The Lioness Rampant || Eilash (Trope Extravaganza!)
Eilonwy kept her hand on her sword as she crept across the hill, one eye on the path below and one on carefully placing her feet. Scanra was not a place anyone should move through carelessly, and the recent outbreak of war had only solidified that. One wrong move, and she could have a full war band down on her head, and she would have no one to blame but herself.
Of course, it would be a little easier if she’d had a few more people traveling with her to take watches and guard her back. But the message Eilonwy had gotten was that this was her quest to do, and the King needed every sword he could get. So she had crept away, leaving behind her companions and hoping that they would understand. If she was successful, she could turn the tide of this war. If she failed…well. Then it was only her failure.
She froze as she heard the sound of a quiet cry. It was coming from off to her side and it sounded like…a wounded animal? A child? If it was the former, it would mean fresh food which she hadn’t managed for days. If the latter, it was almost definitely a trap.
No one would be so reckless as to be out here with a child. Not unless they really, truly had no other options.
Moving as silently as she was capable in her wrapped armor, she crept around the sound and then slowly closer. Finally, she stopped behind a rock and peered over the edge to understand what kind of danger she faced.
Scanra at peace was already misery. At war time it was a nightmare, and Ashley had tried hard to escape it. Though she was in fact a princess, daughter of the King of Scanra, she had hoped that someone, anyone would take her away from the political madness. It was how she’d met Asher’s father: a rather lowly stable boy who thought he could help her get away.
But titles and the chance at marrying Ashley off to some noble idiot were too good to resist. Her father killed the poor stable boy before they could escape, but not before Ashley discovered something: she was pregnant. Her father locked her away for her scandalous behavior, and she gave birth to her son in isolation. Every night as she prayed to the Great Mother Goddess, she prayed for a solution.
The solution became wild magic. Though Ashley had been aware of her ability to communicate with horses, she had never thought much of it. But then one night the rats came crawling through and offered to help her get out of the castle. With their sneaking and all, Ashley and her son Asher were able to sneak out of there.
But now...well now they were relatively on their own in the war torn countryside of Scanra, with little but animals for company. Ashley kept Asher in a sling at her chest, and she rode her dear Quinlan along, finding spaces to hide with the help of the birds that flew on ahead of her.
It had worked this long...until now when a loud sound startled Asher and he started to cry. “Shhh shh baby, this is not the place to cry,” Ashley cooed, trying to bounce the baby in her arms. “What’s out there? Who-who’s there?!” She tried to sound authoritative as one of the crows flew forward to investigate. It’s a knight! From Tortall! The bird informed her, and Ashley groaned, reaching for the sword she had no idea how to use but had brought with her...just in case.
“Come out Knight! I know you’re there!”