Hey there! I figured that since so many of you liked 'Unusual Heritage' I'd
have a go at a sequel. However, I have no inspiration!
So while that's in the works, I thought I'd share a bit about Aniarel's parents and the reason they had to leave Middle-earth. Anyone interested?
If you like it, review! If you don't like it, review! And thanx again to everyone who reviewed the first story, you really made it worthwhile!
If you haven't read 'Unusual Heritage', don't worry; I don't think it's necessary. Of course, you can if you want to, don't let me stop you!
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin . . .
*~*~*
The Circle Turns
Merry laughter filled the gardens of Rivendell. Elrond gazed out over the silvery waters of the river, glad to set aside, even for a few moments, the dark cloud that was growing in his mind. There was a polite cough behind him. He turned to face his visitors.
'Licomias, thank you for joining me. You are well, I trust?'
The tall elf nodded at his lord, and moved forward to take a seat.
'If you don't mind my being blunt, Elrond, what am I here for?'
Elrond smiled at the young man.
Licomias had always been special to him. He was one of Celebrian's closest companion's sons, and much loved by Elrond's late wife. He sighed. He still missed Celebrian, often wondering why she had chosen to go into the West instead of remaining with him to see her illness through. He had not heard from her since her sudden departure. But he had determined to keep relations with her companions for her memory, and so had become very good friends with many of them. Licomias was one such friend, closer than the others because he could read Elrond's moods without any trouble.
He was doing so now, and apparently not liking what he was seeing, if the frown on his face was anything to go by. Elrond swallowed a smile.
'I have a favour to ask of you, my friend.'
Licomias raised an eyebrow.
'If it's anything like the last one, no,' he said, his hazel eyes flashing warningly. The sunlight played across his black hair, giving him a faintly ethereal look.
Elrond laughed.
'No, nothing like that. I'm not going to send you to the dwarves again, don't worry.'
'Good. That was not an experience I'd like to repeat.'
'You are aware, I suppose, that Galadriel selects handmaidens for herself every decade?'
Licomias snorted, shifting in the chair.
'Who isn't?'
'Well,' Elrond continued, with a smile, 'she has chosen one of our young maidens to join her.'
'Where are you going with this, Elrond?'
'Young Jenien has no knowledge of the world beyond Rivendell, so Arwen tells me, and will need an escort of some kind. Now, I cannot spare any of the soldiers, so -'
'You thought of me,' Licomias finished. 'I'm touched.'
His sarcasm did not go un-noticed, but Elrond let it pass.
'You are the best trained fighter we have, Licomias, and yet you refuse to join the guards in defending Rivendell. Therefore you leave yourself open to this kind of opportunity. Jenien will need someone to protect her. She is very young, and not at all experienced in worldly matters, so I'm told. If not for me, then for her sake, Licomias. Take her to Lothlorien.'
The younger elf gazed impassively at him for a while, then gave a gusty sigh.
'Oh, all right,' he said snappily. 'Since it means so much to you.'
Elrond smiled.
'Thank you, my friend. You'll be leaving the day after tomorrow.'
Licomias got to his feet with a grunt.
'Yes, well. Make sure she knows what to expect, Elrond. I am not baby- sitting on this trip.'
Elrond nodded and watched his friend leave. Then he turned to the figure in the shadows.
'What do you think, my daughter?'
Arwen stifled a giggle.
'I think he's going to get the shock of his life.'
*~*~*
Licomias scanned the crowds of people, wanting at least a glimpse of his new responsibility. He had heard all kinds of stories about her, from her naiveté to wild ideas that she knew all there was to know about weapons and fighting. The elf wasn't quite sure what to make of her.
A loud laugh drew his attention to a far corner of the room, where Arwen was entertaining her friends. Elrond appeared at his elbow.
'You see the small maiden by Arwen's side? That's Jenien, Licomias.'
He drifted off, leaving Licomias to stare incredulously at the girl.
She barely came up to Arwen's shoulder in height, her tiny frame perfectly proportioned. Slender, delicate, and fragile were all words he would have used to describe her. As she turned, he felt as though he had been kicked in the stomach. She was beautiful. Her features were dainty, her green eyes sparkling with an inner light. Long coppery curls hung down her back, framing her face. No wonder Galadriel had chosen her. She was perfect.
