All characters are tolkien's. I am merely borrowing them for a while to
satisfy a whim, the eyrien's are my own characters whom I own and will not
share with anyone. Please read and review. I have used some scenes of the
book but other things are mine from my own imagination. So sue me if you
don't like the way it goes. It is a free world.
The Realm
Aragorn looked above him, the sky was black, and the stars seem to blink at him in wonder. The forest was quiet except for the odd song from the frogs that sat near the river. He kneeled on the forest floor and put his weapons beside a tree trunk, then settled himself down for the night; keeping his sword by his side should he need it.
Yes, the night was quiet, and he had been keeping an eye on the mist. It was like a wall at the edge of the forest, and it seemed impenetrable. It was white and it glowed. Or at least to him it did. He couldn't see through it at all. And the mist was always there, by day and by night. He remembered the tales of old, the ones parents told their children; he also remembered how Elrond had warned him against going near the mists. That people had disappeared whilst traveling near it. Then one day a tale came to him of strange creatures that lived within it, how they only came out at night and were never seen by immortal or mortal beings, they just existed. That was all they knew. Growing up and traveling as a ranger he had come and gone past it and nothing had ever happened. He had no reason to fear it, if creatures lived within it, then they could be killed - they were of flesh and blood after all. Then he was reminded for some reason of Elen, it seemed such a long time ago now, since he had seen her, since that last time, when he had given her part of his essence as she had called it, she had come from this place, although she had hardly named it for fear that people would immediately outcast her and she would have to fight twice as hard to accomplish what she had set out to do.
he had loved her then, a love different from what he felt for Arwen. With that in thought, he fought the need for sleep and it won and took him in to her dreamy world where everything was surreal.
2 figures came out of that mist. And they made their way silently towards him. And now they stood in front of him. Watching him. Observing him. 2 pairs of eyes, quick and assessing on him and all the while watching their surroundings. "He is human". One said to the other in telepathy. "And he is handsome to be human". The other replied. "Lucien, you always seem to judge people by their appearances". The companion said to the other. "I didn't judge you by yours my friend; he reminds me of someone my mother once gave me an image about, tell me should we waken him?" Lucien asked.
"Wake him if you will but he will attack us". Was the reply.
"really Ebony, you hold no trust in other races, what do you think his eye color will be?"
"Brown as the other one had". Ebony told her friend. "I say blue, as the sky on a beautiful day". Lucien replied. "What is the bet?" ebony asked. It was rare to see two of these kinds in a jovial mood for these were hard times indeed, and their humor was all but gone. "and what of the other?". Ebony asked her. She looked at her sharply in response.
"the other shall not be named my friend, he should not have happened upon us as he did, but he was wounded and there was naught else I could do but save him". Lucien told her. "against the Elders wishes". Was the reply.
"the elders wish against everything, their ways are old and ancient, rumors are growing and there is nothing I can do to stop it, still, we have now this one to deal with, wake him ebony". Her friend arched an eyebrow at her. Then did as she was bid and nudged the human awake.
Aragorn had been asleep but now he was awake, and listening to these two strange creatures watch and observe him, he could not see their faces for they were cloaked. He had slowly wrapped his hand around his sword so slowly that they hadn't noticed.
"I bet you your quiver full of arrows". Lucien said. She spoke in the common tongue and aloud. So they were elves Aragorn surmised. Ebony would of laughed if she had not known the danger they were truly in. her friend now lay on her back with the strangers blade at her throat. Before she could draw her own. Lucien's voice broke through the silence. The stranger had slipped his leg and taken her down by taking her footing out from under her. "He is mine". She flipped in a strange way and had Aragorn on his back. Her blade at his throat. "He has blue eyes ebony, you owe me". Lucien looked down at Aragorn.
"What is your name stranger, that you invade our realm?" she asked him softly. To him her voice was soft like a gentle breeze on a summer day. "My name is Aragorn, I hail from Rivendell". He answered. No answer came from that and Lucien would have been happy to end his life there and then, since he had not answered her question fully. "Do you know where you are ranger?" she asked. "I know not, I fought with orcs and ran into this dense forest to loose them". He told her. "He calls our forest dense". Ebony told her softly. Lucien smiled, it was funny. She wondered what old Gandalf would say if he had heard that their forest had been called dense. 'You insult us by saying that our home is dense, and if you really knew what race we were you would not be so cocky ranger". Ebony told Aragorn peering over her companions shoulder at him. "You have my name; I have yet to hear yours'. He told them. "Tell me Aragorn do you believe in the realm of the mists?" Lucien asked him. No answer to her question.
