Summary: "Lómëlen they named her: dusk star, lonely star. She hated the songs; she hated hearing her pain sung for all to hear... but most of all she hated to remember what she had lost, that's why she travels, why she is here" Will take place before, during and after the War of the Ring.
I am posting this now, despite my original plans, so that I can get a bit of feedback for this story so I can improve it. Any help, ANY, is fantastic. This includes anything you liked, any ideas it brings to you, any suggestions, any criticisms - I really don't mind. You could say this story is in BETA. Because of that the updates may be a little slow (I orinally placed a large capitalised underlined warning here about it being a slow update story but I seem to have gone back on my words - thus I deleted it)
Also, for the readers of Black, White and Grey: Yes, Aríanna is very similar physically to Lara. What can I say, I never thought I would actually post this story and I happen to like silver hair.
I don't own, believe it or not. Massive credit goes to J. R. R. Tolkien and the many fantastic people who worked with Peter Jackson. I will work from Book verse as well as Movie verse. I will use scripting from the book or film on occasion and I also have taken inspiration, characters, script, and plot from the fan made film 'Born of Hope' (which is fantastic).
This chapter may seem to start slowly.
Chapter One
Lómëlen, Lómëlen hear her voices on the glen
Silken hair of star lit wind, Silver eyes of noble kin
Pale feet on dusken land, with blade of fire in her hand
Lómëlen, Lómëlen singing lone sweet Lómëlen
Aríanna - Present
I was tracking a host of orcs when I heard the great horn blowing. It was a unique sound and I knew it from a memory long past, though I could not remember in what context. I jumped to my feet from where I had been studying the tracks and raced with what elvish speed was given to me. I jumped over many fallen trees and twisted down many paths. I heard the clash of armour and metal and the harsh calls of the orcs. I had not realised they were so close. The horn sounded again and I picked up my speed, unleashing Nórui (*fiery) as I did. The eager blade flew out and it glinted in the sun, reflecting all the fire of its making.
The screams of orcs grew louder and then, turning a sharp corner, I saw the host before me. However, they were no normal band of creatures, these were the tough kind that Saruman had been brewing, and I had heard only whispers of this new breed. I'd had suspicions, from the tracks they left, but that they were expected was no balm to my heart as I saw the horde. They were large and more proportioned like men and the scrawniness that many orcs habited had been replaced with wide brutal muscles beneath their leathery skin. In my younger years they would have shot fear to my heart but now I didn't allow such distractions.
I did not stop to think of course. I ran into the clearing but even as I did I saw that the group had began to sprint off into the forest. Just one Ura'kai was left, standing proudly in the centre of the clearing. Before him, leaning helpless against a tree was a man. My elven eyes noted the black fletches of arrows protruding from his chest and a part of my mind told me that nothing now could save him from his fast approaching doom. Around this sight many bodies of Ura'kai lay slain upon the floor. The Ura'kai was raising a cross bow, a brutal contraption that would break bones and the hardest armour. The machine was raised and pointing at the man's face.
I wasn't going to get there in time, was my desperate thought. I screamed as I continue to sprint to the beast and I saw it pause briefly. But I was not the first to reach it. Ahead of me sprang another man, dressed in dark browns and wielding a gleaming blade. He too yelled his anger as he engaged the Ura'kai.
A battle ensued and the man and I fought viciously alongside each other. It was a struggle, for this individual seemed to be the hardiest I had encountered, even when one of its arms had been severed it still fought us on both sides. At last its head fell to the floor.
The man gave little attention to me as he rushed to the side of his comrade, but I knew he had seen me, just as I'd seen him. It was startling, if not unexpected, to see him here of all places. He was dressed in his ranger garb and his skin and clothes were stained with the glutinous black blood of the orcs. But I would always recognise him. He was the mirror image of his uncle, though Arathorn's signature was there too.
Aragorn was crouching next to the paled, fair-haired man speaking softly with him. I walked away, hoping to give them a little privacy at least. I busied myself with wiping the blood from Nórui. I could still hear every word, my elf ears being keen as they ever were, but I paid them no mind. Or at least I tried not to.
"I tried to take the ring from Frodo, I have failed you"
I had heard news of the one ring on my visit to Rivendell and it surprised me that it was so close. It was not comforting either to know how close it had come to the enemy hands. I frowned though in confusion, wasn't Gandalf meant to be with the company of the ring?
"Hail Boromir, son of Denethor" I head Aragorn say and I gasped.
Today was a sad day indeed, if the heir of the steward of Gondor had passed from this world. I had heard of his conquests through the years and knew him to be a valiant man. The steward would mourn deeply for his loss, just as any father. It was now that I recalled the horn I had heard through the trees and to my mind another lord raised the mighty horn to his lips and blew it out over the land, another steward. I bowed my head and sent up a silent prayer as I heard the last breath of Boromir.
