Lord of the Rings: The Rosalian Warrior

Authors note:
Okay, this is completely rewritten chapter of 'The Rosalian Warrior' For
those who are still reading I thank you. I've (hopefully) erased all
the other chapters and the note to put this up. I'm sorry to those who
liked the older version, but if this is more to your liking YAY! So
anyways, I just wanted to say that there are quite a few changes that
were made in this story after I sat down and really thought of her
story. Also, with reading the first Lord of the Rings book I found that
there was a LOT of time that skips throughout the entire story and
realized I could use that to my advantage! Also! NO BLONDE BOROMIR! :3
I'm
going to be trying to not follow all the stereotypes of characters that
I have seen while reading fanfiction. For one Boromir defiantly isn't a
sex-crazed maniac, nor is he a COMPLETE pompous idiot. Also, no more
Legolas bashing. I actually LIKE him in the book so far, also he didn't
really come off as the sort of person that was some sort of big ladies
man. He seemed far more interested in tree's and Gimli then the opposite
sex. Aragorn (I realized I had wrote Aragon more then once. I feel like
a doofus) will be a bit moody, cuz he is in the book. And our favorite
(my favorite) Gimli will be just as he is in both the book and movie!
No
prologue either. Arathaiens official backstory will be written bit by
bit throughout the story. She's also changed in appearance a bit.
That was a lonnnggg note….okay BACK TO THE REAL STORY! I don't own any other character except Arathaien and Derin.
Chapter one
She
stood situated on top of one of the many orcs that had hindered her
journey, her dark red wavy hair having tumbled out of its barrettes and
shone almost carroty in the morning sun. Her round dark onyx eyes kept a
mischievous gleam within them even after battle and they slowly shifted
as three voices sprang out from the forests depths. She knew the voices
well and she awaited for the arrival of the three dwarves Gloin, Gimli,
and Derin. They were her guardians since birth, and she lionized them
since the day she could remember.
Gloin was a brutal combatant,
having long ago traveled to the Lonely Mountain with the twelve
companions and helped slay the creature Smaug. Though, being a fierce
warrior did not make him unkind of cruel. In fact, he would spend many
nights with the young girl telling her stories of the outside world she
had never seen. The Gloin was her companion, but also in many ways her
father. And as a playmate the cheeky girl preformed her mischievous acts
upon him. Often the young red-head, in her earlier years, would take
the dwarf lords' shining trinkets and hide them within the confines of
the mountainside watching till his face would turn blue with rage and
confusion till he found his precious items.
Gimli was much like
his father Gloin in personality and likeness. Though he was not as grey
as his father he often acted like the old dwarf. He was the brother the
pale-skinned fighter had never had and she found his company much more
appealing when Gloin was angry with her. The younger dwarf was her
teacher in the arts of combat, and his blunt way of fighting had seemed
to rub off on her.
Last of all there was Derin, the youngest of
the three dwarves. He was the womans' first true friend outside of Gloin
and Gimli. Derin was a terribly shy dwarf and did not like to speak
much, and perhaps that was the reason they became quick friends. He had
been training under Gimli longer then the girl had but was clumsier with
his attacks so in a few ways the young woman excelled ahead in the ways
of fighting then dwarf warrior. He was considering on becoming a
blacksmith, and the claymore the young woman carried proved his fine
craftsmanship.
"Arathaien!" the raspy voice vibrated from deep
within the throat of Gloin. The maiden turned and felt her smile broaden
as the other two dwarves caught up with him, "What do you think you are
doin' here?" he asked. His face was sweaty, dirt clung to the tanned
sagging skin of the dwarf lord as his dark eyes glared at the young
woman before him. Arathain turned herself completely toward the trio and
gracefully hopped down off the chest of the orc with a satisfying
'plop'. A pale hand shifted wavy locks over her right shoulders as she
approached them in a cool manner,
"Come now Gloin, we both know
after so many years that ya should never ask why I be thinkin'," she
chided. "But, dearest friend, I will tell you why I am here if you'd
like to know," she pursed her pale lips as her coal eyes traveled down
over the heads of the three dwarves. She was much taller then all of
them, standing at a height of 5'7. She came to the conclusion at an
early age that she was but simply an overgrown mutated dwarf maiden.
Excluding the beard of course.
"Well then?" Gimli inquired keeping a plump red hand over his axe's handle.
