DICLAIMER: Alas, I do not own Estel, Elrond or any other characters you may
recognise for "The Lord Of The Rings". The only character who belongs to me
is Ismene.
SUMMARY: Slightly AU. Young Estel encounters a mysterious elf-child late one night. Who is she, why is Elrond so reluctant to talk to her, and what is her connection to the beautiful maiden her meets years later.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Love feedback, so please review if you like it.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
PROLOGUE: DROWNING
A petrified scream shattered the morning stillness. Tendrils of ice reverberated down the spines of all how heard it.
"Amme! Ada!"
"ISMENE!" The two elves raced to the icy lake, murmuring a prayer to the Valar.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The girl had awoken to find the world covered in a sheen of pure, untarnished whiteness: the first snowfall of winter. She had dressed hurriedly, throwing on a thick woollen cloak and her snow boots. It was not the blanket of whiteness that lured this particular elfling outdoors, but the promise of something greater, something more thrilling and exhilarating than mere snowball fights with her siblings.
Like a flame draws a moth, the ice-covered lake beckoned the girl to its banks. Tentatively, she stepped onto the sheet of frozen water, and began to glide like a dancer, arms raised, posture erect.
Crack!
She stiffened, her senses tingling. Nothing happened so shrugged and resumed her skating.
Then, it happened.
Without warning, the ice underfoot gave way, plunging the child into the frigid waters below.
* * * * * * * *
"Nin iell!" Her mother's shriek echoed in the valley.
Three dark-haired elves dived in after the child, who clawed frantically through her frozen.
"Ismene!" Her twin sobbed, burying her face in her mother's skirts. "Amme, will she be all right?" One of the elves rose for air, dragging an unconscious bundle with him. "I have her!"
His two companions pulled themselves up. "Give her to me!" The eldest demanded. "Hold on, nin iell!"
Another elf came running, and spread his cloak out on the ground, upon which the unconscious child was laid. Her father kissed her blue cheeks. A wave a horror descended upon him. The girl was not breathing!
He pressed his lips to hers, forcing air into her flooded lungs, compressing her chest, trying to elicit a pulse. Nothing happened. He repeated the actions more vigorously.
But it was too late.
That evening, the valley of Imladris was filled with mournful laments for a life so short, so tragic.
* * * * * * * * * * *
ELVISH TRANSLATIONS:
Amme = Mother
Ada = Father
Nin iell = My daughter.
SUMMARY: Slightly AU. Young Estel encounters a mysterious elf-child late one night. Who is she, why is Elrond so reluctant to talk to her, and what is her connection to the beautiful maiden her meets years later.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Love feedback, so please review if you like it.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
PROLOGUE: DROWNING
A petrified scream shattered the morning stillness. Tendrils of ice reverberated down the spines of all how heard it.
"Amme! Ada!"
"ISMENE!" The two elves raced to the icy lake, murmuring a prayer to the Valar.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The girl had awoken to find the world covered in a sheen of pure, untarnished whiteness: the first snowfall of winter. She had dressed hurriedly, throwing on a thick woollen cloak and her snow boots. It was not the blanket of whiteness that lured this particular elfling outdoors, but the promise of something greater, something more thrilling and exhilarating than mere snowball fights with her siblings.
Like a flame draws a moth, the ice-covered lake beckoned the girl to its banks. Tentatively, she stepped onto the sheet of frozen water, and began to glide like a dancer, arms raised, posture erect.
Crack!
She stiffened, her senses tingling. Nothing happened so shrugged and resumed her skating.
Then, it happened.
Without warning, the ice underfoot gave way, plunging the child into the frigid waters below.
* * * * * * * *
"Nin iell!" Her mother's shriek echoed in the valley.
Three dark-haired elves dived in after the child, who clawed frantically through her frozen.
"Ismene!" Her twin sobbed, burying her face in her mother's skirts. "Amme, will she be all right?" One of the elves rose for air, dragging an unconscious bundle with him. "I have her!"
His two companions pulled themselves up. "Give her to me!" The eldest demanded. "Hold on, nin iell!"
Another elf came running, and spread his cloak out on the ground, upon which the unconscious child was laid. Her father kissed her blue cheeks. A wave a horror descended upon him. The girl was not breathing!
He pressed his lips to hers, forcing air into her flooded lungs, compressing her chest, trying to elicit a pulse. Nothing happened. He repeated the actions more vigorously.
But it was too late.
That evening, the valley of Imladris was filled with mournful laments for a life so short, so tragic.
* * * * * * * * * * *
ELVISH TRANSLATIONS:
Amme = Mother
Ada = Father
Nin iell = My daughter.