The Mothermaiden

[PhoenixReborn]

BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK

I would like to say that it is a re-write of LotR. I would like to tell you that it is a cross between what happens in the movies directed by Peter Jackson and the books by J.R.R. Tolkein. I have simply dropped about six more characters in making the story a bit more interesting (If that is possible)
Also, I have done a bit of research and attention-paying to have gathered the little bits and pieces to make it seem as if Tolkein actually wrote the book. Please don’t hate me for what I changed and for those of you who disagree with ‘what I did to Legolas’ I think he would be an amazing brother so go lick a pile of dirt. And for those of you who don’t like ‘what I did to Frodo’, you try writing this story and have all the little itty-bitty pieces fit together. If you don’t want to do that, go break a window and glue it back together. Boo-hoo for you suckers.




I am the kindest person on earth, huh?
Nenethiel Mothermaiden













Prologue


The fair lady lay there panting, servants all about her. The baby she had just delivered lay screaming in her arms.

“My lady,” said a servant. “It is a girl. A new princess for Mirkwood.”
“A girl? Why, there hasn’t been a new child in Mirkwood for unknown ages, let alone a girl child! We shall call her Nenethiel, for she will be the future mother over the elves of Mirkwood.”

The servants all nodded their agreement and went on with their work.

“My lady, you must get your rest. Sleep, we will take care of the princess for you.” said the servant who told the queen she had a daughter.

And the queen folded her hands over her stomach and rested
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Many years later

Nenethiel jumped from one stone to the other, swiftly crossing the river, her brother, Legolas, not far behind.

“Sister, sister,” he said. “You are fast for a small one like you.”
“Yes but can you keep up?”
“You know I can!”
“Catch me!!”

And the small elf child leaped faster over the roots and ran under low branches that her brother had to hurtle over. They went at this for many hours, never tiring, until finally the small princess allowed Legolas to catch her.

“Ha! I have got you!” he said
“Alright, alright! You win! Come, let us go inside.”

She grabbed her older brother’s hand and together they ran indoors. Nenethiel was young, for an elf that is. You see, elves are immortal; they do not die, so young for an elf is very old for a human. The little princess was 260 years old and Legolas was 2876. So, in man’s years, Nenethiel was two and a half and Legolas was about 26. The two siblings sat in the palace, the glassless windows letting in a warm summer breeze.

“Nenethiel, le melon.” Said Legolas
“Le melon, Legolas, my brother.”

And so the royal elves of Mirkwood passed their days, for there was truly not very much to do.
Thranduil rushed down the corridor. Where is Eruphadriel? She must know what I have just heard!, he thought. He hurried into the queen’s quarters. Eruphadriel was reading a book by the window.

“My lady! I have astounding news!” said the king.
“Really? What is it?”
“It seems that we have the blood of a strange creature in us, a creature called a Halfling, or a hobbit, as they call themselves. I think the reason our little Nenethiel is so small is because she has inherited hobbit features. You see, hobbits are fairly short, and have odd hair on their feet. Besides the feet, Nenethiel is not normal elf size for her age.” explained Thranduil.
“Yes, she is quite small. Legolas notices it, too. I fear she cannot be princess here, I doubt Mirkwood will follow a Halfling, even if she is truly an elf, which we know she is, but…what will everyone else think of us, their king and queen, if it looks like we are lying about Nenethiel’s lineage?” Eruphadriel said feeling quite flustered.
“I had a feeling you might say those very words,” said the king. “I did further research and discovered that there is a place where these hobbits live. It is west of here, a place called the Shire. We might have her sent there.”
Eruphadriel slammed her book down. “Send her away?! Send her away?! We cannot simply send our daughter away! She is our child! We are her father and mother! Does she not call you ada? Or call me naneth? And what of Legolas? Have you not seen how he plays with her? Oh, my husband, she is so young, so young. You cannot expect Legolas to take her to this “Shire”. It would hurt his heart too much to bear.”
“My lady, my love, I do not wish this with a glad heart. It is just that I fear our kingdom will crumble if authority goes to Nenethiel for she will seem something she is not. Please, please understand this.”
“If we must,” said Eruphadriel. “May it be.”

[PhoenixReborn]

Chapter One
The Flight

“Ada!”, yelled Nenethiel running to her father.
“Yes, my child?”
“What were you and naneth talking about?”
“Oh it is nothing. Do not trouble yourself with it.”
“ I heard you say that I am going away. Where am I going?”
“What? Going away? Nonsense!”
“But I heard…”
“You heard no such thing, Nenethiel. Now go find Legolas and bother him.”
“Oh, ok!” and she ran off to find her brother.

She ran to the stables and got on her small pony. She knew where Legolas was, she always did.

She tapped his sides with the toes of her boots, “Noro lim, Baran!”
The pony galloped out of the stable.
“To Legolas, to the archery field.” The little princess whispered in the golden pony’s ear.
Baran veered left, leaping over logs and things in his way. Sure enough, when they reached the archery field, Legolas was practicing. He was aiming at a target 200 feet away. Nenethiel watched as he fitted an arrow to the bow string, pulled back , aimed, and released. The arrow flew through the air and hit the target square in the middle.
“Legolas! Good shot!”
“That? Many elves could do better.”
“Legolas, be serious, you are the best shot in the kingdom! In all of Middle Earth! Do not say any creature on earth could do better for they could not!”
“Ah! You are too kind, my sister. Now, tell me. Why have you come to the fields? Surely not just to watch me.”
“I think I heard ada and naneth saying they are going to send me away.” Nenethiel got down of Baran.
“Send you away? Surely not. They would do no such thing.” said Legolas indignantly.
“I thought that but ada acted very strange when I suggested that he had said that. He said “What? Going away? Nonsense!” Legolas, ada never says ‘nonsense’. His thoughts trouble me. Listen to the wind. The eagles are coming, to the palace.”
Legolas was silent for a moment. “Yes I hear them. But they could merely be passing by.”
“No Legolas, there is an urgency in the speed at which they come. And the eagles do not flee from anything.”
Legolas paused again. “You are right, again. But why would ada and naneth want to send you away? They do not hate you. Oh, little sister, I am confused!” Legolas covered his face with his hands.
“Legolas, Legolas. The world is not ending! You are prince! Be strong! Hebo estel!”

