Nimrodel Anduinel ~ The Untold Story

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

Ok, I wrote this story about Elrond's youngest daughter, Nimrodel. It's kind of corny (very at times I admit), and is done partly with the book (part is different from both), partly with the movie, but I had fun writing it, so...If anyone wants to read on, send me a message and I'll send the rest to you! (In case you haven't read the books, I assure you that Nimrodel's story is complete fiction)

Part 1 – Departure from Rohan

Dim stars glittered against a backdrop of black. A thin mist blew across the plains of Rohan. The wind moaned through Edoras, crying out the tidings of a coming shadow.
She stood, tall, austere, and very much alone. The wind blew her deep golden hair and rustled the dark skirts of her dress. Time was standing still-holding its breath waiting for something to happen-she could feel it. And she could do nothing but grieve for those lost to the coming storm. Change was riding on the wind; it would not be long in coming.
Yes, change was coming on Middle Earth. Everything known to its inhabitants was drifting away to be replaced by darkness. Even in Lorien, the brightest lights were dimming, faltering in face of change.
Lorien. Her haven, her home. For years, she had longed to return, to receive comfort in the face of tragedy. And now, she was going back.

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

Iluvatar suggested I just post a little bit at a time, so here's some more!

Halfast’s hooves clattered loudly in the stillness against the stone paving. Nimrodel led the majestic black horse down to the gate of Edoras. Swiftly she mounted and turned Halfast to the North.
Nimrodel’s companion reached up and grasped her hand. “You will come back, Nimrodel?”
“Yes, but when I do not know. My road is uncertain, Eowyn, but it will not be long, no it will not be long,” Halfast danced impatiently as Nimrodel held him back. “Namarie, my sister!” Nimrodel leaned down over the horse’s neck as he burst into speed. “Run, Halsur-dur! May the wind carry us tonight!”

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

Part 2 – Lothlorien

The trees of Lothlorien towered in front of Nimrodel. She stood right outside the wood, only a stream separated Nimrodel from its shelter. The stream was the Nimrodel, named after the elf Nimrodel who had been lost long ago. It’s waters sung the sad song of Nimrodel and Amroth. Would, Nimrodel wondered, she be lost in the end as the Nimrodel for whom she had been named? Would song and legend remember her? Maybe she- Nimrodel stiffened, her ears straining to catch the soft voice again. She gazed down the course of the flowing stream.
It was to great a distance for even an elf to see clearly, but Nimrodel could make out the forms of an elf, two men, a dwarf, and four small creatures. Hobbits, they seemed to be. Nimrodel hadn’t seen a hobbit since Bilbo Baggins had come to Rivendell many years before when Nimrodel had still lived there. That such a company would travel together was strange indeed. Nimrodel watched as they entered the Golden Wood. Why were they coming there? Nimrodel couldn’t even begin to understand. That it had been many long years since an elf and a dwarf had traveled willingly with one another and that men had not been allowed in the Golden Wood for years, Nimrodel well knew. But it was the hobbits that puzzled her the most; from what she had heard and the tales Bilbo had told her, hobbits never ventured out of the Shire on adventures, Bilbo himself being the only exception. That four were so far away from that land…Well, it didn’t seem possible!
Swiftly, Nimrodel crossed the stream and she stood still under the spreading trees. Of course, she would ask Haldir, he always knew the answers. He had been Nimrodel’s caretaker when she had been a young elf visiting her people in Lorien. She had always trusted him for the answers to her questions then, and Nimrodel would trust him now.

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

“The world is changing. The time for action grows near at hand. You must be ready to face whatever comes,” the Lady Galadriel’s voice spoke calm and soothingly to Nimrodel.
“But I am not ready! Everyday the shadow grows darker in Edoras. I can do nothing but stand by and watch the shadow slowly draw the spirit out of King Theodon. There is no one I can trust, no one!”
“My child,” Galadriel looked searchingly into Nimrodel’s eyes, “no one?”
Nimrodel bit her lip and sighed, “There is Eowyn; but she also can do nothing. She has her own burdens to bear, I cannot burden her with mine as well.”
“She carries the same burdens you do. The course of Fate so uncertain that it is fear itself to think of it, the feeling of helplessness. But do not fear Nimrodel. You will have the courage to face your destiny."
“But what is there for me to go on for? All that I love is fading away before my eyes. Even the light of this wood is sorely faded.”
“You have everything to live for, child. For Arwen, for Eowyn, for everything you love that can be regained by sacrifice. Never stop hoping; never stop fighting for everything that is good and sweet in this world. And also, for one other.”
Nimrodel looked puzzled, “Who?”
“Time, time only can tell.”

