Sorry this one is short, but I was on a time crunch. Hope you guys like this start! In the meantime, I'm going to go see BOTFA today!
*Alagos suddenly woke up. For a moment, he thought he was in his bed in the Woodland Realm, safe in the Greenwood. In a few minutes, he would get up and train his blood sister Tauriel.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Alagos was chained to a wall in a dungeon with absolutely no light, so it felt as if Alagos had never opened his eyes. Opening and closing them made no difference about what he was able to see. He could feel something dripping from his wet hair and oozing down his nose. He tasted blood on his lips, and he assumed that that's what was dripping.
In the darkness, he heard two voices from another room. He recognized them as Orcs using the Black Speech in their words.
"What would the Master want with this Elf filth?" The first Orc asked.
"It don't matter. The Master wants to keep him alive. Said something about using him to find what he's looking for," the second Orc said.
"And if this Elf fails to satisfy?"
"Then I will ask him if I get to do the honors of sticking him like a pig!"
"You witless worm, keep quiet about it! You don't want Takhbork to hear you say that."
"Do you think he will actually hear me? That maggoty fool sleeps too deep to hear a fly!"
There was then dead silence followed by loud footsteps. There was then a terrifying squeal, the sound of flesh tearing, and then the sound of something splashing onto the ground. Alagos shivered at what might have happened. Just then he was blinded by a flash of light when the door of the dungeon cell was flung open. Takhbork stood at the door with black Orc blood spattered across his face.
"No, no, Tauriel!" Alagos cried. He thought this was it. He was going to die, and he would never be able to finally tell Tauriel the truth. However Takhbork just simply grinned, revealing missing teeth, with the rest awkwardly slanted or cracked. He slammed the door, leaving Alagos in the cold darkness that continued to consume him more and more and drop him into the void.**
*Arwen Undomniel.
One of the most beautiful Elves to walk on the face of Middle-Earth.
Arwen Undomniel.
She was here in the Greenwood walking alongside her father Elrond. Tauriel couldn't deny in her mind that she was a little bit jealous of the way Arwen looked. She looked far more beautiful than her.
Arwen, Elrond, and Elrond's wife Celebrian were here to be a part of the Feast of Starlight this time. It was the second feast that Tauriel was to be in since she came to the Woodland Realm.
Tauriel knew she should be excited, but it was honestly hard to be. Nothing had been the same since Alagos left. Six months have passed since Alagos's disappearance, and she had heard no word from him during that time. She was beginning to get used to a life without Alagos, but the excruciating questions bouncing around inside the Elf maid's head continued to make her restless and think about Alagos.
Then there was Meleth. Though she had passed away a little over six months ago, her voice still whispered and sometimes shouted inside Tauriel's head. Tauriel still didn't know if they were just tricks from her own conscience, or if they were actually real and Meleth was speaking to her somehow. Sometimes if Tauriel answered Meleth's voice, Meleth would reply.
Fortunately, Tauriel had been able to somewhat drown out Meleth's voice after meeting and becoming good friends with twin siblings Barad and Niniel. Barad had black hair that extended as far down as Legolas's hair, and he had scars on his wrist from deep cuts.
Niniel had hair that a portion of had been violently chopped off at one side, and her eyes sported a fog color. Nevertheless, she was still beautiful and her smile might as well be a sun all on its own because of the way it lifted any spirits around her.
The Feast of Starlight was fantastic just like last time. The music played and the Elves laughed and had a good time together underneath the light of the stars, which shined particularly bright that night. For a few minutes, any thoughts about Alagos and Meleth were gone, replaced by the simple joy of being with others.
Just because Alagos and Meleth were gone didn't mean that Tauriel hadn't been able to make the realm her home. No darkness had trespassed the Woodland Realm since the attack of the Barrow-Wights, and Tauriel and King Thranduil's son Legolas were getting along fine. Tauriel had gained new skills and knowledge regarding combat, but it felt a bit pointless being that there has been no threat to face for quite some time.
When Tauriel wasn't talking to Niniel during the feast, she was staring at Arwen. She wanted so badly to talk to her, say something to her...
But Tauriel is just a lowly Silvan Elf. How can she possibly be worthy to speak to Galadriel's granddaughter?
Just seconds after Tauriel finally pulled her attention away from Arwen, she heard Arwen speak directly behind her.
"My Lady."
Tauriel whirled around to face her, her expression full of shock.
"Oh, Lady Arwen, I-I-forgive me-," she stuttered. Niniel chuckled next to her.
"It's alright. I know you were looking at me. What is it you want to say to me?" Arwen asked.
"I-I-I don't know to be quite honest. I do not feel worthy to speak to you my Lady," Tauriel admitted. Arwen smiled.
