Latisha looked around her, as she stared upon the glassy, smooth, newly frozen pond that reflected the dim light of the fire nearby. The sound of the gathering skaters chatted all around Latisha. She stood sat down upon the ground by the edge of the bank of the pond as she clipped on her skating blades to the bottom of her brown boots. They fit in securely after she tied the string around them a few times. She stat still for a few moments, watching the passing skaters upon the wide pond stretching fifty yards away into the distance, a grand place to skate. The blades of the skates from the skaters scratched the smooth surface of the pond, looping in ever direction.

A young man tapped her upon the soldier, making Latisha stand up and turn around to face Hadrian. He smiled at her and motioned to the pond, "Hello," he began. "My name is Hadrian, you were sitting all alone, I wondered if you would like to skate with me? As it is, I am partnerless," he grinned. "Every other girl seemed to have found a partner."

Latisha smiled and gave a little laugh then straitened up again. "Hadrian," she began trying to word her thoughts. "I - I wanted to thank you, for, for what you did."

"Nonsense!" Hadrian grinned a boyishly while taking her hand in his own. "It was nothing, shall we skate?"

Latisha nodded.

"I should warn you," Hadrian began. "I am not good at style in my skating. I mostly only skate for speed, though I shall try not to drag you along, I shall reserve my energized skating for after the skate."

Latisha laughed out loud as they stepped down the two foot bank of the pond until they were standing upon the ice. She steadied herself as she almost fell backwards upon the glossy ice, but Hadrian kept a hold upon her hand saving her from an embarrassing fall. She looked up at him grinning.

"I fear I shall fall flat down, and pull you with me before this night is half passed." Latisha laughed as they skated slowly to a more clear area of the pond, away from most of the crowd.

"Nay!" Hadrian grinned. "But can you keep up with me?"

Latisha smiled a little shyly. "Keep a hold upon my hand and I'll probably end up tripping you!" she giggled softly.

The two quickened and sped across the empty area of the pond, as the night breeze blew against their faces and nipped at their noses. Latisha let go of Hadrian's hand, and put every muscle she had into keeping up with his swift evenly paced smooth strides across the frozen water. Latisha focused too much on making speed, and not enough on balance.

It happened. Amidst the two young people's screams of delight and laughter, Latisha lost her balance, falling headlong up against Hadrian who was just ahead of her, and they both tumbled flat face down upon the cold ice. Latisha was shaking with laughter as she lay still for a moment, and looked the few feet away to the figure of Hadrian. He was now upon his knees, and in the midst of rising back to his feet. He let out a slight groan. "Aah!" he winced, forcing on a smile.

Latisha gasped, "Are you okay?!" she asked worriedly, stopping her laughter as she climbed to her knees, breathing fast from her previous excursion.

"Aye," Hadrian grinned good-naturedly as he forced himself to his feet. He took a step on his skates over towards Latisha to most likely help her up when he winced again and had not the correct balance. He took one awkward step near her, tripped upon her outstretched leg, and fell forward.

Latisha saw his skates go up, and the next moment he was laying face down upon the ice, with his eyes shut closed as if in pain. She gasped as she moved to his side. "Hadrian!" she cried in alarm stifling giggles. "Are you alright?!"

There was a slight pause as Latisha saw Hadrian's mouth turn upward in a slight grin, his eyes were still shut closed. She saw him shaking in silent laughter, and she knew he was alright when he opened his eyes and grinned up at her. "Aye, I'm fine!" he grinned breaking into a laugh as he rose to his knees once more.

The night quickly passed by as the hours slipped away ever ticking into the dark evening. The two young people had their first real conversation, and they found out that they had many similarities. Hadrian also liked to sketch, though Latisha would never have guessed it. It was upon that cold winter's night that both of them came to an unwritten understanding, they were now friends, not just acquaintance's, and seemingly the best of friends, as if they had know each other since they were little children.

The snow began to fall harder, and the skaters glided to the edge of the pond and began climbing up the bank. They sat in couples and small chattering groups as they walked farther away down the path and began taking off the blades that were attached to their boots by a couple of leather throngs.

The moon was slightly hidden by the clouds, as the snow flakes fell faster, and a deep misty fog crept over the dark land. The minstrels began packing away their instruments - a final show that the festival was done.

