Chapter 1
Memories of the Past
Narawen walked through the mountains she had lived in ever since the one fatal night that her group was attacked by goblins. Now, after about 100 years of traveling over the Misty Mountains, she had finally met up with some elves from Rivendell that were heading towards Mirkwood. They said they were messengers from Lord Elrond and that she could accompany them if she liked. There were three of them, all about the same height with different shades of brown hair. The one who looked to be the leader of the group introduced himself as Colas and the other two as Aniond and Forfin. They were now traveling what appeared to be a path leading east.
"I'm sorry if this is a personal question, but I was wondering why haven't you been around people for so long?" Aniond questioned after about an hour of traveling.
"Not at all. I mean, it is sort of personal, but I will tell you anyway seeing as you were kind enough to let me travel with you to Mirkwood," she said and paused for a minute not wanting to remember what had happened. "You see, almost 100 years ago I was traveling with a group of elves to Rivendell. When we reached the Misty Mountains we stopped one night to rest for a little while. I had gone out to collect some more firewood. As I was making my way back to camp I heard the commotion of fighting. I got so scared I hid far enough away so I couldn't be seen by whatever it was that was attacking, but close enough to see what was going on. Goblins had surprised everyone. I don't know how many goblins there were, but it was to many for us to get rid of. When I saw the goblins finally leave, after they had either killed or wounded every elf enough to where they wouldn't be able to live, I went back to the camp. Once I got there I found that everyone was dead except my father. He told me to find my way back to Mirkwood. I tried, but somewhere along the way I must have wondered off the trail. I've been wandering the mountains ever since, trying each day to get over the sight of all those elves and watching my father die," she said with tears in her eyes.
"You were there? You were part of that group?" Forfin asked in disbelief. Narawen only nodded. "How did you survive all those years in these mountains?" "I had been given a sword before we even left. On the way my father and one of his friends taught me how to use it. After my father died I took his bow and picked up as many arrows as I could. I taught myself how to use it," she said not looking them. "How much longer until we reach Mirkwood?"
"A few days," Colas said, noticing her troubled look. "If we don't stop for to long we might be able to make it there by sunset in about three days."
Narawen nodded her head in acknowledgement and began to drift into her own thoughts.
~*~
Narawen sat restlessly behind Forfin, who she was now riding with, on the horse. They had said that they would reach the outskirts of the Mirkwood forest within the hour. She couldn't wait to get back to her home. She had thought so many times about going home and seeing the people she loved, but every time she thought about the joy that would be on their faces another thought came to mind, the thought of disappointment on their faces when they found out she was the only one who survived. Then, there was always the thought of how different it would be without her parents.
She looked back in the direction they had come from only to see land that was covered in grass and plants. She could just barley see the outline of the Misty Mountains. The same mountains that held so many unwanted memories and lost time, time that she could have shared with family and friends had she not begged her parents to take her to Rivendell. I'll never forget you, she thought as she gazed out into what seemed to be nothing, remembering her parents who had died and left her behind.
Memories of the Past
Narawen walked through the mountains she had lived in ever since the one fatal night that her group was attacked by goblins. Now, after about 100 years of traveling over the Misty Mountains, she had finally met up with some elves from Rivendell that were heading towards Mirkwood. They said they were messengers from Lord Elrond and that she could accompany them if she liked. There were three of them, all about the same height with different shades of brown hair. The one who looked to be the leader of the group introduced himself as Colas and the other two as Aniond and Forfin. They were now traveling what appeared to be a path leading east.
"I'm sorry if this is a personal question, but I was wondering why haven't you been around people for so long?" Aniond questioned after about an hour of traveling.
"Not at all. I mean, it is sort of personal, but I will tell you anyway seeing as you were kind enough to let me travel with you to Mirkwood," she said and paused for a minute not wanting to remember what had happened. "You see, almost 100 years ago I was traveling with a group of elves to Rivendell. When we reached the Misty Mountains we stopped one night to rest for a little while. I had gone out to collect some more firewood. As I was making my way back to camp I heard the commotion of fighting. I got so scared I hid far enough away so I couldn't be seen by whatever it was that was attacking, but close enough to see what was going on. Goblins had surprised everyone. I don't know how many goblins there were, but it was to many for us to get rid of. When I saw the goblins finally leave, after they had either killed or wounded every elf enough to where they wouldn't be able to live, I went back to the camp. Once I got there I found that everyone was dead except my father. He told me to find my way back to Mirkwood. I tried, but somewhere along the way I must have wondered off the trail. I've been wandering the mountains ever since, trying each day to get over the sight of all those elves and watching my father die," she said with tears in her eyes.
"You were there? You were part of that group?" Forfin asked in disbelief. Narawen only nodded. "How did you survive all those years in these mountains?" "I had been given a sword before we even left. On the way my father and one of his friends taught me how to use it. After my father died I took his bow and picked up as many arrows as I could. I taught myself how to use it," she said not looking them. "How much longer until we reach Mirkwood?"
"A few days," Colas said, noticing her troubled look. "If we don't stop for to long we might be able to make it there by sunset in about three days."
Narawen nodded her head in acknowledgement and began to drift into her own thoughts.
~*~
Narawen sat restlessly behind Forfin, who she was now riding with, on the horse. They had said that they would reach the outskirts of the Mirkwood forest within the hour. She couldn't wait to get back to her home. She had thought so many times about going home and seeing the people she loved, but every time she thought about the joy that would be on their faces another thought came to mind, the thought of disappointment on their faces when they found out she was the only one who survived. Then, there was always the thought of how different it would be without her parents.
She looked back in the direction they had come from only to see land that was covered in grass and plants. She could just barley see the outline of the Misty Mountains. The same mountains that held so many unwanted memories and lost time, time that she could have shared with family and friends had she not begged her parents to take her to Rivendell. I'll never forget you, she thought as she gazed out into what seemed to be nothing, remembering her parents who had died and left her behind.