Hi, this is the Lady of Light. I received a few reviews saying how hard it
was to read my story, so I'm going to reload it. Also, as I read it, I was
shocked to discover many errors and areas that needed fleshed out. Now I'm
updating it. I hope you enjoy this new, revised version of the Story of
Lord of The Rings. Which I do not own with the exception of Nileth,
Lorintal, Callore, and Umbothel. Oh, by the way, I also changed the chapter
layout. And this story is now part of a series! The Ranyais (the Wanderers)
Yay!
Ranyais:
The True Fellowship
By Lady of Light
Chapter 1
Nileth wept. Her entire body shook as she lay there at her parents' side. It could not be true! No, she refused to believe it! They were not dead! They had to be alive! They just had to be! She cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, Nileth woke, convinced the night before was a lie. But when she opened her eyes and looked around, she saw the nightmare was real. She heard a soft noise behind her. She turned to see another elf maid surveying the damage. It was Umbothel, a mere maid a few seasons younger than herself. She seemed so disconnected from the tragic surroundings. Her parents died there too, but she had cut herself off from emotion. A sniffle reached Nileth's ears. She turned. Another elf maid had survived- Lorintal. She was beside her parents, tears spilling over her fair chubby cheeks as she rocked back and forth.
Nileth rose. She must return the girls to Lothlorien before nightfall. She was the oldest. The lot of caretaker fell to her. "Come. We must return to Lothlorien."
Lorintal looked up at Nileth in shock. Umbothel broke from her reverie of damage surveying.
"We must return to Lothlorien now before the orcs and goblins return! Come now!"
Umbothel stood, "I remember the way back. We will go this way." She pointed to the east.
Lorintal shook her head violently and pointed west.
"I agree. We will go west." Nileth spoke up, "The only thing to the east is the Dark Lands of Mordor."
Umbothel glowered. "Fine, we will go your way, but don't blame me if we get lost." With that, she followed Nileth in sulky silence as she led Lorintal towards Lothlorien.
`~`~`*`~`~`
Just before nightfall, the elflings reached the outskirts of Caras Galadhon.
"Haldir, look! It is the children."
Haldir rushed forward to meet his cousin. "Nileth, what is wrong? What has happened?"
Nileth stumbled into his arms. "Yrch." she whispered as she fainted from exhaustion.
`~`~`*`~`~`
"What is this of orcs in the woods by Nimrodel?" Celeborn questioned. "There haven't been orcs near there since the Last Alliance."
Galadriel merely raised an eyebrow as she listened to her husband's words and regarded the orphans before her. She looked at Nileth and then to Haldir.
"My husband, we are not here to discuss the truthfulness of their story. The remains of their camp prove it to be true. Now we have to decide how to deal with those left behind. Haldir," Haldir looked up. "You will take your cousin and raise her according to the healing arts." She looked at Umbothel. "Riuvel, you will take Umbothel to Rivendell and Lorintal to Lasgalen."
`~`~`*`~`~`
Galadriel's words were carried out, and the elf maids were separated.
A thousand years passed. Nileth grew from a rambunctious prankster into one of the most promising healers. Lorintal became a legendary archer, just one hair short of the skill of Prince Legolas. Umbothel became one of the bravest elven warriors Middle Earth had ever seen.
Galadriel decided it was high time for the orphans to begin families of their own, so she looked at prospective candidates. There were several nice local elf boys, but Nileth had terrorized them all as children. They were still afraid of her. There was nothing to do, but get her a husband from another realm. And Nileth was of royal blood. Granted, she was not a princess, but, by human standards, she would be a duchess. Therefore she needed someone of high blood. There were her grandsons, but she was considering them for Umbothel and Lorintal. There was Prince Legolas, but he was not exactly what she had in mind- both as a husband and as an elf. Maybe one of his brothers.
That's it! She would marry Nileth off to the Crown Prince of Mirkwood, whatever his name was! Perfect!
