Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR. I only own Lhunrothien, Nefaratoiel, and
Mariel.
(PS in my story the elves are NOT leaving middle earth.)
Chapter One: Travel Destinations Decided
Nefaratoiel walked along a forest trail. Her chin length midnight black hair was blown from her face by the wind. Her stormy gray eyes seemed troubled though one could never tell. She wore a pale blue homespun shirt and dark midnight blue pants. She had midnight blue slippers, with leather soles, she was obviously poor. Around her head was a silver chain, most was hidden under her head and only visible upon her forehead where it held a silver crescent moon, it was her only object of wealth. Her mother had given it to her and it was all that Nefaratoiel had left of the kind woman. She traveled from village to village pretending to be a magician, making whatever coin she could with whatever magic that was within her. She had a particularly strong magic, though no one who ever met her would have been able to guess. She told most others that she was descended from an elven line but she herself was mortal despite her elven appearance.
Her life was full of secrets and she never told anyone who she really was. Like her mother she stayed away from elven settlements, for no better reason other then that is what her mother had done. She had two long knives hidden in the long sleeves of her shirt and only a single midnight blue cloak to ward of the cold at night.
She lived the life of solitude and was a loner wherever she went. She often sat on top a high ridge watching the humans and elves, even the dwarves rebuilding their lives and their homes now that the ring was destroyed. Frodo had gone to live with the elves and in Rivendell he would remain. Gandalf the White had Isenguard rebuilt now that Saruman was dead. He had the old tower torn down and a new one constructed in its place. This new tower was constructed from white marble and other white materials. The new tower was named Nedor Vie and would be known as The Watcher of the Lands.
Legolas and Gimli traveled together often and it was not surprising to see them just about anywhere helping the people rebuild. The world was not so bad a place to live anymore it seemed, but to Nefaratoiel it was Hell. She most often traveled at night, never during the day. She rejected all that seemed happy and bright, and wrapped herself in darkness. She never smiled or laughed. One might think that she thought such simple things a sin, but she merely felt that it was a waste of her energy to do such things. She longed for companionship but was afraid of being rejected.
She paused on the trail and looked to her right she had heard a rustling of leaves. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously yet she saw nothing. She continued along the path when she heard a twig snap. It was soft and barely audible even to her keen elven senses but she knew it for what it was. She turned around and a small gray wolf pup crept upon the path. It looked at her with its soft brown eyes. She merely raised an eyebrow turned and began to walk again. The pup kept following her though. She didn't bother to yell at it, she didn't mind that it followed her. It was almost dawn when they reached a cave where Nefaratoiel planned to stay for the day. She sat down and the wolf pup climbed into her lap.
She looked at the pup in her lap and noticed a silver band around its neck. Someone owned this pup. She lifted the pup up and saw it was a girl. "You may stay with me today, and tomorrow we will find your caregiver." She whispered to the pup in elvish. With that Nefaratoiel lay upon her cloak and silently drifted off to sleep. The little wolf curled up beside her.
It was noon when Nefaratoiel awoke. She looked at the pup beside her and raised an eyebrow. She stood and the pup awoke and yawned. She stepped out into the open and hiked over to a clearing. Once in the clearing she headed to the river that ran straight through it. She knelt and cupped her hands, drawing water from the river to drink. She drank deeply then sat back to watch the water trickle by. Her serious countenance never faltered once, even in such a peaceful setting as the one she was within.
She looked at the path on the other side of the field and saw an elf emerge. She stood up and looked at the elf before her. She had an elven sword strapped at her waist. It was the elf's only weapon. It was an elven maiden, the maiden was beautiful, a lighter beauty then Nefaratoiel's. She had long auburn hair that reached just past her shoulders. Her hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, and braided in the back. Her eyes were a light blue and they reminded Nefaratoiel of the sky in spring. She was not as tall like Nefaratoiel but she wasn't short either. The elven maiden looked at Nefaratoiel till a little black bundle caught her eye.
The wolf pup raced towards the elf yapping its head off like crazy. "Willow! I was looking everywhere for you!" She cried out in elven. She knelt down to pick up Willow, cuddling her close. She rose and walked to Nefaratoiel, "Did you take care of her? I'm surprised she stayed with you, she doesn't usually take a liking to anyone." The elf exclaimed in the common tongue.
"She found me and I merely allowed her to stay. It was only last night that we came across each other." Nefaratoiel responded sincerely.
The elven maiden looked at her curiously. "Well my name is Mariel and I thank you anyways. Are you heading to Rivendell?" She questioned.
"You're welcome and my name is Nefaratoiel. I am not going to Rivendell, I am heading to the village of Bree." Nefaratoiel answered.
Mariel frowned at this, "Why would you, an elf, be going to the village of Bree?" She questioned.
Nefaratoiel narrowed her eyes at the boldness of the question and responded quite coldly, "My business is my own. You have no right to question me."
