Preface
The light of the rising sun pierced the thick canopy of oaken leaves and lit the earth with a warm glow. Shadows retreated and relinquished their hold on the earth for today at least…except to the north where the ground never saw the sunlight, being in the shadow of the mountain range: Ered Luin, the Blue mountains. It was cold there, not touched by the sunlight it bleached the earth of her warmth and life. At the foot of the mountains it was bare and dark and even if you stepped there at the highest sunlight you were thrown into a nighttime paradise. The few trees that grew there were silver and white, fog always seemed to creep between their trunks, making phantoms and mirages that faded and sprang up somewhere else. The Shadow Forest.
Elsewhere across the wide trees in the heart of the forest one Adriana stirred blinking slightly as she left the path of memories. Her many memories over the years blended and each new day brought something new to offer to the abstract masterpiece of scattered memories that formed the dream that she slipped into each night. Still, it was boring reliving everything and sometimes painful as well. Her mind slammed down a barrier—that was automatic—those memories had no right raising their ethereal voices at her during the waking hours.
Stretching her pale alabaster arms above her she slowly rose from her bed and looked around and listened to the hustle and bustle far below. Many elves were already up—up with the sun and asleep with the moon. That was their custom. Their small city was built in the trees, much like that of their cousins who lived in Lothlorien. They lived a busy life.
Many among them traveled among the mortals and learned many trades, but lately more and more had been going to the sea and leaving Middle Earth. Adria worried some; she wanted at least one grand adventure before going to Gray Haven, one chance to find love, one last chance to actually live.
She looked in the mirror she had, a frivolity really—elves had no desire to be vain and waste away their hours admiring themselves. She looked once in the reflected surface and sighed…her black hair framed her face and made her pale complexion appear unearthly, her startling gray eyes were dark and rimmed with long black lashes; her eye color however appeared to change, dark gray for the most part but a hint of blue, the darkest blue like that of a cloud about to become the fiercest storm. She ran a hand through her crow wing black hair and then pulled it back in a loose ponytail before turning away from the mirror that only ever told the truth.
She was an outcast…different then most of her kinsman. To their fairness she was dark, the midnight sky to their bright stars. Bewitching and wild yes, but so often overlooked by the brightness of her cousins. To their obvious ways she was mysterious…and unconventional too it seemed for she sighed once more and then padded over the smooth wood floors to her chest that contained her clothes, very few dresses…mostly warrior-wear. Yes, Adriana Skye was unconventional.
She gathered to her chest her clothes with one hand and in her other she snagged her belt with her sword still hanging from it, stepping behind a small woven screen of grass she emerged in a simple outfit, though one not normally seen on lady elves. She wore breeches and a tunic, worn and threadbare, but they got the job done. Across her waist wrapped simple silver wire belt and at her side hung a blade.
She walked towards her door and looked around, the ground several yards down and the elves walking busily about appeared small. She paused at the door and grabbed her bow and arrows before she grinned as she looked towards the abyss below. This was exactly the burst of energy that she needed. With a small scream of excitement she jumped and fell through the air, her hair whipping past her and following her like a dark shadow.
Flinging her arms out she nimbly grabbed some vines and began to swing the rest of the way towards the forest floor. Landing with a soft thump she smiled into the eyes of her cousins. Many murmured to themselves but some, her friends, smiled at her. Most everyone accepted her exhilarating sense of life and adventure. They accepted, to a certain extent, the eccentric ways of Adriana. She'd been that way for over 232 decades and she would always remain that way. Her approximate age was 2678 but when you're an elf who's counting?
With a playful bow she sauntered away and disappeared under the trees. Slowly she began to lope through the forest her feet taking her down the many worn paths while her mind wandered. So many years spent on this land and yet… Adriana had yet to have a great adventure.
"It's all that I want really, just one thing to remember this land by, before the ship bears me across the sea; just one." She murmured to herself as she at last came to halt in the middle of a clearing. On one side the trees were warm and sunlit on the other however the mountain's greedy shadowed kept everything in the dark. She closed her eyes and breathed out and then she was dancing her sword her only partner.
Through the trees she weaved herself, the silver of the sword liquid and ethereal, going from light to dark, from dark to light. Parrying and dodging imaginary enemies Adria was in a world of her own until that is her keen elfin ears and sharp eyes saw the shadow coming towards her. She continued to prance around the clearing although excitement was coursing through her. A test, finally!
In a burst of speed she was once again moving around the clearing and disappearing only to reappear in a different spot. Though her sword continued its fluid dance Adria was more prepared and as she moved away again she suddenly stopped her sword poised at the throat of the very frightened elf. The excitement crashed down and she couldn't help the sense of misery as it descended on her, "Hello, Princess Liawing. What brings you here to my humble training clearing?" She swept one hand around the clearing as the other sheathed her sword and then swept her into a hug. "I've missed you! When did you get back?"
Liawing looked around the clearing, over Adria's shoulder, at the many arrows stuck in the trees in whimsical shapes. A star…a moon…a circle, all were precise though and couldn't have been straighter even if the great elf masons themselves had helped her. The center of the clearing was trampled and worn away by the cat-like grace of her sister. She returned the hug with sisterly love.
