Laurelindórenan RPG

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

(Alrighty we can start now!)

Lothlorien was a beautiful sight, glimmering in the moonlight as Throrfiwiel ran among the mallorn trees looking for her younger sister. "Now were could she be?" The elven princess laughed as her long golden-silver hair was free and loose as it waved in the air. Some of the other elves watched as the eldest daughter of the Lord and Lady ran among them, weaving in and out between the silver trees.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

The Lady of the Wood looked out from her talan watching the people move about and whatnot. She catches a glimpse of her eldest daughter running to find her sister. She comes down from her place quietly as to not wake Celeborn and walks among niphredil and elanor. Seeing that neither of her daughters are nowhere within sight she proceeds on to a small pond.

[Tirithel]

A woman is running furiously toward the Wood. She is out of breath, alone and scared beyond belief. Her tattered garments catch on the grass and her footfalls are hasty, careless, and tired. Tears stream down her face as she screams in fear. A band of orcs has been pursuing her for days on her journey from the City, as she flees to find help.

A scream breaks the serene silence of the plains around the Golden wood, as a troop of orcs break out of the distance- they have spotted her! Under the warm sun through the green grass, Uruks on Wargs rampage to her.

She is nearly within the wood, but they are close...

OOC: Someone save me please! ;) lol

[Galadriel]

Philantha is sitting in against a tree surrounded by flowers and friends. She is talking to her friends about all the cute elfs that reside in Lothlorien. All of a sudden she hears a cry, that sounds like nothing she has every heard before. "I wonder what that was" she says to her friends, but after a moment it can no longer be heard so he passes it off as nothing. "Well I am sure my sister is looking for me, so I should be off" and Philantha runs off though the clearing with her long golden hair flying in the wind behind her.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel rushes towards the sound passing her sister. "Did you hear that? Come! It sounds like someone is in trouble! ... Wait! By Elbereth! Where are the guards?"

[Galadriel]

Philantha sees her sister and stops but is passed by Throrfiwiel who doesn't even stop. Philantha after her sister saying "I am sure that sound was nothing, and even if it was we should leave the grauds to deal with it". Come mother is probably looking for us, we will head back and tell her about the cry". Philantha turns around and starts running back towards the city not really bother at all by the unknown cry.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"Ugh fine!" She turns back and chases after her sister. "Rumil!" She calls out, "You had better be over there in that direction!"

[Tirithel]

Orcs were nearly upon her and Anorwen's legs began to tremble underneath her. The shadow of the first mallorn tree brushed over her face as she plumetted into the confines of the forest.

With an exasperated sigh her strength finally gave way and she toppled over to the ground, with only mere feet between her and the unshadowed plain. Her pursuers stood halted at the edge, fearing to cross into the trees, eyeing her hungrily and testing their limits.

Anorwen turned her body to face them. She looked at her attackers and pondered their halt. At any moment they might crash into the bounds and snare her, but her legs would run no more.

With menacing pride, a single orc stepped forward.

[Elvenwanderer]

OOC: since no one seems to be replying, thought I would.

IC:
When the orc was barely a foot away from grabbing Anorwen, an arrow came flying through the wood, and skewered the orc in the skull. A proud looking elf strode forward, and drew her sword.

The orcs were left leaderless, and stupid. Seeing this elf was no help. Surely there were more border guards lurking somewhere. One by one, the foul creatures turned tail and ran away.

The she-elf turned and layed her hand on the girl's forehead. Anorwen fell asleep, and did not feel the elves carry her to the heart of Lothlórien. She was laid on a bed, and tended to until she woke up....

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

ooc: thanks EW!

Galadriel came by to where the girl was laid. She turned to Anorwen. "What happened? Unsuccessfully my daughters have tried explaining what was happening. So, would you care to tell me what took place?"

[Elvenwanderer]

OOC: LoG, don't mind me if I call Galadriel Grandmother, ok? Authwen is Celebrian's and Elrond's daughter, so therefore is directly descended from Galadriel...

IC:
"I don't quite know, Grandmother." Authwen looked down on the girl's face. "I was near the borders, and I heard a scream, hers apparently; so I went to investigate. The leader of a band of Orcs had set foot in the forest, with this girl as a food source. I had followed your orders only to kill those inside the Wood. The rest of them just ran away." Authwen shrugged. "I have no idea why she is even here."