Upon the hill I sensed a new presence. I turned and looked up. There I saw two figures, as different as two people could be. There stood a tall pale elf, dressed in the semblance of a wood elf, and next to him a stocky dwarf leant against his mighty axe. Neither were looking at me, instead their faces held sorrow for the departed.
Aragorn got to his feet and I turned to him. He gave me a rueful smile, grim and cheerless.
"Well now, it is a shock to see you here, though I am not sure if I should feel the surprise, considering things" He said in form of greeting.
"I only wish I could of come sooner" I replied looking sadly at the once proud man "and I thought as much the same when seeing you."
"I think introductions are in order, lassy" The dwarf said, approaching us.
"Of course, this is Legolas of the woodland realm and Gimli son of Glóin. Legolas, Gimli this is Aríanna of Rivendell. We can trust her, she's family" Aragon said formally, I nodded as his companions were introduced. I had heard of these two, Legolas the Prince of Mirkwood of course was known to me, though we had never met, and even the name of Gloin was in my memory.
"Family eh? Wasn't aware you had such feisty women in your family and elven at that" Gimli said, gruffly. I heard the compliment in his voice and the glint in his eyes and I was puzzled briefly. A dwarf complimenting an elf? My, my, what do we have here?
Aragorn smiled slightly. His face was just as worn as I had ever seen it and in my mind's eye I saw that expression implanted on the many faces of his ancestors. I saw his grandfather and my father wearing it; I saw his father and uncle wearing it, those two who had been like brothers from me; I shied away from their memory. Almost all the Dúnedain's acquired that look, gained from the rugged life of the rangers. Years of travel and danger had given them this look and yet they were more noble even that the proud Gondorians in all their shiny plates.
"You look more like Arnor each time I see you brother-son"
He chuckled and but looked at me with a little too much understanding in those grey eyes of his. I saw Legolas start at hearing our family relationship.
What followed seemed to rush by me. We sent Boromir down the river to his city, the spears of the Ura'kai he'd slain beneath him. I watched with the others as the elegant boat of Lothlórien fell over the edge of the fall, its path laid out before it. I was deliberating my own path now. Should I follow this trio? The man, elf and dwarf? They were my kin, or at least two of them were. Aragorn my hanarion (Brother-son) and the elf, Legolas of the woodland realm, from my mother's birthing place. That to me seemed like where my heart and duty wished to lead me.
I had been on my way to Lothlorien, to seek comfort there after my long journeys. These three were diving back into danger…
"Quick! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore!" Legolas said running to the river where the remaining Lorien boats were harboured. I looked over the crashing water and saw two small figures disappear into the foliage. I recognised them as Perian and wondered at the day we had come to in which the little people were seen in the wild so far from their tidy homes.
I looked to my cousin as the Prince did and saw the same steely jaw and resignation in his grey eyes.
"You mean not to follow them...?"
"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands."
I turned again to watch the two Hobbits and my inner eyes drew up a long winding path before them, dark, dangerous and gruelling.
"Then it was all in vain, the fellowship has failed" the dwarf said with a heavy sigh and Aragorn walked to him and placed a hand over his shoulder.
"Not if we hold true to each other." He said bracingly "We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death, not while we have strength left."
Aragorn looked to me, questioning, and I sighed.
"I shall come, my heart tell me that is where my path lies" I said and I saw a fleeting smile on his face, reminiscent of his young days when he would grin learning I would be traveling with him and the Dúnedain.
"Then let's hunt some orc" He said determinedly.
The dwarf cheered and with that we rushed out of the small clearing and into the trees.
Aríanna is 6
I was sitting on the hill that overlooked the path into Rivendell. The grass was lush and green and amongst the blades small purple flowers bloomed. I had picked one and was twirling it between my fingers. Next to me two boys were fighting.
The brothers were tossing and twisting, though I had forgotten the reason. They were just silly boys; if they fell off the hill then it would be their own fault. Pity they were my cousins. Arathorn, the elder of the two, seemed to have the upper hand as usual and I shifted out of the way as they tumbled towards me.
"Stop it you two! Or I'll tell uncle Arador that you were fighting again!" I shouted at them in my high pitched voice.
They both looked up at me as if suddenly realising I too was here. The older brother was sitting on top of Arnor, whose face was being pushed into the earth. One of Arnor's hands was gripping Arathorn's hair and he was wincing. Both boys were grass stained and ruffled. They looked at each other identically and I recognised a glint in their eyes.
"No! Stay away!" I yelled, jumping to my feet as the two boys scrambled up and chased after me.
I didn't get far.
They tackled me to the floor and began tickling me, I shrieked. I tried in vain to bat them away but they were both older than me and it did very little. Arnor, who was nine, was three years older than me and Arathorn was twelve. I kicked out. I couldn't stop laughing and I could hear them doing the same.