'For that is where you are, and you are quite safe from orcs and anything evil that may roam your lands". Lucien told him. She stood up and let him get himself up. "I am ebony". Her friend introduced herself. Aragorn looked at the other. "You wish to know my name ranger?" Lucien asked him. "That I do maiden, for I have to thank you you did not slit my throat as any elf would be proud to do to someone who invades their lands". "We are not elves ranger, do not confuse us as such, I am Lucien, and Gandalf awaits you inside, follow us". They turned and let him closer to the mists. When they disappeared through it, he feared he would fall off a cliff or something. "Are you afraid ranger?" she called to him from the other side. He stepped through and breathed in. on the other side there was a city, of twinkling lights and stairways that wound themselves around the tree trunks. It reminded him of Lorien. "This is not Lorien Aragorn; we are older than the elves themselves". Ebony told him. He looked at her to question how she knew that was what he was thinking. "They are telepaths Aragorn". An old masculine voice told him. He turned to come face to face with Gandalf the Grey. "And welcome to the Realm of The Mists, you heard the stories when you were growing up". Gandalf told him. Aragorn noted that the two maidens were still within hearing distance of them. "I heard stories, how creatures lived here and killed all who dared pass or walk in to the mists'. Aragorn answered. Ebony snickered. Gandalf gave her an angry glare. "Do not be angry old man, he called our forest dense, he insults us at every chance he gets". Ebony told Gandalf. The old wizard huffed and turned back to the ranger.
"Dense?" he asked.
"The only word that came to mind, I was very nearly killed at that point". Aragorn asked. "Far from it, we do not kill unless threatened, and at that point ranger you did have me on my back on the dense forest floor". Lucien told him, he spun around, where had she come from? One minute she was with Ebony and the next behind him. Gandalf would have laughed. Aragorn and Lucien, what a match of minds and emotions for they were alike yet so different. He cleared his throat. "Lucien, do you not have anything to do?" Gandalf asked her, Lucien dragged her eyes from Aragorn's and looked at him. "I could hunt some orc, but I only cleaned my arrows this morning, I am hesitant to dirty them again, unless I have a mortal to hunt?" she asked sweetly. Then she moved off before an answer could be made.
"Lovely maiden". Aragorn commented to Gandalf. "She is sweet and very protective of her people, tell me how is Rivendell?" Gandalf asked him changing the subject. "Hale, preparing to leave these shores, tell me Gandalf, are these not elves?" Aragorn asked him. "No, not elves, they are a race older than the elves, and at times at odds with them". "Really? I didn't know the elves had enemies, apart from the obvious ones'. Aragorn told him. "you mean dwarves, funny enough this race does not get on with dwarves either, and mortals on so and so, many were killed by humans in the earlier days, and now they just stay away from them, they were sought out and killed, then they gathered the mists and have lived as such for over 10,000 years, in peace, but do not underestimate them, if you think elves are deadly when crossed, then you have seen nothing". Gandalf warned him. Aragorn nodded and looked around him. "these are Elen's people, she told me of them, when we spent one night underneath the stars" Gandalf looked at him sharply. "yes they are her people, their true form noone knows save the istari, I wonder if anyone would accept them if they did see them that way". Aragorn looked confused at that.
"human form isn't it?, elen told me that they were mostly energy".
"when they reach a higher existence yes, but their true race is as physical as you and any elf". Gandalf explained. "Is there another exit?" Aragorn asked. "And why would you ask that?" Aragorn shrugged. "It seems obvious, a good plan I mean, go in and let people think your dead, but come out in another way and no one will know". "Aragorn, no one has ever entered this realm unless it was to specifically kill this race". Gandalf advised him before moving off and motioning for Aragorn to follow him. "they spoke of another with brown eyes Gandalf, who was it that they spoke of?" "the one they spoke of was Faramir, he too traveled through here on his way back to Gondor, he was on this side searching for his brother, suffice it to say that he had an easier time of it than you did" "you mean they did not try to kill him?" "if I remember correctly, it was you that brought Lucien down, not the other way around". "Tell me of Lucien". Aragorn asked. Quickly changing the subject, smart boy. "She is the captain of the guard, no royalty if that is what you are thinking, she has talents, as many did before her, and she is deadly with the mind as well with the sword and arrows, why do you ask of her?" Aragorn shrugged in reply. "she reminds me of Elen".Gandalf sighed - there were things he had to tell Aragorn about Lucien, but now was not the time. Lucien had a mission, she had to travel to Rohan with her army to fight a war. "Aragorn many things have to happen before that". "What do you mean?" "You will know in good time, but one piece of advice I do give you, leave Lucien in peace, her guard are very protective of her". "I did not see her guard in the forest". He argued.
