Disclaimer: Sadly, I admit that I am not a genius like Tolkien. His
wonderful imagination and creation of LotR has inspired me to come up with
this humble story.
Author's Note: Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews! I am so glad that you are enjoying my story so far! But don't worry, there is MUCH more to come!
Loving You from Afar
By crazeebabee
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
That afternoon, as the sun set over the forest, casting everything in a blazing orange hue, the whole village had gathered on the hill near the village to see Anwanárë off. The cool wind swirled and snapped at the vulnerable humans, small as ants when standing between the massive mountains and trees. Anwanárë stood with the Wise Woman and Iomann at the front of the crowd, all of them looking to the east and the plains. The thunder of hooves signaled the arrival of the elves long before they came into mortal sight.
Magnificent in their blue and white garments, sitting astride beautiful white horses, the elves seemed aloof and untouchable to the awed villagers. As the captain of the group dismounted and approached, Anwanárë tightened her arms around the Wise Woman's waist and hid her face in the fabric of the dress.
"Are you the Wise Woman of the Village of Rhinefehld?" the captain said in an imperial voice.
"That I am," the Wise Woman responded, lifting her chin bravely.
"And are you Iomann the Woodcutter of the Village of Rhinefehld?" the captain asked, turning to the bearded man next to the Wise Woman.
"That I am."
"Then I suppose this little elfling here is Anwanárë, correct? Come here, girl, do not hide in the old woman's skirts like an elf-babe. I do not bite, I assure you."
Feeling insulted by the captain's comment, Anwanárë untangled herself from the Wise Woman's skirts and stood before the captain. She set her chin bravely, unconsciously imitating her long deceased mother with a spitfire of defiance in her amber eyes.
The captain took his time looking over the little elf. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he nodded before turning back to his horse and remounting. "Come, it is getting late and we must depart if we are to reach Rivendell before daybreak."
Anwanárë turned and ran to the Wise Woman and Iomann, embracing them for the last time.
"Be a good girl, er, elf," Iomann said gruffly over his emotions. He patted her affectionately on her head before joining the crowd of the other villagers.
"Remember your promise, my dear," the Wise Woman told Anwanárë with a trembling voice. "Once you are the best elf in all of Middle Earth, you can come back and visit us! Won't that be wonderful, dear?" She smiled down on the child with a mixture of love and sadness. "Remember to control your temper and think before you speak."
Sensing that the Wise Woman needed her to be strong, Anwanárë answered, "I will, Wise One." She leaned back from their hug to examine the Wise Woman's face, as if committing to memory each and every line and detail. "I love you," she whispered before turning to walk to the captain's horse.
Turning around to wave to all of the villagers, Anwanárë noticed another well-wisher come to say goodbye. She walked over to the dog and knelt to give him a hug. "I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier, Nólaindo. Forgive me, my friend, you did not deserve my anger." She stood and, with a last pat on his head, said, "Farewell."
Walking back over to the captain, he lifted her to sit on the saddle in front of him. She waved to the villagers as the elves all turned their horses and galloped off into the sunset. With one last look at the people and the village behind them, Anwanárë turned to face forward, ready to embrace her new future.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
After dinner that night, the Wise Woman and Iomann sat alone in the hut before the fire. The room was peaceful, the silence broken only by the cracking of a log or the creak of the Wise Woman's rocking chair. Iomann finally broke the somber mood by asking, "Wise One, have you seen Nóla anywhere?"
Turning from her stare into the fire to look at Iomann, the Wise Woman replied with a frown, "No, the last time I saw him was on the hill when we were saying goodbye to. . ." She broke off with a choked whisper, unable to bring up the painful occasion.
Iomann continued to stare into the fire, smoking his pipe with a perplexed look. "Hmm. . . that is strange. I have been looking for him everywhere ever since Anwa left. No one seems to know where he has gone." Turning from the fire, he gave the Wise Woman a questioning look. "You don't suppose. . ." He let the unfinished sentence hang in the air for a few seconds before turning back to the fire. "No. What a silly thought, it couldn't possibly be true. No. . ." he trailed off while resuming his smoking and staring into the fire.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
After traveling for several hours, the elven party was forced to stop to rest the horses. As soon as the elves dismounted and tended to their horses, they fell upon the easy ritual of setting up camp. Some elves broke off in search of firewood while others took out cooking utensils and provisions to prepare the evening fare.
