Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings or the characters involved
in the story.
Author's Note: This is a branch of my story 'Aragorn Daughter BEFORE the Fellowship'. Same concept, just different plot. The girl's name, Elenea, is Elvish for 'stars'. Please read and review! And maybe while you're at it you could read my other stories............ ;-)
Chapter One
Darkness was almost all Elenea could remember. She struggled to recall how and why she had come here.
**Flashback: Rivendell**
All Elenea really knew about her real family was that her mother, Fairë, had gone to a far away place, and that her father, Aragorn, was in the North, traveling as a Ranger. Aragorn rarely ever came to see Elenea; once a year was hardly sufficient.
Even though she liked the elf that took care of her, Arwen, Aragorn's friend, she grew to hate it in Rivendell. She hated that every day she was reminded by her surroundings that her family was gone. Why did they leave her here? Did they not love her?
The time came when Elenea could not take it anymore. Her hatred for Rivendell grew so great that one night, she ran away. She was but six.
**Pause in Flashback**
Her journey East was far too long for her to recount now. She could, however, remember the last hour.
**Flashback continues**
Elenea came up to an enormous black gate. Orcs patrolled along the top, but Elenea did not fear them. She called out and requested to enter, and to see their master. The head orc roughly led her into a tower. It was tall and black, but what scared Elenea the most was a great eye, lidless; wreathed in flame on top of the tower. She stared at it in fearful awe until she was standing before it.
'My Lord Sauron,' called her guide, bending down on one knee with his right arm crossed respectfully across his chest. 'This human child has requested to come before you.'
'Why did you not kill her?' asked a powerful voice.
'We felt that that was not for us to decide. Besides, the child has a strange power flowing from her,' the orc answered swiftly.
'Indeed,' came the voice. 'What is your name, human?'
'My name is Elenea,' she answered as loudly as she dared. 'I come from Rivendell. I ran away from there because I hated my life. My father hardly visits and my mother never does.'
'And who is your father?'
Elenea dared not speak her father's true name, for she had heard of Sauron, and knew he would kill her if she revealed that her father was the heir of Isildur, the man who stripped Sauron of his power. Elenea had had no idea that Sauron was still alive, and his fortress standing tall. This must mean she was in Morodr. 'My father is called Strider,' she answered. 'He is a Ranger from the North.'
'And why did he leave you in Rivendell?' Sauron asked.
'I do not know, my lord.'
Silence. Finally Sauron spoke, though not to Elenea. 'You are right, Grîshglûk. A strange power, indeed.' Then he spoke to Elenea. 'Why have you come here?'
'I ask to lodge here,' Elenea answered. 'If you let me stay here, in Mordor, I will offer you my service. I could be trained in battle.'
'So be it. I accept you service. Grîshglûk, get her armor and begin her training immediately. She could become useful.'
**End of Flashback**
Twelve years had passed since then, and ever since, Elenea had trained with the Orcs, and was now a soldier of Mordor. Sauron had come to favor her, and appointed her to a higher position: aid of the Nazgûl.
War was brewing. Word had reached Mordor several months ago that the One Ring had been bound. Sauron had a task for her. He had requested Elenea's presence at noon. She lay in her chamber, fingering her necklace. It was a flat silver pendant, and the engraved tree upon it was embedded with small diamonds. It hung on a long silver chain. She had had the necklace since before she could remember, and by pure luck it had escaped the grasp of the Orcs.
Her father (whose face had faded from her mind, but whose eyes were still vivid) had told her never to lose it and always to wear it. 'The fool,' Elenea thought. He probably had just wanted to attach her to something else that had no value. He'd done it before. He'd gotten her attached to himself, then left her all alone. Family had no value. She was a fool to have ever loved. People were wrong. Love was no strength, it was a weakness. Love destroyed people; betrayed them.
Despite her thoughts on the necklace, Elenea kept it around her neck and kept it secret.
At length an Orc appeared, and told her that Lord Sauron was ready for her.
Elenea bowed as she entered her lord's presence.
'Elenea, as you know war is here. I need you to travel to Imild and gather our allies. Lead the Easterlings here.'
'Yes, my lord.'
'You will leave now,' he informed her.
'This could be a dangerous journey,' Elenea thought as she packed a small traveling bag. 'The Rangers of Ithilien will be watching the borders.' Elenea wore no armor; it would be quicker without it. Besides, she could get some in Imild. She took her sword, and her bow and quiver. She gathered arrows from the armory and set off. It was a three day journey to Imild, and she would have to move swiftly and quietly.
