Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Lotr characters, although I wish I did!
I apologize for any spelling mistakes I might make, because Dutch is my
first language.
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Nightingale,
Sing us a song,
Of a love that once belonged.
Nightingale,
Tell me your tale,
Was your journey far too long?
(song by Norah Jones - Nightingale)
Chapter one: A warm welcome
"Are you alright, my lady?" Haldir asked worriedly, as he examined his companion.
Aerin snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of his voice.
"I am fine, Haldir," she muttered, giving him a reassuring smile.
Aerin Silvermane was Lady Galadriel's niece and soon to be the wife of the second prince of Mirkwood, Alderon.
It was an arranged marriage, made many years ago by both parents.
Alderon had visited LothLorien a couple of times to see her. She liked him and had to admit that he was very handsome and good-natured.
The wedding seemed so far away then, she never really gave it a second thought. But now when it came closer with every breath she took, she wasn't so sure anymore.
Do I love him? She thought.
I like him that I know for certain, but love?
Maybe I would grow to love him, but what if it never came?
She gave a sigh, which made Haldir look at her for the second time.
He had noticed the worried expression on her fair face.
She was still so young and naive, nearly 2000 years. He wished he could protect her and tell her everything would be all right and that this wedding would be a blessing. But he could not, because he loved her too much.
"Mani naa ta, Aerin?, What is it," he asked, softly.
She turned her head and looked straight into his piercing green eyes.
"Why do you ask, Haldir?" she asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
"I have never seen you this silent and distant before, Mellonamin, My friend,"
Aerin desperately wanted to tell him her doubts. He had always been a good friend and mentor to her, she loved him like a brother.
"Amin hiraetha, I am sorry, do not worry about me, I am just a little nervous," she replied, softly.
"Amin hanya, I understand," he replied back.
Aerin looked at her other companions. Except from her and Haldir, there were three other warriors, whom were trained by Haldir himself. Fine, young elves with golden hair and clad in light blue and silver. They all had their swords by their sides and their bows on their backs.
How she wished she had her bow and sword by her side. Lady Galadriel had told her that a female warrior wasn't common in Mirkwood and she had insisted that Aerin would leave her weapons behind in Lorien, just to be on the save side.
Aerin had refused to leave Mirkwood without her weapons. After much debate, lady Galadriel decided that she could have her weapons back after the wedding, until that time, Haldir would keep them with him.
Aerin agreed to the terms and entrusted Haldir with her most beloved belongings. But what nobody knew was, that she'd secretly hid a small dagger underneath her dress, strapped to her thigh.
"How much further until we will reach the palace?" she asked Haldir, as she was staring into the distance.
"Maybe in about a hour, if we keep up this pace," he replied, looking at the sky.
Again Aerin's thoughts drifted, she was so caught up in them that she completely forgot her surrounding, until suddenly she heard one of the elven warrior's cry out in pain.
She swiftly looked around and noticed that a black arrow hit one of them.
Haldir and the other warriors took their bows and swords.
"Orqu!" Haldir shouted.
Aerin saw the orcs hiding behind the bushes and trees of the forest, there were maybe ten or more as far as she could see.
A rain of arrows came down on them like a rainstorm. The elven warriors shot back with their own arrows and a few orcs were killed instantly.
"The odds are not good, Nikerym, captain, there are too many," She heard one of the warriors say to Haldir.
Concern was written on his fair elven face as he glanced at Aerin.
Then another rain of arrows came down on them and one orc even tried to attack Haldir with his spear.
Haldir blocked the attack easily with his sword and struck the ork down, decapitating his head.
"Taud, Ugl tak ilid!, Fight, slay the elves," a tall and evil looking orc cried out to his fellow orcs.
Aerin assumed he had to be the leader. She couldn't understand a single word he was saying, because he was giving his orders in black speech.
She looked in horror as another elf warrior was hit. She turned and faced Haldir, whom was bravely holding his ground.
How she really, really wished she would have her weapons by her side right now, but unfortunately the only thing she did have was her small dagger, she silently cursed.
"Rima ten'ta, Aerin!, Run for it," Haldir shouted to her.
Aerin gave him a confused look. She couldn't and she wouldn't leave him alone. "I will not leave you to the mercy of these orcs!" she shouted back at him, determined.