`~`~`*`~`~`
A few weeks later, Nileth was gathering herbs in the Misty Mountains on her way to Rivendell to meet this elf to whom Galadriel was marrying her off. The entourage had stopped for lunch when they were attacked by orcs. No one was killed, but they were forced to retreat into the woods. Callórë, son of Thranduil, king of Mirkwood, chanced to be riding near by.
"Hoy, there!"
Nileth saw him out of the corner of her eye. Not recognizing this strange elf, she supposed he was one of the dark ones. That would explain why he was riding near orcs. She fled deeper into the woods, praying for enough time.
`~`~`*`~`~`
Callórë was confused. This elf-maid actually ran from him. He didn't recognize her. He smacked himself on the head. Of course, she didn't know him. She was afraid of him. He rode after her. These woods were dangerous if one didn't know them.
`~`~`*`~`~`
Meanwhile in Rivendell...
Umbothel parried under Elladan's attack.
"Good, good. Now focus-!"
Umbothel took Elladan by surprise by slicing her sword into the leather wrap on his hilt. It sliced in two.
Elladan leapt back, attempting to regain his composure, but it was too late. He had given her an opening, and-
SPLASH! Elladan fell back into the shallow pool.
Umbothel smiled sweetly and tossed her dark hair out of her eyes, leaning on the hilt of her sword and driving the point into the ground. "Am I improving?"
"Not by much, if you are still ruining your point by driving it into the ground!"
"ESTEL!!"
She ran over to hug her cousin, deserting Elladan in the pool, wedged between two rocks.
"You are improving, Umbothel, but your courtesy leaves something to be desired." Elladan deadpanned.
Shooting him an irritated look, she released Aragorn from her bear hug and offered Elladan her hand. "Hurry up then. I'm wasting time with you that I could be spending with my best friend."
Elladan shot her a hurt look. "I'm a waste of time?"
Aragorn laughed. "Of course you are! That's why Um and I always tried to stay away from you. Either that or it was all the pranks and blaming we took for things you did!"
Elladan snorted. "That was Elrohir I'm sure of it."
~*~*~*~
And in Lasgalen...
"Aim a little to the left of the target, Lorintal. NOT AT THE PRINCE!!!"
With that, Lorintal released the arrow.
Legolas moved just a hair but enough for the arrow to miss. "Ha! I knew you couldn't hit your target!" he teased.
"Legolas," Lorintal said grimly, "Never ever pick on a girl with a bow in her hands. You just might make her lose her concentration. And if you had been paying attention, you would have known that I didn't miss."
Legolas laughed and tried to step forward. Tried because Lorintal's arrow had him pinned by his tunic to the tree! He growled and moved to release himself.
Lorintal turned and walked off into the forest. *That's enough target practice for one day* She smiled recalling the prince's face when he had found himself pinned to the tree. She climbed up her favorite tree, her hiding place since she first came to Mirkwood. Pulling out a scrap of parchment, she proceeded to draw the prince's frantic expression.
`~`~`*`~`~`
It was nearly suppertime when Lorintal emerged. She crept back into Lasgalen as silently as possible. She could hear Legolas ranting about wanting an adventure. She smirked. *So that's why he has taken to picking on me. He's bored!* She shook her head. *I had my fill of adventure before I was a millennia old. And, one would think that he would have had more than enough adventure already. *
~*~*~*~
(Back to Rivendell)
"Father, I realize I am only eighty-five, but...well, I...You see..."
The ever-patient Elrond lost his patience. "Estel, what do you want?"
"Could Umbothel come with me when I leave to meet the Rangers?"
"Umbothel?"
"Yes, sir..."
"Why not Elladan and Elrohir? Why do you want your cousin to go with you? Speak up, boy." Aragorn swallowed. "I want support, not harassment. Umbothel is capable of defending herself and she is my friend. Elrohir and Elladan are, well, Elladan and Elrohir." Elrond nodded sagely. "I understand. When would you be leaving?" "The end of the week, with your permission." Elrond frowned. "I'm afraid Umbothel won't be back from Mirkwood by then-" "MIRKWOOD!!!" "Yes, Mirkwood. I sent her to visit with another elf maid her age and deliver a message to Thranduil. She will be back early next week if she leaves on schedule." "When does she leave?" "Tomorrow, at first light..." "May I escort her? I've never been to Mirkwood." Elrond sighed. "I suppose..."
