Author's note, and disclaimer. This is the novelization for a roleplaying game from Yahoo Clubs. Right now, the game is just getting starting, and this chapter is two years before the main story, about the first meeting between two of the characters. I'm putting in the novelization as a bit of exposition. Things will get more interesting once the story gets going. I do own one of these characters, Lothiniel, in case you can't tell that from my penname, which is also one of my Yahoo! Profiles. The character of Elrelad belongs to another club member, who uses the screen name Elrelad. The title for the story was thought up by Elrelad, and should become clear further into the story. And now, without further ado, the first chapter to Nirnaeth Arnoediad Relived.
Meeting in the Forest
(Two years before the main story.)
Lothiniel wondered around Mirkwood, trying to forget the discussion she had just had with her father, Nithrar. Lately there had been rumors about the possibility of some new evil in the land, and Lothiniel wanted to go and see if she could find out anything about it. But her father had refused to allow her to, saying she was still too young.
"I'm not too young," she had insisted, but her father would not listen. She knew he was afraid of losing her, like he had lost her mother, although she did not know for sure how her mother had died. It was like there was some big secret about her mother, and Lothiniel wondered what it could be.
Now, though, she wondered around Mirkwood, trying to forget the discussion with her father, and trying as well to forget the questions she was beginning to have about her mother.
Elrelad sat quietly on a log near his home in Mirkwood. A fair Elven maid was wandering aimlessly. He could see pain in her face. Apparently she was troubled deeply by something. He thought to say something, but rather than doing so he waited for her to notice him.
Lothiniel looked around, and saw someone watching her. An Elf that she had never seen before was sitting on a log nearby. She looked away, briefly, trying to compose her face to hide the fact that was upset about something, and then turned back to the other. "Hello," she said, a little shyly, as she did not know him.
Elrelad stood and bowed before her. Taking her hand gently, he kissed it, as was custom. "Hello fair child! What troubles you on this lightest of days, made brighter by your presence?"
"My father," Lothiniel said after a few moments. "He will not listen to me, about anything. I have heard rumors that there might be another evil, coming to power, and I asked to find out what was going on. But my father said I was too young." She realized she had probably said more than he wanted to know, and stopped talking, blushing slightly, embarrassed at having said too much.
Elrelad nodded, "There IS much trouble in this world, and a new dark power does arise, your father may be right... but you are strong of mind and will, or you would not be here."
Lothiniel was confused by that. He had made it sound like they were in some kind of special place. "I don't know what you mean by that last," she said. "As far as I know, I am in Mirkwood, which has been my home all my life."
"Yes, you are in the Greenwood. I mean to say, that you would not have left your fathers judgement without your strong will. You would not be HERE, if fate had not given you that strength of mind."
"Oh," Lothiniel said. She was quiet for a minute. "There's more to it than just the way he thinks I can't do anything on my own," she said, after a few moments. "He's keeping something from me." She was mainly thinking out loud, when she said this last sentence. Then she turned her attention to the other. "I'm sorry, sir. I have been talking to you, and I have not even thought to ask your name."
Elrelad smiled, "I have many names, but you may call me Elrelad. And you, dear child? What is yours?"
"My name is Lothiniel," she said. "I am pleased to meet you, Elrelad."
"And so am I! Please, have a seat and we will talk" The log was actually a fair bench carved so nicely as to look very much like a real tree.
Lothiniel sat down by Elrelad. She couldn't really think of much to say. Finally, without really think ahead of time, she said, "The fact that he doesn't trust me, isn't the only thing I'm upset with my father about. He won't tell me anything about my mother, not even her name. I just know that she died soon after I was born."
Elrelad sighed softly. "You are set into a well worn path aren't you? Everyone should know from whom they were given life."
"I don't even know for sure how she died, but I think that's the reason for the secret."
"I cannot understand how a father can keep such a secret from his child. I cannot judge him for I do not know him, but he truly does not sound honest."
"I don't know, though. I have an older brother and sister, and they don't say anything about her either, and they'd have to know something, at least."
Elrelad became silent in thought...
"I see you are already plagued with troubles though you have not even seen the rest of the world."
"Yes, I suppose. But maybe that's why I want to get away from here. Especially with these rumors. I want to help out, because I really was too young to help five years ago."
Elrelad nodded. "Not much is known of this new evil, and the rumors have already spread quickly. A Wizard he is believed to be, though none have knowingly seen him. They say he disguises himself as a commoner."
"Then he could be anywhere," Lothiniel said. She still felt the desire to go and learn something definite about this evil, but knew that she would not defy her father, about that. She would try to get him to change his mind, first.
