Darenya crested the last hill that hid her long awaited destination and gave a long, unsteady sigh of relief. Tar Valon lay before her, the famed White Tower piercing the sky, shimmering in the afternoon sun. Dragonmount cast it's shadow over the city, not quite touching the Tower, a testament in itself of what the One Power could do.
Darenya plucked at her bowstring with one finger thoughtfully, considering what had brought her this far, and knowing it was enough to push her the rest of the way.
The beginning of this path, she supposed, had started long ago, around her fourth winter, when her parents had died, defending the farmstead against Trollocs come out of the Blight without warning. That had been a turning point in her life, one that would shift her future forever.
Not being sensible enough to know what to do at such a young age, Darenya had wandered, and eventually becoming lost and frightened, and had not been seen for days until she was found cold and ravenous by a hunter of the area, who adopted her as his own.
From then on Darenya had done nothing but travel with the hunter, from city to city, to barter his skins for a room, food or coin, and some cheap ale. Even though the existence could not offer what her previous life once had, the hunter gave her what he could and raised her with the ability to defend herself, which was, in Darenya's opinion, the best and most worthwhile gift he had ever bestowed upon her.
In short, most of Darenya's life that she could remember had been spent in taverns and inns, doing what she could and playing the flute for the inn crowds. The sole thing she could remember of her mother was thick soft hair, a warm smile and understanding eyes, the only man she had ever known as a father was Thador, the hunter.
Thador had died last winter, she had had to bury him herself, and he had not left her much besides his flute, a hunting knife, a half-filled purse of coin, a sturdy bow, and a warm cloak. She had walked quite a ways to Tar Valon, sleeping most of the way under bushes, and only eating when it could be afforded.
But she was here now and she walked down to Tar Valon and eventually the White Tower with set determination.