"I
am worried for Balin just as you all are," she stated curtly, her
expression becoming serious, "I also wish to come to the council you
seek with this Elrond of Rivendell. Also," the cheeky smile began to
return, "Have I ever been known to give up a chance for an adventure?"
she asked and Gloin sighed deeply running his fingers through his grey
braided beard. He seemed exhausted. The years were wearing him down and
this journey to Rivendell had been a long one, Gloin was quite impressed
with his young gal for making it this far.
"Son, we cannot send her back alone can we?" He asked.
"No,
I dare say we can't." Grumbled Gimli slapping the front of the girls
thigh with the back of his left hand, "You ridiculous girl! I told ya
before I left I'd tell you about the journey when I came back!"
"I
don't mean to sound childish but that just isn't enough any more
Gimli!" She spoke in her deep voice, "I want to see the great valleys
and the dangerous forests, not just hear about them! No one ever
accomplish anything by staying with their nanny helping clean the house
and cooking the food!" Gloin eyed her, "Okay, they didn't accomplish
anything important!" Gimli glared, "Dear, you men just can't be sated
this morning can you. Fine! No one ever accomplished anything LIFE
CHANGING from cooking a cleaning. You can't just believe after fifteen
years of training me Gimli that I wouldn't use it."
"Of course
not! I only thought you'd use it to protect our home! I never expected
you'd want to actually put your…" Gimli looked at the five orcs that now
laid dead on the forest floor, "talents to the test on the outside
world-"
"Gimli!" snapped Gloin, "We cannot continue arguing here,
we still have many miles to tread before we reach Rivendell. The path is
too long and treacherous to allow Arathaien to travel back alone, of
course with her cunning brain she'd simply wait till we were far enough
away to round about and start following us again." He turned his umber
eyes to Arathaien who stood silently listening to him, "You will come
with us to Rivendell, but the moment I can find someone to take you back
to Erebor you will be sent straight there. No complaining either!" He
barked as he turned on his heels, Gimli followed quickly after his
father sending the red haired maiden a smirk and a wave before they
disappeared into the forest, leaving just Derin and Arathaien to
themselves.
"Tis nice to see ya Derin."
"Likewise Lady Arathaien."
The
rest of the trip to Rivendell seemed to go off without any sort of
hitch, and much of the chatter one could hear from the group came from
Gimli and Arathaien. Gloin very likely was ready to slice his ears off
from his children's' incessant talking when the large plateau seemed to
open and below they could see Rivendell in all its shining glory. It was
not too far away and Gloin was nearly giddy at the thought of being
able to rest his aching feet for just a moment and take a break from the
chatter of his son and daughter. As they made their way down the
mountainside they were met by two elves, both standing tall and proud
before the three exhausted elves and the curious human that stood at
their side.
"What business do you have in Rivendell," the one to the right spoke as his gaze seemed to slide over the group analyzing them.
"I
come to speak with Elrond, I wish to seek council with him. I am Gloin
son of Groin, this is my son Gimli," the red bearded dwarf nodded to the
elves but kept a distinctive scowl across his hard features, "our
companion Derin" the younger dwarf seemed unable to move under the
watchful eye of the two elves, "And…my daughter Arathaien." The dwarf
lord was never quite sure how to introduce the young woman, and many
times (just like this one) faltered and looked to her for her approval.
Arathaien would never be ashamed though for being called the daughter of
Gloin, in fact it flattered her to no end. The two elves thin eyebrows
shot up their brows at this and they looked the girl over,
"I'm a
bit tall for my age, forgive me." Arathaien spoke innocently, feeling an
elbow jab into her hip. She glanced down a Gimli who was not looking at
her, but was obviously trying to repress laughter. Neither of the elves
found her joke amusing, after a few more minutes of convincing the duo
that they were who they said they were the group was led down to
Rivendell, specifically to the house of Elrond. Arathaien had never
heard of Elrond before, none of Gloin's stories included many elves, and
those two elves were the first beings she had ever seen besides orcs
and dwarves.
The features of the elves seemed so perfect, almost
as if created by an artists brush and they spoke in an almost lyrical
way. They were most definitely beautiful to look at and Arathaien
couldn't help but continue to gaze at the lithe frames as they entered
through a wide archway. Were they male? Or were these creatures female?
