Lothlorien

How long it's been, I do not know. The spell that lays over Rivendell seems twice as heavy here. For all I know, I've been in this strange elven wood for years. All I know is that it was dark when I arrived, and now it is light.

But let me pick up where I left off.

I slowly climbed the gray ropes that led upward into the tree, closely followed by Haldir. Fifteen feet up I went through a hole in the first platform, but it was empty but for a few elves sitting and talking, dressed in fine clothes the color of the stars and the dew on the grass.

I made to get off the ladder, but Haldir told me to continue on, so up I went. It was on the third platform that I finally got off, and what I saw amazed me.

An elf, so fair and old and young, with long gold hair, clothed in white, and a silver circlet upon her brow. A male elf sat with her, he also fair of hair and dressed in white, as she sat weaving.

I stood and looked at her in awe. Haldir stepped forward, and the lady looked up. A small, strange smile appeared on her face. Sad, knowing, mysterious, all at once, and then it was gone. Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed. I could feel a presence, and I felt that the lady was looking into me.

"Welcome to Lorien." said she, standing up. I noticed that Haldir had left. "I am Galadriel, Lady of the Wood." Inside my head, I felt as if I was being examined.

I cannot remember the details after this. It seems as if this all occurred and age ago, and but a few minutes before this very moment at the same time.

She did question me. Of my origins, my motives, how and where I traveled, and where I planned to go. I told her everything, and as I told, I felt as if a burden were lifting off me.

And then, after perhaps hours of listening to me speak, Galadriel revealed that the Fellowship had passed through this wood not long ago, and she offered me assistance. I was excited to say the least.

So now, here I am, minutes or days later, preparing to set out again. The Lady has been kind to me, she gave me a green-grey cloak that she herself weaved, with a clasp in the shapes of the leaves that grow on the trees here. She told me that the fellowship had also gotten this gift, as well as Lembas, an elven way bread that will help me on my journey. but one thing she gave me that I think I shall never be able to thank her enough for.

A sword. I fine elven long-sword. Wrought with silver detail, the blade is long and sharp, and the Lady guarantees that it will warn me when orcs are near. It is a two-handed blade, that balances nicely at the hilt. I will treasure it always.

When I left Rivendell, I had only a dagger and a bow. Now, I feel outfitted for war. I had no idea that my task would be so dark, yet I suppose that if it were not, my skills would not be needed.

But now I part from this land. Indeed, I am already gone. I have stayed too long. Tela I have left behind, though I wish I could keep her. But the way the Fellowship went was by boat, and if in riding Tela, I end up on the wrong side of the river, I have no way to cross to the other side. Now I drift away in this small grey boat of the elves, packed with Lembas and my weapons. My cloak is wrapped around me as I drift on the current.

There are no elves to be seen on the shore of Lorien, indeed, if any but Haldir and Galadriel knew I had been there. I now put down my pen and pick up the leaf shaped paddle, and row down the Anduin river....

I am not alone....

The forest was further away than it appeared, and I did not reach it until the sun was touching the horizon.

I was relieved when I finally reached the eaves of the woods, and I quickly dismounted Tela. As I began to lead her into the trees, a feeling of being watched stole over me, but I shrugged it off.

I had made it only perhaps 60 paces in when suddenly I heard someone call out "Daro". Halt. I stopped. The voice was so low, I wasn't sure If I imagined it. I heard nothing more, so I began to continue on.

Suddenly, I was surrounded, arrows pointed at me from all directions. The change was so sudden I jumped.

"In ier le?" Who are you? An elf with blonde hair stepped forward. His face was stern, and beneath the beauty of immortality, I could see his age.

"I am Neenuvar" I told him, not bothering to speak in a language I hardly know.

"And what business have you in the Golden Wood?" he asked, now in the Common tongue.

"I have traveled from Imladris, and here I only seek shelter from the night. In the morning I head out again in search of a company that Elrond has sent me after." At the mention of Imladris and Elrond, the elf's expression changed.

"Ah. I see," he said, apparently dubious, "And what do you have to prove this claim? You are not known in these parts." At first I was astounded, and then confused, and finally panicked. When I realized what he was asking me, I had no idea what to give him. The only things I had brought from Imladris was my map, which there were many of in the world, probably all the same, and food. My clothes had been gotten in a small town of men on my way from Celondim to Rivendell.

