The Lost City of Cirus

Author's Note:

First off this story is a little different, as I've introduced a new race of beings into it so please bare with me. The Rocs were a result of my overactive imagination trying desperately to express itself while I was studying for exams and until now I haven't had a chance to write it down. I've included some background information on my created race, the Rocs, so hopefully that will help clarify things. Sort of an AU fic as I've had to adjust some of Middle Earths elaborate history in order to fit the Rocs in where I wanted them.

Secondly (sorry I talk far too much for my own good) even though I have created a new race and new characters many of the characters from LOTR will be included to great degrees as this is a LOTR fanfic.

Thirdly and finally as far as the rating goes it's due to violence, violence in later chapters, and adult themes and content in later chapters, it also contains some slash. So be warned, it's rated as it is for a reason.

Disclaimer:

I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the places, characters, items, etc associated with it. I am not making any money from this piece of fiction and am merely borrowing these places and characters to place in a new situation for your and my amassment.

However, the Rocs, the City of Cirus, Aquila, Pandion, Audax and any other characters, weapons, places, etc associated with the Rocs are my own creation and I lay full claim to them.

Please Review as it really helps get me motivated, the good reviews anyway. However with out the reviews telling me how terrible it is I wouldn't be able to improve it now would I? So please review and suggestions are also most welcome.

The Lost City of Cirus

A bit about Rocs

I suppose I should begin by telling you about that which you cannot be expected to know. For within this story is a race both lost and forgotten by all but a few. They were once a proud warrior race with many allies. However mistrust and deceit drove them from Middle Earth and all but the oldest of myths. But to understand all of this we must start at the beginning, perhaps not the very beginning for Roc's are immortal as Elves. I shall begin before their departure from Middle Earth so that you may better understand their ways.

The departure of the Roc's

For many, many years the Roc's dwelled in a valley that lay low within the mountains of Mirkwood. They had a strong alliance with the woodland Elves of Mirkwood and their two kingdoms would often dwell in one another's domain. The Rocs were also allies with many of the other Elves of Middle Earth and so too were allies with the race of Men. Sadly, less than two thousand years before the re-emergence of Sauron and the journey of Frodo began, the Rocs were accused by the race of Men to be in allegiance with Mordor. Though they denied all such accusations King Audax felt it best that they left Middle Earth forever. So, to the relief of the race of Men but to the dismay of the Elves the Roc's departed Middle Earth. Final farewells were exchanged between King Thranduil and King Audax, for the two had been close friends. With their goodbyes said the Rocs took to the skies, never to be seen again. Soon Men forgot completely about them save for their mention in myths. The Elves remembered them but never spoke of them and as new generations came only those who had known the Rocs would believe the tales written of them, other dismissed them as legend or even myth. While many other races went on with life having never known of their existence. Where they flew to none but the Rocs themselves can say. For the secrecy of the new location of the City of Cirus is what kept them safe for a millennia and more.

The forms of the Rocs

Another key to the secrecy of the Rocs is that they can exist in three forms. The following is a brief description of these forms

The "Roc" form in myth but the "Eagle" or "Bird" form to the Rocs. This is the form the Rocs were most commonly seen in while they dwelt in Middle Earth. This is because in this form they appear as giant eagles, far larger then even the Great Eagles. It is this form that you will find spoken of in the ancient myths of Men. After their departure from Middle Earth both Elves and Men claimed to have seen Rocs in this form sailing through the sky, though they flew too high to be sure.

This form requires the least amount of energy to attain and sustain, as it is a sort of degeneration from their more complex forms. However this form finds its limitations in its size and communication problems when interacting with other races. The communication fault lies in the beak. It is impossible to use the tongues of Elves and Men in this form, as they are essentially giant eagles. They can communicate with one another and other birds using "calls", a language distinct to each type of bird. As the Elves are very much in touch with nature they too can communicate with the Rocs using these "calls". However the languages of the birds are primitive and the one used by the Rocs is no exception. The language of this form is limited in general and has none of the complexities of Elvish or the Western tongue. These few complications led to the development of the "Final" or "Human" form.