Galadriel nodded....

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"After a while when she wakes and has a had a bit of rest we will find out soon enough." Galadriel replied.
Throrfiwiel said, "Maybe that should do it. Will you excuse me mother, I think I shall take a walk."
"Authwen, do stay with her until she comes around. Tell me when she does. I must go see your Grandfather, I had left him this morning while he was sleeping. He must be wondering where I am." With that Galadriel and Throrfiwiel left Authwen with the girl until she came around.

[Elvenwanderer]

"Fine. Say hello to him for me..." Authwen watched as her aunt and Grandmother descended the stairs to a lower flet.

Gil-galad's wife looked down on the sleeping woman. Authwen sighed and stood up to look out over the bright City of Light.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel then quickly came back up. "Would you like to come down with me? I'm sure she will be alright, the others can tend to her while we're away."

[Elvenwanderer]

Authwen turned around, startled. She had expected to be alone for a while. The Queen smiled. "No, thank you. I'm quite happy where I am. Besides, why lay the burden of taking care of her on someone else? I am perfectly capable."

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

The Lady laughed. "If that is what you wish. Then I shall stay with you. I would guess my sister is off somewhere in these Woods doing who knows what."

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Galadriel went up the large talan to where she last saw Celeborn. Yet she did not find him anywhere. She looked about and went out to a balcony of some sort. 'Now where could he be?' Galadriel thought. The Lord then gently put his arms around Galadriel and cautiously pulled her closer. "My heart sings to see thee my love." The Lady smiled as she turned around. "Ah you are awake, and still here!" She placed a kiss on his cheek. "Yes, good day to you too! Now come and let me tell you what has happened." She led him down and out among the trees as she told him of the girl.

[Elvenwanderer]

"That is good, as long as she is in the Wood, I guess. The days are getting late, and more treachorous outside of the Woodland borders." Authwen tried not to let her disappointment show that she would have conscious company. "I always forget how beautiful the Wood is at night. Excuse me, I am going to change out of this."

Authwen jumped off of the flet and out a few feet. She landed gracefully on her flet, and picked out a white dress that had been her mother's.

(TBC as soon as I get a PM back!)

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

(Made a mistake in my post with Galadriel, didn't mean good 'day' meant evening lol)

[Tirithel]

The orc looked menacingly into her eyes and snarled. Anorwen glaired up at it defiantly but full of concealed fear. Just as it seemed ready to pounce on her, an arrow whizzed out of no where and struck it through the skull. Then suddenly a black swoon fell over her and she remembered no more.

She awoke in a bed of blankets, soft silks and light colors. Her head spun slightly; after a journey such as hers, whatever sleep she'd found was like jumping off a cliff to the sea. Rested and renewed, but jolted out of space, she looked around motionlessly in fear. Leaves swirled in the air around her, and the air was sweet and warm. Overhanging boughs of gold shaded her from the sun's rays, and the light that fell through them was tender and young, but a wild beast does not take lightly to the domestic home, and so Anorwen felt still the fear of being hunted.

She stood from her bed and stretched cautiously. Peering in all directions and finding nothing, she crept to the edge of the floor and looked over.

What seemed to be countless leagues lay between her and the ground roared up at her, and with a muffled gasp she fell to her knees. Yet not far away, a woman in a white dress with long, chestnut hair stood musing around on a plat form a few feet below her, and Anorwen bit her lip in fear. "Where am I?"

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"You are in The Golden Wood of Lothlorien." Throrfiwiel replied. "Do not fear, we mean you no harm you're safe within this land."

[Elvenwanderer]

(Authwen on flet... whoo hoo, I got my PM back!)

“You look beautiful…. Why not keep the dress off?” A strong male voice spoke in Authwen’s head.

She whirled around, and saw her husband standing inches from her. Nonetheless, she pulled the dress over her head. He put his arms around her waist, and pulled her towards him. Her arms went around his neck, and they quickly kissed.

“Later,” she promised, after she stopped his hand from going lower on her back. “I have something to take care of at the moment.”