"I deem you must settle your differences with your father first. Then you will be free to travel, free to live, and to learn." Elrelad smiled and stood.
Lothiniel smiled. "Thank you, Elrelad. I shall return to my home now, and try to talk to my father." She stood and turned to walk off. Then, she stopped, and turned back. "Maybe I'll see you again, sometime," she said, and ran off back towards her home.
Meeting in the Forest
(Two years before the main story.)
Lothiniel wondered around Mirkwood, trying to forget the discussion she had just had with her father, Nithrar. Lately there had been rumors about the possibility of some new evil in the land, and Lothiniel wanted to go and see if she could find out anything about it. But her father had refused to allow her to, saying she was still too young.
"I'm not too young," she had insisted, but her father would not listen. She knew he was afraid of losing her, like he had lost her mother, although she did not know for sure how her mother had died. It was like there was some big secret about her mother, and Lothiniel wondered what it could be.
Now, though, she wondered around Mirkwood, trying to forget the discussion with her father, and trying as well to forget the questions she was beginning to have about her mother.
Elrelad sat quietly on a log near his home in Mirkwood. A fair Elven maid was wandering aimlessly. He could see pain in her face. Apparently she was troubled deeply by something. He thought to say something, but rather than doing so he waited for her to notice him.
Lothiniel looked around, and saw someone watching her. An Elf that she had never seen before was sitting on a log nearby. She looked away, briefly, trying to compose her face to hide the fact that was upset about something, and then turned back to the other. "Hello," she said, a little shyly, as she did not know him.
Elrelad stood and bowed before her. Taking her hand gently, he kissed it, as was custom. "Hello fair child! What troubles you on this lightest of days, made brighter by your presence?"
"My father," Lothiniel said after a few moments. "He will not listen to me, about anything. I have heard rumors that there might be another evil, coming to power, and I asked to find out what was going on. But my father said I was too young." She realized she had probably said more than he wanted to know, and stopped talking, blushing slightly, embarrassed at having said too much.
Elrelad nodded, "There IS much trouble in this world, and a new dark power does arise, your father may be right... but you are strong of mind and will, or you would not be here."
Lothiniel was confused by that. He had made it sound like they were in some kind of special place. "I don't know what you mean by that last," she said. "As far as I know, I am in Mirkwood, which has been my home all my life."
"Yes, you are in the Greenwood. I mean to say, that you would not have left your fathers judgement without your strong will. You would not be HERE, if fate had not given you that strength of mind."
"Oh," Lothiniel said. She was quiet for a minute. "There's more to it than just the way he thinks I can't do anything on my own," she said, after a few moments. "He's keeping something from me." She was mainly thinking out loud, when she said this last sentence. Then she turned her attention to the other. "I'm sorry, sir. I have been talking to you, and I have not even thought to ask your name."
Elrelad smiled, "I have many names, but you may call me Elrelad. And you, dear child? What is yours?"
"My name is Lothiniel," she said. "I am pleased to meet you, Elrelad."
"And so am I! Please, have a seat and we will talk" The log was actually a fair bench carved so nicely as to look very much like a real tree.
Lothiniel sat down by Elrelad. She couldn't really think of much to say. Finally, without really think ahead of time, she said, "The fact that he doesn't trust me, isn't the only thing I'm upset with my father about. He won't tell me anything about my mother, not even her name. I just know that she died soon after I was born."
Elrelad sighed softly. "You are set into a well worn path aren't you? Everyone should know from whom they were given life."
"I don't even know for sure how she died, but I think that's the reason for the secret."
"I cannot understand how a father can keep such a secret from his child. I cannot judge him for I do not know him, but he truly does not sound honest."
"I don't know, though. I have an older brother and sister, and they don't say anything about her either, and they'd have to know something, at least."
Elrelad became silent in thought...
"I see you are already plagued with troubles though you have not even seen the rest of the world."
"Yes, I suppose. But maybe that's why I want to get away from here. Especially with these rumors. I want to help out, because I really was too young to help five years ago."
Elrelad nodded. "Not much is known of this new evil, and the rumors have already spread quickly. A Wizard he is believed to be, though none have knowingly seen him. They say he disguises himself as a commoner."
"Then he could be anywhere," Lothiniel said. She still felt the desire to go and learn something definite about this evil, but knew that she would not defy her father, about that. She would try to get him to change his mind, first.
"I deem you must settle your differences with your father first. Then you will be free to travel, free to live, and to learn." Elrelad smiled and stood.
Lothiniel smiled. "Thank you, Elrelad. I shall return to my home now, and try to talk to my father." She stood and turned to walk off. Then, she stopped, and turned back. "Maybe I'll see you again, sometime," she said, and ran off back towards her home.