Chapter 1:
The Time of the Elves


For thousands of years my people have lived peacefully in Middle Earth. Until the Second Age when the dark lord Sauron waged war on all of Middle Earth. The elves fought bravely against the dark lord alongside men, destroying him and achieving victory. The land lived in peace and prosperity, fearing no attacks from the orcs during the night. We rebuilt our homes and forests, creating new lives for ourselves with no darkness to fear.

That is..until a cloud of darkness began to spread it's way over Middle Earth once again in the Third Age. Elves from many cities came to our village, Lindon, to leave their homes for the Undying Lands. My uncle, Gil-galad, made sure to have more than enough ships crafted for our brethren to move on. We greeted them kindly as they entered our village, taking a few days rest from the long travel here. I can't say how many of my cousins I watched leave our shores to new lands. I did not envy them, even with the ever growing darkness, Middle Earth was my home, and I did not wish to leave it.

The time of the elves is over.


I watched another ship, full of my kind, disappear over the horizon to lands I can only dream of. Sitting on the dock, I swirled my toes in the cool water, feeling the fish nip at them every now and again. Lindon was one of very few Elvish cities not yet touched by the ever growing darkness of Mordor. It was only a matter of time before the Great Eye looked upon us, and like so many of my kin, we too would sail our ships to the Undying Lands.

Much to my pleasure, the flaming eye had not yet removed it's gaze from another poor city doomed to face the darkness. My long, dark brown, braid hung over my shoulder, moving slightly with the cool sea air. These shores were my home, and forever they would be. I had no intention to leave.

"Lady Ireth."

I glanced over my shoulder at the elf standing behind me.

"Your uncle asks for your presence." He said.

I nodded my head and pulled my toes out of the water. I stood up, the end of my light blue gown dripping with the salty sea water. My uncle, Gil-galad, became the King of Lindon after my father's passing. With no mother to take care of me, my uncle took me in. He says it was my father's last request before he passed. Though I was just a young she-elf at the time, I still remember my father's smiling face and glowing hazel eyes, which I had inherited. I stepped into my uncle's study, where he sat on his usual chair by the largest window in the room. He was looking over a piece of old parchment, only glancing up when I walked through the open doorway, then turning his gaze back to the parchment.

"You asked for me, my Lord?"

"Yes." He replied.

He set the parchment on his lap, turning his attention to me. I bowed in respect to my uncle, as is custom, for he is my King. Gil-galad raised his hand, letting me stand freely. He rolled up the parchment and set it on top of many others like it on the shelf next to him.

"Our cousins in Rivendell call a meeting for a very important cause." He said, "There is an evil there that needs dealt with."

An evil in Rivendell? What could possibly be there that required a meeting to be held?

"And you intend to go, my Lord?" I asked.

My uncle shook his head, his hands locked behind his back.

"No, my child," He said, "it is you who will attend for the City of Lindon."

I felt the breath escape my lungs. Never has a woman attended the council meetings. It was unheard of and utterly preposterous. My uncle must be going mad to have come up with such an outrageous idea. Though, I have always wondered what went on during those meetings.

"Why me.." I said in a hushed whisper.

My uncle stood by the window, looking out towards the sea. He gestured me over to join him.

"I was given a vision of your future." He began, "Your time on Middle Earth is long from over. Your destiny remains here. To fulfill it, you must travel to Rivendell and attend the meeting in my place."

"But uncle-" I began to protest.

"Ireth," He started, "do not think I am so blind. I have seen you, in the dead of night, practicing with your father's sword. And I must say, with the way you wield that blade, you would have given him a run for his money."

I blushed and looked to the floor. Never have I imagined I was caught in the courtyard. Once before I did ask one of the stable boys to spar with me, but he assured me he wouldn't breath a word of what I was doing. Every night I'd be out there practicing, thinking that I was completely alone.

"I know you can hold your own." My uncle continued, "Elrond will have to accept that I will have you attend in my place."

"Thank you, my Lord." I smiled.

Gil-galad put his hand on my shoulder, a small smile also playing his normally serious features.

"Go, get ready." He said, "You depart tomorrow morning."

"Yes, uncle."

I bowed my head and walked out of the study to my chambers. I kept it well hidden on my face, but inside I was on fire with excitement. Ireth, the first she-elf to ever be apart of the council. It excited me, but also worried me. I'd be the only female there. The lot would be men. What will they think when I arrive, I'm sure it would bring up protest. I shook my head, unwilling to let myself dwell on such thoughts.

Standing in the doorway of my room, I thought back on what Gil-galad had said. Your destiny remains here. What on Middle Earth could my destiny be? I was just a normal she-elf from Lindon, the Land of the Singers. It couldn't be as simple as sitting in a council meeting. I gathered my travel gear together as I went through almost every possibility in my head. My gear included a pair of leather boots, dark green breeches, a green tunic and brown laced corset, a dagger, and my father's sword. I held the sheathed blade in my hands, just staring at it. This sword has seen many battles with him. I gripped it tightly for a moment, then set it on top of my folded clothing. Maybe it will see battles with me as well.

I moved to my balcony, sitting on the bench by the stone rail. I watched the sun set behind the water, glowing many shades of red and orange. If this meeting was as important as I thought it was, this could possibly be the last time I look upon the waters of my city, because come the morning, I'd be setting out on my three week journey to Rivendell.