Disclaimer: The characters, plot, and places of Lord of the Rings are the property of J.R.R. Tolkien and New Line Cinema. No profit was made from this story, and no infringement was intended. This work was produced solely for entertainment.
Authors Note: This is my very first attempt at FanFiction and was essentially done for to alleviate the boredom that I sometimes experience in the evenings. I am in no way a Tolkien or LOTR expert and will never claim to be. This story takes place post-Return of the King. Constructive criticism is most welcome.
Prologue
Tranquility flowed through the forest, its peacefulness relaxing the young elf maiden. She wove her way gracefully between the trees, stopping occasionally to listen to the sounds of nature surrounding her.
Raising her face to the sky and closing her eyes she sucked in a large, cleansing breath, holding in the air and savoring the cool, fresh air as it tingled in her lungs. Her green eyes reopened and she soaked up the sunbeams that had snuck between large branches that loomed overhead.
The elves of Ithilien had been working day and night to turn this now grand forest into the beauty that it was today and she was proud that she had been able to be a part of such great work.
She slipped her shoes off so that she could better feel the earth beneath her, the grass feeling cool to her feet and tickling her toes. The darkened edges of her pale blue dress brushed lightly over the green blades, the dirt did not seem to bother her today. Had she been wearing a festival gown she would have fussed endlessly over the gentle pigmentation which now stained the cloth. But she was wearing a work dress and was concerned little about her appearance.
Stopping momentarily she tilted her head ever so slightly and listened closely to what the forest was telling her. Birds sang in the branches and a slight breeze worked its way between the leaves creating a soft rustling noise which reminded her of the brook that flowed behind her home as an elfling. The air pushed through her auburn locks tossing her hair about and she grasped the unruly strands and tied them loosely at the base of her neck.
She had come to Ithilien with her father, her mother having already sailed to Valinor, and he had gone to join her soon after arriving. She, however, couldn’t bring herself to leave, not yet, and it had been a source of strife between her and her father.
They had argued endlessly in the weeks before he left, he begged her to take the ship with him, his worry for her always great. She had finally been able to pacify him with the promise that she wouldn’t linger much longer and would see him soon. She would depart Middle Earth after she had learned all she could and felt the time was right.
But that wasn’t the only thing keeping her in Ithilien. She had developed a deep respect and admiration for the other elves of this small colony. They all shared so much in common. None had grown weary of this land, each still believing that they had something more to contribute to its beauty and growth.
Elves had come from all over when they had heard of the great work being done and they had been drawn to the idea of being close to those few still remaining in Middle Earth. She had met elves from Imladris and Mirkwood and even some smaller settlements, all presenting different traits but similar dreams.
“Ah!”
The sweet sound of her voice escaped her as she finally found what she had been searching for. Kneeling on the forest floor, she rolled the sleeves of her dress up and began gathering the herbs, placing them gently in the basket she had brought with her. She tenderly worked her slender fingers through the velvet textured leaves looking for just the right herbs, the ones ready for use.
She quietly began humming to herself, an old song that she hadn’t thought about in ages, and she smiled at the memories the tune created. Trouble always seemed to follow her as an elfling, though she would probably hold her best friend responsible if she were one to lay blame. I think father thought I should have been born a son for all the mischief I caused.
If she hadn’t been so connected with the nature surrounding her, she probably wouldn’t have even noticed that the birds had gone quiet and the trees had altered their song, it was such a subtle change but change enough for an elf. A tingling sensation sprang down her spine, increasing her awareness and she slowly scanned her surroundings looking for the source of her discomfort.
Twisting her neck and glancing over her shoulder, she peered deep into the forest. She could see nothing behind her and hadn’t realized that she had wandered so far from the colony. So content was she in her reminiscing and so safe she had felt in this forest that she had carelessly gone too far.
The tingling she felt intensified and the trees called out a warning. She quickly turned back to where she had been working, resolving to collect her things and return to the colony at once. She would inform the guards of the warning she had received and they would hopefully investigate the source.
She was stopped in her course by the presence of a large man standing over her. Her emerald eyes slowly rose up his body taking in every detail of the stranger. His dark leather boots were turning gray with wear and they contrasted with his black pants. The dark tunic he wore was designed in a style she had never seen before. The black, swirling pattern that covered it was equally unfamiliar and captivating. His head and face were covered with thin dark cloth, revealing only dark brown, narrow eyes.
“Hello,” he said with a strange accent, the corners of his eyes turning up slightly as though he were smiling.
She rose quickly to her feet, coming up mere inches shorter than the stranger and he stepped forward, the herbs crunching beneath his boots.
“You should come with me, my sweet.”
Her fear increased and her breath began to come in short, quick gasps as panic started to overtake her. The forest around her had become so quiet and still that the pounding of her heart seemed to echo amongst the trees. She tossed her head from side to side searching desperately for someone, anyone who would help her. Praying that a patrol might find them.
His hand snapped out and grabbed her roughly by the forearm. His arms were large and strong, the coarseness of his palms scraping violently against her smooth, pale arm. She struggled and yanked her arm in an attempt to free herself, but to no avail.
“It will be easier if you do not fight me.”
Why hadn’t she sensed him sooner? Why hadn’t she listened more closely to the trees when they had changed their song? Why had she gone so far from the security of the colony?
She pulled with all of her strength and twisted her body away from her attacker hoping that a change in momentum might loosen his grasp. He had been anticipating this and quickly reached out his other arm and wrapped it around her thin waist. He pulled her to him, pinning her back to his chest with the strength in his arms.
Her terror intensified even more and she fought more furiously. Lifting her knee up, she quickly and forcefully swung her foot back, her heel connecting sharply with his shin. He cursed in a language that was foreign to her and she felt slightly satisfied at the pain she had caused him.
“I warned you,” he growled and before she could open her mouth to respond she felt a sharp prick on the side of her neck. A warm sensation began to spread throughout her body and she almost immediately felt weak.
He slid his arm behind her knees and scooped her up into his arms, cradling her like a small child.
As the earth began to spin around her and her vision began to fade images flashed through her mind. The colony, her elven colleagues and friends, the brook behind her home, her mother and her father. Her mind was reeling and visions and thoughts flashed through so quickly she could barely register what she was seeing.
I am sorry Father. Forgive me, for I have broken my promise.
The images ceased, her mind went blank and her vision went black.