Authors note- ok so this is my first story so go easy on me, however, I'm not one to refuse constructive criticism. Anyways, I hope you like it.

Disclaimer- I own nothing affiliated with The Lord of the Rings and any similarities to any other fanfictions you've read is purely accidental.

Prologue - Sacrifice

She was a nymph, a dryad, a servant of the forest. Not born this way but rather re-born. She had died too young. The Valar who had marveled at her beauty during her life could not bare to see her leave the world so soon so they gave her immortality and power and turned her into this, and much to the their delight, the blessings they bestowed upon her increased her loveliness.

Her beauty was immense and etherial. With her waste-length raven hair, porcelain skin, long legs, and glowing violet eyes, she was a vision, not that anyone ever saw her other than the Valar. She lived always in the forest, and always in hiding. Man would covet such a thing as her, she knew, and she could not be removed from the forest. She was its guardian, its keeper. She did not think herself vain. No, certainly not. Only lowly humans could be vain. She was above that. She simply took excessive pride in her appearance. That's all.

When she was not roaming the forest, she became a laurel tree, tall and ever watchful. She had been this way for a millennia. She felt the mood of the forest shift as time passed, and through the trees she could gather information about the world so distant from her. She new something was different, something was wrong but she remained hidden, always hidden, alone but for the occasional traveler and the wind. She never felt especially lonely however. She could not remember anything of her previous life, so she didn't know what companionship felt like. There was nothing to miss, nothing to long for. Indeed she longed for nothing, content to live amongst the flowers and the birds. Today it seemed, however, that her solitude had ended.

A battle was taking place today. All around her swords and axes and other menacing weapons glimmered in the sunlight. She stayed still and silent throughout the battle. She was afraid. There were so many around her, far more beings than she had ever encountered all at once before. It was overwhelming. She recognized a few of the creatures as men, a dwarf, and an elf, but the littler beings were a mystery to her, as were the monsters—hideous creatures with fangs and a thirst for blood. She saw them and knew her decision to hide had been the right one.

What were these creatures? Why were they here? It was unnerving not to have the answers. All these years her knowledge had seemed so great. Here in the forest, she knew everything. Never had a question gone unanswered before. Could it be she was not as all-knowing as she had thought?

The Valar had warned her never to reveal herself to man. As she could not remember her first life, she supposed she could not trust her own judgement on the matter and she had faith in the Valar, so whenever a man approached she turned instantly into the simple, unimpressive laurel.

The gods had told her man was violent, arrogant, selfish, and cruel, but as she watched a lone man defend the two smaller beings she began to doubt the gods' tales. The man was tall and broad. His impressive size and steadfastness brought to mind a boulder. She was in awe of him. He fought bravely against the beasts, with no regard to himself, trying to protect the halflings. She wanted to help him, but her fear kept her still. After all what could she do? Trip the beasts with a vine? No, it was best she stay out of the way. She watched on dismayed as he was struck down by one...two...three arrows and still tried to fight. Was this really a man? He seemed more of a heroic and powerful god to her eyes.

His mortality soon became apparent to her, however, as he lay shaking, coughing, dying leaned up against her trunk. His companions had driven off the remaining beasts and now said goodbye as his life faded quickly. Their faces held a shared expression, one she had never experienced before. She had heard of it, and thought perhaps she could identify it. Could this mysterious emotion be...sadness? How dreadful! It seemed terrible. Before today she had been curious but now she hoped never to feel such a retched emotion herself.

She could not feel real sadness for the man but she felt a great sympathy for his companions. How terrible for them to lose such a man who had only minutes before seemed so mighty. She thought surely he could have provided much needed aid to a world in turmoil. She longed to help him. She new a great deal about the plants in the forest and could perhaps have healed him were his wounds not so severe, but it was pointless to dwell on that for the life-breath was already gone from him.

An idea popped into her mind. No, she could not do that. That was a foolish plan. Laughable. But as she looked down upon the dying man again—his skin pale, his clothes tattered and bloody—her heart cried out. She had never seen a man die before. It was too much for her sheltered heart to bare. She had to do something. It seemed her mind was made up.

She transformed back into a girl and held the mans head in her lap. She looked up to the heavens and cried out, " Whatever blessings you have given me, whatever power over death I have been granted, let it pass on to him!" She was met only with silence. Determined now she cried out a second time, pleading with the Valar "Please spare him, I beg you!"

Suddenly it seemed as though all of the energy was slowly draining out of her. She looked down at her hands in horror, and saw the glow that had so long emanated from within her diminishing before her eyes. Panic took hold of her. She tried to stand but quickly stumbled and fell back to the soft earth. Its warmth comforted her as her vision blurred and finally went black. But just before she fell into oblivion, she thought she saw the man stir.

OK chapter 1=finished

any thoughts?