This is an excerpt from a story that I wrote a while back. This is actually from the last chapter, but if people like it I can post more of this. The story itself follows a group of people during the Third Age in parallel with the events of the Fellowship, but not coming directly into contact with them except in brief instances. This portion happens 7 years after the Return of the King.
Excerpt:
From Lost Tales of Middle Earth
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The keel of the boat grated gently on the sandy bottom of the shallows, bringing it to a halt at the base of a steep slope
that led up to lonely dunes. The tall figure of Chaleins leapt nimbly from it, carrying the painter up the beach where he secured it to a driftwood log, left over from some long-forgotten storm. His travel-stained boots crunched over shells and pebbles as his tired eyes surveyed the slope for the path he was seeking, all the while his mind worked on what lay ahead.
Why had he come back here when he already knew what he would find?
The flood of memories washed over him again, as they did each time he set foot on shore. Faces swam before his eyes in the waving dune grass, the hiss of the breeze filled with voices tugging him onward. He brushed some strands of dark fine hair from his eyes, as if trying to brush away the memories that crowded thickly about him. He took another step forward,and his reverie was broken by a polite cough from behind him. Chaleins turned, his face calm now as his natural command
reasserted itself on the solid form of the bosun, a few paces away.
"You want us to go with you, sir?" The sailor's voice was gruff, but deferential. A good man, thought Chaleins.
"No, Telpar, I'm just going to find the road the Havens, and see if we can get the beacons lit for us by the next tide. I'll be back by tonight. You can have the men fill the barrels from that tributary just there." He pointed to where a meandering stream, like a silver ribbon, found its way to the sea.
The man smiled, saluted, and headed back towards the boat crew, idling by the shore, his voice already barking commands that made them start into motion like seabirds.
When he reached the top of the rise, his tall frame could already discern the towers built of ancient stone. They were further than he had intended to land, but he was grateful for a few hours alone. He set off amongst the dunes, the grass gradually thickening and becoming breezy, sun-kissed meadows filled with small flowers and a tree bent by the sea breezes. The nearest tower twinkled slightly as the afternoon sun struck it, and he set his legs along some kind of animal path that led roughly in its direction. Behind him, the masts of his ship were just visible beyond the rise.
The heat haze dimmed his view of the landscape between himself and the distant towers, and the buzz of insects at work amongst the flowers rose and fell like the surf noise had by the shore. He had walked only a short way when he became aware of a figure in the distance, with shimmering golden hair dancing and waving as the figure danced with complete
abandon on the pleasant meadow. He took a step forward, a lump rising in his throat and his eyes teared slightly from the wind and a buried memory.
"I'll see you at the docks, Chaleins."
He took another step, and the illusion vanished; its place taken by the figure of a small, golden-haired child, who stopped her spinning dance to gaze at him, framed as he was against the brilliant sea beyond.
"Hello." She said.
There was no fear in her voice, just childish curiosity, and the sage knowledge born into all children to greet all travelers, especially tall ones wearing exotic clothing.
"Have you come from the sea?"
"Yes," he replied. He half turned to look back at the masts, but realized she was so short, she probably couldn't see them. Her golden hair was unusually light in color, and though she was clearly a hobbit, her features were almost elven.
"I'm Elanor," she said confidently. "We're having a picnic, just over there."
"I'm Chaleins," he replied. He tried to look out into the haze, and with his sharp sight he could just make out some kind of cart in the shade of a tree.
She came up and smiled at him. "Come and meet my mum and dad."
Not knowing what else to do, he allowed her to take his hand, and lead him towards the tree. Two short figures there waved energetically as they approached, shielding their eyes against the glare. These two gradually resolved themselves as adult hobbits, with smiling and cheerful faces. The man spoke first.
"Hullo, Elanor, what have you found?"
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