Thanks to everyone who reviewed my first chapter (:

ZollySealand: I'm relieved to hear that you liked it and that you find my style, spelling and grammar tolerable, because that's always one of my big worries, since English is a foreign language for me. I hope I won't disappoint you ;D Thanks again.

Certh: Thanks, your review is really helpful. It pointed out some critical points about this story, that I, at least partly noticed but wasn't too sure about.

Concerning the structure of the text I already saw the fault in that, because as I saw how it turned out once I posted it I was annoyed too that every line was a new sentence, I'm afraid I have to find a way to change that, although as I wrote it on my computer it looked different :D

Also for more descriptions I will try to work harder on that but as well as with the punctuation I didn't quit master it, because in German it is really different than in English but I hope I can improve both!

And I was so confused about the Dúnadan and Dúnadain thing I'm glad you helped me sort that out ;)

PS: Phew I'm relieved to hear that she doesn't seem like a Mary-Sue… I always want to prevent that because those stories just become predictable and boring (: I'll try to keep it that way…

As for a Beta-reader: Whoever wants to become mine… I would be grateful to have some help (:

Caleb's babe: I'll try to post as regularly as possible (:

Chapter 2:

A brown horse was thundering along wide fields carrying a darkly mantled form that lay pressed against its sweating, golden shimmering form. The person's wary eyes were searching for danger, for threats on its way.

Elenya Dúnadan had left Rivendell in haste; after hearing that her brother and lord would not be returning to his people with her she had nothing holding her at the place anymore. Her thoughts were now fixed on getting back to the North to help keeping her tribe from doom, which was their constant visitor now.

After riding fast for hours her strong body needed to rest although she would have preferred to ride on through the night. She could however not do so for her horse Baran was tired; the woman could not risk overstraining her companion if she wanted to arrive at her home in time.

After lying down on the ground with her arms behind her head and a light blanket over her frame gazing at the stars Elenya reflected her encounter with Aragorn. When she had set off on her ride to Rivendell she had sensed that it would end like it had but she had still hoped to be proven wrong for now the little hope they had was narrowed even more. The celestial bodies that had inspired her birth name shone on her face soothing the pain she often felt as if the axe that had split her face nearly a year ago was still in place.

The wound had changed her. It had made her give up the nickname she had had since she was a small child nearly half a century ago, for her joyful laugh that could been heard constantly as soon as she arrived at a place. Her appearance mislead people to think she was a young woman in her twentieth year though through the blood flowing in her veins she had already lived almost the lifespan of a normal human.

One thing which could however lead people to guessing her age were her eyes… Once they had held an everlasting twinkle of joy, their mixture of light grey and deep green speaking of sunny days and summer storms. They were eyes of youth and happier times.

As time went on the light dimmed but never fully disappeared but the rare moments of emotion were only shown to people she thought worthy or in times of need.

She shook her head to free it. The Dúnadan woman could not understand what had led her to speak as she had at the council. She had been sent there as a messenger, merely bringing news of their people to their Lord since they needed him more than ever with their current leader blinded with grief she had not been there to see her brother but to ask her leader for help.

Remembering her brother's last words she snorted quietly her eyes closing. A leader. She was a fighter, a warrior of her folk destined to protect those who needed protection and to keep harm from those who should not know about the harm that was right at their doorstep. Her destiny was to protect the weaker of the Dúnadain of the North and the Shire with its tiny occupants. She was neither able nor willing to take on the role of a leader. The only people she was a leader to were the warriors she led to battle against evil; she was not a person to hold the future of a folk in her hands. They were meant to hold a sword and a bow and not to hold power over others.

She should not have let her emotions overcome her, what had she thought talking to her Lord like she had? He was not her brother in this situation he was the person who could and should lead her and her brothers and sisters to a better fortune. Normally she was not a person to act because of her feelings… only in a fight she let two emotions control her. Fury and determination. She did not tell people or show them when she felt sad or defeated, she did not let her weakness show for she needed to be strong and a example for others. At some times she was not even sure she could feel anything but the need to protect anymore. Seeing too many people fall and die, witnessing and experiencing too much pain made her a hard person almost unable to see good anymore. The only thing assuring her that there was still something worth fighting for in middle-earth were the hobbits who lived contently in their holes, not worrying about anything but what the next harvest would bring and whether the neighbor had invited them to a party or not.

