Prelude To An Adventure
The slender figure was barely perceptible against the near blackness of a moonless midnight. It glanced about warily before proceeding upon stealthy movements. The mysterious figure, as it turned out to be, was none other than mischievous Aladreil, daughter of Anariel. Lithely, she leapt from her bedroom window, a fairly sized leather pack slung over her right shoulder. Her long golden hair floated out behind her, settling only to rise again upon her step as she inaudibly reached the trodden-down grass beneath her windowsill. With an uncontained smile of nervous anticipation, Aladreil broke into a swift, silent run, away from her small family, her home, and everything that she had ever known. At last she was on her own, and headed to the one place she wished to be most but was denied of; Galahad Forest, where the Elves dwelt. Aladreil piloted her way sneakily through the tight village, hoping that she would find the Eastern Gate's guards, as usual, asleep at their posts. The youthful maiden had long awaited this night, for tonight she would sneak from her house at the stroke of midnight and escape the confinement of the village, making for the Galahad Forest. Galahad Forest was a large wood, stretching for innumerable miles, and was known as a dangerous, perilous place of mystery and puzzlement. But deep within the heart of Galahad Forest abided the Elves, and Aladreil had determined herself to find them at all costs. Ever since she could remember, Aladreil had been drawn to the fair Elven race. Once of age, she studied the ways of the Elves, her love for them only swelling. Yet this too was done only in secret, for in her village to even speak of Elves was offensive, though why she knew naught. Once she had spoken of the Elves to her Mother, but she only received a sharp reprimand in return. The people of her village seemed to have a perpetual hatred and prejudice towards the Elven race, though few people dared to ask why, and so few people spoke of it. Not even a myth existed (that was commonly told) that explained the odd dislike for the particular race. As for Aladreil, she could not help but adore the tall figures with their long, light-colored hair and vibrant eyes of the keenest of vision, and pointed ears that were sharper in hearing than any creature upon Middle Earth. She often enjoyed attempting to imitate their silent stealth and swift actions. As a child, Aladreil would oft beg of a stranger passing through the village if they knew of any Elven lore, and the tales she would hear constantly fascinated her. Travelers always responded with a smile and a twinkle of the eye, and would willingly tell her a story that left her craving for yet another. She had always longed to meet an Elf, but her Mother strictly forbid even the mention of such a thing. Now at last, at the age of eighteen years, she had her chance.
The village of Aladreil's home was at the base of a great mountain, and the southernmost borders of the great Galahad forest were but a week's walk from the village if one went swiftly, in which Aladreil could now manage. Aladreil avoided the cobblestone paths that wound through the village, covertly hiding herself by means of frequent clusters of trees and bushes. She reached the Eastern Gate without being noticed, and, to her glee, the two night-gaurds sat slumped in stiff-backed chairs; one snored rather loudly. Thrilled by the opportunity, Aladreil darted forward anxiously, but stopped short and fled to the concealment of a bush as one guard rose with a clumsy clatter. He shook his head with a chuckle..."Nearly fell asleep there..." He mumbled in his half- consciousness. The man looked around doggedly, removing his hat to scratch his head of short, dark tousled hair, but, seeing no one, he took his place upon the chair once again, head nodding. "Must have been a dream or something..." The man mumbled as he slipped back into a half-slumber, clumsily replacing his cap. The small hat fell before his eyes, short strands of hair peeking stiffly from beneath the hat's back. Aladreil held her breath, quietly rising and tip-toeing over to the gate. Soon, she was within a foot of the man and the soft inhale-exhale of a light sleep was barely audible enough for her to hear. Relieved, she released her own breath and crept past him. The second man started with a loud snort, to Aladriel's surprise, and she flattened herself against the grassy floor in a moment. The first man woke again, fixing his cap and glancing up at the sky briefly before nodding back into his slumber. The numerous stars twinkled and winked down upon Aladreil, and with a grin, she sighed quietly. For a moment she mused the thought of the clumsy guards, and her rather amusing escape that seemed a bit too easy... Suppressing a chuckle, she bounded forward, slipping quietly past and into the darkness.
