Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings characters; I only own my new character (s).
Disclaimer: There was a feud upon the last name of my original character. I have never read Tamora Pierce's The Immortals. I trust those who told me that the name "Veralidaine" belonged to her. My character is in no way related to Pierce's character. I do not own the name. This disclaimer is for the whole story.
Author: born to be hanged a.k.a. Meltintalle
Title: The Key
Rating: PG-13 (for adult themes and language) (R chapter is possible with a warning)
Warning (s): Some language; may be considered minor to some, but not so to others. Suggestion of a mature theme.
Genre(s): Action/Adventure/Humor/Romance (romance is minor)
Compact Summary: The fourth theme of the Ainulindalë presented the creation of portals leading to different dimensions, opened by permission of Eru and the Ainur with the use of a silver key. The temporary holder of the key passed it to his daughter before he died. Sauron's possession of the key would provide endless allies, a safe haven, and supplies. Full summary inside. R&R!
Author's Note: This was my first work in progress. I had no idea what a "Mary Sue" was at the time that I first posted this, but now that I know, I consider it a bit of an insult. This is possibly because when someone calls out "Mary Sue!", it is more of an insult than just a statement. I guess you could say that this story would be categorized as a "Mary Sue" story, or that my original character is a Mary Sue. (I feel bad for the girl whose name was Mary Sue. Very unfortunate for her. ;)) I will not argue anymore, because the definition of a Mary Sue is made only of opinion. Some people think that a Mary Sue is the perfect girl. My opinion: a Mary Sue is a character. What kind of character? Well, there are so many different kinds. My conclusion is that Tolkien purists just don't like to see a whole different character formed and placed into Middle-earth that was not originally placed there by Tolkien himself. Therefore, they made up a name calling system. This is hard to explain, so I apologize if this doesn't make sense.
The point of my rant. (Is there a point? lol j/k) If you review just to tell me that my story or my character is a Mary Sue, this will most definitely not be constructive criticism, for I already comprehend that it can most certainly be categorized as this. If you are to review, and you are absolutely set on telling me that which I already know, please contribute a second point to your review. There, I believe I have chatted for long enough.
Therefore I shall shut up for now. I have a large tendency to blab. I'm Italian. I like to talk and feed people.
italicized text indicates a character's thoughts
I couldn't get an asterisk to work for the author's notes at the end of the chapters. So if you're confused about something, it'll probably be down there, just not marked. Before you review, please read these notes. They are very important explanations for my motives. Of course, if you're a knowledged Tolkien fan, maybe you won't have to read all of it. But in any case….
italicized text indicates a character's thoughts
A special note of thanks to my beta, Satori (Satori Blackthorn)
Summary of The Key
Lalaine Veralidaine is your average American punk, good-for-nothing, futureless teen, right? Wrong! Well, she is all that, but she also happens to be the keeper of a key by coincidental inheritance. A key to open the skies. I' tanwe a' edro i' menel.
Along with the creation of Eä, Ilúvatar created a fourth theme of the Ainulindalë that presented the creation of portals leading to different dimensions. These portals, comprised of the elements of time and energy, could be activated by the Ainur and Ilúvatar. But to create balance, a small device was created to allow some of the inhabitants of Arda access to another dimension in case of a severe predicament. Only then was the holder permitted to call for the Ainur's assistance to activate the instrument.
Arnatur, an Elf of Rivendell, was assigned the mission of transporting this key from Rivendell to the Lady of the Light, who resided in the land of Lórien. The passage was dangerous, for the power of the Dark Lord Sauron was ever increasing through the years. The enemy and his spies lurked in every darkened area of undergrowth. The decision that a small group of companions would attract less attention than a large one had been made. Arnatur was made the leader of a group of five others.
Their path was carefully planned out. Taking hidden pathways, the selected Elves would travel swiftly across the land. But the power of Sauron was more aware than was predicted, and he was able to identify the exact locations of the paths they were to take. Sauron was ever searching for the One Ring, his private possession that he longed to find. To have the small instrument made by Ilúvatar and the Ainur would provide endless allies, even if they were forced, and endless resources, all that would aid him in the repossession of the One Ring, his ultimate goal. Domination of the key would give Sauron the equivalent to a safe haven with a closed entrance to his prying enemies. If he succeeded, he would find this to be an additional gain.
