Middle Earth

Lalaith

Just when I had conceded that it was probably time to stop searching in vain for the human girl, I saw her dash past. Was she always running, or was there a specific danger she was trying to escape. Without a second thought, I dashed after her. She was swift, especially for a human, but was no match for an elf. As I got closer to her, I glanced back and saw the same smoke that had been spotted earlier that morning. It was fainter now, but I hadn't realized how close it was. Was the girl running from the smoke? No, she had come from the wrong direction. But maybe she had been watching over the place where the smoke was...

My thoughts were interrupted as I realized I was only a yard or two behind the girl. And she had spotted me. With one final burst of speed, I caught up to her, and curled my hand gently around her arm, not stopping her, but running alongside her, keeping her near. She was startled when I grabbed her, and tried frantically to break away, but I wanted to talk to her. Slowing to a halt, I let go of her arm and held my hands up in a friendly gesture.

"My name is Lalaith. I live up on the mountain. Who are you?" I asked, watching her carefully. She glanced around rapidly, as if deciding what was the best way to escape (because she couldn't outrun me), and I tensed my muscled, anxious that she might actually leave. If she did, I wouldn't follow her, because of course she was a free person, and owed me nothing, but I desperately wanted to know what she was doing in the forest, and if she knew anything of the smoke at the edge of Fangorn.

Yes! Totally awesome idea. I can't post now, but I Will post a profile by tomorrow.

Vet

Constance-

"Why do you need to know my name?"

The elf shrugged. "Just so I know who you are."

I looked around for another escape, but there was none. Years of spending my life in Fangorn, I though I would've known every escape by now. "So who are you?" she asked.

"My name is Constance."

"Did you cause that smoke?"

"I burned down the man's camp because they were going to cut down part of the forest. I won't let Fangorn get hurt."

The elf nodded and I took her moment of unawareness and slipped to the side, running deeper and deeper into the forest. She wasn't following me.

NAME: Rey Loamsdown

GENDER: Male

AGE: 15

RACE: Hobbit/human

APPEARANCE: Short, about 4'5, but taller than most hobbits. Wiry and well-muscled. Shoulder-length, blond, curly hair. Wears leather tunic and a one and a half sword. Black boots and brown pants. He is a Rider of Rohan.

HISTORY (optional): Grew up in Rohan with his father, who was a leader, like Eomer. He stayed in Edoras while his father fought. His father died in a battle when he was 13, and he joined the Riders, even at such a young age.

OTHER: Is a very fierce fighter and is fascinated with elves. Is very honorable and a true gentleman.

Rey:

Rey's horse, Lightning, galloped in time with the herd, his muscled body rippling underneath Rey. Rey reveled in the feeling of freedom he gained when patrolling the lands. He always stayed on the outside of the patrol, not crammed in the middle where the smell of sweaty men and horses assailed his nostrils and the dust was always up in his eyes.
They were patrolling near the borders of Fangorn. Rey shuddered with excitment at the mystery of the woods. He wondered what really went on in there. He supposed some of the elves had retreated into its depths. Maybe when they stopped he would be able to get a look inside...

Alastriona~Elf:

South Mirkwood was one of the few places I hadn't been. It didn't seem as bad as Anorian had made it out to be, but I could see his point. Even if I couldn't see the creatures; I felt the eeriness. Something was watching us.

"Did anyone see that!"The elf next to me called out in panic. She whirled about, bow in hand.

"Calm down, young one. These part of the woods should be safe," Anorian gave me a 'not so sure' look and turned away. Ignoring him I pushed the arrow already set in the elf's bow downward. What was Rivendell teaching elves these days. No control whatsoever.

"I know what I saw...."She muttered giving me an icy glare.

We continued on. I was well aware of the small distance between us and the small Elf encampment, but I was too aware of how close we were to Dol Guldur. This frightened me.

"This way,"Anorian spoke.

The trees around us were sleek with moss and the ground was littered with broken branches. How did that happen?

"Probably men,"Anorian answered my unspoken question. He caught me staring and I nodded. His knife gleamed in his hand. For some reason, that I'd probably never know, he always carried that knife like it was his baby.

Somewhere in the distance there must've been a fire. The smoggy smell of ash and smoke wafted through the air.

I had let Constance slip away from me, and, now that I had solved the mystery of who she was, turned back towards the smoke. She had said they were going to cut down the forest, but had she been sure? I had to check, to make sure they weren't there hunting down the encampment of elves on the mountain- the place where I lived. I dashed to the edge of the forest and stood hidden from the view of the scrambling men trying to salvage burnt items. In the distance, I could hear the pounding of riders, a large group of them, heading this way. Riders of Rohan. The last thing I needed was more men near my home. However, I assumed they were just checking the land, not necessarily searching for anything. But, as a precaution, I ran away from the men's charred camp, heading south along the forest's border. After I had put a few miles between the camp and me, I slipped out from between the trees and crouched in the long grass. This was one of the times I hated wearing long dresses.

