CHAPTER ONE

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always. -Dante Alighieri

Since the very beginning of the human race, people have known that there's something special about nature. That the animals, the trees, they all hold a sort of magic. It is beyond our understanding, so wonderful that we cannot even begin to comprehend it.

It was this intrinsic magic that saved my life. That brought me back from the world of dreams to once again walk with the living. I didn't recognize it at first, and I was terrified. That's the thing about humans - we fear what we do not know.

It all began on a frigid day in January, though not even the cold could keep me indoors.

My apartment building was situated right at the edge of the city, barely a five minute walk to the forest. I had an old oak tree there, where I always went to sit and relax after a busy day at work.

The rough bark dug into my back through my sweater as I leaned back again it's trunk, my blonde hair catching on the sharp edges. The tension drained out of my shoulders, leaving me sagging against the tree. Lainey, my co-worker, had been stressing about her finals all day, making the entire bookstore on edge.

I thumped my head back against the wood, rattling the leaves above. 'No more thinking about work,' I told myself. 'This is your time.'

A breeze blew through the trees, not a crisp winter breeze, but a warm, strong one, laced with the smell of strawberries and honeysuckle. It shook the branches of the trees around me, leaves falling down into my lap.

The sound of bells, echoing like in a cave, caught my attention. A second passed, then a minute. A tall figure stepped out into the glade. He stood there, silent, his long, golden hair twisting in the flavored wind. He wore shining silver armor, a cloak of deep maroon clasped under his chin with a copper pendant. In his left hand he held the reins of a pure white horse that glowed faintly in the dying light, it's headstall flashing brightly as it tossed it's regal head. His right hand rested on the pommel of a great sword, studded with gems that shone like fire.

He stood for a second, silent. No sound penetrated the clearing. He gazed at me with kind eyes, bright and gold and sparkling with mirth. I felt strange under his gaze, as if I'd been found doing something I shouldn't've. Like he was a gentle god and I was caught stealing from his temple, though the temple was an oak tree and all I was stealing was a moment of peace.

The man stepped forward, feet silent against the forest floor. He left not a mark on the wet ground -muddied from a hard rain the night before- as he walked towards me. Reaching out a hand, he spoke for the first time in a clear, ringing voice unlike any I'd ever heard before.

"Arise, Tiffany, meluihun-nin. My beautiful one, come with me."

HI! Tinuiell here with the new version of Tiriel!

One of the most prominent changes I've made is that Enna's name is now Tiffany. I though it fit a lot more with the story, especially with the logic of Lainey and Lalaith. Enna and Tiriel just didn't make sense. I'm really sorry if this confuses any of you!

Another change I've made is that Tiffany is not a high schooler any more. Nope, she's all adulty now, with an apartment and a job and a stressed-out co-worker.

The third change, this is no longer a Glorfindel/OC story. I really wanted to venture into creating and writing a male character, something that I haven't really done before. Y'all will all be introduced to Thalnir later in the story. Oh and by the way, Thalnir doesn't have a forreal meaning like all the other names I do. I was just too lazy so I put a bunch of sounds together in a sorta elvish sounding way.

I'M NOT UPDATING WITH THE NEW CHAPTERS ALL AT ONCE. CHAPTERS THAT DO NOT HAVE A DATE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE ARE FROM THE OLD VERSION!

Thank you and Good night.

Xoxo, Tinuiell

Translations:

meluihun-nin: my sweet heart/my lovely heart