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

“Lady Nimrodel, you have returned to the Fair Wood,” Haldir bowed his head slightly.
“My coming is nothing I expected it to be. I sought refuge, I wished to return to what I had always known. Instead, it was only the beginning of a great change,” Nimrodel’s face hardened into defiance, “Haldir, why me? I didn’t ask this destiny be mine! Why must it come in my time?”
“You were chosen because of who you are. Something special separated you from all others before time began.”
“Why did I need to be different? All I know is I will never see my homeland again, and that I must stay in Rohan until summoned. Well, I have been summoned here, but I know no more than I did before. I can do nothing because there is nothing for me to do.”
“You will know when the time comes. You may not know the time, the place, or what you must do know. Do not worry Nimrodel, you would not have been chosen if destined to fail.”
Nimrodel stood sullenly against a great Mallorn tree. She didn’t accept this explanation. Suddenly, she turned to Haldir: “The company that entered here when I did, who are they?”
Haldir looked surprised, “You do not know already?”
“No, I have been keeping much to myself,” Nimrodel replied rather icily.
“They are the Fellowship of the Ring. One of the four hobbits carries the One Ring.”
Nimrodel’s mouth fell open; “Sauron’s ring- from all of the ancient tales?”
Haldir nodded, “Frodo Baggins, nephew of Bilbo Baggins, carries it. The other three hobbits are Samwise Gamgee, faithful friend and gardener of Frodo. The other two,” Haldir paused, “I think have been rather a nuisance to the rest: distant cousins of Frodo, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took. The dwarf is Gimli, son of Gloin. The elf is Legolas and…”
“You mean Legolas, son of Thranduil and Prince of Mirkwood?” Haldir nodded in reply. Nimrodel whispered under her breath, “I have not seen him for many years, not since I was very young…But the last two?”
“They are men. Boromir, elder son of Denethor the steward of Gondor; and the other is Aragorn, Isildur’s heir.”
Nimrodel looked deep in thought, and seemed to have forgotten Haldir was there. Haldir noiselessly drew back and left her there alone.
“The One Ring,” Nimrodel bowed her head, “hobbits…Legolas…Aragorn. All memories of the past living in the present…The Fellowship of the Ring, bound by friendship until death to follow one another until their task is complete…or failed…”

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

Nimrodel urged Halfast up the rocky incline to Edoras. It had been many weeks since she had first left for Lorien, but on her return she had expected there to be no change in Rohan. But there was.
As Nimrodel entered Edoras, she felt a difference. No longer did the city seem to be cringing and waiting for an inevitable fall, it was just quiet, almost peaceful. Nimrodel led Halfast into the stables were all of the horses of Rohan were kept. Shadowfax! Back in his stall! Gandalf must have returned! But what did that mean? Could it be…?
Nimrodel didn’t stop to wonder. She lifted her dark heavy skirts and ran at full speed, her loose hair swirling around her face. She shoved past the people in the streets, took the steps two at a time, and pushed passed a protesting guard. Nimrodel stood in front of the doors to the Golden Hall. Standing still, the size of the hall overwhelmed her and she stepped back. Anything could be behind those closed doors: death, new life, failure, or maybe, just maybe, a victory. Nimrodel took a deep breath and pushed the doors to the Golden Hall of Kings open.