"Get off!" I screamed.
Eventually they did and they were grinning happily to each other, their previous argument forgotten. I pouted, crossing my arms.
"Aw, Aríanna, don't be upset. We're very sorry" Arathorn said, smiling sweetly.
Arnor simply laughed and poked me in the ribs playfully, I hit his hand away. I jumped to my feet and pushed my silver hair behind my ears to survey the boys.
"I'll forgive Arathorn, at least he apologised, unlike you" I said contemptibly as I jabbed my finger at the grinning nine year old with dark wavy hair. He rolled his eyes at me and threw a small pebble at me, to which I squealed and sent a feeble kick in his direction.
It was then that we heard the sound of feet on the road next to us. I span around, hope glistening in my eyes, and crawled to the edge of the bank. I lay on my stomach and felt the boys do the same. I saw three men coming up the path, dressed in travelling gear and I eagerly studied them. They were all Dúnedain, which was obvious from the rugged clothed they wore and the stern expressions of their faces, that and the fact they were men. I didn't recognise two of them, the one leading a heavily laden brown horse and the younger one next to him, but the one in lead –
"Ada!" (father) I shouted jumping to my feet, excitement bubbling in my chest.
"Uncle Arassuil!" my cousins chorused.
My hair bounced as I ran along the edge of the hill, my bare feet running as fast as they could parallel to the path. I knew the boys were following, even though they would have over taken me if they'd been running too. The grassy bank was level next to the slopping stone path, so as the path began rinsing to meet me I jumped the rest of the way down. The stones were warmed by the sun and smooth from the thousands of feet that had walked up and down it.
Ahead of me the man was walking towards me. He was stately and proud; even when dressed as he was and covered in grime and sweat. His face filled with joy as he came towards me and I heard his warm laughter.
"Ada!"
I ran to him, jumping into his waiting hands and wrapping my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder. He smelt earthy and of dried sweat and he was still in his travelling gear. His black hair, now dirty, was cut to his shoulders and his hands were rough with calluses.
"Arí, it is good to see you again. Where is your Naneth (mother)?" he asked me, carrying me up the rest of the path that led to the city.
"She's at home. How long are you staying Ada?" I asked, clinging to my father.
"I don't know yet Arí" He said sighing, rubbing circles on my back.
"Uncle! Where have you been? Aunt Eruianna has been fretting for weeks!" I heard one of the brothers shouting as we approached.
"Did you see father? He's been away too"
"Suil hanarion (greetings brother-sons),I have heard news that your father should be here within a week or so" He replied to the boys standing above us on the bank still.
We wound up the path and entered the gardens of Rivendell. Ada was walking to our rooms as my cousins ran ahead to tell Naneth of his arrival. The other men had gone their own ways but I didn't care where. I curled into my Ada's arms happily.
I so rarely saw my father, what with him always being away helping his brother run the Dúnedain and it was these moments that I hoped would never end. Mother was always sad when father was away; then again, she was sad when he was here too...
We had reached home by now and he set me down outside the door. Naneth was waiting there at the door, still holding a paint brush from her morning activities. In the garden around our rooms I heard the voices of Thorn and Arnor as they wove through the trees and flowers. Naneth's face was glowing with joy and her fair elven face lit up into a sad smile. She was beautiful, her silver hair flowing all around her like star light woven into substance and her graceful figure welcomed us.
"Now, why don't you go play for a while nibin pen (little one)? I will see you at dinner" father whispered to me, his hand resting on my shoulder as he crouched down by me side. I was unwilling to leave him but I nodded solemnly and ran off to find my friends.
There were not many children here, for this was the home of the elves. My cousins and I were an exception, them being the direct youth of the Dúnedain line and me the daughter of an elf. It would have been awfully lonely without them here too, I thought. Who else could I complain to about the lessons Lord Elrond gave us? Who else's shoes could I hide when they weren't looking?
"Arí! Over here!" Arnor called, his sharp eyes quickly seeing me as I squeezed through the undergrowth.
The boys were sitting on one of the bridges, their feet dangling down. They were dropping large leaves into the water and watching as they drifted down stream to a small waterfall.
"I win!" Thorn called, ruffling his brother's hair and pushing him to the side a bit.
They were racing whose leaf reached the waterfall, I guessed. Arnor pushed the older boy away and flattened his hair, his face red as he glanced at me.
"Can I play?" I asked sitting down next to them like they were. I swung my legs over the side, then looked at them to see if I was doing it the same way they were.
"Sure, but you have to find a leaf first" Arnor said as he selected a large red leaf from his collection. I got up again and ran for the shrubbery to the side.
Remember: YOU are my Beta, shall try and at least to get chapter two out fairly soon.