A great sorrow washed over the forest of Lothlorien, the wife of lord Caladon had passed away right after the birth of their daughter Aurae.
Caladon being stricken with grief of loosing his only love, he passed the throne of Lothlorien to his little brother Celeborn and his wife Galadriel.
"Lorien needs both her King and Queen, and I have nor the will nor the heart to find another queen" Caladon said to Celeborn, the night he decided to leave.
"Therefore I will take my daughter with me, and leave woods of Lothlorien to you. There is nothing but painful memories for me here."
"Where will you go from here? Dear brother?"
"I'll make haste for Rivendell, after that I do not know. I will go wherever the road carries me."
"But your daughter Caladon, she's only a few days old! How can someone so fragile handle travelling by horse? " Galadriel cried, while cradling little Aurae.
"I will keep her safe, Galadriel. Do not worry" Caladon looked weary and sighed before carefully choosing his next words.
"If something should ever happen to me, promise me you'll take care of my little girl" He pleaded, while taking his daughter from Galadriel's safe embrace.
"I promise that if anything happens I'll take care of her as if she was my own" Celeborn promised.
And with that Caladon left the realm of Lothlorien, never to return.
After 7 days Caladon reached Rivendell.
"My lord Caladon, what brings you to Rivendell in such a late hour?" said Lord Elrond, followed by his wife Celebrian.
Aurae had been crying without end for several hours.
"Please help my daughter, she's been crying for hours! I've fed her, changed her, I've tried to sing her to sleep, but nothing works"
Celebrian gently took little Aurae from her fathers arms, whom instantly calmed down.
Caladon just stared at her.
"How? I've tried everything" he said.
"The little ones senses more than you think, she probably sensed your distress" She answered.
"oh… I'm so sorry little one, I should have realized" He said.
"I'll have a room set up for you" Elrond put in.
"Thank you my Lord Elrond"
…
Aurae spent her first years in Rivendell, with her cousins Eloir and Elladan.
By human age, Aurae had reached the age of 6 when Caladon decided to leave again.
"Aurae! Could you come here for a moment?" Caladon yelled.
"Yes Ada!"
Aurae ran from the river up to her father's house.
"What is it ada?" Aurae asked with a big smile on her face.
"I don't know if you'll like it my dearest, but I feel it is time that we leave Rivendell"
"Leave? But I have all my friends here!" Aurae said, her eyes tearing up.
"I know dear, and I'm sorry" Caladon said and embraced Aurae.
"Go say goodbye to Eloir and Elladan, but don't despair my daughter. You will see them again someday"
Aurae nodded and wiped her tears.
She ran down to the riverbank where the twins were waiting.
"What's wrong Aurae?" Eloir asked.
"I'm leaving" She answered.
"Leaving? Why?" Elladan asked in a demanding tone.
"It is my fathers wish to leave, but he told me not to be sad because we will see each other again someday" she said with a tearful smile.
So they hugged and said their goodbyes before Aurae left.
At the gates of Rivendell; Elrond, Celebrian, Eloir and Elladan were seeing them off.
"Thank you for your hospitality these past years, both me and my daughter are forever grateful." Caladon said.
"We've been more that happy to have you both, Eloir and Elladan will miss you greatly"
"We'll meet again someday, I promise you" Aurae told the twins.
"Well hold you to that promise, Aurae" They answered with a smile.
Then Caladon mounted his stallion and Elrond lifted Aurae onto the horse.
"Thanks uncle Elrond" she said.
"Safe travel, to both of you" He answered
"We will"
And with that they left.
"Where are we going ada?"
"Wherever the road takes us my dear child"
Aurae just looked at her father with wonder of where the road would take them.
The two took the road to many places, but never stayed for more than 3 years at each place.
They made loads of new friends along the way, some even joined them on their journey.
Like the elvish boy Caladon and Aurae picked up in the woods of Mirkwood. The boy told them he had no family, so Caladon adopted him and gave him the name Síros.
Síros was a little older than Aurae and instantly took her under his wing. The two were inseparable, and many thought they were siblings by blood.
Síros were not the only elf they got as travelling partner, by the time Aurae passed her 800 year. They had settled down by the Lake Evendien and were now a group of 10, both human and elves.
Caladon had mostly stood for his daughters teaching; he taught her to fight, with bow and arrow as well as with blades. She had learned hand-to-hand combat of an exiled Pirate whom had joined them.
Aurae were taught both Sindarin elvish and Quenia elvish as her father only saw it fit that a princess should know her heritage, she also got to know the tongue of men in case their travels brought them to places where they would not understand elvish.
Their group was spoken of as Gypsies of middle earth, because they were in fact travelling entertainers.
Aurae either played the fiddle or the elvish flute that once belonged to her mother.