"Do not be foolish, Rima sii'! , Run now, I will hold them off!" he replied, giving her a stern look.
Aerin hesitated, gave Haldir one last look and galloped away on her horse.
The orc leader grimaced as he saw the she-elf get away.
"Bolt ta!, Follow her," he snarled to a couple of orcs.
"Nakh tak ta albh!, Get the she-elf,"
Aerin's heart was racing.
She decided to go as fast as she could, until she would reach the palace of Mirkwood. She only hoped she was going the right way.
Suddenly two or three arrows sifted through the air, missing her by a hair. She cursed, they had followed her.
She thanked the Valar that orcs weren't such good archers, or she would be dead by now, before she knew what had happened, her horse was hit in the leg. The poor animal in his pain and agony threw her of his back.
Aerin landed on the forest soil with a hard, painful bump.
Two of the orcs had caught up with her and held her in a tight grip. One of them held out a rope and tied her hands behind her back.
Aerin struggled and cursed at them.
"Let me go you ugly, stinking beasts!" she hissed, furiously.
The orcs looked at her with their little beady eyes and laughed, which revealed their horrible, sharp teeth.
Shivers ran up and down her spine.
"Tua amin, Tua amin!, Help me, help me," she cried out in vain, knowing no one could possibly have heard her.
One of the nasty looking orcs grabbed her by her long hair and pulled her of the ground, forcing her to stand up.
"Agaryulnaer, how dare you!, Bloodsucker," she spitted out, furiously.
With all the strength she had in her, she kicked the ugly orc in his groin.
The orc fell to the ground clutching his groin with his hands. It took him a few minutes to compose.
Then he stood up from the ground and looked at her with pure hatred in his black eyes.
Aerin held her breath. Now he is going to kill me, she thought.
The orc took out his knife and approached her slowly.
She wanted to take a step back but the other orc, whom was still holding her, prevented that and started to shout encouragements to his fellow orc.
He was now dangerously close to her. He slowly lifted his arm, in which he held the knife and smiled maliciously.
Aerin automatically closed her eyes and braced herself for the blow.
This is the end, she thought.
*********************** *********************
Disclaimer: I hope you like this first chapter, it's also my first fic, so please, please no flames! Until next chapter!
Nightingale,
Sing us a song,
Of a love that once belonged.
Nightingale,
Tell me your tale,
Was your journey far too long?
(song by Norah Jones - Nightingale)
Chapter one: A warm welcome
"Are you alright, my lady?" Haldir asked worriedly, as he examined his companion.
Aerin snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of his voice.
"I am fine, Haldir," she muttered, giving him a reassuring smile.
Aerin Silvermane was Lady Galadriel's niece and soon to be the wife of the second prince of Mirkwood, Alderon.
It was an arranged marriage, made many years ago by both parents.
Alderon had visited LothLorien a couple of times to see her. She liked him and had to admit that he was very handsome and good-natured.
The wedding seemed so far away then, she never really gave it a second thought. But now when it came closer with every breath she took, she wasn't so sure anymore.
Do I love him? She thought.
I like him that I know for certain, but love?
Maybe I would grow to love him, but what if it never came?
She gave a sigh, which made Haldir look at her for the second time.
He had noticed the worried expression on her fair face.
She was still so young and naive, nearly 2000 years. He wished he could protect her and tell her everything would be all right and that this wedding would be a blessing. But he could not, because he loved her too much.
"Mani naa ta, Aerin?, What is it," he asked, softly.
She turned her head and looked straight into his piercing green eyes.
"Why do you ask, Haldir?" she asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
"I have never seen you this silent and distant before, Mellonamin, My friend,"
Aerin desperately wanted to tell him her doubts. He had always been a good friend and mentor to her, she loved him like a brother.
"Amin hiraetha, I am sorry, do not worry about me, I am just a little nervous," she replied, softly.
"Amin hanya, I understand," he replied back.
Aerin looked at her other companions. Except from her and Haldir, there were three other warriors, whom were trained by Haldir himself. Fine, young elves with golden hair and clad in light blue and silver. They all had their swords by their sides and their bows on their backs.
How she wished she had her bow and sword by her side. Lady Galadriel had told her that a female warrior wasn't common in Mirkwood and she had insisted that Aerin would leave her weapons behind in Lorien, just to be on the save side.
