Chapter 1: Tree and Truth

Vera opened her eyes. She was lying in the clearing on a particularly damp patch of the forest, clear save one old tree. Where she was specifically besides what her eyes told her she did not know. She was supposed to wait for someone, however she had forgotten about who this someone might me. It had been a particularly long journey for her, long enough that one would become entirely forgetful.

She was clothed in green robes and an emerald pointed hat. A scepter set with a clear crystal lay with in her hands reach slightly askew. Immediately she knew it was hers, though mostly everything else she had forgotten.

"Where am I?" She said remembering how to speak suddenly. Then she remembered to take a breath, for it seemed most useful in the art of thoughtful speaking. She listened for a response, and of course, it would seem odd to us since we have a non-magical disposition. There was no one around to converse with, not even a blue jay that enjoyed this time of day. It was a midmorning summer, warm and dewy. Yet there was an answer whispering among the leaves.

"It is you, cultivator in the days of old" An old birch tree replied for its memory reached far back. The old birch was cousin the wily Willow in the west. This was in the language of trees, which we non-magic folk cannot hear, or else we would hear this quite often "There's no need for that ax. I'm sure we can work this out like two respectable gentlemen". The old birch tree that spoke was far larger than the surrounding foliage away from the clearing. Many called it the First Tree. It dwarfed the other trees, a saying elves commonly said, which was of course very offensive to dwarves.

"Indeed, though I do not recognize you Sir Birch. I have come from far across the vale, though I cannot remember why or how or what I am to do here," said Vera in the language of men, which as it happens the trees understand. In fact, this is why they grow frightfully shy at the mention of axes among men.

The old birch tree laughed, and it appeared as though wind filtered through its dark green leaves.

"You are in Mirkwood, formally Greenwood which in turn was formally a few young sprouts of which I was among. Ones which you planted and protected lest we were trampled underfoot by mares or stripped bare by bucks" said the Birch again in the way of trees. Trees liked to speak in flowery polite cadence, as did Vera.

Vera understood where she was now. She was in a wood called Mirk. The place she had been last time when she first crossed the vale into the world of men and elves. She attempted now to stand for she had been sitting up against said tree. She found that she had a terrible limp, wounded from her trip.

"I am hurt and too weak to mend myself, please speak among your kin and call for help" Vera pleaded, and at once most loyal to her as a young sapling is to its mother the old birch called for help. The trees whispered among themselves up the valley to the elven caverns further north.

"She is hurt, come at once to the sacred clearing to the shadow of the first tree" whispered the trees, and the elves heard and quickly ran to alert the great Elvenking. They did not know what the trees meant by "She", but elves are quite polite and honorable in the aid of the wounded. The Elvenking sent forth a dozen sentinels on a dozen mares to seek out the "She is hurt" person and bring her here for treatment, and of course intensive third degree questioning (as was law).

The twelve sentinels quickly came to the area in question as the trees whispering became ever more urgent. Tauriel among the twelve went ahead first in case there was danger. She saw the girl in green leaning on the First Tree.

"Hello, I am Tauriel, head of the elven guard." Tauriel said gently as she stepped in to the shadow of the clearing.

"I was waiting for someone, though I think that it was not you, all the same I am in need of help. Perhaps you and your friends eleven can give me sanctuary as I wait" the strange green girl replied.

"My bone is broken and I cannot stand properly. " The girl continued. Tauriel looked at the girl, she was fair as any elven maid yet her ears did give her mortality away. Tauriel closed the distance between them and let the girl put and arm over her shoulder.

Two more elves appeared and helped her onto Tauriel's mare. Tauriel leapt on as well and they galloped fiercely to the caverns.

"Farewell Sir Birch" The girl said to the First Tree and to the elves' surprise, it replied. The First Tree did not speak with the elves, for it did not particularly like the company of babes.

"Fare thee well Lady Cultivator," replied the First Tree. A look of puzzlement crossed the fair elven faces of the sentinels, Tauriel included.

"What business did you have with the First Tree, my lady?" Tauriel said politely to the girl who was very much like a Halfling in stature but taller by a bit. The girl had her arms wrapped around Tauriel's waste and pressed her cheek against the hair cascading down her lower back. It was very odd for the girl to be so close since they were not even properly aquatinted yet.

It was however of no fault of Vera, she was not properly acquainted with the manner of elves or of men for that manner. She had only been in the realm a very short time. Touching ones cheek to another ones hair was a very private manner for elves.

"My name is Vera," Vera said smiling. Even though, they were now properly acquainted Tauriel felt no respite on the oddities of their guest.

"I was there waiting for someone, whom you unfortunately are not, when I called Sir Birch to aid me in my distress" Vera began to explain.

"The First Tree speaks to none of the Eldar and mortals alike." Tauriel explained in reply.