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

Everyone whirled round to face her, except Gandalf who had already been facing the doors. Nimrodel looked beautiful with her tall slim figure outlined by the sunlight and her golden hair blowing in the gentle breeze.
King Theodon had whirled around with his hand on his sword hilt, and Aragorn had jumped to his feet from the bench he had been sitting on. Legolas had turned faster than his hair, which caught in his arrows, and Eowyn had nearly tripped on her dress but had steadied herself against a pillar. Gimli spilled his mug of mead down his great beard.
Only Gandalf of them all did not look completely surprised. He looked at her with a slight smile, “And so you have returned, Lady Nimrodel.”
“Yes, I have returned,” Nimrodel tossed her head proudly.
King Theodon sighed in relief and took his hand off his sword; “It is none to soon.”
Eowyn ran forward and hugged Nimrodel, “Wormtongue is gone, Nimrodel, and now we are free! I wish you could have been here!”
Aragorn stepped forward and clasped her hands; “It has been a long time.”
“Yes, yes it has.”
“Where have you been? I expected to see you when we entered here.”
“The Lady Galadriel summoned me to Lothlorien. I had been there for many weeks. I saw your company enter there.”
“But we did not see you,” Aragorn looked at her sharply.
“I know. I took care that you did not. But where are Boromir and the hobbits? They are not here.”
Aragorn bowed his head; “Boromir fell when we were attacked by orcs on the shore of the river Anduin.”
“The hobbits Frodo and Sam are traveling towards Mordor,” Gandalf added.
“Why? I don’t understand,” Nimrodel shook her head, “Why did you part?”
“Frodo chose to go to Mordor alone, but Sam insisted on going with him.”
“But other two hobbits?” Nimrodel prompted, “where are they?”
“Merry and Pippin were captured by orcs, but managed to escape them and are now safely with friends in Fangorn,” Gandalf almost seemed glad that the thoughtless hobbits weren’t pestering him with questions anymore.
“Ents?” Nimrodel guessed.
“I tell you,” Gimli interrupted the conversation with a shout, “I don’t trust those trees or the tree people! How do we know they’re friends? And," he added deliberately, "that they ain’t torturing the hobbits to get news out of them?”
“Well, Gimli,” Legolas turned to his friend, “it would be better than Merry and Pippin being lost in Moria with our friend the Balrog?”
“You elves,” grumbled Gimli under his breath, “don’t have any common sense.
“The hobbits are quiet safe, you can be sure of that Gimli,” Gandalf assured the dwarf.
“But this is entirely off the subject!” Cried King Theodon, “While you were all talking I have decided.” When he paused, everyone turned to look expectantly at him. “I will take my people to Helm’s Deep!”

Part Four – Journey to Helm’s Deep

Nimrodel didn’t say much as she and Legolas walked ahead of the Rohirrim as they journeyed to Helm’s Deep.
“You don’t talk as much as you used to, Nimrodel,” Legolas commented.
“No, I guess I don’t,” Nimrodel laughed softly, “I wasn’t like a proper elf even then, was I?”
“No, you never were. That’s what made you different from all of the elves,” and, he added to himself, why you amazed me so much. “You have adjusted better to the lives of men better than any of the rest of us would have. Nimrodel,” Legolas hesitated, “why did you stay in Rohan? Anytime, you could have gone back to Rivendell, or Lorien-but you didn’t.”
Nimrodel sighed. “I couldn’t. And I didn’t realize how much I would miss Rivendell then, I was on a great adventure and I was satisfied. But now…”
“Now?” Legolas prodded.
“Now I wouldn’t go back, even if I could. Legolas, men are so different from elves. Elves, we just seem to live in the past-but with men it is different. Every moment is new, and different. Time changes, and seasons pass away, but always their lives go on,” Nimrodel hesitated.
“You would not return?” Legolas was incredulous.
“No. I envy them. Men live and die, and another takes their place. They are my people now. I have lived among men, seen death among them, born trials and sorrows among them. But my life remains unchanged, unmoving forever…”
Nimrodel stopped, tense and alert-Legolas had heard it too. A great wolf like creature bounded toward them, ridden by an orc. Nimrodel whipped an arrow to her bow, and with a twang, the creature fell dead.
“Go!” Legolas cried as the rider fell dead, “go warn the king!”
Nimrodel ran back to the company. “We are being attacked! Wargs!”
The pack of wargs tore over the hill ahead. King Theodon wheeled his horse around. “Go and lead the people to Helm’s Deep. We will follow behind,” he instructed Eowyn.
“No!” She cried. “I can fight!”
“Go, do this for me, Eowyn,” King Theodon beseeched her.
Unwillingly, Eowyn ran in front of the terrified nation of people and led them on towards Helm’s Deep.
Nimrodel made no move to follow. “Legolas-” she grasped his arm.
“No! Nimrodel, you must go!” Gently, he pushed her away and ran forward.
Nimrodel stood still. Her eyes filling with tears of anger. Saruman, the traitor! The warriors were nearly outnumbered, and there was nothing she could do. Numbly, she turned towards Helm’s Deep.

