before
Born as royalty in her old herd, Arwen was raised with all of life's comforts and taught at birth how to be regal and proper. Her parents had been the King and Queen for quite some time before they finally had their first child. As the only heiress of the crown, Arwen was educated in all aspects of life. Diplomacy, history, songs, fighting, speech, and healing were all subjects taught to her by various teachers in the royal court. She thrived in court life and was the perfect lady, courteous and kind, but with a fire that sparked whenever she took to the battlefield. She had a large, diverse group of friends that she spent most of her time with. Her closest friend was a lady named Belanna. Belanna was from common stock and the two of them met during a walk outside of the palace. They connected so well that the class differences could not separate them. Belanna was invited to be one of Arwen's ladies-in-waiting. Belanna's parents were delighted to have their daughter in such high places. Belanna took some time to adjust to the life, but Arwen eagerly taught her closest friend everything she knew.
Belanna adapted to court life slowly and she and Arwen were inseparable. They did almost everything together. However, as the two of them grew older, their class separation grew more and more apparent. Arwen was invited to dinners that Belanna could not go to. Arwen's instructors lavished her with attention and only begrudgingly taught her commoner friend. The facts were there, stark and in their faces - Arwen was a princess, Belanna was a peasant. Though their paths had intertwined here, they would eventually be separated. The time came when Arwen's betrothal was announced. Arwen would be promised to a prince and Belanna would be shut out of her life for good. This separation in class had always been a bitter fire in Belanna's belly, but she always ignored it. Now, when Arwen was to be betrothed, it burned bright. In a desperate plea, Belanna told Arwen they should run away together only hours before the betrothal. Arwen, oblivious to Belanna's feelings until this moment, was taken aback and refused her. Arwen was naive and pamped by court life and did not understand Belanna's fears. This misunderstanding caused the final rift that broke them apart - ironic that it was this confrontation to break them rather than Arwen's betrothal. Belanna fled the palace in tears. Arwen wanted to go after her, but the guards would not let her leave during this ceremonial day.
The ceremony itself was a blur for Arwen, as she processed her own feelings for Belanna and tried desperately to understand why she was afraid. The prince that she was pledged to was from a rival kingdom and their alliance would secure their peace. Arwen said the words robotically, memorization the only thing that saved her that day. When she returned to her chambers, she was a mess, angry and sad and confused. Her peace was not to last. She was interrupted from her grief by a group of guards and told that the prince she had just married had sent his armies to attack the kingdom. The betrothal had been a distraction and now that they were married, he wanted her kingdom for his own. Arwen was already too distraught to feel the full impact of this betrayal. She waited in the shelter of her chambers with the guards as the war raged outside the palace. But after a few hours, she could wait no longer. She was trained in the art of war and could fight as well as any of them. However, her guards were not nearly as open to the idea. It took trickery on her part to get past them and once she did, she took off, her eyes taking in the fire and death all around her. A few battles still raged but it was impossible to tell who was winning.
When Arwen left she had intended to fight, but now that she was free of the palace's walls, all she wanted to do was find Belanna. She went to her friend's home and found it destroyed. The fragile structures that her herd had occupied were already in disrepair from lack of human intervention, so it did not take much to bring it down. Inside, she found Belanna and her parents. The sight of her dearest friend's body shattered her and she screamed at the injustice of it all. There was no need for them to be separated, no need for her to marry someone she had never met, no need for classes or kings or any of it. What use were rulers when they couldn't keep their kingdom safe? With this thought in mind, she pressed her muzzle to Belanna's cheek. "You deserved better. I'm so sorry, my love." Then, she turned and fled from the only home she had ever known.
Her journey alone was not easy. She had thought she was prepared for the world, but she clearly was not. More than once she had to flee from a predator's teeth and was almost captured by the humans who had first built her home. But she survived and eventually made her way to the land of Wild Equines, wary, but hoping that this place would be better than the one she had left.
so far
Arrival on Wild Equines.
social life
residence
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friends
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foes
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others met
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steals
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stolen by
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battles
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