"Blah" - Speaking (common)

'Blah' - Thinking, any language.

"Blah" - Speaking, Elvish.

New Beginnings

Prologue

It was a dark, gloomy night in the Shire. Most of the small markets were closed, but bright and cheery light filtered from the windows of the Green Dragon as a stranger walked up to the door. While most of the inhabitants of Hobbiton were lucky to top three and a half feet, this person was an easy five-foot eleven. The cloak she wore covered all of her, but those who took the time to look would be able to see flawless, golden skin that seemed to glow with its own inner light. Long pale fingers grasped the door handle and opened the door to the tavern. The light from inside the pub made the amethyst ring on the hand glitter before it was hidden back in the folds of the cloak. Pale blue eyes glittered beneath the hood as she walked in quietly, ducking her head to keep from bashing her forehead against the rafters. Without attracting any attention to herself, the woman sat down in a shadowy corner of the room near the door, content to relax and listen to the conversations that washed over her.

Calmly, she closed her eyes as she leaned back, her delicate ears twitching slightly as she listened. Slowly, the multiple voices came into focus as she concentrated.

"- Best harvests I've had in years, aint it Proudfoot?"

"- Pass me another ale Pip, I'm parched."

"- swear, I've seen it! In the old forest, I've seen them trees awalkin'!"

Now THAT sounded interesting. At once, the woman leaned towards the Hobbits she'd just heard, concentrating on them, Their voices came into sharper focus immediately, and she mentally blocked out the sounds from the rest of the pub.

"Walkin' trees? Have y been in the beer again?"

"It's true! I was in the forest, looking' for mushrooms, and I saw an elm, just awalkin' by the pond!"

The second Hobbit laughed. "Ya ARE insane! Elms don' even grow in Buckland forest!"

"Well, that's just what I saw."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever ya say. Hey Rosie, can ya pass me another flagon?"

As the men drifted off into a different topic, the woman hummed to herself as she relaxed, opening her eyes again. 'Interesting,' she thought as she fiddled with her ring under her cloak. 'It seems that we were right to suspect that there are other creatures in the forest.' As she thought about this, she stood and began to slink out of the tavern, staying in the shadows so that she wouldn't be spotted.

Once outside, she melted into the darkness as she entered the forest. Making sure that no one had seen her, she threw back her hood as she jogged through the trees, revealing long, golden hair that flowed past her wrists. Not a twig snapped under her boots, and her large blue eyes could see in the dark just as well as in the light. Pointed ears twitched as they listened for any sound around her, the dagger-like tips pointing out of her hair. With a stifled whoop of joy, Ayami Fallassion, the adopted child of Rivendell, raced through the forest, enjoying the thrill of being in her own element.

All too soon, the trees began to thin out again, and Ayami pranced to a stop as she came to the edge of the trees. Out in front of her was a tiny cabin, smoke gently rising from the chimney. Happily, the Elleth entered the little hut, frowning slightly at the lack of light. In the darkness, her movements were invisible, but at once, all the candles in the room flickered on, tiny tongues of flame dancing over the wax. Their light threw shadows on the walls, but made it light enough for the woman to start the fire in the hearth again. Minutes later, flames crackled merrily as she threw on more wood, swinging a pot over the fire in order to start cooking some dinner.

Her ears twitched as the door opened again, and Ayami grinned as she looked over her shoulder. "Good evening, cousin mine. Did we catch anything for dinner tonight?" she joked in Elvish, throwing a handful of vegetables and herbs into the boiling water.

The second Elleth, Inwe Calmcacil of the house of Glorfindel, rolled her hazel eyes at her older cousin as she set her bow down by the wall. Straightening up, she threw a brace of rabbits at the blond Elf, who yelped as she ducked away. Smirking, Inwe sat down on the rabbit-skin rug, pulling out the arrows she'd used in order to clean them. "If you are going to act like that when I bring home the meat for the night, then you can hunt yourself," she said dismissively.

Recovering the rabbits and her dignity, Ayami chuckled as she pulled a knife from her boot in order to clean the rabbits. "That's what you always say Mellonin," she said lightly as she tossed chunks of meat into the stew.

Yawning, the younger Elf flicked her long, honey-brown hair over her shoulder as she polished an arrowhead. "Whatever you say cousin," she grumbled, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Just hurry up with dinner."

Later that night, Inwe climbed onto the roof, hoping to find some peace out under the starlight, only to find that her cousin was up there already. The stars were reflected in Ayami's eyes as she turned to look at her younger cousin and friend. "Can't sleep?" she asked softly as Inwe leaped onto the roof.

The younger Elf nodded as she walked over to the older women to sit down next to her. She looked up at the stars with troubled eyes, taking comfort in Elbereth's masterpiece above her. Softly, she whispered, "Do you feel it to?"

Ayami nodded at once, understanding the cryptic question. "Yes, I can feel it. A power is rising in the South, affecting everything around us," She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she sampled the night air. "The world is changing, and there is little that we can do about it," she said sadly.

With a sigh, Inwe flopped down onto her back, staring at the night sky as eh folded her hands behind her head. "Maybe we should pay a visit to Rivendell," she suggested. "If we can sense it, then Elrond and the other Elders definitely do as well."

Growling softly, Ayami shook her head violently. "No, not until we have no other choice," she snapped. "We cannot abandon our duties here on only a whim and a feeling. And I refuse to abandon this beautiful forest," she said decisively. Calming, she rolled over onto her side as she muttered, "Get some sleep cousin, we've work to do in the morning."

Inwe gave the older Elf a look of disbelief for a moment before she shook her head. "As you wish, cousin," she muttered, before relaxing into a sleeping trance, her eyes plastered on the stars above her.