Hey guys! This is my first fanfiction! Yayayayay! I'm sorry if the first few chapters aren't all that great; feedback on how to improve is very welcome!
The story is set in the Third Age during which The Fellowship is to set out and destroy the One Ring.
I do not own LOTR, however Anarene is my own creation.

Please enjoy, I will try to update frequently! Review/Rate/Criticise do your thing!

- Bri

CHAPTER 1

I turned as I heard the gentle knock on my door, my face lighting up in a smile as Uncle entered my room quietly. I sat at my vanity table, brushing my waist long chocolate brown hair, cursing under my breath as the brush snagged yet another knot.

"You know it is not lady like to mutter such words my dear" Uncle teased. I smiled back. "Is there a reason you have come to see me Uncle? Or have you come merely to criticize my language?" I asked with a smirk.

My Uncle, Lord Celeborn frowned. "Actually my dear, I have come here to ask a serious favour of you." He began. His usually calm, slightly mellow voice was replaced with serious tone, making me question the severity of the favour he was asking of me.

"I ask of you to go to Rivendell." He began slowly. "A Hobbit is believed to have the One Ring in his possession. I need you to go to Rivendell to attend a council as a representative on behalf of Lothlórien." Uncle concluded softly as he waited for my reply intently.

"Why me?" I asked curiously. "Uncle, you have many noble warriors and many respectable, knowledgeable elders and council people residing here. Why do you ask of me?"

Uncle smiled down at me proudly before standing up and walking over to my window. "Anarene, you are more mature than I would like," he stated. I sniggered in disbelief.

"I am sincere when I say this… You have had no choice but to grow up fast in a dying world of war and despair; you haven't had the same life growing up as your aunt and I would have preferred you to. You are well trained, brave and honorable. Most importantly you have a strong and pure heart and soul. And I am proud to have you as my niece. This is why I ask of you to go to Rivendell. Because I trust you and only you with this task." he ended, breaking his gaze from the window before sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Uncle, I am truly honored that you ask of me. I will go to Rivendell. I will leave in five days." I replied pridefully. "Thank you, Anarene, I will choose our five most trusted warriors to accompany you on your journey to Rivendell." Uncle replied.

I felt the smile on my face disappear instantly. "You mean not for me to go alone?" I asked in shock.

Celeborn merely looked back at me, as though the very thought was ridiculous. "These are dark times my dear. Evil lurks everywhere outside the borders of our home. I am certain that evil will follow you every step along your journey to Rivendell. You are the only one left in the royal bloodline. The last of your race since your parents passing. If your life is lost who then will take over once Galadriel and I take the ship to Valinor? We cannot simply take that risk. Your life is too precious to be lost." He explained, hoping I would see reason.

I laughed bitterly as I walked out to my balcony. "You said yourself Uncle that I am well trained, brave, honorable… You have seen for yourself how far I have come since I first arrived here to live with you and Galadriel. So I must ask, why is it you fail to see that I am more than capable to make the journey to Rivendell on my own. How is it that you cannot see I can hold my own, that I can protect myself. Is it perhaps that you fail to remember what powers I possess, or is it that you are frightened by the very powers I wield?" I asked him darkly.

Uncle walked up to my side on the balcony and looked at me with concern in his blue eyes. Worry written over his face.

"Uncle, I do not fear the power within me, nor do I fear the enemy. I do not fear the unknown." I said softly as I put my hand on his. "If you trust me as you say you do, let me go. Let me go to Rivendell alone. Let me go, you will see that I will make the journey safely. You cannot keep me sheltered from the world forever." I smiled at my Uncle reassuringly as I watched him contemplate the thought.
He let out a heavy sigh before turning to me with a defeated look on his face. "You're as conniving as your father was, do you realise that?" He asked with a smile.
I beamed at him happily, "So does this mean you will let me go alone?" I asked anxiously.
"Yes Anarene, I will let you travel on your own." Uncle replied with a kind and genuine smile. I too smiled as I embraced him. "Im meleth le aranel." (I love you princess) He murmured quietly. "Im meleth le tad Osi'Tan (I love you too Uncle) I replied.