They both looked up. Thranduil was riding towards them on his horse.” Come,” he said. “We have visitors.”

They rode back to the palace together. Thranduil in the front, then Legolas, then Nenethiel.

When they reached the castle, there were 2 great birds preening their feathers on the grass.

The larger of them lifted his great head, “Greetings Legolas and Nenethiel, children of Thranduil and Eruphadriel. We have traveled long, on summons of your father.”

The elf-king nodded, “Legolas, please take young Nenethiel to naneth.”
“Yes, ada.” said Legolas taking her hand and leading her away. When they were out of sight he bent down and whispered, “I fear you are right, they are sending you away.”
“Nin rochben, you should not fear the future, we were born into the same house so it must be we are meant to see each other again if I truly am to leave you.”
“I am ever amazed at the knowledge hidden in your words for one so young. You have not yet received the gifts of Elves. If you go now, you shall not receive them. An elf is no elf if he does not bear the gifts meant for him.”
“Who ever said I do not yet have them? Who ever said there is no reason behind the knowledge in my words? Who ever said I did not know where I am going? Or that I will not see you again?”
“Foresight?! You have been given the foresight? That is a most honorable gift! But there is one missing. The second gift the elves receive.”
“But alas! It is not missing my brother. For I have the gift of old, the sight.”
“The sight? No living thing has had the sight since before your birth, little sister. Are you sure on this?”
“As sure as the moon in the night.”
“My sister, this is most wonderful to hear! Foresight and the Sight. Your eyes are meant for good, then. In the days to come they will serve you well.”
“But I am not finished. I must be truly blessed for I have also the Inner Speech.”
“Nenethiel, you are very talented at keeping secrets. Promise me if you can, while you are not with me you will speak to me through your amazing gifts? Foresight may tell you when I need be warned, the sight will allow you to see my danger as it comes upon me, and the inner speech will let you warn me as well as tell me how you are.”
“Legolas, my brother, you are the greatest.”

Nenethiel opened the great door to her mother’s room.
“Naneth?” said Legolas, stepping in.
“There you are my son. And where is Nene-ah! Here she is! Come, my sweet, sit over here.” said Eruphadriel pointing to a bench by the fireplace. The beautiful queen walked elegantly over to the pot hanging in the flames. Little did Legolas or Nenethiel know that their mother was making a sort of potion that made one fall asleep and not wake for several days.
“My daughter, are you hungry? Would you like some of this estee?”
“Yes, naneth. Thank you.” said the little princess with out remembering the elvish word for rest. She took the cup earnestly and drank it quite fast. Legolas thought he felt a change in the air of the large room. He searched his mind, no, all was fine but still, he kept his guard up.
“Little Nenethiel,” said Eruphadriel sitting on the bench next to her daughter. “What have you been doing today?”
“I took Baran out to the archery field to watch Legolas. Naneth, he can shoot a target 200 feet away!! He is the best shot in the whole kingdom! But, he didn’t think so.” The elf child yawned.
“Nenethiel,” said Legolas grinning. “You do not know of the things you claim to be truth. I know you could hit a target 200 feet away.”
“Well, yes, but I can’t hit it in the middle like you can.” Said Nenethiel. She looked up at her mother, “Naneth, I am tired. I feel like I could even close my eyes to sleep!”

Now this was very strange, for elves sleep with their eyes open, simply being at peace restores their strength.
Eruphadriel picked up the little girl and carried her to a large bed. “There now. Rest, little one.”
“Naneth. She suspects you of something.” said Legolas as soon as Nenethiel’s breathing had slowed, showing she was “asleep”
“She is smart, though no gifts grace her yet.”
“But it is not so. She has said to me what her gifts are.”
“My son, Legolas. You must tell me these things.” his mother said standing up from the bench.
“No, naneth. I told her I would do no such thing until she had gone for many days. Now, you must tell me, why do you send her away? She has done you no wrong.”
“She is odd, Legolas. Even you have noticed this.” Eruphadriel’s voice went down to a whisper. “Thranduil has done a bit of research. He found out that we have the blood of a strange little creature in us, a thing called a hobbit. You see, these creatures are rather short and have large hairy feet, at least this is as your ada understands it. We fear that Nenethiel may have inherited one of the most obvious features that these hobbits carry.”
“Who ever cares if she is short, naneth? She is my sister, your daughter, a princess of Mirkwood. You cannot do this!”
“Legolas Greenleaf, do not dare to speak to me that way! If she grows older and remains the same size then what will the world think we are? Liars? No, no, I will not stand to be falsely accused! And I see in your heart she has already told not to fear what will happen. She loves you, Legolas. She will not forget you.”
“But that is one of the effects of the estee that you gave her. She will fall asleep for many days and hardly remember anything of her true past! She is keen on her senses, she heard the eagles coming and sensed their urgency. I am angered at you for doing these things, my mother.”
“Oh Legolas, we are doing this to Nenethiel to protect all of us. She is young, so young, and when a young one grows older they forget much of their past, I say it again; we are trying to keep her safe, and the kingdom safe.”
But Legolas searched his mother’s heart and found her weeping there, and he felt peace. He walked to Nenethiel, “Goodbye little sister. May your presence grace those to which you go. Ná Elbereth veria le, ná elenath dín síla erin rád o chuil lín.” he bent down and kissed her fair cheek. “Le melon”

