Nomë nyérëo
The Tale of Radhein & Tierhe

This is a snippet of 'The History of Órelindë', which relates to my character, Tîwele.

A man named Radhein was one of the only ones among the lost Avari who sought for friendship from the Eldar. In the days when Morgoth the enemy was still a threat, he was a great craftsman of nature, and, hearing of the great deeds of the Elves who dwelt in Valinor, desired to see their works for himself when he heard it rumoured that many of the Noldor would be returning from across the sea. Not caring for the purpose in their return, he ventured to meet them alone when none of his companions would go with him. But by chance, he cast his eyes first upon Tierhe, a young Noldorin maiden, collecting fruit in the eaves of the forest.

He approached her, and she saw him for the first time, both in each other's eyes the seed of a golden fruit, and a connection sprung between them. Entranced, she followed him to a glade beside a waterfall. Though they could not understand each other at first, they learned through glance and movement a way of communication. For many following days, she did not go back to the other Noldor, but stayed with Radhein. Together, they walked throughout the land, treading every path they dared to tread, and watched the mystical heavens at night. She taught him Quenya, her tongue, and told him tales of Valinor. Gradually, they fell in love, and Tierhe chose not to return to her kin, and Radhein vowed to take her back to his home and wed her. The Avari were at first reluctant to befriend the stranger, but these feelings soon dissolved. In that glade under the stars, the lovers pledged an eternal bond.

The Noldor grew worried about Tierhe when they espied her disappearance, and her mother and father were distraught with worry. Fearing the worst, a group of soldiers were sent to search for the lost lady, and Ronan, a gentle hunter, came on her at last, scattering flowers in the forest, and with her was a stranger. Breathing relief, Ronan tried to persuade Tierhe to return to her kin, but she refused, and told him the tale of she and Radhein's meeting, and all that was afoot between them. Ronan returned to the Noldor, and told news of her tale to her mother and father. At first disapproving of Tierhe's choice, they finally relented to their daughter's wishes. They agreed to the marriage, and in part because Tierhe's mother was no longer eager to participate in the Noldor's war, her parents pledged alliance with Radhein's kin, and forsook the Noldor to join them.

Radhein and Tierhe lived a happy life together. Their daughter, Kairra, was a jewel among the Avari. One summer's day, Tierhe was wandering the skirts of the forests alone. Radhein waited by the light of the dimming campfire at night for her return. But never did he see sign nor shadow of her, and she did not step into the circle of night were her lover awaited for her that dusk. In the days following, Radhein was distraught with grief, and everyday, he awaited her, longing for her return, but she did not. She had disappeared where none knew she had gone, and was lost forever to him, for he never saw her again as long as he lived. Radhein could not bear the bitter parting, and throughout the duration of endless chilling nights, he sat upon a rock in the glade he and Tierhe had shared when they first met. He could not be persuaded to leave that spot, and for an agelong period, he sat still unmoved, staring into space. In that spot, he waited against hope for his beloved to return to him once more, so that they could renew their happy days together. He sat bowed in that glade for so long that those that were near him were convinced he had turned frozen into the rock face.

When next he was searched for, he had gone. It seemed to them that he had dissolved into the air, leaving at last the mortal lands whereupon he spent his last sorrowful days to at last join Tierhe in spirit. In his last speech to the unhappy world, he had cursed the night for wrenching from his grasp that which his soul treasured so dearly.

That glade was everafter named Nomë nyérëo, Glade of sorrow, and the Avari believed that those that ventured there would often hear amist the wind's sighing, Radhein's last anguished words to the world, and discern the shadow of a still figure waiting on the rocks.

Kairra was left orphaned, too young for her yet to know what had befallen. Yet she lived a content and carefree life, cared for by the loving Avari, among which she was christened Menelin for her beauty. Tîwele was a descendent of her.

All comments welcome :)

This wasn't actual parts of Tolkien's work, was it? (I didn't think it was, it's a good story if you did make it up by the way. I'm such a sucker sometimes for sad love endings. >_< ...and good ones...)

Where is it anyways? I know you said it wasn't put on the maps ^_^ but I just was curious in case it came up in the posting for Amon Lanc. Although, I suppose..I could make them lost. That would be funny.

Nope, I wrote it ^_^ I know what you mean, I just love love stories, especially ones with tragic endings :crying: I didn't mean to write so much out of the way of what I was supposed to, which was some stuff about Órelindë, but I just got a little :frown: carried away with it, but I like how it turned out.
I was thinking about this, and I don't think I've quite figured out where I'm going to put the place. (It's not a Tolkien-created place, by the way, just if you haven't realised already. I made it up, as well as its 'history' so as to make it fit into the mythos, which I hope it does now.) I know it'll be somewhere where there's a large empty space so there's no other lands and people around, but I haven't decided where. Any ideas?