A cold wind blew through the forest of Thirdor. The sky turned a deep grey as the clouds rolled overhead blocking out the sun. Through the orange blanket of trees an eleven woman ran at great speed her feet barely making a sound on the leaf covered floor. Her long golden hair held back in a plat was lose from its ribbons and her soft brown cloak that covered her leather trousers and fitted white blouse was torn and mud stained. A cut ran along her cheek as she caught a sharp branch in her path. How long she had been running for she could not recall but it had seemed like hours. A noise ahead caused her to halt suddenly. She looked around nervously at the clearing she had entered. The elf woman climbed gracefully into the branches of a nearby oak tree as she herd the disturbance again. She sat silently waiting for any sign of the disturbing noise. Slowly she moved her hand to reach a bright silver knife that lay in a brown leather sheath against her belt. The movement grew louder and the leaves on the bush across the clearing began to rustle. She held her breath steady and prepared for battle as she pulled out the knife. A deer came into the clearing and sniffed the cool air. It began to graze on the grass at its feet. The elf woman breathed a sigh of relief from her lungs but as she went to return the knife the deer’s head rose sharply and it bolted back into the thickets. She listened intently for any sound but could not hear anything other than the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. Slowly she climbed down to the forest floor and headed off in the same direction as the deer had sprung. If it had indeed sensed her pursuers she thought it would have headed away from them at least. A flash of light lit up the sky as she ran again and it was followed with a rumble of thunder. Rain slowly fell and the pitter patter began all around her as it hit the canopy of leaves above her. Despite the trees the heavy rain soaked the forest floor and her boots were squelching through the mud! This would be trouble she would be leaving traces of her presence everywhere she ran. The pursuers would catch her in no time. She recognised suddenly a cluster of rocks she saw ahead of her. Stopping just before them she realised she had brought herself too close to the road and sure enough she herd the sound of voices just ahead. They spoke quickly in elvish and the elf woman listened behind the rocks for any news of her situation.

“They say she has been missing for over 6 hours” said the voice of a male elf.

“Well they should have asked me to join the scouts team, I would have had her back with her father 5 hours ago!” said a younger males voice.

“Oh would you Haldamir? Well in the future remind me to inform the king of your expert skills in tracking!” laughed the other. They could be herd moving slowly toward the rocks where she sat. The sound of thunder rumbled again above them.

“Well it’s true Elrohir I would have found her! Have you even bothered to join the search? Is it true her father came to your house to ask you to marry her?” Silence fell for a moment. Only the rain could be herd beating on the canopy above there heads.

“Listen to me Haldamir, I will find her one way of the other! It is just a matter of time!”

The elf woman slowly moved away from the rocks and into the forest again. As she ran thoughts of Elrohir filled her head. She brushed them aside and continued running. After several leagues she came to another clearing and listened closely again to her surroundings. Sure enough she heard what she had been praying for, the sound of the sea. As she ran it grew louder and louder until she broke through from the trees onto an open ridge. As she looked over the edge she saw the wave’s crash against the shore line some 30 ft below. She slowly ran with all her mite along the ridge until she saw the beginning of a path that sloped slowly down to the beach. The wind still hissed through her hair as she ran and the rain beat like daggers on her soft cheeks. A sound could be herd behind her she knew she had made a mistake to leave the safety of the forest but she had to keep moving there was no time to think about anything now. She was at the last stretch. The noise behind her grew even louder; she was running out of time. All above her she heard trumpets sounding and the thunder roared again drowning out the sounds above. The sky shone bright and then turned to black yet again. She ran and ran as fast as her legs would carry her; just as she reached the beach she felt it, a prick in her back. She stopped and pulled the arrow from her back. The blade was covered in a cream coloured stain. A flower on the island she knew as “Lúthien Elensar” or “white moon” a natural sedative. She felt her body grow weak and her legs began to give way. She tried to run and landed with a thud onto the sandy beach. The thunder sounded again and the woman looked at the waves crashing onto the shore with shock. There lay a figure on the wet sand before her. She pulled herself closer to it. As she used her last ounce of strength she reached the figure of a man head faced in the sand. She turned him over and tried to see if he was alive. The light lit up the sky and again she pushed herself back in sudden shock. A man he was but a human man! None had been seen within Thirdor for hundred’s of years. The island had been severed from the main land over 500 years ago. How did this man come to reach this place? He coughed suddenly and sea water ran from his lips and down his face. His eyes opened and he looked up at her with wonder. She tried to comfort him and smiled down at him.

