• 5:30 A.M.
    Clop. Clop. Clop. Zarrok’s horse clopped along to a pond on the outskirts of the village. “Whoa girl. Where have you taken me now?” Zarrok’s horse, Nabetse, always seemed to take him to the strangest of places. Most of them were, of course, forbidden.
    Neigh! “Oh, so you’re thirsty? Well why here? It’s not allowed. You of all horses should know that.” Neigh! That’s when Zarrok looked up, and smiled.
    Some say that fate had brought Nabetse there, and others say that it was mere coincidence. But whatever it was, it was what brought them together. For right there in front of him, was a village girl, getting a pale of water from the pond.
    When she heard Nabetse neighing, she turned. Her eyes sparkled like gleaming little sapphires that grew large when she saw the knight in shining armor before her. Her skin was pale, and her body was small and lanky. But her hair was the most extravagant color he had ever seen: dark, dark brown, with radiant golden strings intertwined with the brown. Beautiful.
    Of course, no one would have thought she was beautiful. Although her hair was tastefully exotic, it was also stringy and riled. The biggest put-off for most people would have been the fact that she was bare footed, and wore a dress of rags. But in Zarrok’s hazel eyes, she was far from ugly.
    “What is your name, fair maiden?” Zarrok’s eyes looked deeply into her own, searching.
    “Leira.” She replied, once she found her voice. “I am called Leira.” She smiled and he smiled back. “And what do they call you, brave knight?”
    “Zarrok,” he said boldly. “I am Zarrok, and this is Nabetse.” He gave the horse a gentle pat.
    Leira walked up to the horse and rubbed her neck. “Why, hello Nabby!” She said cheerfully. Zarrok chuckled at the new nickname.
    “Nabby, I’ll have to remember that one.” Ding! Ding!! Ding!!! The wake up bell sounded from the outskirts of the village, to the tops of the tallest palace towers, announcing that a new day had come.
    Leira quickly collected her pail and bowed at Zarrok’s (and Nabby’s) feet. Fare well, brave knight Zarrok.” She stood and trotted back to the village where she lived.
    “Come Nabby, we must hurry back to Amillia.”