Disclaimer - I do not own Middle Earth or any of Tolkien's characters or stories, I only own my own additions. This is my only disclaimer.

Author's note: Hello everyone and welcome to my new story! I know I am not a very well known author and my stories are not as popular, however I am really enjoying writing this as well as Uncovered Memories! I hope you will enjoy reading as much as I do writing it and any feedback is appreciated! This is only a short chapter, a little taster, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

Bright stars lit up the black night sky and the elves sat silently on their flets, scanning their forest floor. Orophin frowned, something felt rather unusual about the woods and the silence within the are was unnatural. Many animals used to walk through these woods, yet the past two days none had ventured beyond their borders. Orophin glanced at his companions, hard eyes were scanning the area and their faces were tight. Something within these woods had changed and Haldir, brother to Orophin and Marchwarden of these woods, had ordered for more guards to patrol their borders. No creature could be allowed past their borders.

"Do you sense the same as me, my brother?" Rumil asked in Elven tongue and Orophin turned to his right to look at his brother, with a worried expression on his face.

"Aye, something has changed," Orophin replied, nodding his head. Lothlorien had never felt this strange within his lifetime.

"Something is coming," Haldir said in a calm manner, "The lady has foreseen it. Yet I do not know what she has seen. A great evil is headed towards Lothlorien."

"Perhaps she means the Fellowship. Elladan and Elrohir of Rivendell have told us that they may arrive here," Orophin mentioned as his grey eyes looked at the ground. Elladan and Elrohir had ridden out to Lothlorien to tell the Galadhrim about the quest of the one ring.

"Aye, perhaps it-" Haldir started but stopped speaking abruptly. His icy blue eyes looked to his left and he focused. Everyone else had heard it, too.

Another twig snapped and the Elven guard immediately descended from the trees, starting their silent approach. Orophin's hand gripped tightly onto his bow, adrenaline rushing through him. It could have been an orc, or many orcs planning an assault on Lothlorien. This could be the great evil the Lady of Light had foreseen.

Orophin took guard behind a tree, nodding towards his fellow guards before aiming an arrow at their target with one swift movement.

"Daro!" he shouted, yet his expression softened when he heard a scream, watching a woman crouch down to the floor, holding her hands defensively in front of her body. Her body was bare and covered in what appeared to be black dust and dirt and her black hair was knotted and filled with leaves. Other guards joined him, arrows pointed at the peculiar lady who ventured their woods. Orophin lowered his bow and arrow, then nodded his head, signalling for his fellow elves to do the same. Then he looked to Haldir who narrowed his eyes at him, face void of any emotion.

"Goheno nin," Orophin spoke in a softer tone. Golden eyes peeked out from underneath the woman's hands, sending him a questioning look. It appeared that she did speak the Elven tongue. She shifted uncomfortably under his stare, hugging her arms around her bare body, looking between him and the other elves. He approached the woman cautiously with his cloak in his hands and he wrapped her in it as she watched on carefully. Then the elf helped her up, holding her gaze with his own grey eyes. She trembled as her eyes welled up with water. "Av-'osto" the elf said, trying to calm her but she only looked at him with confusion. "No fear," he attempted, placing his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. Emlineth stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded her head.

Another elf joined them, his eyes were piercing blue and stared at her hard. His eyes held less sympathy and it made her feel uneasy. He spoke in Elvish for a few moments as he looked at his companion before he set his gaze back on the woman.

"What is your name?" he spoke in common tongue, narrowing his eyes at her.

She did not respond right away, instead looked at each elf, their armour and weapons.

"Do you not reply once spoken to, mortal?" Haldir asked, raising his eyebrows at the woman. His voice held little to no compassion and his cold eyes stared down at her.

"I… My name?" she winced, readjusting the cloak around her body. Orophin who still stood by her side looked to her with compassion and sympathy. He only understood little Westron but she seemed anxious and confused. Haldir usually was not the gentlest Elf to speak with.

Haldir scoffed and rolled his eyes at her, "Yes. For instance, I am Haldir. Marchwarden of Lothlorien. Who are you?" His icy blue eyes scanned her face, looking for any sign of perfidy.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she furrowed her brows, searching desperately for an answer.

"I do not know the answer you seek, Marchwarden," she spoke, her voice was hoarse and faint.

Silence overcame the group as the elves stood, some of them closed their eyes or turned their heads in a certain direction.

'The lady with no name has arrived at last. Bring her to me.'

The voice called out in Orophin's mind and he knew he was not the only one who heard her. He looked towards Haldir and nodded. Haldir in return scrunched up his nose due to displease.

"The Lady has just spoken and has requested to meet with you. You will follow me." Haldir spoke, the tone of his voice low and filled with anger. The Marchwarden did not trust this woman and the idea of her within Calas Galadhon unsettled the proud elf greatly. He nodded towards Orophin and marched off in the opposite direction, deeper into the woodland.

Orophin motioned for the ebony-haired woman to follow his brother, then he pointed towards her. "No name," he started as he kept his hand gestured towards her, then pointed towards himself, "Name Orophin." The elf nodded and smiled, almost proud of himself. "Now come."

Translations:

Daro! - Halt!/ Stop!

Goheno nin - My apologies

Av-'osto