Chapter 1

Some say destiny is set in stone but when and how I would ever believe that because when you look around you would want the bad men to die and the good ones to live forever and ever so why did destiny kill the good ones. Like my father.

The pace of direct madness was fast and as the horse galloped through rough awkward land as the chase was set. Madness was the only thing running through the riders mind; the beat of the chase was fast and fearless. Long jumps over large gaps with many of the hunted falling through them; it was an Orc hunt.

The wargs and riders had given up the battle to attack the camp and turned tail; this only caused furry to rush through the harsh woods, the rider we are concentrating on gained several cuts along her cheeks as she ran through the forest face almost always being caught on the tall pine trees. This young lady who rode with bravery and confidence was Edhanna; her eyes were green, blue and gold because of her parents. Her mother was of Haradrim and her father from Gondor but at this current point this history is unimportant and wont effect Edhanna's life. Edhanna had tobacco coloured skin and black hair which just about touched her tail bone, this was always tied up behind the hood of her grey cloak. Her Mentor was to her side, the father she never had, they had cut off from the group to go to a bandit hide out near Bree.

The emerald hills rose up as they passed over the South Downs when the horses' hooves touched the grass the bright light of the noon sun illuminated the land. No longer did the world seem dark to the girl as she raced over the plains with her mentor riding like the wind never stopping as they followed the rushing water. "After this we shall drink in the prancing pony to celebrate" Erathorn promised tightening his grip on the horse reigns as they raced forward. Edhanna nodded in agreement unable to speak because of the unlimited thrill which rushed through her with the red blood.

The beat of the hunt was exciting for both apprentice and mentor as they slowed to a halt a few meters away from the base. Hiding the horses in the wood-choppers stables they both slid through the fields in front of them silently. "These are men that could have escaped us when we rescued you Han so..." Erathorn began as Edhanna touched the scar which went from the corner of her left eye to the left corner of her mouth.

"I know" She smiled reassuringly as they bent down behind a bolder just under the cliff edge on the opposite side of the den opening. Her smiles were always warm but came in little amounts and they mostly came for Erathorn the girl knew him like a father and he guided her through life when he found her. They swam over to the opposite bank and crouched down a few hand signals and they were off into the dark den.

The den didn't seem sturdy and the rocks looked like they could crash down on them; the way was lit by candles that made the place gloomy and barely lit the uneven floor. Rats scurried over the grown and their shadows were enlarged on the wall, both rangers breathed in as they moved two against 20 odd seemed uneven but they would manage. They found passages which led to a hall every bandit seemed to be there.

Edhanna's hand slipped behind her back silently and slowly in exact time as her mentor as they slipped to opposite walls and looked out to the bandits who cheered and laughed about their success. With a careful hand she latched the arrow to her bow and pulled back; her shot isn't perfect but her hand to hand combat was great so as the arrow was released it spiralled through the air next to her mentors and killed one of the bandits in a messy shot.

The bandits stood in confusion and began to panic and pull out weapons as panic coursed through veins as the leader shouted over the noise "Find the intruders now!"

Edhanna looked to her left nodded and ran in chopping down man after man distracting the men as they went to kill her but while doing this Erathorn was chopping at the wooden beams. The walls groaned as they began to weaken and the bodies of the dead began to increase she went for the leader but then rocks set in motion to fall on the people below roared in might.

The rush of stone fell loudly onto the floor, once she reached a safe spot away from the rock fall, her face turned to see her dying mentor on the floor trying to stand up while he watched the wraith glide away he fell flat. The dark walls surrounding her seemed to close upon her "Edhanna...GO!" was his last call. With the natural instinct to do as instructed she ran out of the dark ruffian den.

The old rotten oak door shut loudly behind her, she stood on the dusty land beside the rushing river before collapsing. She looked into the water current as she slowly broke the loss of a great captain and ranger as well as her beloved mentor. The blue waters seemed cool and the water didn't stop to look at the hurt woman who stood over them admiring them for their ever changing cycle. Her hands dag into the hard ground causing new sores to burn but she gave no heed they were nothing to the wound in her heart.

She knew she would have to cross over that very river to get to Combe yet she did not want to move from her mourning place. The sudden sound of rough male voice broke her from her painful trance, knowing not to take revenge this way she stood quickly. Her tanned hand slipped to the strap that held her great sword on her back, tightening it she swan dived into the cool deep river crossing it with great haste.

