Story 1- The tale of Dorinthian and Aneria Undëriôl

Dorinthian Undëriôl was born in the year 2389 of the Second Age, and was raised in the Elven city of Fornost. Here he was a celebrated warrior and swordsman by the age of 231 (quite young for his race, as were most of his actions. He was very advanced in his actions in relation to his age), and accomplished many feats of bravery and valor. In the year 2754, Dorinthian fought in a battle alongside his father, Dorinthöl, on the outskirts of their city. An invading tribe of wild men tried to bring the city to ruins, but ultimately failed, although Dorinthöl lost his life in the battle. Dorinthian vowed to avenge his father's death, and set out alone to follow the retreating members of the tribe. He followed them southeast, and single-handedly killed each one. After the tiresome battle, though, he grew weary and after wandering for weeks on the edge of the forest he slipped into a small stream and there lay unconscious for many days. He was rescued when a young woman by the name of Aneria Smalls (who was of mortal and hobbit descent) from the nearby village of Bree happened to come upon him while she was out on a walk one day. She fetched her father, who owned the local horse ranch, and together they brought the lone soldier to their home. He was nursed back to his full health and strength by Aneria who barely left his side. When he was back to his full health she convinced Dorinthian to stay a while longer with her. He obliged, and they spent many days wandering the plains and fields together. One crisp day in August they ventured off their regular path (which was Dorinthian's idea) into a nearby forest, where the following conversation took place.

"Many months I have spent in your home, Aneria." Dorinthian said as the two walked sheepishly through the tall pines.

"Yes, Dorinthian, and my father and I have treasured your company dearly." Aneria replied. They both stopped and had a seat on a fallen tree.

"And I have treasured yours." Dorinthian said, and gave Aneria a peck on the cheek. He could not hold back his joy, and smiled widely, and Aneria did the same. "But what I really wanted to say" he continued, "is, well, ask really."

"Well, get on with it!" Aneria breathed jokingly. Dorinthian looked around him shyly. He wasn't quite prepared for what he was about to do.

"Will you. would you. I mean."

"Yes," Aneria said slowly, urging him on. It took a few moments, but Dorinthian managed to say, "Marry me!"

"W- what? Excuse me? I, umm." Aneria stammered, for once at a loss for words.

"Be my wife! Return with me to Fornost." Dorinthian said, more confidant this time around. Aneria grinned widely and wrapped her delicate arms around his neck, pulling him tight.

"Yes! Yes! I will be your wife!" Aneria whispered excitedly in his ear, and he embraced her and there they stayed for a long time, until the sun began to creep behind the hills. Then the two ran back to Aneria's hut to tell her father their plans.

"Absolutely NOT!" burst Falco Smalls, Aneria's father. "Never will my daughter wed an elf! Not as long as I'm living she will not!" he shouted. Aneria sat at the small kitchen table, head in her hands, weeping. She had so wanted her father's approval. Dorinthian was pacing back and forth behind her, trying to conceal his frustration. Falco continued "How dare you! A complete stranger we took in, we gave you shelter, food, and you repay me by stealing my only daughter!" With this Aneria jumped up from her seat.

"Father! Do you hear yourself? You've gone mad! I swear it! It is not concerned you are, as you should be! You're greedy and can only think of yourself! If you love me you will give us your blessing!" Dorinthian stopped pacing and placed a hand on Aneria's shoulder. They both stood and looked at Falco with expectant eyes. Falco sighed, and took a seat. He seemed dismayed. "You are all I have left, Aneria. Your mother is dead, who will take care of me when I no longer can?" It was when Falco looked up that Aneria and Dorinthian realized he was crying. "You may go, but do not expect to ever return here." And with that Falco left the room, and made his way to the small area he called a den. Aneria followed, despite her grief.

"Father, surely you don't mean what you have just said," Aneria half told, half asked him, although she was afraid of the response. Falco sat for a few moments on his plush sofa.

"I did mean it. If you are to be gone, stay gone." He replied. Aneria felt an enormous burst of sorrow seize her, and she began to weep again. Dorinthian came to her side and embraced her, trying in vain to bring comfort. Falco saw this and grimaced. He then retaliated on himself and thought, "What have I done? I really am selfish, as she says. But he is really to blame, can't she see?" Then he said aloud: "Okay, Aneria, my daughter. I apologize, it was truly cruel what I have said." And with that she turned from Dorinthian's sturdy chest to look into her father's gray eyes. She said nothing, but ceased her tears a bit while her father explained. "You may go, without my blessing, and wed the elf. You may also return, but he," and Falco made a gesture and sneered towards Dorinthian, "may not enter my home, EVER." Aneria and Dorinthian exchanged puzzled looks, for they did not know what to do. Dorinthian bent down and whispered to Aneria,

"Accept his offer, for I know he is very dear to you." Aneria nodded, and sat down next to her father.

"Your words are true, and I must abide by them. We will be gone by second breakfast." And with that she stood, taking Dorinthian's hand in her own, and retreated to her bedroom to pack. Neither father nor daughter could sleep that night, and Aneria's tossing kept Dorinthian up as well.

"Aneria, I know the situation troubles you, and I reel from your pain. But tonight you need your rest, for at sunup we make for Fornost." Dorinthian whispered late that night, as crickets chirped outside their window. Aneria said nothing, but sighed and turned to face him. She laid one milky-white hand gently on his chest, and closed her eyes. He pulled her closer to him, and then they slept.

