Title & Chapter Number: Destiny’s Moment 1/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I am writing fan fiction solely for my own enjoyment and do not claim any copyright or ownership nor do I have intent to make financial gain from Tolkien's wonderful world. Jadriel is my character conceived from my mind. Embrelle is a character who was from the mind of my good friend, Milena, who graciously allowed me to continue the story when she decided not to help with the writing.
Warnings: Het Romance, some violence, rape (only minimally described)
Betas: Dorothy…'The Great'
Cast: Haldir/OFC, Legolas/OFC, Rúmil, Orophin, Galadriel, Celeborn, The Fellowship, other OCs
Timeline: TA around the time of the Fellowship
Spoilers: None
Summary: Sometimes a choice of a single moment can change a life forever resulting in: A new lifestyle; A new friend to be made; A new mission acquired; A new beginning for old friends; A new risk; A new goal achieved; A new future obtained or lost. Feeling saddened by her mother's death and abandoned by her father, Jadriel makes a heart wrenching decision. For Jadriel this moment of destiny comes when she chooses to give up her elven heritage and leave Lórien. She begins a new life as a human and lives as a ranger. She makes a new friend, Embrelle. The first part has not been written yet. It tells the story of Jadriel meeting her new friend, Embrelle and their growing friendship. It tells of their deeds and adventures. It tells of their history. It tells how Jadriel came to feel so compelled to help the Fellowship. It tells how their adventures and how fate intertwined their paths for a brief period with the Fellowship. The present story picks up where Jadriel feels compelled to return to Lórien and is faced with her past in an effort to help the Fellowship.
Notes: Alternate titles I liked: "Jadriel's Choice', and my personal favorite "How to Loose a Marchwarden in 10 Millennia". Dedication: To Dorothy, my beta, who has worked hard to help me correct my many grammatical and spelling flaws and have given me encouragement to keep writing. My deepest heart felt thanks for all her enthusiasm and hard work.
Part I: Unexpected Reunion
A chill filled the morning air as Jadriel mounted Celestar. The northern wind blowing off the Misty Mountains gave a bite to the start of the day. "Noro lim! Celestar, noro lim! Ariel, circling above, brought word to Jadriel that the Fellowship had entered Moria. Jadriel raised her arm as a perch for her tired falcon. "Thank you my friend. We must hurry. If the Fellowship makes it through Moria, they will exit by the eastern gate to seek sanctuary in Lothlórien. We must reach the Golden Wood first and attempt to secure their passage. The woods have been more heavily guarded since the increase in Orc attacks. Go now. Fly ahead and keep watch." Jadriel spoke to Ariel while giving her some of her favorite treat, bits of dried rabbit from a belt pouch. Ariel flew off screeching in anticipation of the long journey. "Noro lim, Celestar, we must keep up with Ariel." The beautiful white Mearas whinnied acknowledgment and picked up the pace.
Celestar galloped around the southern reaches of the Misty Mountains through the Gap of Rohan as if the very fires of Glaurung were chasing behind her. Ariel soared above, occasionally circling to warn Jadriel of a nearby traveler. This time of the day, Orcs were less likely to be out, but Jadriel could suffer no delay. It would be difficult enough to beat the Fellowship around the Misty Mountains to the forests of Lothlórien.
