Return To Middle Earth

Leaves in the Wind

Glorfindel rested peacefully, lulled into a steady sleep by the tales of his people. He had rivers of tears slipping through his closed eyes as he remembered his friends. All fifteen of the elves to fight the Shadows. The light of the lands of Mordor were blood red and black glows. Heat surrounded them as they continued to march into the Shadow's trap. Glorfindel drew his blade, the sound seemed to be a scream in the silence. The others had their weapons, trembling in fear as the shadows moved, whispering terrible things to them. Things of past, present, and future.
"The world will be consumed. Evil will arise. Heroes will fall. Death awaits you. Fire and betrayal will be your downfall, Hopebringer." The shadows hissed.
The attack was brutal. The shadowed warriors fought from all sides, slashing and biting and grabbing at the elves. The weapons of light destroyed many shadows yet the elves were greatly outnumbered. A breeze of cool air, carrying a leaf and the scent of a golden rose swirled around them. Glorfindel found strength within he knew not he possessed. All of them fought until they made it to the Shadow King himself.
"You will perish as your gods have forsaken you." The king taunted. Glorfindel charged, his sword cutting through the armor of the evil being. The fight was long, the wounds continued to grow. Glorfindel found himself driving the king to his knees, the shadow's foot connected to his own. He drove the blade through the Shadow's heart, pronouncing a curse on all shadows. They would forever be joined to objects and to follow all things for all of time. When the light faded, no shadow had a body or even a form until they became the shadows we know. Evil was defeated but the Warrior collapsed from his wounds. It is said that Manwë and Mandos led the sixteen (16) to a safe place. There was a cloaked woman who had many grown foods laid out for them. The Warrior was unconscious for many days, the Lady healing him until the fifth day.
"I honor you, Warrior. The flowers you rest upon will bloom in remembrance of your sacrifice. The rose will bloom only on a summer exactly like this one till time ceases." The Lady disappeared, leaving behind a Mid Summer Rose, now as golden as the Warrior's hair with the blood of his sacrifice creating beautiful patterns. Shadow Banisher recovered and sailed with the sixteen and the first generation to be born.