I made a quick sprint for a large boulder a dozen yards away, sheltering safely behind it. Leaning around the sharp edge, I surveyed the plains, my keen eyes just catching sight of the riders coming over a hill in the distance. They were still too far to tell what they were doing, though. Moving even further into the open fields, I stood for a few silent moments. When the riders got close enough that I could see the details of their apparel and weaponry, I saw that they were not particularly armed for attack, but more so for checking the land, as I had suspected.

Realizing that I had been standing there too long, I quickly ran back to the shelter of the trees.

Anorian

A fire? In Mirkwood? So this is what men are doing to the trees nowadays. I swear, if they dare to defile the Golden Wood in such a manner, I will murder their king if it kills me. This I swear.

But he could smell the fire, although he couldn't see it, or even hear it. They continued following the broken branches for a while, before they found several men sprawled over their own handiwork. Blood ran from multiple wounds on each of the roughly twenty bodies, and some still gripped the handles of their axes loosely. One man had been in the midst of pulling his axe free from a tree, and now lay beside its roots, one arm draped over a handle slick with blood.

"Who could have done this?" One young elf said.

The one who had panicked earlier seemed less concerned with the dead men. She reached out compassionately to a fallen tree, tracing a line of sap with tears in her eyes, "These poor trees..."

"I see you are truly elves, then, and not just more mortals come to spoil my forest."

Anorian and Alastriona spun at the voice, Alastriona drawing her bow even as Anorian raised his hand to throw his knife.

Before them stood a figure in half-plate armour, wearing a tattered shroud over its body. Shadows flitted over it with a life of their own, and his eyes glowed a twisted green in his cowl. "Fear not, I am no malignant spirit." He cast his eyes around at the men, "Not to elves, anyway. These men stumbled on a...portal of sorts between here and Fangorn. That is the fire you sense, although the forest does not burn."

"What are you?" growled Anorian. He'd never been fast to trust, and the age difference between him and his companion had always made him young and reckless.

"An old ghost." The revenant said, "Nothing more."

"We'll, take our leave, then." replied Anorian.

"Hold a moment." The figure said, chain mail clinking as it raised one arm, a finger half-wrapped by the broken metal of its gauntlet wagging slightly. "I have words for you."

Alastriona lowered her bow, although she remained on guard. Anorian could see it in her stance, the way she kept her bow half drawn and her feet planted in the firing position. "Then speak."

"A shadow is rising in the North. The heir of the Witch King, no servant of Sauron, but rather of the dark lord's own master has twisted the minds of mortals to evil ends. It falls to those who remain free of spirit to stop this being. I myself would go, but my pain is bound to the tower here, and will not release me as long as a servant of darkness stands.”

It stepped aside and revealed the portal it had spoken of, a swirling mist forming into an image of the edge of Fangorn Forest. It held out one hand in its direction, “This will take you to Fangorn. There are like-minded individuals there. Will you go?”

*Ouch, personally I hoped that I had made it plain that Ballow was hopping around the fact that he had just escaped a village and Ballow is not so direct about his reasons for doing anything*

Ballow


I watched him place a hand on his sword, eyeing me with distrust. Perhaps the truth would soothe his wariness? . . Or at least the partial truth.

I shoved my wrists infront of him, which were rubbed raw from the shackles, "I made someone very high up very angry. Though I would never normally do anything like that if you had ever heard of me, but since you do not, as you so poetically described "delve into the simpering filth of mankinds cities", you would not likely know of me."

It was just my luck. Fancy, that I had let my real name slip like that. Any city person would've placed me like animal faeces on their boot as to who I was. And here I was entrusting my real name to this man who had just burned down the entire village, and it looked quite like, on his lonesome.

Not a person to mess with, I would add. Maybe some cover up for my name would succeed, I pretneded to hesitate, then looked him in the eyes, "Alas, I have lied to you, my real name is not Ballow. That is merely a cover up just in case you were working under the King. My sooth name is Ringo."

I bowed, introducing myself underneath a fake name. Apparently in some foreign language it meant apple, or maybe it was in some fable I had read at home. Home, an interesting word. I had never called it that. I suppose no one really would have.

I figured that since I had given him two names I very well deserved one of his, "And you are?"

"None of your business." The grip on his sword tightened. It seemed that this person really didn't like people digging into his business I wondered what kind of man wouldn't have been alarmed by just hearing my real name. Must be some type of outlaw.

Perhaps he was like me? No, he wouldn't be, not with that solemn look stapled to his face. I smiled and tried to make light of the situation, "So, friend, what would you like to be called, if you would rather not give me your true name?"

The mans eyes narrowed, "First of all - I am not your friend second of all I don't liked to be called anything by someone I don't beleive is telling me the truth. And third-"

I cut him off, "Wait, wait let me guess! You don't thinik I'm telling the truth?"

He nodded, a small jerk of his head, making his hair sway.

I let out a breath, all lies or truth? . . I took in another and chose, "You haven't even told me your name, so how do you expect me to trust you enough when you won't even do that? Also, I have told you my real name and the reason as to why I was imprisoned! Why won't you just let me call you something?"

Ahh, nice to tell the truth for once. And seriously I had only said the truth. He stared at me for a second as if contemplating something. I let out a sigh, "Fine I shall choose my own nickanme for you."

