A/N: This story was form during and RPG at the CouncilOfElrond site. I
thought the plot had become extremely interesting and decided to make a
story out of it. Some lines have been slightly changed and details have
been added This story takes place several years after the ring had been
destroyed.
Disclaimer: All original characters and places from Lord of the Rings belong to their respective owners. All new characters are property of me, or their respective owners. This piece was written for entertainment, no profit intended.
Credit: I would like to thank all the wonderful people from CouncilOfElrond that participated and continue to participate in the RPG. ElvenPrincess254, NellasTaralom, Palurien, Barahir1, Phae, and Lets_Hunt_Some_Orc.
Chapter 1: The quest.
Gilmíriel was there standing under some trees in her home of Mirkwood. Narwen saw her friend Gilmiriel standing alone and ran over to her. "Suilaid Gilmiriel! What are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you in Thranduil's hall, but I should have known you would be here deep in the forest!"
Suddenly their attention was drawn away from each other as they both heard the cracking of twigs. A dark form moved silently from the cover of the trees. The identity of the figure was impossible to guess, for it was shrouded in a long dark cloak. The deep hood completely shadowing the stranger's face. The two friends instantly pulled in close together, hands nervously twitching on their weapon hilts.
Silence fell over them, until Narwen, overwhelmed with bravery shouted. "Name yourself and your business here or I'll run you through!"
To that the dark stranger replied, "Fear not fair friends. My full name I will not tell you for it does not roll easily from the tongues of elves or men but some in these lands name me Mith. I have been sent here to find you and lead you, ff in fact you will be led, on a quest of great importance and haste.
Narwen cast a sidelong glance at Gilmiriel. Their eyes met and they both agreed that they wouldn't give their trust to this stranger just yet. "What kind of a quest?" She asked suspiciously. "The people of Thranduil value their peace and quiet, where we may enjoy merriment in our forest. None of us undertaken a quest since Prince Legolas' journey to Rivendell."
"Mith, now don't be so secretive, nor so naive, it's unlike you." A soft voice was soon identified with an elvish maiden walking out from behind the shadows of the trees. Pulling down the hood of her black cloak so that her face now shown in the dim light she turned to Mith. "You must remember, these are the children of the forest. They are not as willing to leave there home and pick up for an adventure, as those of us who spend our days looking for it."
The woman smiled and turned to Narwen and Gilmiriel. "My name is Náriël Ciryatan, and you are being summoned. If you chose not to leave, then I fear Mirkwood, and what is left of Middle Earth may in deed be in even greater danger then it already is..."
Gilmíriel exchanged worried looks with Narwen and looked towards the elvish woman. "What great danger?" She did not know yet to say yes or no it the offer.
"Hail Náriël," said Mith not turning towards the newcomer, but keeping a dark gaze locked on the two comrades, "I wondered how long it would take you to show up. It seems whenever evil stirs in this land you are not far behind. For like me you are a rock meant to tumble, not to stay and grow moss like our woodland friends."
Narwen was strangely unnerved by this dark character, moving unheeded through the forest, undetected even by the always vigilant elves. The sex and race of the stranger was completely undecipherable. The voice emanating from beneath the dark cowl was completely monotone, neither male nor female. The stature seemed tall and sturdily built but no distinguishing characteristics could be told.
Finally growing tired of this skulking stranger Narwen demanded. "Come out of the shadow's and give us your right name or you'll not draw another breath, let alone go on a quest no matter what it's importance!"
A strange bitter sound came from Mith that the pair guessed was a mockery of laughter. "My dear Narwen, always so anxious. Fear not, for even though you do not know me I know much of you and your comrade. And you can see I bear no evil omen. But, I will not show you my form no indeed not yet. For, my appearance tends to rattle people and I don't want any of you to be distracted from the task at hand. A great injustice has been done and we have been appointed to set it to rights. Our task may seem to you a small thing but as the fluttering of a butterflies wings can change the currents of the winds of this Middle-Earth this seemingly small thing will effect us all."
Mith paused, drawing in a deep breath before he continued to speak. "For my part I will lead you to a land yet undiscovered by the men of Gondor or Rohan. It lays far off to the North and West. What our errand is there I cannot tell you until we all swear allegiance to each other and what ever may befall us, allegiance to this quest. And so if you would be led to this place far from the trees you love say yay and if not nay. If you say yay we will travel far together, which I know will suit you Náriël, and you will all win renown. If not I shall leave you here to await your fait and disturb your forest no more. And now my friends the time of deciding has come and the time for discussion has ended. For now the moon is waxing and before dawn we must be many leagues from here if we are to succeed. So my friends, what say you?"
