Part 1:
The city of Rivendell lies in the dew regions of the mountains. Once the imperial city of Lothlorien, it holds ancient memories and a lost sense of grandeur. The intertwined stone canopies, made so that the light, beloved of all elves, can stream through and light their breathtakingly beautiful countenances, are gracefully placed among trees of gold, ruby, silver and of course, emerald green.
The city lies between the lush forest of Lothlorien and the sparkling, swift-moving sapphire river Loudwater. The elven palace, the most beautiful of any palace built in Middle-Earth, is criss-crossed with the finest paintings, sculpture and architecture, because after all, it is from the elves that humans learned to build the greatest cathedrals. Elrond, the elven king, for whom the lake of Rivendell was named, resides here and guards one of the elven rings of power, given to him by Galadriel. He is the one who encourages the finest education, with emphasis on the languages of Middle-Earth, from Quenya to Dwarvian, and also the most graceful, efficient military moves. His daughter, Arwen, is the teacher for these military moves. Though she is female, she is the greatest warrior of the elves, and is known for her part in the quest to destroy the One Ring of Power. The queen of Lothlorien, the golden queen of light, Galadriel, lives deep in the forest and Arwen is her granddaughter. Galadriel is guardian of the waters and trees, and everywhere in the elven kingdom, a sense of magick rests. These are the blessed ones of Middle-earth, and their mysticism puzzles, fascinates, and charms most humans.
Deep in the forest of Northern Mirkwood resides one princely elf, famous for his skill with a bow. Legolas Greenleaf, next heir to the throne of Mirkwood, is one of the Fellowship of the Ring of Power and the most beautiful of the Greenleaf elven clan. Long flowing golden hair, depthless azure eyes and a straight stature make up our prince. Like his cousin, Elrond, he belongs to the statuesque Silvarin clan. He is very shy, like the Silvarin elves, and only makes himself known when trouble is near, preferring to sit among the trees and stare into the stars. The elven archer is matchless. It was Elrond's greatest wish that Legolas marry Arwen, to produce strong heirs to the crumbling city of Rivendell, but alas, he does not love her, and elves only marry for love. Arwen is in love with Aragorn, a ranger known as Strider, also famous for his part in the Fellowship and the true king of the White City of Gondor. But to marry this epic hero, she must lose what elves are most known for . . her immortality. However, Arwen is not like her father, who prizes immortality above all. She, like any high-class lady, loves who she cannot have, but her strong spirit will convince her father of the idea. She is descended from the sparkling-elves of the sun, and her spirit is unstoppable.
Who else resides in the lovely region of Lothlorien? Travellers, including hobbits, dwarves and the occasional wizard pass through our boundless country in search of the one thing that elves possess over anyone else: true love and beauty, and also the use of the elven ring, which gives anyone who desires it eternal happiness. Elrond is careful with his ring; he knows why it was given to him, as he knows how to use it. Eternal happiness is all very good, but it is only for the truly wanting, and only given as a reward. If everyone had eternal happiness, it would not be a gift. In fact, it was Elrond who coined the phrases "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride" and "be careful what you wish for". Hobbits who pass through Rivendell are captivated by its backlit beauty, for though their Shire is beautiful, it is an earthly gift. Rivendell is an ideal space, a little piece of heaven. Dwarves are blinded by the streaming light, as they live underground in miserable Moria. Wizards are fascinated by the magickal capability. Everyone loves Rivendell and even human beings who have never heard of it long for it in their hearts. Humans, after all, are just disenchanted elves.
Legolas Greenleaf reigns over the tree-villages of upper Mirkwood. There, he has recently taken a wife, and they have a small child, a daughter, Ashira. There, elves have built their homes in the uppermost branches of the golden raintrees. They are most innovative, as they stay up with no supports. Legolas' wife, Elladriel, has only been his wife for a year, and Legolas hopes firmly that his tiny daughter, now just a baby, will succeed him in the gentle villages of the forest. Like her father, Ashira has golden hair and the beginnings of his chiseled features, but like her mother, she has emerald green eyes and a knowing, wise look despite her tender years. We know that Ashira will succeed her lovely gentle father on his small throne and rule as he did, with grace and love for his land.
