I'm really excited about writing this story! I've wanted to do a Lord of the Rings one for the longest time because I LOVE Tolkien (hard not to, am I right?), but didn't know how to get one going. So, here's me just jumping in and going for it! This will follow the Director's Cut Edition of the movies, but I will definitely add book references if they fit with the story I'm trying to tell.

Also, I'm going to attempt the impossible by incorporating the Elvish language because why not? This is how it will work:

"Pelin pedi i lam edhellen. ~I can speak the Elvish language. ~"

So Elvish, followed by the English translation.

Happy reading! Feel free to review :)

~MisticLight

~.~.~.~.

Running.

It was difficult to describe the comforting feeling of sprinting through the forest. My mind sharpened as I weaved between trees, my eyes turned keener. Though the woods were silent, my footfalls made no noise as I passed through fallen leaves and dodged deserted twigs. I felt liberated from the growing shadow tainting the world.

"Daro. ~Halt. ~" Haldir quietly commanded before positioning himself behind a tree. I took my place near a tall gray one closest to him, the sensation I felt immediately dissipating.

Sentinels of Lórien had a duty to patrol the outer borders of Lothlórien, defending the splendid city from any creature daring to cross our path. It was difficult for evil to enter our woods, but when they did, the Marchwardens were immediately in pursuit. The thrill of the hunt was even more exhilarating than the act of running, so combining them were moments I looked forward to most. When Haldir forced us to do otherwise, I followed orders with only a fraction of my annoyance showing.

We were following a band of Orcs. Though I knew the they could not see us, Orcs knew when they were hunted. They constantly sniffed the air and formed tight clumps with weapons drawn while their leaders scanned the shadows of the trees. Searching, never locating, then moving on.

Normally Haldir had us surround the intruders in a wide perimeter so we could surprise them with an attack they could not escape. This group, however, was larger than any we had encountered in recent years. Our band was smaller, less prepared for such a force. Since we had not anticipated these odds, we had to be careful with our timing.

Yet I was never one for patience.

"Gwe nuitha-maethad? ~We are not to fight? ~" I questioned, irritation crinkling my nose. An Orc instantly turned his head in our direction. I tucked mine further behind the tree and faced Haldir. With the slightest of movements, he placed a finger over his lips and shook his head. I scoffed then looked past the tree once more.

We can take them. I told myself as I looked upon their newest cluster. Why protect Lothlórien if we have nothing to showcase our deed?

Slinging my bow across my back, I took a step away from the smooth tree and analyzed its branches. I felt questioning glances but ignored their prickling curiosity. There was a branch some distance above me, but one undoubtedly reached if I leapt with enough force. I decided to take the risk. My landing was not the most graceful for the branch shook with the unexpected weight placed upon it, but the Orcs did not seem to notice. They were too focused on finding the source of my previous whisper; an unexpected diversion.

Satisfied with both my achievement and their disregarded, I hoisted myself up a few more branches. The woods of Lórien came to my aid by sending a gentle wind to disguise the leaves I managed to rustle. When I thought myself high enough, I shifted close enough to the edge for me to remain hidden while still maintaining a clear shot at the Orcs below.

I drew my bow and nocked an arrow. Before I did anything too drastic, though, I turned back to Haldir and the other Marchwardens. He must have told everyone to prepare for battle because all the Elves had readied bows and were more dispersed to create a better assault formation. All eyes were on the Orcs, save for Haldir's. Though he pointed an arrow at the enemy, his eyes told otherwise. The heat behind them took aim at me rather than the Orcs. I tore my eyes from him to my target and released the tension from my bow.

The arrow pierced the neck of an Orc. He released a brutal cry as fell to his knees, clutching his wound to heal it. Yet death was swifter. The group followed the trail of my arrow, but I had already relocated myself. As the Orc screamed, I took the opportunity to leap towards an adjacent tree. My perception of the distance, however, was flawed. I missed my intended branch and found myself falling to the forest floor. To prevent damaged to my blade, I twisted to face the narrow tree trunk and wrapped my arms around it. Pushing my feet at an angle, I propelled my body to circle around the tree as though they were circular stairs until I reached a different branch closer to the ground.