The "Human" form to most but often referred to as the "Final" form. In this form the Rocs appear, much as suggested, as humans. They are, however, more fair then the race of Men. They resemble the Elves in many ways while in this form. Were it not for the lack of some of the Elves predominant features this form would possibly be referred to as their "Elvish" form. However, in this form the Rocs lack the Elvish pointed ears and their splendid height. The height of a full grown Roc ranges from about 5 6 to 6 feet tall, though King Audax is an unusual 6 2. The average height for a male Roc is roughly 5 9 while a female, on average, is 5 7. Their fair complexion is really what suggests that they are not wholly human. Their skin is very fair, as is the Elves. Though hair colour amongst the Rocs commonly ranges from very pale blond to dark brown there have been a few with shades or red or black. You will find most Rocs hair colour to be shades of brown though many are blond. With this mixture of Elvish and human features it is no wonder the Rocs in this form are often referred to as "Human Elves".

Though this form solved the size and communication problem the Rocs had with their "Eagle" or "Bird" form, it left them without an identity. Were these Elves? Were these Men? They were no longer Rocs they were an enigma. Although this was a minor problem there was also a far more major problem with this new form. It required a larger amount of energy to sustain. Though it was solved by resting more the Rocs still wanted a way to exist as Rocs, be able to communicate with other races and waste less energy. Until a way to do so was found the Rocs merely worked on becoming stronger so that their "Human" form was no longer a burden. The required level of strength was quickly gained so the energy level became less of a problem. The Rocs were now more concerned with their lack of identity. So one Roc by the name of Falco suggested a degeneration from their "Human" form, but not so far that they reached their "Eagle" form. After much discussion this was attempted with great success. The new form was to become known as the "Half" form or "Falco" form.

The "Falco" form, commonly referred to as the "Half" form. This is the form that is most commonly used by the Rocs. It is a perfect balance between their "Eagle" and "Human" form. It allows them all the mobility and communication skills of their "Final" form while using less energy to hold and allowing them to still appear as Rocs. It is also closer to their "Bird" form than their "Final" form so the transformation in order to take flight is far easier and much quicker.

In this form there are variations between the males and females, aside from the obvious gender differences. A Roc in this form will appear as a half human, half bird creature. The feet up to just bellow the knee are not human feet but are large eagle talons. They are sized in proportion to the human shape adopted in this form. The eagle talons and legs end just bellow the knee so that the knee can function the way a human knee does, bending the lower half of the leg back instead of forward. This enables the Rocs to move quickly across almost any terrain on foot. Like the Elves they are light of foot and leave very little impression upon the ground. About halfway up the thigh the feathers start, where there are no feathers there is fair skin like in their "Human" form. The feathers in this form function mainly as clothing would. On the males the feathers grow from halfway up the thigh up to the hips, leaving them bare-chested. On the females they grow from halfway up the thigh up to the hips then, leaving the stomach bare, begin again just bellow the breasts and cover them, finishing slightly above them and also grow across the back at level with the breasts. The females dress their hair with feathers while the males wear headbands with feathers attached to them. Roc feathers are predominantly a dark brown colour with white feathers growing along the feather boundaries.

It is in this form that the Rocs mainly function. Unlike the Elves who are very peaceful the Rocs are a warrior race and forge a great variety of weapons, some of great value holding a place in myth and legend. As the Rocs are a warrior race both males and females are trained in the basic elements of battle from an early age. There are many female warriors and soldiers along with the males. They are considered as strong and talented as their male counterparts. The more highly ranked the female is in their society the greater the warrior she will tend to be as the Rocs ancient warrior blood will flow more purely through her veins. A Queen or Princess will always be a highly trained and skilled warrior, beaten in combat by few.

Rocs will dress themselves in a variety of coloured scarves, worn round the hips, that are made of a special material that will expand and shrink as the Roc shifts from one form to another. The colour of the scarf a Roc wears represents their rank. I will not tire you by going through each colour and the rank it represents, as they will be made clear as this tale unfolds.

Prologue

This story begins not too long after Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry returned to their peaceful lives in the Shire. All seemed well in Middle Earth. The realm of Gondor was prospering with Aragorn as its king, Rohan was restored to its former glory, the Lady of the Wood still remained and Gandalf the White still wondered the land. Lord Elrond remained in Rivendell, with many of the Elves that remained in Middle gathering there, in Lothlórien or Mirkwood (being freed from the darkness that was consuming it and was now thriving). However in the West by the sea trouble was brewing and it was to that direction that a lone Roc looked the night this story begins…

To be continued…