Disclaimer: I don't own nothin'. Not LOTR, not the Simarillion, not even my bathmat!

I tried to use it as a floormat for my closet Gollum shrine (so my knees wouldn't hurt everytime I bowed on all fours) but my Mom said I couldn't, that it belonged in my bathroom and she had bought it anyway so it was hers.

Life is so unfair!

And If you think I'm insane, don't worry.

I already know I am. : )

Thankyous:

Thank you Naheka, for being ever-faithful and leaving nice parodies!

Thank you Mierin, for thinking that my story is original!

And thank you The Mad Writer, for writing your review with a Gollum accent!

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Hini's bare feet padded noiselessly against the floor as he walked down the hall. Usually the wooded halls of Yavanna's home in Valimar were lit with light, owing to the many gaps in the roof and walls that would let the light of the two Trees shine through.

But the Trees had been dead for quite some time, and all was darkness. The only light that now shone in this huge dwelling were the small, flickering lamps hanging from the walls.

Hini's normally cheery face was somber, and streaked with tears. Never in his entire existence had he mourned as much as he did now.

In past days he had been used to the hardships that Melkor had caused him and others to endure, but Hini had not suffered in a long time, and now the pain was fresh and new. He had thought Valinor safe, a paradise that no evil could taint.

But Hini had been wrong.

Evil had occurred, and it hurt him most terribly, for it was his Mistress' work that had suffered, it was the glory of Laurelin and Telperion that had been sapped. Hini had seen those trees grow before his very eyes at Yavanna's command, and now they were nothing more than rotted husks, poisoned and empty.

Hini walked down the hall until he came to a pair of huge doors, wrought with branches of living oak. Hini reached out and put his hand on the wood.

*Edro emmyn! Edro, golfe O Kementari.*^^ He whispered. With a rustle of leaves, the branches unraveled and the door parted in the middle. Hini stepped through into the now dim throne room.

Yavanna sat upon a throne of rowan wood, carved with intricate designs of plants and flowers. Grass carpeted the floor, and along the sides of the vast room, small clusteres of Elanor and Neprhredil bloomed.

Two handmaidens stood on either side of Yavanna, both robed in green, like their Mistress. Several others who vowed alleigiance to Kementari stood or sat in the far corners, watching Hini with little interest.

"Lady Yavanna?"

The Queen of the Earth raised her head. Her face was in much the same state as Hini's, tear-streaked and full of anguish. Yet being a Valier, she looked noble and fair, still retaining a sense of dignity and honor.

"Pray tell, who stands at my door?" She asked, her voice soft, like the whisper of reeds in a windy breeze.

"It is I, Hini." The young Maia replied, stepping farther into the room. "Forgive the intrusion, my Lady, but I have something to ask of you."

As Hini walked towards the throne, the glow from a small lamp nearby revealed that he was not dressed in his ordinary clothes. His feet were bare, as usual, but he had discarded his simple green garments in favor of warm leggings and a brown shirt. A dark green traveling cloak was wrapped around his shoulders, and a small knapsack was on his back, next to a small bow and a quiver of arrows. There was a knife sticking out of his belt, and his face had a look of determination beneath its sadness.

Yavanna observed all this in silence. Finally she spoke.

"And what wouldst thou desire of me, Child of the Woods? I see thou hast some plan in thy mind. What is thy wish?"

Hini bowed low, then straigtened.

"As we all thus know, my Lady, it has been a a while since the main faction of the Noldor, led by Feanor, hath departed from Valinor. Ever since they left these shores, I have been questioning myself. And now I have decided."

Hini looked Yavanna full in the eyes, his jaw set.

"With thy blessing, I would sail thus from Valinor and go to Arda."

The handmaidens of Yavanna both gasped, and one raised her hand to her mouth, which had fallen open in shock. The other folk in the room turned to stare at the youg Maia who had spoken thus, now fully interested in what was taking place.

Yavanna was not outwardly moved, yet her solemn face now held a deeper hint of sadness.

"It is odd that you should think to do this, Hini." Said the Queen of the Earth. "For thou hast never had the compulsion to venture into Middle- earth, not after Valinor was made. And discarding all that, dost thou understand that Feanor's departure with his people was not a noble act? For he and his sons have sworn a cursed oath, and they have slain their kin at Aqualonde. Surely you are not innocent enough to think thus?"

