5 Days: Nili

Ever wonder what life was like for Aragorn growing up among elves?  Had he met Legolas before the Fellowship was formed?  One enterprising fanfiction author, Nili, has endeavored to bring us the missing chapters of Aragorn's childhood, in a series of suspenseful, dramatic, and fun stories about the adventures of Aragorn, Legolas, Elladan, and Elrohir.

Nili has completed 7 stories in her universe and is working on an 8th.  Each of the stories follows the same basic format: Aragorn and his friends get into some mischief, are subject to torture, and just when all hope seems lost manage to save the situation.  The stories are highly entertaining but they are also rather long, and they get repetitive if you read them all in a row.  The characters are sometimes OOC, but I can't bring myself to mind the fact that the author has made the normally staid elves as carefree and fun-loving as children.  That is, after all, how Tolkien describes them.

Another strong point of this series is that it fleshes out the personalities of some important elves that are barely mentioned in Lord of the Rings -- Glorfindel, Thranduil, and Erestor.  Not to mention Elladan and Elrohir!  This really is a fantastic set, and I have them listed in chronological order below, along with the story description from FF.net.


1. An Eye for an Eye

When someone from the past resurfaces and threatens Rivendell and its inhabitants, can Elrond with the help of Legolas protect his sons and especially Aragorn from falling victim to his plans? Or will they all get caught in a blaze of revenge and pain?

2. The Heart of Men


While wintering in Mirkwood, Aragorn and Legolas visit Laketown. Soon they find themselves thrown head first into chaos, suspicion and greed which threaten both their lives and the peace the new King of Dale has managed to uphold.

3. To Walk in Night

Just before Aragorn should travel back to Rivendell, a Mirkwood patrol is attacked and Legolas captured. When Aragorn finally finds him and his captors, both come to realise that a dark force is stirring in Rhûn that might destroy all they hold dear.

4. A Sea of Troubles

Returning from the East, Aragorn and Legolas hope to get some peace at last. With one of Rivendell's delegations missing and war looming on the horizon, however, peace becomes ever more unlikely as they must fight for their friends' lives – and their own.

5. Visions of Betrayal (incomplete)

In the middle of an uneventful summer a message reaches Rivendell: There is something amiss in the camps of the Rangers. Aragorn, Legolas and the twins wish to help, but soon they realise that, this time, the enemy might be much closer than they think.

The remaining stories in this verse are not part of the main story line and can be read in any order.  They are:
Straight Paths (about Elladan and Elrohir)
Everlasting (gives us a glimpse into the mind of Glorfindel!)
A Taste of Disaster