This story takes place at the end of the Second Age, and takes place before the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, this story will eventually blend in with the stories taking both from the movies and the books.
Chapter One- A Child without a Name
Three days the stag rode hard from the deep forests of Mirkwood to the city of Rivendell. The stag rode hastily along the paths forcing anyone in the way to scatter. Elven guards not of Rivendell but of Mirkwood followed after the stag. A guard met the hasted stag looking to the cloaked figure. "What business do you have here?" He grimaced as the Mirkwood guards caught up shortly has the horses coughed signaling their exhaustion. It forced the Rivendell guard to see his error as he bowed realizing he was in the presence of Thraduil. "My Lord, I apologize." As one of the Mirkwood guards dismounted his horse.
He looked at the Rivendell guard unamused. "Fetch your Lord at once we need to meet with him immediately." The guard commanded as the Rivendell guard sent away for Elrond who was sleeping in his chambers. Elrond was woken by the guard notifying him of Thraduil's arrival. Elrond was confused by Thraduil's presence here as he dismissed the guard. He took a moment to think before going to greet his unexpected guest.
Elrond walked to a private balcony where the Rivendell guards had led Thraduil to wait for Elrond. Thranduil was cloaked, he looked disheveled and quite distressed. "Thranduil, friend what brings you here in this hour?" Elrond asked as Thraduil's face held sorrow not seen by many. "I bring this child." Thranduil opened his cloak as the elven infant laid quiet. Elrond looked quite puzzled. "Her name?" Elrond asked as Thranduil looked pained. "The child belonged to Menelwyn. "Thranduil let out as he handed her to Elrond. Elrond's look was shock as he looked at the child. "Such dark hair, I didn't know Menelwyn was with child?" he questioned as Thranduil braced himself against the railing.
"Were you not informed?" Thranduil was stern in his voice as he gripped the railing tightly. "Menelwyn went missing over a year and a half ago. She disappeared from my sight and I didn't see her until three days ago in the midst of labor." Thranduil was clearly shaken. Elrond looked perplexed as he cradled the child. "She does not have the Silvan hair that my kin are known for. She was born in the eclipsing of the sun, deprived of the moon and stars. I am afraid for her, that darkness may take her." Elrond rocked the child listening to Thraduil speak. "Are you saying…" Elrond couldn't even finish the sentence. It had been suspected Menelwyn has been taken by orcs but they were unsure there had only been one child with a similar birth but they had sent her into hiding many years before this child.
Thranduil sighed as he spoke again. "I'm not sure my guards fetched me and she was screaming madness. Telling me…begging me, to kill the child whom you now hold in your arms. She is why I am here with her, to see if her future is one of darkness or light." Thranduil explained quietly. Elrond cringed slightly at the thought of wanting to kill an innocent child. "Did she name her own child?" Elrond saw the child's silvery blue gaze staring up at him. "She does not cry?" Elrond watched Thranduil sit down. "Another strange thing about her that I do not understand." Thranduil was clearly filled with grief. "Is the White Council gathering?" Thranduil asked as Elrond shook his head. "Sauramon and Mithrandir are away on other matters. The Lady Galadriel is here from Lothlorien." He explained as Elrond offered Thranduil the child. Thranduil refused the child he backed away from Elrond. "I want to know why Menelwyn wanted this child dead." He spoke somberly. Elrond started to pace as he was unsure and the child seemed to watch his every move. "Tell me what her future holds Elrond; I want to know if there is hope for this child." Thranduil spoke clearly. Elrond looked at him. "What do you want me to tell you?" He asked as Thranduil sighed brushing the hair from his face. "To see if this child holds evil within her, if she has a future of good within her." Thanduil slammed his fist down. "I don't want Menelwyn's death to be in vain where I have failed her dying wish." Elrond looked at the child as he relaxed his face. After a few moments of silence Elrond opened his eyes.
Glancing over at Thranduil, Elrond took a moment for the rest of his vision to clear. "What did you see?" Thranduil asked as Elrond forced the infant back into his arms. "A future of great power and great darkness it would seem." Thranduil looked at the child with sadness. Elrond faced him. "There is hope, her future can still reach the light for she is still but a child." Elrond spoke as another presence joined them. "With the right influence her future could be ever bright." Came the soothing voice of Galadriel as she stepped from the corridor. Thranduil bowed to her as did Elrond as she came towards Thranduil. "The hour draws late m'lady I am sorry to have disturbed you." Thranduil spoke as she gave him a gentle smile.
Galadriel in her white dress was graceful as she walked. "It was not you who disturbed me, but the child cried out to me." She spoke holding her arms out for the child. Thranduil looked slightly unsure as he handed her to Galadriel. "Her mind calls but not her voice for she knows her mother has faded from this world." Galadriel spoke softly cradling the infant. Galadriel looked at Thranduil. "Leave her to me for now while you rest, sorrow consumes you. This child is your kin just as Menelwyn was, you must honor her life like you honored her mother's." Galadriel's tone hardly wavered as the infant now slept soundly in her arms. "Her life is not up for debate Thranduil, now rest you will see what she becomes for her future is near yours." She told Thranduil before she left Elrond and Thranduil to their business taking the infant with her.
