Prologue

"Andúnë I have a favor to ask of you."

"Yes Naneth?" I stood bedside to my mother, and watched as her eyes stared back weakly into my own. She was weak, fading; a process that neither me or my three sisters can bare to watch. My three younger sisters sat behind me with tears in their eyes while I obeyed my mothers command. My older sister Eámanë was absent as she was gone with her husband to Valinor leaving me as the eldest and the motherly figure of our talan here in the Golden Wood.

"I fear that I will not last long. I have thought long and hard of what I could say to make my passing seem less than it seems. But alas, I cannot. I loved your father with all my heart but that fateful day made my perfect world seem not so perfect anymore."

About seven hundred and fifty years ago my father was killed on the border by a large troop of Orcs. I was only an elfling being only thirty at the time, but I will never forget the day the Lady Galadriel and her husband Lord Celeborn showed up at our talan. My father was a Captain at the time and very respected among the Lord and Lady, and among the residents of Lothlorien.

My mother changed that day. She wasn't the bright, kind, and humble elf she used to be. She withdrew into herself, fragile, and broken. The mother my sisters and I knew was gone. She only lasted this long to take care of us, to be our support when we needed her.

At this point of my mothers talk the tears I have been holding back to keep my sisters strong ran free down my face. Gently I felt my mothers weak hand brush them away as I heard her console me softly.

"You and your sisters have been my light, my support throughout these past several centuries, and that kept me going. I knew though that my love for you and your sisters however strong it was and it for ever shall be would my not heal my broken heart, and that one day in the future I would fade." I heard my sisters shift closer together as they held each other whilst crying as my mother talked to me.

"Naneth...I..." my mother held her hand up signaling for my silence.

"Let me finish, strong one. You and your sisters will need each other, from now on. Stand by each other, support one another, and most importantly, love each other. A divided family does not heal from a tragedy that they themselves suffer from." My mother closed her eyes and breathed shallowly. She was fading much faster now.

"Now as for my favor..." my mother said as she reopened her eyes. "Take care of them, watch over them, do not let harm come to them and guard them; you are in charge now, my daughter. This is what I ask of you and I ask you to do it well."

My mother weakly took my right had and placed one of her most prized possessions; a silver bracelet that my father has given her on their very first meeting. I clasped the stunning piece of jewelery on my left wrist.

"I promise you, Naneth."

My words still hung in the air as my mother passed with a breathy 'I love you all', to wait in the Halls of Mandos for a time where she can reunite with us on the shores of Valinor.

I let out a sob as I gripped her precious bracelet in my hand. Slowly I planted a kiss upon her brow and closed her lifeless eyes.

"I love you too,"

I stepped back and allowed my sisters to come by our mothers side to say their farewells. Inwë, my littlest sister, was the most attached and most sensitive out of us all. Her sorrow alone, brought on a new wave of tears to everyone present in the room. Sairalindë and Lessien my two other sisters wrapped her arm around her in comfort, allowing her to cry on her shoulder.

I would have to keep an eye on my littlest sister, for I worry about her wellbeing and do not want her to end up in the same position as our dear mother.

Taking care of what's left of my family is my responsibilty now.