Eruvellas was also not in Thranduil's hall, he had a notion of a presence coming into the deep wood that gave him a feeling of unease. Unknown to his sister Narwen he had seen her exit the hall and watched her as she strode to meet with Gilmiriel. He saw the approach of the stranger but knew him not he slowly unsheathed his sword. He heard the conversation and was uneasy, such a grave talk of a quest should not be covered with the vale darkness.
He stepped forth to stand beside his sister. He surveyed the stranger suspiciously. He still did not recognize this hooded stranger called Mith; he took a step forward and addressed him cautiously. "If this be such a great quest then it should be discussed in the light and away from any ears that may be listening in the dark. If such a great quest why must you be hidden by the dark? You could have been an aid to the dead evil one himself. If this be such a great quest then show yourself or leave the Mirkwood while you still can." Eruvellas gave a quick short whistle and instantly several elves, bows at the ready stepped into sight.
Eruvellas kept his sight fixed on the stranger trying to see into the dark hood covering his face. "Show yourself and we will listen to your story. But know this, no one leaves the Mirkwood without the consent of Lord Thranduil".
To this Mith replied, the pitch of the voice unwavering, "Peace Eruvellas, for in your haste to protect your sister you have overshot your aim. I have spoken to your Lord and have his leave to be here. I am not so presumptuous a 'stranger' as to go walking in his lands unheeded. Though your guard has not detected me, I have been announced.
Lord Thranduil knows my mind and my quest and it was he who chose Narwen and Gilmiriel to accompany me. Of course any who wish to come, should they be willing to swear their allegiance to friend and quest, are welcome if it is the Lord's will."
But, Eruvellas would not stand down until he saw the face of this dark stranger. With a fell look in his eye, he raised his sword in sign to the waiting archers and said. "Step into the clear light of the moon and show yourself Dark Lurker or the next breath you draw shall be your last."
At that moment, when it seemed that blood would be spilled in those hallowed lands a clear horn sounded. The guard of Lord rushed towards him crying, "Halt! Halt Eruvellas!"
And, then in the midst of them Lord Thranduil stepped forth and he said in a strong clear voice. "Halt Eruvellas lest you spill the blood of our kinsman here in our beloved forest and doom us all!"
Náriël quickly pulled her sword from the sheath at her side, and before he could respond she had placed it to Eruvellas throat. "Not the smartest elf, are you young one?" She whispered, pulling him in front of her, and letting the sword set dangerously close to his throat. Mith chuckled lightly at this, but the rest grew silent. Until Lord Thranduil himself chose to speak.
Disclaimer: All original characters and places from Lord of the Rings belong to their respective owners. All new characters are property of me, or their respective owners. This piece was written for entertainment, no profit intended.
Credit: I would like to thank all the wonderful people from CouncilOfElrond that participated and continue to participate in the RPG. ElvenPrincess254, NellasTaralom, Palurien, Barahir1, Phae, and Lets_Hunt_Some_Orc.
Chapter 1: The quest.
Gilmíriel was there standing under some trees in her home of Mirkwood. Narwen saw her friend Gilmiriel standing alone and ran over to her. "Suilaid Gilmiriel! What are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you in Thranduil's hall, but I should have known you would be here deep in the forest!"
Suddenly their attention was drawn away from each other as they both heard the cracking of twigs. A dark form moved silently from the cover of the trees. The identity of the figure was impossible to guess, for it was shrouded in a long dark cloak. The deep hood completely shadowing the stranger's face. The two friends instantly pulled in close together, hands nervously twitching on their weapon hilts.
Silence fell over them, until Narwen, overwhelmed with bravery shouted. "Name yourself and your business here or I'll run you through!"
To that the dark stranger replied, "Fear not fair friends. My full name I will not tell you for it does not roll easily from the tongues of elves or men but some in these lands name me Mith. I have been sent here to find you and lead you, ff in fact you will be led, on a quest of great importance and haste.
Narwen cast a sidelong glance at Gilmiriel. Their eyes met and they both agreed that they wouldn't give their trust to this stranger just yet. "What kind of a quest?" She asked suspiciously. "The people of Thranduil value their peace and quiet, where we may enjoy merriment in our forest. None of us undertaken a quest since Prince Legolas' journey to Rivendell."
"Mith, now don't be so secretive, nor so naive, it's unlike you." A soft voice was soon identified with an elvish maiden walking out from behind the shadows of the trees. Pulling down the hood of her black cloak so that her face now shown in the dim light she turned to Mith. "You must remember, these are the children of the forest. They are not as willing to leave there home and pick up for an adventure, as those of us who spend our days looking for it."
The woman smiled and turned to Narwen and Gilmiriel. "My name is Náriël Ciryatan, and you are being summoned. If you chose not to leave, then I fear Mirkwood, and what is left of Middle Earth may in deed be in even greater danger then it already is..."
