arrow before, but it was never as bad as this.

13 year old Solatiri was target practicing with a 13 year old Faramir. Both of them laughed when Solatiri suggested turning practice into a competition.

"Practice?" Faramir asked. "Father will strongly disapprove of it. He wants me to practice, not play."

"Faramir, you're not a soldier of Gondor yet", Solatiri said. "You're still a boy. You should be having fun while you still can."

"Father frowns upon fun."

"He frowns upon everything. When was the last time he actually approved of something?"

"When Boromir became a soldier", Faramir answered. "He approved and told my brother he was proud of him."

Solatiri frowned. Everything Faramir did was never good enough for Denethor. He never got the love and support Boromir got. Denethor favored the elder son over the younger son, this everyone in the Citadel knew.

"Either way", Solatiri said trying to put Faramir in a good mood. "We'll see who can hit the target more than the other. Let me move those arrows away."

She put her bow aside and walked toward the barrel that held a cloth with a target painted on it. She pulled the arrows that were stuck on off so she and Faramir could continue practicing. Faramir picked up an arrow and stretched his bow, ready to release as soon as Solatiri got out of the way.

"Training hard, you two?" they heard.

"Brother!" Faramir said startled.

He lost concentration and released his arrow early. Both brothers looked as Solatiri screamed in pain. Faramir's arrow was now stuck in her arm.

"Faramir, what are you thinking?" she yelled. "I'm still right here!"

She was silent as she turned to see 18 year old Boromir walking up to her looking worried. She looked at his light colored eyes, his ear-length copper hair and the light stubble across his face.

He in return looked at her brown eyes that fought back tears, her short ginger red hair that went down to her shoulders.

"Boromir, what are you doing here?"

"There is nothing wrong wanting to see my brother and friend, is there?" Boromir asked.

Solatiri stayed silent as he looked at her arm.

"You're hurt", he said. "But it doesn't look too bad. The arrow hasn't gone deep."

Without any warning, he yanked the arrow out of her arm.

"Boromir, that hurt!" she yelled.

"I apologize", he said.

Boromir tore a piece of his cloak off and wrapped it around her arm. He and Solatiri looked at each other. Slowly they leaned closer to each other until Faramir came running.

"Solatiri, I'm sorry I hurt you!" he said. "It's not too bad, is it?"

Boromir pulled back and shook his head.

"Not to worry, little brother. She'll survive. She's a strong young maiden."

Boromir knew Solatiri was strong back then, he knew she was strong now. His horse neighed as it stopped. Over the hill, high on a hill stood Edoras, home of the horse lords.