Hadrian glided slowly along the ice at Latisha's side, as they waited in line to make their way off of the ice. A few minutes later the two were standing by the bank, and Latisha scrambled up the less steep area of the bank, followed close behind by Hadrian. She sat with her feet dangling over the edge, as she began unfastening the leather throngs that had in place her new skating blades. A moment later she had the two blades safely stashed away in her deep pockets of her great  layered woolen skirt.

The air was deep and dark, as the two chatted lightly for a few moments before Latisha made her leave of Hadrian, and proceeded down the long empty lain away from the dying fire.

A great wind picked up in the cold night air as Latisha made her way up the the foothills of the Tynendell mountains. The wind tugged at the hood of her cloak, and blew it off of her head, the wind cutting cold upon her nose and cheeks.

She lifted up her skirts and made into a swift run, trying to get back to her small cottage home before it got any later upon this foggy night. The snow stopped for the time being, and moon came out from behind the clouds for a little while. The air up in the grassy foothills of Adrin seemed unusually still, even at this late hour of the night.

Not even the sound of a distant wolf was heard, nothing but the still chilling wind that swept over the hills. The trees growing up the craggy hills shook in the dark air, their leafless bare branches crackling mysteriously in the dark night.

Latisha felt suddenly uncomfortable being all alone and still a mile to go to her home. Something was not right at all, something about the air left a foreboding, creeping feeling about her. She quickened her pace slightly as she hurried to get home to her warm fire and cozy house.

The fog wrapped around the girl as she began to run up the hill sides, heading strait for her home. The whole hillside was enclosed in a dense fog, which even the moon was hard to penetrate. The wind died down, and the trees stood still, only the fog remained. The fog and the cold winter's night, and the girl, every hurrying home.

What seemed like forever Latisha finally saw her familiar cottage standing just as it always did, situated up the edge of the hill, a sharp craggy cliff side next to it as it stood as it were, guarding the nearby mountains.

Latisha hurried across the frozen ground, and put her hand upon the hand of the door but it would not open, it was locked. For a moment, Latisha stood still, wondering what she was going to do. She moved a few yards over to a closed shuttered window and tried to peek in through the cracks. The room was light by a great fire in the hearth, and she saw the figure of her brother laying as one dead, outstretched upon the floor.

Latisha gasped under her breath, as she not only saw her brother in that state, but also a man standing over him, a knife in his hand.

~The Authoress

When Latisha got to the village, the villager's came out and took each his own sheep back with them. Latisha stood still, trying to keep the sheep in order until every last one was taken away and she was left alone in the dusty road as the sun set lower in the sky, gleaming in red and purple. For a few moments Latisha drank in the chilling autumn air, then turned away from the village and began walking back to her home that was situated at the very edge of the village, hardly to be considered in the village at all.

Her bare feet hit the ground, as she skipped along the road, happy to be done watching the sheep as she was getting tired of bringing the stray ones back into the fold. She stopped at the hill leading to her house and took in a deep breath, then proceeded along her way, U the black dog following at her side the whole time.

Latisha came to the top of the hill and came reluctantly to the door of her house. The house would be empty all except for her older brother. Memories filled her mind, but she tried to push them away, but they clung all the harder. It had now been only a month since everything had changed. Her brother had been in the mines of the Tynendell mountains, when the terrible blow of fate hit her brother. He had been working when some of the crossbeams suddenly crumbled into the dark mining shaft followed by a down poor of rubble, killing five men and wounding ten. Her brother had been one of the wounded men. He had taken a hard knocking by the rocks and had instantly blacked out, loosing his memory, and mental reason, leaving the young man of twenty paralyzed in mind, and unable to support himself, not being able to think clearly.

Latisha quietly pushed open the cottage door, revealing a dark barren home. A figure sitting upon a small chair by the dying fireside sat her brother, mumbling something to himself in the dark one-roomed house.

Latisha perked up a smile, as she walked hurriedly over to her brother. "How are you feeling, Ivar?" she asked cheerfully.

Ivar nodded his head, but said nothing particular, as he continued to sit brooding over the dying embers of the fire in the small hearth.