Two days they traveled at this pace. On the evening of the second day, they rested beside a creek near the southeastern border of Fangorn Forest. This defined the very northern reaches of the Riddermark. Jadriel, or Raven as she was known in the world of Man, feared not the Mark as she had been a friend of the Rohirrim many years and had befriended many of the people of Rohan. Raven was known as a ranger of the north who traveled widely and often offered assistance to members of the Rohirrim in times of need. Jadriel was befriended by Embrelle, a ward of Théoden King. His house had cared for Embrelle as a child after her father, one of Théoden’s marshals, was killed in battle. Embrelle’s mother, a Maiar, died when Embrelle was born. She had been raised by her father until his death. Because of her Maiar heritage, Embrelle always had an uncanny ability to sense danger. Jadriel could use her friend’s insight now but time restraints prevented the journey to Edoras to pick up Embrelle. Jadriel surveyed the land. "No reason to fear the Rohirrim," she muttered introspectively to herself. "The Orcs skirting the southern reaches of Fangorn were another matter, however." No fire could be lit this night as Ariel had spotted an Orc party just east moving generally in Jadriel’s direction. Silently, Jadriel hunkered behind a boulder. In the distance, she could hear Ariel’s plaintive cries. Jadriel smiled. She knew Ariel was leading them away from the direction of travel. The falcon’s cries became more and more distant, until at last, silence. Jadriel knew it was now safe to sleep. Soundlessly, Ariel made a great sweeping circle back towards her friends. Coming to rest high atop a tree, she perched quietly, ever watchful over her friends below.
~*~*~*~
In her sleep chamber situated in a far corner off the great Hall of Meduseld, Embrelle tossed restlessly in her bed. This was the most vivid and violent night of dreams. For the seventh night, her sleep was haunted: a great chamber of darkness…a creature of fire and blackness…the whip of flame and Gandalf falling into nothingness. Embrelle always woke the same – drenched and screaming, "Gandalf! Gandalf!", but to no avail. She could never save him in these visions. But where was this great chamber of darkness? And what can I do to warn him? This night when she awoke she could stand it no longer. She decided she must do something to warn her long time mentor and godfather. Gandalf had secretly taken her under his wing and saw fit to teach her of her Maiar heritage. He had become a trusted friend. Embrelle could often sense him from afar in the back of her mind if she would close her eyes and focus. This usually served as a source of comfort in the years since her father’s passing. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Yes, in the distance I can feel his being. Her fiery spirit finally aroused. Embrelle donned her armor and sword. She sneaked out of the castle to the stables before dawn’s first light. As silently as possible she mounted Elmir, her great black steed and set off to the north, the direction that she could most strongly feel Gandalf’s presence. She passed to the east of Fangorn Forest. By mid morning, she had nearly cleared Fangorn and began to pick up the mountain range to the west. The grandeur of the Misty Mountains was breathtaking with the sun reflecting off the snowcaps from the east. I can suffer no loss of time to marvel at this spectacle of nature. I must hurry to reach Gandalf in time. To this Embrelle urged her great steed forward. With skill so honed, both rider and horse appeared to move as one. Embrelle knew she had left the reaches of Rohan behind and was alone, now. She knew her road was fraught with danger. However, she was determined to succeed in her task and galloped swiftly onward, undeterred by the prospect of her own personal danger.
~*~*~*~
At the first light of morning, Jadriel started out by turning northward at the eastern border of Fangorn hoping to intercept the Fellowship between the Misty Mountains and Lórien. Several hours into their northward journey, Ariel gave a warning cry, alerting Jadriel that someone was ahead. The warning cries of the great bird were soon cries of excitement as she flew back toward her companion. Jadriel held out her arm for the falcon to lite upon. "What is it my friend? Who do you recognize?"
Ariel screeched a familiar call. Jadriel’s face brightened. "Embrelle!" What reason would she have for traveling alone so far north? "Hurry Celestar! We must make our way to her. Ariel fly ahead and inform Embrelle we are behind."
Ariel circled to attract Embrelle. "Ariel! How can it be that you are here?" Embrelle called to the circling falcon. Ariel swooped low over Embrelle in recognition then turned and flew toward Jadriel. Embrelle turned in the direction of Ariel’s flight and stared hard across the plains, finally spying Jadriel. Embrelle galloped toward her trusted friend, relief filling her heart. Jadriel’s companionship and assistance would be welcome on her journey to seek Gandalf.
"Raven my friend! It brings joy to my heart to see you, for I have had little else reason to rejoice of late." Embrelle said as he approached Jadriel.
"Embrelle, what brings you to this desolation alone?" Jadriel queried.
"Raven, I fear for Gandalf. For the past week, I have been having a dream, or perhaps it was a vision, of his doom!"
