#the story of orothon

Chapter I: Awakened (Pt. II)

“Above the coursing breeze blowing across the waters came the rising of voices. I noticed  Mîrwen had taken hold of my hand. It was the first time I had noticed how beautiful she was—the light of ten thousand stars shone in her eyes. I could not turn my gaze away—finding her beauty without equal among all others to me. She smiled at me.

“You are beautiful,” I said finally; my voice startling me when I first heard it. It was deep and resonating and I feared it wold frighten Mîrwen but she was not afraid.

“So are you,” she said softly—her voice to me was a melody I would forever be drawn.

We looked around as we stood among others as we—wandering in the paradise beneath the stars that cast their light as reflection and shadow upon the stillness of the lake by which we were born.

We were approached by one with long golden hair and grey eyes with a maiden at his side with dark golden hair longer still.

“I am Iarûr,” he said. “This is Nimríel.”

“There are many here before us,” I said. “Where do we settle?”

“Beyond here,” he began. “There lies a greater pace whispered among us yet none have dared wander.”

“There are many of us,” I said. They seem quite contented to remain here beside the waters.”

“Why not,” a voice asked. “I have found little reason to venture elsewhere. What do they call you? I am Êlengolas.”

“Iarûr,” he said to him.

“Where has Valdôr gone,” I asked.

“Not far,” he said. “His wonder has taken him among the hosts. There are many but by name we are not all the same.”

Nimríel seemed distant at those words and Mîrwen comforted her away from us as she instinctively knew something we did not.

“If there is a home beyond this place, let time tell us the way we should go,” I said. “For we were awakened her by the creator of the stars.”

We delighted in this and returned with our beloved wives to the shores where our kin had gathered. I lay beside Mîrwen gazing into starlight for a time without end. There was a peace I only knew that I would long for in the coming of days when the echoes of night would bring an evil that would extinguish the light of hope.”–TKWR Trilogy Book I: The Epic of Eryn Galen by J.Marie Miller 6-23-2017

Images: ©2012, 2013, 2014. Warner Brothers Pictures. The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. All Rights Reserved.

“Time begins as it will end—in a moment. There have been many moments that have come and gone since we awoke. There are many forests in this world, and many mountains rise above them beneath an endless night. We would never forget our birth, for it was then as one we came into light.  But time would wear away that which was never meant to be put asunder and all that we once knew would fall into a darkness as great as shadows cast by mountains against the setting of the sun.”–Iarûr form the Chronicles of Orothôn (Book I: The History of Eryn Galen) by J.M.Miller 8-10-16

Hello, and welcome to the last (and the first) of The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy. This is the beginning of the history of Eryn Galen/Mirkwood/Eryn Lasgalen–before Thranduil or his father, Oropher were born. Going all the way back to Thranduil’s grandfather, Orothôn and his wife Aralúin and their sundering at Lake Cuiviénen, this story will take you to the birth of Thranduil and lead into what is now known as Book II: The Saga of Thranduil (found here: http://tkwrtrilogy.tumblr.com) and its follow-up, Book III: To Eryn Lasgalen (found here: http://tkwrtrilogy2.tumblr.com) which just began. I will not try to disturb the delicate balance of current readers, but I may periodically start posting this story while completing Book III as this book currently looks to be as long as Book II (don’t quote me on that, but I do have to do two lives in this one–Orothôn and his son Oropher).

Chapter I: Awakened (Pt. III)

“There came not long after a rumbling and a deep howl as the ground beneath us began to shake and the skies were filled with flickering lights that changed the starlight from white to fearsome hues of angry colors.

“I am frightened, Orothôn,” Mîrwen said, embracing me tight. “What is happening?”

“I do not know,” I answered. It was true—I did not know. None of us knew then. We had yet to grow accustomed to this world we had little understanding. This peril seemed to last a lifetime beneath the skies that told us nothing of time passing from one moment to another. As it continued, we accepted it as part of our existence.

“You are Orothôn,” a strong voice said to me from behind.

“Galathil,” Mîrwen said smiling, kissing his cheek. He gave me a cold stare—his eyes flickering wildly under a halo of flowing nearly white hair.

“Yes,” I answered curiously. “I am Orothôn.”

“This is Galathil,” Mîrwen said. “One of my dear brothers.”

“This is whom you have chosen,” he asked raising a brow as he gave me a once over.

“Yes, brother,” she said gleefully.

“I suppose he is suitable,” Galathil said, his face falling into a smile.

“I am glad,” I said. “I was afraid I was not to your liking.”

“I would not worry for what I think,” he said. “Our father is the one you should be concerned about. For now, worry not. He is with his brothers and not to be disturbed.”

“Where is Galadhon,” Mîrwen asked looking around. “Was he not with you?”

Two forms walked toward us—one was Êlengolas; the other I did not recognize. His golden hair was as long as mine but his features were soft—with gentle pale eyes of blue.

“I see you have met my brother,” he said to me. “You must be Orothôn. I would know you anywhere. Mîrwen has yet to stop speaking of you.”

“You are Galadhon,” I said. “It is an honor.”

“For me as well,” he said. “Êlengolas spoke only good things of you. I pray my brother was not too harsh. He can be rather unrelenting.”

“He was quite pleasant, I assure you, Galadhon,” I said looking at Galathil.

“Have you seen Valdôr,” Êlengolas asked concerned. “I have not seen him since the shaking of the earth ended.”

I noticed that things had become calm and the stars were white again above us. I saw elves come from behind trees of the forest behind. It was then I noticed Valdôr, Iarûr and Finëar step forward.

“There,” I gestured.

They came to us; with them their wives. All seemed shaken but unharmed.

“The sons of Elmo,” Iarûr said reverently to Mîrwen’s brothers. “You are highly favored among your kin.”

“Not as much as our uncles, Iarûr,“ Galathil said. “Though your generous praise is no less humbling.”

“Even then, no one is as great as Ingwë or Finwë,” Galadhon said. “For they have gone beyond the Mountains into the West. With them went Olwë. It is our time to march further westward.”––TKWR Trilogy Book I: The Epic of Eryn Galen by J.Marie Miller 7-29-2017

Galathil (I), brother of Galadhon, father of Celeborn and Galathil (II). Addition by Tolkien (The History of Middle Earth Index, 350).

Images: ©2012, 2013, 2014. Warner Brothers Pictures. The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. All Rights Reserved.