-Seeking Hope-
12-12-04

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: As much as I want to I don't own any LOTR characters, places, monsters or anything else created by Tolkien, but I do own the characters and places, which I have invented or will invent or introduce. If you wish to use any of my characters or places, email me first.

Read the first chapter for additional notes and other information.

Estel woke, but kept his eyes shut, trying to remember what had happened. There had been a warg, he'd been injured. A nazgul, no an elf had saved him. An elf! Opening one eye cautiously, he glanced at his surroundings. The warg's body was gone, and a fire burned to his left. To his right lay Vorimaer, his leg bandaged and sleeping where he'd fallen.

Inspecting his own wound, he found it cleaned and also bandaged. He also noticed a dark green cape was covering his shoulders, keeping him warm. A voice out of the blue cried "Meneg rhaich!" (-Thousand curses!-) Which was followed by a sudden bang and another curse in dwarfish.

Estel turned his attention to the noise, which had come from the fire. The elf had burnt himself cooking something and dropped the pan. Without the cloak, he saw that the elf did indeed have blond hair. The clothes he wore were also dark green, and reminded him of Mirkwood elves clothes. Mirkwood elves, blond hair. He knew this elf!

"Legolas. Thank the Valar you came!" He cried, trying to stand up. The elf turned, but he wasn't Legolas. For one thing, this elf was a female. Her hair was blond, but much whiter then Legolas', yet braided the same way. She was tall and slim, like all elves, and had two piecing green eyes. Her left hand was red from where'd she burnt herself, and some of the warg's blood still stuck to her hair and face. Her left ear was pieced, a single fang hung from it. Underneath the warg blood and dirt Estel thought she was very beautiful, in a ruggard ranger way that is.

Embarrassed, Estel began to apologise but the elf began to laugh. Still laughing, she rose and made her way over the confused mortal. "What's your name, young human?" She asked, her eyes glittering with amusement.

Estel kept his mouth shut and didn't answer. Smile fading a little, she tried a different question.

"These woods are no place for you, my lad. Now, where's your dwelling?" Estel still didn't answer. "I'm not going to kill you. I could of done that while you were sleeping. Now, where are you from?" Her patience was running out.

"Bree." Estel lied, keeping eye contact with the elf. She seemed like someone you could trust, but better safe then sorry.

The elf nodded. "Ahh, Bree. Then explain to me why you are dressed in elvish clothes, carry an elvish dagger and ridean elvish prince'shorse?" To that Estel didn't have an answer.

He started his introduction again. "Fine. My name is Estel and I am the son of Lord Elrond of Rivendell. Happy?" Now it was the she-elf's turn to look confused. "Then why are out here with no escort?" She questioned.

"Because all the elves hate me just because I'm different. Because I'm mortal." Estel replied tearfully, his eyes beginning to water. He hardy ever cried. Strong people don't cry. The elf chuckled slightly before kneeling down and taking his hand.

"Young Estel, we are really no different except in age." To prove her wrong, Estel raised her hand to his flat ear, and then her pointed one. A small smile came to her face pulled his hand from her ear and placed it on his own chest.

"What do you feel?" She said softly. Estel felt something pounding in his chest.

"My heart beat, so?" Estel replied, not really understanding. Her smile grew larger and she then held his hand against her own chest.

"Now what do you feel?" Estel once again felt a heart beating, but a little fainter then his. With her other hand she pulled his face up so they were looking eye to eye. "You see?" She said soothingly. "We are the same."

Estel too smiled as he drew his hand back. "What is you name, wise elf?" He mocked. Standing up and walking to the fire, she called over one shoulder.

"Well, my full name is Tariravethvala Elandale Hiniennar, but my friends call me Tarveth or Tar. You hungry?" Estel's stomach growled at the question. He answered quickly,

"Starving. It's not warg is it?" He joked. Elven laughter rang through the campsite.

"No, to big to put on the fire. Rabbit will have to do I'm afraid." Tar replied with a laugh as she made her way back over with two juicy roasted rabbits.

Handing one to him, Tar sat down next to him and started eating the fat rabbit. Taking her example, Estel sank his teeth into it. It was beautiful. "It tastes like the hares my brothers would cook when we'd go camping." He said through a mouthful of meat.

