*THIS CHAPTER IS MORE OF AN INTRODUCTION CHAPTER, WHICH MEANS YOU MIGHT GET LOST IF I MAKE REFRENCES TO HIS PAST. NOTHING TOO EXCITING, ONLY IF YOU COUNT LOSING EVERYTHING AND BEING LONELY EXCITING. THEN GOOD FOR YOU. YOU DO YOU, PEOPLE-PERSON. I HOPE Y'ALL LIKE IT CAUSE IF Y'ALL DON'T, THEN YOU CAN REMOVE IT AND CONTINUE WITH YOUR LIFE.
-YOUR AUTHOR, fangirlzrule. *
*145 years old/Second Age*
Fuin watched as his home was burned down by the orcs. He was still in the City of Darkness when it was attacked. He remembered waking up to screams and the smell of something burning. Fuin also remembered Dumorn never looking so bright. He walked out of his house to see the forest surrounding the city on fire. He remembers fighting with the rest of the warriors to defend his father's kingdom, his father one of them. Even though he was young, Dumorn starts training when you look around the man's age of 18 summers. His father starting him before that in his when he could hold a sword. He remembered his father turning to him and shouting for him to escape and to go to Imlandris. Too seek refuge with Elrond. Fuin had turned and finished off his opponent before leaving. He had turned in time to see his father slain. He fled like his father told him. Now he stands on the hill overlooking the kingdom watching as the last of the embers die. He heard as everyone was slaughtered. He remembers most of the soldiers and himself going to fight in the War of the Last Alliance. Though no one would be able to distinguish them because of their masks. He remembers the importance of every soldier getting their masks, which specifies their position as a soldier, though his was a skull and everyone treats him like that is the most important thing. The War of the Last Alliance would have been the first battle his father would let him participate in. Fuin assumes that Sauron was trying to get rid of the biggest threat against him, for they were very experienced warriors. They were not quite elves, nor were they the race of men. They were immortal like the elves but lack their qualities, like the pointed ears, so they were called their own race, just never given a name. In Fuin's opinion they can't be called a race anymore, for he was the last. There was never many of them and now there is only one. They were killed off like the Skin Changers.
Fuin turns away from the remains of the kingdom he would have inherited being the king and queen's only son. Fuin had always talked with his best friend about how he wanted to be a just ruler like his father, and have a wife as loving and caring as his mother. Now in his mind he won't be a great king like his father, but he will not show mercy to any orc he crosses paths with. Fuin won't be a king, but he will be like his father, just in a more twisted way.
*30 years later (175): Battle of the Gladden Fields- Third Age*
Fuin fought alongside Elrond, hacking away at Sauron's army of orcs. He was traveling around, for a change of scenery. Fuin grew restless in Imlandris no matter how much Elrond had tried to make sure he was comfortable after the fall of the Dumorn. Fuin had saw a messenger from Rivendell at the inn he was residing in, asking for him. When he received the message that they were marching upon Mt. Doom he was quick to pack and leave. After he arrived at Elrond's camp they were getting ready to march to battle, so Fuin fell in line with Elrond. Fuin turned with Elrond when he heard a scream. He saw Isildur with his father, except his father was dead. Isildur stood and faced Sauron, he hefted his father's shield and stood his ground. As Isildur defeated Sauron and he and Elrond trekked the mountain to destroy the ring, Fuin turned to return home. He felt that this wouldn't be the last time they hear from Sauron. He later learns that Isildur didn't throw the ring into the fires.
*2500 years later (2,675 years old): -Third age*
Fuin was back in Rivendell, though he doesn't know why. Gandalf called him here saying he wants to ask him something. Fuin is glad he doesn't have to wear the mask anymore. He didn't have to be The Skull in Rivendell. His mask that has barely made it through the years since the Fall of Dumorn.
'I need to remake it. Just got to find the right supplies. I'll really just need the wood and strap.' He thought to himself. He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear Gandalf walk up to him until said man cleared his throat.
"Fuin, pleasure to see you." Gandalf said. "Why don't we sit down so we can talk about why I requested for you to be here." Fuin nodded his assent and they walked to the nearest bench. "I'm putting together a company to take back the home of some certain dwarves. I need someone that can scout and you're the first person I could think of that wouldn't fight with the rest of my companions."
"What mountain is it?" Fuin asked, even though he had an idea of which one it is.
"Erebor. Though I bet you already know that." Gandalf said knowingly.
"Where do we meet?" Fuin asked in a sigh knowing he should already give up.
"The Shire, in Hobbiton, three days time. The house called Bag End. There will be a dwarfish rune on the door." Gandalf said quietly, as though he doesn't want others to hear.
"Wait. Why is it in Hobbiton? Those are peaceful folk." Fuin said but Gandalf was already gone. Fuin walks to his room to gather his stuff for his travels, grumbling about absent wizards. As he packed knowing he'll have to rush, for The Shire is about two days and nights with minimum breaks, which won't happen with him recreating his mask. On his way out of Rivendell he stops and grabs White Cedar wood and black leather strap in the market. He gears up his horse and leaves.
As he makes it to about a third of the way there he stops to take a break and work on the mask. He figured next stop he would be able to finish it, for he did what he could while riding. On the second break, he finished the mask and slept, mainly because he didn't sleep the night before. The third night he made it to Hobbiton and was asking around for Bag End. He mostly got stares, probably because of the mask, and very few pointed him to his destination. As he was searching he ran into a dwarf that was looking for the same place. 'Must be one of the companions Gandalf was talking about. He looks important.' Fuin thought to himself. As he was thinking he walked up to the dwarf.
"Looking for Bag End?" Fuin asks the dwarf.
"Yes, I seem to be lost." The dwarf replied.
"Maybe four eyes are better than two. No one seems to be very helpful." Fuin says. The dwarf nodded and Fuin led them in the general direction that he was pointed to before he ran into the dwarf. "May I ask who you are?"
"I am Thorin Oakenshield, you must be the scout that the wizard was talking about." The dwarf, now known by Fuin to be Thorin, stated.
"I've been called Skull, mainly because of my mask. Maybe if you and the rest of the Company gain my trust then you can learn my real identity." Fuin stated not knowing how everyone else will act. The orcs have been searching for him as the prince of Dumorn so he was wanted by them. Many people have tried to give him up to the orcs when they learned his identity. 'Though they can't really do that because they would turn their king in. Thorin is wanted by Azog.' Fuin thought as they found the door Gandalf had put the rune on. Fuin gestured Thorin towards the door so he could knock. Thorin nodded at him and knocked three times sharply.
WORD COUNT: 1403