"This may be true, for I did not hear Sir Birch address you at your arrival, I thought it strangely rude. However, it is not my place to reprimand my host in this wood of Mirk. The First Tree as you say, speaks to me since I am neither mortal nor Elf" Vera said most politely, had she had the strength and had this been a more stationary situation she would have taken off her pointed emerald hat respectfully.

They however were ridding at a quick pace to the Kings Caverns where the Elvenking Thranduil waited most impatiently.

"Neither mortal nor Elf? Please do not speak to me in riddles, for I am not very good at them. I prefer the talking of the direct and clear," Tauriel said with a touch of impatience. She was not one that spoke in the ways of trees nor did she want to.

"I am Vera the Green of the order Wise," Vera said very straightforward. Tauriel was still bewildered, but she knew Wise.

"Istari" said the guard to the left. He had been listening very intently to their conversation.

The guards carried her to the healing ward. The elves politely braced her wound. The bone had not been broken but misaligned. The elves gave her buttered bread and mead. She smiled at them thankfully. They did not dare speak or ask her anything for that was the job of the great Elvenking. She sighed when she had her fill and looked up at the elves that tended to her.

"I must return to the First Tree. I cannot recall but feel it is important that I should wait there," Vera explained. The elves remained silent. She trusted them to lead her back to the sacred clearing however they betrayed her trust. They lead her to the royal throne room where the Elvenking sat nonchalantly. Though it was really a farce since he was quite anxious. The green girl as he had heard of by now had gotten past many a sentinel to get to the sacred clearing of the First Tree.

"Who are you?" He asked first. The girl looked around scowling for a spell at the elves who did not take her back to the First Tree. Then the look vanished replaced by bewilderment as she turned to the Elvenking. She knew at once to take off her hat to the one that wore a floral woodland crown. Vera's face was clearly lit and the Elvenking marveled at her Emerald eyes.

"I am Vera the Green and I know this is dreadfully rude but I must return to the First Tree at once" Vera began

"You are right to say that you are being dreadfully rude. It is insulting indeed to come and leave without conversing with your host" The Elvenking cutting her off.

"What are you doing here? Perhaps you did not know it is against the law to trespass on this land," Thranduil said coldly.

"I did not know it was wrong of me to trespass on this land. This was the land where I sowed the trees and did plant its first fruits. How can I trespass where I have passed first? " Vera said, which she said politely although the meaning was not so polite. It meant, "I was here first … liar"

The Elvenking wanted to scoff but did not since he knew it was unbecoming of a king. The girl before him did not look so old, older than he if her claim was true. It was true however though the king did not believe it.

"If you are immortal as you say, then perhaps you should sit a spell, a hundred years should be long enough." He said to her then he turned to his guards "Take her away"

The elves standing to the side of her did not want to "Take her away" for she seemed odd and dangerous. However they would obey their great King that had ruled for three millennia. They each took one of the girls' arms.

She simply gasped at their rude behavior towards her. Then she took out her scepter, which was concealed, in her robes. She was gone in flash of brilliant and blinding white light. When the elven guards recovered their sight with copious blinking, they set off on their mares in search of her. She wanted to go to the first tree and they raced toward the sacred clearing.

However Vera was very clever and did not go to the first tree, also the magic gate was shut which barred the way. She was still in the cavern very near the surface so that she should whisper to the roots of trees. The brilliant flash of light did not magically transport her to the place she wanted to go. That is not how magic works, for if it could a certain ring could magically be transported to a doomed mountain for quick disposal.

She simply blinded her captors so that she could slip away. She quickly climbed the staircase on her sore but bound leg and the steps were luckily not guarded for the guards had left for the First Tree in pursuit of her. She had made her way very high up to the cavern roof where the tree roots grew in. There was a rather precarious precipice un-railed where the roots grew close.

"You must tell the one who I am waiting for, but keep this from the ears of elves that I cannot meet him. I am being held captive by savage elves with unreasonable questions. Pray he rescues me from the Elvenking of this Mirkwood," She said. Then she recalled the one whom she was waiting for.

"Tell the Brown wizard this, the one called Radagast," She hastily added.

"Indeed we will, Vera the Green" They said respectfully. Thranduil was surprised to see the Green girl had not left the cavern instead she went to the place he himself liked to come for thinking. He had heard her words to the roots protruding from the cavern ceiling. Even more surprising was that the trees respected her commands as though she were a queen. Trees did not usually like scurrying things

"Now was that so hard, you could have told me you were looking for the Brown wizard?" Thranduil said. The girl turned around quickly, and she was quite startled. So startled in fact, and partly because her ankle was still sprained that she tripped and fell from the precipice.

It was the Elvenkings quick acting, which prevented the end before even the middle of this tale. He swiftly ran and extended his carven oak staff so that she could grab on. With the strength of elves he lifted her up with one arm and set her down again upon the ground.

