The Passing
Luthien Stories
So many days within this ways
I need the truth
I need some grace
I need the path
To find my place
I need some truth
I need some grace
The part of you
That's part of me
We'll never die
We'll never leave
And it's nobody else's but mine
Excerpt from 'Breathe your Name' By Sixpence Non the Richer
Gandalf and Kohana wandered through the night on the back of Shadowfax. Kohana had only ridden a horse once, and it had thrown her off and stomped on her foot.
She really didn't like horses.
She also didn't like being in such an awkward situation. She was in front of Gandalf on Shadowfax with his hands around her waist.
The sad part, she thought, was that this was as much action she had ever gotten from the opposite sex. And it was Gandalf.
'Why couldn't I have been whisked off by Aragorn or Legolas? This officially sucks.'
Leaving the shire was fairly hard for Kohana, for her parting with Marien was a tear jerker. The little child's cries could be heard far down the road as Kohana left the Boffins dwelling. Kohana spent the next few days on the back of Shadowfax in the frontier of Middle Earth. The last day of traveling was a long one, for Kohana's bum ached madly. Gandalf said that they were close to Rivendell toward twilight, so she kept herself occupied by listing all the things she missed from home. This probably didn't help her home sickness much, but it was quite entertaining for Gandalf. "And I miss mac and cheese." Kohana added to the ramble of twenty dozen other things. "What is that, girl" Gandalf inquired. "Cheese and noodles." Gandalf grunted. Kohana sighed. She looked of into the distance. She had to admit that then countryside was gorgeous in the setting sun. "Gandalf"
"Yes Kohana."
"Tell me a story." Gandalf shifted behind her. He was amused by her boldness. At first he found Kohana's demeanor offensive, but he had to admire her spirit. She was like no other human maiden he had ever met. He could see many men pursuing her, as long as she controlled her tongue. That is a skill she must learn quickly to survive.
"I will tell you the tale of Luthien Tinuvel and Beren son of Barahir."
"Is it a love story" Kohana heard an annoyed sigh behind her, and realized she unterupted the wizard. He cleared his throat and continued;
"Luthien was the only child of King Elu Thingol and his Queen Melian of Maia. She was the fairest of all Elven maids with hair of ebony and gray eyes that riveled the stars in the heavens. She danced in the forests of Beleriand and her song filled the land with beauty. She met Beren, a mortal man, in the woods of Neldoreth in summer and he fell in love with her at one glance. Luthien fled in fear of Beren, but he pursued her until once again they met in spring. She fell in love with him as well and the two lovers wondered the forest of Beleriand." Kohana winced. This story was horrible"You mean this girl was dancing around in the middle of a forest? I mean, isn't that a little weird? And this Beren fellow, he only fell in love with Luthien because she was beautiful- that doesn't' say a lot about there relationship if he only loved because of her looks." Gandalf sighed again. "Would you like to hear the tale, or shall you interrupt me again" Kohana shrugged. Gandalf took that as a sign to continue.
"Beren asked King Thingol for his daughter's hand in marriage, but the King refused because Beren was a mortal. However he said he would consider if Beren brought him a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth. Beren set out on his quest, while Luthien was imprisoned by her father for her own safety.
Using a sleeping spell, Luthien escaped and secretly followed her beloved on his mission. Later Luthien befriended Huan, the Hound of Valinor, who brought her to Beren after he was imprisoned in the dungeons of Sauron. Beren left Luthien sleeping in the woods while attempting to continue the quest alone. She, of course, followed him to the Gates of Angband. Luthien enchanted Morgoth with a sleeping spell and took a simaril from his crown. The two escaped, but not before Carcharoth bit off Beren's hand. The man then died in the arms of his beloved, and she followed his soul to the Halls of Mandos. Her grieve was so powerful, Beren was granted life again in exchange for Luthien's immortality."
"Happily ever after, right? . . . It does remind me a lot of this story from my land called The Four Tasks." But before Kohana could start her story Gandalf shushed her, for there was an odd noise heard on the air. It was past nightfall, and while Kohana had lobbied to sleep on the ground Gandalf had insisted on riding into the night. He pulled up the hood of the cloak she wore to hide her and whispered "be still"
She obliged and crouched lower onto Shadowfax. Gandalf dug his heels into the horse and suddenly the world seemed to fly pass Kohana's face.
Then she saw him, or it I should say.
It was the Nazgul.
There were three of them, and they were coming up behind Shadowfax and forming a pyramid at their heels. 'This is no supposed to happen! This isn't right!' Kohana frantically looked around. Gandalf pushed her head back down.
"Stay down girl" He commanded. The wizard brought out his staff. Suddenly the forest was filled by a light coming from his staff. The black hooded creatures hissed in protest and veered off into the shadows of the woods beyond.
"The Nazgul are after you. Sauron knows you would be an asset to him, therefore the faster we hide you, the better." Kohana uncovered her face with her hood and looked behind her. The wizards face was solemn. He held a thin expression of pity.
"Sleep girl." The wizard commanded. Kohana turned around and shed more tears while her body gave out to fatigue.