Remember Me

"My name is Illustriador, remember me!"

This phrase... this thought... was racing through my mind not so very long ago. You see I had all but lost and was facing a bitter end. It's quite strange when one, especially an elf, is at what they consider the final moments of their existence, when there is no tomorrow or next time. I think for everyone it may be slightly different. For me this single moment was a culmination of everything I was and had been. I felt as though all the power of Arnor had been funneled into my very being and I had one last glorious vision... I would make these hounds of darkness remember the name Illustriador!

Things had not always been such for me. When I was younger I frequently felt out of place and disassociated from my peers. I was even the target of harsh criticism, although, I tended to dismiss it with ease. You see my father who had been regarded as a great warrior, had been defeated in battle. From the tales passed to me, he died well, and with honor having bested some of the foulest of Angmar's minions. I was proud to be his son, but I was not sure he would have been proud to be my father.

You see when it came to the art of war I was quite ridiculous, and while all my peers seemed to advance with ease thru their studies; I on the other hand regressed. I must admit I had no will to learn such things. My thoughts resided somewhere else.

From my early days and even as far back as I can remember, back to when the mountains were young and the great oceans were still teaming with long forgotten ancient creatures, I felt a special bond, a connection with nature. As an elf we all feel close to life and everything that makes it up, however, this was different. It was as if I understood something that had been hidden from everyone else.

For the longest time this was nothing more than a feeling, but one memorable day, while training with my peers, something happened. This particular day was swordsmanship, very likely my least favorite and weakest area of study at the time. I had been paired with the best in class, nonetheless. This had happened before and I already knew the outcome. The reality seemed to play frame for frame to the conclusion I had already drawn in my mind. I had been knocked down and my opponent was just about to strike the winning blow when suddenly something unpredicted occurred. His face froze in terror. I wish I could say it was an expression directed towards me; however, his glare was fixated on something behind me, something so frightful that his mere expression filled me with fear! Before I could even turn to see what had caused such a reaction, I heard it, a deep... long bellow that sent a shiver down my spine and the entire class into retreat, all except for me that is. I turned and found myself locked in a gaze with a great brown bear. At that moment I peered into his mind and could see all his intentions as though they were my own. He intended no harm, but was in fact protecting a new friend, me.

From this day forward I was looked at quite differently in the eyes of all those whom I grew up with as well as the entire community. I was no longer ridiculed, but was dignified with a measure of respect and of course mystery. Shortly after I received a visit from an elf named Terselius. He told me that he had traveled a long distance to meet me and assured me about my new found talent. I came to learn that he had studied under the influence of great wizards and powerful elves. He invited me as his apprentice and after careful thought I left my life behind and embarked on a new one.

Ages have literally passed since that time and yet it had all been recalled during this single moment. What happened next, I myself cannot explain? I can only tell you that I awoke to find myself lying almost frozen and dissolute within the blizzards of the Misty Mountains. I sank in and out of consciousness and eventually found my way into the care of an elf from the fair lands of Rivendell who nursed me back to health.

It was just after such an event that I happened to meet a contrite captain of the Avari named Airedhiel. What he saw in me I cannot say, but he took a chance and invited me into this most gracious house. For this I will always be grateful. Now when I say, "My name is Illustriador, remember me!" I say it with a different purpose. Not one without hope, but one with pride knowing that I will never be forgotten amongst friends!