The Pain That No One Knows 1

Welcome to The Pain That No One Knows! I'm RachelSkywalker01, and every now and then I will leave a note like this at the beginning of the chapter for those of you who would like to hear what I have to say. For those of you who don't know, this story has been edited, and by the time you are reading this, the sequel should already be published as well.

The italicized phrases are Elvish, and their translations are found beneath them. (Also in italicizes.)Other languages are also found in this story, and if they are not Elvish, I normally will let you know in the beginning of that particular chapter and in what kind of font they are written in. (Bold, italicized, etc.)

Enjoy!

-Rain's POV-

"Ohtar, Rhun Tad Hir Elrond, Rivendell. Asca!" As soon as the words were uttered, Warrior leapt forward into a sprint that no other horse could match. Behind me, my pursuer urged his horse faster as well.
-Warrior, go East to Lord Elrond in Rivendell. Hurry!-

We were headed to Riveldell, one of the larger Elven cities in Middle Earth. I didn't want to go, but the recent appearance of the Nazgul worried me, and I needed information from the rest of the world on what was happening.

"Rain!" That was no Nazgul voice.

Hesitantly, I slowed Warrior into a walk and allowed the other rider to catch up. It took him longer than I would have liked, but my patience was soon well rewarded.

"I see Ohtar still has quite a bit of speed in her yet. How old is she now? 3,000?" My fellow rider turned out to be an old friend, Gandalf by name, and wizard by trade. He had a long beard, mostly grey, and twinkling eyes that earned him many friends.

"About 3,000, yes." I studied the horn on the saddle, it was once polished leather, but time and hardships had worn it down into a comfortable knob at the base of Ohtar's neck. "I have a feeling that my magic is wearing off though; she doesn't show it but I'm sure she feels it."

"She truly lives to her namesake, Warrior." Gandalf spoke the truth, Ohtar was Elvish for 'warrior'.

There was some easy silence as the two of us tried to think of something to say.

"Where are you headed now?" He always wanted to know where I was going, and the question often led to a long, detailed description of the place I wanted to see next. But this time, his inquiry only gave him a one-word answer.

"Rivendell."

He turned slowly from his frontward-facing position to inspect me in disbelief. I couldn't look at him, instead keeping my eyes locked in front of me and my nails digging into Warrior's reigns.

"Are you turning yourself in?" It was an outrageous remark.

"Absolutely not." I snarled, and it rang, echoing through the wide, clear field we were galloping through for a long time before I explained further. "Strange things have been happening lately. I need answers."

"Well, sometimes I have answers. Why not ask me?" He had a point.

"The Nazgul are loose again. I want to know why." I internally shivered. I had more than enough scars from the encounters I had with the Black Riders, and I wasn't thrilled about the possibility of getting more.

Now he was the one who couldn't look at the person next to him. He seemed to be debating a matter within himself, but eventually said something that made ice crawl down my spine.

"They're back because the one ring has been found." He waited until our horses had reached the enclosure of trees along the borders of the woodland city of Rivendell. Horror filled my being, and I had trouble swallowing the lump in my throat. I remembered the one ring, and it only brought back memories of betrayal, destruction, and war.

Letting out a long breath, I sank into the saddle. "Let me guess. You're involved."

"You make it sounds as if I'm on the ring's side."

As horrible as it was, I smiled at his joke as we reached the body of water that completely surrounded Rivendell.