[PhoenixReborn]

Chapter Two
Farewell Wherever You Fare


Eruphadriel wrapped little Nenethiel in a blanket. She had changed her clothes to a more human looking dress. While she did these things she sang an old Mirkwood farewell song;




Home is behind,
The world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow,
To the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight,
Mist and shadow,
Cloud and shade,
All shall fade,
All shall
Fade

As she sang the last words tears came to her eyes. She hastily wiped them away; she must not let her self break. Not yet. Legolas had spent the days out at the archery fields, Baran grazing in the green grass. He was to care for the little golden pony now. Thranduil spoke to the eagles. The largest, whose name was Aglar, was to carry Nenethiel. The other, Laurinon, was to accompany them just in case they needed help. When all was ready, Eruphadriel carried her little one to the gate where the eagles and Thranduil waited.
“She is ready.” said the queen.
“Alright then, here, let me see her.” said Thranduil. His wife handed Nenethiel to him. And for a moment he stood, holding his sweet little daughter for the last time.
“Come now,” said Aglar. “We must be going.”
Suddenly, they all heard a horse approaching.
“Wait!” called Legolas, coming into view on his great white horse. “Wait! I must give her something!”
He rode right up to them, dismounting and running to Nenethiel. He held in his hand a delicate silver circlet chain. The beads on it made of olive green jewels. He also took off his bow and quiver full of arrows. Legolas placed the circlet around her neck and the bow and quiver over her shoulders.
He bent down so his forehead touched hers, “You leaped so fast over the rocks and into the trees, now I cannot catch you.”
Legolas backed away, tears streaming down his face. He mounted his horse and galloped back to the archery fields.
“Your Highness, let me see the child.” said Aglar, extending a foot.
Thranduil gave him Nenethiel.
“Farewell, I trust you will carry her safely along the way”
“You can trust us.” said Aglar rising into the air.
Eruphadriel wiped the tears from her face, “Farewell where ever you fare, till your aeries receive you at the journeys end!” she cried. “May the wind under your wings bear you to where the sun sails and the moon walks.”

Laurinon called to Aglar, “Where is it we are taking the princess?”
“To Hobbiton in the Shire. Six days journey west.”
“The Shire? I have flown over there many times! Have you not?”
“No, it would be nice for you to guide. When flying west the wind acts strange on your wings and often turns you around when flying above the clouds, though I do not plan to do this journey above the clouds but we may have to if a storm hits”
“That is fine. I prefer flying below the clouds so I can see the world.”

And so Laurinon and Aglar the eagles flew, carrying Nenethiel to Hobbiton. Now it happened that while they flew over the Misty Mountains a storm hit but the cliffs around them were so rocky and sharp they found instead a tunnel that they could fly through. Laurinon was in the lead and many times felt something on the edge of his wings or in his face but he ignored it. Probably just a cobweb or moth of some sort, he thought and kept flying. Aglar felt the same thing, and ignored it also. But eventually Laurinon noticed extremely large spider web all about him.
“Aglar! Are those large spider webs over there?” he asked.
“Yes, I think so. Perhaps we should turn back?”
“No, we have gone quite far already, it would be no use!”
Suddenly, unseen in the shadows, a great figure leaped on to Aglar. It was a huge spider, much like those in Mirkwood. It battled with the great eagle, trying to stab him with its stinger. In the struggle Aglar dropped Nenethiel. Laurinon swerved around and grabbed the little elf girl. When he had her secure in his talons he started biting the spider trying to rip it off of Aglar. It turned it’s rump towards Laurinon, aiming its stinger. He dodged the blow only for the poisonous spike to go deep into Aglar’s back.
“No! Aglar, my friend, forgive me!” cried Laurinon in terror and anger at himself.
“Go, Laurinon,” said Aglar choking on the foam coming up his throat. “Take her to Hobbiton on your own. I am done.”
“No, I will not let you die. I can carry you and the child together. I will not leave you here.”
“Go! Or she will kill you too.” Aglar said with his dying breath. Laurinon rose and started flying down the tunnel. He looked back for a moment to see the great spider spinning her silk around his friend. He looked strait ahead, determined to make it. It was 3 days journey to Hobbiton from here. Halfway there. Halfway. He knew he could make it. Aglar will not die in vain, though it is no great cause, he thought to himself. Soon he found himself flying over Rivendell, then later Bree, the Barrow Downs, Tom Bombadil’s forest, and finally the first hobbit holes of Hobbiton. He searched the ground for a nice looking home for Nenethiel. He moved on to Tuckborough. What a fun chore, he thought, to get to choose where the princess of Mirkwood gets to grow up. Finally he found a nice looking place. He circled down until he landed in the grass. It was the dead of night, so he did not expect anyone to be awake. Gently, Laurinon set Nenethiel down on the door mat hoping whoever woke up in the morning would find her and take her in and not leave her alone to die.
“Little Princess, you have been no easy burden, but I do not leave you with relief. Farewell where ever you fare.” he whispered to her. Then he stretched his great wings and rose into the air flying back to Mirkwood to tell Thranduil and Eruphadriel that their daughter was safe at last.