Gil-galad looked down into her eyes, and kissed her forehead, acknowledging her response.

Both of them turned suprisedly as they heard talking from the flet where Authwen had been. She gently pulled his hands off her back, and jumped the thrity feet back up to the talan, her husband behind her.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel turned to see Authwen and Gil-Galad. "Authwen there you are. She's wakened but I'm afraid she is rather frightened." "On your way back here, did either of you get a glimpse of my mother anywhere? She said she wanted to be told when the girl awakened."

[Elvenwanderer]

"Neither of us saw her... I was just going to ask you if you would know where she is." Authwen smiled as she replied. "I don't suppose she speaks Sindarin?" Authwen mused.

"I wouldn't bet on it, by the way she is looking at the three of us." Gil-galad pointed out. He was right, the mortal was staring at them with a very frightened look on her face.

"I'm Authwen... that was my arrow that shot the orc." She said slowly in Westron (the tongue of most men). Authwen repeated herself in Rohirric just in case.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"I shall go down and look for her. You of course can stay with her unless one of either of you wish to come and help me?" Throrfiwiel said, as she was about to go down the flet.

[Galadriel]

Meanwhile Philantha had wandered back into the woods. "That scream was probable nothing" she mused. "My sister is always getting upset over the littlest things". Philantha finished making crown out of flowers and placed it on her head. She sighed, she was bored. Her sister hadn't come looking for her and there was no one else around. " I bet they haven't even noticed that I'm gone" she sighed. Both tired and bored she layed down in a field of flowers, with the crown still on her head and fell asleep.

[Elvenwanderer]

Gil-galad volunteered to go with Throrifiwiel, and gave his wife a peck on her cheek as he walked towards the stairs.

Authwen was left alone with the scared woman, whose eyes were still filled with fear.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"Thank you for helping Authwen." She smiled and went down the stairs. "Perhaps maybe my sister is with my mother, though I doubt it. She is always running off." The Lady said, as they were now on the ground and began lookng.

[Elvenwanderer]

Gil-galad started off in one direction, and Throrifiwiel in the other.

(I was thinking that one of them could find Philantha and the other find Galadriel and Celeborn!:))

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

(right that's fine with me! I'd say Gil-Galad could find Galadriel and Celeborn while Throrfiwiel finds Philantha.)

The elf looked about the trees; round, tall and strong. She darted here and there calling her sister. "Philantha!"

[Elvenwanderer]

(Kewlness! :):))

Gil-galad started to mellowly walk farther into the city, and soon found a trail of footsteps belonging to Galadriel and Celeborn.

(EW waves good-bye... see ya lata!)

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

(aw see you EW! Hey Philantha!)

[Tirithel]

Anorwen straightened as she spun around to the strange voice of the elf behind her. Her eyes darted back and forth as more of them bounded onto the plat form and spoke at her with strange words. They stared at her like a caged animal, and Anorwen thought to rush through them and run, until one of them spoke a slow dialect of Westron, revealing the name of her savior.

"Where am I?" Anorwen spat.

"You are in the Woods of Lothlorien, under the protection of the Lady Galadriel and the Lord Celeborn. You are safe." The others spoke amongst themselves and one by one jumped over the edge of the floor, until she was left with one.

"Lorien? Then I made it..." she seemed to drift away. Recollecting her thoughts, she straightened once again and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "I bring tidings from the Kingdom of Gondor." She stared coldly into her opposites eyes, trying to pull her bravest face from her frightened exterior.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Authwen)

"I think we should get past the names first." Authwen replied calmly. "Then, we shall see what the reason is that you are here. But, in the meantime, we are waiting for my husband... Gil-galad Ereinion, and my grandparents... Galadriel and Celeborn... possibly my aunts also." The elf stared back into the girl's hostile eyes. "There is no reason to fear me, nor anyone here, at the moment anyway, so it is no use putting on the front."

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel kept walking still finding no sign of her sister. "Ugh where is that girl? Whenever I need her, I can never find her!" She called out once more and waited to see.

[Elvenwanderer]

(Gil-galad)

He followed the trail of Galadriel and Celeborn, and found the 'happy couple' in a garden... getting rather romantic...

