Into the West (A Lord of the Rings Fan Fic)

Chapter One

Everyone and everything in this belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, apart from Amaruil and her family who belong to me.

I will include a translation for the little bits of Elvish I put in at the end of each part (they speak Elvish throughout but I wrote it in the Common Tongue so that you understand it; I only use Elvish when I want to make an impression!)

I tend to use Sindarin in this (because of various reasons I think they would speak it more often) - when it is Quenya I usually make a note of it in the translation at the end.

All that's left to say is that I hope you enjoy my new story :)

"We must hurry Arwen," Amaruil said as she looked out over the forests which stretched on below them.

"We need not hurry at all Amaruil; you know that as well as I," Arwen replied with a small smile.

"But your father expects us," Amaruil said, both slightly terrified by and in awe of Arwen's father Lord Elrond. "Not to mention how long it will take us to reach the pass through Caradhras..." Amaruil trailed off, sensitive of the flicker of pain Arwen's face betrayed.

"Do not worry about me Amaruil," she murmured, "it is years since my mother left for the Undying Lands, and my time here with the Lady Galadriel and Celeborn has healed me. All I feel now is hope that I may see her before too long when we too take our leave. There is nothing that ties me to Ennorath save my remaining family in Imladris and you, and I know my brothers will follow us when we leave."

"Do not be so melancholy Arwen; there is much here for you yet," Amaruil said. "You speak as if our time here is coming to an end, and yet there is much to do and to see, many people to meet. I vow only to take the ship to the Undying Lands when all I have here is gone," she continued passionately.

"But you will come with me, will you not; for I could not bear to leave you behind here, even if I knew for certain that you would follow me. Promise that you will sail to Valinor with me please?" Arwen asked, her wide eyes turned to Amaruil pleadingly.

"I promise," Amaruil pledged. "But you must sail with me too, no matter what you may find here to hold your interest in the future," she teased.

"Of course Amaruil; I would follow you to the end of the world."

"Well Valinor is not quite that far away," Amaruil grinned as she held her hand out to Arwen and pulled her off the bed. "But I too will follow you over the seas."

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Amaruil breathed a sigh of relief as they entered the foothills of the mountains, barely able to contain her delight and relief at making it through the pass unharmed. However much she loved visiting Caras Galadhon, Imladris was her home and she was looking forward to seeing her family again. To her, even though the trees and plants seemed more beautiful in Lothlórien, most likely because of Galadriel's power, the plants this side of the mountains spoke of home, whispering it into her ear as she stood and admired the view.

As they left the pass and its steep slopes behind them Amaruil saw the small group of elves sent by Elrond to meet them, a number of which bore extra horses for the returning elves to ride; Amaruil rejoiced at the prospect of riding her dear Ninquelote again and an enormous and unchecked smile split her face.

"Le hannon," she smiled as she took Ninquelote's reins from the silver-haired elf who held them and leapt onto her back, her horse's whinny mirroring the delight which she felt as well. Much as she would have liked to gallop away she was constrained by the stately pace Arwen was forced to assume as their procession crossed the rolling hills and rivers. Despite her frustration at riding so slowly Amaruil relished being on the back of her beloved horse and settled down to enjoy the feeling of the sun warming her face and the breeze tugging playfully on her hair.

After a few days of travel they reached Imladris one evening; one of the first things alerting them to how near it was were the intermittent strains of haunting song, as if the very trees themselves were singing. Amaruil found herself subconsciously humming along with them as the power of the elves seeped into her blood and bones and wound its way around her heart.

She took her leave of Arwen as soon as they had dismounted, knowing well that her friend would have business with Elrond and that she ought to visit her family as soon as possible. Picking her way through the trees and towards her house she smiled, pausing for a moment under the intertwining white and lilac flowers which spread their sweet perfume on the air before pushing the door open. "Nana? Ada? Man sad ci?" she called, her voice echoing throughout the house before three elves appeared in front of her.

"Amaruil?" her mother said, her melodic voice ringing with happiness as she saw her eldest daughter standing before her. "I did not think you returned so soon, iellig."

"Arwen's father desired her return but I think we will leave again soon."

"Not too soon I hope," her father said, stepping forwards and embracing her. "I have missed you my daughter," he murmured.

"And I you," she replied, her words lost and muffled by his shoulder. "All of you," she said as her mother glided forward and embraced her, her long black hair rippling against her robes as she moved, contrasting with her pale skin like the night's sky against the moon. Her mother placed her palms on either side of Amaruil's face, her deep brown eyes, identical to those of Amaruil, glistening with tears.

Eventually she moved past her mother to the third elf, an exact copy of Amaruil who wore a sad smile as she wrapped her arms around her elder sister. "I have missed you Merenwen," she whispered as they embraced.

"I missed you too Amaruil," she smiled. "You have been gone a while, even for us Eldar."

"I know but I am returned again now."

"Come daughter, let us eat," her father interrupted, "you must be famished by your journey."

"Yes, all we had to eat was lembas," Amaruil replied with a little smile.

"Ah, as delicious as that may be it is no substitute for a proper meal," he smirked, draping his arm around her shoulder and ushering her into the hall.

As they ate they chattered and exchanged news, their tinkling laughs ringing through the air like the sound of distant bells and, before too long, Amaruil forgot that she had ever left.

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Ennorath - the Elvish name for Middle-Earth
Le hannon - thank you
Nana - Mummy
Ada - Daddy
Mad sad ci - where are you
iellig - my daughter