Disclaimer: I thought of some names for Aragorn’s and Arwen’s children, but for the rest all characters are the ones created by Tolkien.

CHAPTER 1: Innocence

Minas Tirith, 30 Fourth Age

“Ada! Ada! Nana, Ada is here!” Aragorn’s youngest daughter, the five year old Alatariel, rushed down the stairs of the Citadel to greet her father. Aragorn himself could not help smiling. And even after all those years he wasn’t used to such a warm welcome from his children.

Alatariel laughed out loud as her father picked her up and lifted her high in the air. She loved it, and when Aragorn put her down you could see clearly from her face she wanted to ask for more. But her father was saved from that fate by the arrival of his wife, the beautiful Queen of Gondor and the only one he ever loved.

Arwen smiled as she saw her husband and daughter. She had forgotten what it was like to be a child, to be ignorant of the dangers in the world, the dangers Aragorn fought every day to keep his family and his people safe and in peace. One day, even little Alatariel would have to learn of these dangers, learn that the world was not safe at all, that orcs could be anywhere. Not that she didn’t know already, but she didn’t understand the dangers of the world, dangers her father faced every day. But until she does understand, Arwen thought, let her be happy, let her play. And she prayed to the Valar that this child might grow up in safety, far away from the horrors of war. War which was all too close these days. The Ring was destroyed, but orcs and, worse, trolls still walked across the lands of Men. It was Aragorn’s task to lead his people in a non-stop effort to destroy all of the creatures of shadow, and when he died in war, his son would take over. But Arwen prayed that day was far away. She knew her days with Aragorn were numbered, and she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him and their children.

Someone who could not see this lovely picture, was Celebrian, Alatariel’s second sister and a skilled healer. She was 17 years older than her little sister, but she didn’t seem very old, due to her elf blood .She was not in Minas Tirith, but in Ithilien, where she assisted the Rangers who were hurt in battle. She did what she could, but even then sometimes someone died. She knew there was nothing she could do about it, but still she felt bad about it. This time, she had been too late. A man named Magorind had been stabbed by an orc blade which appeared to be poisonous. By the time she got there to help him, he was dying. All she could do for him, was to ease his pain.
She knew very well the horrors of war. She was no warrior herself, but she had lived among them long enough to see many battles, and they were all as horrible as the former ones. She wished she had her little sister’s innocence, her…freedom.
“She doesn’t know half how lucky she is,” Celebrian thought. “And when she does know, it’ll probably be too late… she won’t be innocent anymore.”

At that moment, a messenger came in with messages for the Captain, some Rangers and, to her great surprise, one for her as well. When she opened the letter, she recognised her father’s writing.
“My dear daughter,” the message began, “as you know it is soon Eldarion’s birthday. It’s going to be a very special day, you don’t become Captain every day. We hope you can come home for the feast, but don’t worry if you can’t. I know how busy you must be. Ada”

There was also a small message in a handwriting she didn’t recognise, until she saw the name at the bottom. Alatariel (obviously written by her mother, but the rest of the message was written by her little sister). It said: “Rian, are you coming for Ion’s birthday? I miss you, Alatariel.”

This convinced Celebrian for good. She immediately went to see the Captain, who had become a friend of hers, and asked him permission to go home for a while.
“Of course, Celebrian, you have been here for ages! I’m surprised you didn’t ask before! But I hope to see you again, you are a great help to all of us!”
“I promise, Captain, don’t worry!” she answered. “Thank you!!” And off she went.

She travelled through the forest not far from the Rangers’ camp, when she suddenly heard something. Or so she thought. She couldn’t see or hear anything, so she rode on, but a little faster now. Again she heard the sound, and again she stopped. Nothing. Not even a bird singing in the trees, not even a deer treading the forest floor. Then, a cracking sound, as if someone (or something?) had stepped on a branch. She looked around, but still she couldn’t see anything. And at the moment she looked forward again and wanted to go on, it happened. Suddenly, from all sides came…

Explanation of Sindarin words:
Ada = Daddy
Nana = Mommy

Please tell me what you think (R&R), more chapters will follow if you tell me what I can do better. Don’t flame me please, constructive criticism will be better both for you and me!!!