Introduction:
This is the Story of the Hethurim (hidden people), which is the name some of the firstborn gave themselves, while others named them Avari. Most of this story plays in the east, far far away from known Middle-earth territory. For some hundred years of their history the story will only tell of their fate. Only some councils of the Valar about the Hethurim will interfere. Later on they will meet dwarfs and men and some other elves from the west will appear. This will bring memories of their life in the west and they will reunite with those, whom all other tales seemed to have forgotten. Near the end of the story some Hethurim will come to the western lands as well.
Some names (people, locations...) are in Sindarin language, but not all. Even if they sound like Sindarin, don't forget, these elves haven't seen others for a long time. Their language has altered from the early language of the Quendi to something close to Sindarin.
I'm writing this in English, but this is only my second speech, so please be kind, if I make a spelling-mistake or two.
The whole story is based in JRR Tolkiens world. Some original characters may appear later on. I do neither own them nor Middle-earth! I'm not making money with this story.
Canon? I try to stay in canon, first with the Silmarilion, LotR and Hobbit and then with HoME. There my bee some small parts where I can't stay in canon, but only few. I guess 95 to 99% of the story could bee read between the lines of Tolkiens work.
It's rated M, because later on there may be descriptions of war, torture and other adult issues.
I have no idea how long this story will be until the end. It's a very big tale, over hundred and thousand years in Middle-earth. There are many chapters in my mind and already some down in writing. But I hope, some readers might enjoy this.
*Chapter 1: Into the east*
Year of the Trees: 1107 Máhanaxar, Valmar
The golden light of Laurelin was shining bright when they converge at the Ring of Doom. It was unusual for Ulmo to appear at a meeting, but it was very unusual that Ulmo himself asked for a meeting.
After Oromë reported about the departure of the Eldar and how they passed the Sea of Helcar two years ago still traveling to the west, Ulmo arose from his seat.
"There are still some at the shores of Helcar" he remembered. "I fear for them, because some of Melkors creatures are still hiding in the mountains and woods of Arda. Orcs, Goblins and things we may not even know of. They love the darkness and they will proliferate. They flee from the hosts of Eldar, because they know we protect those. But what about the Avari? The evil flees in their direction. We can't leave them in this darkness alone with an enemy we drive towards them."
"They are not listening" Oromë interrupted. "They love the darkness as well as Melkors creatures do. They will not come to the light."
"But that doesn't mean we are no longer responsible for them. If they like to stay in darkness, leave them in darkness, but do not abandon them."
"No one abandons them" Manwë interfered. "But what should we do? Oromë is still hunting those Orcs and Goblins you mentioned. I fear we will never catch all of them. I do not understand evil for myself, but this evil was in the Great Music and we cannot undo what Eru Ilúvatar composed. We will have to face evil now and in the future, as will all creatures in Arda, the Firstborn, the Secondborn, Aulës children, beast and plants."
Most of the others looked shocked by his words, now realizing the last war wasn't the last they fought. Only Námo and Vairë nodded silently.
After some moments of thoughts, Ulmo spoke again. "If they won't come and if we can't eliminate those evil creatures, we my hide them in a place in Arda that is still free from evil. I have watched them. I already have some kind of contact with them to their dreams, even if they do not know me by person. I don't even think they would like it. If they reject Oromë already, let me do this. I'll look for a peaceful place and try to guide them to it."
The others looked unsure. They knew this was a chance to help them, but a very small one. From now on they all shared their mind about the creatures and what to do with the Avari. After some time all had spoken and waited for one of the mightiest to find a solution.
Again Manwë spoke, "evil will reach all free and hidden places in time. The Avari will have to face it now or in future, with our help or without it. If you see a chance they will face in the future and with our help, my blessings are with you and your plan."
Suddenly Námo raised his voice. "They will face it in the future and with help - with Ulmos and with my help. We will need to make a bond to this small host of Quendë, which do not trust us now. For their number will grow and I foresee that in a far future some of them will become great help for us and all of those who travel towards us right now. One of them will by my champion in a great battle."
Everyone of the council looked speechless at Námo right now. Ulmo summoning a council and Námo himself giving such an advice, even Manwë seemed to be surprised by this. In the end he nodded and spoke, "so this is settled. We do whatever is necessary to realize them a free life in the east. Find a good save place, Lord of the Waters."
After that Ulmo went down to the shores on Valmar, changed his shape and disappeared into the water, to search for a hidden place in Ardas darkness.
Year of the Trees: 1110, Cuiviénen
For many years they had lived peaceful at the big lake. They developed things, gave them names, as they named themselves and all the things they could see, smell or feel. They lived luckily under those twinkling lights far above them. Then one of those powerful creatures appeared and someone other whispered in their minds - and they divided.
