Chapter 1

September 3rd, Third Age 2940
Evening

'Marchwarden, report again,' King Thranduil ordered in a strong voice ringing with authority, sitting behind his desk strewn with papers, he eyed Chief Marchwarden Feren.

How many years has he had his people searching only to find nothing? And now, today, his Marchwarden returns with information.

'Tell me, is it true that you and your patrol have found my daughter?' Thranduil rushed his words out hiding the hopefulness from his voice.
Thranduil spared a glance to his son, Legolas who stood off to the side, hands clasped behind his back.

'Yes, my lord, we have found an elleth who has been living in the town of Bree. In precaution, we followed her to her home, where we found this,' Feren informed his king, as he handed over the picture his troops confiscated.

Thranduil looked over the picture in hand, he had one like it sitting on his desk, a picture of his dear wife as he would always remember her. He had no doubt that the elleth in Bree was his long lost daughter. Nodding to Marchwarden Feren he spoke, 'You leave immediately. Bring her home, by any means necessary. I want my daughter back within the safety of these walls as soon as possible, you have a month. Legolas, make the appropriate arrangements for her arrival,' Thranduil gave the orders, with a flick if his hand the king dismissed the others.

Feren left making the arrangements needed for the long journey, gathering his troops to bring the princess back home. The Chief Marchwarden of Eryn Galen was positive he was completely equipped and prepared for anything, and everything, though he was not prepared for the princess by any means.

Legolas bowed his head respectfully as he exited the kings study, hopeful that the return of his sister would be good for this realm. He worried for his father and the forest. Such darkness crept within the trees despite his ever growing efforts, and he knew the stress, and turmoil it caused their king.

Anariel wiped down tables as she made her way through the throngs of people, balancing a tray in her left hand filled with a half dozen pints of ale for a group of men at a nearby table. Passing the tankards of ale around the men grasped them roughly, sloshing the ale down the sides onto the table, grinning devilish, drunken grins. Turning her back on them noticing the grins that grew upon their faces. She knew that look all to well it always turned into trouble, she sighed hoping it would turn out to be nothing this night.

Anariel kept her eyes forwards avoiding the gazes of men that lingered too long, piling empty tankards on her tray as she swayed, and dodged her way back behind the counter where, Tom, the barkeep, called out to her to retrieve a keg of mead from the back stores.

The elleth nodded slipping out back as she wiped her hands off on her apron, listening to the boisterous laughter that filled the air, the clinking of glasses, and scraping of chairs against the wooden floor. Placing the keg down with a thud, she puffed out blowing a strand of hair out of her face before her hands even left the keg Tom was calling out to her again either to send out more drinks or grab something else from the back.

The night went on in the same fashion, she was beginning to think that this night may end without any trouble from the patrons, still she was looking forwards to closing time. By the Valar, how she would be happy to see the back of them all.

Dropping her head in annoyance as Tom called out to her bringing her attention to the back of the pub, she had gone and hoped too far as a fight broke out in the back, growling out frustrated she took off in the fighting pairs' direction. Once, for one night she would like to get through one night without having to break up somebody's drunken squabble. Dodging the blows as she side stepped around the brawling males, her graceful elven instinct coming in handy as it seemed to every night. Gathering their arms behind their backs she hooked her arm around the crook of their elbows shoving them out of the establishment into the rain, and mud closing the door behind them. Heading back again as others fought sticking up for the friends in question.

Anariel's eyes landed upon Tom at the counter, nodding his head outside the window as she threw out the last of the fighters. Anariel huffed she hadn't realize it had taken so long to gather up the fighting group. 'And that goes for the rest of you lot,' her voice rang over the hollering, and laughing bunch that remained in the pub, 'Out,' she called realizing it was now time for them to close, 'you don't have to stop drinking but you do have to get out of here.'

'Thank you,' Tom breathed out as he gathered his own belongings preparing to head home for the night to his wife. He had done most of their closing while Anariel cleaned up the fighting rubble.

'No worries, Tom, how is your wife?' Anariel asked, stacking up the chairs before she too headed out back to gather her own things.

'Well, tired. She's been staying at the midwives while I am here shouldn't be much longer. How's Anna doing?' Tom spoke, a genuine smile gracing his lips as he spoke of his wife, who was expecting their second child.

She sighed saddened, 'She's getting weaker, I doubt it'll be long, all I can hope to do is ease her pain.' They stood together in a moment of silence before she added,

'I am happy for you and your wife. Do try and enjoy the rest of your evening. I must be off I need to stop by the markets still. I will see you tomorrow.'

'You as well, and thank you,' Tom smiled, waving her good-bye.

Anariel headed through town, shoes sloshing through the thick mud, tugging at her cloaks hood trying to keep most of the rain off of her. She made her way through the markets, making a few stops picking up some vegetables, and herbs. Herbs she'd use to make a tea in hopes that it would ease Anna's discomfort.

Pushing the wooden door open to her home she wiped a stray hair from her eyes that had fallen out long ago on her walk, sticking to her cheek wet from the rain.

'Anna! Anna, are you awake?' Anariel called, placing the basket of food, and herbs upon a table before heading through the small house. 'Anna?'

'In here,' the answer came to her in a soft, muted whisper.

Slipping into the bedroom Anariel sighed her heart aching at the sight Anna had been looking worse and worse by the day.