Mariel looked at the elf before her in shock. She had never heard one speak so coldly before.
Nefaratoiel merely raised and eyebrow at the girls stare. It would be rude to just leave now and though she was cold to people, she made it a point to be as polite as possible. "If I was rude, I apologize."
"No you were not rude. I was merely shocked at how cold and bitter your voice was." Mariel smiled though her eyes betrayed her confusion.
Nefaratoiel sighed and sat on the bank of the little river. "That is what the world does to you in time. At least. that is what it did to me." Nefaratoiel watched the water flow smoothly. Willow crawled over to Nefaratoiel and lay beside her. Nefaratoiel did not smile though she relaxed somewhat. Mariel sat keeping her distance, sensing that that is what Nefaratoiel required.
Mariel smiled slightly. "Why don't you come with me to Rivendell. It is a beautiful place, though I guess that is what anyone would say about there home."
"No, my home was horrible. I am glad to be gone from it. It was ugly and I never wish to lay eyes upon that forsaken spit of land again." Nefaratoiel said bitterly. A small frown appeared upon her face. She turned to Mariel, not smiling she slightly tilted her head and she spoke, "I will go with you to Rivendell Mariel. I have never been there before and I have always wanted to see one of the many homes of my ancestors." Her voice was soft and full of sorrow. Her word ancestor, not family, caused Mariel to think she had no one left. Mariel was right.
A loud crash resounded in the wood to their left. It was followed by a few elven curses. Willow sat up yapping her head off until Mariel paced a hand upon her snout. Nefaratoiel and Mariel rose to see what had happened in the wood. Mariel laughed when they came across an elf sitting on the ground rubbing her behind. She wore traveler's garb and looked to be well learned. The new elf looked up surprised and smiled sheepishly. "I meant to do that." she trailed off sheepishly.
Nefaratoiel merely raised an eyebrow as Mariel was set of on another fit of giggles. Nefaratoiel helped the elf to her feet, "I am Nefaratoiel and these are my companions, Willow and Mariel." Nefaratoiel gestured to the two.
"I am Lhunrothien, may I ask where the two of you are headed?" Lhunrothien questioned.
"We are headed to Rivendell, if that is where you are going then I insist you come along," Mariel responded.
Nefaratoiel rolled her eyes at the thought of yet another person for company. She turned and began to walk in the direction of Rivendell. The other two just looked at her.
She turned to them and said, "If we ever want to get there we had best start walking." She raised an eyebrow as they both blushed and raced to catch up...
Chapter One: Travel Destinations Decided
Nefaratoiel walked along a forest trail. Her chin length midnight black hair was blown from her face by the wind. Her stormy gray eyes seemed troubled though one could never tell. She wore a pale blue homespun shirt and dark midnight blue pants. She had midnight blue slippers, with leather soles, she was obviously poor. Around her head was a silver chain, most was hidden under her head and only visible upon her forehead where it held a silver crescent moon, it was her only object of wealth. Her mother had given it to her and it was all that Nefaratoiel had left of the kind woman. She traveled from village to village pretending to be a magician, making whatever coin she could with whatever magic that was within her. She had a particularly strong magic, though no one who ever met her would have been able to guess. She told most others that she was descended from an elven line but she herself was mortal despite her elven appearance.
Her life was full of secrets and she never told anyone who she really was. Like her mother she stayed away from elven settlements, for no better reason other then that is what her mother had done. She had two long knives hidden in the long sleeves of her shirt and only a single midnight blue cloak to ward of the cold at night.
She lived the life of solitude and was a loner wherever she went. She often sat on top a high ridge watching the humans and elves, even the dwarves rebuilding their lives and their homes now that the ring was destroyed. Frodo had gone to live with the elves and in Rivendell he would remain. Gandalf the White had Isenguard rebuilt now that Saruman was dead. He had the old tower torn down and a new one constructed in its place. This new tower was constructed from white marble and other white materials. The new tower was named Nedor Vie and would be known as The Watcher of the Lands.
Legolas and Gimli traveled together often and it was not surprising to see them just about anywhere helping the people rebuild. The world was not so bad a place to live anymore it seemed, but to Nefaratoiel it was Hell. She most often traveled at night, never during the day. She rejected all that seemed happy and bright, and wrapped herself in darkness. She never smiled or laughed. One might think that she thought such simple things a sin, but she merely felt that it was a waste of her energy to do such things. She longed for companionship but was afraid of being rejected.
She paused on the trail and looked to her right she had heard a rustling of leaves. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously yet she saw nothing. She continued along the path when she heard a twig snap. It was soft and barely audible even to her keen elven senses but she knew it for what it was. She turned around and a small gray wolf pup crept upon the path. It looked at her with its soft brown eyes. She merely raised an eyebrow turned and began to walk again. The pup kept following her though. She didn't bother to yell at it, she didn't mind that it followed her. It was almost dawn when they reached a cave where Nefaratoiel planned to stay for the day. She sat down and the wolf pup climbed into her lap.