My five days of waiting passed by quickly. I would happily admit; I couldn't possibly be more excited to leave to Rivendell. I ate breakfast quickly; bathed in a hurry and dressed in my travelling gear within my hour of waking. My maid Reina had laid out dark violet tights, a burgundy long-sleeved tunic and a black corset belt for me to wear. Along with my clothing she had gathered by grey riding boots and some of the weapons I would wear on my body.

I began to leave the palace where I descended from the spiraling silver staircase that led to the soft, silk-like emerald green grass below. A slight moment of sadness swept over me as I looked at the palace that seemed to glow in the early sunlight. My home. I knew I would miss it greatly. It was there that I said my goodbyes to my Aunt and Uncle, as well as several friends, Tarêntheil, Linwe and my oldest and closest friend Haldir.

"Please be safe Anarene." My Aunt Galadriel spoke gently as she embraced me. "I'll be fine." I assured her and Uncle. "May the Valor be with you along your journey" Uncle blessed as I went to say my final farewells to my three friends.

"Please be careful Ana." my friend Linwe begged as she embraced me tightly. I smiled fondly at my friend. Linwe didn't look like the majority of elves, red hair, creamy skin and orange freckles scattered across her cheeks and nose. Her face was lit up by two bright blue eyes. She was an odd looking elf, she was slightly podgy in weight, but that was all part of her sweet and caring charm. "Of course I will Lin, take care of Tarêntheil." I replied before greeting Tarêntheil with a friendly punch on his shoulder and a large smile.

Tarêntheil had originally once merely been my sparring partner assigned to me by Galadriel and Celeborn soon after I arrived to live in Lothlórien. But over the ages he and I had become close and were often inseparable. He had become much like a brother to me, though we were nothing alike in appearance; I felt he understood me like not many others could.

"Goodbye Tarêntheil, do not miss me too much. I don't want to see tears fall from your eyes now." I teased him as he looked at me with a stony face. "You're so immature Ana…" he smirked as he crushed me in a rough embrace. "Promise me you will be careful Ana." He whispered softly as he released me from his arms. "Always" I nodded with a smile before finally going over to Haldir, who had travelled from his post on the Lórien borders to see me off.

I'd known Haldir for the majority of my life. Like Tarêntheil had been as my sparring partner, Haldir was assigned to me as my personal guard by my parents when I was young. Haldir was a few years older than me; by the time he was assigned to me when I was 10 he was around 25 years of age. We'd not often seen eye to eye in our first years, and I had caused him much trouble in my younger years. But we'd bonded not long before the death of my parents. I had even asked him to come with me when I had to move to Lothlórien to live with Galadriel and Celeborn. Since then we shared a special bond, our friendship growing stronger everyday.
I could see on his face the worry and disappointment he had towards me. He'd argued with me from the very moment I told him I intended to travel alone, and we'd fought for hours after Uncle had granted me permission to travel independently. He was always overprotective of me, perhaps he still felt as though it was his duty to guard me as he once did. But he was relieved of that duty when I turned 16 by my order, and I had personally given to him a position as a marchwarden of the Lórien borders as he had wanted for years.

"Haldir…" I smiled sadly at my friend, who simply looked back at me with sad eyes. "I do not wish for you to go. Ana it is too dangerous, but it's not too late to change your mind. Tarêntheil and I could go with you." He tried to offer but I would hear none of it.
"This was my choice Haldir, and I knew from the moment I thought of it what I was going to be in for. I have asked for this and I have been granted what I wanted." I smiled at my friend before weaving myself into his armored arms. "I'll be fine, you know that. I'm a big girl now, I can take care of myself now." I tried to lighten his solemn mood, failing completely.
I sighed quietly as I left his arms. "Until our next meeting Haldir my friend." I cupped his cheek gently in my hand and smiled at him softly before I left. I didn't look back, not wanting to see the pain on his face.

I picked up my travel sack and weapons before I began to make my way to long the path where my steed Asafaith waited for me. I mounted my horse gracefully before commanding him to leave.

As I rode I watched the small birds that flew above the treetops sing their songs. I hummed along to their tune as I let my mind wander. I had not been to Rivendell since my parents passing many years ago, as it was where their funeral was held. Going back was sure to bring back many unpleasant memories...

Okay! So that was the first chapter! What'd you think?!
Rate/Review/Criticise! Do your thing!
Thanks so much for reading! Second chapter coming shortly!

Love Bri! xx