He hoped.

[PhoenixReborn]

Chapter Three
Thea


Dew lay on the grass; flowers woke to greet the sun. Birds could be heard chirping in the fields. It was a wonderful mid-summer morning in Hobbiton, everything was normal. Except at one residence. The doors of The Great Smials, specifically in Tuckborough, opened to reveal a short, plump figure. Pipe in hand; he stepped out onto the door mat. This is where things started to get strange, for you see, there was a sleeping little girl wrapped in a blanket lying there right under his large, hairy left foot. The hobbit, called Paladin Took, removed his foot from the little girl and bent down to get a closer look
“Eglantine!” he called. “Come have a look at what I found!”
Paladin’s wife, Eglantine, came bustling outdoors. Eglantine Took, or formerly Eglantine Banks, was not much larger than her husband, in width or height.
“Well what do you suppose she’s doing here? No mother in their right mind would leave their child just lying on someone’s doorstep! Poor little dear. Bring her inside and we shall see if we can wake her up.” she said walking into the large house. Paladin picked up the small child and carried her in. He carried her through the great tunnels to their (being his and Eglantine’s) room. Paladin set the girl on the bed, placing two pillows under her head. Eglantine carefully unwrapped the blanket, revealing a necklace of fine silver and olive green jewels. As Eglantine unwrapped the blanket more they uncovered a beautiful bow and quiver full of fine arrows.
“What do you suppose she has these for? Certainly not to fight in a war. I reckon she is only eight. No eight year old should go to war!” said Eglantine
“Aye, but perhaps when she wakes we can have her tell us, if she yet knows how, that is.” Paladin said.

For as it is with elves, hobbits live for a long while, too. Though they are not immortal, for hobbits, eight is the same as two and a half. When a hobbit is in their tweens that means they are between age 20 and 33. When Hobbits reach the age of 20 they are no longer children, but they do not come of age until they turn 33. Hobbits in their tweens are generally considered irresponsible and not quite grown up. The Tooks had 4 other children, Pearl, the eldest, Pimpernell, the second eldest, Pervinca, the second youngest, and Peregrin, who was the youngest.




Eglantine went quickly to a bucket that had been prevuiously filled with warm water. She got a small cloth and soaked it in the warm water. After a minute she took it out, squeezed it a bit and started washing the child’s face. Eglantine pressed the cloth on her forehead while Paladin tried pouring cold water into her mouth. He dipped a ladle into a bucket of cold water poured it, carefully, into the little girl’s mouth. She coughed and choked on the water, stunned by the chill.
“Fool of a Took, Paladin! What made you think you could just go and do that? She doesn’t need to drown on dry land! We don’t need anymore hobbits drowning round here. Not with what’s just happened to Drogo and Primula.” She scolded her husband, patting the little girl’s back. “There now, don’t give yourself a fright. We don’t mean to harm you.”
When the poor child got her breath back she asked them, “Where am I? Who are you? Where is ada and naneth? Where is Legolas?”
Paladin and Eglantine explained to her how they had found her, who they were, and where she was.
“But why do you have me? Are you my mother and father? I have no memory of you.”
Eglantine was silent for a moment. She made a split second decision and said, “Why of course! Don’t you remember? Perhaps not. I reckon you were walking in your sleep and tripped on your cloak and took a hard hit on your head. I suppose you had an odd dream that made you forget about us. Don’t you remember your own name?”
“Oh, let me see.” said the small child, thinking for a moment. “I think it was Th…Thea? Yes, I am quite sure it was Thea. Is that right? Is that my name?” she looked inquiringly at Paladin and Eglantine.
“Why of course, you are very good at remembering. Come on; let’s go find Pearl, Pimpernell, Pervinca, and Peregrin. Then we can all go together and get breakfast.”
Thea started to get out of bed but noticed the bow and quiver of arrows. “Where did I get these? Oh yes! I got them many years ago for my birthday. Did I tell you that I can hit a target 200 feet away?”
“No, that is quite impressive. Here, I’ll take those and put them over here.” Said Eglantine reaching for them. Thea took them off and handed them to her mother.
***********************************************************************************************************
Pippin and Merry ran through the field, arms full of vegetables and other plants.
“Come on Merry! The dogs will have heard us by now!” Pippin called to his friend.
“Don’t worry, I’m right behind you! I think he’s coming! Run faster!” Merry yelled back.
“I am running faster! That’s why you’re behind me! If you don’t like it, move to the side!”
Merry ran a little faster so he was side-by-side with Pippin. They thought they could hear Farmer Maggot chasing after them, yelling, “Come back ‘ere ye filthy scoundrels! Git out of mah corn!”

But little did they know that though they really could hear Farmer Maggot, Thea was not too far behind the two friends. Thea had taken to following her brother, Pippin and his best friend, Merry whenever they went around being troublesome. Pippin started running faster but ran into something; knocking whatever is was to the ground. Merry ran into something, too, doing the same to it as Pippin.

