Abaesa smiled at Gyllyn. He made a face back.

As if nothing was wrong.

She knew it was a mask. Abaesa was terrified. This was her first real battle after training. She had to calm down. Slow her breathing.

Gyllyn knew it too. He didn't want his sister to come along. She was too young to get tied up in war and politics. Especially with Mordor. He too was scared. For Abaesa's sake. This was her first true taste of war. If she messed up, no one would tell her to start again and try again.

But here they both were.

Abaesa stroke Driam's mane. He was her favorite horse, and their family had paid a lot to get him. She started braiding. It calmed her down a bit. She braided and braided until they reached the gates of the city.

"Tie your hair back, sis." Gyllyn said.

Abaesa had almost forgotten to plait her own hair. She quickly did so and tucked the messy brown braid into her helmet.

"Hey." Gyllyn said. "You'll make it out of this. I promise. It shouldn't be very long. We don't think many orcs were coming."

Abaesa nodded. She couldn't say anything.

"Did you hear me?" He said playfully. "Is it the helmet blocking your hearing?"

Abaesa shook her head. "I'm just scared." She looked into Gyllyn's green eyes. They were the exact same color as hers. Some people thought they were twins, but Gyllyn was older by 5 years.

"Abaesa," he said. "You can go home if you think you haven't trained enough"

"No. I'm ready."

The doors creaked open. That's when Abaesa noticed something.

Among the horses was a young boy with wavy blonde hair that went to his shoulders.

"Oh no!" Abaesa yelled. "Gyllyn, Renvan!"

Renvan was a silly little boy, but Gyllyn and Abaesa loved him like a little brother.

Gyllyn whipped his head in Renvan's direction. The 9 year old boy was coming towards them.

"Oh my gosh! The gates are opening! Abaesa, get him to his mother NOW!"

Abaesa leaped off of Driam and ran toward the boy.

"Help me onto your horse!" Renvan said.

"No! You are going home!"

"But I want to fight!"

An arrow whizzed past Abaesa's shoulder.

"Nevermind!" Cried Renvan. "Please take me home!"

Abaesa gripped the boys hand and ran to Driam. She hoisted him onto the horse's back and then swung herself up too.

"Run, Driam, Run!" She cried, ushering the horse to a gallop.

They ran through the White City, all the way to Renvan's home.

Abaesa knocked on the door. It shot open within seconds.

"Hey Ms.-"

"Goodness gracious, Renvan! You could have gotten hurt!"

Ms. Elendawen squeezed her son so hard, he could barely breath.

Ms. Elendawen Was a thin woman, with pale skin and light hair that was always pulled into a bun. Her eyes were grey and wizened. She always wore an apron.

"Mama, I wanted to fight like Gyllyn!"

"Gyllyn is reckless! Why do you choose to follow in his footsteps?"

Abaesa felt the anger swell in her heart. "Gyllyn is not reckless!" She yelled. "He is brave! He is defending his country, as I am, too! I am on my way to join him in battle!"

Ms. Elendawen's face grew paler than usual, making her look like a ghost. She was too caught up in her own son to realize that Abaesa was wearing Gondorian armor.

"Oh, darling, I didn't mean-"

Abaesa didn't want to listen. She turned abruptly and swung back onto her horse.

When she reached the gate, Abaesa suddenly felt scared again. She hopped off of Driam and told him to stay. He'd get the message.

Abaesa ran out of the city with her sword clutched in my hand. In between cleaving orcs heads off, She searched for Gyllyn.

Just when she started fearing for the worst, a shield smacked the back of her head. Spots swirled around in her vision. An Orc towered above her. He snarled and lifted an axe.

Abaesa tried scooting away, but there was a body blocking her from doing so. The Orc lifted the axe, and...

An iron tip of a sword poked out from the orcs chest, and it fell over.

"What are you doing? Are you okay?" Shouted Gyllyn at the top of his lungs.

Abaesa nodded. Gyllyn helped her up.

"Gyllyn, thank you! You saved me!"

"Were you expecting me to let you die?"

"I thought you already had!"

"Did you get Renvan home?"

"Yes!"

Gyllyn thought a moment. "On your left."

Abaesa swung her sword to her left, and sliced an Orc right in the stomach.

"Abaesa, if you can't concentrate, you can't fight!"

"But I want to help you!"

Gyllyn swung at an Orc and shielded its buddy in the face. "No, you need to get your head checked out! Your bleeding!"

"No I'm-" Abaesa lifted her hand to her head. Her fingers were red and wet and sticky. "It doesn't matter!"

"Yes it does! Abaesa, you have to listen to me! I only want you to leave because-"

Thunk. Abaesa heard the wet smack of an arrow hitting a chest. The color drained from her face. For a second, she thought shed been shot. But it want steel that pierced her heart, it was sadness. She turned left to see her brother fall to his knees.

The world moved in slow motion. She sat on her knees in front of him. "Gyllyn? Gyllyn! Answer me!"

He said nothing. She grabbed his shoulders as he slumped down. He was too heavy, so Abaesa set him down. "Gyllyn?"

He said nothing. She saw the feather tip if an arrow jutting from his armor.

Abaesa gasped. "No. No! NO!"

He said nothing. The light was fading from his eyes. "Gyllyn! No!"

Gyllyn reached a shaking hand towards hers. "No." She whispered. A lump was forming in her throat. Tears blurred her vision.

She put her forehead on his. "You're going to be okay, Gyllyn! You're going to be fine!" But she knew it was just a mask. She was scared for his life.

"Abaesa." He whispered, barely audible. "I..."

"Yes? What is it?" A tear rolled down Abaesa's cheek.

"I only w-want you t-to leave s-so you can g-get h-h-help."

"I know, I know!" She was truly crying now. "I don't understand! You said we'd make it out, you promised and-"

"I said you."

"What?" She asked desperately. He said nothing. "Gyllyn? No, you have to keep talking! Talk to me, come on!"

Abaesa searched for something she could do. "Should I pull it out?"

He said nothing.

"Gyllyn, I'm going to pull it out. It's going to hurt, but you'll be okay."

How should she put her hands? She wanted to do it in a way that wouldn't hurt him much.

"Okay, brother?"

"O-ok-" He couldn't say the ay.

She decided slow and steady wins the race. She gently pulled at the arrow.

"H-hard-d-der"

It broke her heart, but Abaesa knew he was right. She yanked once and Gyllyn yelped.

"I'm sorry! I have to save you!" Tears landed with plinks on Gyllyn's armor.

She yanked once more and Gyllyn screamed. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! I can't help you! You need a nurse!" She couldn't drag his body.

"Codd!" She screamed at a nearby soldier on a black horse. "I need your help! It's Gyllyn!"

One glance and Codd grabbed Gyllyn and threw him atop his horse. The moment Codd got on, Gyllyn whispered something to Abaesa.

She didn't hear it.

Codd and Gyllyn rode toward the City.

She screamed and kicked an axe of a fallen warrior, and then sprinted to Driam.

"Run as fast as possible to the houses of healing!" She said, and urged the horse into a gallop.