Latisha felt a tear slide down her cheeks, but quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand, as she knelt over the hearth and lifting a meddle rod, gently stirred the embers into a small crackling blaze. She then went over to the cupboards and stirred in the meager ingredients into a small pot over the fire as she began to make a hot though tasteless stew.

A half an hour later she handed her brother a wooden bowl and spoon, got the same for herself, and filled them with their evening meal. The two were silent as they ate, silence was the main conversations nowadays for the two siblings. Latisha sitting upon the dirt floor of the empty house, her brother next to her on a small chair, both silent, both brooding over their own thoughts how distant and apart from each other. The two used to be the best of friends, but now they couldn't even converse with each other.

That night Latisha upon her blankets in the corner of the house shed many silent tears. In the night, in the darkness, in the silence, that was her only life at home. Yet she wouldn't dream of leaving it, she loved her brother too much to go. She must suffer though it quietly and submit to her fate. She loved her brother so much, but she knew she would never get the love returned back to her, it was a one sided relationship, and a sorry one at that.

The next day Latisha woke up before the dawn, and fixed the meal to break their fast. After it was done, Latisha made sure her brother had everything he could want or need, and then she was off.

She opened the door and stepped out into the still quiet dark morning air. A fresh frost was upon the ground, and the day was much colder then the previous day, she made sure she had boots on. Latisha headed with her dog across the edge of town until she came to the same dusty road and waited for the people to gather and bring her their sheep. 

Latisha giggled when she stood once again upon the wild hills of North-Tynendell, letting the breeze blow her blond hair out behind her. She wondered if it her life was as bad as she had thought the night before, she still had the free wild rolling hills of Adrin. No one could rob her of those, nor of the pleasure she had with the wild animals that inhabited those hills.

That morning passed the same as usual, between watching her flock, she visited all of her animal friends. That afternoon was another foggy, overcast day, but she didn't mind. She studied the last of the flowers that still grew upon the hillside before winter broke in. A few wild blue flowers still grew upon the hillside, and it was by these that she sat down and drew forth from her pocket a small sketch pad, and her small tin of paint made from the dies of the flowers and herbs that she had found within the past week. She opened her small tin, the size of the with of a palm, and placed her paint brush made out of part of her very own hair, and a wild reed stem. She dipped the makeshift brush into the tin and began to sketch the flower which she sat next too still growing amid the fading grasses.

She was always careful with paper, because it was extremely expensive, and she could only afford to buy it once a year in the spring. She had used the small parcel of paper sparingly, and even now this was her second to last page of free paper. No matter how sparingly she used it, she  always felt sad when she came to the last couple of sheets of blank paper.

A distinct "Hoot-hoot-who-ah," of an owl overhead in a tree nearby caught Latisha's attention. She carefully set the paper and paintbrush down at her side, and casting a look at her sheep to see if they were all still there (which they were), she quietly made her way over to the foot of the tree to further inspect the new arrival.

The owl was in plain sight, though if she didn't know what she was looking for, she might have missed it entirely, seeing that it's gray stripes matched the tree it was on remarkably well. However, she did spot it, and the patient watching, observing, and waiting to get to know the habits and personality of any wild animal, suited her like a crown on a king. No amount of persuading would be able to entice her from observing a wild animal upon her hill.

And so her days passed, one after another, without any real excitement happening to her. Every day she was out of the house just as the sun was rising red on the horizon, every evening she led the sheep back to the village, and on and on in an unbroken stretch of two weeks.

It was upon the forenoon of a particularly cold day filled with the feeling of expected snow, the first snowfall of the year that something of importance befell her. It was now mid to late September. A few young dear, grazed not far off from her, as Latisha sat underneath the tree, watching the sheep, while keeping an observant eye upon the two dear. It was then, the first snow flakes began falling upon the newly frozen ground.

