Author's note: I'm still not clear on what "mary-sue" is, so I don't know if my character's going to be that way, and even if she is it isn't a bad thing is it? She not going to be perfect in every way, though she will be flawless in the way she runs and all, she is mostly elf, I mean, you have to expect that. And if you think she is too sentimental about the trees of Mirkwood (When you read on) that's 'cause she's an elf! Elves are very passionate about things, especially when it comes to nature, so it's only in her character.
'Kay, I'm done! Read on!
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Enchanted River
She hadn't meant to be so curt, she just wasn't sure what to say to the Prince of Mirkwood, his handsome face and form de-railed her train of thought. She didn't want to be familiar with him, because she was strictly brought up and her parents taught her to never be familiar with royalty, unless they were related, or you knew them very well. Legolas did not qualify in those subjects.


Nimue had just saddled her horse when she noticed Astalder and Elear were not with them.

"Astalder and Elear will not be coming," Legolas said, noticing her confusion. "My father received a request from Rivendell to send out some of our best scouts to check the surrounding areas. Astalder and Elear were chosen, being two of our best. Father thought that perhaps three companions were too much, and that it would be faster and safer if there were only two.

"For there is a darkness creeping upon this land and the surrounding lands once more. I can feel it."

Nimue looked straight at him; her breath caught in her throat when she tried to say that she did too. She felt it closing in on the already darkened Mirkwood.

She had been hoping, as did Legolas, that with the driving out of the Necromancer, these woods would go back to the way they were:

Lush and green. The trees: strong and firm and the bark: a rich healthy brown. Now they were dark and twisted, and weak. The leaves were withered, even though that was expected in autumn, it did not look natural. The trees were sickly. Sick with darkness.

Nimue felt the tears burn in her eyes. She wasn't aware of Legolas' eyes as she reached out and gently touched the bark of a nearby whithered tree.

She felt a fire sear up her arm and she was panged with sadness and a weariness, all of which were coming from the tree.

"Manen anann?" (How long?) She asked the air.

"You feel it too."

Nimue nodded quietly.

"Are you ready?" Legolas queried.

"Yes. I am."

"Then, let us be off."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Nimue crouched by the Enchanted River and rested a moment. They were taking the elf-path which cut across the river.

As she let the cool water run through her fingers, she stared at her reflection.

She wasn't your usual beautiful elf. She was pretty, I'll grant you, though not as pretty as some of the other female elves of Mirkwood, who followed the prince around all day like puppies.


Honestly, a bunch of very bright, grown elven women struck dumb by the prince.

Legolas, on the other hand, never seemed to take much notice of them, unless they came directly up to him.

Nimue remembered one event in particular . . .

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Nimue was in one of the courtyard gardens of the palace.

She was contentedly sitting on a bench, reading a book, when she heard the giddy laughter of about five elven maidens, from what her ears told her.

Nimue looked up to see Prince Legolas step into the courtyard, the giggling maidens crowding around him. As Nimue had watched the small parade she had wondered why the other maids made such a fuss over him.

Legolas sat down on the bench across from Nimue. He wore a tolerant and polite smile.

"Please, hir nin," said one maiden, "tell us again how you escaped from the giant spider's web?" (my lord)

Nimue rolled her eyes and stole a glance at Legolas from over the top of her book, which she had hid her face behind once the party made their presence known. Legolas was smiling cordially at the elven ladies, though Nimue could have sworn that she detected a slight hint of annoyance in his eyes.

"Again, my ladies?"

"Oh, yes please! You were so brave!"

Nimue groaned.

Immediately the group's chattering stopped.

Nimue slowly lowered her book and found that the entire party was staring at her. The maidens' beautiful faces were clouded in displeasure.

Legolas, on the other hand, was gazing at her with his head cocked to one side; a curious smile gracing his handsome features.

Nimue was startled by the sudden upwelling of new emotions inside her, while under his gaze.

She quickly rose to her feet, and cleared her throat. Then, with a quick curtsey, Nimue walked, fast-paced, out of the courtyard.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Nimue was startled out of her reflection by the sound of many thin legs moving over the leaves. She looked up at Legolas. He heard it too.

"A Giant Spider?" she whispered.

Legolas slowly nodded his head and quietly drew out an arrow from his quiver and strung it in his bow. He held his weapon in a down position against his knees, with the arrow still in place and ready to be released when the bow was raised.

Nimue gingerly drew out her sword. Her father had been the Swordmaster of Mirkwood and he had taught her well in the arts of it.

When she had come of age her father gave her the sword she carried now. She named it Rhiw, the elvish word for Winter, for the metal always, for some unknown reason, gleamed with an unnatural glow during that season. Though, her father speculated that it was because it was made during the Winter season and that a sword always shines it's brightest in the season it was made, to let everyone know it's birth-time.

Her sword now glowed, for it was that time of year.


She whipped her blade about through the air as she was taught to do before she took her ready stance. She held the blade straight up, at arms length. The edges were facing out, ready to be brought down onto whatever enemy she would face.