Pippin looked down, “Frodo? Hey, Merry! It’s Frodo Baggins!”
Merry sat up, “Hello Frodo!”
The figure Merry had run into stood up. It was Sam Gamgee
“What’s the meaning of this?” he said.
“Here Sam. Hold this” Merry said, handing him an arm load of vegetables.
“You’ve been into Farmer Maggot’s crop!” Sam said accusingly.
They all looked behind them. They could see the tops of the cornstalks waving as the old farmer got closer. The four of them took of running; Sam dropped the things Merry had handed him.
As they were running Merry said, “I don’t see why he’s so upset. It’s just a few carrots.”
Pippin chimed in, “And some cabbages, and the bags of potatoes we left here last week! And the mushrooms the week before!”
“Yes Pippin,” said Merry. “My point is, he’s clearly overreacting!”
Pippin was in the lead. They finally got out of the fields and onto the grass. Pippin stopped suddenly looking down the side of a steep hill. Merry ran into him, then Frodo, then Sam, and then Thea, who had not heard or seen them stop running ran into them, sending them tumbling down the hill. They reached the bottom in a large heap, all groaning and bruised.
Pippin looked up, his face only a few inches away from a large pile of dung. “Well that was close.”
Thea stood up, brushing the dirt and leaves from her shirt and pants. She checked the chain around her neck. Luckily it was still intact. Her hands went to the long roll of leather containing her bow and quiver. She knelt down and unrolled it. By some miracle they had stayed together, too.
“Thea?” said Frodo noticing she was there.
“Yes?”
Pippin stood up, “What are you doing here?”
“What do you think? Mum sends me regularly to see what you lads are up to. What’s gotten into you, thinking you can go around stealing Farmer Maggot’s crop? Fool of a Took!”
“Well, I…” Pippin lost whatever he was going to say. He knew his older sister was good with words.
Sam noticed what Thea was wearing. “Pardon me, miss, but what you’re wearing. Isn’t that mans clothes?”
“Why yes, Sam, it is. You don’t think I would run around in a field chasing Pip and Merry in a dress, do you?”
Frodo looked at Sam, “She has a point there.”
“Yeah, well, look at her feet! She’s wearing boots she is. There isn’t a hobbit alive that wears shoes. At least as far as I know the truth.”
“Well, Sam. That is where we all learn something. See, I don’t have normal feet, there isn’t one hair on them and they are very small. So, if you judge a hobbit by her feet, you may as well start telling night from day by how long the grass is.”
“Alright, alright. I meant no harm, I was just saying, that’s all.” Sam said, starting to pick up the things that had strayed out of the pack he was carrying.
“Where are you going with all of that? You look fit to go to the Lonely Mountain and back!”
Frodo stepped in, “I decided to move to a house in Buckland, and Sam is coming with me so that he might not need a new job and so he can keep my bit of garden there.”
“Ah, I see,” said Thea walking towards Frodo. “Then I pray your burden does not hold you back, Master Underhill.” she whispered in his ear. As the rest of them were gathering their bearings, Frodo walked into the middle of the wooded road.
“Trust a Brandybuck and a Took!” said Sam when he had all of his things together.
“Hey!” Thea said, indignantly.
“It was a shortcut!” said Pippin.
Sam huffed, “Shortcut to what?”
“Mushrooms!” yelled Pippin. A few feet away, tucked in the roots of a tree was a small bunch of mushrooms. Merry quickly got out a bag and scrambled over. All five of them loved mushrooms but Thea and Frodo were standing in the road. Thea had felt a change in the wind. She felt as if some evil beast was breathing down her neck. She stepped forward, “Frodo, I think we should…”
Thea was cut off by Frodo, “Get off the road!” he yelled. “Get off the road, quick!”
That got Sam, Merry, and Pippin’s attention. They ran behind the tree where the mushrooms were and crawled into something like a cave that had been formed in the roots. Merry took out the bag of mushrooms and Pippin and Sam started dealing them out.
“Shh!” said Thea, who was sitting in the back of the small cave, she clapped her hands over Merry and Pippin’s mouths. The sound of a horse’s footsteps drew nearer. Thea felt fear in the deepest places of her heart. Something jumped off of the horse, something heavy. She looked up. She could barely see between the roots under which they were hiding but she could see a large, dark figure. The figure bent down with its hands on the edge of the roof of their hiding place. Thea heard it sniffing. Sniffing? For what?, she thought to herself. She looked at Frodo. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead. He held in his hand a gold ring. Thea closed her eyes. Frodo. Frodo don’t do it! Resist! Stand your ground! Be strong!, she thought. Frodo felt like he has watching himself. Unable to control his own hands. But then, he heard a voice inside his head, Frodo don’t do it! Resist! Thea? The voice sounded unmistakably like hers. Sam looked over at him, gabbing his hands before he slipped the Ring on. Merry grabbed the bag of mushrooms and tossed it outside of the cave. The black creature stood up, screeching, going after the bag. The hobbits ran from their hiding place. When they felt they were a good distance away, they paused. Thea looked at Frodo who was looking down at his hand. In the palm of his hand lay a simple, golden ring.

[PhoenixReborn]

Any comments so far? All is welcome!

[PhoenixReborn]

Chapter Four
So It Begins

“What was that?” said Merry.
Frodo walked a few paces ahead, Sam came up behind him.

“Anything?” he said.
“No, nothing.” Frodo shook his head.
“What is going on? Whatever it is it made Merry toss the mushrooms so it better be worth it!” said Pippin, who loved mushrooms more than any of them.
“That Black Rider was looking for someone, or something.” Said Merry brushing past Pippin. “Frodo?”
Thea ran up and grabbed them, yanking them to the ground, “Get down!” she said in a harsh whisper. They hid behind a thick bush. In the moon light they could just make out the silhouette of a Black Rider. The dark horse reared up, it’s rider screeched. The pair soon turned and galloped off in the other direction.

