*Tariendina, Anaton, Arlena, and Laphaela so far are my own characters. All others belong to Tolkien, unless I state otherwise. And if you see a character that you do not know but I have also not noted in the list, then please email me to ask who that is in case I forgot to put him/her down on my list. Diola lle thank you.
Mirkwood thought it would never sing in celebration during the years that the Last Alliance was off at Mordor, fighting the dark lord Sauron for the free will of the free peoples of Middle-Earth. But on the same day that Isildur took up his father's sword to soon give freedom to the enslaved people, a princess was born to Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. Although Thranduil wasn't there to witness the birth of his firstborn, the elf maids of Mirkwood were there to view the beauty of the first daughter of Thranduil. Her skin, white as cream, and her hair like an abundance of gold.
That night, all who dwelled in Mirkwood at the moment raised their glasses to the young princess. But, strangely, the baby never cried very much, but would mostly stare at the faces of the elves around her, and the beauty of the woods of her home. So the Queen of Mirkwood named her Tariendina, the Silent Princess.
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Nearly three thousand years had passed since the day Sauron was destroyed and the free peoples of Middle-Earth were once again truly free. It was the day of Tariendina's birthday, and there was great happiness in the air. The elves were getting ready for her birthday, whether it would be making cakes and cooking many different foods (there were going to be visitors other than elves that night) or putting up decorations for the party, and then later, the ball.
Tariendina stayed in the kitchens with her youngest sister, Laphaela, baking her special cake that she made on the birthday of ever elf in the forest and on the birthday of any visitor that happened to come. She was teaching Laphaela, once again, how to make it, for Laphaela never stayed long enough to watch and hear all the instructions; preferring to leave after only a few minutes of watching to help the decorators. Even Legolas, Tariendina's oldest brother, though still about 60 years younger, could sit still long enough to watch and listen to the instructions, though he never baked the cake, preferring to help with the set-up of games and activities.
"Laphaela, remember to stir the icing slowly," Tariendina said, watching as Laphaela stirred the icing as fast as she could so she could get outside sooner. Laphaela gave a slight whine and stirred slower, but barely.
"Alright Laphaela, then go outside if you wish. I'll finish the rest of the cake," Tariendina said, wincing as she saw some icing splatter everywhere as Laphaela lost control of the spoon and it flew out of her hands. Laphaela gave her a grateful look and ran outside, leaving Tariendina alone in the oven room, which was full of ovens of different shapes and sizes. Tariendina gave a slight smile as she watched Laphaela rush outside, swing at Legolas with her fist for squirting some water at her, then rush to the field where the ball was to take place. She smiled and finished with the icing and took the cake out of the oven. She finished with the cake's decoration and, with two other elves, carry it to the outside table where the rest of the refreshments where. She washed her hands and then went to her room for the remaining hour before the party was going to start.
Tariendina sat at her table with a quill in her hand, a blank page in her diary in front of her, and started writing while waiting for the celebrations to start.
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Tariendina was having a great time at her party, and it was time for the ball. The elf musicians played their instruments while elves and visiting men and women sang. Tariendina sat at the side, watching as Laphaela danced with one of the Rangers that had visited, and saw Legolas dancing with an elf maiden returning from a trip to the Havens who had cut short her visit just for Tariendina's birthday. Tariendina watched the couples dance, and wished silently that she had a partner. She was beautiful, but didn't have many friends because she was very quiet and usually took company from her siblings or her father's cousin, Arlena. She remembered all her memories with her family, and was soon lost in her thoughts.
"Excuse me." The voice tore Tariendina from her thoughts and she looked up to see a man looking at her. The man smiled.
"Are you Tariendina, the famed Silent Princess of Mirkwood?" The man asked, his eyes looking down at her steadily.
"Yes. And who may you be?" Tariendina answered.
"I am a friend of the Ranger, Strider. My name is Anaton, and I journey around all of Middle-Earth, knowing both the Far East and the West, though my skills in getting around in the West would never match that of Strider."
Tariendina looked at the man. He had reddish-brown hair and a nice smile. Then she noticed his eyes. One was brown, and one was blue. She peered curiously at his eyes, awed at the fact they were of two different colors. This friend of Aragorn (for she knew Strider was Aragorn, just like most of the elves knew) was looking at her steadily, a calmness in his eyes. She was intrigued by the man's tall and thin, though sturdy, form, and his kind face and smile. She gazed at him speechlessly, not knowing what to say.
Anaton noticed her silence and smiled, asking," Lady, will you dance?"
Tariendina was taken back, for she had been rarely asked to dance. She smiled a little and replied, "I would be delighted."
Standing up, she observed that Anaton was taller than herself, and looked to have been, indeed, in the Wild for quite some time. He smiled and took her hand, and they danced silently for a while. Tariendina couldn't say anything for some time, looking down at the ground. But she felt Anaton's gaze the whole time. Finally, she looked up, and asked quietly, "Are you enjoying your time here?"