The King shrank behind a tree, knowing what it felt like to be discovered in such a situation. (We won't go there...)

<Well... at least I found them...> He thought. Gil-galad snuck away and waited for them to finish before he 'popped in.'

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

(LOL Authwen! Hahaha! roflmao)

Galadriel looked towards the tree and slightly blushed. "You can come out from there Gil-Galad."

[Elvenwanderer]

"All right, Galadriel... I'm sorry. I understand." Gil-galad wouldn't meet their eyes, he was trying not to laugh. He rested his elbow in the palm of his hand, and placed his hand in front of his mouth.

"The... the... gir... girl." the King stopped himself. "The girl has woken up, and I came to find you." Gil-galad finally managed.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Celeborn tried to stifle a laugh. "Oh yes the girl you were telling me about." He stood up quickly and cleared his throat. "Ah yes, so shall we go?" Galadriel chuckled. "Yes, let's go."

[Elvenwanderer]

The King followed them back to the flet, having gotten thouroughly lost himself getting there. <I always like the non-losability of Rivendell.... all these trees look alike. How do they ever remember which tree is which?> Gil-galad shook his head.

He climbed up after the Lord and Lady, and walked over to his wife on the flet. They hugged, and smiled to each other. "She's still quite scared." Authwen said to the three arriving elves.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel rather frustrated, sits under one of the massive trees looking up at the star flecked sky. "Oh well they have more than enough people in that one talan, they certainly don't need anymore."

[Tirithel]

"Very well," the girl sighed in wary submission. "I am Anorwen, Siladan's daughter of Gondor of the old house of Beor." Tall she stood, and proud, yet grim and small amongst so many elven royalty. "We have not much time for formalities...there is an army heading this way, and if you wish to defend you home successfully, you may also wish to listen to my tale."

OOC:Be back later tonight! HA ha ha I get to keep ya all in suspence! ;) lol

[Elvenwanderer]

(fake sneers @ Tirith... then starts to tear up...I hate suspence.... jk)

Gil-galad gazed upon the girl, trying to decide whether he believed her or not. Authwen looked up into his eyes, apparently thinking the same thing.

"I think she could possibly be telling the truth..." Authwen said to her husband, who had the overall word to whether Anorwen should be thrown out or not.

"No matter if she is or not, an army is a serious threat which should not be taken lightly." he replied. Galadriel looked approvingly at the new couple who seemed to be figuring things out (Gil-galad and Authwen were, in fact, on their honeymoon). The Lady of the Wood said....

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

The Lady looked to Anorwen and was silent for a moment. Then she spoke. "The girl speaks truthfully. Now tell us the full tale!"

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel was about to sleep but decided against it. She never knows the places Philantha goes off to. "She thinks I worry too much. Well let her think what she will. My, now I seem to be talking with myself."

[Tirithel]

Anorwen licked her lips and swallowed, preparing to deliver her story. "No less than two weeks ago, Osgiliath was sacked. A swarm or orcs with no less than the Nazgul at their head fell on the city with the ferocity of a tidal wave. Men were dispatched from Minas Tirith to its defense, but none returned, and all that is left is in ruin. The city is gone... nobody made it out alive...the orcs burned it near to the ground." Anorwen could not take the elves' eyes on her and looked away for a second as she choked back a small sob. Regaining her composure, she continued. "They poured over the river into the capital and rent it to the ground. Few were left alive, and only those that fled early when news of the Citadel of the Stars reached them. I came by secret ways out of the city and fled." SHe paused slightly and looked around. "They are heading this way, destroying everything in their wake, but for what purpose I am unsure. Those that chased me here were but scouts of the larger army. They will be here in a day, two if you are lucky." Eyes popped open and jaws dropped.

[Elvenwanderer]

Gil-galad was the first to recover his senses. He squeezed his wife's hands in support. Authwen glanced up at him again, and had a small amount of fear in her deep eyes.

The King slowly looked to Galadriel's drawn face, then to Celeborn's resigned facade, and finally back at the girl. "Then we shall make ready for war."

