An Elven maid there was of old
A shining star by day:
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.

A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair.

Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.

Beside the halls of Nimrodel,
By water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool.

Where now she wanders none can tell
In sunlight and in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.(1)

Concerning the Avari

At the Time of Awakening, all Elves lived in the East of Middle-earth near Orocarni, the Mountains of the East, on the shore of Helcar, the Inland Sea. But in the time the summons of the Valar came and all the Elves had to make a choice between starlight and the promise of a land of eternal light. Those who chose eternal light and set out on the Great Journey were named the Eldar, while those who remained were called the Avari; the “unwilling.”

The Avari became a less powerful people, for their land became barbarous with Dark Powers and evil races, and so the Avari dwindled and hid themselves. They became as shadows and sprites that mortal eyes could not perceive. They lived always close to wooded land, built no cities and had no kings. Later, in the years of Sun, the Avari were named Silvan, or Wood Elves. Some of these Elves travelled further west, and took residence in Greenwood (which was later named Mirkwood,), or the forests of Lothlórien. The High Elves took pity upon the Silvan, and took some of them as their subjects. It was in this way that the Silvan Elves learned much of the High Elven language and culture, and many of the skills that had come from the Undying Lands(2).

Concerning Avarlothien of Lórien

It was in the time of the Silvan elves that a child was born. She was named Avarlothien; “Avar” as a testament to their Avari kin of old, and “Lothien” in honour of the land and Highborn elves that had been so kind to the Silvan. Her parentage was not a noble one, but they were happy all the same, living under the graces of Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord and Lady of Lórien Wood. When Avarlothien was but twelve seasons old, her parents, by what means she still knows not, fell into shadow, and she was taken in by Celeborn and Galadriel. They raised her as they had their daughter Celebrían before her, and she was treated as any elven princess would have been. As Avarlothien grew she was taught well the arts of battle, both of bow and dagger, and grace she learned well also.

She grew tall and fair, it is said, as much so as her surrogate mother. She came to be known as Jade, for her eyes were not pale blue, as many of the Elves, but a fair pale green; the green of the far seas. As she grew older a wanderlust took her heart; she took to wandering about the far edges of Lothlórien, gazing at the passing of the sun or moon. Finally one day she took it in her heart to travel to far Rivendell, to study in the great libraries there.

So it was with a heavy heart that Galadriel imparted her adopted daughter North to Rivendell. Avarlothien was gifted an onyx-stone pendant from Galadriel, and a fine longbow from Celeborn. Haldir and Craxus, brothers and Heralds of Galadriel, were bid to guide Avarlothien on her way. In time she gave to Craxus her onyx pendant, and he took it from her, pledging to her his life, and swearing to protect her at any cost. (He did, really. Just ask him.)

It was in Rivendell that Avarlothien met Elladan and Elrohir, her cousins, and the twin sons of Elrond Half-elven, her uncle. Avarlothien, Elladan, and Elrohir became fast friends, and thought long about forming an Elvish punk band. They got as far as writing the lyrics to a few very fine songs (including “Mancüva Böybánd,” and “Étévanne, Undómiel”). But Elrond would not have it, saying “No sons or for that matter, nieces, of mine are going be involved in that sort of thing. It is bad enough with Arwen moping about all day singing laments without me having to hear you all strumming at your electric lutes and beating at your tambourines. Go do something constructive for a change…!” So it was that Elladan shrugged dismissively and introduced Avarlothien to the Dúnedain of the North, and she spent many of her days with them and her Elven cousins, hunting Orcs. (For some reason unknown to any parties involved, Elrond approved greatly of this.)

Sadly, Avarlothien never much got along with Arwen. …And generally after a few pints of miruvor and a slight bit of prodding she would tell you anything you ever wished to know about Arwen Evenstar very much at length, typically saying things along the lines of this: “Undómiel is a sallow-cheeked sap and should never have gotten involved with that Elesar bloke in the first place… He’s only a heap of trouble...! And besides that, hasn’t she been listening to Uncle Elrond? There is no strength left in the race of men, if you know what I mean.” And at that point she might elbow you in the ribs and raise her eyebrows in a somewhat provocative manner, and then quietly pass out on the tabletop, her magenta and golden hair astray across it.

Descriptions That Aren’t Going to Tell You Anything That You Aren’t Already Fully Aware of, But That I Thought Were Important Nonetheless

Name: Avarlothien (But please call me Jade, or at least something upon the lines thereof.)

Race: Ní na Elda. (I am an elf.)

Weapons: Twin Elvish daggers (Yes, like that Legolas bloke,), and a Lothórien-made longbow. ...and more recently a scythe.A really well balanced light one with a really sharp blade. So sharp in fact that the actual edge of the blade is impercievable, and right before it gets that way, is a pale and decidedly worrying shade of blue.

Appearance: Tall and pale skinned (as are many of the Elda,) with jade-green eyes, and long golden blonde hair. (She “improved” upon the golden blonde with the addition of bright magenta streaks spaced intermittently within her gold strands. Suffice it to say that Galadriel was not entirely pleased, but made no move to stop her.) She wears whatever she feels like wearing at the moment. She has a vast knowledge of her wardrobe and uses it to its fullest abilities. (Mwaha.)

Augmentations: Great speed and lithe grace, wonderful aim, the ability to heal (…but if you dare call me a white mage I will injure you, and badly,), and a vague knowledge of black mage majic. (So mainly level one type majic spells. I do things. They work, generally.)

Temperament: Generally quite manic. (Sorry boys.) She has a personality close to that of War in Pratchett and Gaiman’s novel “Good Omens.” (Suffice it to say that you really wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her graces. For she will make you pay. Usually in flesh.)

Endnotes, For I am Complete Crap at GuideML and Do Not Know the Methods of Doing Footnotes

1) Excerpt from The Lord of the Rings Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien, 1954 edition, pgs 380-381.

2) Excerpt from A Guide To Tolkien by David Day, Chancellor Press, 2001, pgs 21-22.