Will Umbothel and Aragorn make it to Mirkwood safely? Will Lorintal still be there? And what about Nileth?
Ranyais:
The True Fellowship
By Lady of Light
Chapter 1
Nileth wept. Her entire body shook as she lay there at her parents' side. It could not be true! No, she refused to believe it! They were not dead! They had to be alive! They just had to be! She cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, Nileth woke, convinced the night before was a lie. But when she opened her eyes and looked around, she saw the nightmare was real. She heard a soft noise behind her. She turned to see another elf maid surveying the damage. It was Umbothel, a mere maid a few seasons younger than herself. She seemed so disconnected from the tragic surroundings. Her parents died there too, but she had cut herself off from emotion. A sniffle reached Nileth's ears. She turned. Another elf maid had survived- Lorintal. She was beside her parents, tears spilling over her fair chubby cheeks as she rocked back and forth.
Nileth rose. She must return the girls to Lothlorien before nightfall. She was the oldest. The lot of caretaker fell to her. "Come. We must return to Lothlorien."
Lorintal looked up at Nileth in shock. Umbothel broke from her reverie of damage surveying.
"We must return to Lothlorien now before the orcs and goblins return! Come now!"
Umbothel stood, "I remember the way back. We will go this way." She pointed to the east.
Lorintal shook her head violently and pointed west.
"I agree. We will go west." Nileth spoke up, "The only thing to the east is the Dark Lands of Mordor."
Umbothel glowered. "Fine, we will go your way, but don't blame me if we get lost." With that, she followed Nileth in sulky silence as she led Lorintal towards Lothlorien.
`~`~`*`~`~`
Just before nightfall, the elflings reached the outskirts of Caras Galadhon.
"Haldir, look! It is the children."
Haldir rushed forward to meet his cousin. "Nileth, what is wrong? What has happened?"
Nileth stumbled into his arms. "Yrch." she whispered as she fainted from exhaustion.
`~`~`*`~`~`
"What is this of orcs in the woods by Nimrodel?" Celeborn questioned. "There haven't been orcs near there since the Last Alliance."
Galadriel merely raised an eyebrow as she listened to her husband's words and regarded the orphans before her. She looked at Nileth and then to Haldir.
"My husband, we are not here to discuss the truthfulness of their story. The remains of their camp prove it to be true. Now we have to decide how to deal with those left behind. Haldir," Haldir looked up. "You will take your cousin and raise her according to the healing arts." She looked at Umbothel. "Riuvel, you will take Umbothel to Rivendell and Lorintal to Lasgalen."
`~`~`*`~`~`
Galadriel's words were carried out, and the elf maids were separated.
A thousand years passed. Nileth grew from a rambunctious prankster into one of the most promising healers. Lorintal became a legendary archer, just one hair short of the skill of Prince Legolas. Umbothel became one of the bravest elven warriors Middle Earth had ever seen.
Galadriel decided it was high time for the orphans to begin families of their own, so she looked at prospective candidates. There were several nice local elf boys, but Nileth had terrorized them all as children. They were still afraid of her. There was nothing to do, but get her a husband from another realm. And Nileth was of royal blood. Granted, she was not a princess, but, by human standards, she would be a duchess. Therefore she needed someone of high blood. There were her grandsons, but she was considering them for Umbothel and Lorintal. There was Prince Legolas, but he was not exactly what she had in mind- both as a husband and as an elf. Maybe one of his brothers.
That's it! She would marry Nileth off to the Crown Prince of Mirkwood, whatever his name was! Perfect!
`~`~`*`~`~`
A few weeks later, Nileth was gathering herbs in the Misty Mountains on her way to Rivendell to meet this elf to whom Galadriel was marrying her off. The entourage had stopped for lunch when they were attacked by orcs. No one was killed, but they were forced to retreat into the woods. Callórë, son of Thranduil, king of Mirkwood, chanced to be riding near by.
"Hoy, there!"
