We ride hard until the sun has sunk so low on the frozen horizon that it remains no more than a sliver.

"We should stop for the night." Legolas calls to me, most of his words being snatched away by the wind. I am able to grasp most of what he had said though. "We don't reach the end of the tundra for another two days."

"I know." I mutter softly, forgetting that his elf ears would be able to pick it up.

"Your father said you had never ventured beyond the outskirts of your city." he looks confused.

"Father told me just before we left." I say quickly, hoping he doesn't think I am lying to him, which I am.

I had been beyond the borders of the city many times before with Khatar. All I had to do was tell Father I was training down in the village; he is always so busy keeping our kingdom together that he has little time to spare with me.

A small knot of jealousy forms in my stomach as I think of this, but I quickly dismiss it.  It is a selfish and childlike wish for me to want Father giving me all of his attention.  He must look after the whole kingdom as well as me.

Legolas seems to believe my lie without question, and we continue on in silence for a little while longer, looking for somewhere to take shelter.

An iced-over alcove appears some distance ahead, jutting stubbornly from the otherwise flat surrounding land. There looks to be enough room for the two of us plus both of the horses. I glance over at Legolas to see he has also spotted the iced over alcove.  He nods to me and we both direct our horses in that direction. I dismount Khatar as soon as we halt, leading her under the protection of the shelf of ice and settling down for the night. Luckily, there is just enough room for everyone.

Legolas pulls something wrapped loosely in large, green leaves from the saddlebag of his horse. I look at it curiously.

"What is it?" I peer at it.

"Lembas bread." he answers, unwrapping the leaves to reveal square pieces of something that resembles flat bread. He breaks off a small piece and hands it to me to eat.

I hesitantly bite into it, amazed to find that as I swallow I become completely full.

"That is amazing." I say. "There is nothing like this in all the Northern Kingdom. All we have is fish, fish, and more fish." I wrinkle my nose at the thought of it. There is not much else in the far North unless we cultivate it ourselves.

Legolas laughs at my expression and I shove him lightly, smiling.

I become aware of how very tired I am, the hard day of riding having exhausted me. My eyes flutter and I force them to open again, but not before Legolas notices.

"I will take the first watch," Legolas volunteers.

"Very well, but you will not be able to see anything; you are going to have to rely on your hearing." I say.

"All elves have strong vision."

"No, that's not what I meant." I quickly backpedal. "The things that will hunt us while we remain in the North do not travel above ground unless absolutely necessary." I yawn. "Goodnight Prince Legolas. Wake me and I will take second watch."

"You do not have to keep calling me Prince Legolas, Princess Arra."

I smile a little, suppressing another yawn. "As long as you stop calling me Princess Arra then."

"Very well Princess." he whispers, the corners of his mouth tilted up into a smirk.

I sigh dramatically. "Goodnight Princeling!"

I lie my head back down, and my eyes shut quickly, falling asleep to the familiar howling of the wind.

The picture on the side is how I picture the Northern landscape.