Swallowing first, Tarveth replied, "It should. I taught them how to cook it after all."

"You know my brothers?" Estel cried, almost chocking on the rabbit.

Chuckling in memory Tar said, "The tales I could tell about them and Legolas. I remember once time when we'd gone for a 'simple' hunting trip Legolas thought it would be a good idea to explore these old ruins that were 'supposedly' inhabited by huge bats. Well, it turned out that the tale was true and Legolas-" The two talked long into the night about the twins then Elrond and Rivendell before Estel finally fell asleep.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The first thing Estel noticed when he woke was another horse lay next to Vorimaer. He didn't notice it last night for its coat was midnight black. Looking to the sky, the clouds had cleared, giving way to a stunning morning. He was drawn back to reality by a piece of bread landing in his lap, followed by an apple. Tarveth was trying to place weapons and clothes back into her pack while eating. Giving up, she sat down beside her horse and began eating a slice of hard bread.

"Sorry it's not as fancy as last night, but the rain ruined most of my packed food." She explained. Estel just shrugged and ate his piece in silence, all the time looking at Tar's mount. Seeing this, she gestured to the black horse and said "Beautiful isn't she? She was given to me by a wizard in Rohan."

"Given to you by a wizard? That can't be!" Estel said, crawling over to the mare. Tarveth just shrugged.

"Well, he didn't exactly give it to me. I needed a ride and, well, he wouldn't miss her too much. Her name is Mornsuifuin, which means black as night." She said, misunderstanding Estel's question.

Reaching the horse, Estel began to stroke its silky coat. It was like velvet. Vorimaer, seeing this, whinnied in disapproval. "Just looking my friend." Estel called.

He tried to rise but fell back down. Tar and her mare both shot looks at him before the elf said, "Don't. You'll pull out the stiches."

"Stiches?" Estel said as he examined his leg. "When did you put them in?"

Rising off the ground and giving the rest of her breakfast to Mornsuifuin Tar replied, "While you were sleeping. How you didn't wake I don't know." Taking an apple from her pocket, she threw it to Estel's steed, which nickered in thanks before beginning to gratefully eating the treat.

Stretching, Tar added. "We better get started. I'm sure Rivendell is in chaos because of your disappearance. You can ride Mornsuifuin for Vorimaer can't support a rider yet. I'm surprised he can support himself." The stallion held his head high at the remark.

Estel allowed her to left him up onto the mare's back. Seeing his discomfort, she said quickly, "Don't worry. She won't let you fall. Anytime you want to rest just shout."

Walking over to her pack and swinging it over her shoulder, she said, "Come one, let's get this party moving." before taking up a fast jog, which enabled the horses to canter. Soon Tar broke into songs and tales in elvish that were sung in Rivendell, and Estel joined in occasionally. Estel thought that this was paradise. Little did they know that the day would end very differently.

Chapter dedicated to jacquelinestel and wackoranger cause they were the only ones to have a guess at the name, and were pretty much spot on. Just like to say I love your bio!! (LOL!)

Well, what do you think of Tarveth? First of a few character's I'll be introducing, but they come in later in the next story. Weather she'll survive to see them is another matter, but enough of me giving away the story, on to responses.

HarryEstel: Glad someone loves it. Concert, like singing or band?

Grumpy: Not many worse positions to be in. Better to face the elfings maybe, but I think I'd take my chances with the warg. Good thing indeed, but I can't let him die yet, where's the fun in that?

jacquelinestel and wackoranger: Your name, although really cool, is so annoying to type! Estel didn't really fall asleep, he was thrown pretty hard into the tree, so it may be a result of that. Radagast? He's a wizard isn't he, lives near Beorn? Yea, Mornsuifuin is suppost to mean black as night, but my translations may be wrong.

WildBlackWolf: Either that or you forgot about the massive hole in the bottom of the boat. I know many people who are idiots are aren't open about it, and some that are but don't realize it, so you're not alone. (If the boat hadn't of sunk I'd probably of joined you.)

Well, loyal reviewers and all you other lazy people who don't, goodbye for now.
Basilisk330. (Next chapter up on -)

P.S. Review will you, don't care if you log in or not just review the damm thing.