Post by Nienna Greenleaf of Mirkwood on Feb 25, 2005 21:27:01 GMT -6
I just had to post this short story that I did for my Writing about Humanity class last week. I got the best grade in the class, and it was a grade that the teacher gives out only once or twice a semester...and I got it!!! 
*does happy dance* In my class, whenever Sister Maria gives back the papers she always reads a portion of each one of them to the class before she hands them back to us. She always likes to share the parts that she loved the most. I'm incrediably modest about that type of thing, but she's such a sweet woman that she makes even the worst thing that you've written sound like poetry or Shakespeare when it comes out of her mouth.
Ok, here it is. Oh, and one more thing...it's not exactly LotR, but I wanted to post it anyway...I know, I know. I'm bad...
But just this once. 
Please tell me what you guys think about it! If it counts for anything, LotR is always an inspiration to me when I'm writing something, and I hope that you can see that here. Oh, and I partically based it on Robert Frost's famous poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" It's one of my favorite poems!
Hannon le! ;D
[shadow=Blue,left,300]Midwinter's Ride[/shadow]
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
~ By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Night in the forest had come. Snow blanketed the landscape in a thick white cloak, tiny snow flakes were like delicate feathers as they alighted on the great pines that dominated the terrestrial landscape. There didn’t seem to be a soul out tonight in this weather, at least not this deep into the reaches of the woods, save for a small flock of ebony colored ravens that had paused in their travel for a night well spent in safety and tranquility. Their very presence was sometimes seen as an omen, and so it may have been so tonight as their feathers blotched the fair lightened landscape with shadowy contrast. Suddenly the peaceful perfection of the forest was interrupted by the thundering of hooves in the distance. The persistent pounding echoed throughout the pre-gale of the storm like water on rock, driving it ever closer to the glen. Finally the huff of an old Clydesdale brought rider and horse threw the snowy curtain. The uproar sent the birds to the air in a frenzy of surprised squawks and hisses.
The rider was an older man, a farmer, but he showed no sense of his age or any lack of skill as he reined his horse in sharply, almost too abruptly for the poor animal that slid precariously for a moment across the slippery ground. The Clydesdale screamed its displeasure at his master’s ill-timed command, swinging his massive head to shake the snow from its thick knotted mane. Clouds of warm mist blew out from its widened nostrils, dissolving into the bitter cold.
The man who was usually much more gentle and understanding with his stallion, cursed instead.
“Silence, you impertinent animal! My night has been foul enough without having a beast scold me also!” The animal’s only reply was to snort, and to allow the heavy tenseness of the moment to consume them both.
The man trembled and pulled his wool coat and scarf closer to his body, breathing almost as heavily as his horse. He roughly shoved the snowy hair away from his eyes. The night had not been good to the farmer. Just a few hours ago, he had met his wife in a bitter argument. The two had exchanged words, perhaps some too harsh, until he had thrown up his hands in defeat, deciding to vent his anger over a woman’s utter foolishness by crashing through the woods on this snowy evening. The bitterness of the winter wind gnawed at the frown that had frozen itself onto his face. After a few minutes of silence, the farmer gave a long sigh, patting his companion’s wooly mane.
“I’m sorry for that back there, old friend. I guess that I lost my head a bit.” The farmer’s chuckle came out as more like an old frog’s croak as the cold begun to wrap itself around his throat. The horse, which at first had been impatient with his master for his mishandling, bowed his head quietly as if understanding half-heartily every word that the man spoke. Obediently, he made no move to wander until his master said otherwise.
“Blasted weather! There ain’t no reason for nature’s fury, I tell you!” The light snowflakes tickled his nose, but such a beauty was seen by the farmer as an utter nuisance. Deep down he had a great love and appreciation for the natural world, but today it was a bother, and nature’s folly was much more of a hindrance than a blessing. His numbed fingers gripped the saddle, and with much exertion he carefully swung himself to land firmly onto the white ground. With age wizened eyes he scanned the woods around him, taking a few steps nearer to the evergreen trees. For the first time that night, he saw how truly beautiful the environment was. The snow had grown softer still, and the woods had a serene calm that caught his breath. Why had he not noticed this before? Had he been so caught up in his own petty pride to miss what had been before him all along?
An abrupt snapping noise interrupted his thoughts. The farmer looked back to his stallion to see it nosing a large branch, purposely pawing at it with his hoof and looking over his shoulder at him, as if expecting the farmer to come closer.
“What do you have there, ‘ol fella?” The older man’s curiosity grew as he caught sight of a bright blaze of green that stood out among the dying timber. Shoving the animal’s large snout gently out of the way, he saw with great surprise what the horse had been after. Deep inside the splintered log still remained green and new, like a rose damp with dew still clinging to moisture’s chill. The farmer was so abruptly surprised that he could not help but take a step back. If not for the cold nipping at his back he would have suspected the weather as being no colder than a mild day in the sun. Suddenly the argument that he previously had with his dear wife flashed onto his mind, and he stood still for a moment in realization. If nature could still live through this blanket of cold and misery, then so could his relationship ‘weather’ all things too. It was no secret that he loved his wife with all his heart, but for the many years that they had been together they still managed to aggravate one another from time to time. But if not for the little fights and disputes that he had with her he couldn’t possibly be able to appreciate the good times that they had.
Without another moment of hesitation, the older man swung himself back into the saddle with the exuberance of a young man anticipating meeting his love again after a long absence. He had been shown his course and he would follow it. Whether he had been at fault or not he would apologize to his wife and renew the sacred bond that he had with her. With a toss of his reins and a cry to the wind, he spurred his stallion onward, leaving a white trail of snowy mist in his wake that whispered softly into the night.