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Galadriel spoke softly to herself. "I never did like war... nor battle..." She shuddered slightly remembering the Kinslaying at Alqualondë. The memory of the blasphemous deeds of the Noldor and subsequent Doom of Mandos would haunt all the High-Elven for eternity. Celeborn looked to Galadriel; he watched her with concern as her expression conveyed a trace of anguish. He had only a notion of understanding why. She took a deep breath, clamping down on the memory before it escaped her control.

[Elvenwanderer]

Authwen sighed, and took her hands and placed them on her Grandmother's slim shoulders. Authwen sensed some of the pain that Galadriel was remembering, even though she had not been there.

"We shall not let that happen again." The Queen promised.

Gil-galad looked from his wife to Anorwen again. "Do you know how to fight?" He said, his Westron somewhat broken and halting.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Galadriel smiled softly at hearing Authwen. She nodded indicating she would be all right. Authwen went back to her husband's side as Celeborn came and put an arm around her and spoke. "Surely she would know how to fight Gil-Galad if she came all this way alive..?"

[Elvenwanderer]

The King dropped back to the elvish he was more accustomed to, aware of Celeborn chastising him. “The way she looked when she was found proves otherwise. Surely she would have been in better condition had she known how to take care of herself?” He raised an eyebrow at the girl.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

The Lord of Lórien nodded considering. "Well whatever the case may be, we have to get ready for this attack only as to how..."

[Tirithel]

Anorwen pondered the elf's words as her eyes went from face to face, studying every rolling eye and doubtful glance. "I fought my way out of Minas Tirith. I fought my way from the grappling hands of orcs' imprisonment, and I assure you-" she cut herself off, leapt forward and quick as a flash pulled the questioning elf's dagger from its sheath, turning it on him with condescending eyes-"what I do not already know, I can learn."

She continued to glare into the shocked king's face a minute before turning the hilt to him and humbly placing it in his outstretched hands with a bow.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"Well. I'd say that answers your question Gil-Galad." Celeborn looked to the girl. "What else do you know that can help us?"

[Tirithel]

"Not much. All I could have learned from my captivity among orcs was muffled in their gutteral speech. The one word I could percieve however, was the name 'Lothlorien,' and how they were speaking of it I do not know. What I know is that Osgiliath and Minas Tirith fell in days, and the last I saw of Rohan was burning in my last sight. Whatever Sauron is coming for, he wants it very badly."

Anowen turned and looked instinctively south. Though she could see only the leaves and trunks of mallorns, visions of smoke in the distance filled her mind and a quiet tear fell down her cheek.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Celeborn sighed, he knew now what Sauron was after. "The Elfstone. The stone that contains a small but powerful essence of one of the Valar..."

[Elvenwanderer]

Gil-galad let out a "Hmmmph." as if he agreed with Celeborn.

Authwen looked from her husband to her grandfather with a look of confusion on her face. She had no clue what they were talking about. After all, they had both been around a lot longer than she... more than three thousand years. "Please share..." She said sarcastically. Anorwen nodded in agreement, for she understood the few words the Queen said.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"As I just said the Elfstone containing a fragment of on the Valar; having the powers to either create, destroy or protect... Sauron is after it and will no less use the stone in opening the Sacred Realm and use it's power to transform this world into Darkness. True Sauron is one of the Maiar but to gain the Elfstone would only enhance his abilites making him far too powerful to stop. Whomever is leading this army that attacked Osgiliath and Minas Tirith along with Rohan is searching for it. You said they would be here in no less then a day or two." He hesistated before continuing. "Should Lothlorien be attacked I fear it may only be a matter of time before they find it." The Elven Lord now wondered how they could keep it out of Sauron's reach.

[Tirithel]

"Well then, fight." All looked at her strangely. "You could try to send whatever it is out of here, with your goal being that it reaches a safer place, but what safer place is there?" She looked around as if expecting rebuttles. "My guess is that there is none, no haven guarded better than this place. The way those orcs froze on the border..." she trailed off. Her words were brash and certainly those of youth, but it seemed to some present that they held a dark truth.

[Elvenwanderer]

Authwen thought for a while, letting the words sink in. "Those orcs were only afraid of the border because of their minimal numbers...I had little to do with their fear. But, I know this from experience... when they are amassed in greater numbers, they will not be as weary of the trees. The beauty of Lórien soon will be marred by the feet of those that are foul. But....."