The city of Rivendell lies in the dew regions of the mountains. Once the imperial city of Lothlorien, it holds ancient memories and a lost sense of grandeur. The intertwined stone canopies, made so that the light, beloved of all elves, can stream through and light their breathtakingly beautiful countenances, are gracefully placed among trees of gold, ruby, silver and of course, emerald green.
The city lies between the lush forest of Lothlorien and the sparkling, swift-moving sapphire river Loudwater. The elven palace, the most beautiful of any palace built in Middle-Earth, is criss-crossed with the finest paintings, sculpture and architecture, because after all, it is from the elves that humans learned to build the greatest cathedrals. Elrond, the elven king, for whom the lake of Rivendell was named, resides here and guards one of the elven rings of power, given to him by Galadriel. He is the one who encourages the finest education, with emphasis on the languages of Middle-Earth, from Quenya to Dwarvian, and also the most graceful, efficient military moves. His daughter, Arwen, is the teacher for these military moves. Though she is female, she is the greatest warrior of the elves, and is known for her part in the quest to destroy the One Ring of Power. The queen of Lothlorien, the golden queen of light, Galadriel, lives deep in the forest and Arwen is her granddaughter. Galadriel is guardian of the waters and trees, and everywhere in the elven kingdom, a sense of magick rests. These are the blessed ones of Middle-earth, and their mysticism puzzles, fascinates, and charms most humans.
Deep in the forest of Northern Mirkwood resides one princely elf, famous for his skill with a bow. Legolas Greenleaf, next heir to the throne of Mirkwood, is one of the Fellowship of the Ring of Power and the most beautiful of the Greenleaf elven clan. Long flowing golden hair, depthless azure eyes and a straight stature make up our prince. Like his cousin, Elrond, he belongs to the statuesque Silvarin clan. He is very shy, like the Silvarin elves, and only makes himself known when trouble is near, preferring to sit among the trees and stare into the stars. The elven archer is matchless. It was Elrond's greatest wish that Legolas marry Arwen, to produce strong heirs to the crumbling city of Rivendell, but alas, he does not love her, and elves only marry for love. Arwen is in love with Aragorn, a ranger known as Strider, also famous for his part in the Fellowship and the true king of the White City of Gondor. But to marry this epic hero, she must lose what elves are most known for . . her immortality. However, Arwen is not like her father, who prizes immortality above all. She, like any high-class lady, loves who she cannot have, but her strong spirit will convince her father of the idea. She is descended from the sparkling-elves of the sun, and her spirit is unstoppable.
Who else resides in the lovely region of Lothlorien? Travellers, including hobbits, dwarves and the occasional wizard pass through our boundless country in search of the one thing that elves possess over anyone else: true love and beauty, and also the use of the elven ring, which gives anyone who desires it eternal happiness. Elrond is careful with his ring; he knows why it was given to him, as he knows how to use it. Eternal happiness is all very good, but it is only for the truly wanting, and only given as a reward. If everyone had eternal happiness, it would not be a gift. In fact, it was Elrond who coined the phrases "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride" and "be careful what you wish for". Hobbits who pass through Rivendell are captivated by its backlit beauty, for though their Shire is beautiful, it is an earthly gift. Rivendell is an ideal space, a little piece of heaven. Dwarves are blinded by the streaming light, as they live underground in miserable Moria. Wizards are fascinated by the magickal capability. Everyone loves Rivendell and even human beings who have never heard of it long for it in their hearts. Humans, after all, are just disenchanted elves.
Legolas Greenleaf reigns over the tree-villages of upper Mirkwood. There, he has recently taken a wife, and they have a small child, a daughter, Ashira. There, elves have built their homes in the uppermost branches of the golden raintrees. They are most innovative, as they stay up with no supports. Legolas' wife, Elladriel, has only been his wife for a year, and Legolas hopes firmly that his tiny daughter, now just a baby, will succeed him in the gentle villages of the forest. Like her father, Ashira has golden hair and the beginnings of his chiseled features, but like her mother, she has emerald green eyes and a knowing, wise look despite her tender years. We know that Ashira will succeed her lovely gentle father on his small throne and rule as he did, with grace and love for his land.