Love trillogy 1:the magic lingers

Author's Notes:
Disclaimer/Author's Notes: I own nothing but the Original Characters and You. Everything else belongs to JRR Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate, New Line Cinema/Peter Jackson, et. al. and others. This was done purely for entertainment. I reap no monetary benefits from this and have nothing worth suing me for.


Inashat Shadowkiller is an avari prince . He is tall and extremely handsome as are all elves.
All of the female elves have traveled beyond the sea or faded from the sorrow of how the world has changed. Few elves still dwell within sight or reach of men and even fewer have dealings with them. Nevynn, a mortal man, is a strong hard working farmer.
You are Nevynn’s true love.
Arelin Dreamwalker is friend to Inashat and also his second in command.
Maise is the local midwife and healer for the farmers of South Ithilien

You had been missing for several days and Nevynn was very worried but he did not know who to turn to for help. One missing person was too small a matter to petition the king about and such a thing would take weeks. It was harvest time and so even though Nevynn’s neighbors were sympathetic they could not spare anyone to help him look. As a last resort Nevynn went to Maise for help. Maise was originaly from the far north and was a woman of the dunedain. She and Nevynn tracked you as far as the south eastern forest where they came upon a lone elf.

“What do you seek here?” asked the elf

“This man’s love has been gone for several days. We followed the tracks here in hopes of finding some sign and we would appreciate any help you are able to give us friend elf”, replied Maise.

“I am Arelin” answered the elf “and you have wasted your time in coming here. The person who made those tracks is with my lord prince Inashat. It is not likely that he will allow them to return. He has become quite besotted and hopes that they will wed.”

Nevynn became very angry at this and started toward the elf screaming, ”You lie! My beloved loves me and would never leave me willingly If my darling is with your prince, then he holds a subject of the king against their will!” Nevynn pulled out his sword and yelled, ”I will kill you for besmirching the character of one I love ”

“You would be dead before your stroke fell”, answered the elf . Quicker than the mortal eye could see a dozen elves dropped from the trees , bows drawn and aimed at Nevynn’s heart.

“Peace” cried Nana Maise “Seldom are the fair folk seen beyond the confines of the forest, and it is good to know that the magic lingers still. It is something almost unheard of that one of the Eldar should take someone unwilling. Why have you done this thing?”

“Because my lord desired to. I had no choice”, aerlin replied bitterly.

“So the elves have done this“, said Nevynn, in a daze. He shook his head slowly then looked at the old woman with innocent lost eyes.
“Is my love gone forever then, is all hope lost?”

But it was Arelin who answered him. “They ride out of the forest each evening at dusk to hunt and your beloved is with them. He looked at Nevynn with a smile. You could try a rescue then , but the captive is well guarded, for many elfin warriors ride in the hunt.” And then he laughed. “You will never take your lovely one from them. Hope is lost, gone forever.”

But Maise patted the young man’s hand and said softly, “Perhaps there is a way, perhaps there is. The magic lingers on”

Nevynn reached the edge of the forest late in the evening. The sun was sinking and the trees cast long shadows over the hard earth, bathing one side of the forest in warm amber light, while the other drifted into dusk. Nevynn searched the ground carefully for any sign of which direction the warriors would ride from. But the grass was unmarked and showed no sign.

Nevynn traced a circle on the grass with herbs and water given him by Maise. Then slipping the black -hafted silver bladed knife from his belt, he knelt behind the cover of some bushes and waited.

The sun was slow in sinking for it was close to midsummer, and although the sky deepened to purple in the east and the nightstars began to glimmer dimmly, yet the western sky still burned salmon and rose. A few nightbirds attempted a halfhearted song and once a barn owl hooted plaintively. Otherwise the night was still and silent.

Dusk gradually deepened, softening the harsh outlines of tree and bush, Lending a mysterious air to the hedgerows and turning the edge of the forest to a place of shadowed mystery. Nevynn , glancing out from behind the bushes, shuddered, for he felt that he had been transported back thousands of years to the first age.

And then he heard it. Faint and sharp on the night air came the sounds elfin horns. The clear and unmistakable ring of horses hooves on stone coupled with the jingling of harness. The warriors rode out.

