A/N: After I've been reading fanfic for years now I finally managed to muster up my motivation to write and post my own. I've noticed a severe lack of fanfic on this specific pairing (especially long/multichapter) and as I am a complete mush for tragic romances this story has always been own of my favourites. So I decided to write own myself. This fanfic is going to follow their entire story (from first meeting to you know… the bitter end). I'm going to try to keep the story as close to the legendarium as possible, which means I generally try to work in the confines of what is written (which to be fair is not that much) I also try to build in some of the larger ongoings of the specific time period however these will probably be relatively minor. (of course their might still be small inconsistencies)
Also to be as upfront as possible: This is the first story I ever posted, I'm not a native english speaker and have a learning disability. Therefore, despite spellchecker and reading over everything their will probably still be some mistakes or weird expressions. So feel free to point does out to me and I will try to fix them. I hope to get at least some reviews and are definitely open to feedback and constructive criticism.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, setting or plots of the Silmarillion or any other related works by Tolkien.
Now to the story!
Chapter One
369 F.A.
'Beril! Beril! Where are you?'
Andreth was really annoyed, no...she was furious. She had hoped to join Bregor's weapon practice.
Instead, she had spent nearly all day watching her sister, Beril. At four years old barely able to complete her own sentences she had insisted on a game of hide and seek. For the last hour, Andreth had chased her through their father's house outside into the wide courtyard, where she had lost her sister again.
'Come out! I'm bored! I don't wanna play anymore!'
Her calls remained unanswered. Her frustration started to boil up inside of her.
All she wanted to do was go find her brother and join his lessons. Breor the old weapon instructor had the appearance of a wild bear, but at the very least she wouldn't be bored out of her mind.
Hastily she stepped to the side avoiding the hurried steps of a group of servant women. Some of them threw a few annoyed glances in her direction. Andreth ignored them.
The adults had been busy since early sunrise. In fact, it had started when a group of strangers had arrived. Andreth hadn't seen them yet, they had come in before she had woken up and spent the entire time with her father in his study. Merely thinking about a group of mysterious strangers and the fantastical tales they could be telling her father was less boring than running after her little sister.
'Beril! I'm serious I won't be playing this stupid ga…'
'Andreth! What in the world are screeching on about!'
Clapping her mouth shut, Andreth spun around and looked up at the stout, but handsome women looking disapprovingly down at her.
Instantly, she felt her heart sink into her stomach. Elwen's stern expression told her she was about to be severely scolded by the housekeeper.
'I'm playing with Beril...', she began.
'I do not care what you two were doing.
What matters is that you can not go running and screaming about, while others are doing their work.
Especially on a day like this. If you think you have that much useless time at hand, then let me tell you I will…' While Andreth had stood before the angry women, hanging her head and kicking dust with her small boots, she had glimpsed a small slip of a girl storming past the kitchen entry.
'Hey! I've got you!', the boredom of before and the anxiety of the scolding evaporated nearly instantly. The excitement of the game reignited in her chest. She took off, running after her sister. Their laughter filled the air, multiple servants and soldier of the household had to spring aside as the whirlwind of childish screams ran past them.
'Wait where are you going little lady?!', Elwen's indignant screams remained completely ignored as both girls stormed among many wild cries past the main entrance of the house.
Beril was running in the direction of the closest of three storage buildings, probably planning to go hide again. However, due to being near twice her age and nearly being taller by half Andreth managed to catch up quickly.
'You won't get away! I'm gonna get…AH!'
Abruptly, she came to stop as she crashed into a solid barrier that seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Scrambling back to her feet she tried to look for Beril, but her vision was filled by a group of three tall figures.
She raised her gaze up… and up. A small gasp left her, as she realised these were the mysterious strangers. They were tall, taller even than Breor and he was as big as a bear. Her eyes immediately locked onto the closest of the strangers, the one with whom she must have collided, her breath seemed to completely leave her chest and she starred.
He was beautiful!
She stood speechless, gaping up at him. His entire being emanating a bright, warm light. The sun shone in his golden hair and his eyes were filled with the beautiful light of clear night sky filled with stars. He crouched down before her, a gentle smile pulling up his lips.
'You seem to be in a hurry', his voice had a strange melodic quality.
'I...I was chasing Beril.', slowly she managed to regain her voice, growing more confident she said, 'She has been hiding nearly all of noon!'
His smile widened into a grin, ' Beril? Would that be the little Adan zipping past just a moment ago?' She nodded enthusiastically, her initial shyness leaving her completely.
'Andreth! What are you…!' Just then Andreth spotted her father hurrying at them, his face was pulled into a frown as he addressed the stranger crouching in front of her.
'My Lord, I have to apologize. My daughter is usually not this unruly, but she is only eight… somebody should have been supervis…'
'It's fine Boromir. There is no need to apologize. It is always a pleasure to see children freely play and laugh, especially in these times.'