Nileth saw him out of the corner of her eye. Not recognizing this strange elf, she supposed he was one of the dark ones. That would explain why he was riding near orcs. She fled deeper into the woods, praying for enough time.
`~`~`*`~`~`
Callórë was confused. This elf-maid actually ran from him. He didn't recognize her. He smacked himself on the head. Of course, she didn't know him. She was afraid of him. He rode after her. These woods were dangerous if one didn't know them.
`~`~`*`~`~`
Meanwhile in Rivendell...
Umbothel parried under Elladan's attack.
"Good, good. Now focus-!"
Umbothel took Elladan by surprise by slicing her sword into the leather wrap on his hilt. It sliced in two.
Elladan leapt back, attempting to regain his composure, but it was too late. He had given her an opening, and-
SPLASH! Elladan fell back into the shallow pool.
Umbothel smiled sweetly and tossed her dark hair out of her eyes, leaning on the hilt of her sword and driving the point into the ground. "Am I improving?"
"Not by much, if you are still ruining your point by driving it into the ground!"
"ESTEL!!"
She ran over to hug her cousin, deserting Elladan in the pool, wedged between two rocks.
"You are improving, Umbothel, but your courtesy leaves something to be desired." Elladan deadpanned.
Shooting him an irritated look, she released Aragorn from her bear hug and offered Elladan her hand. "Hurry up then. I'm wasting time with you that I could be spending with my best friend."
Elladan shot her a hurt look. "I'm a waste of time?"
Aragorn laughed. "Of course you are! That's why Um and I always tried to stay away from you. Either that or it was all the pranks and blaming we took for things you did!"
Elladan snorted. "That was Elrohir I'm sure of it."
~*~*~*~
And in Lasgalen...
"Aim a little to the left of the target, Lorintal. NOT AT THE PRINCE!!!"
With that, Lorintal released the arrow.
Legolas moved just a hair but enough for the arrow to miss. "Ha! I knew you couldn't hit your target!" he teased.
"Legolas," Lorintal said grimly, "Never ever pick on a girl with a bow in her hands. You just might make her lose her concentration. And if you had been paying attention, you would have known that I didn't miss."
Legolas laughed and tried to step forward. Tried because Lorintal's arrow had him pinned by his tunic to the tree! He growled and moved to release himself.
Lorintal turned and walked off into the forest. *That's enough target practice for one day* She smiled recalling the prince's face when he had found himself pinned to the tree. She climbed up her favorite tree, her hiding place since she first came to Mirkwood. Pulling out a scrap of parchment, she proceeded to draw the prince's frantic expression.
`~`~`*`~`~`
It was nearly suppertime when Lorintal emerged. She crept back into Lasgalen as silently as possible. She could hear Legolas ranting about wanting an adventure. She smirked. *So that's why he has taken to picking on me. He's bored!* She shook her head. *I had my fill of adventure before I was a millennia old. And, one would think that he would have had more than enough adventure already. *
~*~*~*~
(Back to Rivendell)
"Father, I realize I am only eighty-five, but...well, I...You see..."
The ever-patient Elrond lost his patience. "Estel, what do you want?"
"Could Umbothel come with me when I leave to meet the Rangers?"
"Umbothel?"
"Yes, sir..."
"Why not Elladan and Elrohir? Why do you want your cousin to go with you? Speak up, boy." Aragorn swallowed. "I want support, not harassment. Umbothel is capable of defending herself and she is my friend. Elrohir and Elladan are, well, Elladan and Elrohir." Elrond nodded sagely. "I understand. When would you be leaving?" "The end of the week, with your permission." Elrond frowned. "I'm afraid Umbothel won't be back from Mirkwood by then-" "MIRKWOOD!!!" "Yes, Mirkwood. I sent her to visit with another elf maid her age and deliver a message to Thranduil. She will be back early next week if she leaves on schedule." "When does she leave?" "Tomorrow, at first light..." "May I escort her? I've never been to Mirkwood." Elrond sighed. "I suppose..."
Will Umbothel and Aragorn make it to Mirkwood safely? Will Lorintal still be there? And what about Nileth?