Disclaimer: See prologue
Chapter One
And your name my friend?
POV-LOREI'S BROTHER
I woke to the rich smell of food I was forbidden taste, and wine I was forbidden drink. I stepped into my dark brown slacks and a green tunic. As I hunted down breakfast, I passed the door said to belong to our newest guest. I 'd heard by word of mouth that Lorei had discovered a woman in the woods not a day ago. Curiousity overcame me and I walked inside. My eyes took in the sight of Lorei fingering the woman's slightly rounded ears; as if it wasn't already obvious she was not elvish. I tried not to say anything; though it angered me that he would touch a woman in such a tender area. Anyone who had a speck of elf in them was extremely sensitive in that region. It was quite clear, however, that she was not fully elven. The strange woman had dark brown hair reminiscent of the wood used to build the very bed she was lying on, mahogany . Her skin was very dark, proving her non-elvish descent albeit her ears almost could pass as those of Elrond's house. The strangely dark glow her skin held also ruled out dwarven decent, for they remained it their sunless mines. And I could swear she wasn't human; there was something too unusual about her for her to be human. She radiated a soft glow that was not human in any way. Something about the way she was lying there, and the air around her, told him there was no human in her. I sighed; Gandalf and my dear friend Aragorn would be inexplicably helpful at the moment but Aragorn was too near passing to rush here. I sighed and wistfully hoped to see him before the river took him. He and Gandalf had a grand knowledge of Middle Earth races, while I know all there is to about elves. As I turned to slip out of the room soundlessly, having not yet alarmed my brother, I was caught. Lorei called to me in his usual nonchalant voice; "Brother, fetch Gandalf and tell him that his knowledge is required. Take whatever measures are needed to get him here in two days."
I bowed to him respectively, completely accustomed to this behavoir. "Yes Prince Lorei." I walked down the hall, past the court dining room and into the kitchen. I was not permitted in the court dining hall, for I was not a member of the court. I nodded to the chef, who was very accustom to my morning visits. I grabbed a piece of fruit and set out to find my friends. As I mounted Arod, my father walked out on to a balcony and watched me.
He seemed to smile vivaciously, "Boy, do not let Lorei discourage you. His arrogance will be the downfall of him. He has forgotten what a great thing it is to be an elf. He is under the impression that age matters and that he is better. He realizes not that age is worthless and heart is the key."
Forcing back the tears that stung at my eyes, I nodded and bowed my head before taking off through the woods to find my dear friend. After a day's ride I met up with Gandalf in a meadow. He was riding towards Mirkwood swiftly and smiled, "Greetings old friend." I saw behind him that Arwen and Aragorn were in close pursuit. I dismounted and ran to embraced Gandalf and Aragorn. I then bowed slightly to my cousin and she bowed in turn.
I smiled and kissed her cheek, "Your Uncle Thranduil will be pleased to see you." She smiled. Her stomach was swollen with child and I gave Aragorn a mischievous look before mounting once more and leading them to the ground of Mirkwood. As we arrived, three or four dozen orcs ambushed us. I smacked the rear of Aragorn's horse so that he would ride hard and get them out of danger. Aragorn's age caused me to treat him tenderly and I pray he did not notice this. Gandalf, Arwen and I fought hard. Arwen stood behind Gandalf and swiftly shot three down as I unsheathed my sword and let out my rage. The hidden rage caused by my kin was released. Regardless of my anger, the elven grace that my ilk always fought with remained. I killed twelve of them and I spun my elven blade in a circle to finish off four more. Gandalf killed another and of course, Lorei came and slain the last one claiming victory for himself.
Once the battle ended, I made sure everyone was doing well. No one sustained injuries. Heading inside, I escorted Arwen to a room in the guest wing to rest from the battle and her pregnant state. I exited and nodded as Aragorn and Gandalf followed me. I showed them to the room occupied by our curious guest. As Gandalf laid eyes on the girl in front of him and drew in her form he gasped, "There's no way!" He drew closer and examined her closely, "Reyna?" Aragorn's eyes perked up curiously at this name, but he did not draw attention. Gandalf looked as if he had seen a ghost, the ghost of someone he knew very well.
The young woman's eyes fluttered, "Gandalf?" Her voice was silky and hushed. She sat up and smiles excitedly at the elderly man, "Gandalf! Oh, it is you!" Aragorn and I shifted uncomfortably and Gandalf turned. His eyes were lit up in merriment; the girl's eyes were twinkling with excitement as she looked around her to see where she was.
He smiled, "Allow me to introduce you to a friend of mine, Reyna. She is of an ancient race called the Wicca Fae to answer your question Lorei. She is a woman of the Mother. They are immortals with very strong magical abilities, thought to be almost extinct." Lorei smiled and approached her from the doorway.
My brother took her hand and kissed it lightly on bended knee, "I am called Lorei, Prince of Mirkwood, a Silvan Elf."
She swiftly withdrew her hand. Her voice bellowed dark and cold, "If your hand doth touch mine again you shall never produce an heir." Her dark brown eyes shone with the thruthfulness of her statement.
I found myself hiding a chuckle as Lorei stormed out and Aragorn could not control his mirth, laughing despite himself. Gandalf joined in the laughing as well as if it were contagious. After a few moments, I could not help myself either, chuckling to myself more openly. Reyna blinked a few times confused.
I stood and walked over to her, "Miss, I advise you not to speak to an Elven Prince in such a manner ever again." Then I introduced myself, "I am but an elf who resides in this town." I bowed low to her and she giggled lightly.
Smiling, I turned to see she was grinning at Arwen, who was preparing to smack me in the rear as I bent over to bow. I turned quickly and her eyes laughed with merriment. I gave her a falsely reproving glare and stepped away from her.
Arwen walked up to her and extended her pale hand. She smiled and nodded, "I am Arwen, daughter of Elrond, who is Lord of Rivendell." Aragorn put a hand on her shoulder, trying to convince her to rest more. Reyna greeted her less formally, which led me to believe that they knew one another from a previous time.
Reyna looked at the floor when she addressed us, "I am Reyna, granddaughter of Queen Lerama. My mother ruled the territory of Glacia, near the Sea of Eardor." No one asked of her parents because her eyes seemed to be drowning in deep pain and hatred as we announced our descents. The fact that she only named her Grandmother as a antecedent was clue enough to drop the subject.
Aragorn bowed, "Lady Reyna. It is good to see you again. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, the King of Gondor and Isildur's heir." She smiled and her mocha eyes reflected understanding as he hesitated to name himself as Isildur's heir. She seemed to tell him that she knew how he felt, though she spoke no words. Arwen looked puzzled that the two were previously introduced.
She turned to me, "And you, young elf? What of your heritage and your name?"
I bowed my head, "I am an Elf of Mirkwood. I am but a bastard." Aragorn started to object but a sharp look from Gandalf silenced him. Arwen let out a sigh of frustration and walked out of the room with Aragorn. I looked up at her, "Call me Ari."
End