Narelen Name: Narelen Q meaning ‘Fire Star’ Race: Half Sindar, Half Telari Born: Second Age 2751 History: The long ages of my life lay behind me, yet they seem so near I can still smell the acrid smoke that came from Gondolin when they burned it. And I still see the beautiful and shining face of my Lord… before he marched off to war with the greatest of our kin… never to return. The tale of my life that I shall tell you is the one I always believed the truth… but in Rivendell I have learned truths to unveil all deceptions of my past. I was born in Hithlum, before our people fled that place. Great friendship and then love there grew betwixt me and Ereinion Gil-galad. He it was who gave me the name by which I am now called. Fire Star, he named me, for he said that in my eyes burned still the light of Earendil’s star, like a flame in the heavens. More love I bore him than I have had for any other in this life, and more than I shall ever hold for any other. But, ours are sad tales in Middle Earth, and memories are all that are left us. My life in those early days with Ereinion Gil-galad were the very happiest of my life. But we could not escape the war that was coming forever. My parents, both of the great House of Faenor, and I went with the house of Ereinion Gil-galad to the Falas after the death of Fingon. That was a dark hour for my beloved, and my hart was rent by his great sorrow. Alas, but that was a dark road, and many of our company perished, ere we reached the Havens. My own parents, the only family I have this side of the sea, perished on that long journey. By the kindness of Gil-galad alone was I kept on these shores, for I would then have left, but for love of him. It was he who took me then, an orphan, into his noble house. When I was weary of spirit he would oft walk with me upon the sea shore, and we would watch the stars bloom in the velvet of the sky. I fled with him to Balar when the Havens were overrun… and knew, in my heart, that the hours of our youth and peace were at an end. I wept for our lost kin, for word soon came that hidden Gondolin too had fallen. All our works, and the peace we had worked so hard to keep, were falling into ash. But he did not lose heart, and Gil-galad was named High King after Turgon’s fall. In Lindon he ruled as Lord, and our brave kin were e’re at war with the Abhorred and the minions of darkness. I remember when Numenor fell… and I remember the coming of Elendil and his sons to our halls. Death and destruction they fled, but it was not left behind them. Nay, it awaited them here, and awaited us also. I knew with dread certainty that these men brought the death of our King with them. For bright and shining was fair Gil-galad, and I saw the shadow of those last of Numenor overtake him. Councils were taken then, and the Last Alliance was forged betwixt Elves and Men. While others prepared to march to war, I was desolate in my despair. Never had I truly confessed my feelings to Gil-galad… the heart of my youth and love of my life. On the night before he was to march, he came to me, for word somehow got to him that I was grown wane and distraught. I had avoided him for days, afraid that I would not have the strength to say good-bye. He professed worry that I was grown wraithlike and drown in sorrow. It was then that I poured out my heart to him and told him of all my love. I pleaded for him to stay, beseeched him to but wait a little while that I might not have him taken so soon form me. He held me then, and whispered soft promises that he would return to me. He said that he could never be worthy of such love if he was not willing to die to give me a world free of the bonds of darkness now creeping about us. Though I cried fit to make a sea, I knew that he would not stay… could not stay. He was the High King of the Noldor, and in my heart I knew that I would lose him. That one night he belonged to me alone, and with the dawn he was gone to war. My love fell in battle before Mt. Doom… along with the very brightest souls of the elves that day. The blood of elves and men ran like rivers on the mountainside that day… and in the end they did buy us a kind of watchful peace. But for me, it did not matter. Lost was he whom I have loved beyond all things, and my time was not yet come to return to the West. I dwelt all the third age in the Havens, lost to my sorrow and grief. But, as they say, time does come to heal most wounds. Though I miss him, I know that I will see him again one day, and that gives me hope. I know that life is a gift and should not be wasted. And so it is that I have made my way to Rivendell for a change of venue. And what a change it has wrought. Here I have found the truth in the lies… and peace at last. I have learned that I have family, and am loved. I am not alone here any longer. My mother is Aurëthil, second general of the Rivendell Army, and siblings I have many. Elnarsil, Arele, Lyceus, and Dinrothion… as well as my very own twin brother Anglachel. It was quite by accident I learned the truth, while having a friendly conversation with Aurëthil one day. It was during a chaotic battle that I was separated from my real family, who later thought me dead. Found by those who loved me all my life, I never knew the truth… until now. These days I content myself in my work, for I am the Headmistress of the Rivendell Bard’s Guild. Many are the beloved friends I have made here, and my days here in Middle Earth are no longer filled with sorrow. From time to time I go out on adventures with new elves in training, showing them the ways of RPGs. Though this is the Twilight of the Elves, it is a beautiful age to be an elf… and I am content with my life. Back to the top Return to the front page of the book