"Of what doom did you foresee for Mithrandir?" Concern lacing the words Jadriel spoke to Embrelle.
"There was a beast of fire and darkness, the like I have never seen or known in this land. There was a terrible battle in darkness. . .horrible cry and a fall. I fear these events may soon come to pass for my dream grows more violent each night!"
"I have seen Mithrandir not long ago. He was traveling with a group of eight others. Their task I dare not utter aloud. I have received word they entered the western gates of Moria. I had hoped to intercept them on the eastern gate. The mines are treacherous these days. They are likely to seek sanctuary in Lórien if they are able to escape Moria. I plan to assist their gaining entry to Lórien in any way I am able. Onward! We must fly. They are likely to be nearing the completion of their passage through by now," Jadriel informed Embrelle. No, Mithrandir, my long time friend, you must be ok. You cannot have awakened the wrath of a Balrog of Morgoth! Jadriel closed her eyes and silently asked the Valar for help and guidance in these matters. She said nothing of the balrog to Embrelle, but pressed onward more hurriedly than ever.
The white Mearas and the great black steed galloped ever northward. Celestar had to slow her pace to match that of Elmir. But Elmir was a strong and swift horse of the Riddermark, and they continued to make good time over the plains. As they approached the eastern gate of Moria, Embrelle once again focused for the presence of her mentor. Nothing could be sensed. "I feel him no more. I fear he is no longer walks with us," Embrelle lamented to her friend.
"Hurry, we must make for Lórien," Jadriel indicated by pointing the direction of the Golden Wood. "We will look for signs of their passage as we travel. We must leave the horses, as the intervening marshes are no place for them. Celestar can lead him home." With this Jadriel dismounted her Mearas. There was no reign, saddle or blanket to remove. As was her habit, Jadriel rode Celestar barebacked. "You must remove his tack as Elmir will be alone for his journey home and can risk no strap to ensnare his movement." With these words from Jadriel, Embrelle removed her steed’s saddle and bridle to set him free for his travels homeward. Jadriel’s hand caressed Celestar’s muzzle, "Good-bye my friend, lead Elmir swiftly and safely home." To these words, Celestar nuzzled Jadriel, reared up, gave a great thunderous neigh and galloped off southward to Rohan with Elmir following close behind. The two traveling companions watched as their horses disappeared from sight then turned their attentions toward Lothlórien.
Jadriel surveyed the ground, the brush, and the waterways for signs of recent travel. Embrelle scouted the outer reaches of the best passage for footprints. Only the forsaken footsteps of Orcs could be found. No hobbit, dwarf or human signs could be located. Jadriel was sure they would come this way. Lórien was the only safe haven from Orcs as night approached. Still no signs of the Fellowship, but now the golden trees of Lórien loomed in the distance. Jadriel stopped and pulled two gray cloaks from her riding satchel. She turned to Embrelle. "Place this on; it will afford you cover. We must use stealth as we near the Wood, for the Guardians of Lórien are wary of all who enter." Embrelle marveled at the magical cloaks for as soon as Jadriel place hers on, she seemed to nearly vanish into the landscape. "Stay close for you will lose sight of me if you are not used to seeing someone thusly cloaked," Jadriel instructed, motioning for Embrelle to stay by her side. They were fast approaching the northwestern fences of Lórien. Jadriel wanted to enter undetected if possible. "There is no sign yet of the fellowship, Embrelle."
"We are either ahead of them or they have chosen another path," Embrelle reflected out loud in worried frustration.
Just then the two companions heard a distant screech from Ariel. Both turned to stare in the general direction. Embrelle saw nothing. But Jadriel seemed fixed on some very distant objective. Long minutes she seemed to study the horizon, until finally she announced, "Indeed, they are behind and traveling this way. Quietly now, we must enter the Woods and await them. Follow in my steps." As they approached the tree line, Embrelle matched Jadriel’s movement step for step. As none of the wardens approached, Jadriel felt they were successful in entering undetected. They crouched undercover and awaited the approaching Fellowship’s arrival.
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