Okay, I've been thinking about writing this story for a long time but have been reluctant to actually start it because none of my other stories got any positive attention. But why not? What's the worst that could happen? I get shot down, again? Whatever.
I don't own the obvious; Legolas, Middle Earth, etc. I do own the story idea and (the girl's name) so please respect that.
Summary: Nárie has lived a life of lose, hurt, and regret. When her so-called parents die, she is on her own to explore the world, but it is much bigger on her own. Though she refuses to admit she needs help, she struggles for friendship and falls into forbidden love.
Just a little note. I know that a million people do stories about some girl falling in love with Legolas, but this one will be different, I promise. I was originally going to make up a character for the male part, but then I read 10 Rules to writing a Fanfiction or something like that, I don't remember the exact title. Anyway, one of the rules was to always involve a character from the story. I had never really considered that so I decided to go along with Legolas. After all, I did need some sort of nobility whose father was important so I said what the hell. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that, but please respect anything you do read.
On that note, sorry about the negativity, I will begin my tale…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Forbidden Love*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By Lady of Middle Earth
Chapter One
What A Life
A pale moon rose slowly into the sky, casting little light for nightwalkers. A slender figure cast a silhouette along the gray horizon. Hair flowing in the gentle breeze, the young woman broke into a jog as she headed back toward her small home in Gondor. She lived far from the many villages, away from everyone. She had never known why, but she guessed it had something to do with her parents. Her real parents, that is. When she was little she was found in a small boat, going down the Anduin and her new parents had rescued her, risking their lives for hers. Or so her new parents had said. But now that she had really figured out what kind of people they were, she doubted that was true.
A shout drew her back from her thoughts, "Nárie!" the voice called with urgency.
Stepping into the doorway, hardly winded from her jog and hurried to her mother's side, "What is it?" she asked, looking at her father who lay on the floor with a distant look in his eyes.
"He came in with an arrow in his hand. He must have pulled it from his shoulder, then he just collapsed," the elderly woman mumbled as she wiped her husband's brow with a cloth. New beads of perspiration quickly began to form.
Examining first the wound, the young woman saw that it hadn't gone deep, but would leave an ugly scar, if he survived. Next she looked at the arrow. It was covered in red blood, but at the tip, it had began to bubble white. "Get him onto the bed," Nárie said as she draped the heavy man's arm around her shoulder. On the count of three, both women stood up and half carried, half dragged him to the nearest bed, which happened to belong to Nárie.
Wrapping her only blanket tightly around him, she turned to her mother, "Go get several more blankets and bandages, I will boil some water."
Hurrying to a small table she grabbed a smaller caldron and hurried back out the door to the nearby stream. Collecting water, she carefully carried it back so not spill. Setting the caldron over the fire, she dug through a small chest at the foot of the bed where she kept her few belongings. Withdrawing a worn, brown sac, she opened it and carefully poured it's contents out onto the floor. Sorting throughout the small containers she quickly selected a small jar labeled Baobab. Inside there was one small strip of bark. With a sigh of regret, she slipped the bark into the boiling water. After it cooked for several moments, she took it from the fire, and set it again on the table in which it was placed before. Leaving it to cool, she turned back to the pale form lying in her bed. Her mother had just returned with blankets and bandage wrapping. Wrapping another blanket around the man, she looked up with fear in her eyes.
"The arrow was poisoned," Nárie said she quickly, but gently bandaged the wound, "The tea should help with both the poison and the fever, but it is up to him to fight the worst off."
Going back to the table, she dipped a ladle into the pot and filled a cup with the liquid. Returning the bedside, she eased some of the warm tea into the man's mouth. Slowly, she eased more in until the cup was emptied.
Standing, she glanced at her mother, who had taken her husband's hand into her own. Just when the younger woman was about to walk away, thinking all was well for the moment, the once still form of the man began to cough. It was a rough, bone-shaking cough and it did not slow. His body began to shake and the bandage on his shoulder filled with blood. With one final shake he fell back onto the bed and was still, his eyes closed.
Stepping over to him, Nárie took his empty hand and felt around for a pulse. There was none. Looking into her mother's eyes, she shook her head. A wail came from the elderly woman and she lay her head on her husband's chest, sobbing.
Stepping away again, Nárie left the cottage and out into the night. She wondered, not far from the house, until she collapsed onto the ground. Gazing up at the stars, a single tear rolled down her cheek. Not because she had just lost her father, but in fear of what was yet to come.
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Dum…dum..dummmm. Well that's it for the first chapter. I will be starting the next one soon, but how soon I post it depends on how many reviews, if any, I get. So please tell me what you think. I really need some encouraging to keep this story going.
Baobab is a tree that really does help with fevers. The bark also yields arrow poison antidote. It can be found in Africa and Australia.