Thanks for the review Amanda! In theory I've finished this story but it was written the 'traditional' way - with pen on paper. Typing it up is taking ages, but I'm getting there. Great to hear someone's enjoying this. Sorry this chapter's so short.
I left this out of the first chapter, but I'll say it now:
All of these character's belong to Tolkien, and I'm just borrowing.. That obviously doesn't include Mithmír, Anoniel, Tirathnavir and others. I don't own any of them, blah blah blah. Anyone reading this will probably have read enough of these to know the story.
So read! Review! Enjoy!
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Luckily she reached the borders of Lothlorien easily, with no whiff of any foul creature. As soon as she stepped into the shadow of the first tree, she felt eyes upon her. She dismounted easily, let Brialvastor run free - he came to her call - and moved forward three steps and then threw her head back, looking at the canopy above her eagerly. 'Tirathnavir? Tirathnavir? I know you and Haldir are up there watching me! Lower your bows, elves, and greet a guest like you should!' Few people could be so frank with the First Born, but Mithmír knew them well. 'My horse is tired, and I too am travel-weary. Do not leave me here!'
Two long, thin figures dropped from the trees, their grey cloaks swirling about them so they looked like fallen leaves. They landed like cats, perfectly poised, bows still aimed directly at her. When they knew it was her, they dropped their guard and embraced her, one after the other. The three were old friends, Mithmír having – for a time – grown up with them; though they were many centuries older than she.
The tallest elf, Tirathnavir, spoke first. 'The eagles brought us word from Rivendell you had left, lady grey stone!' The very name Mithmír means "grey stone", and Tirathnavir had always enjoyed calling the woman by the translation.
'They did indeed!' Agreed Haldir. 'They are very worried for you, lady. They feared you would be overcome by the Shadow's foul minions on the road between Rivendell and Lothlorien. We have been for two days worried that was true; when you did not arrive here.'
'Are you implying I went slowly?' Joked Mithmír.
'Of course,' said Haldir, with a mock bow. 'But really, friend, they are very worried about you. Anoniel got in much trouble, I hear, for hiding your plans to leave.'
Mithmír felt the anger rising. She kicked a stone in anger, not noting that it hit the dead centre of a tree trunk twenty feet away. 'How dare they? It isn't Anoniel's fault, it was mine. She was helping a friend! And with my bow and longsword I am well prepared for any surprise attack by a band of goblins or orcs!'
'Calm, lady,' Tirathnavir said, laying a gentle hand on her arm. 'They do naught but care for you.'
'Too much,' she muttered angrily. 'They treat me like a child, Tirathnavir!'
'By our reckoning you are,' reminded Haldir. Then his face brightened considerably. 'Ah well, you are here now. And the Lady Galadriel refused their wish to have you escorted back. She wants to see you herself. She does not believe you are a child, Mithmír. She believes you shall as of yet have your chance, if you wish it, to help in the cause against Sauron.'
'And wish it I do!' Agreed Mithmír, mostly happy, but still seething at the way all the Elves insisted on babysitting her like a mere babe in arms. She followed her friends over the Nimrodel river, exchanging tales and news with them all the while.
