"To fight evil; you must first understand the dark."
From the blood of Dragons, a child shall rise,
Born of fire and fear, her fate sealed with lies.
For she is the chosen, the one who will bring
A reign of darkness, a world with its dark king.
...
Now at daybreak, the Company of Thorin Oakensheild had resumed their journey out of Rivendell. They followed a long path through the Hidden Passage to not be detected by the Elven guard.
"Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the wild. Balin, you know these paths, lead on." Thorin instructed the Company as he led the way, before stepping to the side to let Balin take over, watching to make sure all of the company came through. "Master Baggins, I suggest you keep up."
Bilbo had stopped in his tracks to look back at Rivendell with longing before reluctantly pulling his gaze away to rejoin the trail.
Anaynah however, was not so easily persuaded.
She stood at the entrance of the Hidden exit, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that once she passed through this threshold, there would be no turning back. She would be committed to the journey, no matter how long, how arduous, or how dangerous.
She took one final look back at Rivendell, her eyes scanning every inch of the Valley below. The sun was beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the landscape. The waterfalls sparkled in the early morning light, and the trees rustled gently in the breeze. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. But it was also the most painful. For as much as she once loved Rivendell, she knew that she could not stay. Her destiny lay elsewhere, on the road ahead. She had to leave her home, her family, and everything she had ever known, once more. At least this time she said her goodbyes.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
As she gazed out over the Valley, she felt a deep sense of loss wash over her. It was as if a part of her was dying, left behind in a place that meant so much to her. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. No more tears from her. She could not afford to falter as before.
"Anaynah?" Her head turned to see the leader of the company beside her, gazing intently into her soul. Thorin could feel the pain radiating through her, understanding her sorrows more than one knew. "Do not despair. You will return." His voice was stern but still relaxed as to be understanding of her sorrows.
The Ranger nodded with grief, her eyes once again falling to the place she once called home.
With a deep breath, she turned away from Rivendell and stepped through the hidden exit, and she was plunged into darkness. But she did not falter. She kept walking, one foot in front of the other, until she emerged into the bright light of day on the other side.
And so they set out, the Company of Adventurers, on the road to destiny. Anaynah did not look back again, for she knew that her true home lay not in Rivendell, but in the hearts of those who loved her and believed in her. And that was enough to keep her going, even in the darkest of times. Anaynah had a duty to fulfil, a destiny to embrace. And now, she had finally come to accept it.
______
The Company trudged through the Wilderness of Eriador, their footsteps echoing through the silent landscape. In the distance, the Misty Mountains rose like a dream, their snow-capped peaks a vision of ethereal beauty. Over ranges, rivers, and waterfalls they passed, their movements slow and deliberate, as if they were part of the landscape itself.