When the sun rose slowly above the hills, Falco arose from his fretful night. He was hesitant to leave his room, knowing the departure of his daughter would surely be torturous. But alas, he did rise, and shortly after he cooked his company eggs and fried tomatoes. As he was setting the juice glasses out he heard them stirring, and sat down himself to serve his plate. They ate in awkward silence, and never looked up from their plates. Falco saddled up a pony and tears filled his eyes as he watched his daughter climb aboard. It was then that the first words were uttered that morning.

"Farewell, dear father. You live in my heart." Aneria whispered as she bent down to kiss his forehead. And then they were off, over the distant plains and behind rolling hills. And Falco retreated back into his home, which was now quite empty, and he cried. Tears streamed mercilessly down his cheeks, and he felt alone. The pain from his decision cut him like a knife, and he felt remorse more than he ever did. But his pride kept him from calling out to his daughter. When she returned, if she ever did, he would surely tell her how much she means to him, and invite her again to live, and he would even let the elf stay. But Falco was sure that as the months rolled by, seasons would come and go, and he would grow older and would never see his daughter again. Not even when he called upon her, on his deathbed, and Falco would die a sad death, alone in his hut.

Meanwhile, on the rolling hills outside of Bree, Aneria and Dorinthian walked in silence, Aneria secretly crying. Dorinthian didn't dare to look back. He felt guilt creep up on him like darkness on the forest. It took three days and nights to reach Fornost, and when Aneria caught her first glimpse of the city, it took her breath away. Sprawling gardens lined the borders of the streets, and in the center were the tallest and most beautiful gleaming white buildings she'd ever seen. Dorinthian smiled and said to himself "Home," although he secretly felt a strange mist that hovered near his heart. The city seemed different, darker, although it was midday, and the sun was clearly shining. Aneria noticed none of this, for she had no memory of the place to compare it to. She stared in awe as they reached the front gate, and two tall men strolled to their spot in the trail. In the native tongue they spoke to Dorinthian,

"Halt! By the orders of the lord no visitors are allowed at this time!"

"No, it's quite alright," Dorinthian said hastily, "I am returning, for I have been visiting a friend far away. Tell the lord I am Dorinthian, and I have come to claim the land that was passed down to me by my father, Dorinthöl, after his death." The guards looked at each other, not accepting the story told to them.

"Dorinthöl has been dead for quite some time, his land was given to the next of kin when Dorinthian was nowhere to be found. Aside from that, we do not allow people of her kind in our walls." The first guard said and motioned towards Aneria, who watched in silent amazement. She had never heard their language before. Dorinthian sighed; knowing it would be impossible to get the guards to let him in. He turned and led Aneria back down the trail from which they came.

"Wait! Aren't we supposed to be going in there now?" She asked, quite confused.

"Don't worry. There's been a little misunderstanding. I'll get it straightened out as soon as possible, but in the meantime we must make a camp. It may take a long time for me to get everything in order." Dorinthian replied, although Aneria still didn't know what was happening. So they set up camp about two miles from the city, and there Dorinthian told Aneria of the trouble he'd had at the gate. She seemed dismayed.

"So we may never enter the city?" She asked once he'd finished. The two sat by the small fire Dorinthian had made and ate small pieces of rabbit he had managed to catch that night.

"Maybe," Dorinthian sighed, and then he pulled Aneria close to him and said to her, "But there are other options. We could build a home, right here, and never bother with the likes of them, or anyone else, for as long as we live!"

"Well, if we were to do that, I don't think here would be the ideal spot. If we are to be alone, let us be alone! I have heard of a wonderful meadow where the beauty is indescribable! It is far away though, near the woods of Lorien." Aneria suggested. Dorinthian smiled.

"Then the meadow near Lorien it is!" And the two slept well that night, and at break of day they set out again, this time for the meadow Aneria said lay near Lorien. On their way through The Shire Aneria felt especially grieved, but Dorinthian took it upon himself to see after her joy. He called upon a holy man, and the two were married. This wasn't the only thing that pleased her. Dorinthian had a lengthy discussion with Falco, and the two quite willingly sorted things out, although Falco still felt hatred for the elf. Falco made an appearance at the wedding, where he gave his blessing to his daughter. He also gave her a brooch her mother had worn to her own wedding. It was pure silver, in the shape of two swans with entwined necks. Their eyes were of light blue, and Falco said that it was made by the elves of far western lands. Aneria treasured this gift, and thanked her father for it. She once again bid him farewell, and the Undëriôl's were on their way to Lorien. The journey took several months, for they had to pass over the Misty Mountains.

But early in the year 2756 they arrived on the edge of the woods Lorien. Aneria was so pleased that she raced Dorinthian the rest of the way. They arrived in the meadow Aneria had for so long talked about and their breath was taken away. The wide sprawling land stretched for miles in every direction, and held the greenest grass that ever existed. They were troubled, however, to find that there was no place to build their home, and they carried no supplies with which to do it. So they set out across the Anduin River, and found a cozy spot amongst a few trees by the forest of Greenwood (which later became Mirkwood). Dorinthian and Aneria started work on their hut as soon as they could. A small group of elves greeted them warmly upon their arrival, and provided them with a few horses with which to sow a garden. Dorinthian became good friends with the leader of this group, Entälenir, and together the Undëriôl's and Entälenir's group of elves made a small village on the edge of the forest. There they all lived peacefully for quite some time. In the year 2765 and in the month of June, Aneria gave birth to the child Agador, her daughter.