I stared at him, gauging his attire. One thing stole my attention, "Hoody, I'm calling you Hoody and I don't care if you hate it, since you won't bother telling me your name, it will be Hoody."

I smiled at him, smug expression painted on my face.

vet4life13- You do know that hobbits are virtual slaves right? So if he's half and half, I wouldn't let the humans know that Rey is part hobbit.

***********

Constance-

Finally I was home. I had made my home on the ground next to a spring near the center of Fangorn where the Entmoot met. They had not met again for years, ever since the siege against Isenguard. I came towards a tree and placed my hand on its trunk.

"May I sit here?"

The tree groaned lightly which meant that I had permission. I sat down against the trunk of the tree and relaxed for a moment. It was times like these that I was glad to live in Fangorn.

*Roger roger, Jaden. I'll do that.*

Rey. As they rounded the border of the forest, Rey's eye was caught by a young girl standing in the trees. His curiosity aroused, he dropped back behind the group as to see what he could find out about her. Suddenly, she disappeared leaving only air where she had stood only seconds ago. Rey frowned. Oh well, maybe he would meet up with her later. He joined the group again and for another hour they patrolled.

"Halt!" came the order from the leader. Rey pulled Lightning to an abrupt stop. The leader, a man named Gorthia, called the order to make camp. Rey quickly dismounted and went about the necessary tasks.

Sorry its short!

Mikael

"Call me what you will, Ballow but do not think your deceit will work with me." Ballow attempted to look horrified. "Oh give over. Now listen to me Ballow or whatever your name maybe, my business is my own and now you are free. I suggest you take your freedom and forget you ever me."
"And why should i do that?" he replied obviously annoyed at my casting him off
"Because i go to Fangorn. To seek the elves and end this madness. However for now i am resting not far from here if you want to share a fire for the night."
"Thanks but no thanks" he replied "I'm taking my freedom to the nearest pot of simpering filth to enjoy my freedom."
"Then i bid you farewell traveller." With that i gathered my things and strode away heading for Fangorn.

Rey:
Duties done, Rey weaved in and out of the men toward the border of the forest. He hoped to avoid conversation with anyone. He managed to get out of the camp without anyone noticing. Being half-hobbit, he naturally had a skill for becoming "invisible", or at least staying unnoticed.

He walked up to the forest where the fields ended and the forest began. He stared up and watched the branches swaying eerily. He noticed with a chill that no wind was blowing. Should he go in? Hesitantly, he took a step into the forest. Around him, trees groaned, but so far, no bodily harm had come to him. He decided to venture in. As he walked through the first few feet of the immense forest, he realized how close the air felt. Everything about it felt old; the trees, the leaves underfoot, the... suddenly, a twig snapped behind him. He whirled around, only to find the forest empty. Uneasy, he drew his sword, holding it in front of him.

"Who's there?" he yelled. Another twig snapped behind him. This time, a voice accompanied it.

"I'm here," she said. He spun around to find himself facing a girl a few years older than him holding a bow... and pointing it directly at him. "You're a little short for a man," she said. Rey tensed and mentally checked if his hair was over his pointed ears; they were covered. He regained his confidence.

"Well, it's awfully strange that a girl like you should be roaming these strange dwellings." he said quietly. "What do you want?"

"I want you to get out of these ancient woods and stay out."

"Why would I want to do that?" he asked. She nodded to her bow.

"I have a weapon," she said, "and I will use it." Rey raised an eyebrow.

"I also have a weapon, which I will use if I must." The girl stared at him for a second, then asked,

"Who are you?"

"I am Rey." he said. "Who are you?" she hesitated.

"My name is Constance, and I am a protector of these woods."

"Well, Constance," he replied, "I am a Rider of Rohan, and I have pledged to protect these lands, not destroy them. I will do no harm to the forest, if that is what you fear."

*Okay, Skull, you can't just deny everything for no reason at all. Seriously you're being a little over the top. Ballow is one of the best liars you will ever meet because he entwines the truth in it. Ballow would've happily accepted the invitation to share a fire.*

Ballow


I stared at Hoody walk away. Why had I not agreed to share a fire with him? The regret sat upon my soul. Should I, perhaps, call after him and make him let me take back my reply?

No, he seemed like a complete loner who really didn't deserve companionship. Maybe I could follow him? Fangorn - the direction he seemed to be heading in, didn't seem such as bad place. Not to mention if one outlaw was going there surely they would accept more?

Deciding, I took a deep breath and plunged on after him. Following Hoody was my best bet to get somewhere safe. Somewhere away from my father at the very least. A smile crawled onto my face as I snuck after him.

My expert creeping skills ensured that I would never be found out.

Constance-

I held my bow firmly and kept it aiming at the little man's heart. "I don't trust the word of men."

"You're human yourself," he retorted.

"What I am doesn't matter. It's what your kind did to me."

"I mean this place no harm."

"You are a subject under the king right?"

"Well, yes but..."

"Then I will not listen to you."

"But I'm not entirely human."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.