In my head Lana looks very similar to Aimee Carrero, she could legit be related to LP.

Anyway let me know what you think :)

17 Years Later

Lana awoke to the soft sound of birdsong outside her window. Her eyes fluttered open, to see the glow of the morning sun through her bedroom curtains. She sat up and stretched, letting out a big yawn. She sat there in the early morning silence, allowing herself to ward off the early morning grogginess for a moment, sluggishly combing through her long hair with her fingers. She sighed, before getting up and out of bed.

She dressed quickly, and slipped out of her bedroom and into the common room. It was dimly lit, with swirls of dust dancing in the ray of the morning sunshine coming in through the windows. A few coals in the fireplace still burned from the previous night, just enough to toast her morning bread. On the table just one apple remained, looking as though it would go rotten by lunchtime.

She quietly ate, wondering when her brother would return. He had left two days before on a hunting excursion. He was almost always gone, she missed his company and felt rather lonely when he wasn't around. Her brother, Jacob, was all she had. Their parents, or rather Jacob's parents as she considered them, had both passed shortly after they had found Lana on their doorstep as a newborn. Fever, she had been told. She had been too young to remember, Jacob however was only eleven at the time. She often felt guilty that he was forced to take on such responsibility so young. Growing up, trying to survive on their own had never been easy. Yet, Jacob always did his best, even if that meant she got dinner and he went to bed hungry. She felt she owed so much to him. She wanted so badly to make a better life for the both of them, to make him proud.

She had resigned herself to working their late father's livery stable, to allow Jacob time to go hunting. It was his favorite activity as the horses were hers, so it happens, however they desperately relied on the extra income it brought. Their village was small and not directly connected to the King's Road, consequently business at the stable was slow. To make things worse, the Queen had raised taxes for the second time this month. Lana shuddered as she thought of the scar on Jacob's cheekbone, a pang of guilt always came with the memory, a stark reminder of the last time they came up short.

She took one last bite of her apple, deciding to save the rest for one of the horses. She swung on a wool cloak as she headed out the front door, feeling the cool morning air on her face. A light cover of fog hung low on the forest floor, the gentle sound of birdsong made her feel instantly at ease. She walked to the barn, and smiled as she was greeted with a symphony of whinnies and nickers.

"Good morning, my dears," She cooed to the horses, eagerly awaiting their breakfast.

She got to work, delivering hay to each horse and began mucking out the stalls. Lana was lost in thought when she heard hoofbeats approaching from the woods towards the barn. She frowned, not expecting anyone, she couldn't help but feel a pang of uneasiness and anxiety should it be the Royal Guard. They had been ruthless in their pursuit for Princess Snow lately. She looked out the stall window and to her relief saw Jacob, seemingly unharmed, cantering up on Belvedere. She was grateful to see he looked to be in good shape, too.

The uneasiness didn't subside however. She peered into the barn aisle-way as they trotted inside, coming to a halt before her.

"You're back already?" She asked, worried, "Is everything okay?" her eyes darted from him to the grey stallion, looking for injury.

"We're fine," he answered, Lana let out a sigh of relief as he took off his hood and tossed his bow and quiver off his shoulder.

"I'm glad. But I wasn't expecting to see you for at least another fortnight…," she said, a bit annoyed now as she took the horse's reins from his grip and watched him dismount from the horse.

"Well, we caught wind of a large wolfpack headed north past Sherwood Forest… but we were stopped by an ogre that wouldn't let us pass, and all the men just took off running!" He shrugged and smiled sheepishly.

Always one to find humor in everything… Lana resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Thought it was a decent lot this time," she said, with sarcasm that Jacob always seemed oblivious to.

"Ah, well… guess that's the kind of loyalty you get from hiring old drunks at taverns," he chuckled to himself, taking off his heavy cloak, "But hey, managed to get a few fox pelts though, at least we can trade for a decent dinner tonight," he said with a tone that was a bit too optimistic.

Lana let out a heavy, exasperated sigh.

"Jacob-"

"I know, I know. Listen- I'm going to track down that ogre tomorrow, I was hoping you'd come with me? I mean, without those lousy drunks in our way we could make it there and back in a day's ride, so won't have to leave the stable for long. We'll be set for the next fortnight with all the gold we can sell the tongue for," he replied, untying the girth and sliding the saddle carefully off the horse's back.

"We'll need the gold, no question. It's worth the risk," she said with certainty, her eyebrows furrowed as she began undoing the bridle.

"I'm a bit rusty, though," she admitted.

"What? You've been sitting around all day and not practicing your aim?" he teased.

Lana punched his shoulder jokingly, "Hey- I haven't had the time!" she replied.

"You know I jest! Seriously, this guy has come a long way since he's been here-" giving Belvedere a good pat on the neck, "remember how much of a nightmare he was?"

He and Lana chuckled, reminiscing on the days where dear old Belvedere had thought walking on two legs was far better than all four. He was a magnificent horse, but had thrown one too many Royal officers to the ground with his rearing habit. Lana had discovered him at the meat market one day and had managed to slip away with him unnoticed. He had taken loads of patience, but eventually came around to be a solid riding horse for Jacob. Deep down, she was especially proud of him over the others.

Lana guided the grey stallion into his stall and latched the door closed.

"I've been wanting to take Amadeus out on a hunt anyway, I think I'll ride him tomorrow," she mused.

Jacob raised his eyebrows. Although he hated to admit he was weary of the young horses himself, he admired her nerve.

"You know I trust your judgment, dealing with ogres is always a nasty business- If you say he's ready," he said earnestly.

"He's got a great head on his shoulders… and he's quick," she thought, then smirking to herself, "-plus, if he goes well I can sell him to the White Palace Guard for a good price, since he'll be a seasoned hunting mount then,"

Jacob giggled. "It's a good thing you can train horses better than all those idiots, honestly," he replied as he leaned down to wipe the saddle clean, removing all the dirt and grime from his travels.

"It's a good thing you can hunt better than those idiots," she retorted playfully as she grabbed the bunch of fox pelts lying at her feet, just now remembering them on the floor.

"Speaking of which, let me take these into town before they go rancid. You go in and rest," she said as she made her way out of the barn, before Jacob could protest.