"Surely Sauron is a better strategist than to just send an army to the Lothlórien borders. He will have a second plan, the army serving as a distraction and a backup." Gil-galad finished, Authwen nodding in agreement. "Which means will will be forced not only to fight, but to guard the Elfstone even more tightly."

[Tirithel]

"The Elfstone?" Anorwen looked vexed.

[Elvenwanderer]

"I thought we went through that already..." Gil-galad stated, quite unnecessarily.

Authwen shook her head. "I thought that this would be one of those that we shared knowledge of... dear...." "I do not like being kept in the dark, and I am guessing neither does Anorwen." The Queen turned to Celeborn. "Where is it?"

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Celeborn sighed somewhat wearily; and said to all of them, "Follow me then if you wish to to know where it is."

[Tirithel]

Anorwen cocked her head at the silver-haired elf lord and stepped to follow him. Not, of course, without shooting a dirty glance at Gil-Galad. She'd known him for five minutes and already detested him.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Celeborn led them (whoever is following) out of the talan and to the earth rich ground below. After a few turns here and there and what seemed even deeper into Caras Galadhon they came to a low talan and mallorn tree. The tall elf lord went up to it carefully and motioned for them to come closer. He removed a silver silk cloth to reveal a great stone of a clear green, set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings. "Here is the Elfstone."

[Elvenwanderer]

Authwen, who already stood a bit behind the others, backed away further as she saw the green Elfstone. She shook her head and her eyes widened. "Keep that... that... thing away from me. It is not safe..." She turned and ran from the flet into the forest.

Gil-galad watched after her with sad eyes, but did not go after Authwen; she asked him not to find her in times like these, no matter how much his heart tore at him. He had married Authwen for who she was now, not what she was years ago. But, obviously, her past still haunted her, and they both knew it.

The King looked at the other three people in attendance about the Stone and observed the green glow growing on their faces. His gaze settled on the girl, and Gil-galad's face turned from sorrow to disdain. Anorwen momentarily looked up at him, and her eyes showed at least an equal amount of hatred.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Celeborn wondered at this, for anything not safe was never to be found in the Golden Wood.

Throrfiwiel saw Authwen running. "Authwen?"

[Elvenwanderer]

Authwen saw her aunt in the shadow of a tree, and kept running even though she heard her name. She looked back and spoke mentally to Throrfiwiel.

"Please... just leave me alone for now... tell my husband to find me on our flet...".

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel sighed and went to go seek out Gil-Galad.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

OOC:


Please make your posts longer. Posts that consist of only one sentence and do not move the story ahead are considered poor RPG practice.

Please keep this in mind in the future.

--Dawn

[Elvenwanderer]

OOC: ok...

IC: Authwen stopped below her flet, and jumped the forty feet in the air to reach the floor. She ran across, slammed herself on her bed, and started tearing at her hair and the sheets.

Soon, her rage calmed, and she lay on her back staring at the sky. "I wish I never worked for Sauron... he corrupted me so I cannot do what I must to help my family..." She whispered to the wavering leaves of the trees. A raindrop sifted through the trees and onto her face, as if in answer.

[Galadriel]

Philantha woke with a start. It had seemed like many hours had past while hse had been asleep and still no sign of her sister or anyone else. Philantha stood up and look around.Nothing look out to place to her, she had visited this palce many times but for some reason she felt like something important had happened or was about to happen. "Well I guess I will head back" Philantha thought and started the long walk back to the city.

[Tirithel]

"It is beautiful, indeed, like the sunlight reaching through the leaves of trees to caress the earth." She tore her stare from Gil Galad, "but why would Sauron destroy two cities and a whole country none-the-less for a gem? A work of hand? Something tells me that beauty alone holds no virtue for him."

Galad humphed discontented in the corner and Anorwen shot him another dirty look before looking back to the kind face of Celeborn for answers.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"I know not his full purpose... yet it is dangerous to even know." "What we now know... an army is going to arrive here in either a day or two, they're after this and we're no longer safe for the time being...." "Now the question remains, how we get this sacred gem out of the Enemy's reach and stay safe?"

