When Mara was only two years old, her family fled the Eastern shore for the cold north. Evil was overtaking their homeland, and even though he was a well-seasoned warrior, Mara father did not want his family to have to endure the horrors that would soon completely overtake their homes. Mara family settled in a big city, where her father opened a forge. When they were younger, Mara and her older brother, Timna, would watch their father make everything from spoons to a shiny new sword. It was Timna's dream to take over his father's shop when he was older, and their father had already started Tim's training. Mara didn't know what she was going to do with her life though, but she knew she didn't want to have to cook and clean for a husband all day. Now she was fifteen, and her parents said it was time for her to start making decisions.
"I have decided what I want to do," Mara said at dinner one winter night, "but I want you to hear me out before you say anything."
"Like that's not a clue it's going to be something we don't agree with," Timna joked, his mouth full of roasted meat.
"Tim." their mother warned.
"Okay Mara. What is it?" her father said.
"I have decided that I want to go back to the Eastern shore and help with the resistance. You have trained me as a warrior, and I want to use those skills to help our people," Mara told them warily.
"You want to WHAT?!" Her father said, nearly choking on the piece of buttermilk biscuit in his mouth. With a forced smile, he calmed himself down. "Mara, honey, you have no idea of the danger there really is in the East. Lord Halvar destroys anything and everything in his path. He will not spare anyone, unless he foresees them betraying his enemies in some way. He will not think twice about killing you. I do not want you to go."
"But father, I know I can help! Please let me go!" she pleaded.
"NO! You can go if you want, but you will not have my blessing!" He said. Mara leapt out of her chair and fled the room. She ran outside and sprinted off down the street.

A little while later she found herself at her grandfather, Isaak's, house. He was sitting on a wooden rocking chair on the porch of his small, old fashioned house. The house was made of brick and in some places was crumbling. Mara guessed that it had been built before her Grandfather had even been born. "Hello Mara," he said. "What brings you here tonight?" He said cheerfully.
"I. I. I told Papa what I want to do!" she cried.
"Ahh let me guess. He didn't agree with the idea did he?" Isaak said.
"He said I could go, but I would not have his blessing if I did," Mara told him.
"Well, Mara, I think he'll change his mind when he sees that you are really serious about this. And if he doesn't. I have a letter updating me on the progress of the resistance. They have come a long way in a few months. Their underground cities and tunnels are more developed and their army is still multiplying. I think your father will agree when he sees this, but I think we should wait and see if he comes around on his own. Does that sound okay to you?" Isaak said, trying to reassure her.
"Thank you grandpa" Mara thanked him.
"You're welcome. Now, why don't you go inside and see if your Grandmother has any of that chocolate cake left over from our dinner," Isaac told her, "that is, if I didn't eat it all." Mara went inside and ate a small piece of the chocolate cake that was left. Then she talked to her grandma for a while and headed home.

A/N Please R&R! I really need some!