By their faces Arathaien would no be able to tell but with their broad
shoulders and flat chests the young warrior could only assume they were
male.
"Welcome to the House of Elrond," one of the elves spoke
motioning them inside the quarters of the large building. Arathaiens
coal gaze continued its frenzy about the beautiful architecture,
particularly the patterns that were enlaid into the borders of the
walls. "Sir, if you would follow us we shall guide you to Elrond," Gloin
grumbled in distaste wishing for a moments rest but quickly latched his
hand to his sons arm, who in turn grabbed Derin. Who, if he was paying
any attention to what was going on would've grabbed the crimson haired
maiden but he was too busy being dragged away with his companions to do
so. So without any knowledge of their departure Arathaien continued to
walk along the hallways.
It was a curse really, Arathaien became
too enthralled and absorbed into her own thoughts. She often forgot was
going on around her, which would often lead to her injury in training
with Gimli. Chewing on the inside of her cheek she let a pale hand skim
over the slick stone,
'I've never seen something so…' she really
couldn't think of a good word. The interior of the building just seemed
to flow like ripples of water when one would drop a stone. All the
colors were light and neutral, much unlike the small dark homes of the
dwarves and Arathaien could not decide which one she liked better. Her
claymore clinked against her back in its sheath as she continued to walk
down the great hallway, her leather boots tapping gently on the marbles
floor. "Gimli, what-" She turned and her mouth pressed into a thin line
realizing she was alone. "Curses." She felt her stomach sink as she
attempted to retrace her steps back to where her company had been but
every turn she took it seemed she got farther and more tangled into the
mess off halls and doorways. A string of dwarvish curses danced threw
pale pink lips, she needed to put a bell around all of their necks just
to keep up with them! The young woman would never admit this, but she
had gotten a bit lost the first few days she had followed behind the
group for the very reason she had lost them now!
Biting back a
groan after another few steps she stopped where she was and looked out
one of the many opening in the wall that acted as a window, and looked
out to the other side of the home. She walked up to it and leaned her
forearms onto the flat edge of the arch and leaned out feeling a cool
breeze pass threw. She thought back to that moment when she had left her
nanny, the fear she had felt. The excitement. For the past twenty eight
years Arathaien had dreamed of the time when she would leave the safety
of Erebor and venture off on her own, to have her own real adventures
outside the watchful eye of Gloin and Gimli. Maybe even, to find out
what and who she truly was. The only details she was ever given about
before she was given to the dwarves was that her mother was named Poppy
and she lived in a village close to Gondor.
Arathaien had
anticipated going to the land of Men and meeting others like herself,
other humans. Did they all have red hair like her? Did they all stand
tall or were some short, Arathaien wasn't sure. But her real goal was to
find her mother, if she was still alive.
A cough took Arathaien
from her thoughts and she flinched a bit feeling her back go stiff. Her
face turned to the cough to see a lanky male standing a few inches
taller then herself staring at her. A bit rattled she gave a nervous
laugh,
"Sorry, I did not realize I you were there," she remarked
as she stood back up to her full height, "I got lost, clumsy me, and I
was wondering if you could help me find my way to my friends. They are
speaking with Elrond." She was polite and courteous, if her nanny could
hear her now she might faint. She held back a grin as the man nodded,
"Yes
I can, I as well am seeking Elrond. But I believe I know where he is…"
he spoke almost in a whispery way and Arathaien strained her ears to
hear him, "Come with me," he motioned with a large hand to follow him
and the pale woman obeyed. His hands didn't seem to fit his tall frame
at all, they were so much larger, with long muscular fingers that looked
rough to touch. The males face wasn't…unattractive to say the least. He
was pale, but unlike the peachy tint Arathaiens' had his looked almost a
bit sickly. The female warrior could only come to the conclusion he was
not eating correctly for his strong jaw law and broad back and chest
proved him to be a fighter. He had wavy black hair cut just about his
shoulders, and it seemed to be sticking together with mud and oil to
look like a tangled mess in the back. He wore a large black cloak and
black leather riding boots, he seemed almost like a living shadow.
Except…shadows didn't smell like they had not bathed in weeks.
