How Luivia Got a Horse

Not long ago Luivia was horseless, which meant a lot of tedious running or purchasing stable mounts that slavishly stayed on the roads despite there being shorter ways across fields.  When various blogs started running contests for PAX East mount codes, I entered one on Casual Stroll to Mordor.  In essence, this contest asked for a screenshot and explanation of why we needed the mount.  The following picture and story were my entry.

Luivia sighed as she ran across the Bywater Bridge towards Michel Delving.  At least today was a beautiful day; that made the long run easier to bear.  Back and forth, back and forth.  As a little hobbit lass it was such an adventure to go from Hobbiton to Michel Delving and back.  Now it seemed like just more of the daily grind.  

“Now, be grateful,” she scolded herself.  She had much to be thankful for, including her new status as Master Artisan Cook.  Even Aesseledh, Leader of the Cooking Guild highly complimented her first large master repast.  She smiled to herself savoring the sweet memory.  She knew Petunia Greenhand was envious of her fast progress; Petunia kept whining that “Luivia must have a secret ingredient”.  

Luivia threw back her head and picked up speed.  Her secret ingredient?  Hard work.  No vendor food for her dishes where she could help it; her primary ingredients were sown, reaped, and processed by her alone.  

Once she became able to grow expert crops, though, her work became harder.  Those crops needed the superior soil of the Hobbiton fields she played in as a lass.  So back and forth, back and forth she ran.  Sometimes she made use of the stable horse, but that cost precious silver so generously given to her for supplies by her patron, the elf Gelmirian, Honorary Sherriff of the Shire.  And every trip on the stable horse made Luivia long for her own.  

The last time Gelmirian had stopped by for a new supply of Shire Rations she had told such wonderful stories of great adventures in the North Downs.  Luivia’s Tookish blood tingled, and she was proud that she too had become a bounder and could help the Shire in her spare time.  But she couldn’t keep her eyes off of Gelmirian’s new Spring Festival horse.  Gelmirian noticed and told her of other steeds in Middle Earth, including a very rare one that Luivia had been dreaming about ever since.  It was called the Cremello:  smooth blonde skin with light brown mane and tail, smart red and blue tackle with white fringe.  Liuvia could see herself astride, feeling the wind whip in her hair . . . she would name him . . .

“Luivia, why has this happened, you ask? Because the few privileged have hoarded the best fillings for their own!''  With a start she realized she had entered Michel Delving, the statue of Bullroarer Took loomed over her, and that crazy hobbit with the pie conspiracy theory was trying to get her attention.  Quickly she turned towards the crafting area and its superior ovens.  The lovely dream quickly faded; it was time to make some tasty frosting.

The winners of the contest were announced here, and others' plights were deemed more critical than that of Luivia.  But a friend of CTSM graciously offered Luivia the mount code he won upon spotting her comment congratulating the winners!

Now Luivia rides her own mount with pride across the Bywater Bridge.  For details on her outfit, check  out this post.