Introduction: It seems that even though FF.net says you can use HTML tags, they don't work. After much ado, If figured out a way to have italics. Thanks to charmedobsessi12 who told me about the problem with formatting, 'cause I never would have noticed ;)

This story is part two of the Tale of Melanye. If you have not read it, I suggest you do, it makes for a better story, but you can start with this one too. It would be like reading the Silmarillian before LOTR. I had paused during writing Melanye because I wanted to wait for the release of ROTK before I wrote about it, and I didn't want to be idle while I waited. I was asked several times about Melanye's mother, and so it seemed logical to explain it this way. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer, yadda yadda…Ancalime, Melanye, Lindir, Tyssa, Hallath, Ganya, all mine. Everything else not. There, I said it.

K, Story.

***

Prologue

In the beginning there was a little place in the middle of all the interesting parts of the world called Rivendell. We called it 'home'. Since Rivendell was in such a good spot filled with everything anyone could want, it was a prime target for Orcs who love to take and destroy everything anyone could want. I should know.

I heard a story about a long long time ago in a land that no longer exists about things and people a lot worse than Orcs. And they did a lot more than take stuff. So in a way, I suppose I'm sort of lucky. Rivendell is a refuge for some of the elves who had lived in that other land of lore, led by the famous Elrond HalfElven. They had learned well from where they had come from and so guarded their new realm jealously. And so it was that my mother picked up her bow.

But I wasn't there, you see, I was born much later.

Dearest Mélanyë, I left this story for you in the hopes that you might understand. It has been a long time since your mother took the ship to Valinor, and she is now far away, but there were some things about her that we all felt should remain hidden from you. I wrote this history not only to keep a record of these events, but also that you would be able to read them when you were ready to hear it.

I will love you always,
Lindir.