Lady of the Ring (Asami-only version)
Part Zero: Introductions to Our Characters.
by Asami
original concept by Yohanna

A/N: There are two versions of this fic--one written by just me and one written by Brianna, Yohanna and me. So, yeah. Plot and stuff is different in the two versions, so don't even think about comparing them in those areas. Anyway, this is the INTRODUCTION, just so the characters are a bit more...believable. Yeeeeah. Umm yeah...so without further ado. I originally wrote this on NOTEBOOK PAPER! Notebook paper rules. Don't you agree? *shuts up so you, the reader, can enjoy this, the fanfic* I also went through a brief obsession with semicolons when writing Undomiel's intro. Sorry....Yohanna made up the name of her character (Farisess) and Briana hers (Dyorwen), so don't blame me! I BEZ NOT DUN EZENTHING! - quote from Arfenhouse

~Character: Undomiel of Mirkwood~
Undomiel, who was also called Hanabi by her closest friends and relatives, was known to most as nothing but a figure of royalty--the upper crust most could not even dream of joining. It's true, Hanabi was very privileged, but her privileges came after her coronation as Lady of Mirkwood. Before then...it was dark...but never live for the past; live for now.
Hanabi had one special item she kept with her at all times. This was the Inferno Sword, a very magical sword that possessed the power to copy any element; be it fire, thunder, snow or what have you. The Inferno Sword had been passed on to her by her mother, who always believed in the power Hanabi had in her.
Hanabi's nickname (A/N: Hanabi is the nickname, Undomiel is the real name, I know it's a bit confusing) means "fireworks". Such is her personality. Pick any old citizen of Mirkwood off the street and they'd say she's eccentric, or headstrong, or fierce. Some would even wonder why the Prince chose her as his bride. (But Hanabi dismisses that as idle jealousy. All the girls of Mirkwood fancy the Prince anyway.) But nobody would ever say greedy or power-hungry, because elves don't come that way, especially not their beloved Lady. The utter idea of her ever going another way came to her in a dream.
As you know, elves do not "sleep" as we humans "sleep". If you were to look upon a sleeping elf, you would wonder what's so fascinating about the horizon. It is more like they combine daydreaming with being subconscious than anything, but to us humans it's confusing so we don't think of it...but as I was saying. Hanabi was innocently dreaming when Saurina, daughter of Lord Sauron of Mordor, appeared to her as a figure cloaked in flame, holding a gold ring.
"Undomiel of Mirkwood...I am proposing to you an offer you cannot resist. Immense power will come to you if you will take this ring," Saurina offered. To this Hanabi snarled.
"I already have a ring, and it gives me more happiness than you could ever begin to match," she replied. On her ring finger a beautiful diamond ring glinted.
"Oh, so you do not want the ring?" asked Saurina. "Fine then! Mirkwood will fall into darkness, and you will be slain in the bloodiest battle since the War of the Ring...the first ring..." As Saurina's cruel words spilled from her mouth, scenes of a burning Mirkwood played out.
Hanabi shot awake, shaking uncontrollably. Next to her lay the ring, as if it was just waiting for her to put it on. She felt a warm hand on her arm and turned to end up in Legolas' arms.
"Hanabi, what's wrong?" he asked, gently stroking her hair.
"I...I have to go to Lorien," replied Hanabi suddenly. She hopped up, slid into a shapeless black dress and grabbed a sheathed sword. Quickly she packed essentials into a bag and took the ring in her hand. Instead of putting it on, she dropped it into a pocket. "Out of sight, out of mind."
"Why so?" Legolas asked.
"I have to ask someone something. Do not follow me. The citizens need you." Hanabi sighed. "It must be done."
"As you wish, but please be quick to return."
"I will do my best." Again Hanabi sighed, this time longingly. "My dear...I do not want to leave you, not even for a little while!" She flopped down, once again resting in the arms of her beloved. "However, I must. It is not only for my benefit, but for that of everyone in Middle Earth. I will get there before dawn breaks and return as soon as I can." She stood once more, putting on a cloak to hide her identity. "Nobody will ever know I've left. I have Infeno--I'll be fine."