And then I realized. Tela. I wasn't sure if a horse would count as a 'token', but I had to try. "My horse," I said, "My horse, she comes from the house of Elrond. Her name is Tela." I added, dumbly.

The elf's attention moved to the horse. He began to circle her, noting the elven designs on her saddle, hidden under my saddle bags, and to her sleek, shiny coat. A coat unlike any other horse's that I've seen.

"I see. Indeed, you tell the truth. You are elvellyn, elf-friend." He smiled. "Please, forgive me for my initial - coldness. We face dark times, and we must be cautious with strangers." He signaled the other elves, and they lowered their bows.

I smiled back. "Of course." I said, but as to what he meant by dark times, I had no idea.

"My name is Haldir. Come, tonight you will stay in the realm of the Lady of the Wood. Who knows, perhaps you will learn something of those whom you seek." He turned around, and began to walk deeper into the woods. Relieved, I followed.

The walk was long, and it was well after dark when we arrived. To describe the place, it is almost impossible. It was a city of trees. Surrounding it was a wall, in the darkness it was hard to tell what it was made of. We circled around until we cam to a closed gate, which opened at a word from Haldir. Tall trees, with silver trunks and golden leaves. In the branches were platforms, in which the melodious voices of many elves floated down. Paths wandered between the trees, but these were empty. Ahead, there was an extremely large tree, that went so high. Haldir led me to this, as another elf led Tela away.

When we reached the base, Haldir called up, and a rope ladder fell down through a hole in the lower-most platform. He turned to me. "Wait here until I return." he said, then he swiftly ran up the ladder.

So now I stand here, writing and waiting awkwardly. Of the elves that had first surrounded me, only two have come, besides Haldir. I suppose the others were left to guard the edge of the forest, wait for more visitors. The two that have come with us just stand there, as if they are sentinels. They are talking, but I can only understand a few words, not enough to piece together their conversation.

Finally Haldir has returned. He smiled at me, but I am unsure of what to make of it this time. "Let us go up," he says, "The Lady wishes to speak with you."

To be continued....

lhein na medui

free at last, free of the mountains. It is nice to be out in the open again, so I have paused to rest and write.

Thought the sun has not set yet, it is getting late in the day. Ahead I can see the forest, and what a sight it is! The leaves are gold in the trees, a wonder for the time of year. It is so beautiful, that I will ride to it. I feel the same tug, but I think it is because it looks so sheltered, and I dare not camp out in the open. Not in these wild parts.

But for now I rest. The edge of the forest is at least two miles yet, and I have not stopped walking all day. And I want to allow Tela a short rest before riding again.

Looking at the sun as it descends towards the horizon, I feel at peace somehow. it is probably because I am finally out of the mountains. Out of that 'pass'.

It's funny, there is no pass labeled on the map other than the pass of Caradhras further north, yet you'd think that it would have been found and used before now. Who knows, perhaps the map I have is a little dated.

Well, I will ride now. The sun fast approaches the horizon, and I would like to be under cover of the forest (much bigger than it appears on the map) before dark.

Im nor erin....

the day is long....

I woke up as the sky was beginning to lighten. After allowing Tela a short drink from the river, and taking one myself, I began trekking eastward again. We came to the spring that the river originates from, and I filled my water skin. Thankfully, it seems that the path continues without the river.

The day was almost completely uneventful. I lead Tela again over the rocks in the path, though I must admit, the path was more stone outcropping than walkway. Around noon I stopped for a drink and a few bites of the bread that I had brought with me from Rivendell, but I did not tarry long. I was loathe to sit still very long, I want to be out of these mountains as soon as I can.

The flock of birds passed over again today. I no longer feel that my wariness of them is paranoia, I am sure that it is the same flock. Soon after they passed over me, less than an hour, a small storm blew in. Not anything of extraordinary significance, I suppose, but it slowed me down, nonetheless.

There are no stars visible tonight. The snow continues to fall, and I fear I may be trapped here until summer, if it does not let out soon. Already the snow reaches mid-shin, and I fear of losing my footing in the snow.

It is my hope that, if it stops snowing soon, I may leave this pass for good by tomorrow evening. But for now, I will sleep by my fire, much larger than last nights, and try my best to stay warm.

I have consulted my map again, and on the other side of this "pass" is a small wood, called Lothlorien. I know not what, or whom, may dwell there, but I have a feeling that who or whatever does live there does not mean me any harm.

