CHAPTER ONE

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The elleth, Aduial strode purposefully through the forest of Eryn Lasgalen. The late morning sunlight streamed through a few stray breaks in the canopy, dimly illuminating the forest floor. She nimbly stepped over fallen tree branches and low growing plants as she took many unexpected turns. She was not following one of the many well-worn footpaths that wound through the forest.

In her right hand, Aduial clutched the pendant and necklace that normally hung round her neck. It was a distinctly un-elvish piece of jewelry. A pair of silver hands held two tear drop shaped halves, one black with a small white circle and the other white with a small black circle, which clung to each other forming a perfect circle no wider than an inch across. She had worn that necklace for over a thousand years.

The necklace had awakened. Nestled in the palm of her left hand, it glowed with a light fueled by magic. Magic that guided her feet through the forest and up a steep ridge. It was difficult terrain, even for an elf. Many of the trees on the side of the ridge had fallen or grown contorted with exposed roots and twisting trunks barely clinging to balance.

Excitement lent speed to Aduial's already swift pace as she climbed higher and higher. The necklace glowed brighter and her hand began to tingle. She was almost there. Aduial did not know what would greet her when she reached the top of the ridge, but whatever she found was inextricably linked to the secret trust of which she was guardian.

At the top of the ridge grew a thick grove of massive oak trees. Aduial silently stepped toward an opening in the tree. Her heart pounded furiously in her chest as curiosity and anticipation overtook her mind. Cautiously she placed one hand on the nearest trunk and peered into the grove. Behind the wall of trees was a small grass covered clearing. At the far edge sat Legolas Greenleaf.

Aduial frowned in confusion. Of all the things she thought might greet her, he was not among them. Legolas had returned to Eryn Lasgalen from the Undying Lands months ago. Could he be the reason her necklace had awakened? She examined him more closely, seeking some indication that he was responsible for the changes in her necklace. She noticed only that he seemed particularly pensive as he sat on a large boulder near a small stream.

Legolas was indeed deep in thought. So deep, in fact, that he had not sensed Aduial's presence. He was seeking solace in the life of the forest; endeavoring to ease the restlessness that had taken up residence in his soul. As a young elf, the clearing had been a refuge for him when the weight of his title had become nearly unbearable. He had hoped that returning to the forest of his birth and going back to the clearing might somehow aid his search for wholeness and peace.

Legolas, you tread dangerously close to aimlessness. He grimaced wondering how such a thoroughly mortal concept could work its way into his mind. After all, what use was "aim" to an immortal being? Focusing on where you are going in a lifetime that is forever could only lead to endless frustration. Briefly he wondered if he should have heeded the warnings about keeping company with mortals. He shook his head slightly, as if to throw off that line of reasoning. The friendships he'd had with mortals were well worth the disquiet he felt now.

Shifting focus, he tried to allow the life and spirit of the forest to steady his feä, but it was not to be. Beneath the sounds of the forest, beyond the borders of Eryn Lasgalen there was a growing dissonance in the fabric of Middle-earth. It could be heard like an ever present knocking at the door. Even, however faintly, to the shores of the Undying Lands.

"Legolas?" Aduial called softly to him.

Startled, Legolas turned swiftly to look in the direction of the voice, annoyed that he had been caught unaware. His irritation deepened slightly when he recognized the deep blue eyes and unusual chestnut hair of Aduial. He had known her for most of his long life and though they loved each other like siblings, they usually found themselves bickering over one inconsequential thing or another.

"Aduial," he said unenthusiastically and with a touch of sarcasm, "what are you doing here?" He was unaccustomed to seeing other elves in that quarter of the forest and Aduial was very nearly the last elf he wanted to see at the moment. He simply did not feel up to verbal sparring today.

Aduial strode toward him with a determined set to her smooth elven features, ignoring his mildly sarcastic question. She needed to see what the magic of her necklace would do in close proximity to him. She simply could not believe he was the sole purpose for its awakening. She stopped before him and regarded him with total seriousness, looking deeply into his cerulean eyes.

He stared back perplexed at the manner in which she approached him.

"Legolas," she began, "there is a most important matter I-" Her words trailed away when his eyes left her face and focused on something in the distance behind her. Aduial slowly pivoted around, curious to see what had grabbed Legolas' attention. Suspended in the air a short distance away glittered a small pinpoint of intensely bright light.

Eyes narrowing, Legolas cautiously circled around light searching for its origin.

Aduial followed suit, feeling anticipation and excitement rising within her.

With a flash, the light began rapidly expanding and a shadow roughly the size of a person appeared within it.

Legolas swiftly grabbed his bow and notched an arrow.

The light faded slowly and the two elves found themselves standing behind a human.

Legolas readied the arrow on his bow and opened his mouth, preparing to speak, when Aduial gently but firmly placed her hand on his bow arm and pushed downward.

He jerked his head to the left, looking at her with irritated curiosity.

Aduial was staring intently at the human before them. Within seconds, her sharp eyes told her they were standing behind a human female.

The newcomer did not seem aware of their presence.

Ilorin blinked rapidly, attempting to focus her eyes as the bright light that had engulfed her faded. I did it. I can't believe I did but I did. A small spark of fear began to form in her chest. She was well aware that she had traveled through a magical passage, a rare occurrence among her people. She cautiously observed her new surroundings. That spark of fear grew to a flame and was joined by anxiety. She was in utterly alien terrain. Her feet stood upon the softest, greenest grass she had ever seen, and all around her were trees. Trees unlike any she had ever thought possible. They towered overhead obscuring the sky. Hassana was a land of nearly treeless plains where the sky could be viewed open and wide to the horizon. She was obviously no longer in her homeland.

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thanks for reading this far

the earth guide