Forcing a small smile upon her lips Anariel took a seat beside the bed passing the elderly woman a glass of water. With a sad smile she remembered all the good times they had together, having known Anna since she was a child, as she had known her mother as a child, and her mother before her. She stopped there, she didn't want to think of it all. Too many generations of mortal men had she grown to love only to see them pass. Anariel wiped at her face ridding herself of the tears of memories, and pain of the past. Looking back to Anna she realized she'd fallen asleep, her chest heaving with ragged breaths every one sounded painful as though it took a great deal of energy.

Anariel stood heading back to the kitchen leaving Anna to rest. Her eyes wandered to the mantle that held a picture of her mother before it mysteriously disappeared. She missed it more than anything. It had been the only thing she had that connected her to her true family, whoever they were. Many times Anariel considered leaving, going to find them but how was she ever suppose to find such an elf, a single lone elf, or elves who knew her. Anariel knew since she was a young elfling her mother died. So, it wasn't a matter of finding her, it was a matter of finding someone who knew her, recognized the picture but now that it was gone she felt stuck. Now more than ever.

Wiping tears from her face she let the reality of the situation sink in. Again another generation of mortal men to pass and Anariel couldn't help but wonder why she didn't leave when she had the chance. Why did she always kept putting herself through this? She had thought of leaving, often she did, it was what she was thinking now, though every time she tried she found herself already wrapped in with other mortals. Anna had yet to pass and she could not leave her now, abandon her after so long, Who would help her in her last dying days? And then there was Jane, Alfred, and their family at times she'd go watch the kids when they were at work, she already adored them and couldn't imagine walking away from them. Every time she thought she could go, save her heart this pain it became so obvious that it would cause her heartache to walk away from this town, as much as it causes her pain to stay.

September 26, T.A 2940
Forenoon

A knock sounded at the door as Anariel busied herself around the kitchen drying, and packaging herbs. Anna had passed and Anariel grieved for her dear friend, but she knew too that it was natural and had grown to understand it over her time with the mortals. She kept herself busy so that her mind did not stray on to the loss, it was the only way of coping she knew.

Anariel wiped her hands down the front of her tunic she wrenched open the door, expecting to see Jane who said she'd be by today, instead she stood staring, stunned to see another elf before her. Gathered in the background were dozens of onlookers from all over town eyeing the newcomers.

Many of the elves, adorned in fine scaled armour, stayed sitting in the saddles of their horses, while the others stood at attention behind the elf that stood at her door.

'You are Anariel, are you not?' The ellon asked holding himself tall, and proud, hands clasped in front of him, it seemed clear that this was their leader. His face was smooth, and void of emotion as he stood before his princess. Chestnut hair half pulled back the rest hanging free to blow in the wind framing his brown eyes.

'I am, and you are?' She demanded, her face twisted in both annoyance, and confusion that turned into a sneer as she caught him looking her over. Her own darkened hair that was falling free of her braid dancing in the breeze, piercing blue eyes that glared daggers back at him.

'Very well. You are to come with us to the Woodland realm, Eryn Galen,' he spoke, a tone of authority ringing in his voice, stepping to the side he expected her to follow waving his hand towards his horse as she was to ride with him for protection.

'Ha!' Anariel cried out, making him look at her in a horrified surprise. 'I will not be going anywhere with anyone. Who the hell do you think you are?'

Every elf ordered to bring her back glanced between each other as they eyed her, though many did not speak the common tongue her body language, and tone was enough of a clue for them all. This was not what they were expecting, the blunt dark-haired elleth was nothing like their king and prince.

'I am Feren, Chief Marchwarden of the Woodland realm and I have direct orders from King Thranduil to bring you back with us,' he stated, lips pursed in annoyance being a proud elf he did not enjoy having one defy his order.

'The king?' Anariel gasped in a mock surprise not believing the elf's words.

Feren nodded in confirmation, assuming that she would now follow the orders of the king, if she would not follow his.

'Well, my apologies, Marchwarden, was it?'

'Chief Marchwarden Feren.' He growled grinding his teeth, his squared off jaw tightening in frustration.

'Oh, well you should have said it was the king's order,' Anariel mocked the Marchwarden faking an apologetic look.

'We must be off if we are to return in time. We must not disappoint Our Majesty,' Feren spoke stepping out of her way once more.

'Oh, we won't be doing anything or going anywhere. The king will have disappointed,' Anariel snapped spinning on her heels she slammed the door behind her, turning her back on them leaving them stunned at her behavior. Feren clenched his fists nodding to his first two in command and back towards the princess, giving the silent order to take the princess into custody.

Anariel paused, when no sound emitted from the wooden door she turned back two elves were stalking towards her before she could move out of their reach they had her grasped by the upper arms dragging her out of the house.

'Let me go,' she screamed her voice drowned out by the cries of outrage from her fellow citizens of Bree. |Struggling against their grip she freed her arm catching one in the cheek with her nails.

'I do apologize, strict orders from the king, to bring you back,' Feren spoke, leaping upon his horse, he helped Anariel up in front of him. With a nod of thanks to the two ellyn who tied her hands behind her back in their struggle to control their princess, he ordered the others on, 'Gwaem!' (Let's go)

They nudged their horses into a brisk canter and took off taking the princess home.

Tears streamed down Anariel's cheeks as she watched from over her shoulder the only home she ever knew fade into the distance.

Feren heard her and sighed, 'I am sorry, my lady, but we must return, king's orders.'

Anariel never responded dropping her head down when she could no longer see her home she began to focus on the movements of the horse, and his gentle breathing, trying to forget about the elf that sat behind her and those all around.