Along the ride from the village, Anwanárë had drifted in and out of a fitful sleep. Simultaneously sad about leaving her childhood home and excited about meeting more of her kind, her emotions were understandably in turmoil.
Once the captain's horse had stopped, Anwanárë had quickly scrambled down in a need to relieve herself. By the time she had taken care of her business behind a nearby grove of trees, the campfire was already roaring and the warm smell of baking lamnas bread floated in the air.
Just as Anwanárë was about the leave the grove of trees to warm herself by the fire, her elven ears picked up a soft whimpering coming from the trees. Curious, she turned and followed her ears to a large bush. She sank down on her knees and peered under the bush, searching for the source of the pitiful whining. She was awarded with a warm, sloppy kiss on the face.
Squealing with surprise, she reeled back and fell onto her bottom. A brown form slid out from underneath the bush and happily padded over to the elf, proceeding to wash her face with its warm tongue.
Finally recognizing the creature, she exclaimed, "Nólaindo! What on Middle Earth are you doing here? You scamp!" Laughing at his enthusiastic ministrations, she picked herself up and brushed off her skirt. Resting her fingers on the nape of the dog's neck, she guided him from the grove of trees towards the campfire.
The captain looked up as Anwanárë shyly walked up to stand in front of him, a dog by her side. His icy blue eyes noted the way her right hand clutched the dog's hair and her left hand remained buried in the folds of her skirt. No doubt it was clutching at the fabric as well. Concluding that the girl must be nervous and slightly intimidated by him, the captain strove to relax his cold, blank expression.
"Is there something you needed, Anwanárë?"
Keeping her eyes glued to the ground, the elf nervously queried, "I was wondering, since Nólaindo followed us from the village, if I could keep him as a pet and bring him to Rivendell."
When the captain didn't answer right away, Anwanárë raised her eyes to glance at his face. He was stroking his chin as if thinking over the request carefully. Finally, he locked his eyes with hers and nodded.
"I suppose there could be no harm in keeping a pet." Anwanárë broke into a huge smile, the sheer brilliance of it startling the elven captain. The image of an older Anwanárë flashed through the captain's head as well. Although Anwanárë had a rather homely and plain face, compared to the elvish race in general, her smile lit up her eyes and transformed her face into a wondrous thing to behold. That special smile combined with her lively spirit was sure to attract many an elven male in the future. However, the captain shook his head to clear it of these thoughts, trying to keep a stern grasp on the situation. He added gruffly, "But if he gets in the way and creates trouble, I cannot be held responsible."
Anwanárë nodded enthusiastically, piping up in her clear voice, "I understand, sir. I will be sure to keep him out of trouble. Diola lle!" Thank you! Again, the captain was surprised, this time by Anwanárë's spontaneous slip into the elven tongue. Having been told that the girl was not raised with an elvish background, the captain had not been expecting her to spout elvish words. Nevertheless, he shook it off as the ability to learn fast.
Oblivious to the captain's reflective thoughts, Anwanárë sat next to the campfire with a happy Nólaindo by her side, chewing her lamnas bread contentedly. After a little more rest, the party decided to remount and resume their journey towards Rivendell.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
Just as the sun peeked over the mountains to brighten up a new day, the elven party turned the last bend in their path to Rivendell. From her perch in front of the captain, Anwanárë gasped with pleasure as the rising sun's rays hit the palace, turning it into a magnificent wonderland of falling water and lush greens. The palace itself glinted with a pearly shine as the sun's light caressed its smooth, flowing lines.
Gazing at her new home, Anwanárë's honey eyes were wide with amazement and awe. Unconcerned with the little elf's emotions, the horses continued their easy pace and were soon trotting through the palace gates.
The captain dismounted and turned back to lift Anwanárë off of the horse. She stood in the middle of the courtyard, surveying the beautiful palace with Nólaindo at her side while the elves went off to tend to their horses. With a gentle lick of her hand, Nólaindo reminded Anwanárë of his presence. Turning to look down on him with a smile, Anwanárë whispered, "I'm glad you're here with me, Nóla. I know we can get through this together."
A soft footstep drew her attention back up to notice the king appearing in the doorway of the palace. As he calmly and gracefully strode down the steps towards her, Anwanárë straightened her shoulders and bravely lifted her chin, ready to meet her destiny.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
Review, pretty please!