It was shortly after their last meeting at the lake, where they once awoke to live. Nurwë was standing by the waters of Cuiviénen and remembered how nearly all their people had gone into the west. Altogether including him only twenty-eight ofhis host had remained. With Morwë some others stayed, but their number was so small.
And now it was decided, they would not stay here. One of the elleth had foreseen it and they planned to follow her vision. He himself had voted for it, but he still had some doubts. They would not go to the west, like all those others, but to the east. Far over mountains and crossing many rivers until they would reach a big shore, bigger than they could imagine, she had told them.
He was still watching the surface of the water, lingering in his thoughts, when Morwë approached him.
"Those foul creatures are getting closer" Morwë simply told his friend. Just as if he had read his thoughts.
"But we will miss this", Nurwë answered, pointing out to the lake. "This water has a strange power. You've seen how it healed! I fear we will never find something like it in the east, even so Ôldî had foreseen it."
"Yes, this lake is special. It is our birth-ground. But you know that all of Ôldis other visions came to reality until now. She has foreseen the rider, those evil creatures and the departure of the others. Why do you doubt her?"
"I do not doubt her. I guess it is just the loose of all we still had. We lost so many people to the call of those Valar. Now we will lose this country. Is there anything we will not lose?"
Morwë thought a few moments about an appropriate answer.
"We still have each other, my friend. We still have the clothing we made, those tends we developed, and the stars. Dúamarth told me, she finished her study about the rhythm of the stars. She knows now how to count the coming and going of the stars. We already know some of them remain all time. If the stars are so high above us, as we believe, we will still see them in the east, as well as the Gwannarim will see them in the west."
Nurwë nodded and turned to the camp. "You are right as always", he said with a smile. "Let's get some sleep. We will need our strength for the upcoming journey."
Some hours later they were ready to go. Nurwë, Morwë and Morwës brother Môrhir led the small host into the eastern woods. At the end of the small trek Ôldî, the seer, and her two sisters Dúamarth and Hithiriel assured, no one was left behind.
After a while Hithiriel spoke, "we should have left sign. What if they come back and we have gone?"
"They won't" Ôldî answered knowingly. "And leaving a sign would only guide the foul creatures to us."
Hithiriel looked upset. "But I thought… maybe. Some already did."
"I'm sorry, dear sister, but no. If others come back, this lays in our future so far, that I can not foresee it. I miss our brother, too", she reassured Hithiriel.
Dúamarth had been walking silently beneath them, but now she intervened. "Oh, I'm not sure, if she really meant our brother", she giggled.
Hithiriel blushed, "I do! Of cause, I was talking about our brother. Every time I look at you and your dark hair, your dark eyes and your face... I see him. You look so much like him."
"And what about the ellon you spend so much time with?" her dark haired sister teased. "You know which I'm speaking of. This nice guy, with that beautiful voice, the dark-grayish hair and those eyes, which seem so deep, you almost feel like dropping into them."
Hithiriel blushed even more and went silent.
Ôldî, who like Hithiriel had more blond-golden hair with a touch of red, when it caught light, shook her head. "Don't be so nasty, Dúamarth. I think the love they shared is something we will all discover and it is something from outside this world, given to us as a gift. A powerful gift! It is a shame he and our brother longed to follow Elwë more, than to stay with us."
After these words Dúamarth seemed to be gentler and the sisters followed the host in silence.
Notes:
Nurwë and Morwë are the named leaders of the Avari in Tolkiens work.
My new characters or Hethu-words in this work:
Môrhîr = Lord of the Darkness
Ôldî = dream-women or dreaming women, because of her visions
Dúamarth = fate of the night, because she claimed to stay rather in the night forever, than to follow the Valar to their shining trees.
Hithiriel = Lady of Mist, because when she awoke a dense fog laid over Cuiviénen.
Gwannarim = the name the Avari/Hethurim gave to those, who followed the Valar. Meaning "the gone people"
Like in "normal" Sindarin:
elleth = female elf
ellon = male elf
timeline ( Years of the Trees in Valian Years):
1050 The first 144 Elves awake in Cuiviénen.
... Spies of Melkor discover and afflict the Elves, quite possibly the first Orcs are created.
1085 Oromë discovers the Elves.
1090 Valar make war against Melkor for the sake of the Elves.
1099 Melkor is defeated.
1100 Melkor is judged and cast into Mandos.
1102 Oromë invites three Elven ambassadors, Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë to come to Valinor.
1104 Ambassadors return and invite the Elves to return with them to Valinor
1105 Sundering of the Elves at Cuiviénen: Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri follow, Avari stay behind.
1107 Council of the Valar about the remaining Avari.
1110 The Avari travel to the east.
