The second place in The Tolkien Writing Contest goes to...

FallenAngel889

Congratulations on coming in second! You did an amazing job and we absolutely loved your story. You have won one of the hobbit themed teas of your choice; Hobbiton Meadow Mint Tea - Gandalf the Grey Tea (Camomile and something else) - Bilbo Baggins Breakfast Blend (Cinnamon/Orange/Black tea). Also you have won 'Tree by Niggle' by Tolkien.  Also, you do get a 'The Hobbit Moleskine Notebook' because we as the jury decided that it is only fair for reasons given in the next chapter.

That means that you also get the prizes that the winner of the first place wins.

If you can send me your adress in the pm's  or over e-mail, then I can send you your prizes :) I'll have to order the tea first so it may take some time before it gets to you. But we'll stay in touch about that.

Feedback from the jury:

"It was very interesting to read from Elrond' point of view. Especially the description of Nirwen through his eyes was something we haven't seen often. Great touch to add Elven words and sentences in your story, also it was very helpful to put the translation immediately after those sentences. Sometimes you have to scroll all the way up or down before you know what you just read.

We felt like the first half of your story didn't flow as nicely as the second half did. The conversation between Nirwen and Elrond felt very natural. And that the beginning of your story felt a little forced. The last bit of critism: The story kind of ended abruptly. We felt like it hadn't truly ended yet, that there was more to come.

Over all we think you did a great job. The flow of the second half was great, and the conversation, again, felt like a natural conversation between two strangers. Keep on writing and thank you for participating!"

The story:

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It was another blissful afternoon in the safe haven known has Imaldris but known to most as Rivendell.
Anyone and everyone were welcomed into my kingdom may it be to see the elvish culture or a place to rest before reaching their true destination. My people and I would welcome them with open arms. Though I was expecting a peculiar visit from Lothlorien. What made this so peculiar was the reasoning for the visit. A letter written to me by Lady Galadriel explained that a very close friend of hers had fallen into a deep sadness that she seemed to be having trouble coming back from. The cause of the sadness is unknown to me for the Lady did not mention it in the letter. She wrote that she herself and her husband Lord Celeborn could not lift her spirits and out of desperate need to help her closest friend she asked for my help and to give our vistor my wisdom. To say I was astonished was not nearly close to the emotion I had felt after reading the letter. Galadriel must be in desperate need to ask for my help over something so simple, but what I did not know was that this visit was not going to be even close to simple.

I was currently taking a stroll close to the entrance of my palace so I may reach our guest quickly so she did not have to wait. After reading the letter I learned that her name was Nírwen in western it is translated to tears or weeping which sadly matches her current state of emotion. I could suddenly hear hooves lightly hit the soft soil beneath their feet has they trotted closer to the entrance. By the sound I could guess there was about five but I was uncertain. I turned and walked to the gates of Imaldris to greet Nírwen. As I stepped done the stairs to the platform in front of the gates I could see four guards surrounding one single onyx horse with a slim figure atop it. "Le nathlam hí.(You are welcome here.)" I greeted to the guards and to the stranger on the horse. I could not see her face because it was covered with the hood of her midnight blue cloak. I walked to the dark horse and held out my hand for Nírwen to take. "Hîr vuin(My Lord)" was her soft reply with the nod of her head. Her voice was like a quiet stream. I smiled as she took my hand while I put her hands on my shoulders so I could put my hands on her waist to help her down. "I am very pleased to see that you and your guards have made it to my domain safely." I said as I removed my hands from her waist and took her up the stairs.

" Yes, I agree and thank you for even considering helping me, though I do not think it will do much good." She replies as we made it to a sitting area with a large balcony. I sat down on a couch and waved her to sit next to me. "And why do you think I could not help you?" I inquired with a raised brow. Nírwen sat and before she replied she removed her hood for me to see the most enchanting elleth I had seen in my life time. She had long brown hair that ran down to her waist in a waterfall of light waves with pale skin of ivory never seen before by my eyes. But none could compare to her eyes. They were a dark forest green that of a young Woodland in the light of the summer sun. Her faë said otherwise. The emotion that swam in her eyes was Solemn and the most broke I had seen before. 'Beautifully broken' I thought to myself. "If Galadriel could not help than it is undoubtedly impossible for anyone else to help. This sadness will stay with me until I reached the halls of Mandos." She looked down. I could not fathom how broken she felt, but that did not mean she was impossible to help... and I would prove that to her. I lifted her head up with my index finger below her chin and my thumb resting on top. She looked at me with a tear streaked face. I knew in that moment that I could not let her fade. I knew that I had fallen in love immediately for I in some way could relate to how she felt. I felt as if my heart and faë had died when I lost my late wife, but I did not give up hope for my children. I knew they needed me in that moment as much as I needed them. Like I now know how Nírwen needed me. "Do not cry. Your sadness does your beauty no good."