"Nay, I am not!" Hini cried, his voice ringing. "Why am I always thought of as naive and lost? I have been paying attention, I have spoken often with Olorin and many others who know much of this matter. In know what has ocurred, I know what is going on! I may be unaware at times, but I am not witless or stupid!"

Hini stopped for breath, and regained his composure.

"I do not wish to got to Arda for the same reasons that Feanor wished to go." He explained calmly. "I care not for the Simarils. What I care for is that Morgoth has done great damage to something I held dear, and that he has not been punished.

Hini sighed.

"I know that the Valar have decided not to go against him, and I would not ask them to reconsider, knowing that the desicions my Lady and her kind make are for the best. Yet, If you will not do anything, then I will go myself, and offer my own aid."

Hini got down on his knees and bowed his head.

"So all I ask is for your blessing, Kementari. For I will go hither, whatever you do, but I would fain leave with my Lady's consent."

There was a long moment of silence. Then, slowly, Lady Yavanna got up from her throne and walked to where Hini was kneeling. She laid a hand on top of his head.

"Child of the Woods, you must understand. I sense that you will be forced to endure much unhappiness and sorrow if you go to Arda." Yavanna said solemnly.

Suddenly, a small smile crossed her face fleetingly, before being replaced by her look of mourning again.

"But I also sense that nothing short of locking you in Mandos could keep you from going. Your stubborness is too great. So, you have my permission to go where you will. Go to Arda with my blessings, as well as this gift."

Upon saying that, Yavanna reached into her reddish-gold tresses and extracted a small brown leaf. Hini raised his head as she held it out to him.

"This dried leaf is a remnant of Laurelin. It does not hold much power on its own, but combined with your power, it should be of great aid. You must decide what to use it for."

Nodding, Hini accepted the leaf and stood up.

"Thank you, my Lady."

Hini bowed once more and turning, left the throne room.

~~~

"Are you sure about this?" The old Teleri Elf squinted up at Hini, having a hard time seeing his face even with the torch he held in his hand.

"Aye. This boat is all I need. With the blessings of my Lady, Lord Ulmo should be resonable enough to guide me."

"Well, I certainly hope he helps you." The Elf said, glancing at the vessel Hini had requested, which was only three or four times bigger than a lifeboat. "Because with this little thing and the small amount of supplies it carries, you're going to need all the help you can get."

Smiling, Hini placed the last of his personal items into the boat. He pushed it into the water and jumped inside. Pulling at the sail until it was unfurled, Hini picked up his oar and began to row away.

Walking back towards his house, the Teleri Elf shook his head.

"At least he paid for it." The old Elf grumbled, glancing at the emerald necklace he held in his hand.

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Hini was indeed aided by the seafolk, for never did he encounter a storm or fell wind. Osse stayed away from him, and Ulmo guided his craft.

The time that Hini spent at sea cannot be truly calculated, as no light shone besides that of the stars. It was impossible to mark the days and nights.

Then, at a not so very special time, Hini glanced up and beheld a wonder.

There was a giant star in the sky!

*But how could that be a star?* Hini wondered fearfully. *It's huge! And it's glowing with more light than any star could posess.*

Hini frowned.

*That light...that light...that light is like to Telperion's!*

As if on signal, the Maia of the waters began to sing, which cause the deep water to vibrate. Hini bent over the side of the boat and listened, for he rightly guessed that they were singing in praise of this giant star.

"The moon?" Hini said aloud, glancing up at the sky again. "That thing's called the moon? What is it, I wonder?"

Sighing, Hini shrugged his shoulders.

"Ah, well. At least it makes for more light.

Seven times did Hini see the Moon cross the sky. Then, a second wonder appeared.

Hini had gone to sleep with the moon overhead, but he awoke with a horrible, harsh brightness in his eyes.

Sitting up with a start and cursing, Hini rubbed his eyes and looked about with awe.

He could see! There was so much light! And the sky, it was a beautiful light blue color! Hini looked straight up and had to sheild his eyes from the harsh, golden light that blinded his sight.

*And I suppose that's Laurelin's light. Only it's been magnified to a spectacular degree!* Hini thought.

Suddenly, something else caught Hini's eye.

Far into the distance, in an easterly direction, was a strip of green.

"LAND!" Hini shouted happily, and with renewed vigor, began to paddle desperately.

So Hini sailed towards Arda and his destiny.

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Read and Review please!

The next five people who review my fic, I'll review a story of yours!

^^ Open doors! Open, branches of the Queen of the Earth.