She pulled her wet body onto the hard dry ground on the other side and quickly climbed up the rocky cliff onto the plains on top of it. The short grass felt nice under her wet thick brown boots, her outfit was a mix of white furs, brown leathers, white and lilac cloth and grey water-proof material which made up her cloak. Her black hair fell calmly over her tan face, a scar sat boldly over her right cheek. Her eyes courageous with a mixture of green and blue with flicks of gold and small outline of black.

She hid quietly behind a tree, sobbing under her breath. The pain, it hurt so much almost like her heart was being strangled. She listened for the sign they had left and it took little less than 20 minutes before it was clear. The sun was setting and she sat alone on the cliff which her and her mentor used to talk together on about long quests that separated them for days on end. "I will avenge you Erathorn" She swore quietly as tears began to poor down her cheek and dripping onto the dry rock she sat on.

Edhanna slipped a dagger out her belt and etched a few words in the rock so deep that they wore down the dagger. She looked at her work on the stone before staring up at the still dazzling sky, the moon must have lost her memories since she was still smiling maybe the sun doesn't tell her anything of the day life and all she knew was night.

Her mourning carried on for days on end she would just sit on the rocky cliff not moving, drinking or eating. The pain had stopped replaced by the numbness and it seemed as though no light shone upon her. Edhanna began to think over and over how she got to this moment of time as she wandered back to the horses that made protest on being tied up for so long.

"I know boy" she said to her stallion tying her ex-mentor's mare to him with careful knotting before saddling him. She moved a bit for comfort as she moved the horses onto the road in a canter. Now she could think about her story:


She was a young girl abandoned by her step mother after her father died. Her mother was Haradrim and her father born and raised in Gondor. What she knew was her mother ran away from Gondor after her birth and when she was back to good health; her mother stole a horse and went back to the old Assassin ways leaving her father to look after her. She was never found again sometime later when she was 4 years old her father married and the woman soon gave birth to two twin boys both looked like their mother and father; yet her eyes still bewitched her father and he kept her like a prized diamond forever being spoilt. Yet she was teased and despised by her step mother who said she was a whore like her mother.

At the age of 13 Edhanna was told of her mother and that her father fell for the golden eyes. 1 year later her father fell ill unable to leave his bedchamber her step mother drove her like a slave. It took another year for her father to die and the young Edhanna was hurt painfully but her step mother took this as a chance when Edhanna was working hard her step mother drove her away on to the harsh streets of Gondor.

She was spending a lot of time in the slums in Gondor until the age of 20 when she met him, most called him mad and that Edhanna did think true but he was also bewitched by her eyes and on endless occasions would he confess his undying love when she accepted he said 'We can leave we have nothing here lets run away to Rivendell or Rohan we could go anywhere'. So they did they left and ended up in Staddle but then he was stabbed and with nothing he died in pure slow agony the death was painful for both of them.

Edhanna wanted to give up the pain so unbearable to handle but she changed, and for the better. She picked up a blade and began her start as a shield maiden. But on her way on turning into a captain she got into a quest which had lead her to being locked up and left to starve. She thought it to be the end.

Then strider came and his travelling companion saved her from the ruffians. Strider left but Erathorn stayed and took her to Archet to finish her training. And after all these quests he died today leaving her to mourn alone.


Edhanna shook her head and urged the horses to move faster to the last bridge both were galloping as she moved but then she heard it a screech like no earthly thing and this made the horses panic she could feel them blaze as fear grazed their beautiful form. Digging her heels in as her own panic took old she saw the bridge and hid in the bushes away from peering eyes. Silence took over as she hid.

How many times have people abandoned her? She had become an orphan and then kicked out her own home but when she went to the door of Faramir and Boromir they turned her away like a simple peasant. If she went to Boromir now would he even remember her?

Imaldris maybe she would go back there, she had to go somewhere for the roads were not safe for her to be travelling alone. Her eyes were set on the road as she cut straight across, a kind of short cut, to the elf realm where she would plan out again. If Edhanna was an honest person everyday then she would admit she had no clue where to start. She was not so adventurous like Tom Bombadil to go on adventure unless she had a set quest and she was no Bilbo Baggins. With a sigh she felt herself tire; she allowed the horse to slow as she felt herself calm. The road just beyond lead to the last bridge which would soon send her on the way to Rivendell.

