Laebeth Elvelethril ~*~Barthannen na ’îl a tungen na vagol dín, barthannen randís anuir~*~ Where the light of Eärendil touches the shores of Mithlond, Laebeth Elvelethril was born. She was a child of Eärendil, born under his star, and so from birth destined to be a wanderer. Her parents brought Lae to Lindon, where she grew up among the Noldor. A strong fire burnt within her, and she was eager to learn all that could be taught her. She would sit up and listen to the tales of Aduchil Lómëaryon, or watch the Gwaith-i-Mírdain at work, and ever her desire for more knowledge grew. But when she was fifty years of age her parents desired to depart from Middle-earth. Until then, no sorrow had touched her life, yet now blind fury and grief took her. Why would anyone want to forsake the lands that held so much to love and learn from still? Yet as the answer came to her, and she for the first time fully comprehended the might of the Shadow of the World, her doom was near. Before her parents left, they had given her a sword; Lachlanagor, the White Flame of Battle. By this sword, Lae swore an oath in defiance of the Shadow; to always protect what was good in Middle-earth, and hunt down any orc, balrog or living creature in the service of Gorthaur. Years went by, and Eregion prospered. From both the Noldor and Dwarves, Lae learnt much of the wisdom of Aulë, and for years she was content, if not happy, in the Forges of the Smiths. But when Nornar the Dwarf passed away, and Lae for the first time tasted the bitterness of mortality, she left Eregion; never to return before its destruction. Now a wanderlust awoke within her like a raging fire, and the fire led her to Lindon and the great ocean. The Ocean…the waves hit the rocky shores like thunder, played in storm and wind, and for the first time, Lae beheld the power of Ulmo in all his might. Lindon gave to her all that Eregion had not been able to, and joy found its way into her life once again. For years she stayed with the Falathrim, but even thusly content, the fire that had awoken within her could not be unlit. At last Lae departed from Lindon with a company of friends, and set out on what would become her longest journeys. But by the Tower Hills, the company was waylaid by orcs. Of all who set out, Lae alone escaped with her life. But she was wounded, and her life would have been worth little and the escape been forfeit indeed, had she not met Merl Moriestiel. Under the care of this Elf whom she would later come to call mother, Lae was brought back to her full strength. Yet the shadow of that battle lay heavy upon her heart ever since. Lae did not stay long with Merl, for she was a child of Eärendil, and the world still called for her. Through many years Lae wandered, and learnt much, for the world was full of knowledge for those willing to learn. But she was also sorrowed, for the world became more evil in those days, and everywhere she went, her aid in battle was needed. She fought in the east and the west, in the north and the south. There was always more fighting; more to fight for. But even as enemies fell by her sword, the Elf’s heart turned cold. The rare times when she smiled she was fair to look upon indeed, yet often she remained silent about her feelings, and those who did not know her could seldom guess her thoughts. When the War between Sauron and the Elves began, her skills in battle came to the test. The war was a terrible wherever it came, and as the terror in the world increased many of the Eldar were slain. Thus it happened that Lae met and adopted Aurëthil, whose parents had left Middle-earth to escape the horror of the Shadow. For years, Lae and Aurë travelled together. They had only had the war and eachother, yet those things tied them together with bonds that could not be severed or broken. Until need called them to Lindon, it was only the two of them. But there, where the waves played upon the rocky shores in storm and mirth, things changed. Aurëthil met Dînairë, and although they were different, there was great love between them. For years they lived together, and Lae with them. She watched their oldest children grow up, but the star and the oath she had made by her sword would not let her rest. Lae continued her journeys alone, but Aurë stayed in Lindon with her family and was content. In the year 3000, she came to Lothlórien, and upon the green hill of Cerin Amroth, her life was changed forever. Here she met Arlo Cúthalion and ice and winter turned into spring. Once again the laughter of Laebeth Elvelethril could be heard, and on 11 Nórui they wedded upon the green Hill of Cerin Amroth. Together they left Lothlórien and to explore the lands of Middle-earth and both were happy. Then, in the same year as the civil war in Númenor broke out, their daughter was born beneath the shadow of the trees in Mirkwood. But deeming the world to be filled with peril, they brought Alkthoniel to the refugee of Imladris. Here their second daughter, Eouwen, was born in II 3229. Safe they were; if but for a short while. The years passed, and in II 3431, the war of the Last Alliance drew nigh. Together with Gil-galad’s Army, Lae and Arlo marched to fight the Armies of Mordor. The war was long and hard, and at the battle of Dagorlad Seluren fell to the Witchking’s blow. He would have died then, but Lae found him before death did. By his side she stayed for hours as the battle raged, and she wept; singing to him the full tale of Gil-Estel. These tears were the last she was to weep for many years. Not even the day Gil-galad fell and Aduchil was wounded by an arrow did she cry, nor when she found Aurëthil standing over the dead body of Dînairë. That war ended in despair, and many Elves sought to the Havens, whence they sailed West. But though deeply grieved, Lae did not yet forsake Middle-earth. For she remembered the Shadow, and knew she must stay and fight if Gorthaur rose once again. After the war of the Alliance, Aurëthil went together with Thranduil to rebuild his realm, where most of his people had died with Oropher. She only returned to Imladris after her task in Mirkwood was done. In the mean time, Lae rose in the ranks of the Host of Imladris, and with the Lord Elrond and Glorfindel, she helped gathering the remnants of the Elves still willing to fight the Shadow. But the peace could not last forever. The enemy walked near the borders of Imladris, and Laebeth was gravely injured in battle. On the edge of death, she was brought to Lindon, where she would either heal, or pass into the Uttermost West. A year went by without a word, and Arlo departed to the Havens to follow her into the Undying Lands. But the Valar had been merciful and Laebeth had not crossed the Ocean, and on the shores of Lindon, they met again. Lae now bore the name of Elaeariel, Maiden of the Sea Star. For Círdan had watched her as she looked across the ocean, to the west, and then he saw her sorrow and knew her heart. He named her “Elaeariel,” for he knew she would follow Gil-Estel for many years still, and that that star would always be her guide, even until the time was ripe and it would bring her into the Blessed Realm. Together, Lae and Arlo returned to Imladris, and for many years they dwelt there in peace. But when the One Ring was found once again, their time in Middle-earth was drawing towards its end. In the host of Galadriel, Lae fought by Dol Guldur, but this was her last battle. She returned to Imladris one last time, and in the dusk she met Arlo upon the path leading up to i Adab-nuin-Elenath. And as they looked into eachother’s eyes, and saw all the pain and sorrow hidden in there, they knew that their time had come. For although they loved Middle-earth no less than they had done in their youth, they had fought the evil there all their lives, and the memories of what it had cost them were engraved deeply into their hearts forever. And as the Sun sunk into the Sea, their Ship sailed West and from neither did Middle-earth hear anything again. And finally, when the Stars shone bright above their heads, the Immortal Lands passed into view. Then, their troubles fell off their shoulders, and their task in Middle-earth was fulfilled. Back to the top Return to the front page of the book