I do not own anything related to Lord of the Rings. Minus a few characters which I have made up myself.

Italicized words means that elvish is being spoken.

Chapter 1:

"There you are! I have been looking all over for you" a grinning Cuilwen called from the doorway with her hands pressed up against the frame of the doorway.

"I'm coming, I just need to finish this one last…" started another elleth, pausing as she focused on her painting. "...Last little detail. I'm finished!" She continued looking up.

"You are just finishing up now? Elarinya, the wedding is just about to begin, and you are going to give them a wet painting? Cuilwen asked as skepticism spread across her face.

"Cuilwen, I decided to restart last night -"

"Last night? What you were painting before was beautiful - why would you restart, when this should have been done days ago?" She interrupted exasperated stepping into her room.

"I know, but - you know me." Elarinya shrugged at Cuilwen, as she started to organize her paints and brushes with the intention of cleaning it up later. "Before it was pretty, but it wasn't quite right, and now its more than just beautiful. It's done, and I'll give it to them tomorrow after it has had some time to set. Weren't you here to tell me that we need to hurry up because the wedding is starting soon? I'm ready."

"Your clothes?" Cuilwen said looking at the paint splatters on her leggings and tunic shaking her head.

"Oh right. I almost forgot." said Elarinya. She took off her clothes and exchanged it for the deep sapphire blue gown laid out on her bed. It was a very simple yet elegant dress. It wasn't new, but she loved the dress, and it was a rare occasion to wear it. Over on her dresser she ran her hand over a intricately carved and inlaid wood box before picking it up remove the lid from it. Inside was a beautiful two stone pendant necklace. The stones shined brightly even with the littlest amount of light. Wrapping her fingers around it, Elarinya held it for a moment closing her eyes before clasping it around her neck. It was the one piece of jewelry that meant something to her, and the only one she ever wore.

"Are you coming?" She asked hurrying out of her doorway and down the hall to outside. As they wandered down the winding pathway the delicate sweet scent of the flowers filled the air. Sun rays filtered through the green leaves of the forest and casted a golden glow on all that it touched. Even in the early evening they could feel the warmth of the rays on their skin.

At last they found themselves in a large clearing filled with the many familiar faces of their colony. Elarinya looked around until she spotted a tall, dark brown haired, grey eyed, strong featured ellon named Turin. They'd been friends for as long as she could remember, outside of her family, he was the closest to her. She and Cuilwen took their spot next to him adding to the circular formation being made.

Moments later the ceremony began. Two elves walked towards each other from opposite sides of the circle, only breaking it for a moment in time to walk met in the center, taking the other's hands in their own. Their faces were filled with a happiness that only true lovers could understand. Then the began to speak words of promises and their bond before those present and the Valar.

Elarinya took the hands of Turin and Cuilwen and they took the hands of those next to themselves. Everyone in attendance began singing words of blessing on the bonded couple. A warm golden light wrapped around them, and when the singing stopped clapping erupted from the attendees. The new couple led the the elves to the back down the path which Elarinya and Cuilwen came by earlier to the Great Hall where the festivities were to take place.

When they entered the hall music filled the air. Elves began dancing, eating, and merriment.

"Let's dance!" Elarinya said turning to Turin and taking his hand. She led him on to the dance floor. She put her hand in his and then place his other on his arm as he wrapped his arm around her back and they began gliding across the floor. Elarinya couldn't help but smile, and her deep blue eyes sparkled like the stars. When she danced it took her to another place where worries didn't exist.

"You look beautiful tonight Elarinya." Turin told her looking into her eyes. A faint blush graced Elarinya's cheeks.

"You're rather handsome yourself tonight," she half joked back.

"I meant it Elarinya." He paused dancing for a moment before continuing on to the steps.

"Thank you Turin." She smiled.

They danced till they could dance no more and needed a break. Turin went to get them both glasses of wine while she went in search of her father to take a seat next to him.

"You looked like you were enjoying yourself." Her father greeted her.

"Of course I was! I was dancing, and I love dancing."

"Are you sure that is the only reason you were enjoying yourself?" He inquired with a knowing glint in his eyes.

"Ada, Turin is my dearest friend, closer to me than Cuilwen even. I know you wish I would find someone, but I am not even close to being ready - I just past my majority as it were. I wish to travel, and explore Middle Earth beyond these woods."

"Sometimes, you will find that the best part of life isn't about what is out there, but what you have here."

"I love you ada. I don't want to explore to replace it with what I have here, I just need to know."

"You have the same spirit in you that your mother has." He replied softly.

"Right now, I'm happy, let that be enough for you." She smiled reaching out to hold his hand for a moment.

Turin came back with the two glasses of red wine. Taking a seat across from Elarinya, he handed her a glass.

"I'm going to give my congratulations. I'll see you later." Elarinya's father stated as he got up from his seat at the table.

Turin looked at him as he walked away. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No, you didn't." Elarinya replied back. "He's just being himself. He was just once again saying that he wants me to find an ellon that I can settle down with, you know the usual." Elarinya took a sip of her wine. "I tried explaining, it's not that I don't want to settle down, I am just not ready right now."

"Why aren't you ready?" Turin inquired.

"You know why Turin - I want to go exploring beyond this forest. The furthest I have ever been is Rivendell, and we both know that is less than a day's ride from here. I - "

"Just because you are bonded does not mean that you cannot still go travel. You could travel together. Instead of telling him about it later, you could share the memories of it together."

"I never thought of it that way…"

Cuilwen came over to the table. "Elarinya - why are you not dancing? Turin, dance with her. I don't want to be the only good dancer dancing…"

They both laughed. Cuilwen obviously had been drinking. Turin outstretched his hand as he stood up. "May I have this dance?"

