Disclaimer: Professor Tolkien is a God. I don't own 'Lord of the Rings' but an example of the book which I honestly bought with my own money. Nor I own the heroes of this story so I'm trying to treat them with respect and reverence. I make no profit at all.


Chapter 1. The decision of Lord and Lady

The Golden Wood is great. Galadhrims living among mallorns were happily passing their millennia under protection of Celeborn and Galadriel. The maidens of Lothlorien are beautiful, but their singing is wonderful.

'To mortal fields say farewell, Middle-earth forsaking!

In Elvenhome a clear bell in the high tower is shaking.

Here grass fades and leaves fall, and sun and moon wither,

and we have heard the far call that bids us journey thither'.

Year still after year flows down the Seven Rivers;

cloud passes, sunlight glows, reed and willow quivers

at morn and eve, but never more westward ships have waded

in mortal waters as before, and their song has faded.¹

- Your songs are sad today, Tauriel², - said Lady Galadriel as her eyes rested on the elleth³, who stood out from the rest of maidens by her golden hair. – They distract you from our case 'cause I see your thoughts are entangled just like your yarn.

- I'm sorry, my lady, I'm not adept to this engage. It's easier to shoot an arrow into the crow-eye than to make a thread not to tangle. My place is among hunters but not among the court ladies, - Tauriel responded.

- If you knew whose would be the cloaks made from this yarn, you'd do your best rather than boast your archery skills.

- So the cloaks must be for Haldir and Orophin, - said one of the maidens. – Is there anybody else for whom poor Tauriel might strive?

- Of course, who will delay his attention to the huntress? None of worthy elves wishes to have a wife even with the most beautiful voice in Arda if the greatest punishment for her is to wear a dress and to spin yarn, - added another elleth and so all the court ladies laughed.

- Why do my gwadors⁴ need new cloaks, my lady? Is there any task on the borders Lord Celeborn wants to entrust them? – asked Tauriel in worried tone.

- I said no word that the cloaks were for them. But it seems to me that they both are with Lord now. And I want to see my husband. You must follow me, Tauriel, - and with that Galadriel stood up and left the room. The elleth hurried after her Lady.

- Greetings, Lord Celeborn, - bowed Tauriel when they entered the hall. On the other side of the room two elves gave a respectful bow to Lady Galadriel.

- Come to me, Tauriel. And so you, Haldir and Orophin, move closer 'cause our talk is not for anyone else to hear. We've got some news from Rivendell. Lord Elrond wrote that some important guests should be expected here in Lorien. They left Imladris several months ago and they will pass through our lands. And we must meet them therefore we don't know what they will bring us light or shadow.

Celeborn silenced, so Galadriel continued:

- There were nine: two men, four perians⁵, a dwarf and an elf led by Mithrandir. They are nine for a reason. There are nine Black Riders scattering Shadow all over Arda so there are nine warriors of Light to confront them. But today Mithrandir was covered by darkness and we can see him no more. The fall of Middle Earth is approaching. If Mithrandir does not come to Lothlorien we'll replace him with one of our elves.

- I'm ready, - said Haldir.

- So I am, - Orophin responded. – Make your choice, my lord, 'cause we are both skilled warriors.

Celeborn smiled sadly.

- Alas! None of you are chosen but Tauriel.

- Why? How? It's impossible…

Tauriel's face was pale when she spoke:

- I'm sorry, my lord, but I am afraid I can't carry this burden. Orophin taught me to hunt and my arrows hit targets without missing, thanks to Haldir. I am a huntress, accidentally I took part in some battles on the borders, but I am no warrior and cannot boast my victories over orcs.

- I beg you, my lord, reconsider your decision. Our gwathel⁶ is not skilled. Why must she see the horrors of war and fight with orcs? – exclaimed Orophin.

- How can I let Tauriel leave without protection in the group of strangers who might treat her as a burden in their quest? How can any elleth be in such a company? In the name of Iluvator, I beseech you, my lord, to change your mind, - almost cried Haldir.

- Calm down and silence! Our decision is made because of a reason. Don't you know the prophecy which was made about one of the Nazguls? It said, 'Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall'. Any meaning of a word 'man' is not connected with who Tauriel is. So she will become the shield of the Fellowship, their weapon against the Black Riders. And this is our decision which mustn't be reconsidered!

Haldir and Orophin 's faces were anxious and grim but they bowed to Lord Celeborn. In his mind Haldir blamed himself that once he gave his gwathel a bow.

- And what about your fears, Haldir, the Fellowship will think that we add to them a strong elf. From now on and to the end of their mission there is no Tauriel but a forest warrior – Taurohtar⁷. So change your dress for a grey clad of our guards, Taurohtar, and hurry up. All three of you are going to meet our guests on the borders near Nimrodel. I have foreseen they will be there before the sunset, - said Galadriel.

- And do not let any Orcs follow you, be careful! – added Celeborn.

'Brothers' gave another respectful bow to Lord and Lady and left the hall.


Remarks:

1) This is a poem "Last Ship"by J. R. R. Tolkien

2) Tauriel – the name comes from sindarin words 'taur'- forest and 'iel' – daughter. No, she has no connection with PJ's Tauriel from 'Hobbit'. Actually, when I wrote this fanfiction I had no idea that an elleth with that name will be involved in the movie.

3) An elleth means a female elf.

4) Gwador is a sindarin word for an adopted brother.

5) Perian is a sindarin word for a hobbit.

6) Gwathel is a sindarin word for an adopted sister.

7) Taurohtar – the name comes from sindarin words 'taur'- forest and 'ohtar'- warrior.

A/N: So I began the translation of my Russian story 'cause actually some people have asked me about it. As you understand I killed Rúmil but gave Haldir and Orophin an adopted sister. She is not Mary-Sue, you must not expect her to slain a lot of orcs or to have any kind of magic or something like that. My Russian readers said that I somehow had managed to write her as a simple elleth yet with a beautiful voice. But really it's not what she does very often, singing I mean. So give me a credit and R&R! I must also tell you that English is not my native language and I have no beta so if you see mistakes in my story feel free to point at them. I'll be very glad if you help me improve my writing. Thank you and happy reading on !

Yours,

Jamie Bradley XXX