Chapter 1: A Secret Untold
It was a cold winter's morning deep in the dense forest of Eryn Lasgalen. Frost covered most of the trees, as the sun had not yet risen to melt it. Sunrise was expected at any moment. Several thousand-year-old Tamuril was sleeping draped over one of the many branches of the thousands of trees in the vast forest. She was awakened sharply by a raven's call. Damn bird, she thought, stretching her arms over the tree trunk behind her and leaning back against it for a short moment.
The forest brought her comfort in her saddest of times and it brought her company in the loneliest of times. When all of her friends had gone to their training on the practice fields and armory. She had passed up all of her peers in her training and had already graduated as an expert-warrior, and was the archery instructor of Mirkwood.
She had snuck out of her campsite earlier that morning to meet her friend Linwe who had traveled from Lothlorien with her father and had wandered into the forest on her, Tamuril, and Prince Miranu's hunting trip. Linwe was known for her carelessness and her ultra-feminine personality.
Tamuril jumped down from her hiding place of rest in the large pine tree directly onto her horse Morgwen and beckoned her to trot. Morgwen was a beautiful mare with long black hair and white hooves. She was unique because she had a white star on her muzzle and had never worn a saddle. Tamuril shivered from the icy wind that whipped in her face sending chills up her entire body. Her black leggings, brown and green tunic, and grey Lothlorien cloak weren't as warm as she would have liked. She snuggled into Morgwen's thick mane for warmth and a shield from the violent freeze.
She stopped Morgwen at the Enchanted River. Carefully, she guided her across the bridge to the other side, the side of the forest on which her father's kingdom did not lay. She had been out hunting and camping with her young cousin Miranu. He looked strikingly like herself, as he also possessed earthen brown eyes and long brown hair. The striking difference was that he was tall and lean as the other elves. They were not the best of friends. In fact they rather disliked and disagreed with each other. But they loved and looked out for each other just the same. Miranu was training to be the bodyguard of the Crown Prince of Rivendell, Darsali.
As she stepped onto solid ground, she notched her bow and arrow. This was the side of Eryn Lasgalen that the giant spiders lived and roamed, the side that still claimed the title of Mirkwood. The uncharted dangers that inhabited this area were ugly, grizzly, and all rather lethal. As she notched her bow she silently cursed Sauron for creating this mini-hell. As she walked slowly she saw the glowing yellow orbs in the trees watching her. They were there, waiting, ready to pounce on any unsuspecting creature that was stupid enough to travel unarmed or to drop their guard. She had killed many giant spiders in her years as a scout for the Mirkwood Boarder Guards. All were vile disgusting creatures.
As she walked deeper into the forest she began to search for the clearing that Linwe usually flocked to, for it was the most beautiful in all of the forest; waterfall, wading pool, flowered meadow and all. Linwe was an Elven maiden from Lothlorien that she had met while escorting Arwen Evenstar and her father Lord Elrond Half-Elven during the War of the Ring. Linwe was tall and fair with long, straight, brown hair and hazel eyes. She was a very "feminine" elf if you asked Tamuril. She always had on some fancy dress and had some way to correct the style and manner of Tamuril who was actually quite tomboyish and wanted nothing to do with dresses and fashion of any kind.
As Tamuril tied her horse up in the clearing she had spotted, Linwe came out of the shadows. She was, of course, wearing another one of her fancy dresses. This one was a V-neck, rose red one with flowing arms and a satin floor length skirt. She also had one of her headdresses that were studded with diamonds. She pranced over to Tamuril's horse and willingly, yet spitefully, said, "It's about time you showed up. I was beginning to wonder if you had just forgotten about my very existence!"
"No Linwe, I couldn't very well forget about you," said Tamuril, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
They both mounted the horse and road back to the makeshift campsite. When they returned Tamuril tied her horse to the nearest tree and began to cook what she could make closest to a breakfast. She was the only one out of the three who had any cooking skills at all. As she finished the meal and began to walk to the creek to clean out the pans, she asked Linwe, "Are you going to be okay here alone with Miranu?" she teased. She knew Linwe had a serious crush on Miranu, the 1000-year-old son of Legolas Greenleaf. Linwe simply nodded and went back to watching him sleep, so peaceful, so calm...
A/N: I know these first few chapters may be a little boring, but I have to set the universe somehow. They will improve as the story goes on. If you have any questions about the story and it's AU background, please review or PM me. I will try to answer your questions.
Please review with any suggestions for future chapters. I am open to all aspects. A note to all the people who intend to keep reading this: I ask you to remember the Lord of Rivendell, Darsali. He is Lord Elrond's stepson. He will play a large role in the later chapters. Legolas will come into the story soon and you will see the relationship that he and Tamuril share. If anything confuses you review w/ your questions.