LYMERIA
by Kristina Coia

BONUS MATERIAL

The Littlest Hero

"C'mon Scerna. Don't be afraid. She's Wynne's horse. She won't hurt you!" Lerick comforted his little sister as he petted Raine on the nose. The horse stayed very still; she knew that she had to behave now that she was the Queen's Royal Mare. Scerna was still frightened.

"But, Lerick, you're only ten years old! You can't be a hero like in those storybooks! You're just too small!" She tugged on his hand, wishing he would heed his warnings.

"I am, too, old enough! If Prince Tanwyd in that story could have an adventure, then so can I!" said Lerick, and opened the door to Raine's stall while little Scerna cowered behind.

***

"Everything's been looking up since King Jared and yourself let us work here at the palace," said Mira to Queen Wynne. The kitchen was full of life, as always.

"Well, someone had to take my place!" smiled Wynne. "I'm glad you and the children like it here."

"Oh, yes, your Majesty," Mira responded. "The little one has finally had some peace and quiet in the palace nursery. And Lerick and Scerna have had such a marvelous time exploring the palace. I've hardly seen them since we moved here! I'm so glad that they're happy again. All thanks to you!"

"You are always welcome in my home, Mira," said Wynne. She patted Mira on the shoulder. "I guess I must get back to the throne room. There's a never-ending pile of decrees to sign! I'll see you at dinner, then!"

"Good day, your Majesty!" said Mira as Wynne departed. "Now, let me get back to baking those egnaro pastries…"

***

"I still don't think this is a good idea, Lerick," Scerna said worriedly as her brother lifted her up onto Raine's back. The boy then swung himself onto the yellow-colored horse.

"You can trust me, Scerna. I'm the hero in this adventure. I won't let anything happen to you!" he replied.

"How can I be sure?" asked Scerna as she wrapped her arms tightly around her brother's waist.

"Well," Lerick said, craning his neck to look back at her, "you're the damsel. The hero never let's anything bad happen to the damsel!" And, with that, he urged Raine forward and out of the stable, his little sister clinging tightly to him.

The day was warm and sunny. "Prince" Lerick sought out an adventure in the palace gardens. "Princess" Scerna was still uneasy about the whole idea. She wished that her brother didn't always take things so literally. Every time Wynne had come to their home and read to them, Lerick always wanted to play "Prince and Damsel". They had never had a real horse or a real palace to play with before. But now that they lived in Queen Wynne's castle, they had everything they needed to play the game: a real horse, a real palace, and real danger.

"This is our first stop, my lady," said Lerick as he pulled on the reins and slowed Raine to a halt. They were in the rose garden surrounded by the sweet smelling blossoms. Lerick jumped down from the horse, then helped his sister down. "This is where I rescue you from a tower."

Scerna raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure this is a good place? I don't see any towers around."

Lerick looked around the garden. There were some stone benches...

No. Not high enough.

There were a few trees…

Nope. They were too scrawny.

There it was! Lerick spotted a water fountain over by the yellow roses. It was perfect!

"C'mon, Scerna! I've found you a tower!" Lerick grabbed his sister by the hand and pulled her away, leaving Raine to munch on a few blossoms. The fountain had been turned off for the evening, leaving only a few stray puddles inside.

Scerna clambered in with a little help from Lerick. She made sure her hair was tidy and straightened her dress. "Alright, Lerick," she said when she had finished. "I'm ready now!"

Lerick plucked a stray tree branch off the ground and brandished it over his head. "I have traveled very far to rescue you from this tower, fair lady! I've slain twenty dragons, sailed a hundred oceans, fought a thousand armies, climbed a thousand-"

"I get the point, Lerick! Get on with it!" Scerna said, crossing her arms impatiently.

"Alright, fine, your Highness," Lerick retorted. Scerna stuck her tongue out at him.

"My lady, if you wish to be rescued, send me a sign!" he called.

Scerna looked around. "Will a flower do?"

Lerick rolled his eyes. "You're not supposed to ask me! You're just supposed to-never mind, then. A flower is fine. Just send it down, already!"

So Scerna twisted a yellow rose off its stem, careful not to touch the thorns, and tossed it over to Lerick.

