Disclaimer: Hey guys! Just to say that I own nothing except Galwyn. Everything else is courtesy of Tolkien. Ok, well, when I say I own nothing except Galwyn, that is a lie, because I do own loads of random crap that I generously call my 'possessions', but you get the picture.
A note on the setting: This is set some time before the whole business with a certain ring. Don't flame me if anything I use in incorrect, because being a busy student, I don't always have time to check every last detail. But if you nicely informed me of mistakes, then that would be nice!
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Prologue:
The forest was alive with noise and flickering light from many torches. Foul voices called to one another through the trees and dark shapes could be seen moving through the patches of light and shadow.
Some distance ahead of the crowd of vile creatures two more forms were just visible as they fled through the dense vegetation. One was taller, his dark hair, long and smooth, flowing out behind him as he ran, both arms cradling a small bundle. The figure beside him was slightly shorter, and her bright green eyes were wide with fear as she sped through the forest, her golden hair streaming behind her like a standard. Behind them, the orc-band was drawing closer, their night vision was much better and they could move more easily through the dark forest. The couple were weary and stumbled as they ran, gradually slowing to a halt. Escape now seemed like a vain hope and they thought quickly. They searched the area they had stopped in and finding a suitable place, and hastily stowed the bundle, which was now moving slightly, laying it gently down. The woman, silent tears coursing down her face, bent and arranged the blankets of the bundle more closely around its contents before rearranging the vegetation around it. The taller figure, his dark hair now pushed behind his pointed ears, took her hand and gently led her away, once more breaking out into a run.
The orc-band caught them almost half a mile further into the forest and the screams of both could be heard piercing the darkness of the forest, and every creature that heard it shivered in fear and pity. When dawn broke the next day there was no evidence of the events of the night before, but the uneasiness remained, hanging in the air like a mist.
Passing through the forest of Fangorn that day was a tall, wiry figure cloaked in brown. As he strolled leisurely through the trees he noted there was a lingering aura of unease in the air. But of its source, he could see nothing. He put the thought to the back of his mind and continued his journey. A light rain began to fall, refreshing and cool, cleansing the forest of its negative feeling. The brown figure listened to the sound of the rain dripping through the thick layers of leaves and suddenly became aware of another sound. It was unmistakable, but he still could not believe his ears: it was the last thing he expected to hear. He followed the sound, hurrying to its source, the rain falling gently all around him, barely dampening his cloak. When he found the origin of the sound he looked down in astonishment, now unable to believe his eyes or his ears, but then he bent down, pushed aside the vegetation and picked up the bundle, holding it under his cloak to keep it dry.
When he reached his small log house near the northern border of Fangorn, Radagast went in and shut the door behind him. He made a gesture at the fireplace and muttered a few words under his breath, and suddenly a fire sprang up among the wood piled there. Soon the room was filled with warmth and a warm golden light. Taking the bundle gently from under his cloak he laid it carefully on a wooden table and unwrapped it from its damp blanket.
The baby girl looked at the man carefully from through thickly lashed bright violet eyes. Although only a few months old, the baby already had a thick layer of tufted jet-black hair. The baby blinked and gurgled, waving her arms and legs in the air, her gaze never leaving Radagast's face. Radagast thought quickly: the baby had clearly been abandoned, for what reason he did not know, but he recalled immediately the dark feeling that had lain on the forest that morning. Fate had brought him to find this baby, and now he must take care of it. He leant over and picked up the baby, searching for some clue to its identity. There was nothing that he could see except a small pendant around the baby's neck. He took it gently and examined it. It was a simple silver star-shape with a white jewel that looked like opal in it. But it lent him no clue, and he held the baby out in front of him, looking deep into the blinking violet eyes before him.
"I will call you Galwyn; it is a good Westron name, for you are certainly not an elfling are you?" He glanced at the baby's ears, which were rounded like his; she was obviously mortal. The baby's eyes glinted as though she agreed with him and recommenced her gurgling in a happy manner, unaware of the events that had led her to where she was now.
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A/N: So what do you think? Yay or nay?