[Elvenwanderer]

Gil-galad looked deep in thought, and was about to answer the Lord when a she-elf came up behind him and tapped him gently on the shoulder. He turned around and recognized her as Celeborn and Galadriel's daughter, Throrfiwiel.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"Authwen says to find her on your flet." Throrfiwiel said to him. Celeborn placed the Elfstone back and had everyone leave the area as to try and figure their main problem out.

[Tirithel]

Elves leapt off of flets and all seemed to know where they were heading. Anorwen stood confused and looked questioningly to Celeborn.

"Lord, where am I to go? I know not the ways of this city and if you can spare it, would appreciate guidance."

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"Why not go and explore on your own? You'll be sure to find many places in Lorien. You won't get lost much either, as you saw there are elves everywhere."

Celeborn then left Anorwen to find Philantha.

[Tirithel]

Anorwen gaped at the back of Celeborn's head as he marched away. She stood motionless for a bit until she discovered that she was all alone on the flet. SHe turned in a circle and searched for others; finding none, and preferring her own two feet to jumping through the air, lowered the rope ladder she found in the middle of the platform and made her way down, her dress traggling her steps and frustrating her the whole way. The first thing she set her mind to do was find some better apparrel...

[Elvenwanderer]

Gil-galad discovered Authwen buried deep in the pillows and sheets of their bed. She was apparently asleep, so he sat down in a nearby chair and simply watched her breath. Eventually, she opened her eyes and didn't roll over to know he was there watching her.

"I didn't mean it was not safe, I meant I am not safe with it..." She propped herself up on a pillow. "Because of my past, it is not safe. I am the reason it has to be guarded more carefully. He must have planned it this way." There was no question of who the 'he' was, nor any question of what 'it' was.

Gil-galad came and sat next to her on the bed, and gently lay his hand on her arm. She smiled at him, and reached a hand over to hold his. She leaned onto him as he put his other arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll just keep you away..." he paused. "What did you think of the girl?"

[Tirithel]

Despite what the Lord had said about elves being everywhere, Anorwen didnt' see a single live being as she strolled down the worn path through the trees. For hours she marched, becoming more and more frustrated at not finding anything. All around her hung ladders going to different platforms and she thought she could spy some swingy rope bridges trailing around through the treetops.

"Hello?" she called. It echoed through the trees and came back at her useless and repetative. In her growing frustration, she let out a loud "Hmmpf!" and stomped to the nearest ladder. Up she went, furiously struggling with the ever shifting rungs until at last with much puffing she reached the top.

It was very much like a house, right within the tree. There were light walls and a thatched roof over her head, and even a few chairs and a table.

Curious, she peeped around the room, admiring the few paintings setting here and there and studying the architecture of the little cottage, until she found a door, which indeed lead to a bridge that lead to another dwelling. The bridge was shaky, but it held her weight as she strolled casually across into the other flet.

Undoubtably someone's sleeping quarters she thought. A big cushy mattress piled high with blankets lay on the floor and beside it a light dresser, near which hung on a rack many splendid garments.

Considering her present plight, she began looking through them.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel heard some commotion and went up the talan. "Excuse me? What are you doing in here?" she asked Anorwen.

[Tirithel]

GASP! She turned around startled and faced the fair elf. With a deep breath and quick regaining of her composure, she looked her in the eye and in her most casual tone responded, "Exploring."

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

Throrfiwiel raised an eyebrow amused. "Yes I can see that. I should let you know, you are in my flet." The elf looked to what Anorwen was looking at. "I see you've found my clothing."

[Elvenwanderer]

Authwen leaned on his arm to support herself. "What do you mean, what do I think of her? I guess you could look at her a different way than I would... but then, you have to remember that you are married now ..."

"Don't chastise me... you know full well what I meant when I posed that question. Besides, why would I want anyone else when I have you?" He lifted one arm from around her, and flicked her nose gently with his index finger.

Authwen laughed, but her face grew solemn. "I suppose that she is, well, I don't know. She isn't my favorite person, I'll say that... I've met kinder mortals."