"That's right you didn't". Gandalf answered with a knowing smile on his face. "If they do not wish to be seen they won't be, trust me, they were there, the only reason they didn't kill you when you attacked her was because they knew that I had asked them to bring you here". That shut Aragorn up. But it gave him much to think of.
Gandalf introduced him to the rulers of the realm, and they sat in council. The meeting was held under the night sky, in a glade, and guards circled the glade keeping watch. Aragorn knew he was being watched. And as he lifted his head up, he met her eyes.
The next day he left the realm with Gandalf as his companion. Lucien and another guard kept them company to their gates. "good journey old man, I see the path clear for you until you reach Rohan, be wary of the white one". Lucien told him. "Saruman up to his old tricks again?" Gandalf asked. 'it has already begun". Lucien answered. She looked at Aragorn. "good journey to you ranger, I do not know if we will meet again, and if we do, I hope it is in better circumstances". "I thank you for your hospitality maiden, and I do hope to see you again, you will be in my thoughts". He answered softly. The ranger and wizard walked through the gates and then the mists closed up behind them, sealing the way back in from prying eyes.
************************************************************************
Lucien stayed there watching them, unbeknownst to them, she changed back into her true form and wrapped her great white wings around her. They were like the wings of a angel, but of the same membrane as used by bats. "he is someone to you isn't he?" a masculine voice asked of her.
"if the image my mother gave me is correct, he is someone whom I must honor and protect". She sighed and looked at him.
"dorian, we ride at dawn to Rohan, ensure everything is ready".
"as you wish my lady". He bowed slightly and walked away, she watched him leave, his great black wings open to catch the night wind.
*************************************************************************** "Your mind is on her Aragorn, but it is not to be, do not forget whom you are betrothed to". Gandalf reminded him.
"I do not see her as thus old man, she reminds me of Elen, of something I once beheld so pure and beautiful, within her I saw the world as I would like it to be". Aragorn answered.
"Lucien's path will cross with yours, but she will belong to another, another mortal, in time you will understand why Lucien reminds you of Elen". Gandalf concluded and they traveled on in silence.
The Realm
Aragorn looked above him, the sky was black, and the stars seem to blink at him in wonder. The forest was quiet except for the odd song from the frogs that sat near the river. He kneeled on the forest floor and put his weapons beside a tree trunk, then settled himself down for the night; keeping his sword by his side should he need it.
Yes, the night was quiet, and he had been keeping an eye on the mist. It was like a wall at the edge of the forest, and it seemed impenetrable. It was white and it glowed. Or at least to him it did. He couldn't see through it at all. And the mist was always there, by day and by night. He remembered the tales of old, the ones parents told their children; he also remembered how Elrond had warned him against going near the mists. That people had disappeared whilst traveling near it. Then one day a tale came to him of strange creatures that lived within it, how they only came out at night and were never seen by immortal or mortal beings, they just existed. That was all they knew. Growing up and traveling as a ranger he had come and gone past it and nothing had ever happened. He had no reason to fear it, if creatures lived within it, then they could be killed - they were of flesh and blood after all. Then he was reminded for some reason of Elen, it seemed such a long time ago now, since he had seen her, since that last time, when he had given her part of his essence as she had called it, she had come from this place, although she had hardly named it for fear that people would immediately outcast her and she would have to fight twice as hard to accomplish what she had set out to do.
he had loved her then, a love different from what he felt for Arwen. With that in thought, he fought the need for sleep and it won and took him in to her dreamy world where everything was surreal.
2 figures came out of that mist. And they made their way silently towards him. And now they stood in front of him. Watching him. Observing him. 2 pairs of eyes, quick and assessing on him and all the while watching their surroundings. "He is human". One said to the other in telepathy. "And he is handsome to be human". The other replied. "Lucien, you always seem to judge people by their appearances". The companion said to the other. "I didn't judge you by yours my friend; he reminds me of someone my mother once gave me an image about, tell me should we waken him?" Lucien asked.
"Wake him if you will but he will attack us". Was the reply.
"really Ebony, you hold no trust in other races, what do you think his eye color will be?"