Latisha looked looked down upon her ragged boots, then sighed heavily. It would not happen, she would not be able to attend the annual Festival of the New Year, as in Adrin the new year was marked by the second week of September when the many lakes in Adrin would be frozen over. Gathering together by a nearby lake, the peasants would buckle on their ice skate blades to the bottom of their boots, and glide along the frozen surface of water. The fire light would sparkle out in the darkness, as the red sun set in the evening sky. A skate was a fun filled occasion, where the ladies and men partnered up, and spun around the ice. Village minstrels, with their violins and flutes, played both enchanting and jolly melodies for the skaters. The Adrin folk didn't have balls, so a skate was their equivalent. The winter months lasted from mid September until late April, so a skate could be held almost all year round with the exception of four months. However, for the peasant folk, with the farming, they would not have time for such occasions anyway in those summer months. But the winter was a time of rest, and a skate never suited any man or woman more than the peasants of Adrin.

Latisha knew however, that without skate blades, she could never go. When she younger, she used to go to the skate with Ivar, but this year would be different. She had already sold her one pair of blades for money to keep her and her brother going, and it was simply out of the question for her to go. Everything was so different now, and she knew she could never have the same happiness she had had with her brother. Memories of him twirling her around and round on the smooth ice, filled her mind with a far off painful memory when she used to be so carefree and happy.

Latisha looked up into the sky to see the sun already low on the horizon. She began gathering up her flock, and headed back to the village. The last sheep was leaving her to it's master, when a familiar voice sounded behind her. Latisha spun around, to see Hadrian's grinning face looking at her.

"Are you coming?" he asked her with a friendly smile. "Half the village has already left for the pond."

"No," Latisha tried to smile.

There was a slight pause, as Hadrian looked down upon her blade-less boots.

"I really must get home," Latisha tried to walk away from Hadrian, but he stepped in front of her.

"Latisha, you look exhausted, don't be so foolish! You need a break, you have done nothing but work for the past few weeks, just come with me tonight, just this once to the festival."

"Hadrian, please!" she spun around to face him again. "I have a brother to look after." She turned around sharply and began walking quickly towards her home, she didn't want him to know she didn't even have a pair of ice blades, a comfort that even the poorest serf still possessed. She knew her brother wouldn't miss her if she were gone a few extra hours, but there was no possible way she could go to the skate, with or without Hadrian.

Latisha took the long way home, trying to calm herself before she had to see to her brother. For a long time, she stopped at the edge of a hill, and looked down upon the villagers caring flickering lanterns and candles in their hands as they made their way to the pond. She felt tears sting her eyes as she continued to watch. If only her brother had not been in the mine the day that it fell in, he would still be all right. Right now even the two of them would be waiting at the pond for the rest of the villagers to show up before stepping onto the smooth un-skated ice. But it was not to be, and what was done, who could change it?
That evening when she came to the door of her house, she paused in astonishment. Laying upon the doorstep, sat two silvery brand new ice skate blades and straps to attach them to her boots.

~The Authoress

"No! Come back!" a young maiden's shout echoed along the craggy hillside upon the foothills of a great snowy mountain range. A flock of sheep were grazing peacefully about the hillside, and a maiden was standing at the edge of the flock and caught a straying sheep with the hook of her staff. The shepherdess after bringing back the straying sheep, slumped down upon a rock nearby. She tossed her long blond hair behind her shoulders, and sat still, keeping an eye upon the sheep.

A black dog lay down a few feet away from her, keeping an eye upon the sheep, as it wagged it's tale calmly. A wind blew down from the mountain, bringing with it a cold shiver to the lonely girl. Winter was coming fast, it was already September, and before halfway through that month, the many lakes in Adrin would be frozen over. A gentle fog crept over the hillside, as was common in Adrin, and she could not see very far around herself.

Her thoughts drifted away in the fog, flying high above the tall mountains around her. She, a poor shepherdess and a serf of the great land owning Baron, Sir Andrus of North-Tynendell, had little hope to ever own her own home or leave the service of such a mighty lord. Not that she had great dreams, nay, it was better at that time for a young peasant girl to be under the protecting guard of Sir Andrus. He was a just man, and she was lucky to be under his service, compared to the other great land owning barons of that country who were known for their cruelty and unjustness to their serfs. She just wished she were out of her brother's power, her brother was the one whom she had to fear, no lord or baron could inflict pain upon her as well as her brother.