"Yes, Aragorn told me that he couldn't make it to Mirkwood and wanted me to take a message. I arrived about an hour before and went first to Thranduil to give him the message. Your father asked me if I wanted to stay a while, at least until the celebration was over, and I agreed. I admit I've been watching you all the time I've been here," Anaton replied, his face turning a bit red.
"And what did you see?" Tariendina asked, her voice barely above a whisper. But Anaton heard her question, and smiled.
"I saw a lady far fairer than moon on a cloudless night, an elf maiden more beautiful than the stars, a she-elf who seemed happy on the outside, but yet appears to be sad inside her soul. I saw a princess as quiet as it is told in her name, and now, I can add, as sweet as the nightingale's song."
Tariendina blushed as the elves' song ended. The ball was over, and it was time for her to go back to her room and prepare for the cleanup the next day. She stepped away and she looked up into Anaton's eyes, one blue, one brown, but both looking at her. Then she turned around and began to walk away.
"Princess, I would like to see you again," Anaton said. Tariendina turned around and looked at him again.
"And I you, friend of Aragorn. Perhaps we will tomorrow," Tariendina whispered, knowing Anaton would be able to hear her.
Anaton nodded, and said, " Namaarië farewell."
"Namaarië," Tariendina replied, and then walked away slowly.
Tariendina got to her room and sat down at her desk again, her diary in front of her. She wrote down the party's events in her diary, blew out her candle, and stood next to her window, watching the stars, the moonlight flooding her room.
"…An elf maiden more beautiful than the stars…" Tariendina whispered, repeating the enchanting words that Anaton had said to her just an hour before. "How could anyone, especially me, be more beautiful than the stars?" she thought. "Oh, how I wish I could think of any lines just as lovely as those that Anaton uttered to me tonight, for I have never been that good at words."
Those were the thoughts she fell asleep with that night.
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Tariendina woke that day with feelings of sadness, yet calm, deep in her soul. She walked outside to the Forest River and saw Legolas and his dancing partner from the night before walking together, and felt tears come to eyes that then flowed slowly down her cheeks. How sorrowful it was to feel so lonely, for she knew that Legolas and Laphaela would never be around to be with her forever. She recognized the aloneness that she was already beginning to feel watching Legolas with a companion and knowing also she could never expect Laphaela to be with her forever. Because of this her eyes were pouring tears that she didn't bother to hide. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Anaton gazing at her.
"Why, fair maiden, do these tears fall from those beautiful eyes? Who has pained you, for he or she who ever harms thee will feel the vengeance of my sword?" he said, hands gently brushing away the tears.
"Nothing, Anaton, except I begin to feel a pang of loneliness striking my heart," she replied.
"Then I will stay by your side to rid you of all your loneliness. As long as I live, you will never be short of a companion as long as you wish me by your side."
"Anaton, your words are so beautiful, and should be bestowed on some other worth far more than I."
"My words mean nothing, for words can never describe enough the essence of you beauty both inside and out, nor these feelings I have for you. Tell me, oh princess, if you feel the same, for my heart shall wither if I do not receive answer from you soon."
"Anaton, friend of Aragorn, ranger of the wild, my feelings for you are pure. To have you by my side is a blessing, to have you feel this way about me is the most I can ever ask of Valar, for the knowledge of your feelings can fill my mind more than the knowledge of all the histories of the world."
"Your words humble me, for never has anyone spoken of me in this way. You bring me great joy."
"And you I."
Tariendina gazed at him and saw him looking at her back. Then he put his arms around her, holding her tight as if afraid to let go of her, yet so gentle as if she were made of glass and could break with the slightest pressure. She leaned against him and felt warmth spread around her. She heard him sing words to her softly, and the lines stayed in her mind:
Fairest maiden of all this age
If I were a dwarf you would be
The gold and mithril
That I mine for every day
If I were a hobbit you would be
My sweetest cake, the finest bread
Ever that I treasure
If I were an elf you would be
The richest wine, the loveliest song
I could ever hear or sing
But this is all I am
And I pray I am worth enough
For beside you I am like
A pebble beside a diamond
The song echoed in Tariendina's mind. She felt enchanted by such sweet words and such beautiful notes. Never in her life had she ever felt this way.
"I have to leave you now, Anaton, for my duties in the kitchen are needed. Namaarië, melamin farewell, my love, but I will search for you afterwards," Tariendina whispered.
"And I have to find your father to discuss some matters, so I, too, will need to depart. I will be waiting for you. Namaarië," he replied, and then bent down and kissed her lightly on the forehead. Then he turned and walked away. Tariendina also strolled away from the banks of the river and soon found herself in the kitchen.
*PLEASE REVIEW! I know Tariendina sounds like a Mary-Sue so far…but I promise she is NOT