Elves 4

Though as fate would have it, they too were assailed by orcs (some say the same band as slew the messengers), and all were slain. Deore herself was pierced by a poisoned arrow, and though the mortally wounded ranger Belegil struggled onward - carrying her to the forested kingdom of her husband, they both died within sight of the borders of that land. When Orodm�r learned of all that had transpired he was consumed with sadness, for his wife and friend lay dead, and he assumed his daughter had suffered the same fate.

For the remainder of that year he spoke few words and rarely walked abroad. Then of a sudden (ignited by the anger and hatred that burned away inside him) he rode forth alone, and would not be restrained - and of those enemies he came across few would stand in his path �for fey was his mood and in the likeness of a god of old he sped southward, deep into the lands of his enemies. Indeed, it is said that he reached the base of the Ash Peak Mountains - where he did such hurt to his enemies that none other than the great troll-lord Lurtgob came forth. Of that battle has been many made many songs in the tongues of the elves� for both slew one another, and thus passed the last of the wood-elf kings of that region.

Yet as it has been told, the child of Orodm�r had been given into the care of the druids of the Gylden Wood, and it was there that she grew to womanhood. During this time the southern eaves of Luna Silva were harried continually by the marauding orcs, and the tower of Ech-Mindon (that was named 'G�rburg Tower' by men) was thrown down. But now that the line of the kings was feared broken, the elves began to depart now in ever greater numbers - forsaking the land in which they had dwelt for years uncounted.

And so it was that D�erra the half-elf was made aware of her lineage, and coming at last through great peril (of which many songs tell) did eventually take up her father's seat in the halls of the elven king. There she dwelt to the end of her days, though few were her subjects and brief was her bliss - yet it is said that to this day there remains a remnant of the woodland folk beneath the bows of the elven wood (for so it is oft called), though rarely are they seen.

Beneath a roof of auburn leaves

she wondered far by star and moon.

Upon her breast lay evergreen

the emerald light of M�ruind�n.

From western shores that jewel was borne

in days of yore before the fall

of Ithiltaur, and elven kings

and the hiding of fairest Olor.

About the hoary stones she danced

at summers end and winter's dawn

and again at spring's awakening

when all else had appeared forlorn.

T'was there the wolf was wont to roam

and thence he came from wanderings long,

yet as she sang, he lay him down

such was the virtue of her song.

Henceforth as one they made their way

by perilous road to elvenhome.

Through haunted woods, and doors of iron

and darkling halls of dwarf hewn stone.

A shield as dark as night she bore

and blade as keen was ever wrought,

and at her side Taurandir strode

the greatest wolf that ever walked.

She lies now in Erainamon

a queen beneath the hill of kings,

to sleep until the world is changed

and in the final battle sing.

There too the wolf lays at her feet

yet still maybe they range afar?

beyond the ken of elvish sight

in fair green lands where no men are.