She looked at the pup in her lap and noticed a silver band around its neck. Someone owned this pup. She lifted the pup up and saw it was a girl. "You may stay with me today, and tomorrow we will find your caregiver." She whispered to the pup in elvish. With that Nefaratoiel lay upon her cloak and silently drifted off to sleep. The little wolf curled up beside her.
It was noon when Nefaratoiel awoke. She looked at the pup beside her and raised an eyebrow. She stood and the pup awoke and yawned. She stepped out into the open and hiked over to a clearing. Once in the clearing she headed to the river that ran straight through it. She knelt and cupped her hands, drawing water from the river to drink. She drank deeply then sat back to watch the water trickle by. Her serious countenance never faltered once, even in such a peaceful setting as the one she was within.
She looked at the path on the other side of the field and saw an elf emerge. She stood up and looked at the elf before her. She had an elven sword strapped at her waist. It was the elf's only weapon. It was an elven maiden, the maiden was beautiful, a lighter beauty then Nefaratoiel's. She had long auburn hair that reached just past her shoulders. Her hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, and braided in the back. Her eyes were a light blue and they reminded Nefaratoiel of the sky in spring. She was not as tall like Nefaratoiel but she wasn't short either. The elven maiden looked at Nefaratoiel till a little black bundle caught her eye.
The wolf pup raced towards the elf yapping its head off like crazy. "Willow! I was looking everywhere for you!" She cried out in elven. She knelt down to pick up Willow, cuddling her close. She rose and walked to Nefaratoiel, "Did you take care of her? I'm surprised she stayed with you, she doesn't usually take a liking to anyone." The elf exclaimed in the common tongue.
"She found me and I merely allowed her to stay. It was only last night that we came across each other." Nefaratoiel responded sincerely.
The elven maiden looked at her curiously. "Well my name is Mariel and I thank you anyways. Are you heading to Rivendell?" She questioned.
"You're welcome and my name is Nefaratoiel. I am not going to Rivendell, I am heading to the village of Bree." Nefaratoiel answered.
Mariel frowned at this, "Why would you, an elf, be going to the village of Bree?" She questioned.
Nefaratoiel narrowed her eyes at the boldness of the question and responded quite coldly, "My business is my own. You have no right to question me."
Mariel looked at the elf before her in shock. She had never heard one speak so coldly before.
Nefaratoiel merely raised and eyebrow at the girls stare. It would be rude to just leave now and though she was cold to people, she made it a point to be as polite as possible. "If I was rude, I apologize."
"No you were not rude. I was merely shocked at how cold and bitter your voice was." Mariel smiled though her eyes betrayed her confusion.
Nefaratoiel sighed and sat on the bank of the little river. "That is what the world does to you in time. At least. that is what it did to me." Nefaratoiel watched the water flow smoothly. Willow crawled over to Nefaratoiel and lay beside her. Nefaratoiel did not smile though she relaxed somewhat. Mariel sat keeping her distance, sensing that that is what Nefaratoiel required.
Mariel smiled slightly. "Why don't you come with me to Rivendell. It is a beautiful place, though I guess that is what anyone would say about there home."
"No, my home was horrible. I am glad to be gone from it. It was ugly and I never wish to lay eyes upon that forsaken spit of land again." Nefaratoiel said bitterly. A small frown appeared upon her face. She turned to Mariel, not smiling she slightly tilted her head and she spoke, "I will go with you to Rivendell Mariel. I have never been there before and I have always wanted to see one of the many homes of my ancestors." Her voice was soft and full of sorrow. Her word ancestor, not family, caused Mariel to think she had no one left. Mariel was right.
A loud crash resounded in the wood to their left. It was followed by a few elven curses. Willow sat up yapping her head off until Mariel paced a hand upon her snout. Nefaratoiel and Mariel rose to see what had happened in the wood. Mariel laughed when they came across an elf sitting on the ground rubbing her behind. She wore traveler's garb and looked to be well learned. The new elf looked up surprised and smiled sheepishly. "I meant to do that." she trailed off sheepishly.
Nefaratoiel merely raised an eyebrow as Mariel was set of on another fit of giggles. Nefaratoiel helped the elf to her feet, "I am Nefaratoiel and these are my companions, Willow and Mariel." Nefaratoiel gestured to the two.
"I am Lhunrothien, may I ask where the two of you are headed?" Lhunrothien questioned.
"We are headed to Rivendell, if that is where you are going then I insist you come along," Mariel responded.
Nefaratoiel rolled her eyes at the thought of yet another person for company. She turned and began to walk in the direction of Rivendell. The other two just looked at her.
She turned to them and said, "If we ever want to get there we had best start walking." She raised an eyebrow as they both blushed and raced to catch up...