Part Five – Helm’s Deep

Eowyn paced on the parapet of Helm’s Deep. Ever so often she would gaze into the distance, sigh in disappointment, and return to her pacing. Nimrodel sat, apparently calm, with a group of small children gathered around her, telling them stories of the elves, her soft voice soothing the exhausted and scared children. After several hours, Nimrodel gently shooed the children away. She stood up and grabbed Eowyn’s shoulders. “Pacing yourself into an agitation isn’t going to help!”
“But they’ve been gone for hours!” Eowyn was nearly in tears. “What if they don’t come back?”
Nimrodel softened. “They will come back Eowyn, they will.” Quietly, they began to pace together.
A short time later, horses clattered up the breach. Finally, the warriors had returned. Eowyn rushed down to meet them, but Nimrodel walked more slowly.
Gimli nearly fell off his horse when trying to dismount. Nimrodel steadied him and laughed. “Gimli! You are making everybody think that you are a terrible horse rider!”
Gimli sat down, breathing hard. “Even the best horse rider (gasp) would fall off their horse (gasp) if they had been crushed by an orc and two Wargs (gasp, gasp)!”
Nimrodel just laughed softly again and turned around, nearly slamming into Legolas. She didn’t say anything; just stepped back stared up into his face. “You have come back,” she said simply.
“Yes,” Legolas smiled, “Death has been cheated of an immortal elf once again.” Without any more words, he gathered her into his arms.
Aragorn had not returned.

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

Nimrodel sat up with a start. Her mind struggled to grasp the sound she heard: a horn, thin, clear, and…and beautiful! Not the orc horn that she had been waiting to hear; this was a horn of the elves!
Without stopping to think, Nimrodel rushed out of the Keep out to the gate of Helm’s Deep. She stopped, afraid that if she moved the army of three thousand elves standing in the entryway would disappear. Standing in front of the army was Haldir, giving his greetings from Elrond to the astonished King Theodon and Aragorn. There to, was Legolas, his chin up thrust in pride that his people had not forgotten the men of Rohan.
Nimrodel stepped forward, joy and relief spreading over her. Two tall and handsome elves with brown hair and green eyes stepped out to great her.
“I knew we should find you hear,” Elrohir smiled at her.
“You do more honor to the elfish race than the whole army that accompanies us, you have done well,” Elladan held her shoulders.
“I am not here for honor, Elladan,” Nimrodel answered him quietly, smiling sadly up at her older brother, “I am here to offer up everything I am.. to my people.”

Part Seven – The Battle for Helm’s Deep

Nimrodel stood at the outer ramparts of Helm’s Deep. In the distance, lighting the blackness of the night, were thousands of orc torches.
Elrohir came up and stood beside her. For several moments he said nothing.
“You have done well, little sister,” he said gravely, as he to looked into the distance. “To offer up everything willingly, that is no small sacrifice.”
“I did not understand before,” Nimrodel whispered quietly, “I did not think my destiny would take my life. I never thought that my life would end on a battle field flowing with the blood of men and orcs.”
“And elves,” Elrohir soberly reminded her. His green eyes looked down at her. “Your life will not end here, Nimrodel Anduinel. To the south is where your path lies - beyond the land of Men.”
Nimrodel gasped and opened her mouth to protest, but suddenly sighed and looked to the ground. “Our father has foreseen this?”
“Yes,” Elrohir looked back to the approaching army and shuddered as the ground shook with the pounding feet of the Uruk-Hai. “Many others will fall tonight.”



The ominous rain clouds finally broke, and the downpour fell steadily over those waiting in Helm’s Deep.
Nimrodel felt the rain soak through her hair and clothing. Quickly, she tried to brush the rain off her face, but it didn’t work. She stood tensely, waiting for the command.
The Uruk-Hai army stood not for from the walls, also awaiting commands. Their grotesque chants and stomping feet reverberated through the air.
Near the gate, Aragorn was giving orders to his section of elfish archers. Haldir repeated the command; “Prepare to fire!”
Nimrodel raised her bow. Her elfish eyes sighted her targets with deadly accuracy, and she stood, calm and resolute.
An orc fell-before any command of fire was given. In sudden shrieks of anger, the entire Uruk-Hai army bounded forward as one writhing mass.
“Fire!”
Nimrodel loosed her arrow with a twang, and as she watched its flight, her Uruk-Hai fell to the ground.
Given soon was the command to fire at will. Nimrodel killed fifteen more Uruk-Hai before the ladders began to fall on the ramparts. Putting away her bow, she unsheathed her dagger, and gripped the beautiful handle with grim determination.