Realising he was staring, Licomias hurriedly looked away. Such beauty would have to be protected on this journey, he thought, the orcs must not be allowed to have her. He took a swift swallow of his drink, his mind already working on how to make the journey easier on the young girl.
Arwen saw him turn away from the corner of her eye, and touched Jenien's shoulder. The small girl looked up at her, her gaze shifting to where Arwen was pointing.
'That's Licomias.'
Jenien studied the tall elf closely. He held himself like a warrior, his movements sure and calculated. She could see his hand hovering over where his sword would be. Black hair framed a face dominated by hazel eyes. His shoulders were broad, well in keeping with his tapered body. She guessed it would take a lot to wear him out. Briefly Jenien wondered what he had thought when he saw her, dismissing it immediately as irrelevant. People only saw her beauty on first impressions, never her posture or the way she carried herself. She smiled. This Licomias was in for a shock.
*~*~*
Dawn rose clear and cool the morning they left. Licomias knocked quietly on Jenien's door.
'Yes?'
'Are you ready, my lady?'
The door opened.
'Of course, I'm ready.'
It was all Licomias could do to stop his jaw dropping. Jenien was dressed in the way of the Mirkwood elves, light tunic and trews, with soft boots. She carried her weapons and belt in one hand. Her hair was tied in a knot at her neck and there was a well made pack lying on the bed.
'Just give me a minute to put these on,' she said, gesturing with the belt.
'Do you need any help?'
Jenien snorted in a very unladylike fashion.
'No, thank you.'
As he watched, she swung the belt around her waist, slipped her knives into it, and hung her bow and quiver on her back. Looking up, she smiled.
'Ready to go, then?'
Not trusting himself to speak, Licomias opened the door for her, nodding as she stepped past him. Elrond and Arwen had set him up. This one didn't need protecting at all, she was more than capable of looking after herself. Why had he been made to go along then?
They rode out of Rivendell in the crisp morning air, to embark on a journey that would take them further than they could ever have imagined.
So while that's in the works, I thought I'd share a bit about Aniarel's parents and the reason they had to leave Middle-earth. Anyone interested?
If you like it, review! If you don't like it, review! And thanx again to everyone who reviewed the first story, you really made it worthwhile!
If you haven't read 'Unusual Heritage', don't worry; I don't think it's necessary. Of course, you can if you want to, don't let me stop you!
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin . . .
*~*~*
The Circle Turns
Merry laughter filled the gardens of Rivendell. Elrond gazed out over the silvery waters of the river, glad to set aside, even for a few moments, the dark cloud that was growing in his mind. There was a polite cough behind him. He turned to face his visitors.
'Licomias, thank you for joining me. You are well, I trust?'
The tall elf nodded at his lord, and moved forward to take a seat.
'If you don't mind my being blunt, Elrond, what am I here for?'
Elrond smiled at the young man.
Licomias had always been special to him. He was one of Celebrian's closest companion's sons, and much loved by Elrond's late wife. He sighed. He still missed Celebrian, often wondering why she had chosen to go into the West instead of remaining with him to see her illness through. He had not heard from her since her sudden departure. But he had determined to keep relations with her companions for her memory, and so had become very good friends with many of them. Licomias was one such friend, closer than the others because he could read Elrond's moods without any trouble.
He was doing so now, and apparently not liking what he was seeing, if the frown on his face was anything to go by. Elrond swallowed a smile.
'I have a favour to ask of you, my friend.'
Licomias raised an eyebrow.
'If it's anything like the last one, no,' he said, his hazel eyes flashing warningly. The sunlight played across his black hair, giving him a faintly ethereal look.
Elrond laughed.
'No, nothing like that. I'm not going to send you to the dwarves again, don't worry.'
'Good. That was not an experience I'd like to repeat.'
'You are aware, I suppose, that Galadriel selects handmaidens for herself every decade?'
Licomias snorted, shifting in the chair.
'Who isn't?'
'Well,' Elrond continued, with a smile, 'she has chosen one of our young maidens to join her.'