Of
course, Arathaien really couldn't say she smelled like a bucket of
daisies. She too had been traveling long, and perhaps she had just
gotten use to the smell. She could feel the oil that clung to her own
face and the dirt that stained her arms and neck. Her hair was at the
ends and she knew she would need to cut it, it was far to clumped to
comb and wash thoroughly. Her lips pressed together as she leaned her
face down to her shoulder and sniffed, she grimaced. 'WHAT IN THE WORLD
HAVE I BEEN ROLLING-'
"Milady, I do not believe I caught your
name." The male ahead of her inquired, tilting his head back almost
catching her in the act of smelling her stink.
"Oh, I am Arathaien daughter of Gloin."
"You do not look like a dwarf to me." He mused as he slowed down a bit to walk beside her.
"Well
lad," the man laughed at this, "I'm just special I suppose." She waved
her hand dismissively trying to find a different subject to talk about
with his male.
"I am most certainly not a 'lad'." The dark-haired
shadow spoke with a bemused smile across his face, now that Arathaien
got a better look at him he looked much older then she. He had wrinkles
around the edge of his eyes and the dark misty orbs that looked down at
her seemed to have seen much more then she had in her years. Well, most
ten year old had seen more of the world then she had. His dark hair did
have hints of grey in the roots. Arathaien smiled back at him,
"Well you have not told me your name sir," She said poking him in the arm like she'd do with Gimli,
"Aragorn. Some call me Strider."
"Hn, I myself like the sound of Aragorn much better then…what did you say? 'Strider?'." She mused, really without thinking.
"I do too."
After
a few more minutes of conversing they finally reached wooden double
doors that were closed tight. Arathaien look at the doors in a curious
manner before glancing up at Aragorn to realize this was where Gloin,
Gimli, and Derin were. She went to thank him when the door burst open
and three grumpy looking, okay two…Derin looked terrified as always,
dwarfs came threw the doorway and stopped in front of Arathaien and her
new companion.
"We cannot wait! Why does he make us wait?" Gimli
complained only just realizing the crimson haired warrior was before
him, "Ah! Lass! We've been wonderin' where you've been off to! Made a
new friend I see!" Gimli smiled and looked up at Aragon with a studying
eye,
"You are as observant as ever friend," she smirked, "This is
Aragorn, he escorted me here. By the way, thank you so much for leavin'
me!" she growled and glared at her friend Derin who raised his hands up
to defend himself.
"They took me by surprise! I couldn't think!"
Derin whimpered and Arathaien sighed dramatically, a hint of a smile
still on her lips.
"Oh well, no harm done I suppose." She glanced
to Aragorn again and nodded her head to him, "Thank you Aragorn, I am
forever in your debt for leading me out of this labyrinth."
"Pleasure
was all mine." Aragorn returned the nod before entering the chambers
where Elrond resided, shutting the doors quietly behind him. Arathaien
sighed and looked to her three companions to see they were all looking
at her.
"What?" she asked, her brow furrowing.
"'I am
forever in your debt,'" Gimli mocked Arathaien in a high pitched voice,
obviously but horribly trying to imitate the young womans voice.
"'The
pleasure is all my'" Gloin grasped his sons hands and lifted his leg
and sighed dreamily and Arathaien rolled her onyx eyes at their attempt
to embarrass her. "Now all the times I've tried to introduce you to a
nice dwarf boy you act so cold, but suddenly some man comes riddin' to
your rescue and you welcome him with open arms? Now I don't see the
fairness in that!" Gloin pouted a bit and the crimson haired warrior
laughed,
"I did not welcome him with open arms! Nor was I flirting
as you two seem to believe. I was trying to be polite!" she remarked
the last statement and Gimli let a burst of air escape his lips,
"Sure
you were lass," he grumbled. Arathaien was about to argue further when
she realized this was the most trivial thing to be discussing right that
instant.
"So, how was the meeting with Elrond?" She asked Gloin whose frown deepened at being reminded,
"It
did not happen. He told us we must wait for the others…what others is
he waiting for?" He asked rhetorically, "Elrond offered us rooms to stay
in till the rest of this so call company arrives. We may be here for
longer then expected…" Arathaien inwardly rejoiced at this. "Arathaien, I
meant 'we' as in myself, Gimli, and Derin. Not you. In a few days YOU
will be going back to Erebor." Arathaien protested, "I said no
complaining didn't I? You've had your fun, but I will expect to see you
ready to leave in a few days is that understood lass?" Arathaien wanted
to hang her head in defeat but she kept her chin high and sighed.
"Lass…"
"Yes Gloin." She grumbled.