"My brave Hanabi. Namaarie," Legolas whispered. Hanabi nodded, slipped into her riding boots and quietly snuck out. Down the large halls of the palace she went, quiet as a church mouse. Finally she went out a back door and ended up in the stables. Looking around, she noticed it was very much nighttime and pretty much all of Mirkwood was sound asleep.
"I must leave my true names behind on the road. If a Lady travels alone in the middle of the night and people find out, they suspect things...things that aren't true..." Hanabi thought as she entered the stables, nimbly walking on the hay-covered floor. Past the apartment of the stablehands she crept and came upon the stall of her favorite steed, Nightflame. Nightflame was jet-black and hard to spot, which was good for nighttime.
"Nightflame?" Hanabi whispered softly. Her horse awake and snorted. "Shh! We must be in haste." She took a cube of sugar out of a small pocket and handed it to Nightflame. "Follow me." She led her horse out of the stall, making sure to close the stall door afterwards to hide her trcks further. Down the corridor of the stable they went, past the rest of the horses and out into the crisp night. "The moon and stars are our lights now, Nightflame. Carry me to Lorien, and go as fast as you can." Quickly she mounted Nightflame. "For I must speak with Farisess."
Nightflame whinnied as she, bearing her rider, cantered off into the vast forest trails that connected the three Elven cities. Hanabi directed her horse onto the correct path and soon spotted the golden leaves littering the ground that signaled she was entering Lorien.
"Ah, this looks mighty familiar..." Hanabi said aloud.
"A Lady, traveling in the night? Might I know your name?" a voice asked.
"Haldir!" Hanabi noted to herself. "Does he never take a rest?" "I am...the Midnight Rider. I come to speak to Farisess."
"But why in the night?"
"Because...it is urgent!" Hanabi sputtered.
"I see. You may proceed....Your horse looks a lot like the one the Lady of Mirkwood rides a lot," Haldir pointed out.
"They are...of the same breed!" Hanabi explained quickly as she galloped into Lorien. She slowed Nightflame to a trot as she neared the palace of Galadriel and her daughter, Farisess. As she rode, she felt the ring in her pocket growing heavier, as if it was begging her to put it on. Bravely, Hanabi resisted the ring's pressure and reached the palace. Both Galadriel and Farisess were awake and awaiting Hanabi's arrival.
~Character: Farisess, Daughter of the Lady of Light~
"A star will shine upon our meeting, Undomiel of Mirkwood," said Galadriel. "However, the middle of the night is a rather strange time to meet. Something must be terribly amiss." Without words, Hanabi extracted the ring from her pocket.
"I had a terrible dream. A figure engulfed in flame offered me this, and when I refused, scenes of a tortured Mirkwood appeared. When I awoke, this was lying next to me. Do either of you have any knowledge of this?"
"I do know of a ring...but that one was destroyed in the Third Age. Undomiel, I believe Legolas has some knowledge of the War of the Ring. But this ring I have never seen before. I fear what powers it may hold. I caution you to never, under any circumstances, put on that ring," Galadriel informed Hanabi.
"It was forged by Saurina in the gloom of Mordor. As with the last Ring of Power, Mordor is the only place where it can be destroyed. Seeing as this ring was entrusted to you, you must destroy it," Farisess added.
"B...but I am just one woman! And I have someone who loves me dearly and I have promised I will return to! I cannot do this alone!" Hanabi protested.
"Then I will accompany you," Farisess offered. "I also know a Ranger who would be of much help."
"What about my home?" asked Hanabi.
"You mean Legolas," Farisess replied. She looked at Hanabi's longing face and sighed in pity. "If he wishes, he may come along." In response, Galadriel gave Farisess a stern look. "What? She cannot live without him."
"Thank you very much," Hanabi said gratefully. "I will go back to Mirkwood and return in a little while. I would like to meet this Ranger, too. Is anyone else going in our party?"