'Where are you going with this, Elrond?'
'Young Jenien has no knowledge of the world beyond Rivendell, so Arwen tells me, and will need an escort of some kind. Now, I cannot spare any of the soldiers, so -'
'You thought of me,' Licomias finished. 'I'm touched.'
His sarcasm did not go un-noticed, but Elrond let it pass.
'You are the best trained fighter we have, Licomias, and yet you refuse to join the guards in defending Rivendell. Therefore you leave yourself open to this kind of opportunity. Jenien will need someone to protect her. She is very young, and not at all experienced in worldly matters, so I'm told. If not for me, then for her sake, Licomias. Take her to Lothlorien.'
The younger elf gazed impassively at him for a while, then gave a gusty sigh.
'Oh, all right,' he said snappily. 'Since it means so much to you.'
Elrond smiled.
'Thank you, my friend. You'll be leaving the day after tomorrow.'
Licomias got to his feet with a grunt.
'Yes, well. Make sure she knows what to expect, Elrond. I am not baby- sitting on this trip.'
Elrond nodded and watched his friend leave. Then he turned to the figure in the shadows.
'What do you think, my daughter?'
Arwen stifled a giggle.
'I think he's going to get the shock of his life.'
*~*~*
Licomias scanned the crowds of people, wanting at least a glimpse of his new responsibility. He had heard all kinds of stories about her, from her naiveté to wild ideas that she knew all there was to know about weapons and fighting. The elf wasn't quite sure what to make of her.
A loud laugh drew his attention to a far corner of the room, where Arwen was entertaining her friends. Elrond appeared at his elbow.
'You see the small maiden by Arwen's side? That's Jenien, Licomias.'
He drifted off, leaving Licomias to stare incredulously at the girl.
She barely came up to Arwen's shoulder in height, her tiny frame perfectly proportioned. Slender, delicate, and fragile were all words he would have used to describe her. As she turned, he felt as though he had been kicked in the stomach. She was beautiful. Her features were dainty, her green eyes sparkling with an inner light. Long coppery curls hung down her back, framing her face. No wonder Galadriel had chosen her. She was perfect.
Realising he was staring, Licomias hurriedly looked away. Such beauty would have to be protected on this journey, he thought, the orcs must not be allowed to have her. He took a swift swallow of his drink, his mind already working on how to make the journey easier on the young girl.
Arwen saw him turn away from the corner of her eye, and touched Jenien's shoulder. The small girl looked up at her, her gaze shifting to where Arwen was pointing.
'That's Licomias.'
Jenien studied the tall elf closely. He held himself like a warrior, his movements sure and calculated. She could see his hand hovering over where his sword would be. Black hair framed a face dominated by hazel eyes. His shoulders were broad, well in keeping with his tapered body. She guessed it would take a lot to wear him out. Briefly Jenien wondered what he had thought when he saw her, dismissing it immediately as irrelevant. People only saw her beauty on first impressions, never her posture or the way she carried herself. She smiled. This Licomias was in for a shock.
*~*~*
Dawn rose clear and cool the morning they left. Licomias knocked quietly on Jenien's door.
'Yes?'
'Are you ready, my lady?'
The door opened.
'Of course, I'm ready.'
It was all Licomias could do to stop his jaw dropping. Jenien was dressed in the way of the Mirkwood elves, light tunic and trews, with soft boots. She carried her weapons and belt in one hand. Her hair was tied in a knot at her neck and there was a well made pack lying on the bed.
'Just give me a minute to put these on,' she said, gesturing with the belt.
'Do you need any help?'
Jenien snorted in a very unladylike fashion.
'No, thank you.'
As he watched, she swung the belt around her waist, slipped her knives into it, and hung her bow and quiver on her back. Looking up, she smiled.
'Ready to go, then?'
Not trusting himself to speak, Licomias opened the door for her, nodding as she stepped past him. Elrond and Arwen had set him up. This one didn't need protecting at all, she was more than capable of looking after herself. Why had he been made to go along then?
They rode out of Rivendell in the crisp morning air, to embark on a journey that would take them further than they could ever have imagined.