One
Eleniel
"Well." said my mother, Luna, looking up, "Nothing. As usual."
My mother and I patrolled the woods which surrounded our home every night, searching for growing evil. Mirkwood had once been the home of many giant spiders, hungry for the flesh of all who entered it. They had long since been vanquished, after the war of the Ring. But my mother's search for the Darkness and Saruman's return had made my family weary of the land. It had been half a century, but my mother's recollection was clear as starlight.
Her friend, Carmen, a dark mage, had disguised herself as an Oracle and sent her on a quest to find the Darkness. As it turns out, she was the Shadow of the Ring, born in human flesh and blood into a world called Earth. The Darkness emerged from within when her love for Legolas, my father, forced it to show itself. Carmen betrayed Luna's trust and handed her over to the wizard Saruman. My mother sacrificed herself to destroy Carmen. Everyone thought she was dead, but the Shadow of the Ring does not die so easily.
"We should go back." I said. Something felt wrong, and like the wind had gained a bitter smell. Then came the sound I had been dreading since the gates had closed behind us. The horn announcing intruders.
"Eleniel," my mother grinned at me, "It looks like everything I've taught you is about to be put to good use."
I muttered a curse under my breath. She didn't even know that my sister would take this as an opportunity to sneak out.
Miriel
My ears twitched as the horn sounded. This was the chance I had been waiting for! I ran from the training yard to my mother's wardrobe and donned her Elven armour. It was slightly big for my slender frame, but it would serve me well. It was a wedding gift from my grandfather, King Thranduil. I paused a moment to admire the glittering blue and silver threading in the full length mirror before rushing out of the door to the armoury. There, I strapped a loaded quiver to my back and picked out a strong-looking longbow.
As I approached the entrance hall, I stopped dead in my tracks. A huge spider, ugly and black, easily double my height came creeping in. Had the battle been going on long enough for them to overpower our guards? I quickly concealed myself in the shadow of a pillar as it turned in my direction, red eyes searching. I counted to three, double checked that it wasn't facing me any longer, and pulled an arrow from the quiver. Before I could do any more, I head a sickening screech followed by a thud. I looked around the pillar to find an arrow sticking out of the hideous beast's head.
I caught a glimpse of long, glowing hair disappear out into the battlefield and smirked. With my father out of the way, the adventure could really begin.
I slipped through the trees silently. I spied the gates directly ahead of me and a smile crept onto my face. This was my freedom, finally.
The Skin-Changer's Secret
I glanced up sharply at Beorn from across the breakfast table.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Something's different. Something's changed. Something bad."
"I don't feel anything." He sniffed the air. "I don't smell anything either."
"But I can."
The skin-changer frowned at me.
I stared at my hands. "The only problem is; I don't know what."