“Frodo, this is ridiculous! Tell us what is going on!” said Thea, shaking.
“Alright, alright.” said Frodo. “I understand that you have done some eavesdropping, Thea, for it quite obvious that you very well know what is happening.” He said grinning. “But for you, Merry and Pippin, I am not moving to Buckland. I must go to Rivendell, for there is a ring,” at the mention of it he lowered his voice. “This ring is very evil, Bilbo had it in his possession for a long while but has handed it down to me. Those Black Riders were looking for it, and me. They must not get it, for they will take it to the Dark Lord in Mordor and he will use it to destroy all good in the world.” He turned to Merry, “To get to Rivendell we must get to Bree. To get there we will have to go through the Old Forest. We must hurry for I have no doubt that those Riders will be back.”
Merry and Pippin just sat, starring, trying to take it all in. Sam sat, too, looking very similar only he was amazed his master had revealed their secret.
“Well then we should move on, at least until we have not the strength to walk any further.” Said Thea standing up.
“Pardon me but adventures are not things for girls.” said Merry.
“And who do you suppose made up that rule, eh? Some stuck up fat woman who is afraid of dirt? I’d even reckon her only weapon was a butter knife! But I? No, that will never be me! I am certainly not fat and I have a bow and a sword! And you most certainly didn’t see me crying like a baby when we fell down that hill, did you? I think not. And if I am wrong and adventures truly are not for girls, then I am a fool to call myself one.” Said Thea, saying all of this with a wry smile. After a while-for the men just sat there staring, except for Frodo who had a horribly foolish grin on his face, amazed by her words-Thea got her bow and quiver and slid them over her shoulders, taking the leather and rolling it up neatly, tied it around with the rope she had hidden in her quiver.

“Well, come on lads, get up! I can feel the presence of those Black Riders as if they were breathing down my neck.” she said grabbing Pippin by the arm and pulling him up.

“You heard what she said, get up!” said Merry, following his friend.
Once they were all set again and perfectly ready to go (as in Pippin and Merry found some apple trees and collected a large bunch of apples, Frodo and Sam gathered large stones and sharp sticks for means of protection, for it did not seem fair to expect Thea to do the protecting with her bow and sword, and Thea gathered firewood which she bundled up and tied to her roll of leather.) they went over some very important things that a hobbit must indeed know if he was not the type to go off in the forest and dream of adventures.

“First,” said Frodo. “When one is on a quest, as in our case, you must never travel on the road. Always stay in sight of the road, but never travel directly on it. Second, almost all things you see in a forest may be dangerous, I ask that you do not speak unless it is needed. Gandalf told me those Black Riders have very keen sense of smell. Also, I beg you to be wary of the things you let escape your mouth, the enemy has many spies and the little I told you of the Ring is very likely to be too much. If any person ever asks you who you travel with, say that I am Master Underhill, on a quest in search of his long lost father, also say that I have brought with me the family gardener, Samwise, and my siblings, Merry and Thea. Pippin shall merely be considered the extra hand in the business.”
Pippin cleared his throat, “Well, I don’t think that is very fair.”
“Pip, he’s only joking.” said Thea putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll remember who my real brother is, don’t worry.” She turned to Frodo, “Frodo, we do not have many hours of safety left in this day, I say we get a move on until well into the morning tomorrow. The shadows are our friends, lads, we must move while they stay with us.”
“Yes, my lady.” said Merry, walking away. Pippin looked at Thea, Thea looked at Frodo, and Frodo looked at them both, all with confused yet amused expressions on their faces.

They waked late into the night, keeping to the shadows of the trees. Thea had suggested that they wrap their dark cloaks about themselves so as to blend in better with their black surroundings. Frodo in the lead, Thea and Sam behind him, and Pippin and Merry not far behind them. Thea took out an apple and her dagger and cut the fruit into pieces, handing them out to her friends. They walked as they ate, silent as stone, save the sound of their footsteps as they walked. After many hours they stopped to make camp. Sam found an area of trees that had low branches and suggested Thea use her leather to make a sort of roof. Merry and Pippin secured the 'roof' to the branches with some strong young vines (Merry was too nervous to ask Thea for her rope and Pippin said the could find something else anyway) while Frodo and Sam built a fire and Thea went to look for plants she could use so that they could have a half-decent supper. She had not gone far when, suddenly, all things around her melted away. The trees, the grass, the very smell of the earth, even the torch she had been carrying was gone. It was all replaced by a strange fog. She looked about, trying to make shapes out of the thick haze. She heard a voice calling her name. At least, it was a name she had gone by before.
"Nenethiel! My sister! Where are you?"
The name brought broken images to the surface from the depths of her memory. Thea looked about, but naught could be seen through the fog.
"I am here." she called back. "What do you want?"
The voice drew close now, but quiet. "Come home. Come home to me, Nenethiel."
She turned around only to see a tall golden haired figure walk slowly away. It stopped and looked back at her with sad blue eyes, tears streaming down his face.
"Who are you?" asked Thea, unconsciously reaching for his hand. "Why do I remember you?"
But the figure walked on, melting into the fog, which eventually went away, too. Then, as suddenly as it ws gone, the world was back. The trees, the grass, the dirt, and all that had simply vanished before the strange vision. She shook of the haze in her mind of chaos and confusion, not understanding anything of what had just happened. She continued her search and soon found thyme, lavender, and rosemary and cut some of each off wiith her knife. She took from her trousers poket a small jar of water she kept with her at all times and opened it. Thea added thefresh herbs to the water and shook it for a few minutes before putting the lid back on carefully and placing it back in the safety of her pocket. When she returned to camp, Frodo, Merrpy, Pippin, and Sam were sitting quietly about he fire. She asked her brother for five apples and cut slits in each of the skins and took one of Sams pots and poured her herb mixture in and added the apples. Thea bult the fire a bit more and gently set the pot on the edge of the flames. Whem the ater boiled, she asked Merry for four more sticks and drove each through an apple,using her dagger for herself, and they sat and ate roasted apple for supper.