I will sleep now. The sun went down not long ago, but the clouds make it darker than it should be. I've no wish to stay awake.

daw....

night time.

I decided to take the pass. I almost wish I hadn’t, but it is too late to turn back now. And besides, I have a bad feeling about taking the gap.

The path was hard and treacherous. It was very stony, with little room to walk. Most of the time, I lead Tela by her reins. There were times when the path disappeared altogether, and we had to walk in the river. Mercifully, it was shallow, and I did not get too wet in the icy water.

Because of these conditions, we did not get far. I’d say we are not even half through the ‘pass’.

To be entirely honest, before I reached the river today, there was an old road. Tela ran over it fast, but in the few seconds that we were over it, I felt the same, intuitive tug. I shrugged it off at the time, I was in a hurry and we had not stopped long enough for me to understand the feeling. But now that we have stopped, I checked my map. The road leads into the mountains, to a place called Moria. I’m sure I’ve heard the name somewhere; I think it is an abandoned dwarf-city. Those places can be huge, I’ve heard, and I’m in no mood for getting lost in some old tunnel system that’s long been abandoned.

But back to now. Not half an hour ago I discovered a shelf that has plenty of room to rest for the night. I've built a small fire, just enough to read by and cook the fish I caught. I'm quite disappointed, as I've seen neither bird nor beast to test out my archery and fill my stomach on. The sky is getting darker, and the enthusiasm and determination that filled me earlier today has given way to fear. Just now an inauspicious looking flock of large, black birds flew overhead, and ridiculous as it sounds, I feel that they are trying to spy on me. But what interest would a flock of birds have in me? They were probably just migrating to a warmer climate, for indeed, today there has been light snow falling steadily. It has stopped now, and the sky is clear. But the bright stars do not ease my fear. I cannot sleep because of it, and though I will pay dearly for it tomorrow, I will stay up and write a bit more. About me, I suppose.

I will not say where I came from. Only my story since I came here. I was found by an elven merchant ship, at the mouth of the river at the Gulf of Lune. The captain took me on board, and sailed me up river to the small refuge of Celondim.

The elves were amazed at me. It was quite plain that I was not one of them, yet the only place I could have come from was out of the West, over the sea, as I admitted that I had never heard of Middle Earth. But the only men ever to come out of the West were the Numenoreans, and that was long ago. No men remain in Numenor, leaving the Undying Lands. But that was impossible, as only elves and the Valar dwell there, so the elves, being at a loss, sent me to Rivendell.

When I arrived, Elrond first let me rest. I had not done so properly since being found, and I slept for three days. After that he questioned me extensively on where I came from, who I was. Things were pleasant there, in the Last Homely House. When Elrond was not talking with me, I could listen to the elves sing, or read in the library, or just sit in the gardens and think.

For the same reasons that I will not tell you about myself, I told Elrond only the bare minimum of what he asked of my past. He understood completely, and it was during these conversations of ours that he discovered my talents. It was then that he asked me if I could aid him, and all of Middle Earth, in a task that he would not name. Though I much enjoyed staying in Imladris, it had the feeling of being without time. I felt that I could stay there all my life and feel that only a few days had passed, or that if I stopped to read a short poem (which are few, among the elves), when I finished it could have been days later.

So I accepted. He told me only where I needed to go, and who I needed to find. But he also told me to trust my instinct always, which is how I ended up on this god forsaken path in the mountains.

Ah! How the wind bites at this hour of night, I must have been sitting here reminicing for hours! The fire has already burned down to embers. Oh, how I shall regret this in the morning....

i' minui arad

The first day....

I rose before the sun today, just as the sky was beginning to lighten. I am unaccustomed to early rising, but I suppose it is something I shall have to get used to.

Tela rode fast and hard, as promised. It is now mid-day, and I have stopped so that she may rest, and graze. We have reached the Glanduin river, which I had not hoped to reach so soon. I take my meal at the foot of the Misty Mountains, according to my map, and not fifty miles west from here the Glanduin meets the Greyflood, which becomes Bruinen further north. Looking at the small pass that the Glanduin takes through the mountains, a strange feeling comes over me, as if there is something on the other side that I must go to. But that would take me away from the route that Elrond planned for me.
But still, I wonder....

I dare not tarry for long, already the sun has moved quite a bit. I am drawn to follow the river through the mountains, though it may not be wise. But then again, my intuition is my greatest chance of survival....

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.