Author's Note: Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews! I am so glad that you are enjoying my story so far! But don't worry, there is MUCH more to come!
Loving You from Afar
By crazeebabee
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
That afternoon, as the sun set over the forest, casting everything in a blazing orange hue, the whole village had gathered on the hill near the village to see Anwanárë off. The cool wind swirled and snapped at the vulnerable humans, small as ants when standing between the massive mountains and trees. Anwanárë stood with the Wise Woman and Iomann at the front of the crowd, all of them looking to the east and the plains. The thunder of hooves signaled the arrival of the elves long before they came into mortal sight.
Magnificent in their blue and white garments, sitting astride beautiful white horses, the elves seemed aloof and untouchable to the awed villagers. As the captain of the group dismounted and approached, Anwanárë tightened her arms around the Wise Woman's waist and hid her face in the fabric of the dress.
"Are you the Wise Woman of the Village of Rhinefehld?" the captain said in an imperial voice.
"That I am," the Wise Woman responded, lifting her chin bravely.
"And are you Iomann the Woodcutter of the Village of Rhinefehld?" the captain asked, turning to the bearded man next to the Wise Woman.
"That I am."
"Then I suppose this little elfling here is Anwanárë, correct? Come here, girl, do not hide in the old woman's skirts like an elf-babe. I do not bite, I assure you."
Feeling insulted by the captain's comment, Anwanárë untangled herself from the Wise Woman's skirts and stood before the captain. She set her chin bravely, unconsciously imitating her long deceased mother with a spitfire of defiance in her amber eyes.
The captain took his time looking over the little elf. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he nodded before turning back to his horse and remounting. "Come, it is getting late and we must depart if we are to reach Rivendell before daybreak."
Anwanárë turned and ran to the Wise Woman and Iomann, embracing them for the last time.
"Be a good girl, er, elf," Iomann said gruffly over his emotions. He patted her affectionately on her head before joining the crowd of the other villagers.
"Remember your promise, my dear," the Wise Woman told Anwanárë with a trembling voice. "Once you are the best elf in all of Middle Earth, you can come back and visit us! Won't that be wonderful, dear?" She smiled down on the child with a mixture of love and sadness. "Remember to control your temper and think before you speak."
Sensing that the Wise Woman needed her to be strong, Anwanárë answered, "I will, Wise One." She leaned back from their hug to examine the Wise Woman's face, as if committing to memory each and every line and detail. "I love you," she whispered before turning to walk to the captain's horse.
Turning around to wave to all of the villagers, Anwanárë noticed another well-wisher come to say goodbye. She walked over to the dog and knelt to give him a hug. "I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier, Nólaindo. Forgive me, my friend, you did not deserve my anger." She stood and, with a last pat on his head, said, "Farewell."
Walking back over to the captain, he lifted her to sit on the saddle in front of him. She waved to the villagers as the elves all turned their horses and galloped off into the sunset. With one last look at the people and the village behind them, Anwanárë turned to face forward, ready to embrace her new future.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
After dinner that night, the Wise Woman and Iomann sat alone in the hut before the fire. The room was peaceful, the silence broken only by the cracking of a log or the creak of the Wise Woman's rocking chair. Iomann finally broke the somber mood by asking, "Wise One, have you seen Nóla anywhere?"
Turning from her stare into the fire to look at Iomann, the Wise Woman replied with a frown, "No, the last time I saw him was on the hill when we were saying goodbye to. . ." She broke off with a choked whisper, unable to bring up the painful occasion.
Iomann continued to stare into the fire, smoking his pipe with a perplexed look. "Hmm. . . that is strange. I have been looking for him everywhere ever since Anwa left. No one seems to know where he has gone." Turning from the fire, he gave the Wise Woman a questioning look. "You don't suppose. . ." He let the unfinished sentence hang in the air for a few seconds before turning back to the fire. "No. What a silly thought, it couldn't possibly be true. No. . ." he trailed off while resuming his smoking and staring into the fire.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
After traveling for several hours, the elven party was forced to stop to rest the horses. As soon as the elves dismounted and tended to their horses, they fell upon the easy ritual of setting up camp. Some elves broke off in search of firewood while others took out cooking utensils and provisions to prepare the evening fare.