Only years before their mission to overtake the current holder of the One Ring, the Nazgûl rode to the paths just beyond the valley of Rivendell, where a sincere farewell was being made. The daughter Lalaine and mortal wife Tarvalie Veralidaine of Arnatur had been permitted to watch the departure of their loved one.
But the Nazgûl and a party of orcs intruded, and the surrounding Elven scouts quickly fought to defend their lives as well as the two females'. Arnatur fled, knowing that the Black Riders and the orcs would follow, their purpose to seek the key. During the battle, Tarvalie Veralidaine was murdered, and Arnatur was eventually slain, but he survived long enough to perform one last significant action.
Young Lalaine Veralidaine was able to find her dying father hiding in a patch of undergrowth. Using the last of his strength, the Elf put the chain around his daughter's neck, praying to Ilúvatar for assistance to open a portal, knowing that if he lingered with the key remaining around his neck, it would be taken, along with his daughter's life. Assistance was granted, and the holder of the key was enveloped within a portal. His soul passed into the Halls of Mandos before the Black Riders found him.
Furious though the Dark Lord was, he soon realized that no amount of fury would bring the key to his hand. Abandoning his thoughts of the key for the time being, he employed another to uncover a way to transport the key back to Middle-earth, along with its temporary holder, the child of Arnatur.
Years later, a strategy was proposed, and performed, though not in perfection. Lalaine Veralidaine was pulled into a portal that was torn open by force. Though she was back in her native land, and therefore back within his reach, the torn portal rebelled. The energy was shifted to open into a distant land far from the Dark Tower.
Once Lalaine is thrust into the dimension of Eä, she encounters the Nazgûl, but is rescued by the Fellowship. At first, they only plan to see that she is safe in a nearby village, so that they may continue on their quest. But the Company soon finds out who she is, what she has, and why she must not be found by Sauron.
Author's Note: Ok, there was obviously some argument about my character remaining with the Fellowship. I never said she would. Lalaine will not stay with the Fellowship. Just wanted to clear that up for anyone that was wondering. Their purpose is to lead her to safety before resuming their original purpose.
These explanations are for those that are not experts on Middle-earth. I myself did not know any of this stuff until I was fortunate enough to come across a reference book. What can I say? I'm slow. ;) Most of this information is from The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster. Please do not take the following thorough information as an insult towards anyone's intelligence of Tolkien's work. These explanations allow readers who have not read the books and are basing their knowledge off of the movies to understand the story.
I' tanwe a' edro i' menel. - Quenya for "A key/device to open the skies heavens." I pieced this together with the help of a translator, so if it is incorrect, please tell me in a review. Quenya is the ancient language of Middle-earth, sort of like the equivalent of Latin.
Ainulindal - The Great Music sung by the Ainur (angelic spirits, offspring of the thought of Ilúvatar), the development of the three themes of Ilúvatar. The first theme was created by Ilúvatar, but developed by the Ainur, and presented the form of Eä. It was ruined by the conflict of Melkor. The second theme indicated the shaping of Arda. The third theme (the Ainur did not participate) dealt with the creation of the Children of Ilúvatar and their history up to the Dominion of Men.
Before you through tomatoes at me for creating a fourth verse/theme, the creation of other dimensions, consider that entertainment is not flawless. I admit that this story is not completely according to canon. This is my warning. For the sake of entertainment and a tale, I shall alter a small portion of the canon, which is not really altering it at all, but adding to it. "A storyteller is a bit of a seer, a bit of a doer, and a bit of a liar." - Bess the Bard. There you go. You can call me a liar.
Eä- the Creation of Ilúvatar, which comprises Arda and the heavens (Ilmen or menel).
Ainur - Angelic spirits created by the thought of Ilúvatar. A select few became the Valar, their purpose to fulfill the Ainulindalë in Eä. Others, such was Ungoliant and the Balrogs, came to Eä to obstruct the Ainulindalë and/or destroy the Light (examples: Melkor and Sauron).
Nazgul - the nine Black Riders, Ringwraiths