[Nimrodel Anduinel]



With a strong thrust, Nimrodel sunk her dagger into the belly of one Uruk-Hai. The blade came out dripping with thick and smelly black blood. With a deep breath, she kept going. Thrust, slash, punch, over and over again. She had become exhausted. Gasping for breath, she leaned against crouched body of the Uruk she had just killed. With a groan, she pulled together and went to work again.
Suddenly, Nimrodel felt pain. Instinctively, she pulled her wounded left leg up; it was slashed across her knee to the back of her calf. Something hit her-hard-on the side of her face.
Everything began to swim in front of her and go black. Nimrodel fell face downward, onto the dead bodies lying at her feet.
Maybe Elrohir was wrong, she thought as the blackness began to close in, maybe this is where everything is going to end…



The battle became desperate for the men and elves, and they pulled back into the Keep. But Nimrodel was not among them. She did not see the last rally of King Theodon and Aragorn as they road out with the few remaining men. Gandalf came, bringing Eomer and two thousand Rohirrim, but Nimrodel didn’t notice. She didn’t watch the sun rise and bring new hope and victory to men



[Nimrodel Anduinel]

The sun had risen, and was now setting again. The half-light cast an eerie-glow over the piles of dead men, orcs, and elves. All through the battlegrounds, some were searching for lost family and friends.
Nimrodel groaned as she was rolled onto her back. She felt numb all over, and Nimrodel could taste orc blood in her mouth.
“Bless you, Missy! You’re alive!” Gimli’s jovial voice seemed to echo in Nimrodel’s ears. “I’ll get some help, and you’ll be moved out of hear in no time!” With that, Gimli turned to leave.
“No…” Nimrodel cried feebly as she grabbed Gimli cloak. “Don’t tell anyone I’m still alive, please, I don’t want them to know.”
“Oh, yes,” Gimli grumbled, “and what am I to say to Legolas and your brothers, who are searching frantically for you? Besides, where are you going to go where they won’t find you?”
“Please, Gimli,” Nimrodel begged, “just for a couple of hours then it’ll be alright.”
“Alright,” the dwarf groaned. “Now, I’ll help haul you into this crevice where they won’t be likely to see you. And,” Gimli grunted as dragged Nimrodel into the crevice, “I’ll even tell them I searched over here and you weren’t anywhere to be found. Not,” he added under his breath, “that an elf would ever believe a dwarf.”
“Thank you,” Nimrodel sighed. She was drifting off already.
Gimli left and returned a few minutes later, with some food and wrap of cloth. “Here,” he said, handing her the food, “you’ll feel better once you eat.”
Nimrodel ate the food ravenously, and quickly drank all of the water.
“Better wrap up your leg, or you’ll have something nasty on your hands,” Gimli reminded her as he walked away.

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

Part Eight – To the South

Nimrodel, standing by the archway gate, tightened Halfast’s saddle girth, and soothed the tense horse. Stars studded the midnight sky to the north, but in the south, the sky was black.
“I didn’t think elves needed saddles to ride,” Gimli said as he leaned against her axe.
Nimrodel laughed, “No, not really. But I prefer the saddle, especially when riding a long distance.”
“Its a fool’s errand, missy. But I’ll say that elves have a knack for those kinds of things,” Gimli shook his head. “I’ll leave you now, so that I can truthfully say I didn’t see were you went off to.”
Sadly, Nimrodel watched the stocky dwarf walk away. She hadn’t said that she was using a saddle because there was no way she could ride without one when her leg was injured so badly and her right hand bruised.
Nimrodel tried to pull herself into the saddle, failed, and with effort, tried-and failed-again. Staring determinedly at the saddle, Nimrodel grabbed some of Halfast’s main and prepared to try again.
“Wait, I’ll help you,” Legolas’ soft voice stopped her. Easily, he hoisted her up. “Where are you riding to in the middle of the night like this?”
“South,” Nimrodel answered vaguely. “How did you know I was here?”
Legolas shrugged. “Gimli told me. He said he wasn’t going to let you leave without someone besides him knowing, so they could share the blame of letting you leave when you were so badly hurt.”
Nimrodel attempted a frown, but didn’t succeed.
“Why leave now? You could wait a few days, at least until your leg has healed some.”
“I can’t, every moment counts.”
Legolas reached up and held her hand. He smiled sadly up at her, “You’ve never lacked courage, Nimrodel,” he paused and let go of her hand, then looked hard at her, “Ride hard.”
Nimrodel picked up her reigns. “I will,” her eyes held a trace of tears, but her voice was strong, “I will.” Without looking back, Nimrodel urged Halfast forward. With a clatter of hooves, the black horse and his young rider sped across the plains of Rohan-south to Mordor.

[Nimrodel Anduinel]

And now...even as this story ends...the task is yours to finish the tale of history...

[Ilúvatar]

It was great! So sad that it has to end .