Aerin had refused to leave Mirkwood without her weapons. After much debate, lady Galadriel decided that she could have her weapons back after the wedding, until that time, Haldir would keep them with him.
Aerin agreed to the terms and entrusted Haldir with her most beloved belongings. But what nobody knew was, that she'd secretly hid a small dagger underneath her dress, strapped to her thigh.
"How much further until we will reach the palace?" she asked Haldir, as she was staring into the distance.
"Maybe in about a hour, if we keep up this pace," he replied, looking at the sky.
Again Aerin's thoughts drifted, she was so caught up in them that she completely forgot her surrounding, until suddenly she heard one of the elven warrior's cry out in pain.
She swiftly looked around and noticed that a black arrow hit one of them.
Haldir and the other warriors took their bows and swords.
"Orqu!" Haldir shouted.
Aerin saw the orcs hiding behind the bushes and trees of the forest, there were maybe ten or more as far as she could see.
A rain of arrows came down on them like a rainstorm. The elven warriors shot back with their own arrows and a few orcs were killed instantly.
"The odds are not good, Nikerym, captain, there are too many," She heard one of the warriors say to Haldir.
Concern was written on his fair elven face as he glanced at Aerin.
Then another rain of arrows came down on them and one orc even tried to attack Haldir with his spear.
Haldir blocked the attack easily with his sword and struck the ork down, decapitating his head.
"Taud, Ugl tak ilid!, Fight, slay the elves," a tall and evil looking orc cried out to his fellow orcs.
Aerin assumed he had to be the leader. She couldn't understand a single word he was saying, because he was giving his orders in black speech.
She looked in horror as another elf warrior was hit. She turned and faced Haldir, whom was bravely holding his ground.
How she really, really wished she would have her weapons by her side right now, but unfortunately the only thing she did have was her small dagger, she silently cursed.
"Rima ten'ta, Aerin!, Run for it," Haldir shouted to her.
Aerin gave him a confused look. She couldn't and she wouldn't leave him alone. "I will not leave you to the mercy of these orcs!" she shouted back at him, determined.
"Do not be foolish, Rima sii'! , Run now, I will hold them off!" he replied, giving her a stern look.
Aerin hesitated, gave Haldir one last look and galloped away on her horse.
The orc leader grimaced as he saw the she-elf get away.
"Bolt ta!, Follow her," he snarled to a couple of orcs.
"Nakh tak ta albh!, Get the she-elf,"
Aerin's heart was racing.
She decided to go as fast as she could, until she would reach the palace of Mirkwood. She only hoped she was going the right way.
Suddenly two or three arrows sifted through the air, missing her by a hair. She cursed, they had followed her.
She thanked the Valar that orcs weren't such good archers, or she would be dead by now, before she knew what had happened, her horse was hit in the leg. The poor animal in his pain and agony threw her of his back.
Aerin landed on the forest soil with a hard, painful bump.
Two of the orcs had caught up with her and held her in a tight grip. One of them held out a rope and tied her hands behind her back.
Aerin struggled and cursed at them.
"Let me go you ugly, stinking beasts!" she hissed, furiously.
The orcs looked at her with their little beady eyes and laughed, which revealed their horrible, sharp teeth.
Shivers ran up and down her spine.
"Tua amin, Tua amin!, Help me, help me," she cried out in vain, knowing no one could possibly have heard her.
One of the nasty looking orcs grabbed her by her long hair and pulled her of the ground, forcing her to stand up.
"Agaryulnaer, how dare you!, Bloodsucker," she spitted out, furiously.
With all the strength she had in her, she kicked the ugly orc in his groin.
The orc fell to the ground clutching his groin with his hands. It took him a few minutes to compose.
Then he stood up from the ground and looked at her with pure hatred in his black eyes.
Aerin held her breath. Now he is going to kill me, she thought.
The orc took out his knife and approached her slowly.
She wanted to take a step back but the other orc, whom was still holding her, prevented that and started to shout encouragements to his fellow orc.
He was now dangerously close to her. He slowly lifted his arm, in which he held the knife and smiled maliciously.
Aerin automatically closed her eyes and braced herself for the blow.
This is the end, she thought.
*********************** *********************
Disclaimer: I hope you like this first chapter, it's also my first fic, so please, please no flames! Until next chapter!