A Journey Begins
Just as passing travelers had oft predicted upon Aladreil's query, one week had passed since the maiden's departure when she finally reached the borders of Galahad Forest. Aladreil had successfully remained hidden as she traveled through three other small villages of humans (in which many were willing to aid her with lodging and nourishment), many hills and valleys in between, open fields where naught but the tall grasses hid her, and forest-like areas of which she was glad to settle into for the night. Aladreil halted abruptly before the massive wall of thick trees, breathing a heavy sigh of relief. Despite the tired lines that creased her face, an excited glimmer flickered across her vibrant cerulean eyes as she placed down her pack. "Galahad." She mumbled softly to herself. The name of the great forest itself was threatening, yet it sent anticipating chills down her spine; her love and desire to see the Elves had only grown over the rough week. She had eaten sparingly, just suffice for her appetite, not sure of how long her journey would last, but oft was aided by a sympathetic village-dweller. The young maiden, clad in naught but simple huntress' clothes and a small dagger, had encountered no harm nor threat thus far, to her pleasant surprise. Within moments, she resolved to rest once a suitable place was found within the woods. The Sun had begun it's descent from the cloudless sky, and by the minute the She faded to a rosy warmth within the heavens. In about an hour or so, Aladriel concluded, it would be dark. She paused before hoisting her pack upon her shoulder once again, and then, with a deep, excited breath of sweet forest pine, she plunged, fearless with confident expectation, into the dark forest.
Suddenly, all about her were trees; trees of every sort, all looming up before her very eyes. Their leaves whispered eerie tales of mystery and threat as she stepped with covertness and agility across the narrow leaf- covered paths that seemed to thread before her. A clouding mist seemed to be all about her, the sun's salmon and golden rays peeking in only every so often through the timber-shrouded roof. A chill of apprehension momentarily tingled throughout her lithe body, but with a decisive nod in reassurance to herself, she forced herself ahead, refusing to have her dream intimidated. Aladreil pressed on but a few hours further, constantly awed yet chilled by the great wood, till the dark forest darkened still to the black of night. Her footfalls gradually eased into a halt, pausing to survey what she could still perceive in the night-swathed forest. Her sharp vision adjusted quickly, and Aladreil soon discovered a place beneath a large evergreen tree to eat and rest; it provided adequate shelter and concealment, and so she settled beneath its welcoming branches. Half- blindly, she groped and rummaged through her pack for a bite of food that might be left, all the while her mind absorbed with thoughts of the foreboding Galahad, and most, the Elves. Upon finding a few fruits and vegetables, and bread and her water skins, she consumed a small meal. Aladreil then, staring absentmindedly into the faint star-illuminated roof of green, gratefully wrapped her similarly-hewn Elven cloak about her. The lovely cloak was a gift from a friend who had received it from the Lady of the Western Wood, Lady Ithiliel. One must understand, there were two prominent Forests in Aladreil's region of Middle Earth; the Galahad Forest of the East where the Elvenking dwelt, and far west was the Wood of Ithiliel, where the Lady dwelt. Such a gift, crafted personally by Her, unbeknownst to Aladreil at the time, was a rare and magical thing. Nonetheless, she treasured the cloak greatly and treated it with meticulous care. Within moments, the maiden drifted into a deep, relieved slumber in the comfort of the camouflaging cloak, all thoughts of the mystifying yet beautiful forest swept away into a gentle state of unconsciousness.
Just as passing travelers had oft predicted upon Aladreil's query, one week had passed since the maiden's departure when she finally reached the borders of Galahad Forest. Aladreil had successfully remained hidden as she traveled through three other small villages of humans (in which many were willing to aid her with lodging and nourishment), many hills and valleys in between, open fields where naught but the tall grasses hid her, and forest-like areas of which she was glad to settle into for the night. Aladreil halted abruptly before the massive wall of thick trees, breathing a heavy sigh of relief. Despite the tired lines that creased her face, an excited glimmer flickered across her vibrant cerulean eyes as she placed down her pack. "Galahad." She mumbled softly to herself. The name of the great forest itself was threatening, yet it sent anticipating chills down her spine; her love and desire to see the Elves had only grown over the rough week. She had eaten sparingly, just suffice for her appetite, not sure of how long her journey would last, but oft was aided by a sympathetic village-dweller. The young maiden, clad in naught but simple huntress' clothes and a small dagger, had encountered no harm nor threat thus far, to her pleasant surprise. Within moments, she resolved to rest once a suitable place was found within the woods. The Sun had begun it's descent from the cloudless sky, and by the minute the She faded to a rosy warmth within the heavens. In about an hour or so, Aladriel concluded, it would be dark. She paused before hoisting her pack upon her shoulder once again, and then, with a deep, excited breath of sweet forest pine, she plunged, fearless with confident expectation, into the dark forest.
Suddenly, all about her were trees; trees of every sort, all looming up before her very eyes. Their leaves whispered eerie tales of mystery and threat as she stepped with covertness and agility across the narrow leaf- covered paths that seemed to thread before her. A clouding mist seemed to be all about her, the sun's salmon and golden rays peeking in only every so often through the timber-shrouded roof. A chill of apprehension momentarily tingled throughout her lithe body, but with a decisive nod in reassurance to herself, she forced herself ahead, refusing to have her dream intimidated. Aladreil pressed on but a few hours further, constantly awed yet chilled by the great wood, till the dark forest darkened still to the black of night. Her footfalls gradually eased into a halt, pausing to survey what she could still perceive in the night-swathed forest. Her sharp vision adjusted quickly, and Aladreil soon discovered a place beneath a large evergreen tree to eat and rest; it provided adequate shelter and concealment, and so she settled beneath its welcoming branches. Half- blindly, she groped and rummaged through her pack for a bite of food that might be left, all the while her mind absorbed with thoughts of the foreboding Galahad, and most, the Elves. Upon finding a few fruits and vegetables, and bread and her water skins, she consumed a small meal. Aladreil then, staring absentmindedly into the faint star-illuminated roof of green, gratefully wrapped her similarly-hewn Elven cloak about her. The lovely cloak was a gift from a friend who had received it from the Lady of the Western Wood, Lady Ithiliel. One must understand, there were two prominent Forests in Aladreil's region of Middle Earth; the Galahad Forest of the East where the Elvenking dwelt, and far west was the Wood of Ithiliel, where the Lady dwelt. Such a gift, crafted personally by Her, unbeknownst to Aladreil at the time, was a rare and magical thing. Nonetheless, she treasured the cloak greatly and treated it with meticulous care. Within moments, the maiden drifted into a deep, relieved slumber in the comfort of the camouflaging cloak, all thoughts of the mystifying yet beautiful forest swept away into a gentle state of unconsciousness.