The Lost Kingdom

Chapter 4: Joining the Fellowship

As the Fellowship continued its journey south, Aria found herself growing more and more attached to her new companions. They were a diverse group, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but together they were formidable.

One evening, as they stopped to camp for the night, Aria sat around the fire with the rest of the Fellowship, eating what little food they had and sharing stories of their lives.

Aragorn, the future king of Gondor, sat across from her, his eyes fixed on her as she spoke. "Tell me more about your family," he said, his voice gentle.

Aria took a deep breath, feeling a pang of sadness at the memory of her parents. "My mother was a warrior, and my father was a king," she said, her voice soft. "But he was always off at battle, so I was raised by my people."

She looked around at the rest of the Fellowship, seeing the curiosity in their eyes. "My people are strong and proud," she continued. "We value honor and courage above all else. But there are those who would seek to harm us, to take our land and our power."

She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should share the next part. But she knew that she could trust these people. "My uncle, Tharion, has always been jealous of my position as princess. He has tried to steal my crown many times, but my people have always been loyal to me."

As she spoke, Aria felt a sense of vulnerability that she had never experienced before. She had always been a strong and independent woman, but now she was opening up to these strangers in a way that made her feel exposed.

But to her surprise, the Fellowship listened intently to her words, their eyes sympathetic and kind. And Aria knew that she had found true companionship in these people.

Aria felt a sense of pride and admiration as she listened to the conversation around her. Frodo, Sam, and Gimli were asking her more about her people, and she was happy to share what she knew.

"The name of my people is Nalath," she said, her voice strong and confident. "We are a tribe of warriors, renowned throughout Middle Earth for our strength and skill in battle."

Gimli nodded, his eyes shining with interest. "I have heard of the Nalath," he said. "They are said to be some of the best warriors in all the land."

Aria smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction at the dwarf's words. "Yes," she said. "We take great pride in our skills, and we train hard to be the very best."

Sam looked at her curiously. "But what about the women of your tribe?" he asked. "Are there many woman warriors?"

Aria felt a sense of amusement at the hobbit's question. She knew that in many cultures, women were not allowed to fight. But the Nalath were different.

"In my tribe, men and women are equals," she said. "We believe that everyone has the right to defend their home and their people. And so there are many women among the Nalath who are skilled warriors."

Gandalf nodded, his eyes twinkling with understanding. "The Nalath are a proud people," he said. "And rightly so. They have earned their reputation as some of the best warriors in Middle Earth."

Aria felt a sense of gratitude towards the wizard. She knew that he understood her people and respected their ways. And she knew that with him by their side, the Fellowship would be unstoppable.

As they sat around the fire, talking and laughing, Aria felt a sense of belonging that she had never felt before. These people were her friends, her companions, and she knew that together, they could face anything that lay ahead.

As the night wore on, they sat around the fire, sharing stories and laughter. And Aria felt a sense of belonging that she had never felt before. For the first time in her life, she was not alone. She was part of something greater than herself, and she knew that together, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.