"Nobody else is confirmed," replied Farisess. "Your specialty is still Inferno, correct?"
"Yes. Inferno will never diminish."
"So I see. The sun is beginning to rise. Go back, retrieve what you may need and rush back," Farisess commanded.
"And don't you dare put on that ring!" Galadriel shouted as Hanabi mounted Nightflame and prepared to ride back to Mirkwood.
"Mother...I think you have told her one too many times. She will be fine. Do not worry about her," said Farisess.
"Aye, onward I ride, but I will return," Hanabi said as she tapped Nightflame and galloped off to the forest once again. Day was just breaking when she reached Mirkwood. Hastily she returned Nightflame and then dashed back to the palace. Panting, she appeared again in front of her husband.
"Ah, you are on time. Dawn is just now coming. What message from Lorien?" Legolas asked Hanabi.
"In my possession now is a ring. I do not want it. It was made in Mordor, so I have to go there and destroy it before anyone else gets to it. Galadriel mentioned a ring before it...and mentioned that you had knowledge of the ring before this one." Hanabi took out the ring.
"It does look familiar...Oh! She talks of the ring that Sauron forged. I do have knowledge of it, but it was destroyed."
"Exactly. But come! You are coming with me to Mordor. First we go back to Lorien to meet the other confirmed member of our party, and then on to Mordor," Hanabi said hastily. "I knew all along I'd be going to Mordor, so I pretty much have myself all the way packed."
"Can we not take one more meal here, love?" Legolas asked.
"Of course...I am being too hasty. We can take as much time as we need. I am just glad you agree to come along with me." Hanabi smiled.

After breakfast, the two headed out (Hanabi on Nightflame and Legolas on Arod) to Lorien once more. Galadriel and Frasihess were once again awaiting them and greeted them pleasantly.
"Do you still have the ring, Undomiel?" Farisess asked. Hanabi nodded and showed her the ring. "Good. Oh, Dyorwen! We have to go see her. Where is she, Mother?"
"I believe she is in a tree somewhere in the way leading to Rivendell," Galadriel replied. "Poor little thing, does not take well to social situations."
"She is a Ranger, what do you expect?" Farisess said under her breath. "Come." A maid sauntered up to stable the two horses and feed them a bit before their journey. The three walked through the forest awhile until the faint sounds of a flute could be heard.
~Character: Dyorwen, the Elven Ranger~
"I have heard this song before! My mother used to sing it to me when I was but a baby," Hanabi noted aloud. Following the sound, the trio eventually came upon a maple tree with a black spot sitting on a branch. Upon closer inspection, they found it was not a spot but a figure clad in a black cloak hiding a black dress with mud stains and a few rips here and there. She had dark skin and next to her lay a bow and a full quiver.
"Dyorwen! Come down from there, for you have two more people to meet," Farisess shouted up to the tree.
"Oh, must I?" the figure replied, putting down her flute next to her bow. "If it must be so." She hopped off her branch and dusted herself off. "Dyorwen of the Rangers. Nice to meet both of you." Her dark hair tossed around in the morning breeze. "It is such a nice day, is it not?"
"I agree. I am Undomiel, Lady of Mirkwood, and this is Legolas, Lord of Mirkwood. It is nice to meet you too," Hanabi replied. "So you are a Ranger? But you have elven features!"
"Yes...I was abandoned and found by a band of Rangers when I was very young. I was raised by them and I adopted their way of life," Dyorwen explained.
"If this is all we are traveling with, then why do we not leave? It is a very long way to Mordor from here," Legolas pointed out.
"I must agree with you, Lord Legolas. I will go back and retrieve...my weapons..." Dyorwen climbed her tree again and retrieved everything of hers up there. "Now I am ready."
"And we are too," Hanabi said.
"I am also. Let us fetch our steeds, and off to Mordor we go!" Farisess said to the group, dashing off. Everyone followed and gathered their horses from the stables. After Farisess bid Galadriel goodbye, the group left Lorien, heading south towards Mordor.

to be CONTINUED....