A/N: I don't own Lord of the Rings although I certainly wish….
Hear me and listen well, for I am Miko the bard.
I am sure you all know the stories from the early ages but it seems that later history has eluded us all in the great passing of time
As you remember from the early tales, the earth was born and in its time many strange creatures dwelled upon it
There were the fair elves, magical and mysterious, the elusive hobbits, industrious dwarves, as well as the more sordid and evil creatures; Orcs, goblins, trolls and other nasty things.
And then there were men, shortest living, and the most populous but with the power to shape the history of the world.
The early ages were times, of magic and adventure. Civilizations of different races rose and fell. There were struggles between forces of good and evil. Demons, gods and humble mortals fought for balance.
A ring was forged to dominate others and the goodly races rose in protest of this evil and eventually cast it down and destroyed it.
And then the days of the elves slowly drew to a close. Slowly they left these lands, and with them the magic that had been so vibrant and abundant grew scarce.
Dark days came, as if in revenge to the peaceful times that had existed earlier.
The cities of men were thrown down and abandoned. Great monsters, like giant lizards arose, causing devastation wherever they went. Some say that their presence was due to Melkors thirst for revenge.
The races of Men and Dwarves allied together and out of fear of total annihilation, decided to hide from these latest invaders deep in the bowels of the earth.
To this day that is where the dwarves remain, there hammers sometimes shaking the earth to this very day.
Men however were not content to exist far from the sun and light. In a war that fragmented the race of men, they rose up and eventually destroyed the lizard kings.
Unfortunately much knowledge was lost during this reformation. Things long known and understood had to be rediscovered, ancient relics were lost and forgotten.
Of the fate of the hobbits, nothing is known beyond that they are not found today.
The long passing of time was an ally to men, in these pursuits. Though the individual man's life was not so long, there accumulated knowledge and writings helped lead the younger generations. Cities were rediscovered and their old names restored.
Gondor, and Rohan were once again powers to be reckoned with.
The world was eventually cleansed of the orcs, goblins and remaining lizard monsters.
But men, had never been inclined to be a peaceful race so soon there war like ways brought them to fight with each other…the powers of the western world turned south to the Haradrim, the east and southerners that had escaped almost unscathed during the times of the lizard kings.
The barbarians of the east and south were eventually overthrown. And it was during these tumuoltous days that a new secret was discovered.
Far to the east, farther than any western man had ever ventured, a valley was discovered.
The people of this newly discovered land were as mysterious as the valley oasis they inhabited.
They spoke a language, that was sister to the Black tongue, and they called themselves the Mediia. They gladly allied themselves with the forces of Gondor, and the haradrim were cast down with their combined forces.
Once again there was peace. But men have never dealt well in peaceful times.
The winds of change were soon calling softly, for once again, the hearts of men were growing restless…