Lia was a princess though and Adriana was of an unknown heritage. Lia saw Adria as her sister and the reason was simple. Adriana was adopted… by the king and queen themselves. Elves normally didn't act in that way, but one rainy night she was found on the palace doorstep and the Queen could no more turn her away then she could cut out her heart. Some whispered that the rain clouds fury had drifted down to the little elfings eyes, the lightning had given her tongue speed (her sarcasm was renowned by all elves) and the dark night had painted her hair black.
So Adriana had grown up in the palace learning all the court manners and arts at the side of her sister, Lia. It wasn't until her 16th decade that she began to think she was different. Still it had been a good life. She had grown up with a tomboyish heart and had been found, on more than one occasion after ditching her lessons, learning the wood crafts and fighting arts along side the boys. The teacher, always harried and worried about teaching such rough and tumble ways to a girl, could do nothing to stop it—after all who could say no to a Princess?
Adriana had been the body guard of her sister for many years and they remained the closest of friends but eventually the young elf maid had to travel, appeasing the royal expectations by meeting with her cousins to the east in Rivendell, Mirkwood, and Lothlorien. In that time the two had exchanged correspondence and their laughter and wonderment had kept each awake and wondering about the other for long hours into the night. Adria had moved out of the palace much to her father's disapproval. He wanted one of his daughters to stay with him after his beloved's death, she had declined saying that she wanted to test her wings and finally he had relented although he managed to wrangle out of her the promise of weekly dinners with her.
"I've only just returned. Father has sent me to get you, he says we have much to discuss." Adriana tilted her head to the side and looked at her sister with thoughtful eyes. Sensing the truth Adriana turned and quickly drifted around the clearing loosening the arrows from the wood with the help of a small dagger. Lia helped with the tree closest to her and waited for Adria to join her. After the arrows had been transferred back to their rightful positions the two began to walk back towards the city.
"I hope you journey was pleasant?" Lia nodded, "Though Tanlyn certainly can't have more of a personality than me." She teased gently.
Lia smiled sardonically at Adria, "Good heavens if another person even had half of your personality the world would be at its end I'm sure." Adria laughed lightly again.
"Anyway, I had heard through the lovely vine of court gossip that a certain someone," she again flicked her eyes over Lia, "had met the most amazing prince in Mirkwood. The letter that I received certainly seemed to not lack embellishment of his most admiral qualities that had happened over the dinner." At this point in the conversation Lia had colored slightly and was glaring warningly, Adria of course didn't heed said warning, "Tell me when is the wedding and I am invited naturally yes?" Lia shoved her away and Adriana staggered slightly though she was grinning and her eyes shone with mirth. She held her hand up in surrender, "Fine, I bow to your will, my princess. What be your wish?"
Lia sighed again and tucked one strand of flyaway blonde hair back behind her ears, "The prince was disinclined to pursue the conversation much farther than manners allowed. It was a passing crush, and it soon vanished. He is admirable but distant as well preoccupied with something, I'd guess. Arwen, of Rivendell sends her greetings to you."
Adria smiled she had met Arwen awhile back and had become fast friends with the fiery she-elf. They were kindred spirits. It was almost odd how alike they seemed and appeared, "Well, the next time I get sent on a dire mission," Lia beside her snorted and Adriana rolled her eyes, "alright, a royal visit, I'll send her my greetings and punish the prince for behaving in such a trying manner to you. Maybe I'll send Arwen a letter…" Adria trailed off, "I suppose I'll have to move back to the palace now and what was it that father wanted?"
Lia's eyes, for some odd reason, flickered with a hidden emotion before steadying. "Don't bother moving back tonight we'll be late as it is. You still have to get dressed to meet with father, royal manners and all that. I don't know what he wanted just that he said it was urgent and he needed to speak with you." Adriana began to climb the stairs that led up to her small house and then entered the door holding it open for Lia.
Lia entered and crossed over to her wardrobe, business like. She opened it up and began to sort through the random clothes finally emitting a noise that was close to acceptance and holding out a blue gown. "I think that you should wear this." Lia looked around and then heard the sound of water splashing from behind the woven screen, "Adria?"
Adriana shivered as she quickly took the cloth and washed her body. Tipping the rest over her head she yelped out quietly as she began to shiver. Grabbing the towel she laughed out exuberantly as she wrapped it around her. She stuck one pale hand out and was rewarded with a blue gown. "I remember this one, I wore it for Mother's birthday dinner." She smiled fondly and continued with laughter threatening to bubble out of her, "and then Mother made us dance with those elf lords, that were about to propose to us and so win a seat to the throne."
Lia smiled and tapped her head, "I remember that but then for some odd reason they both retracted their offers and left home for awhile. I wonder why…" She trailed off and then continued pointedly, "Let's not forget how you also came home late that night and were out of breath as if you had been shouting or chasing someone."
Slipping the dress over her head she laughed lightly and stepped out from behind the screen, "It was both. Let's go okay?" Lia just shook her head and then they both were off to the royal palace.
Adriana stopped suddenly along the path causing Lia to look back at her in wonderment. Finally Adria turned back around and caught up with Liawing, "It's odd but I seem to feel that I won't be coming back." Lia said nothing and looked away before her sister could catch her expression. Adria continued on oblivious.
Change was stirring in the winds.