Author's Note: I understand that the concept of this story is one that has been done again and again, often with rather unpleasant results, but even though this story is AU I have attempted to make it as true to canon and the standards Tolkien set down as possible. This is simply an idea I had- how would the battles of the War of the Ring feel to a woman, an elf, and one who would ultimately choose between her two heritages? She will NOT become a tenth walker, though she will have some interaction with the Fellowship.

AU Note: For the purpose of this story, all children who have mixed human and elven blood are able to choose which path they want to take; in truth, only those born before Earendil sailed to Valinor and those immediately descended from the ones who chose immortality would have the choice, and all others would be mortal.

Any comments are welcome, those with constructive criticism and ideas especially. Thank you!

Disclaimer: Tolkien, Tolkien, and only Tolkien! I simply draw inspiration from his great works.

PROLOGUE: A history

"Calen!" A father looks down at his newborn child, his voice layered with wonderment. "Calen, Maeneth! Green. Her eyes are green. None of my kindred have eyes of this color."

The mother looks up, her own green eyes flashing with mirth at her husband's awed expression. "You must remember, Calithil, that she is not all elf. She will have traits that belong to my people, as well, and I hope that they will not be limited to green eyes!"

The child herself looks up at her parents with wide green eyes, taking in all of the world.

- - -

Calithil of Lothlorien, the son of Galadriel and Celeborn, was what some would call a 'late bloomer'. His older and only sister, Celebrian, had married Elrond of Imladris and produced three beautiful children many seasons ago. Calithil remained steadily alone, and though he saw no harm in this, a feeling of longing and expectancy began to mark his thoughts.

He made trips to see his beloved sister and her family as often as he could, and these trips remained uneventful until one night in the year 2334 of the third age, by the reckoning of Men. This night, as Calithil and his company traced a familiar path down a road in Rivendell leading to the Last Homely House, he saw her.

She was clothed in a simple green dress, her long, dark hair gathered in a plait down her back. Two other women acompanied her on what seemed to be a simple walk through the forest, but Calithil had eyes only for her. Passing the reins of his horse to a member of his company he walked towards the woman, oblivious to all else.

Maeneth of the Dunedain was beautiful in terms of mortal beauty, the noble traits of her house expressing themselves once more. Her people were scattered across the plains of the North-kingdom, the only remnants of a noble house of kings. She was a descendant of Arvedui, the last king of Arnor, and Elrond of Rivendell sheltered the members of her family in his home. Maeneth had a great appreciation for growing things, and walks through Rivendell's forests were a common activity for her and her closest friends. One of these walks would change her life forever.

She saw Calithil after he had left his horse and his company, and was making his way down the slope of the forest to her and her friends. The look on his face was one of awe, and her friends later told Maeneth that her face was a fine match for his. The pair locked eyes, deep grey with lively green, and from that second on Calithil knew he had found the only woman he could ever come to love.

He stayed in Imladris for five years, a longer time than ever before. Few knew of the true reasons behind this delay, but as he began to take frequent walks in the forest, seemingly alone, his sister began to suspect. She questioned Maeneth, who was often found missing at the same time as Calithil, and the woman confessed the growing love of the couple. Celebrian did not fully understand her brother's choice, but she told him she would support him, as would Elrond and the rest of his household.

Calithil asked the father of Maeneth for her hand, and he, though shocked at the thought of his only daughter marrying one of the Eldar, consented. Calithil desired the approval of his own parents, however, and so in the year 2339 he returned to Lorien without Maeneth. Galadriel and Celeborn were shocked and greatly saddened by the news their son brought. Galadriel told him that he and Maeneth must wait for several human years before continuing with their plans to marry, as she was unsure whether or not her son was serious. They lived apart until 2344, when Celeborn, after consulting with his wife and her mirror, consented to let the two marry.

Calithil brought Maeneth to his Lorien home and after an engagement of a year, they married in a ceremony under the stars in Lothlorien. The next few years passed in bliss, until 2355, when their first an only child was born. They called her Calenis, Calenis Aglariel, and she resembled any elf-child with her tufts of silvery hair common to those of Telerin descent.

When Calenis was 65, close to reaching full maturity, her aging mother decided that she missed her birthplace and the home of her family, Imladris. The family relocated, one last time, for only nine years later Maeneth died a peaceful death. Calenis took to spending time with her aunt's husband, Elrond, who had lost a brother to mortality and who could appreciate her grief. Calithil, however, remained unresponsive to all efforts by his sister and brother-in-law to console him. Only after her death did he understand the grief he had brought upon himself- while Maeneth could pass beyond the realms of the world, he must remain in its bounds until the ending of time as he knew it.

Soon after, Calithil and his young daughter returned to Lorien, but even Galadriel could not offer him any more peace than his family in Imladris. In 2442, after a sorrowful farewell, Calithil took a ship to Valinor, leaving Calenis to the care of Galadriel and Celeborn. She understood her father's grief better than many others, for she had lost her mother and he his wife, but her heart was still tied to Middle-Earth, for she was also part of the world of Men. So Calenis lived, in Lothlorien beneath the golden leaves, learning poetry and music and archery, as well as the history of her people, all things common to the Eldar.

In 2793 war broke out between the dwarves and the orcs of Moria. Lorien, whose borders lay dangerously close to the Eastern Gate of the old realm of Durin, experienced a dire shortage of marchwardens and defenders. Many females, Calenis included, joined the effort. She was placed on one of the less dangerous areas while the skilled wardens from the area relocated to the western and northern borders.

In the year 3005 Calenis, like her mother before her, took a long visit to Imladris. She had been feeling restless, and in Rivendell she found new people and new callings to occupy her. Calenis, as her cousins on her father's side before her, took up some Ranger work. In 3018 she, along with Aragorn- a cousins of hers through her mother's family- and several other Rangers took a trip to Bree to watch for four hobbits carrying a burden beyond measure.