It was peaceful and quiet with a heavy vapour in the air coming from the waterfalls, while the sun bathed the scenery in warm autumnal colours which were peaceful to the withered eye and I found myself rocking on my horse as the sleepless journey finally caught up with me.

I could have closed my eyes then and there, trusting Greta to take me where I needed, only my sisters were too preoccupied by other factors to truly appreciate the scenery.

"I cannot stand this Sonya," Merith hissed, a sound which I did not enjoy hearing in my ear when I was so content.

I knew what it was she was referring to, but I benefitted her with asking, "oh really, what is it?", although I could not totally disguise my annoyance.

"Being watched as we are; as if an enemy."

Mentally, I could see her lip curl with a snarl and I chuckled to myself with how predictable she was, for as I turned around, the expression written on her stone face clearly showed off her distaste at the elves scrutiny.

Where there was some darkened crevice, or a particularly a leafy treetop, these places were seldom unoccupied and the further we delved, the more obvious those guardsmen became and now they lined the mountain passes, staring at my shieldmaiden's, almost daring us to do something.

This was no insult to me, but for Merith the same could not be said, since her pride was far easier to wound when her idea of offence and disrespect was on a different level to most and far more severe.

"if your intimidated by elves, sister- " I tried to tease, but as expected she did not let me go any further.

"Ha! Hardly."

The instant the words left her lips, a whistle of an approaching arrow caused for the Shieldmaiden to quickly draw back her head as it flew passed, with mere inches to spare between her face and it.

Not much panic was felt on my part or Erin's and we laughed as Merith shadowed her coal smothered eyes into blackened pits, glowering up at the noticeable elf who kept in place the bow he had just used to remind her of their skill.

Erin's cackle disturbed the serenity of the air and she gripped her sides hard before she briefly gained control of herself and pulled her ears into a point with a few sharp tugs, warning Merith that she shouldn't speak so loudly and that their large ears had a purpose.

I again chuckled, "nothing much gets past them, so I would be wary if I were you."

Merith grunted, wiping a hand over the stubble side of her head again which she often did from irritation and feeling more than a little spiteful.

"indeed, I wonder who the more exciting trespasser has been," she bit, "us, or the wary traveller. I bet it has been years since they have seen an orc."

"Now, now," Erin warned, clutching her horse tightly between her thighs, as she removed a dagger and started making a show of spinning it from hand to hand, "they still have dwarves to handle and their a fearsome foe if a little short."

"True enough," I agreed as I thought that there would be visible evidence of a dispute if they had beaten us ahead in our arrival into Rivendell.

"I never understood why they hate each other so," Merith commented with genuine curiosity.

Unlike Erin and I, Merith had not yet arrived at Clyro during the time Gram was alive. Some say she had been over a hundred years old, her life devoted to her sisters entirely since birth and when age had taken her beauty, rotted her teeth, shrunken her form and wrinkled her skin, all she had left to give were her tales.

I remember still how the Shieldmaidens gathered in the great hall with pillows and blankets, scattering them everywhere to get comfortable for the long story to be told and no other light besides that of the burning hearth. Kya used to be so timid when it came to the darkness and used to beg me to get closer to the fire, but all it did was cast great shadows on the walls that made her tremble.

During those years when she was alive, Gram would wait until silence before she ever began, in that harsh tone of hers, like she had gargled rocks. The tale of elves and dwarves was the last she ever told and as such, a favourite of mine.

"it is a tale too long to tell for the moment, filled with gems and dragons and broken trust," I remarked, thinking on how it had taken a week worth of nights for Gram herself to scratch the surface. By the time she had spoken the last word, seeing Thorin Oakenshield into his grave, so did Gram's life come to end when Gora found her lifeless body in that chair she kept for commemoration, but now waited on death herself while seated in it.

Then I wondered, would I do the same in my old age? Or in light of events, will I be taken in battle…

I shook my head at the thought, admitting to myself that I would much prefer to go out with a clash of swords, rather than to wait for my body to betray me and wither the same as Gram and now Gora.

Battle would be me only option, for if none if me sisters should prove worthy then the last foe would be the slow decay of approaching death and unless immortal, how am I to defeat that foe?

To fall due to old age so that another leader could take my place, felt much more like surrender than a true match to produce a strong heir to lead me women into the future. what I needed was to be at me peak when that challenge comes, for then I would be assured in their capability to take on my role.

"Do you think that is why they are putting on so great a show?"

During my pondering's, Merith had galloped at my side. the Shieldmaiden before me was quite dark in colouring than most of the Rohirrim. A plain woman in her 20's and as children some of our fellow sisters carried into adulthood, I was ashamed to say, a cruel nickname for Merith in retaliation to her crude behaviour. 'Horse face' they cried, an acknowledgment to her long face and hard jaw that could crack the shell of a walnut.

I didn't think that their childish name calling helped any when to this day, those who once used the label bore scars dealt to them by Merith's hand and I credited her for putting them in their place. Now whenever I hear telling of bullying among the young girls, it was always Merith I sent them to and I would hear no more of it after.

I could reminisce all day of me home, the longer I was separated from it, the easier it got and i had to remind myself if the task at hand. Another look around and I didn't think the elves numbers were for our benefit, but after what I had experienced at the stream, I could hardly blame them.

Erin lined up with Merith and if the latter was known as horse face, I couldn't begin to fathom what the long list was for the mad woman beside me. she scarcely remembered to eat half the time, her shenanigans rivalling that of the children and from being to active it left her more gaunt and tired looking with her skill relying on swiftness than strength with hardly any muscle to her. Gora had found Erin in the forest caked in dirt and adorned with twigs and leaves with a ray of matted hair no one has ever managed to comb through or convinced her in the luxury of a bath. She spent years without speaking a word, not knowing how to at first but since she found her footing, she has never shut up since.

Still playing with her blades, as she grinned with crooked teeth, she nodded at the road, "I love the elven path. They're so confident in their riding skills that their routes are rocky, thin…treacherous."

I exchanged a bemused look with Merith, who for once showed signs of wanting to grin, though it might crack her stone cheek.

"Indeed, they may be elves, but we are Rohirrim. What do you say maidens, shall we show them how it is done?"

Erin let out her signature squeak and put away her blade to grab her reigns firmly within her hands, bouncing on her saddle with anticipation.

"well, we've only been riding hard for god knows how many miles," she shrugged, "what's two more going to do?"

I glimpsed up at our spectators.

"Don't be surprised if more arrow's come flying."

For our horses, it would take more than that to spook them, but I don't think our host at Rivendell would appreciate our using his medical supplies if one of us should miss dodging one and take a hit, and I don't think our explanation for that happening would be none too good either.

But how often did I let loose as I did now.

"On the count of three then?" Merith asked, preparing herself and her mare.

I nodded, whispering into Greta's ear to run true and fast, believing with all my heart that she could, but Erin, being the sneak that she was, did not wait for the end of the count and when Merith started, three came faster than it should in her ears.

Darting down the track, Erin's horse kicked up the dirt behind her, while the mad rider howled like a wolf and the two of us left behind had no time to spare in scolding a person who was not there and made chase after our sister, with complaints in elvish being Hollard at us from afar.