Hello , everyone! Cirtolthiel here. This is my first attempt at a Lord of the Rings fan-fic. I have high hopes for this story, and hopefully I will keep up with it. I do go to college full time, so I don't know how often I will update. I'll do my best though! Please, leave me comments so I know how I am doing and how you like the story. Thank you for reading!

Note: Characters and such are from the mind of J.R. Tolkein, except the ones I claim. In this opening, all characters are mine.


Ada! (Father!)" The young elf's voice was filled with terror and sadness. "I won't go. I want to stay…and help fight!" She ducked as an orc slashed its sword. The blow missed and struck the ground. A small cry of fear came from the elf as she thrust her small knife into the orc's stomach. The vile creature fell back with a snarl, ready to renew its attack. The elf's grey eyes betrayed her unease with fighting and the orc gave a sneer.

"Aerlinniel!" Her father's cry interrupted her scream as the orc thrust its sword forward. Her father's blade knocked the orc aside before plunging through the creature. The young Aerlinniel cowered behind her father. "You must leave! Heniach nin? (Do you understand me?) I can't lose you to these creatures!"

Aerlinniel shook her head rapidly back and forth, her long blonde hair swaying. "Lau (No), I won't leave!" she shrieked even as she was hit from behind. The blunt end of the blade only knocked her to the ground.

"Sadron!" Aerlinniel's father yelled out. A tall male elf wielding a bow ran towards where father and daughter stood, surrounded by orcs.

"Yes, King Beriadan?" the male asked, not pausing as he pulled out a sword and began cutting down the creatures that pressed in upon them.

Theirs was a travelling company of elves; they never stayed in one place too long. They had been on the way to visit the elves of Mirkwood, to rejoice the crowning of the new Prince. The orcs had followed them and attacked when some of the company was out gathering food and items for shelter.

"Take my daughter on to Mirkwood. Keep her safe," Beriadan stated and turned to bring a particularly large orc down.

"Lau, Ada, Hain ú-'rogon. (No, father, I do not fear them.)Do not make me go," she said softly, tears falling from her eyes.

Beriadan gave a sorrowful look to his daughter. "Goheno nin. Le melon. No in elenath hîlar nan hâd gîn. (I am sorry. I love you. May all stars shine upon your path.)" He gave a heavy sigh, and turned to join back in the fight as Sadron pulled Aerlinniel toward his horse.

"Ae anírach, Ada. Le melon," (If you wish, Father. I love you.) Aerlinniel murmured as she was swung onto the horse. The last thing she heard was her father's cry of "Gurth 'ni yrch!" (Death to the orcs!) Then, she passed out behind Sadron as they rode as fast as they could towards Mirkwood and its shelter.