"Brown as the other one had". Ebony told her friend. "I say blue, as the sky on a beautiful day". Lucien replied. "What is the bet?" ebony asked. It was rare to see two of these kinds in a jovial mood for these were hard times indeed, and their humor was all but gone. "and what of the other?". Ebony asked her. She looked at her sharply in response.
"the other shall not be named my friend, he should not have happened upon us as he did, but he was wounded and there was naught else I could do but save him". Lucien told her. "against the Elders wishes". Was the reply.
"the elders wish against everything, their ways are old and ancient, rumors are growing and there is nothing I can do to stop it, still, we have now this one to deal with, wake him ebony". Her friend arched an eyebrow at her. Then did as she was bid and nudged the human awake.
Aragorn had been asleep but now he was awake, and listening to these two strange creatures watch and observe him, he could not see their faces for they were cloaked. He had slowly wrapped his hand around his sword so slowly that they hadn't noticed.
"I bet you your quiver full of arrows". Lucien said. She spoke in the common tongue and aloud. So they were elves Aragorn surmised. Ebony would of laughed if she had not known the danger they were truly in. her friend now lay on her back with the strangers blade at her throat. Before she could draw her own. Lucien's voice broke through the silence. The stranger had slipped his leg and taken her down by taking her footing out from under her. "He is mine". She flipped in a strange way and had Aragorn on his back. Her blade at his throat. "He has blue eyes ebony, you owe me". Lucien looked down at Aragorn.
"What is your name stranger, that you invade our realm?" she asked him softly. To him her voice was soft like a gentle breeze on a summer day. "My name is Aragorn, I hail from Rivendell". He answered. No answer came from that and Lucien would have been happy to end his life there and then, since he had not answered her question fully. "Do you know where you are ranger?" she asked. "I know not, I fought with orcs and ran into this dense forest to loose them". He told her. "He calls our forest dense". Ebony told her softly. Lucien smiled, it was funny. She wondered what old Gandalf would say if he had heard that their forest had been called dense. 'You insult us by saying that our home is dense, and if you really knew what race we were you would not be so cocky ranger". Ebony told Aragorn peering over her companions shoulder at him. "You have my name; I have yet to hear yours'. He told them. "Tell me Aragorn do you believe in the realm of the mists?" Lucien asked him. No answer to her question.
'For that is where you are, and you are quite safe from orcs and anything evil that may roam your lands". Lucien told him. She stood up and let him get himself up. "I am ebony". Her friend introduced herself. Aragorn looked at the other. "You wish to know my name ranger?" Lucien asked him. "That I do maiden, for I have to thank you you did not slit my throat as any elf would be proud to do to someone who invades their lands". "We are not elves ranger, do not confuse us as such, I am Lucien, and Gandalf awaits you inside, follow us". They turned and let him closer to the mists. When they disappeared through it, he feared he would fall off a cliff or something. "Are you afraid ranger?" she called to him from the other side. He stepped through and breathed in. on the other side there was a city, of twinkling lights and stairways that wound themselves around the tree trunks. It reminded him of Lorien. "This is not Lorien Aragorn; we are older than the elves themselves". Ebony told him. He looked at her to question how she knew that was what he was thinking. "They are telepaths Aragorn". An old masculine voice told him. He turned to come face to face with Gandalf the Grey. "And welcome to the Realm of The Mists, you heard the stories when you were growing up". Gandalf told him. Aragorn noted that the two maidens were still within hearing distance of them. "I heard stories, how creatures lived here and killed all who dared pass or walk in to the mists'. Aragorn answered. Ebony snickered. Gandalf gave her an angry glare. "Do not be angry old man, he called our forest dense, he insults us at every chance he gets". Ebony told Gandalf. The old wizard huffed and turned back to the ranger.
"Dense?" he asked.
"The only word that came to mind, I was very nearly killed at that point". Aragorn asked. "Far from it, we do not kill unless threatened, and at that point ranger you did have me on my back on the dense forest floor". Lucien told him, he spun around, where had she come from? One minute she was with Ebony and the next behind him. Gandalf would have laughed. Aragorn and Lucien, what a match of minds and emotions for they were alike yet so different. He cleared his throat. "Lucien, do you not have anything to do?" Gandalf asked her, Lucien dragged her eyes from Aragorn's and looked at him. "I could hunt some orc, but I only cleaned my arrows this morning, I am hesitant to dirty them again, unless I have a mortal to hunt?" she asked sweetly. Then she moved off before an answer could be made.