Nevynn’s first impression of the elves was of height, for they seemed to tower above the ground. Their steeds were tall and thin, with wild darting eyes and long flowing manes, that burned snow-white in the dusk. They were richly adorned and the bits and harness were of mithril.

The riders were tall slender well built creatures from man’s past, in leaf shaped armour and carrying swords and spears. Their features beneath their helms were thin and pointed, with high slanting eyes, pointed ears and flowing hair. Their eyes burned with a strange fire and seemed lost , as if they strayed in a dream.

And in their midst you came.

Nevynn caught his breath at the sight of you and for a moment doubted he was seeing you. you were riding one of the steeds of the eldar and clad in a long shimmering robe that trailed on the night air and rippled in a breeze not of this world. Your hair had been coiffeured and flowed down your back in long silken waves. On your brow glittered a diadem of twisted silver wire with a matching amulet nested against your throat. But it was your eyes that Nevynn noticed, for they were flat and expressionless and seemed to stare into another world.

The riders trotted across the field and Nevynn realised with a chill that the horses hooves barely seemed to touch the ground.

The first riders passed by , not six inches from the terrified young man. And then another and another of the riders followed, bringing with them an otherworldly chill and a sweet perfume.

The next rider was you. Nevynn waited until you were almost past him and then he leapt for the reins. The horse reared and nipped at him with a click of huge teeth. But he struck the animal with his knife, drawing a thin line of pale liquid from it’s neck and then he sliced through the saddle girth. He caught you as you fell and almost threw you into the protective circle he had drawn earlier, And then he prayed.

The elves attacked with a battle cry that shattered the stillness of the night like breaking glass. But thrown spears shattered about the pair as if they had struck an invisible wall and swords rang above their heads with high musical notes. But the circle held.

Within the circle you stirred and your eyes cleared.
“Inashat?... Nevynn?...Nevynn!” You burried your head in Nevynn’s shoulder and wept. “ Oh Nevynn I dreamt... I dreamt.” Nevynn smothed your hair and whispered gently to you, but his eyes never left those of one of the elven warriors, one who remained apart from the rest.

“Your Gods protect you, “ said the elven warrior suddenly, his high musical voice ringing in Nevynn’s head. He came forward and stood beyond the circle.” It is good to have Gods. The first born have long since passed across the sea , as we should have. But we are tied to the land and whilst it survives, so will we.” With a word the elven prince called off his warriors. The host withdrew and stood staring at the couple huddled within the invulnerable circle on the grass. The elven prince came and crouched just beyond the ring. I... I cannot say I regret taking you.... but you must know how I felt for you love also....” He looked away and when he spoke again his voice was heavy with emotion and his eyes were moist. “ I love you and I need you . Without you I will fade and die. If only your love would let you go.” Nevynn shook his head “ I will never let go , I would rather we both die than to be separated form my beloved.”

Nevynn said to the prince,” You took a person against their will held them in thrall by bewitching them. You say you love, I say you do not know the meaning of the word . When you love someone they should return that love of their own free will. Can you not see that taking someone against their will is wrong? Can you not see that your spell has worn off? You say you love, but does my beloved feel the same way about you?”

Inashat answered,” Your love is so beautiful “

Nevynn laughed gently “I’ll grant you that point , but there are many even more beautiful and beauty is not everything”

“In the elven lands beauty is everything,” said the elven prince .

“Perhaps” Nevynn replied, “ if you were to woo someone and they in turn , loved you, then they would go with you willingly into the elven kingdom and gladly remain there.”

“ The night is almost gone and so must we go , but we have both gained something this night : You have gained your love and I ...I have gained wisdom.” The elven prince mounted his wild eyed steed and led the warriors back into the forest , as he departed he turned and called sharp and clear on the morning air . “I will take your advice”

As the sounds of hoofbeats disappeared the first rays of the morning sun touched the forest edge with gold and bronze.

Nevynn stood holding your hand in the crook of his arm , staring at the sunrise. “ You know, “he said suddenly ,” Maise was right : The magic lingers on.”