A sigh escaped my lips, but I refused to allow the relief to settle. I had started a battle, after all. Considering the scene below, my diversion had provided the perfect opportunity for us to attack. When they looked up, our arrows flew. With an excited smirk, I prepared my bow and fiercely launched arrows into the massive group of surprised Orcs.

Though I killed ones who spied my perch, I still had to dodge those firing sporadically into the trees. One particular arrow wedged itself into the bark of the magnificent tree protecting me. "Gwaur orch. ~Dirty orch.~" I cursed while removing the injury. My glare never left the sneering Orc who launched it, despite him not knowing where to sneer at. I strung my bow with that arrow and jumped down to join my kin as we made our appearance known.

Throughout the fall, I kept my gaze on the Orc. My feet had barely grazed the grass when I released my hand. I felt significantly satisfied when it flew straight through his head, and I smiled through his brief moment of dying distress. Then I nocked another arrow and located a new target to feel my wrath.

With our surprise advantage, the Orcs fell faster than I assumed even Haldir expected. They were simply no match for our superior weapons and the desire to protect these woods.

They never were the brightest of creatures, I thought with a shake of my head.

"Niaril! What were you thinking?" Haldir's angered voice reverberated across the trees, forming an echo within their shade. My head snapped to him, but I held no fear. As my commander, he scolded me often, but as my companion, I found he was never too cruel. Though I was a bit stirred he used my full name.

"Haldir, you must be quiet. What if more Orcs are nearby? You know they pursue foes for many leagues to avenge the death of a comrade." I hurried to his side so he would not speak so forcefully.

"You are fortunate no one suffered from their poisoned blades," he snapped with a glare. "Few were scraped with arrows and none have perished."

"Good. Then my actions were beneficial." I beamed up at him in an effort to lighten the mood.

"That is not to be taken as a compliment." He lifted a hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. My smile fell. Though I did not regret my actions, my intention was not to cause Haldir distress. I merely wanted to protect our home. "The situation could have been far worse because of you. Did you think of any consequences before boldness consumed you? Or did glory take hold?"

"What does that matter? All turned to our advantage. You are over-"

"We don't have time for this!" he silenced me. His eyes danced around to what lied beyond my head. I turned slightly, noticing the others were beginning to gather around us. Haldir took a few deep breaths to calm himself before directing his attention to our entire group. His eyes, however, lingered on me. "It's nearly nightfall. Nan Talan. ~To the platforms. ~"

His command was instantly followed. Two lines of Elves clad in gray cloaks formed with bows strapped to our backs and sword sheathed at our sides. I lifted my hood over my head and took my place at the front alongside Haldir. However, this position was not to be maintained. "To the back, Nia," he said with a knowing smile.

He knew I detested the back. Being behind the rest meant reaching the destination last, unable to experience each new sensation for myself because I would witness the reactions all else first. If an enemy were near, I would be the final person to release a shot, or possibly unable to contribute at all. There was no adventure in this position, no one to trust in the decisions I made as I led them forward.

Though I loathed the command, I respected my leader enough to do as he said without complaint. Well, any audible complaint, that was.

I crossed my arms and, with a most unladylike grunt, marched towards the end of the line. My eyes expressed my revulsion despite my mouth rejecting the words from spilling out. Snickers filtered into my ears as I passed by, though faces remained as still as stone. Since I could not locate any culprits, I continued by as though hearing nothing.

We departed towards our Talan the moment I aligned myself at the end. Darkness escorted us as we marched, quickly blanketing us in a fog I deemed discomforting. We were not particularly allies in this world, and I wanted to be rid of it as soon as possible. Once we arrived, though, I would be the last to ascend. Yet another disadvantage of being placed in the back.

My thoughts turned only to light the longer we remained without it. Through landmarks, I counted down the steps to when I could shut out the night and allow my mind to take control. I only hoped it would not fill with these dark shadows once we arrived.