She stood up off of the stone and walked to a small tree standing at the edge of the craggy hill before the hill dropped about fifty feet below. Latisha leaned against it, letting the cool wind blow against her cheeks and fair hair. She smiled, trying to ignore the fact that she would have to go home to her brother in less than an hour and bring back the flocks to the small village of serfs, bringing each lamb to it's rightful owner until the next morning when she would fetch them together again and lead them out into the wild hills around the village.

Latisha enjoyed being alone in the great wild hills of North-Tynendell, a region of the country Adrin. Many was the day she slept in the small trees, or lay in the short grasses that grew all around. She watched a family of rabbits, and after many hours of watching and patient waiting on her part, she discovered their cozy nest in a bramble bush. That had been the early spring, now the family of gray rabbits had grown up, strong and sturdy. But she had tamed the two young rabbits, and now, as she sat down by the tree, next to the bramble patch, she waited quietly until two gray male rabbits hopped forth and nibbled the late dying grass in their small twitching mouths. Latisha gently reached over and petted the larger of the two rabbits, who took a special liking to her more so then the other one.

For a few quiet moments Latisha talked softly to the rabbit, stroking between it's two ears that stuck strait up on top of it's head. The sudden barking of Gythen her black dog made her jump to her feet forgetting her daydreams. See soon saw the object of the dog's barking, a young man stood a few yards away. By one look, Latisha reconzed him as one of the villagers whom she had seen occasionally, but never actually spoken too. He turned towards her and seemed to see her standing there for the first time, for he looked slightly surprised. He gave a friendly smile, and made as if to say something, but Gythen at that instant lunged forward towards him, catching him off guard. The dog leapt snarling upon the young man, knocking him completely to the ground.

"No! Come back, Gythen!" Latisha cried in sudden horror, running up to the attacking dog, trying to pull him away from the stranger. After a minute or two, the girl managed to pull the dog off of the boy, who stood quickly to his feet, emerging from the attack with only a few scratches to show of the encounter. He grinned rather sheepishly and made a boyish nod of the head to show his recognition of a young girl.

"I'm sorry, miss," he said in a rather boyish tone as his face grew slightly red.

Latisha smiled shyly. "It was my dog, I'm sorry -," she cut off short as she looked about herself, her face draining color. The sheep had been desterbed by the barking dog, and by now had scattered in every direction. Latisha looked about helplessly, wanting to sink into the ground rather than face her brother and the villagers when they found out the sheep were missing and it was already late in the afternoon, there was hardly any chance she could get them all round up before dark. She could have burst into tears there and then, had  not the boy been there.

He must have seen her expression and known instantly why for he said in a good natured tone, "They couldn't have gotten far, come, let's find them."

Latisha looked up in surprise and doubt. "I -- I can find them," she murmured shyly. "I'm sure you have other things to do."

"Don't be senseless, you know you can't possibly find them before dark," he smiled. "It was my fault anyway."

Latisha looked down, not used to conversing with anybody except her brother, and that could hardly be considered conversing. The whole thing, speaking to a stranger, was new to her, and not altogether comfortable.

He saw her uneasiness and so spoke accordingly. "My name is Hadrian. Come along, let's find the stray flock," here he gave an encouraging nod accompanied by a boyish grin.

"I am Latisha," Latisha said softly, following close behind Hadrian as they set out to find the sheep.

He nodded, "So what do you like to do when you're not trying to find the sheep?" he asked as they continued on their way, trying to strike a conversation.

Latisha was silent for a moment, then replied, "I sit and talk to my friends," she said softly. "Mostly the wild animals. I know many of them, and they are my constant companions."

Hadrian slowed his pace slightly, paused as if he were going to say something, but decided against it. "Do you know any of the village girls about your age?" he asked instead.

Latisha shook her head, "Nay," she whispered. "My brother --," she stopped herself. "I don't get around to the village very often, I'm content to stay by myself with all the wild animals about me." she finished, trying to cover up her falter.

The two were silent for a few moments, and the conversation came and went as the two found all the stray sheep. Once the sheep were rounded up, the sun was begging to set in the sky.

"Thank you," Latisha smiled shyly at Hadrian.

"It was the least I could do," he smiled. "I'll see you by and by like as not, though hopefully I won't terrify your sheep again," he grinned.

"I hope not," she grinned back for the first time, as they parted upon their separate ways.

~The Authoress