She's known only as The Child of the Earth, and she was exactly that. Lothrena was a creature out of legend. A young elven maiden who lived in the forest, Lothrena's family was brutally murdered by a pale white orc known only as the Defiler. In her pain, she ran to the only comfort she'd ever known: the forest. There she was greeted by a figure she'd soon come to love as a father. The Ent Amenthroot raised the young child as his own, teaching her the ways and the life of the forest. Here she has lived, and died... and lived again.
Now Lothrena is offered an adventure unlike any she's ever known by the man she owes her very life to. Lothrena accepts, leaving behind everything she's ever known and everything she protects to join a rowdy bunch of dwarves, and a headstrong king that will steal her heart.
~Like Flies and Spiders~
Lothrena has been a friend of Gandalf's for as long as she can remember. The old wizard is like a grandfather to the young elf, and she would have it no other way. She owes him her time, her services, and even her very life.
As a young elf, Lothrena always found herself running through the forest and speaking with the Earth there. The trees rejoiced each time they saw her, bellowing deep in their curious tongue. They would swing her from branch to branch, eventually cradling her for the night when she had grown weary from their play. The creatures of the forest were much the same, the deer racing and playing with her, the wolves teaching her to fight and fend for herself. The trees would supply her food and shelter with their fruit and shade.
Her forest family raised her and taught her the ways of the world. Her Onodrim, Amenthroot, taught her a great many things and made the young elf very wise and cunning. He protected her and loved her, and she; him.
The young maiden was slim yet strong for her age, and wise as well. She picked things up very quickly. From the wolves' battle lessons, to her schooling under Amenthroot, she would learn swiftly and always be eager for more. She had long golden locks that curled naturally around her soft face and fell to her rib cage and hazel eyes that could pierce one's very soul. She loved her home and her family in the forest and was content to never leave. Fate, however, had other plans.
Orcs. 12 of them attacked her family, taking her deer friends quite violently, boasting of the fine meal they would make. They were unaware of the green eyes glaring at them from the branches of a mighty oak. They were no match for her forest, she knew, but she still had to protect them. The orcs fell quickly and without much force. Still, they had taken her friends from her - something she could never get back.
She had buried the animals where they had first met, across the river in the middle of the forest. Amenthroot held her that night, held her sobbing form to his great wooden one, soothing her with words of wisdom and love.
The next day she crossed the river once more to pay her respects. After another tear-filled visit, the elf made her way across the river once more. But something was wrong. Her river shuttered and sobbed in pain, tugging at her as she crossed. It was warning her.
But it was too late. A final Orc she had not seen escape sprung at her from the depths bellow. Dragging her down, the creature choked her bellow the water, shaking her as violently as it could. Her hands searched for something to wield, anything to protect herself but found nothing. The mud of the riverbed slipped through her fingers and the shells of small creatures that once dwelled there sliced her fair skin. She cried out, thrashing bellow the creature that was much stronger than she and her river heard. Not a moment later, a large rock was swept into her palm by a strong and determined current. She thrust the rock as hard as she could manage into the creatures skull and was rewarded with a red cloud in the water and the orc's grip to slack. She watched as the creature came to float above her, but also found all the air had left her body. All strength had abandoned her as well, leaving her to drown in the river.
By sheer luck and chance, a form was passing through and noticed the butchered Orc afloat in the waters. He also then noticed a pale hand bellow, clutching tightly onto a rock. Moving the bloody creature aside, the grey wizard pulled the elven maiden into his lap, sweeping his hand above her as he muttered a strange and foreign dialect.
Air rushed back into Lothrena's lungs so fast it burned. Her eyes flew open, flushing with life. Her golden locks seemed to wash sapphire - the color of the waters - and black. It lost all bounce in that moment, her curls falling away to become stick straight around her form. The newfound stranger brushed her newly colored locks from her face and offered her assistance. She sprang away at that moment, calling to her Amenthroot. To her Onodrim. The great, towering Ent bounded through the trees, his eyes falling on the crumpled elven woman on the forest floor. His eyes then took in the grey wizard before them and came to his knees, cradling his child in his arms. "Istar," his powerful voice rang out, "did you save her?"
"Save her, damn her. Whose to know. But, yes Amenthroot, your child is alive and well."
"She does not appear as such!" The Ent cried. "Her hair has turned to the colors of water and death! Her eyes have clouded!" Gandalf nodded then, coming to cradle the frightened elf's hand in his.
"Aye, she has changed. She has been spared, but she has morphed. The magic has claimed her and now she will forever know she should be dead." The grey wizard spoke, then clutched her hand tightly to his breast. "Lothrena, child of the Forest, you are very fortunate. I dare not think of what would've come to pass had I not been nearby."
Her fingers wrapped around his tightly. "You saved me, wizard. And for that, I am forever in your debt."
It had been nearly 120 years since the young maiden had seen her wizard companion when Gandalf had strode into her forest once more.
"Gandalf!" She cried, throwing her arms about him. "What brings you here, my friend?" She questioned, leading him to her shelter in the trees. A cluttered knot of branches unwove as she waved her hand, revealing a quaint living space. A small fire burned within a stone firepit, a storage of fruit sitting beside it. A pile of leaves and moss lay across from the fire, making up her bed. Two rocks sat in the middle, which Lothrena sat upon, motioning for Gandalf to do the same.
"Does Amenthroot know of your presence?" The elf questioned excitedly. The wizard laughed heartily, nodding.
"Aye. He told me where to find you, dear Lothrena."
"I'm sure he did." The elf mused affectionately. She loved her Onodrim dearly. "So, do tell Gandalf. I've not seen you in 116 winters yet I still know you well. You did not come for a mere chat." She teased, earning a smile from the old wizard. "So do tell, my friend. What news do you bear?"
A sly smile spread over the wizard's face.
"Lothrena, my dear friend, how would you like to join me on an adventure?"
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