He put it to his nose and sniffed it, then tucked it into his shirt pocket. "And, now, fair lady, I shall save you from your tower, and we shall run away to my palace where you shall become my queen!"

"But, Prince," Scerna called back, "if you take me away, the evil dragon will be very angry with you! You will have to fight him!"

"It will not be a problem, my lady! For I, Prince Lerick, have slain twenty dragons, sailed a hundred oceans, fought a thousand armies, climbed a thousand-"

"Just rescue me, already!"

And so, Lerick "rescued" Scerna from her tower, helped her onto his royal mare, and the two rode off to find their "dragon".

***

Mira pulled the steaming egnaro pastries from the oven and set them onto the table. The sun was setting outside and the children had not yet come inside from playing. She was starting to get worried…

***

"Have you found the dragon yet, Lerick? It's starting to get dark! Maybe we should skip the dragon part of the story," said Scerna from behind.

"We have to include the dragon! That's the fun part! I can't just skip to the castle part! We need to find a dragon!" said Lerick as he led Raine through the vegetable garden.

Just then, Tussle, the kitchen dog meandered by, heading back to the kitchen after his evening stroll.

"That's it, Scerna! Tussle can be our dragon!" said Lerick.

"Thank goodness," said Scerna.

Lerick hopped down off Raine's back and brandished his stick-sword again. "I challenge you, foul dragon, to a duel! The winner gets to keep the lady! Do you accept these terms?"

Tussle raised a floppy ear. All he wanted to do was nap by the kitchen stove.

"Come on, Tussle! I'll give you a belly rub! Please?" Scerna called, still sitting on the horse.

"Scerna," Lerick began, "you can't talk like that to a dragon. Dragons are mean and nasty!" Tussle growled. Lerick continued, "You can't be all polite! You have to be heroic, like me!"

"No you don't!" she shouted back. "Mother said you have to be kind to everyone, even if they're mean and nasty. Isn't that right, Tussle?"

The old dog "woofed" in agreement. Lerick crossed his arms. "Fine, then. Tussle, will you please be the dragon for us?"

Tussle trotted in a circle and sat at Lerick's feet, his tail wagging happily.

"Have at thee, then!" cried Lerick, and the two ran about the vegetable garden, chasing each other among the rows of cabbage and lettuce. Scerna clasped her hands, adding "oohs" and "ahhs" when it seemed most fitting.

Tussle, though old, was the faster of the two, and managed to get the better of Lerick.

"Stop that, boy! Stop it!" Tussle was on top of Lerick, licking his face. "Dragons are supposed to roast their victims, not slobber all over them! Stop it, boy!" Tussle "woofed" in victory.

Scerna giggled. "I thought you were supposed to win, Lerick!"

"Oh, but the fight is not over yet, fair lady! I just let him think he's won!" And, at that, he began to rub the dog's belly.

Tussle couldn't resist a belly rub. He rolled over onto his back and let his tongue hang out to the side. Lerick stood and picked up his "sword". Tussle didn't move; he was still dazed from his belly rub.

"I have won your freedom, my lady!" Lerick shouted. "Now you must come back to the castle with me and we can have some dinner!"

"That sounds very good," said Scerna. Lerick began to hoist himself up onto Raine, when he heard someone calling from behind.

"Who destroyed my cabbages?"

"I think it's time to go!" Lerick whispered, and urged Raine forward as quickly as possible. They raced out of the garden before anyone could see what had happened.

***

Queen Wynne and King Jared had just sat down to dinner when Mira rushed in. "Your Majesties, I need your help."

"What is it, Mira?" asked Wynne.

"It's dark out and the children haven't come inside yet! I'm very worried. Is there any way you can help?"

Jared stood. "We'll go look for them with you. It will be faster if we split up."

Mira stepped back. "I couldn't ask you to do that. But, Queen Wynne, if there is any way you can use your magic to show me where they are…"

"Yes, of course," Wynne replied. She closed her eyes.

"Fori'ath Ni-ham'da
Fori'ath Ni-le'shem
Lidiam're o A'ilia
Musta bellei perialon."

Then, in midair before them, a shining orb appeared. The perialon bobbed up and down, its white light illuminating the walls of the dining hall. Slowly, within its depths, an image of two children appeared.

