I mostly use the common speech (unless in song or poem) because there is already a tendency for some to feel less than comfortable with the elves of Mirkwood. It seems that past deeds aren’t easily forgotten, and that even young wood-elves who mostly grew up in seclusion, and have never helped capture a dwarf – not counting Dourhands, of course – in their life, are still under suspicion.

I tire of hearing about how we wood-elves are dark and mysterious, and how we cannot be trusted because we’re territorial and unfriendly. Psh, please! Have you met the Galadhrim? They’re not only haughty, unfriendly and mistrusting but if they don’t recognize you, and you come near Lothlorien, they will shoot you dead. POP! Seriously, when compared to that I don’t think that capturing a band of unknown intruders for questioning sounds so bad, does it? You know why they get away with it and we don’t, though? Their woods are prettier… and blond.

Oh, the fabled beauty of The Golden Wood!
Let mine eyes gaze upon thy wondrous beauty!!
Let mine heart… PEW PEW PEW!
Get shot through by a cranky archer.

Oh ok, so the elves of Mirkwood currently do the same thing… shoot strangers dead, that is. But that’s only in these recent dark times, we haven’t always done it. We’re really not all untrustworthy, arrogant hermits; and certainly there’s more to us than Thorin’s capture, Dol Guldur, and Legolas.

Please forgive my rant, but one wearies of hearing every race on Middle-earth ask, “Wow, Mirkwood, huh? Did you help capture Bilbo Baggins? Is Dol Guldur super scary?”

Even worse are the fan-maidens, “O my Elbereth! Do you know Prince Legolas?!?!”

So, just to get it out of the way now:

No, I didn’t help capture Thorin’s band. Dol Guldur is indeed very scary. And, yes, I know Legolas. I can shoot my bow as well as he, and I have better hair.

Before I post a ton of seemingly random RP bloggishness, I want to give a bit of background on my two main characters, Cherrydue and Curiel. So, I first present to you (in condensed form for those who have raids to get to!) an introduction:

Cherry’s Tale

A fair sprite with a merry smile and a song always at the ready, Cherrydue warmly touches those she meets like a spot of sunshine on a cloudy day. Most Shire-folk would say that she grew up like a weed without proper care, but Cherry never resented the nomadic life which her mother gave her. In fact, she loved adventure almost as much as Daisy did.

Cherry’s mother, Daisy, was born and raised in Buckland. As a close relative of the Brandybucks she never lacked anything growing up, and yet was never satisfied with the small views and small life that the Shire presented her. Her musical talent appeared at a young age, and Daisy soon realized that it could lead her to the adventure she’d always craved. She left the Shire — much to the scorn of her kinfolk — and spent many years playing songs for the brave dwarves of Ered Luin. She became, to those champions who took up arms, a light amidst any gloom. Travelling with these soldiers, Daisy learned to heal the hearts of those around her with her music. She became an asset on the battlefield as well as by the hearth-fire. The skill of mending the weary that she learned in these years were the lessons that she would eventually pass on to her only child, Cherry.

Cherrydue was born in the autumn but arrived like a warm spring day. She had her mother’s red hair and infectious laugh, and was immediately adored by those who met her. Her mother cherished her immensely and instead of going back home to Buckland where she would suffer more scorn for her fatherless child, she kept on with her adventuring and kept Cherry with her always. Cherry had the good fortune of being raised with many different kinds of folk from so many places that she never acquired the earthy, simple way of talking (or thinking) that most Shire-folk have. She spoke with barely any accent at all, and picked up languages as easily as she did song.

It was apparent early on that Cherrydue had her mother’s voice and gift for music. They travelled together to festival, pub, camp and battle; and she learned much for one so young. Eventually Daisy and Cherry earned a fair penny together, singing side by side in Middle-earth, in places both noble and wild.

Cherry was so happy with her life of adventure and song, that it didn’t occur to her to ask questions about a family she never missed. Though once, she did ask Daisy if she had a father. Her mother uncharacteristically blushed and only told her that he was a dwarf champion of great renown, a warrior to be proud of, and that she needn’t know more than that. Cherry was such an easy child and content with her world, that the answer was enough for her.