Along the ride from the village, Anwanárë had drifted in and out of a fitful sleep. Simultaneously sad about leaving her childhood home and excited about meeting more of her kind, her emotions were understandably in turmoil.
Once the captain's horse had stopped, Anwanárë had quickly scrambled down in a need to relieve herself. By the time she had taken care of her business behind a nearby grove of trees, the campfire was already roaring and the warm smell of baking lamnas bread floated in the air.
Just as Anwanárë was about the leave the grove of trees to warm herself by the fire, her elven ears picked up a soft whimpering coming from the trees. Curious, she turned and followed her ears to a large bush. She sank down on her knees and peered under the bush, searching for the source of the pitiful whining. She was awarded with a warm, sloppy kiss on the face.
Squealing with surprise, she reeled back and fell onto her bottom. A brown form slid out from underneath the bush and happily padded over to the elf, proceeding to wash her face with its warm tongue.
Finally recognizing the creature, she exclaimed, "Nólaindo! What on Middle Earth are you doing here? You scamp!" Laughing at his enthusiastic ministrations, she picked herself up and brushed off her skirt. Resting her fingers on the nape of the dog's neck, she guided him from the grove of trees towards the campfire.
The captain looked up as Anwanárë shyly walked up to stand in front of him, a dog by her side. His icy blue eyes noted the way her right hand clutched the dog's hair and her left hand remained buried in the folds of her skirt. No doubt it was clutching at the fabric as well. Concluding that the girl must be nervous and slightly intimidated by him, the captain strove to relax his cold, blank expression.
"Is there something you needed, Anwanárë?"
Keeping her eyes glued to the ground, the elf nervously queried, "I was wondering, since Nólaindo followed us from the village, if I could keep him as a pet and bring him to Rivendell."
When the captain didn't answer right away, Anwanárë raised her eyes to glance at his face. He was stroking his chin as if thinking over the request carefully. Finally, he locked his eyes with hers and nodded.
"I suppose there could be no harm in keeping a pet." Anwanárë broke into a huge smile, the sheer brilliance of it startling the elven captain. The image of an older Anwanárë flashed through the captain's head as well. Although Anwanárë had a rather homely and plain face, compared to the elvish race in general, her smile lit up her eyes and transformed her face into a wondrous thing to behold. That special smile combined with her lively spirit was sure to attract many an elven male in the future. However, the captain shook his head to clear it of these thoughts, trying to keep a stern grasp on the situation. He added gruffly, "But if he gets in the way and creates trouble, I cannot be held responsible."
Anwanárë nodded enthusiastically, piping up in her clear voice, "I understand, sir. I will be sure to keep him out of trouble. Diola lle!" Thank you! Again, the captain was surprised, this time by Anwanárë's spontaneous slip into the elven tongue. Having been told that the girl was not raised with an elvish background, the captain had not been expecting her to spout elvish words. Nevertheless, he shook it off as the ability to learn fast.
Oblivious to the captain's reflective thoughts, Anwanárë sat next to the campfire with a happy Nólaindo by her side, chewing her lamnas bread contentedly. After a little more rest, the party decided to remount and resume their journey towards Rivendell.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
Just as the sun peeked over the mountains to brighten up a new day, the elven party turned the last bend in their path to Rivendell. From her perch in front of the captain, Anwanárë gasped with pleasure as the rising sun's rays hit the palace, turning it into a magnificent wonderland of falling water and lush greens. The palace itself glinted with a pearly shine as the sun's light caressed its smooth, flowing lines.
Gazing at her new home, Anwanárë's honey eyes were wide with amazement and awe. Unconcerned with the little elf's emotions, the horses continued their easy pace and were soon trotting through the palace gates.
The captain dismounted and turned back to lift Anwanárë off of the horse. She stood in the middle of the courtyard, surveying the beautiful palace with Nólaindo at her side while the elves went off to tend to their horses. With a gentle lick of her hand, Nólaindo reminded Anwanárë of his presence. Turning to look down on him with a smile, Anwanárë whispered, "I'm glad you're here with me, Nóla. I know we can get through this together."
A soft footstep drew her attention back up to notice the king appearing in the doorway of the palace. As he calmly and gracefully strode down the steps towards her, Anwanárë straightened her shoulders and bravely lifted her chin, ready to meet her destiny.
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
Review, pretty please!
