Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Lord of the Rings. Most unfortunately, Legolas. But I do own Enalphiel.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What if a she-elf went along on the journey to destroy the One Ring? How would the others react? And will she and Legolas stop hating each other?
A/N: It's my first Lord of the Rings story. It probably sucks. That's okay.
She tossed and turned in her bed, trying to find the perfect spot, the most comfortable position. Not going to happen apparently, as she felt uncomfortable no matter how she turned. Finally, twelve-year-old Enalphiel Everlyst rolled onto her back, looking up at her ceiling. She would find no rest tonight.
She stared up at the cracks in the ceiling, trying to rid herself of the terrible feeling that had been slowly growing since she woke this morning. 'Something dark is coming. Something is going to happen' she thought, sighing. Her dark brown hair tumbled down her shoulders and her green eyes were sleepy, but she knew she would not sleep.
Enalphiel pulled back the covers, revealing her small, thin body, clothed in a sheer nightgown. The balcony doors were open the slightest bit and she could feel the cold air breeze in, blasting her, and causing goose bumps to pop up on her skin.
But that wasn't the only reason the bumps appeared.
Her elf heritage allowed her to move swiftly, quickly to open doors, and she stepped out onto the balcony. Nothing slipped past her eyes as she cautiously scanned the forests at the edge of her parent's house. The great House of Everlyst. That name was almost as famous as Elrond, or Galadriel.
Enalphiel had no brothers or sisters and lived alone with her mother and father. Her mother, the younger daughter of Galadriel, Lady of the Woods, was one of the most beautiful elves. Enalphiel didn't think she inherited any of the beauty traits at all.
Everlyst was a famous name for other reasons than being the granddaughter and daughter of the great Galadriel and Celeborn. Her father and mother were both elvish warriors, trained in the Lorien woods. Her father had told her stories of the Great Battle against Sauron for control of Middle Earth, a battle that had taken place long before Enalphiel was born. Her mother was not allowed into battle, but she did train. Despite the fact that she had never battled, she was one of the most feared warriors. When she met Enalphiel's father, they fell in love and moved away together. Two of the most powerful warriors.
Enalphiel smiled as she thought of the love her parent's shared. It was a beautiful thing. It made her long for the days when she would find someone of her own. Sometimes she caught them just hanging out together, smiling, talking, off in their own little world of each other.
The sound of leaves crinkling and crunching under heavy boots startled her. She scanned the horizon again, and to her surprise, could make out figures running around.
'No…' she said as she saw them come out of the forest, swords drawn.
Orcs.
Breathing hard, she raced away from her balcony, out of her large bedroom, and down the stairs. 'Mama!! Papa!!!' she cried, hoping they would hear her. Their room wasn't far from her's.
She skidded to a stop just outside their door and began pounding on it. 'Mama!! Mama! Papa, wake up! Orcs!!!', she cried. Tears formed in her eyes, as she tried the doorknob.
Not even a minute after she mentioned the Orcs, the door flew open, and her mother stood there, looking terrified. 'Enalphiel, what is it? Orcs you say?' she said, her lovely face screwing up in worry. Her father was rummaging through a trunk and pulled out two swords. He threw one to his wife.
'Nadriedë, take Enalphiel down to the stables and find her a horse. Make sure she gets out safely. Send her to Lorien. It is closest. Galadriel will keep her safe.' My father said, quickly, coming to by my mother and I's sides. 'My beloved, you will be safe. I will see you again at your grandmother's after we take care of these things.' He finished, wiping away some of my tears.
'Tinánd, I can get her down to the stables and out of here quickly, but I am coming back to fight with you. Amin mela lle. Amin khiluva lle a' gurtha ar' thar. (I love you. I will follow you to death and beyond.)' My mother said, looking him fiercely in the eye.
He nodded quickly, and sent us on our way. My mother picked me up and ran with me all the way down. Just as we left the building, some orcs hiding on the side began shooting at us. My mother managed to dodge them, before hiding behind a tree. She whipped out her own bow and shot back at them. Within minutes, the orcs were lying dead on the ground. 'Hurry! The stables are near!' my mother said, putting away her bow, and pointing to the wooden stables ahead. She looked out from behind the tree to see if orcs were around, and then proceeded. I followed quickly, shaking from fear. I could barely feel, I was so afraid. Afraid for my parents, afraid for me.My mother quickly pulled out our fastest horse and I mounted her, tears still dripping down my face. 'Enalphiel. Enalphiel, listen to me. Whatever happens to your father and me, I want you to know that we love you. Very much. Never forget that okay?' she said, grasping my face with her hands, wiping away tears. 'Ride hard. Ride fast.'