"Take your rest we can continue our business in the morning, there are chambers ready for you." Elroned looked at Thranduil. "Let her rest with the moon and starts in peace, let her take your sorrows with her on this night." Thranduil listened to Elrond speak. "Heavy my heart is indeed, but sorrow is now what describes my grief." He replied as he took his leave retreating to the provided chambers as his guards took watch.
Morning came slowly as Thranduil had found sleep in the night where he thought he could not. Galadriel cradled the infant singing one of the many songs of the elves to quiet her mind. Elrond came to her. "Galadriel what of the child?" He questioned as she turned to him. "She is a joy, though her hair is black as night and not as fair as her kin I can see her potential." Galadriel explained as she rocked and swayed gently. "She does not have a name, Menelwyn refused to name her." Elrond spoke as Galadriel smiled. "Her name is Moriel, Celeborn named her as he took a watch over her when I slept." Galadriel was full of smiles as Elrond looked at her. "You seem quite taken with her." He spoke as Galadriel stopped. She sighed. "I almost have forgotten the joy of holding one's child when they are small and fragile." She explained looking at Elrond. "Celeborn and I have talked about it, if Thranduil will allow it we will take her back to Lothorien to raise her until she becomes of age. We will then return her to Mirkwood to Thranduil." Elrond looked surprised. "Isn't rash decision in this time hardly a good idea?" Elrond was very unsure of her decision.
Galadriel looked at Elrond with a serious gaze. "You spoke that she has a small chance of a bright future. I can see Thranduil's sorrow swallowing her into darkness because of his past fondness for her mother." It was clear Galadriel had her own concerns thus forcing the rash decision to be made. "You would raise her like your own? She would know my soon to be wife as her sister?" Elrond asked as she nodded. "Moriel is innocent in all this madness, Thranduil needs to heal and she deserves the best start to life one can offer her. I am willing to offer this child that chance." Galadriel was standing by her decision.
Elrond bowed to her. "I will summon Thranduil once he is well rested." Elrond merely replied as he left her with Moriel. He could hardly understand how Galadriel could be so taken by a child of darkness as he had seen her future but not her fate. Two more days passed when Galadriel and Celeborn sent for Thranduil themselves. He was now rested as he was ready to return home to Mirkwood. Thranduil had hardly any time to explain leaving, but the infant's fate had to be decided. He walked in seeing Elrond standing near Celeborn and Galadriel who was holding the child. "What has been decided?" Thranduil asked bowing to his kin.
Celeborn looked to his wife nodding assuring her of their stance of raising the child. "Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm we have decided to let the child live." Thranduil stood in shock almost glaring at them. "Surely you do not expect me to raise her." Thranduil got out as he was holding back anger and some choice words. Elrond held up his hand. "That is why we are purposing that Celeborn and I take Moriel, as we have named her. We want to take her back to Lothlorien with us. When she becomes of age we will return her to Mirkwood, to her home, your care, and her kin." Galadriel spoke as Thranduil was surprised by the decision. Even more by the fact they would offer to do such a thing as raise her as their own.
"You named her Moriel?" Thranduil asked as Galadriel nodded. "We want your blessing to raise her friend, seeing as your youngest child is still so young. He will need your attention as he grows, let us worry for this child." Galadriel urged as Thranduil relented. "Yes, but on the condition that one of your best warriors trains her, so that she may be of some use to me when the time comes for her to return to my care." Thranduil requested as Elrond nodded as Galadriel smiled. "We will see to her training I promise she will return to you well raised." Celeborn spoke catching Galadriel's attention. Thranduil bowed his head slightly. "Then you have my blessing to take her with you."Thranduil spoke as he opened his arms as Galadriel gave Moriel to him. He cradled her gently. "The darkness that overwhelms her I pray the light her mother had saves her." Thranduil pressed his forehead against the infant's giving her a silent blessing.
Thranduil handed her back to Galadriel. "I wish you luck and well wishes on your journey and in raising her. I will return to Mirkwood but I will send my guards to check on her as she grows."Thranduil spoke as Galadriel agreed. "Of course, we return to Lothlorien so we take our leave. Take comfort Thranduil her future is bright." She spoke as she left with Moriel and Celeborn back to Lothlorien. Moriel's fate had been decided her mother's dying wish had left Thranduil wondering but other matters quickly called for his attention when he returned to Mirkwood.
Moriel- means Dark Daughter
Menelwyn- means Heaven Maiden
Please review I would love to hear your thoughts on this story. It has been my labor of love and I will post chapter two soon!