Turning back to her the star-eyed stranger smiled mischievously.
'If you are searching for little Beril, look in the kitchens. She did not stay long in the warehouse.'
She eyed him suspiciously, 'Are you sure? How can you tell?'
'I have my ways.'
He answered her before standing back up and turning to her father.
She scowled up at him, that wasn't helpful at all. The stranger and her father started discussing boring things about some distant cousin leaving and something about supplies or whatever. They walked in the direction of the stables the two other strangers following close behind.
Before her attention had been entirely occupied by the sun haired stranger, but now she mustered them closely as they walked away. Both had long dark hair and were as tall as he was, however, she came quickly to the decision that despite their fair faces they weren't as awe-inspiring nor as striking. She simply had never seen such bright golden hair.
All of her father's people had dark hair and dark or grey eyes. After the strangers had vanished from sight, she ran off to go look for her sister. She was curious if he had been right about Beril being in the kitchens.
Later that day after Andreth had been able to finally catch Beril in the kitchens, they were both immediately discovered by a furious Elwen.
She had been scrubbing many pots as punishment while Beril had been sent to her room under strict supervision.
That evening her father visited her room. His soft knock at the door was directly followed by the soft squeaking of the door.
She sat up in her bed, while he sat down next to her. He looked at her for what seemed like a small eternity. His bright grey eyes stood in stark contrast to the lines in his weary face. With a sigh, he reached out and ran his rough hand over her head.
'Andreth,' he said, 'Do you know who the Lord was you met today?'
The hesitation before her answer betrayed her ignorance. 'You called him a Lord but he called you by name. Nobody ever does that, father.' A gentle smile appeared on his face.
'Yes, nobody of this the House of Beör does that. But we live in Dorthonion and this land is not our own it belongs to King Finrod of the Nargothrond.'
'But… isn't Finrod an elven King in the South?' Andreth frowned, trying to remember her lesson about the Kingdoms of Beleriand.
'Yes, you're right! That is why his Brothers hold these northern highlands for him and we, the people of Beör, owe our loyalty to them as our lieges.'
'Oh!' Her face cleared as she started to realize what her father was telling her, excitement began to rush through her as she came to a further realization.
'They were Elves!'
'They call themselves the Eldar. But, it is important for you…' She stopped listening to her father as her childish fancies got the better of her and she started babbling.
'I always taught Elves were so much different. But they almost looked human. He was really pretty, though… like really pretty. Are they all that pretty? And glowing eyes. Are the tales through that…'
The hearty laughter of her father stopped her waterfall of words.
'Yes, the Eldar are famous for their beauty. They seem to have left quite the impression on you.'
'Who was he?' she asked curiously.
Her father seemed to know immediately who of the three she meant, answered her more seriously.
'He is one of King Finrod's brothers Lord Aegnor, who guards the Northern border together with his brother Lord Angrod against the enemy. He came today to discuss with me some important matters. These are hard times, especially this close to the enemy. This is why I came to talk with you. I have been thinking… With your mother gone and you getting older…', he cleared his throat and suddenly seemed to fidget nervously with the edge of her blanket.
'Your uncle Belemir has written to me… a few weeks ago by now… I was not sure before but I am done stalling and decided it is for the best. I have decided to send you to your uncle's Household. Your aunt Adanel is a wise-woman and has been childless up till now, she will look after your education. It will do you good to grow up in the presence of another woman.'
Shocked she stared up at her father.
'You send me away!' Her voice sounded shrill to her own ears.
'Not forever! But times are getting only harder and their home is farther south you would be safer there.'
'What about Beril?' She squeaked, trying to keep the snivel out of her voice, her sight already blurry with tears.
Her father's sigh was already answer enough.
'She is still very young and the journey is not short… Adanel wishes to teach you, Beril wouldn't be able to follow and end up a hassle. No, she will remain here at least for now.'
Finally, she lost the battle with her tears and she started to cry openly.
'Now, now. Please don't cry!'
Her father moved forward and enclosed her in his arms, rocking her back and forth.
'You will be fine. All will be fine…'
His calm words slowly calmed her down, until she drifted into a deep sleep, momentarily not caring that the person comforting her and sending her away from her home were one and the same.
At the end of each chapter, I will try to include a small list of word/name explanations or other useful information. I will try to make everything as clear as possible inside the chapter. This will just be in case.
In the year 369 F.A. Bereg (cousin of Boromir) leaves Beleriand and marches south with 1000 men. Andreth is 8 years old at this point, while her brother Bregor is 10 and her sister is 4. Their father Boromir at this point is the chieftain of the House of Beör.
Breor and Elwen are both OCs. There will probably a few more just to flesh out the story a little more, but they all be pretty minor characters.
Since there haven't been really any elvish words been used everything else should be pretty self-explanatory.
Except maybe: Adan (sing.), Edain (plur.) = Men of Beleriand