"I believe that she is arrogant and overly dramatic in her actions. It is as if she is continually trying to impress us and show us that she is not scared." Gil-galad answered his own question. "But, I have met many kinder mortals also. I do not believe that I will ever grow to like her... Anorwen.... is that her name?"

"Something like that.... almost elvish. Oh well." Authwen shrugged, and her gaze passed teasingly over his face. She jumped up and bit his ear playfully. He smiled and pulled a blanket over them as they leaned back onto the bed once again.

[Tirithel]

"Yes," she replied, starting to sound sheepish, "I was looking for something more suitable for climbing trees. This dress has been nothing but a constant pain since, well..." She trailed off. "For a while now." Her face fell and she spoke no more.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

The elf thought for a moment. "I see. Well if you like you may borrow something more suitable for climbing." Throrfiwiel replied with a soft smile.

OOC: If anyone wants to play the badguy with no name you can, he'll probably be in Barad-dur planning on how to get the Elfstone or something.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

OOC: I'll do it! lol (I'll post a chacter profile after this. Okay?)

The dark figure was pacing, his brown eyes furious.

'How hard can it be?' He yelled as he neared the black throne. The orc watching cowered into a corner and the figure sat dejectedly in the throne.

'It's a stone for Melkor's sake!' He shouted loudly as he poured himself some wine. The orc stepped from the corner and stood near the wall.

'They did the best they could.' The orc said roughly. The armor-clad figure growled and threw the goblet at the orc.

'Their best was even worst then the children of Rohan playing war.' The figure said as he stood and walked to the orc.

'Train another regiment for the mission...and if this one fails as well, you'll be paying for it.'

[Tirithel]

Anorwen nodded and with a subdued but gratefull smile turned back into the clothing rack. She thumbed through a couple of Thorfiwiel's fine things before stumbling on a pair of fitted leather pants, paired with a corset-style vest and a billowy-sleeved white shirt. Thorfiwiel watched in thoughtful amusement as Anorwen pulled them gently from the rack and laid them on the nearby bed.

"Are these okay?" she asked pleadingly. Certainly they were better for climbing, but in her choosing Anorwen had kept one thought at the back of her mind: she was looking for something befitting a warrior.

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

"Those are indeed fine. You may wear them and try them on. If you need any help I shall be down below." The elven lady slipped out and lightly down the talan.

[Tirithel]

With a blushing gingerness, Anorwen unlaced her travel-stained dress and laid it next to the things she had found of Thorfiwiel's. She pulled on the pants- they were indeed fitted for an elf; a little to long and a little snug for a human, but they laced up and remarkably in the end fit her quite well. "Must be something elvish in the make," Anorwen thought obviously. The shirt followed; it was an off the shoulder style and the sleeves hung gracefully at her sides, but it was rather short, coming just to her navel. "Ah, well," she thought, "the vest will cover all." And it did. She slid her arms into it and carefully threaded the leather string through the many eyelets. Smoothing the soft leather over her torso and shaking the sleeves of the shirt free, she stepped in front of a large gilded mirror to check herself out.

What she saw absolutely shocked her. The last time she had looked in a mirror, she had been a beautiful young girl, bright eyed, carefree and spirited, doused in immaturity and youth. Now, she beheld a grief-worn woman, grim and aged, tired and fell at the same time. Sadly, it was not all due to the clothes. She reached out and gently touched her reflection, as if looking for a remnant of the past.

With a quick blink and a deep breath, she turned away, resolute. She pulled on her own black boots and turned to throw her tattered dress away, but her reflection from days past caught her mind, and instead she folded it carefully and laid it behind the mirror.

With a final sigh, she slipped down the talan to find Thorfiwiel.

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

'Master Morrond,' A tall mortal said hesitantly to the figure standing near a window.

'The regiment is nearly finished training m'Lord.' The mortal reported as Morrond turned to him.

'It's about time.' Morrond said angrily as he glowered at the mortal.

'When does Gorash say they will be ready.' He asked as he poured himself a goblet of wine.

'A week at the most.' The mortal answered.

Morrond snorted quietly and set the goblet down.

'Take me to him.'

[Lady of the Galadhrim]

(I've returned! Thanks Dawnnamira!)