The leaves were splendid in the setting sun so vibrant in colour; the careful beat of horses' hooves on the bridge was like a lullaby to a child. Edhanna felt the tension be released out her shoulders as she urged the horse to speed up; the horse reared like that day with her father and lunged forward in a gallop. This gallop was uncontrolled and wild but it sent flows of memory through her, she had been mourning too many and forgotten what it was to live. Edhanna sat back down on the saddle when she saw the city rise from its hiding spot in between the hills. The city was impressive to see especially to weary eyes that have seen death one too many times; with careful skill she halted the horse to a trot as the gate were in view.

Removing the hood from her dark locks which had been place on before in the journey she nodded her head and the guards allowed her through she had made quiet appearance when rescuing three young elflings from doom. The people were thankful for her finding them; so very thankful that the parents would not leave her be for a very long time. Edhanna thought about all the elvish things she had sold to buy food and the only thing she did not sell was a pendant that she wore every single day never taking it off for anyone.

The last homely house was only seconds away now and she noticed the stables were quiet full with a large collection of stallions and mares "Looks like you two may have to share" she laughed jumping off and leading them to where a pony was being tended to next to a well groomed Gondorian Stallion. Next to this stall was a free one but would not be free with two strong horses in it, settling them in and taking the gear of the backs she began to hum.

"Dark the stars and dark the moon,
Hush the night and the morning loon,
Tell the horses and beat on your drum,
Gone their master, gone their son,

Dark the oceans, dark the sky,
Hush the whales and the ocean tide,
Tell the salt marsh and beat on your drum,
Gone their master, gone their son,
" She sang as she groomed them her voice was quiet at the start and then she began to become louder as she was sure the man next door did not mind.

"Dark to light and light to dark,
Three black carriages, three white carts,
What brings us together is what pulls us apart,
Gone our brother, gone our heart.
" The man next door finished with care like he knew the pain that went with those lyrics. Only two men knew the meaning other than her and one was dead buried under three tons of rock and earth.

"Aragorn, is that you?" Edhanna inquired as she rubbed the stallion down after the mare

"Who else would it be Edhanna?" he answered peeking over the thin wall

"I never took you as the pony type" she teased looking over at the tidier man and then down at the tan pony that was swishing its head madly

"Oh and when did you get a second horse" Aragorn laughed staring at the two horses but Edhanna looked sadly

"I am looking for an owner for the mare I was hoping Glorfindel would want her" she whispered sadly.

Both walked out of the stable and locked the stable doors as they moved to the entrance into the courtyard. Both were silent; they didn't know what to say to each other Erathorn had always been the one to start a conversation between them and that left an empty hole in Edhanna's chest.

"What happened?" Aragorn started as they entered a hallway

"Erathorn... he died" Edhanna said carefully as though confronting a wild beast

"What defeated him?" Aragorn had gone into ranger mode cold and cut off with very little feeling and this hurt Edhanna because what she needed right now was not Strider but Aragorn. Aragorn who felt from the heart and would become heartbroken but no because when Aragorn gets hurt Strider steps forward; Edhanna muttered under her breathe as she went to answer.

"We were on a quest and we went to the hide out of some bandit lord and the whole thing fell apart he told me to run so I did in the end after trying to beckon hum out but..." She was stopped as Aragorn hit the wall and walked away she looked after him but didn't follow. Instead she went in the opposite direction to Elrond's study.

Edhanna's boots echoed through the quiet halls as her mind pondered why Aragorn had been so frustrated but why should she care at this moment because last time he didn't comfort her one bit. Sighing she leaned against a wall as she caught her breath. A tap on the shoulder caught her off guard and she nearly slit the throat of the one who scared her.

"Elrohir, what was that for?!" she exclaimed playfully hitting the elf with her hand

"What am I not allowed to great you, Mellon Nin?" he laughed the question was rhetorical so she pulled her tongue out and carried on walking to Elrond's office.

"I didn't expect you to be back" Elrohir chirped up happily as he followed her every step

"Well I have nowhere to go and I don't know where I am heading Ro. Now go bug Dan instead of me" she sighed sadly before knocking on his father's study door.

"I will see you at the dinner Mellon Nin" the look he gave was more like you will tell me about it later.


This is the longest chapter yet so I am pretty happy. Reveiw please this is a x