Author's Note: This is a branch of my story 'Aragorn Daughter BEFORE the Fellowship'. Same concept, just different plot. The girl's name, Elenea, is Elvish for 'stars'. Please read and review! And maybe while you're at it you could read my other stories............ ;-)
Chapter One
Darkness was almost all Elenea could remember. She struggled to recall how and why she had come here.
**Flashback: Rivendell**
All Elenea really knew about her real family was that her mother, Fairë, had gone to a far away place, and that her father, Aragorn, was in the North, traveling as a Ranger. Aragorn rarely ever came to see Elenea; once a year was hardly sufficient.
Even though she liked the elf that took care of her, Arwen, Aragorn's friend, she grew to hate it in Rivendell. She hated that every day she was reminded by her surroundings that her family was gone. Why did they leave her here? Did they not love her?
The time came when Elenea could not take it anymore. Her hatred for Rivendell grew so great that one night, she ran away. She was but six.
**Pause in Flashback**
Her journey East was far too long for her to recount now. She could, however, remember the last hour.
**Flashback continues**
Elenea came up to an enormous black gate. Orcs patrolled along the top, but Elenea did not fear them. She called out and requested to enter, and to see their master. The head orc roughly led her into a tower. It was tall and black, but what scared Elenea the most was a great eye, lidless; wreathed in flame on top of the tower. She stared at it in fearful awe until she was standing before it.
'My Lord Sauron,' called her guide, bending down on one knee with his right arm crossed respectfully across his chest. 'This human child has requested to come before you.'
'Why did you not kill her?' asked a powerful voice.
'We felt that that was not for us to decide. Besides, the child has a strange power flowing from her,' the orc answered swiftly.
'Indeed,' came the voice. 'What is your name, human?'
'My name is Elenea,' she answered as loudly as she dared. 'I come from Rivendell. I ran away from there because I hated my life. My father hardly visits and my mother never does.'
'And who is your father?'
Elenea dared not speak her father's true name, for she had heard of Sauron, and knew he would kill her if she revealed that her father was the heir of Isildur, the man who stripped Sauron of his power. Elenea had had no idea that Sauron was still alive, and his fortress standing tall. This must mean she was in Morodr. 'My father is called Strider,' she answered. 'He is a Ranger from the North.'
'And why did he leave you in Rivendell?' Sauron asked.
'I do not know, my lord.'
Silence. Finally Sauron spoke, though not to Elenea. 'You are right, Grîshglûk. A strange power, indeed.' Then he spoke to Elenea. 'Why have you come here?'
'I ask to lodge here,' Elenea answered. 'If you let me stay here, in Mordor, I will offer you my service. I could be trained in battle.'
'So be it. I accept you service. Grîshglûk, get her armor and begin her training immediately. She could become useful.'
**End of Flashback**
Twelve years had passed since then, and ever since, Elenea had trained with the Orcs, and was now a soldier of Mordor. Sauron had come to favor her, and appointed her to a higher position: aid of the Nazgûl.
War was brewing. Word had reached Mordor several months ago that the One Ring had been bound. Sauron had a task for her. He had requested Elenea's presence at noon. She lay in her chamber, fingering her necklace. It was a flat silver pendant, and the engraved tree upon it was embedded with small diamonds. It hung on a long silver chain. She had had the necklace since before she could remember, and by pure luck it had escaped the grasp of the Orcs.
Her father (whose face had faded from her mind, but whose eyes were still vivid) had told her never to lose it and always to wear it. 'The fool,' Elenea thought. He probably had just wanted to attach her to something else that had no value. He'd done it before. He'd gotten her attached to himself, then left her all alone. Family had no value. She was a fool to have ever loved. People were wrong. Love was no strength, it was a weakness. Love destroyed people; betrayed them.
Despite her thoughts on the necklace, Elenea kept it around her neck and kept it secret.
At length an Orc appeared, and told her that Lord Sauron was ready for her.
Elenea bowed as she entered her lord's presence.
'Elenea, as you know war is here. I need you to travel to Imild and gather our allies. Lead the Easterlings here.'
'Yes, my lord.'
'You will leave now,' he informed her.
'This could be a dangerous journey,' Elenea thought as she packed a small traveling bag. 'The Rangers of Ithilien will be watching the borders.' Elenea wore no armor; it would be quicker without it. Besides, she could get some in Imild. She took her sword, and her bow and quiver. She gathered arrows from the armory and set off. It was a three day journey to Imild, and she would have to move swiftly and quietly.