ron ialla enni Melo...

they call me Melo... at least, that is my name in their tongue. But my name is a part of my past, something I wish to leave behind....

So I take upon myself the name Neenuvar - Waterlily. It is appropriate. When they found me at the havens, I was half drowned. Washed upon the shore, amongst the water plants and the stones, my white hair-once dark-strewn about me, floating on the surface of the salty water, like the elongated petals of an estranged flower.

I have shed my past, and I will seek out the challenge that faces me with relish. My skills, hidden until I was rudely and abruptly torn out of my old life-home, world, call it what may you-and thrown into this one, have blossomed and may prove useful to those who have set out before me. I have not been told the details, and only my intuition tells me what I may be riding into, but my ignorance, up until the point I join the Fellowship, may help and protect me in my travels-allow me to take quicker routes that otherwise would have been too dangerous to take, had I been told what is happening.

I have been instructed by the too kind lord Elrond that I must ride south with haste, until I reach the river Isen and the tower that guards it, and through the Gap of Rohan, whatever and wherever that may be. But he tells me that the Rohirrim-the horse lords of Rohan-are men of honour, and are to be trusted. It is his hope that if I ride hard and reach the halls of Edoras within a few days, that I should be able to stop there to rest, and before another weeks end, meet and join the Fellowship. But as he does not know what plans for journeying they have made, as it has been almost two fortnights since they left Imladris, he urges that I wait in the Golden Halls no more than seven days, before parting for the white city in Gondor, where it is likely that I shall meet at least one of the Fellowship-a man named Boromir, who could tell me how I may join the others. As for how late in the journey I join them, it matters not. I am told that my skills will be most needed during the last stage of their mission, in the black land.

I now write of those whom I seek, lest my weary and confused mind forget. There is a man, tall and dark and skilled, whom is called Strider and Aragorn, among others. Another man, Boromir, who bears the Tree of Gondor upon his helm and raiment. An elf, Legolas, quick with the bow and knives, and a dwarf named Gimli, who favours the axe. And then there are the halflings. Little People, call the what you wish. Short, stout, and brave of heart, the company has four. Frodo, the most important, though why I have not been told, and also the oldest. His close companion Samwise, a gardener (why they need a gardener on such a dangerous task, I've no idea), and Meriadoc and Perigrin, often called Merry and Pippin. These two are the most foolish, but apparently the most resolute, and Elrond quotes Pippin as saying "You'd have to tie me up in a sack", when he was told to stay behind. And an old man, Gandalf. He is one of the istari, the wizards. He is cloaked in grey, old and wise.

I have heard and read that the istari are a small faction of the Maiar. If that is true, then Gandalf's powers must be great. There is one I've heard of, the one they call the lord of the dark land, and I believe that in the same book from Elrond's library, it said that he too is one of the Maiar, servant to the corrupt Valar, called Morgoth. But those dark lords concern me not, Morgoth was defeated many ages ago, and his servant fell soon after.

I must go to sleep now, I start out early in the morning on a horse that Elrond has loaned me. A fine grey mare, fast and strong for such a beautiful beast. Her name is Tela, which means finish, so I hope that is a good omen for my trip. I do not believe Elrond would have lent her to me if he thought otherwise. I hope, at least. But now is time for rest, not for troubled thoughts of what is to come.