She would on occasions also sing as she had inherited her mothers beautiful voice.
Aurae felt it was time she left on an adventure of her own and went to council with her father.
"Ada? Are you awake?" she timidly asked.
"Yes my sweet, I'm awake" came her fathers calming voice from the study.
"I've been working on a new play for the group, I think you'll like it" he said with a smile.
"About that, ada... I…."
"What is it dear child?"
"I wish to leave, ada" she said, putting on her most determent face.
"But I thought we all agreed to stay here for a few years, hobbits are easily entertained by either music or stories"
"No, no, no it's not like that… Ada, I wish to leave for an adventure of my own"
"You wish to leave all of us?" Caladon had to sit down as his daughter's words hit him hard.
"I'm sorry, but yes. That is what I wish"
Caladon sighed and nodded "Have you told the others?"
"No, I have not"
"Go tell them then" He said running a hand down his face.
"Thank you ada!" Aurae exclaimed as she embraced her father.
Aurae ran to her brother's room, to tell him she was leaving, and that he had to let her do this on her own this time.
As she continued to tell about her departure, Caladon watched her from the balcony.
"All birds will leave the nest one day, this is your first flight my daughter. May you fly safely"
As Aurae packed her belongings and saddled Rochir, her father came and helped her saddle the massive stallion.
"I have wanted to give you this sooner, but I had to make sure you were ready for the responsibility first" Caladon said and reached for a box in his pocket.
"What are you talking about ada?" Aurae asked.
Caladon presented the box to his daughter, who accepted it with the greatest care.
Inside the box lay a bronze ring, carved with leaves and vines surrounding a jade stone.
"Ada, what is this? I've never seen the ring before and yet it feels so familiar"
"This is Amarya, the ring of earth. And you are her carrier" Caladon silently watched his daughter as the information sank in.
"I am a ring bearer?" Aurae could hardly believe her ears.
"Learn to use it during your travels Aurae, but keep it out of sight. Don't wear it unless you know you're alone. At least until you feel that you know all her secrets and powers"
"I promise Ada, and thank you" She said and embraced her father, not knowing it would be for the last time.
And with that Aurae rode off into the darkness of the night.
The map she had "stolen" from her fathers study would come in handy as she planned to draw up every place she went.
"First stop, Brandywine River" Aurae said while drawing a black line from Lake Evendin to Brandywine River.
She passed a handful of hobbits along the way, some were friends and some she had not met before, and there were those who just didn't like her nor her kinsmen.
"Where ya goin' Aurae?" A round hobbit asked her as she passed.
"I'm leaving; I've decided to have a little adventure of my own"
"Peh, if you keep your nose out of trouble, no trouble will come to you"
"Well, I don't know whether I will run into trouble on the way or not, only my road can tell" she said as she left hobbiton.
After a days ride, Aurae finally arrived at the River.
"We'll camp here for the night dear friend" the horse nodded and went to munch on the rich meadows.
Aurae lay down in the soft grass; the fresh smell of earth and the lull of the river were making her sleepy.
"Well, it's just you and me then" She said and studied her ring.
After studying it for half an hour she finally decided to try it on, and to her surprise it fit her perfectly as if someone had measured her finger.
She heard faint whispers, and as she stared at the jade stone the whispers became louder and as she closed her eyes she was met by forests, meadows, rocks, animals, great destruction and magical growth.
"What is happening to me" She whispered.
"You are simply seeing my powers. Such beauty and grace, with the ability to make even the darkest forest bloom anew, and breathe fresh spring to these lands after the hardest snowfall. All that grows will heed to your will my lady. But you need to beware; my powers can also lead to great destruction and despair"
"Try my lady; see that small flower over there?"
"yes"
"Now focus on that flower, you should be able to make it bloom"
"How do I do that?"
"you must want it, focus on it"
"come on Aurae, you can do this" Aurae muttered. After trying for a few moments, nothing happened. "I can't do this"
"Yes you can! Close your eyes and concentrate"
Aurae did as she was told and suddenly felt a warm tingling sensation in her palm.
She peeked at the flower and saw that not only had that one flower grown; the entire meadow was in full bloom.
Aurae were in awe.
"Yes my lady. And you can do so much more, but it is enough for today"
Aurae just stared at her ring in amazement.
Rochir came and nudged her shoulder as if saying "thank you", Aurae just smiled.
After Aurae managed to cross the Brandywine River and made her way into the lands of Minhiriath. She settled down in the forest by the coast, it was deserted and there was no village near for many miles.
Aurae stayed here to practice the powers of her ring, and it took her many years to master it.
For 3 years Aurae had done nothing but train and bond with her ring, she could now heal trees and plants, she could make and close great cracks in the earth, make earthquakes, and use soil, rock, vines and trees for protection.
Yet there was much more to learn.