Gilmíriel exchanged worried looks with Narwen and looked towards the elvish woman. "What great danger?" She did not know yet to say yes or no it the offer.
"Hail Náriël," said Mith not turning towards the newcomer, but keeping a dark gaze locked on the two comrades, "I wondered how long it would take you to show up. It seems whenever evil stirs in this land you are not far behind. For like me you are a rock meant to tumble, not to stay and grow moss like our woodland friends."
Narwen was strangely unnerved by this dark character, moving unheeded through the forest, undetected even by the always vigilant elves. The sex and race of the stranger was completely undecipherable. The voice emanating from beneath the dark cowl was completely monotone, neither male nor female. The stature seemed tall and sturdily built but no distinguishing characteristics could be told.
Finally growing tired of this skulking stranger Narwen demanded. "Come out of the shadow's and give us your right name or you'll not draw another breath, let alone go on a quest no matter what it's importance!"
A strange bitter sound came from Mith that the pair guessed was a mockery of laughter. "My dear Narwen, always so anxious. Fear not, for even though you do not know me I know much of you and your comrade. And you can see I bear no evil omen. But, I will not show you my form no indeed not yet. For, my appearance tends to rattle people and I don't want any of you to be distracted from the task at hand. A great injustice has been done and we have been appointed to set it to rights. Our task may seem to you a small thing but as the fluttering of a butterflies wings can change the currents of the winds of this Middle-Earth this seemingly small thing will effect us all."
Mith paused, drawing in a deep breath before he continued to speak. "For my part I will lead you to a land yet undiscovered by the men of Gondor or Rohan. It lays far off to the North and West. What our errand is there I cannot tell you until we all swear allegiance to each other and what ever may befall us, allegiance to this quest. And so if you would be led to this place far from the trees you love say yay and if not nay. If you say yay we will travel far together, which I know will suit you Náriël, and you will all win renown. If not I shall leave you here to await your fait and disturb your forest no more. And now my friends the time of deciding has come and the time for discussion has ended. For now the moon is waxing and before dawn we must be many leagues from here if we are to succeed. So my friends, what say you?"
Eruvellas was also not in Thranduil's hall, he had a notion of a presence coming into the deep wood that gave him a feeling of unease. Unknown to his sister Narwen he had seen her exit the hall and watched her as she strode to meet with Gilmiriel. He saw the approach of the stranger but knew him not he slowly unsheathed his sword. He heard the conversation and was uneasy, such a grave talk of a quest should not be covered with the vale darkness.
He stepped forth to stand beside his sister. He surveyed the stranger suspiciously. He still did not recognize this hooded stranger called Mith; he took a step forward and addressed him cautiously. "If this be such a great quest then it should be discussed in the light and away from any ears that may be listening in the dark. If such a great quest why must you be hidden by the dark? You could have been an aid to the dead evil one himself. If this be such a great quest then show yourself or leave the Mirkwood while you still can." Eruvellas gave a quick short whistle and instantly several elves, bows at the ready stepped into sight.
Eruvellas kept his sight fixed on the stranger trying to see into the dark hood covering his face. "Show yourself and we will listen to your story. But know this, no one leaves the Mirkwood without the consent of Lord Thranduil".
To this Mith replied, the pitch of the voice unwavering, "Peace Eruvellas, for in your haste to protect your sister you have overshot your aim. I have spoken to your Lord and have his leave to be here. I am not so presumptuous a 'stranger' as to go walking in his lands unheeded. Though your guard has not detected me, I have been announced.
Lord Thranduil knows my mind and my quest and it was he who chose Narwen and Gilmiriel to accompany me. Of course any who wish to come, should they be willing to swear their allegiance to friend and quest, are welcome if it is the Lord's will."
But, Eruvellas would not stand down until he saw the face of this dark stranger. With a fell look in his eye, he raised his sword in sign to the waiting archers and said. "Step into the clear light of the moon and show yourself Dark Lurker or the next breath you draw shall be your last."
At that moment, when it seemed that blood would be spilled in those hallowed lands a clear horn sounded. The guard of Lord rushed towards him crying, "Halt! Halt Eruvellas!"
And, then in the midst of them Lord Thranduil stepped forth and he said in a strong clear voice. "Halt Eruvellas lest you spill the blood of our kinsman here in our beloved forest and doom us all!"
Náriël quickly pulled her sword from the sheath at her side, and before he could respond she had placed it to Eruvellas throat. "Not the smartest elf, are you young one?" She whispered, pulling him in front of her, and letting the sword set dangerously close to his throat. Mith chuckled lightly at this, but the rest grew silent. Until Lord Thranduil himself chose to speak.