Of all the people that stoke the fires of my thoughts, a little girl named Maude does moreso than the rest. She dresses in a way that depicts her life at home, clothes handed around and used for years. It is apparent wherever she is from, she has no access to even the most basic level of prosperity. This I take no heed of, for I grew up without even needing coinage or a market to thrive, and perhaps looked as rugged back then as she does now.
Though she may seem poor, her personality is not. I am drawn to who she is--small and cornered by the misfortunes of her life, but no less determined than I when my people threw up in arms against Sauron. She does not fear others and sees nothing but the end in mind, and it reminds me so much of myself that it makes it impossible to ignore.
It dawned heavily on me when she spoke of taming Mûmakil and "becoming a desert warrior", that she was serious and intended for me to train her. I was hesitant at first, but I could see in her eyes that she would be crushed otherwise.
Before I left Harad and everything else I knew behind, I had wanted a child of my own that looked up to me and gave me purpose. I feel that Maude shall not truly be a child of my own since she has mentioned almost a dozen siblings at her side.. but as an aging warrior, she will perhaps fill the gap of my life where I lack an actual family.
It is so strange to feel this way, she is from such a land so far away and so foreign. Yet I feel as close to her as I would if I had my own daughter. I have never had someone so young look up to me and see me as this bastion of wisdom and strength, but now it is apparent.
She will become a desert warrior some day, and I will make sure of it.