~ Nienna
*does happy dance* In my class, whenever Sister Maria gives back the papers she always reads a portion of each one of them to the class before she hands them back to us. She always likes to share the parts that she loved the most. I'm incrediably modest about that type of thing, but she's such a sweet woman that she makes even the worst thing that you've written sound like poetry or Shakespeare when it comes out of her mouth.Ok, here it is. Oh, and one more thing...it's not exactly LotR, but I wanted to post it anyway...I know, I know. I'm bad...
But just this once. 
Please tell me what you guys think about it! If it counts for anything, LotR is always an inspiration to me when I'm writing something, and I hope that you can see that here. Oh, and I partically based it on Robert Frost's famous poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" It's one of my favorite poems!Hannon le! ;D
[shadow=Blue,left,300]Midwinter's Ride[/shadow]
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
~ By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Night in the forest had come. Snow blanketed the landscape in a thick white cloak, tiny snow flakes were like delicate feathers as they alighted on the great pines that dominated the terrestrial landscape. There didn’t seem to be a soul out tonight in this weather, at least not this deep into the reaches of the woods, save for a small flock of ebony colored ravens that had paused in their travel for a night well spent in safety and tranquility. Their very presence was sometimes seen as an omen, and so it may have been so tonight as their feathers blotched the fair lightened landscape with shadowy contrast. Suddenly the peaceful perfection of the forest was interrupted by the thundering of hooves in the distance. The persistent pounding echoed throughout the pre-gale of the storm like water on rock, driving it ever closer to the glen. Finally the huff of an old Clydesdale brought rider and horse threw the snowy curtain. The uproar sent the birds to the air in a frenzy of surprised squawks and hisses.
The rider was an older man, a farmer, but he showed no sense of his age or any lack of skill as he reined his horse in sharply, almost too abruptly for the poor animal that slid precariously for a moment across the slippery ground. The Clydesdale screamed its displeasure at his master’s ill-timed command, swinging his massive head to shake the snow from its thick knotted mane. Clouds of warm mist blew out from its widened nostrils, dissolving into the bitter cold.
The man who was usually much more gentle and understanding with his stallion, cursed instead.
“Silence, you impertinent animal! My night has been foul enough without having a beast scold me also!” The animal’s only reply was to snort, and to allow the heavy tenseness of the moment to consume them both.
The man trembled and pulled his wool coat and scarf closer to his body, breathing almost as heavily as his horse. He roughly shoved the snowy hair away from his eyes. The night had not been good to the farmer. Just a few hours ago, he had met his wife in a bitter argument. The two had exchanged words, perhaps some too harsh, until he had thrown up his hands in defeat, deciding to vent his anger over a woman’s utter foolishness by crashing through the woods on this snowy evening. The bitterness of the winter wind gnawed at the frown that had frozen itself onto his face. After a few minutes of silence, the farmer gave a long sigh, patting his companion’s wooly mane.
“I’m sorry for that back there, old friend. I guess that I lost my head a bit.” The farmer’s chuckle came out as more like an old frog’s croak as the cold begun to wrap itself around his throat. The horse, which at first had been impatient with his master for his mishandling, bowed his head quietly as if understanding half-heartily every word that the man spoke. Obediently, he made no move to wander until his master said otherwise.
“Blasted weather! There ain’t no reason for nature’s fury, I tell you!” The light snowflakes tickled his nose, but such a beauty was seen by the farmer as an utter nuisance. Deep down he had a great love and appreciation for the natural world, but today it was a bother, and nature’s folly was much more of a hindrance than a blessing. His numbed fingers gripped the saddle, and with much exertion he carefully swung himself to land firmly onto the white ground. With age wizened eyes he scanned the woods around him, taking a few steps nearer to the evergreen trees. For the first time that night, he saw how truly beautiful the environment was. The snow had grown softer still, and the woods had a serene calm that caught his breath. Why had he not noticed this before? Had he been so caught up in his own petty pride to miss what had been before him all along?
An abrupt snapping noise interrupted his thoughts. The farmer looked back to his stallion to see it nosing a large branch, purposely pawing at it with his hoof and looking over his shoulder at him, as if expecting the farmer to come closer.
“What do you have there, ‘ol fella?” The older man’s curiosity grew as he caught sight of a bright blaze of green that stood out among the dying timber. Shoving the animal’s large snout gently out of the way, he saw with great surprise what the horse had been after. Deep inside the splintered log still remained green and new, like a rose damp with dew still clinging to moisture’s chill. The farmer was so abruptly surprised that he could not help but take a step back. If not for the cold nipping at his back he would have suspected the weather as being no colder than a mild day in the sun. Suddenly the argument that he previously had with his dear wife flashed onto his mind, and he stood still for a moment in realization. If nature could still live through this blanket of cold and misery, then so could his relationship ‘weather’ all things too. It was no secret that he loved his wife with all his heart, but for the many years that they had been together they still managed to aggravate one another from time to time. But if not for the little fights and disputes that he had with her he couldn’t possibly be able to appreciate the good times that they had.
Without another moment of hesitation, the older man swung himself back into the saddle with the exuberance of a young man anticipating meeting his love again after a long absence. He had been shown his course and he would follow it. Whether he had been at fault or not he would apologize to his wife and renew the sacred bond that he had with her. With a toss of his reins and a cry to the wind, he spurred his stallion onward, leaving a white trail of snowy mist in his wake that whispered softly into the night.
~ Nienna
I had so much fun while writing it, but unfortunetely I procrastinated until the last day...I was even wondering if my teacher would like it. But she did, and I did better than I thought I would. ;D ;D ;D