Seeing easiness and joy at its purest never failed to refresh her spirits and trust in herself and that better times would come if they fought for it.

When the sun began to rise she mounted Baran who had gotten a recovering rest over the night while she had lain in the high grass musing. Hurrying the horse up like she had done the day before she was anxious to see what had happened in her absence if there had been any troubles.

A day later at nightfall she arrived in her home village where she had grown up before being sent to Rivendell and then Lothlorien to be taught and raised by elves. Her arrival had stirred hope in her friends and family though seeing her returning alone made them fear for the worst.

As the dark haired woman dismounted her loyal companion she was greeted by young men of her people who had taking over her responsibilities over the time span she had been gone.

"Aragorn's fate lays elsewhere for now… maybe he will join us someday." Her eyes, now returned to her steely grey eyes shimmering green were emotionless but not unfriendly. She had added the last part for their sake. She had meant every part of her parting words to her brother, it was the most likely they would only meet in death again. Although she possessed a greater strength and stamina through her heritage thst others and even though she was a skilled fighter she was not invincible which had shown on her face as well as her body that bore more scars then were visible to the eyes of others.

Elenya was met with confused faces showing their questions before they even expressed them.

"What are we going to do now?" they asked "Halbarad is still not able to act responsible, we are without a leader!" The people surrounding her were desperate, helpless they felt left alone.

Feeling that exactly what she had feared, being forced into the position of a leader had happened she also knew that she could not escape this for she would be disappointing and betraying her brothers and sisters.

"We will try to collect at the western village, tell everyone to get their most important belongings and send messengers to the other villages. We have the best chance to defend ourselves if we collect. Some of you are going to leaving before the rest to try and create as many accommodations as possible and reinforce the defensive works."

With that she began her day as a leader of the Dúnadain of the North.

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Meanwhile in the woods of Elenya's second home:

"Ah my child…" Galadriel sighed seeing her and feeling her take responsibility for her people. "We will be welcoming Lalaith soon, my husband" the elf told her husband with a smile. She had never stopped calling her this for she saw the laughing and free woman still slumbering inside her foster-daughter. Celeborn was not questioning his wife; he knew that she was right and that she was not going to tell any more than she already did. He was simply glad to hear that he would be seeing the, in their eyes, young woman again although he could not think of a reason for her to leave her folk in this time of need.

Over weeks they prepared for her arrival; anticipation settling over the city of the Lady of the Woods as the Dúnadan had not visited in a long time and when she did Elenya had only stayed for a brief moment.

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The fellowship which had started its journey shortly after the council's decision had been were brought to their knees by the force of Caradhras and Saruman and were making their way towards the mines of Moria, dreaded by Gandalf for he knew what lay deep within the dwarf homes core. He had once traveled through the mines accompanied by the young Dúnadan, that was dear to his heart and that he had met at the shire years ago. They had been traveling companions for long years neither able to stay in one place over a longer span of time the wizard and the, at that time joyful woman had roamed around middle-earth visiting places and countries they would never forget. Before crossing the mines of Moria they had been riding across the planes of Rohan which kept Lalaith under their spell all her life.

They had visited Minas Tirith the city of kings which held its own beauty but Gondor that should have awakening feelings of home and pride in her could never hold the beauty that the land of the horse lords held in her eyes. Seeing the seemingly never ending fields of green reflecting the color of her eyes in the sun made her heart swell and her breath falter because it represented pure freedom to her. Not being able to roam free but being bound to the northern lands was making her feel caged; Gandalf could feel it the moment Elenya had touched his shoulder at the council. She was like a wild animal captured, forced to stay in one place and to take a responsibility that was a greater burden to her than she let on.

When Gandalf remembered their journey through the mines he felt a dark and cold shiver run down his back, they had encountered evil and force they never thought possible. He had hoped to never have to go back again but the Ring-bearer had decided so he had to follow.

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Baran: Goldbraun

So this is not really deep into the story yet but a little background info on Elenya, I hope it's understandable and not confusing or anything. I also hope that I erased some errors I made in the first chapter, I tried my best but am as always open for (nice) critics but no flames or anything (:

Tell me what you think

Review ;)