After many happy years and many adventures together, the call for help in Eregion – and even the fabled Moria – came to the talented duo. Cherry was eager to venture forth, but her mother became hesitant. With great sadness they decided to part ways for a while. So, Cherry found her own voice and grew in talent and notoriety in fair Eregion and eventually found her way into Moria. She lost contact with her mother, for Moria was a dark, feral place and all of her time there was spent helping the brave dwarves reclaim their once beloved Khazad-dum.

During this time, Daisy became distant from most of those she had once travelled with. Those who cared for her knew that something was amiss. Still in Moria, Cherrydue heard only strange rumors about her mother from the dwarves, but thought that the odd things she heard couldn’t possibly be true, and dismissed them with a laugh. In her heart, however, she somehow knew that something wasn’t right and decided to seek out her mother after their long separation.

It took far too long for Cherrydue to find Daisy. She travelled the vast stretches of Eriador seeking out familiar faces for news of her mother. Her questions were met by strange, dark tales that Cherry could no longer ignore. They said that after Cherry went to Moria alone, Daisy began to change. Anyone who knew her knew that something was wrong when Daisy stopped adventuring and stopped playing her music for them. It was said that she isolated herself for long periods of time, only showing up in markets out of necessity. Her friends told Cherry that whenever they met and approached Daisy, that she seemed distant and spoke of new magic and the strange, unfriendly company that she now kept.

Cherrydue was heart-sore to think that her mother had fared so badly while she had been making a name for herself in Khazad-dum. She followed the small leads that she had, and eventually she did find her mother. All of Cherry’s worries seemed for naught in that moment that she and her mother were reunited. Daisy embraced her and told her that she was so glad that they were together again. She told Cherry that she had a new band of friends and even went by a new name now, but that they would soon be having adventures together just as before. Some of this puzzled Cherry, but she was so relieved to find her mother mostly as she remembered that she chose to ignore it. Besides, Daisy promised in that moment that they would never have to be apart again, for any reason, and Cherry knew it to be true. She followed her mother back to her camp, and soon happily dozed off in the afternoon sun.

Cherrydue awoke that evening to the sound of arguing. Her mother’s companions were yelling back and forth, with interjections from Daisy. It seemed that the ruckus was something about Cherrydue being in their camp. Daisy saw that Cherry was awake, and took her aside to talk. She said that although she was the leader of this group of adventurers, that things had changed. Her people were untrusting and she had made a mistake to bring Cherry back there. Cherry didn’t really understand what she was being told. She didn’t know how being with your family could ever be a mistake, but her thoughts were interrupted by more yelling by the campfire.

Daisy seemed almost too calm when she turned to her daughter and said the words that burned into her heart. She told Cherry that she needed to leave, to leave and never come back. Cherry’s heart raced in her chest. How could this be happening? This was her mother and they had just found each other again! She turned and asked her about her promise of never being separated again. Daisy paused for only a small moment and replied that she had no choice, that she would lose too many of her men if she compromised. And so, in disbelief and utter pain, Cherrydue fled the camp… her tears soaking into her cloak as she stumbled into the dark alone.

That night stayed in Cherry’s mind like a recurring dream. Daisy had been her only real family, and her truest companion and friend. The betrayal she felt burned worse than the flames of any drake she had ever fought. She couldn’t bring hope back to her own heart, for it was broken. She, herself, went into hiding and felt she would never sing again. Those she called friend were worried, for she hadn’t ever faltered or failed to accompany them when needed… until now. She slipped further into solitude and depression and did the only thing that she could, she waited for her heart to heal enough so that she could go on healing others again.

Eventually the heartiness and good cheer of her race won out. Hobbits don’t oft succumb to malaise, and Cherrydue’s true nature prevailed in the end. She returned to her band of friends and warriors that were helping to reclaim Moria. Her heart remained wounded by the betrayal which she endured, but the desire to heal the hearts of those around her overcame her own pain.

Cherrydue is still fighting the good fight for Middle-earth. She knows that bringing joy to those around her is the best way to heal her own heart, as well as theirs.

I’ve decided to start blogging here so that I can have a safe place to talk about LoTRO which is sadly?awesomely? one of the bigger parts of my life.  I don’t think that the “real world” would understand much of what I have to say, or care, even if they somehow did.

I plan on posting about pretty much everything (random observations, game play, classes, kinships/relationships, stories/RP tales), with varying degrees of filters… and pie.

Here’s to new beginnings!  *cheers!*