After Merry, Pippin, and Sam fell asleep, Thea moved ver so that she was sitting next to Frodo. For Thea, Frodo was hr best friend. They both would meet in the forest each day and make stories of adventures they wished to hae had together, and Frodo alone had seen Thea's sword. Thea kept her sword a secret from most people. She had made it herselfafter spending much time with the black smith and silver smith. It was long, at least it was long for a hobbit sword, and it was thin, but it was sturdy and beautiful. and on a branch of the hilt it had the elvish words an estel an meleth. Thea had not known that it was elvish,he merely remebered the images the came to her mind every once in a while. But on this night,Thea was going to tell Frodo of the forgotten lost peices of her past that had only earlier come together like a puzzle that would olve itself.

"Frodo, in all the days we have spent telling eachother what no one else could know, I have failed to tel you many small parts. You see, when I went into the forest to gather those herbs, I had a vision. A vision of a tall elf wit fair hair and sad blue eyes. He was calling me, calling me to come home. He called me by the name Nenethiel, Frodo. And the strangest part is, I know that that is my name, and the elf, well, he is my brother." she said quietly but exitedly.
Frodo looked very confused,"Your brother? Thea, you are a hobbit! And you say that he was an elf! That is not possible! And your name is Thea, not Nenethiel! Explain to me how it could possibly be so."
"Frodo, I am suddenly remebering all of this. I am no hobbit. I am Nenethiel, princess of Mirkwood forest. One of my ancestors was a hobbit and I have his blood in my veins, it has made me hobbit size. The elf in my vision was my brother, Legolas, who is dear to my heart. When I was young my parents sent me to live among hobbit, in fear that all would crumble if I remained there, so two eagles carried me here. Along the journey. one was killed by a great spder and the other continued on with me. He left me at The Great Smials where Paladin and Eglantine found me and took me in. I am not your cousin, Frodo, nor Pippin's sister. I am an Elf princess. Can you beleive it?" she said to her friend.
"Why should I belive this? Have you any proof?" said Frodo. He id not understand any of it.
Thea thought for a moment. "All elves receive two gifts that will help them reach heir destiny of keeping the earth. My gifts are Foresight, The Sight, and The Inner Speech. Foresight gives you visions of the future, The Sight allows me to see through someone else's eyes, even when the are far from me, and the third gift, the rarest gift, is The Inner Speech, which allows me to speak to someone through thoughts. Frodo, why do you not beleive me?" Thea said, grabbing his arm.
He sighed," Friend, I do not know how to beleive you. Here, speak to me with this Inner Speech you say you have."
Thea closed her eyes and thought. 'You are the greatest friend. I am greatful for you, my brother.'She opened her eyes and looked at Frodo. He was grinning.
"Thank you." he said.
"Of course. And it's true. You're a great friend." Thea put her hand on his shoulder. "Goodnight."

[PhoenixReborn]

Chapter Five
Strange Trees



Frodo slept terribly that night. The thought that Thea was an elf scared him. He felt he had gained a sister in her and didn't want to risk losing her by taking her on this quest. And then there was the fact she was not his cousin. When Frodo was young, his parents went out in a boat and drowned, and he was an only child so his cousins and relatives were dear to him. He did not want to think of Thea as a friend. Then a thought hit him. He would ask her, not in the morning but, soon.

Later Frodo woke to the smell og eggs. Nenethiel had shot the nest from a nearby tree with a well aimed arrow and caught it as it fell. She had taken on of Sam's pots and put it on the fire. She had found five smooth rocks, good enough for plates out in the wild, and served each their breakfeast. After they ate, they gathered their things and packed the camp. Thea retrieved the leather and the lads got the rest of their things. But before they walked away, Thea stopped with her hand up, signaling for them to halt.

"Wait!" she said. "We are being followed!"
"What? Where? I don't hear anything." said Samwise, looking around.
"They are not near, my friend. But there is a Black Rider following at a cautious distance. More tracking than following, to be honest. But none the less, we must not move on until all traces of our cam are gone."
And so they turned back and spread the logs of the fire far from each other and cover the ashes with leaves and dirt. After they had done this, they erased any sign of imprint in the leaves where they had slept. After another many minutes of this they mved on. They walked all morning, ate a lunch of apples, and stopped again. Merry had sprained his ankle and requested they stop so that he could rest it. The made small camp at the base of a huge willow tree. There was a river nearby and Thea took the opportunity to refill her small jar with tue water she always had with her. Merry put his leg up on an old root and propped his back on the trunk of the tree, he was soon asleep. Pippin took the chance of getting a short nap too so he sat next to his friend and slept as well. Meanwhile, Frodo explained the news of Thea's elf-hood to Sam.