"Lovely maiden". Aragorn commented to Gandalf. "She is sweet and very protective of her people, tell me how is Rivendell?" Gandalf asked him changing the subject. "Hale, preparing to leave these shores, tell me Gandalf, are these not elves?" Aragorn asked him. "No, not elves, they are a race older than the elves, and at times at odds with them". "Really? I didn't know the elves had enemies, apart from the obvious ones'. Aragorn told him. "you mean dwarves, funny enough this race does not get on with dwarves either, and mortals on so and so, many were killed by humans in the earlier days, and now they just stay away from them, they were sought out and killed, then they gathered the mists and have lived as such for over 10,000 years, in peace, but do not underestimate them, if you think elves are deadly when crossed, then you have seen nothing". Gandalf warned him. Aragorn nodded and looked around him. "these are Elen's people, she told me of them, when we spent one night underneath the stars" Gandalf looked at him sharply. "yes they are her people, their true form noone knows save the istari, I wonder if anyone would accept them if they did see them that way". Aragorn looked confused at that.
"human form isn't it?, elen told me that they were mostly energy".
"when they reach a higher existence yes, but their true race is as physical as you and any elf". Gandalf explained. "Is there another exit?" Aragorn asked. "And why would you ask that?" Aragorn shrugged. "It seems obvious, a good plan I mean, go in and let people think your dead, but come out in another way and no one will know". "Aragorn, no one has ever entered this realm unless it was to specifically kill this race". Gandalf advised him before moving off and motioning for Aragorn to follow him. "they spoke of another with brown eyes Gandalf, who was it that they spoke of?" "the one they spoke of was Faramir, he too traveled through here on his way back to Gondor, he was on this side searching for his brother, suffice it to say that he had an easier time of it than you did" "you mean they did not try to kill him?" "if I remember correctly, it was you that brought Lucien down, not the other way around". "Tell me of Lucien". Aragorn asked. Quickly changing the subject, smart boy. "She is the captain of the guard, no royalty if that is what you are thinking, she has talents, as many did before her, and she is deadly with the mind as well with the sword and arrows, why do you ask of her?" Aragorn shrugged in reply. "she reminds me of Elen".Gandalf sighed - there were things he had to tell Aragorn about Lucien, but now was not the time. Lucien had a mission, she had to travel to Rohan with her army to fight a war. "Aragorn many things have to happen before that". "What do you mean?" "You will know in good time, but one piece of advice I do give you, leave Lucien in peace, her guard are very protective of her". "I did not see her guard in the forest". He argued.
"That's right you didn't". Gandalf answered with a knowing smile on his face. "If they do not wish to be seen they won't be, trust me, they were there, the only reason they didn't kill you when you attacked her was because they knew that I had asked them to bring you here". That shut Aragorn up. But it gave him much to think of.
Gandalf introduced him to the rulers of the realm, and they sat in council. The meeting was held under the night sky, in a glade, and guards circled the glade keeping watch. Aragorn knew he was being watched. And as he lifted his head up, he met her eyes.
The next day he left the realm with Gandalf as his companion. Lucien and another guard kept them company to their gates. "good journey old man, I see the path clear for you until you reach Rohan, be wary of the white one". Lucien told him. "Saruman up to his old tricks again?" Gandalf asked. 'it has already begun". Lucien answered. She looked at Aragorn. "good journey to you ranger, I do not know if we will meet again, and if we do, I hope it is in better circumstances". "I thank you for your hospitality maiden, and I do hope to see you again, you will be in my thoughts". He answered softly. The ranger and wizard walked through the gates and then the mists closed up behind them, sealing the way back in from prying eyes.
************************************************************************
Lucien stayed there watching them, unbeknownst to them, she changed back into her true form and wrapped her great white wings around her. They were like the wings of a angel, but of the same membrane as used by bats. "he is someone to you isn't he?" a masculine voice asked of her.
"if the image my mother gave me is correct, he is someone whom I must honor and protect". She sighed and looked at him.
"dorian, we ride at dawn to Rohan, ensure everything is ready".
"as you wish my lady". He bowed slightly and walked away, she watched him leave, his great black wings open to catch the night wind.
*************************************************************************** "Your mind is on her Aragorn, but it is not to be, do not forget whom you are betrothed to". Gandalf reminded him.
"I do not see her as thus old man, she reminds me of Elen, of something I once beheld so pure and beautiful, within her I saw the world as I would like it to be". Aragorn answered.
"Lucien's path will cross with yours, but she will belong to another, another mortal, in time you will understand why Lucien reminds you of Elen". Gandalf concluded and they traveled on in silence.