The slender figure was barely perceptible against the near blackness of a moonless midnight. It glanced about warily before proceeding upon stealthy movements. The mysterious figure, as it turned out to be, was none other than mischievous Aladreil, daughter of Anariel. Lithely, she leapt from her bedroom window, a fairly sized leather pack slung over her right shoulder. Her long golden hair floated out behind her, settling only to rise again upon her step as she inaudibly reached the trodden-down grass beneath her windowsill. With an uncontained smile of nervous anticipation, Aladreil broke into a swift, silent run, away from her small family, her home, and everything that she had ever known. At last she was on her own, and headed to the one place she wished to be most but was denied of; Galahad Forest, where the Elves dwelt. Aladreil piloted her way sneakily through the tight village, hoping that she would find the Eastern Gate's guards, as usual, asleep at their posts. The youthful maiden had long awaited this night, for tonight she would sneak from her house at the stroke of midnight and escape the confinement of the village, making for the Galahad Forest. Galahad Forest was a large wood, stretching for innumerable miles, and was known as a dangerous, perilous place of mystery and puzzlement. But deep within the heart of Galahad Forest abided the Elves, and Aladreil had determined herself to find them at all costs. Ever since she could remember, Aladreil had been drawn to the fair Elven race. Once of age, she studied the ways of the Elves, her love for them only swelling. Yet this too was done only in secret, for in her village to even speak of Elves was offensive, though why she knew naught. Once she had spoken of the Elves to her Mother, but she only received a sharp reprimand in return. The people of her village seemed to have a perpetual hatred and prejudice towards the Elven race, though few people dared to ask why, and so few people spoke of it. Not even a myth existed (that was commonly told) that explained the odd dislike for the particular race. As for Aladreil, she could not help but adore the tall figures with their long, light-colored hair and vibrant eyes of the keenest of vision, and pointed ears that were sharper in hearing than any creature upon Middle Earth. She often enjoyed attempting to imitate their silent stealth and swift actions. As a child, Aladreil would oft beg of a stranger passing through the village if they knew of any Elven lore, and the tales she would hear constantly fascinated her. Travelers always responded with a smile and a twinkle of the eye, and would willingly tell her a story that left her craving for yet another. She had always longed to meet an Elf, but her Mother strictly forbid even the mention of such a thing. Now at last, at the age of eighteen years, she had her chance.
The village of Aladreil's home was at the base of a great mountain, and the southernmost borders of the great Galahad forest were but a week's walk from the village if one went swiftly, in which Aladreil could now manage. Aladreil avoided the cobblestone paths that wound through the village, covertly hiding herself by means of frequent clusters of trees and bushes. She reached the Eastern Gate without being noticed, and, to her glee, the two night-gaurds sat slumped in stiff-backed chairs; one snored rather loudly. Thrilled by the opportunity, Aladreil darted forward anxiously, but stopped short and fled to the concealment of a bush as one guard rose with a clumsy clatter. He shook his head with a chuckle..."Nearly fell asleep there..." He mumbled in his half- consciousness. The man looked around doggedly, removing his hat to scratch his head of short, dark tousled hair, but, seeing no one, he took his place upon the chair once again, head nodding. "Must have been a dream or something..." The man mumbled as he slipped back into a half-slumber, clumsily replacing his cap. The small hat fell before his eyes, short strands of hair peeking stiffly from beneath the hat's back. Aladreil held her breath, quietly rising and tip-toeing over to the gate. Soon, she was within a foot of the man and the soft inhale-exhale of a light sleep was barely audible enough for her to hear. Relieved, she released her own breath and crept past him. The second man started with a loud snort, to Aladriel's surprise, and she flattened herself against the grassy floor in a moment. The first man woke again, fixing his cap and glancing up at the sky briefly before nodding back into his slumber. The numerous stars twinkled and winked down upon Aladreil, and with a grin, she sighed quietly. For a moment she mused the thought of the clumsy guards, and her rather amusing escape that seemed a bit too easy... Suppressing a chuckle, she bounded forward, slipping quietly past and into the darkness.