She whipped the bottom of my horse and I was off. Out of the stables, past the trees, and heading deep into the forests. I turned around and saw my mother watching me as I made my way out. As soon as I reached the forest, she turned and ran back inside the building to help my father.
That was the last time I ever saw her alive.
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Two Thousand Years Later…
'Haldir, my friend, we have competed many times before, and never have you defeated me. Why do you think this time will be different?'
'Because, Princess, I have perfected my knife throwing. The one thing you had always beat me in.'
'You mean, one of the things I always beat you in. Other than the sword fighting, the bow and arrows, and the martial arts contests…and don't call me Princess.'
'Yes, yes, Enalphiel, bruise your friends' already frail ego, why don't you?'
Enalphiel smiled and laughed at her friend's pouting face. They were just coming back from another practice session. 'Oh please. Your ego is anything but frail. Actually I think hearing things like this will help your head from swelling too big.' She said, laughing.
'Ah, go chop off someone's head.' He quipped, before leaving her in the hallway. She rolled her eyes at his comment. He knew him always calling her 'Princess' and making jokes at her stature annoyed her to no end. He loved it.
'Chop off your head, dear Haldir…' she muttered, walking away.
Haldir was like a brother to her. She'd grown up knowing him. She moved to Lorien when she was twelve, after…
'Enalphiel?'
She stopped abruptly, hearing her name. She turned around and was surprised to see her grandmother, the Lady of the Woods, Galadriel, standing there.
'Grandmother! How are you on this day?' she said, walking over and kissing her cheek.
'I am well.' She said, smiling, her beautiful face lit up. Her golden hair shone in the sun, sparkling brilliantly. Enalphiel wished she had inherited some of her genes.
Over the past two thousand years, Enalphiel's own hair had changed little. It was still the same wavy dark brown, but now it fell to her waist. Her green eyes had not dimmed or changed a bit. They were a deep emerald green, very common among dark-haired elves. She didn't see anything special about herself.
Her light olive skin stood out against most of the Lorien elves, which were blonde, blue-eyed, and pale. Her mother, Nadriedë, was blonde as well, but her father was dark haired.
'I am glad.' Enalphiel said, as she put her knives into her special sheath hidden in her shoes. She laid her bow on the floor and re-adjusted her hair, which was falling from its bun.
'Have you been practicing again? You are very dedicated to this…and very talented.' Galadriel said, smiling at her, as she took hold of her arm and they walked through the halls together.
'Yes…thank you, grandmother.' She said, looking off into the forests. She decided to voice what had been on her mind for the past few days. 'Galadriel? Do you ever wonder if I could do more than this? More than just training? I just…sometimes feel I was meant for more than this.'
Galadriel stopped and turned Enalphiel to face her. She lifted her face up and spoke softly. 'I think your time will come soon. You are meant for more. You've had a love for archery, swordplay, and knife throwing for as long as I can remember, and you are more talented at it than most of the warriors on my armies. You will show them. Your time will come.' She ended, brushing back her hair, and backed away slowly. 'I will go have a look in the mirror. Are you going up for the night?'
'Yes, Grandmother.'
'Goodnight then.' She bent over and kissed her on the forehead. Galadriel watched as Enalphiel walked up the stairs and disappeared from sight. She smiled once again, thinking of how proud her daughter would be of Enalphiel, before turning and making her way down to her mirror.
She arrived in her place of solitude and glided across the glade to pick up her water pitcher. She filled it using the small waterfall on the side of her glade, and turned to her bowl. She slowly poured the water in and when it was filled, she leaned over and gazed into the water.
A few blurry images flashed by, but soon they became clearer…
A small hobbit and Gandalf the Grey talking, holding a Ring…'This the One Ring, Frodo…'
The hobbit and his friends setting out from the Shire and being chased by the RingWraiths…
The hobbits in a strange city, meeting a familiar face…Aragorn?
Galadriel stepped closer, to get a better look. A ring? Gandalf called it 'The One Ring'…he couldn't mean…
The hobbit called Frodo being stabbed by the wraith's sword…
Galadriel's other grandchild, Arwen, riding up to Frodo with Aragorn. They exchange words and Arwen leaves with Frodo, taking him to Elrond…
Frodo in the House of Elrond, being healed…
The images disappeared and Galadriel stepped back, breathing hard. What did it all mean? Was the One Ring found?
'My lady!! Lady Galadriel!'
A voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see one of her messenger elves. 'Yes?'
'A message from Lord Elrond, of Rivendell, lady.'
'And what does he say?'
'He is calling a meeting in three days time to discuss the finding of the One Ring. He asks that you send a representative of the Lorien elves.'
Galadriel looks at the ground, torn apart by the idea of letting her Enalphiel go, but knowing that it is what is best for her.
'Send for Enalphiel. She will set out for Rivendell in the morning. She will represent us.'