"Come. Let us get away from here. Both of you come with me," she said, gesturing Tauriel and Niniel to follow her. Tauriel was of course reluctant at first. She couldn't believe this was happening. This was happening though. This was really happening.
Tauriel and Niniel both followed Arwen away from the feast without drawing any one's attention and escaped from the party.
Tauriel, Niniel, and Arwen eventually came to a large, round pool. The water was completely clear. No murkiness or dirt to be found.
"What is this?" Tauriel asked.
"Look into the pool," Arwen instructed. Tauriel looked at Niniel, who wordlessly shrugged in reply. Tauriel took a step forward and looked down at the pool. Her reflection was not at all what she expected. Her reflection stared back up at her, but it wore a different expression than the one that Tauriel was wearing. Her reflection looked angry. Suddenly, the reflection flashed its teeth, revealing blood smeared across them.
Tauriel yelped in disgust and stumbled backwards.
"What sort of black arts is this?" She asked.
"It's the Pool of Illusion. A source in Middle-Earth where mirages and deceptive illusions are contained. When darkness grows stronger, the illusions contained within will begin to be let out and affect the air in its surroundings," Arwen explained.
"Why are you showing me this?" Tauriel asked.
"To help you see what you must fight against. I know there is something about you that is special. My grandmother knows something about you, but she will not tell me and I can't decide even a guess."
"Will you help me discover why or how I am special," Tauriel asked with hope in her voice. Arwen briefly looked grave.
"No. But I can help you seek purpose in the Greenwood. You have the passion to protect, and protection can be done in many different forms."
"So you will be almost like a teacher for me. I already have Legolas."
"Legolas trains you in combat. Who trains you the art of healing?" Arwen asked.
"Healing?"
"I can teach you. You can learn from me how to heal even the strongest of wounds."
The offer was of course very tempting. A sense of purpose was something that everyone in this world craved for, or at least that's what Tauriel thought. She knew that she wanted her own sense of purpose. She wanted to establish her own position in the Greenwood that was something far greater than just being a simple maid in training. She was tired of feeling weak. She wanted to learn.
But there was just one last thing.
"What will your father think? Won't you go back to Rivendell with him after the Feast?" Tauriel asked.
"I will request my father's permission to stay behind a little while longer, so that you will have the time you need to be trained," Arwen explained.
"Yes, please. I accept your offer. Teach me to be a healer," Tauriel said.**
*When Tauriel and Arwen left, Niniel stayed behind and looked at her own reflection in the pool. What she saw startled her more than Tauriel's reflection startled Tauriel. She took her time to get back to the Feast where she will reunite with Barad.
She sat next to Barad at the table and leaned closer to him to talk to him without being overheard.
"You know that Tauriel deserves to know about us," she said. Barad sighed and put down his goblet of wine. He then looked at the cuts on his wrist.
"Hiding the truth from her does not accomplish anything. We are just as much in the dark as Tauriel is."
"I don't believe Tauriel even knows that Alagos is her brother. Why do you think we should tell her that he is also our father?"
"Because she is family. Families should not keep secrets."
"It is just if it means protecting each other."
"It will tear us apart," Niniel insisted.
"Niniel, my sister, always stirring up conflict when none should be had," Barad sighed. Niniel stood up.
"I know you hate our father, but he is still our father and therefore I will continue to love him," she hissed. Barad didn't answer. He continued to stare into the goblet, moving it around so that the wine drifted in circles.
"Our father may be dead now Niniel. We haven't heard anything from him since he disappeared six months ago."
"I don't believe it. You didn't see what I saw."
"What do you mean?"
"In the Pool of Illusion. I saw our father Alagos..."**
*Alagos was on his knees, staring up at the hateful face of Anton. Anton smirked down at him and slapped his hand down on Alagos's cheek and kept it there. Alagos groaned in pain. Anton's arm began to change. A white-blue mist worked its way down his arm, until his entire arm looked like a ghost's. Anton's face began to grow transparent, until Alagos could see Anton's skull through his flesh.
"Where do you come from?" Anton demanded in a booming voice. Alagos was about to insult his enemy, but something was already taking over his mind and blackening it.
"From the Greenwood near the Misty Mountains," Alagos heard himself say. What had come over him that controlled him to tell the truth?
"Is there a fortress or a stronghold near the Greenwood? Are there any civilizations outside the Woodland Realm?" Anton interrogated. Alagos attempted to bite down on his tongue, but his jaw refused to cooperate.
"Dol Guldur...there's Dol Guldur..." He sputtered.
No! No you fool, no!
Anton let go of him. Alagos fell on his hands and violently coughed.
"Thank you," Anton said. Alagos heard something like a knife being sharpened.
"Now it is time for you to become what you are meant to be," Anton's voice boomed.**
To Be Continued...