"Of course you may." Elarinya took his hand and let him lead her out to the dance floor.

It was a slower song, and Turin held her closer than he normally did. Yet, Elarinya found she didn't mind, there was something different about tonight. When the song ended she looked up at Turin.

"Do you want to go for a ride?" Elarinya asked.

"This late?"

"Yes, I want to show you something."

"Alright."

Elarinya took his hand and led him out of the Great Hall and over to the stables. On the walk over, they held each other's hand the entire time, only letting go when the reached the doors. The village was so quiet. all the people who were still out were at the Great Hall celebrating.

"Hello Baneth." Elarinya said putting her face against the horse's face. Baneth nuzzled her nose against Elarinya's face.

"You ready?" Turin asked, already on his horse.

Elarinya gracefully jumped up onto her horse then led the way out of the stables. They rode out from the woods into the open fields where the hills rolled gracefully across the landscape. The moon and stars seemed to shine perfectly that night. Yet they didn't stop.

"Where are you leading me to?"

"You'll see soon enough." Elarinya replied. She led him down another hill where there was a massive old oak tree next to a babbling stream that led to a small pond. She jumped down from her horse and let it wander around. Elarinya took a seat down by the tree in the soft grass amongst the grasses you could see flowers. Turin got off of his horse and too a seat on the grass next to her

"When I was younger, my naneth would bring me here. It was our special place. She would tell me stories of far off places in Middle Earth. I always dreamed of going to see them myself one day. When she sailed to the Gray Havens, I made a promise to myself that I would go see them, and other wondrous places, so that when I see her again, I can tell her all about my travels."

"This is where you were going off to all those times." Turin began.

"Yes, this is where I would always go."

"It's beautiful, especially for not being a forest."

"Naneth, always said there are different types of beauty in this world. The mountains are sublime. The forests are full of wonder and amazement, but you cannot see the stars or moon in the depths of the forest. Out here though, you can see to the horizon, and the entire night sky is there for you to behold in all its beauty and majesty."

Turin put a comforting arm around Elarinya's shoulder. "Thanks for sharing this with me." He softly said. "I know how close you were to your mother and how hard it was when she left you to sail."

"I've been wanting to share this place with you for a long time. I just didn't know when the right time was."

"There's something I've been wanting to share with you for a long time too… I - I love you as my friend, but my feelings for you run much deeper for you than just friendship." He turned to face her.

"I'm speechless…" Elarinya replied in barely more than a whisper. "But, I believe in my heart, that I may feel the same way…" She continued slowly.

He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. They stayed there for quite sometime in each other's arms gazing up at the stars, listening to the soft breeze run through the tall grasses and the leaves of the oak tree, and the sound of the running water. All the world seemed to be at peace in that moment.

"We should go back, before they start to worry about where we are at." She said turning to face him. "Knowing my father he'd send a search party out for me." She laughed.

The two of them got back up on their horses and began riding towards the village.

Turin stopped on his horse. "Do you hear that?"

Elarinya's heart sunk in fear as she heard the sounds of screaming and fighting coming from the direction of their village. "Ada" she whispered. She flew off with her horse back towards the village.

"Elarinya!" Turin called racing after her. When they got nearer they could see orcs and elves slaughtering each other.

"I have to find my father!" She called to Turin.

"Don't!" Turin called, but it was too late, she took off towards home. Turin followed quickly after her. She ran into her home.

"Ada?" She cried out, but no response came, She went to the next room but still no answer. Lastly she went into her room and there on the floor was her father with two arrows in his chest.

"No!" She screamed falling to her knees crying out. "Wake up ada! Please wake up!"

"Elarinya we must go now before it is too late!" Turin started to pull her away from her father's dead corpse.

"Wait, She grabbed her father's sword from his hand, and took the box to the necklace her mother gave her, putting it in a bag quickly and left. They jumped back on their horses and began riding away.

Their presence did not go unnoticed by the orcs. They began chasing after them in mad pursuit.

"Elarinya, keep riding and don't look back!" Turin yelled at her.

Elarinya stopped when she didn't hear the sounds of a second horse. "Turin!"

"Go Elarinya! You must!" Elarinya stared in horror as she saw the onslaught of orcs coming towards him. He was staying so fend off the orcs so that she could have a chance of making it to Rivendell.

"I can't leave and lose you too!"

"I love you Elarinya, now go! Go!"

Elarinya took one last look at him before riding off harder than she had ever rode before. She couldn't look back. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and countless tears ran down her face, but she didn't stop.

Soon she could hear the orcs chasing after her too. It could mean only one thing… She pushed her horse even harder. An arrow went whizzing past her face, and soon another, followed by another one. She couldn't stop, and they didn't stop chasing her, it was like something was giving them energy she'd never seen them have before.

Her horse began to slow down ever so slightly. She'd never pushed Baneth this hard before for so long in her life. She could feel them gaining on her as the sound of the feet of the wargs became louder. "Baneth, we must do this! It's just a little further!"

Another arrow was fired and struck her in her shoulder, near her collarbone. Elarinya yelled out in pain, refusing to let in. Her energy was beginning to wane.

Then she saw them. Patrol elves ready with their bows in the trees. She just had to reach the forest, just a little bit further. Another arrow went flying past her head. When she was beginning to feel that she would never make it to the border before her energy left her, she made it. She continued to ride until she no longer heard the sound of the orcs, or their wargs.

Her horse stopped and with all her energy spent she collapsed forward.