“I found you” he said suddenly. She looked at him confusingly.

“I found you Eärwen Galathil, Golden Lady of Thirdor, please help me!”

Before she could reply he fainted once more. She looked over her shoulder as several elf scouts approached her and the human. There stood Elrohir looking down at her he held his bow at his side. He picked her from the ground and held her close as sleep finally overcame her.

Silver wood a childish memory…

A conversation concerning the liberal democrats, labour, and the conservative party were to blame for a wonderful memory of mine to be recalled and immediately I had to write about it. As usual signing on this morning I started to chat with my good friend Syn and as not so usual the sun shone wonderfully into my bedroom making me feel so relaxed and comfortable. It would seem according to Syn that his vote for Labour yesterday helped to stop the liberal democrats (tax hungry people apparently) in taking over his part of town this time round. His comment happily stating:

Lib Dem losses: Milton Keynes, Islington

I was very happy for him as he does feel strongly about politics and all that stuff that really confuses me to be honest. Anyway back to the story. It was as he mentioned this; I said how I was much happier with labour running the country than the likes of the liberal democrats and especially the bloody conservative party who I hate! In the early 90s Maggie Thatcher was still prime minister and even though I was only 7 I still remember the events of Silver wood pit being closed down. My granddad was gutted as I recall the day we walked up to the edge of the site and saw it being blown up. The hatches to be sealed forever and thousands of Rotherham lads made redundant! Granddad was old enough to retire so it didn’t cause too much bother for him but still you could see the madness he was feeling for losing a job he had done most of his life and worked hard at! Pictures in my Nan’s home lined some of the walls of the lads in there gear standing with mucky faces ready to go down the shafts! It was in his blood for sure! Well In discussing all of this with Syn a very peaceful old memory returned to me. A sweet memory of me and my sister arriving at Nan's house. Her two lovely hounds Peggy and Ben bounding up to us and giving us a fuss. Then we would have a nice sandwich before grabbing our things together and walking in the hot sun up my Nan’s long garden path through granddads allotment at the top with his potatoes and carrots tomatoes and peas. To the rickety old gate at the top of the garden itself with a brick holding it closed because the catch had broke!! Then we would step through with Peggy and Ben into the wild almost. A steep hilly path at the top was the mines railway line regular maybe 4 or 5 times in the day long trucks full of coal would ride up and stop in front of nan’s gate almost if it were not for the hill. The track line was a way for the train to change course and ride off into town. The trucks would run along the track by Nan’s house. Then stop so the line could be changed. You would see the driver running the entire length back along to the other engine at the other end. We would cross the line and head off along a narrow dirt track laden with shrubs and the odd tree and flower. As you got to the end you could look back and see the houses where Nan lived and to the right a most wonderful site. The reservoir. Herons souring overhead heading for the fish! Then the woods would envelope us. Peggy and Ben running through the bluebells which we would cheekily pick for Nan. After a long walk we would arrive by the main road and the entrance to Silver wood pit. Granddad would be seen with his friends all mucky and tired. However granddad would wave and smile and we would walk along another path up the steadily sloping hill through the woods till we came to a bench on the edge of the trees. It was my most favourite place. The whole of the country could be seen. Birds flying overhead towards the reservoir which was plainly visible. Young children riding their motorcycles up the steep hills around the outskirts of the wood. And the cool breeze was lifting my spirits as I sat on the earth cuddling Peggy. W would sit for a while have a drink and eat some sandwiches. Then head back slowly downhill home. Across the railway as the last trucks came by and finaly through into Nan’s garden and back to reality…

I hope you enjoyed this small incite into my childhood it’s a much cherished memory to me and I keep it locked I'm mind always! It’s been a long time since I thought of Nan’s dogs Peggy and Ben who both passed away a long time ago. Also of the wonderful walks I have shared in the Silver wood as a child. Please do share some of your memories with me maybe or some of your imaginative tales. This blog will now become my Writing Club forum for al to post bits of their inspiration or simply for them to comment about me!

Special thank you to Syn for reminding me of this special memory

Happy writing

xxxLisaxxx