"That was dangerous, who would make such a dangerous place. I could have slipped and then had to make the trip all over again. It was a long trip too, across the vale," She said with tears in her eyes and panic in her voice. This was what she said though was she meant to say was "Thank you"

Then she held on to his sleeve and signaled him to lead her away from the precipice with a tug. The Elvenking was taken aback for the holding of one's sleeve was a most private affair in the eyes of an elf. You must excuse Vera, for the Istari's views on the holding of sleeves is a manner of no importance. In this case it simply was an act of fear for falling by one temporarily lame.

Then when the Elvenking had led her safely away from the precipice, a brilliant light attacked his eyes. The Green girl attempted the same trick twice. Little did she know that elves never fall for the same trick twice as men often do. So if you were thinking she would escape by barrel like our friend Mr. Baggins, you were unfortunately wrong, as the Elvenkings deductive reasoning led him to secure the barrel dock. It was now a place of unnecessary procedure and prodding much like a modern day airport. The Elvenking grabbed her arm until the light of her scepter dimmed. She struggled most unbecomingly by slapping at him but then sighed and conceded.

"Fine throw me in the dungeon if you must, keep me there until my hair falls out and I become sinister with boredom," She said relentlessly with a rather whiny voice. Again I should remind you Vera did not know it was important that a prisoner keep their dignity, and the proper response would have been an indignant glare and silence at her captor.

Thranduil hand delivered the Green girl, who twice attempted to bite said hand. He hastily closed the prison cell lest she try for his fingers again. She pouted in the corner for a fair while then rolled over into slumber. She was very tired from the journey across the vale, and even more tired at being tossed about by elves.

Vera dreamed very strange and startling dreams concerning the falling of her kind. The wizard of many colors who proved to be very unwise indeed and the one dark sorcerer who nearly ended middle earth. She did not want to take the path of these both unwise and dark, yet she could not control herself for she though old in age was young in the ways of the world.

She was angry, cold and very bitter at those who imprisoned her. Luckily for her, she would not be imprisoned much longer. Indeed she was very lucky, as lucky as the hobbit that escaped here the first time. For in her cell among the mortar and stone was a tiny root which had grown into the cell. It was a thin sliver that was revealed but a great and tremendous root conceal by rock.

She awoke in the night for she had fallen asleep in the afternoon. There was a tray of bread, cheese, and mead in her cell. She refused to touch it and pouted most unceremoniously at the captors by the door.

" Swine, liars and swindlers" she said blackly at the door. The elven guards reviled at her word and stood farther from the door, lest tempted to engage her as one of them wanted to do. "Attercop" He wanted to say, however he knew she was an Istari and did not want to ensue her wrath. So they walked farther and farther from the door. Then when safely out of hearing range, the root in the crack in the wall spoke.

"Emerald Sower " a young Hazel tree said, kin to the First Birch Tree. He whispered ever so slightly that only the Green girl could hear. She stopped mid slur taking her bread and retreated to the corner. The elves were thankful that the surly fair prisoner filled her mouth with bread now rather than insults.

"How shall we aid you in your despair?" The Hazel tree asked. Vera turned her face to the root and very carefully asked the tree to move. It moved.

It wiggled its many deep grown roots and suddenly the mortar and stone came loose. There was now a tiny tunnel for Vera to climb to the surface. When the elven guards came rushing they saw that the cell had caved in. They assumed the girl had been crushed to death. The Elvenking was not so convinced and sent guards to seek the girl.

Vera was quick and quiet and shuck off her ankle bindings. Her foot was whole again due to the miraculous elven healing. She had found the Kings buck from the forest, who normally allowed only him to mount. She urged him quickly to take her out of the dark forest and he obeyed. The guards on their though magnificent mares were hardly a match for the speed of the Kings buck.

The buck would return a few days later, well ridden but also well kept and the Elven king knew that she was out of his grasp. Vera had ridden for two days, stopping at night for rest. The trees offered her un-poisoned fruit that they did not offer lesser men. She and the king's buck ate freely.

"I am sorry to use you so relentlessly. The Elvenking is in pursuit of me on accounts of rudeness" Vera spoke to the Kings buck. The Kings buck replied in the language of men and was orderly for a Kings buck to do so.

"Elves are counted among good people, I do not know why you evade them. Although rudeness is a crime that turns good people into unreasonable ones" The Kings buck said then took an apple that the Green lady offered him.

"Our ranks are thin, only four remain. I cannot afford to be jailed for a century on account of rudeness" Vera replied

"Perhaps next time you might reconsider being rude, especially in the company of kings. I myself, in fact dislike being ridden, but understand the graveness of rude behavior"

"I would be wise indeed to take your council. I thank you Sir Buck for your consideration. If you must take your leave soon, I would not consider it rude," Vera said sadly

"Wise you are, for you are of the order Wise. I will not desert you in this time of need. Remember me and my kin when our time comes." The King's buck simply said.

"I will remember but I think it is indeed time for you to return home. She could see the light clearing in the forest and knew soon she would be out of Mirkwood. What lied beyond she did not care, she needed to get of the forest of the angry Elvenking. A forest she herself planted when the world was young, but that was not a point the king took well.