Mira gasped. "They're in the gardens, all alone!"

"And they've taken Raine!" Jared added.

"We must find them quickly!" said Wynne. "Gra'aji sein-tri-ci perialon." The orb of light flickered once, then dissolved into the air.

***

"Lerick, it's dark out! I want to go back to the castle!" Scerna whimpered.

Lerick sighed. "I'm trying, Scerna! I'll figure it out!"

"I think we're lost, Lerick! I'm frightened! I want to go home!"

"We're not lost! Heroes never get lost. And, you shouldn't be frightened, my lady. It's my duty to keep you safe, just like Prince Tanwyd in the story," Lerick said, though he was a bit afraid, himself.

The two children had been riding through the garden for what seemed like ages-through hundreds of flowers and trees, bushes and hedges-searching for the way back to the castle. All of a sudden, the two felt tiny droplets of water splash on their hands and faces. It was starting to rain.

"Lerick, I don't want to play this game anymore," Scerna cried. "I want to go home, Lerick! Take me home!"

"I will! I promise!" he replied, and urged Raine forward.

Ever since Raine became the Queen's Royal Mare, she learned to behave with riders other than Wynne. But the one thing she hadn't overcome yet was her fear of loud noises-especially thunder.

CRASH!

The horse whinnied, kicking up her front legs. The two children clung to her tightly. She straightened again and shook her head violently, pawing the ground nervously.

"Quick, Scerna! We need to get off!" Lerick shouted, and swung down onto the ground, then helped his sister down as well. He then put his hand out to try and calm the frightened horse when another bolt of lightning shattered the night sky.

CRASH!

Raine whinnied and bolted, sending Lerick stumbling backward. She was long gone in a matter of seconds.

"What do we do now, Lerick?" Scerna whispered.

"I don't know, Scerna. I don't know…"

***

"Raine! Where did you come from? Where are the children?" Wynne asked as she petted Raine's head, trying to calm her. The horse tossed her head, pointing toward the path she had just come from. Wynne understood and hoisted herself up onto Raine's saddle, and they raced to Lerick and Scerna's rescue.

***

"I'm sorry that I got you into this. You were right, Scerna. I really am too small for this," Lerick said as he hugged his sister close. They were huddled underneath a willow tree, hiding from the storm.

"No, Lerick. You were right," said Scerna.

Lerick looked down at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you promised me that you would protect me. And you did, Lerick! You are a hero! At least, you are to me. You're the best hero I have ever met, Lerick!" she hugged him tightly.

"I guess we are alright. We aren't hurt, we're just a bit soggy, that's all. And, once this rain clears up, we'll get to the palace and have our dinner."

"That sounds good," whispered Scerna. "That sounds very good."

"Lerick! Scerna! Where are you?" a voice called.

Lerick sat up straight. "We're over here!"

"It's Queen Wynne! I've come to take you back to the palace!"

Scerna grinned at her brother. "I told you!"

The willow branches parted and Wynne crawled under the tree, her shadow darkening the children's faces. "Are you two alright?"

They both nodded and Wynne smiled. "What in the name of Lymeria were you two doing out here so late?"

Scerna giggled. "It's a very long story."

Wynne took Scerna's hand and led the two out from their hiding place. "Well, I can't wait for you to tell me the story over dinner," she said. Then, Wynne, Lerick, and Scerna headed back home.

***

"Thank goodness you're not hurt!" Mira said as she hugged Lerick close. They all sat around the royal dining table, sharing a well-deserved meal.

"You're quite a hero, Lerick," said Jared. Lerick blushed.

Scerna bounced up and down in her seat. "He's the bravest hero I know! He saved me from a tower, fought off a dragon, and kept me out of the rain! He's even more of a hero than Prince Tanwyd! And that's saying a lot!"

When the meal was finished and the two children were almost asleep, Scerna whispered to her brother. "That was a fun game today."

"Yes, it was fun, wasn't it?" he replied.

She giggled and yawned. "I can't wait to play again tomorrow."

He yawned, too. "Sure."

"Lerick?"

"Yes, Scerna?"

"I love you, Lerick."

"Yes. You, too, Scerna."

"I'll see you in the morning, Prince Lerick."

"Goodnight, Princess Scerna."

And the two fell fast asleep.