"So, she's an elf?" said Sam, all confused.
"Yes, Sam."
"And, she can see the future and speak to our minds and see through our eyes?"
"Yes, Sam."
"And she knows about the Ring?"
"Uh-huh"
"And you don't care?"
"Sam...of course I care, I just don't quite know what to do! I am quite confused by all of this, to be honest."
"You're not the only one, Mr. Frodo, if you take my meaning."
"I take it, Sam. But, now that I know, all these strange things are happening in my head."
"Like what? Is that Ring messing up your mind?"
"No Sam, it's nothing like that. I'm noticing things. Her smile. How blue her eyes are. All the things that I already know feel so different. I don't understand it."
"Well, Mr. Frodo, If you don't mind me saying, I have been feeling a bit the same way. Not for Miss Thea but for Rosie Cotton. See, she's got this perfectly curly hair, and beautiful smile. But I thought to myself and finally said 'Samwise Gamgee, you fancy that Rose Cotton.' And so when I heard you just now, I said to myself 'Sam, your master's in love.'"
"Love? No, Sam it can't be-"
But Frodo was cut off by a snap-as if someone closed a door really slow-and a shout from Thea. The two got up and ran into the direction of the makeshift camp and there was Thea, staring at the ground. Frodo followed her gaze and saw what she was staring at. Right there in the ground were the legs of Peregrin Took and the feet of Merriadoc Brandybuck. Thea walked slowly up to the tree and put her hand on it.

"Estee, hal orne. Tad en lin lanc, en lin band." she said in a calm voice. "Estee, hal orne."
Thea backed away slowly. The three looked at the places where Pippin and Merry were trapped. A small gap opened, slowly, as if tired. Suddenly, it snapped shut again, causing a cry from the two prisoners.

Frodo started thinking out loud, “We might cut the thing down,  maybe
then it would release them. No, we have nothing but a small hatchet
for chopping firewood. Thea, do you remember any more elvish? I can’t
think of anything that would help us now.”

Thea shook her head, “No, no, I can’t. The words seem to just come to
me, they come when I need them.”

Sam chimed in, “Why don’t we just light a fire? That may work!”
“Yes, Sam, it may succeed in roasting Merry and Pippin alive,” said Frodo
shaking his head. “But perhaps we can light a fire to threaten it.”

So they gathered wood and twigs and heaped them against the side of
the old tree. Sam struck a spark and before long, flames licked
hungrily along the tree’s dry trunk. The leaves seemed to his and
branches swayed without wind. From somewhere below them Pippin let out
a yell and Merry screamed.

“Put it out! Put it out! He will squeeze me in half if you don’t! Put
it out!” he yelled.
“Who says? What do you mean?” said Frodo.
A muffled ‘Put it out!’ came from Pippin below. Sam and Thea stomped
out the the sparks. Thea heard each tree whisper to the other,
spreading like a ripple in a pond, enemies, spies, foes, enemies, be
rid of them. So they ran along the paths, calling help! help! help!
And strangely, it seemed that their voices were simply carried off
into the wind. But suddenly, there felt to be a response. A voice
could be heard a voice, deep and happy, singing. They stopped and
listened, but it was strange nonsense.
Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo!
 Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow!
 Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!

The three hid in a bush, in case this voice belonged to some new
danger, and waited. After the song continued in nonsense, the voice
sang loud and clear:

Hey! Come merry dol! derry dol! My darling!
 Light goes the weather-wind and the feathered starling.
 Down along under Hill, shining in the sunlight,
 Waiting on the doorstep for the cold starlight,
 There my pretty lady is. River-woman's daughter,
 Slender as the willow-wand, clearer than the water.
 Old Tom Bombadil water-lilies bringing
 Comes hopping home again. Can you hear him singing?
 Hey! Come merry dol! deny dol! and merry-o,
 Goldberry, Goldberry, merry yellow berry-o!
 Poor old Willow-man, you tuck your roots away!
 Tom's in a hurry now. Evening will follow day.
 Tom's going home again water-lilies bringing.
 Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?

Thea, Sam, and Frodo stood up slowly, as if under a spell. An odd figure appeared in front of them, his clothes were colorful and his eyes were merry and glad. Unaware of anything he was saying, Thea watched the man walk up to the tall willow and sing a song to it. The three friends stood enchanted, the heard not his words, only his voice, a golden clear tone. The next thing they were aware of was Merry and Pippin being spat out from the ground. Thea went quickly to Pippin.
"Pip are you alright?" she asked him.
Pippin shook his head and coughed, "I...I think so."
Thea hugged him, "Well, you're out of that nasty hole now, thanks to that man there." she said, pointing at them man, who was introducing himself to Frodo. 
Thea helped her brother up and walked to where Sam was sitting with Merry, "Are you alright, Merry? What a strange thing for a tree to do!"
Merry blushed and nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. How about you, Pip?" 
His friend nodded, "Fine."


W.I.P.!! Please comment with compliments and crit too!

[Triptune]

I support this. Keep on going!!

Btw- Rim Hennaid!!
(In Elvish- Many thanks!!)

I don't even know why I added that.

[Triptune]

Okay, I've read all of it and I want to give some crit.
First off, you are an amazing writer. You have a gift.
Second, I felt that Nenethiel's/Thea's realization of her heritage was a little too sudden.
Third, adding Tom Bombadil made it all better. Evereyone forgets about Goldberry and Tom.
Fourth, you integrated all three storylines (Book, Movie and your own) very well. It is almost seamless.
Fifth, the characters are very true to themselves.

I would love it if you kept writing!! No one else actually tries to understand Elvish. It makes me sad.

[PhoenixReborn]

thanks!!! Any suggestions on what I should do about the whole part where Nenethiel/Thea learns who she is? I would love anything you have to offer!!!