Chapter 1
The Long and Winding Road
Fio looked from behind the cover of the tree where she crouched hiding out of sight of mortal eyes. Her dark brown hair laid like dry brush on her head, and fell about her face in a primitive fashion. Her fair face was dirty and a wee bit scratched, her lips were dry and cracked from days without water. About her shoulders hung a green-gray cloak clasped together with a brooch from Mirkwood, and counseled underneath, was a light blue, elven dress. Once Regal and exqsite, it was now torn and soiled from days and nights hiding in deep unseen places, and on her side hung a mithril dagger with a silver and gold hilt, in a green and black leather sheath. Her hand now laid at rest on her dagger as she prepared to move, her hand was, as her lips, dry and lacked of moisture, and dry blood lay crusted on her knuckles.
Fio gazed out again, still seeing no sign of danger with her vivid green elven eyes, so she stood and prepared to leave the cover of the trees in Fangorn. She who had once stood tall and proud now stood slumped over and hollow, her body was weary and her mind drifted in and out of the conscious world. She had traveled far from her home in Blackwood, which bordered the north-east side of Mirkwood, and now going back was not an option. She was in exile, not yet able to claim the thrown to which she was heir, not after her parents were killed. The memory of their deaths still clung to her like a bitter frost of winter, she grew to hate all else in this world, even the creatures that had, at one time, meant the most to her. Even other elves.
Once more she looked around, then slowly and wearily she stepped into the open. The sunlight stung her eyes, and she raised a hand to shielded her eyes from her poisonous rays. It had been far too long sense Fio had breathed the free air, now she drew a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.
'Rohan. Home to the people of the Mark.' She looked around again, she felt uneasy, 'I must not be discovered by the Rohirrim.'
The withered elf maiden began to walk across the plain, although still not sure to where she was headed, just following the direction of her feet. After a while she turned and looked back at the fading line of trees that was the edge of Fangorn forest, Fio now wished that she was still in the cover of it's moss hooded trees. It was too late now. To go back was to risk being caught, but to move on was also to risk being captured. It was a one way road that seemed to ever go on, and ne'er come to an end.
After two days and nights she reached the edge of Rohan and began to pass into the land of Gondor. The land seemed to welcome her less at each step past its borders. It was a land dark in the sense that it seemed a great grief ahead of it, and the land knew of it's coming. Fiothiel had felt it too, the threat of a fast approaching shadow, and none could escape its wrath, save thoughs who were truly virtuous.
In not but a days time she traveled farther than she had imagined, Fio was now reaching the Pellenor fields. Her heart began to feel heavy and each step daunted her, her shadow weighed down on her and the sun caused sweat to form across her brow. Fio set foot onto the Pellenor, she now became aware of her great hunger and thirst. She slowly looked around, eye lids heavy and body aching, but still she saw no sign of life, save the great stone city of Gondor about a mile off. She reached the center of the field and looking towards the city and then to the lands in the opposite direction, she turned and walked towards the unknown. Fio had not encountered anyone on this path so far, nor did she wish to, especially Men.
Fio began to walk in the direction of North, but as she did so sharp pain ran through her left shoulder, and with a cry she fell to her knees. From behind she could hear foot steps coming closer, but she no longer had the strength to move, all she could do was kneel there in pain, her body swaying and her eyes drifting. Then as the footsteps stopped behind her another sharp pain came from the back of her head and she was hit with the hilt of a sword. The blow knocked her to the ground and for a few seconds she lay face down in the grass, and then all went black.
END OF CHAPTER 1
The Long and Winding Road
Fio looked from behind the cover of the tree where she crouched hiding out of sight of mortal eyes. Her dark brown hair laid like dry brush on her head, and fell about her face in a primitive fashion. Her fair face was dirty and a wee bit scratched, her lips were dry and cracked from days without water. About her shoulders hung a green-gray cloak clasped together with a brooch from Mirkwood, and counseled underneath, was a light blue, elven dress. Once Regal and exqsite, it was now torn and soiled from days and nights hiding in deep unseen places, and on her side hung a mithril dagger with a silver and gold hilt, in a green and black leather sheath. Her hand now laid at rest on her dagger as she prepared to move, her hand was, as her lips, dry and lacked of moisture, and dry blood lay crusted on her knuckles.
Fio gazed out again, still seeing no sign of danger with her vivid green elven eyes, so she stood and prepared to leave the cover of the trees in Fangorn. She who had once stood tall and proud now stood slumped over and hollow, her body was weary and her mind drifted in and out of the conscious world. She had traveled far from her home in Blackwood, which bordered the north-east side of Mirkwood, and now going back was not an option. She was in exile, not yet able to claim the thrown to which she was heir, not after her parents were killed. The memory of their deaths still clung to her like a bitter frost of winter, she grew to hate all else in this world, even the creatures that had, at one time, meant the most to her. Even other elves.
Once more she looked around, then slowly and wearily she stepped into the open. The sunlight stung her eyes, and she raised a hand to shielded her eyes from her poisonous rays. It had been far too long sense Fio had breathed the free air, now she drew a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.
'Rohan. Home to the people of the Mark.' She looked around again, she felt uneasy, 'I must not be discovered by the Rohirrim.'
The withered elf maiden began to walk across the plain, although still not sure to where she was headed, just following the direction of her feet. After a while she turned and looked back at the fading line of trees that was the edge of Fangorn forest, Fio now wished that she was still in the cover of it's moss hooded trees. It was too late now. To go back was to risk being caught, but to move on was also to risk being captured. It was a one way road that seemed to ever go on, and ne'er come to an end.
After two days and nights she reached the edge of Rohan and began to pass into the land of Gondor. The land seemed to welcome her less at each step past its borders. It was a land dark in the sense that it seemed a great grief ahead of it, and the land knew of it's coming. Fiothiel had felt it too, the threat of a fast approaching shadow, and none could escape its wrath, save thoughs who were truly virtuous.
In not but a days time she traveled farther than she had imagined, Fio was now reaching the Pellenor fields. Her heart began to feel heavy and each step daunted her, her shadow weighed down on her and the sun caused sweat to form across her brow. Fio set foot onto the Pellenor, she now became aware of her great hunger and thirst. She slowly looked around, eye lids heavy and body aching, but still she saw no sign of life, save the great stone city of Gondor about a mile off. She reached the center of the field and looking towards the city and then to the lands in the opposite direction, she turned and walked towards the unknown. Fio had not encountered anyone on this path so far, nor did she wish to, especially Men.
Fio began to walk in the direction of North, but as she did so sharp pain ran through her left shoulder, and with a cry she fell to her knees. From behind she could hear foot steps coming closer, but she no longer had the strength to move, all she could do was kneel there in pain, her body swaying and her eyes drifting. Then as the footsteps stopped behind her another sharp pain came from the back of her head and she was hit with the hilt of a sword. The blow knocked her to the ground and for a few seconds she lay face down in the grass, and then all went black.
END OF CHAPTER 1
