Early Years

Born in the year 2300 of the Third Age, in Caras Galadhon of Lothlorien. Though she was a shy child around others, when left to her own devices she had no such hesitation, and would often be found in the forest, watching spiders spinning webs or helping squirrels bury nuts, or building little ships of wood and leaf and setting them to sail down Celebrant. Having inherited the Noldorish curiosity and keenness for craft from (and encouraged by) her Father, she attached herself to everything she could learn, and devoured it with relish: weaving, sewing, smithing, writing, history, map-making, language, there was no subject that failed to capture her interest and attention. For three hundred years she persisted in this, long past the time when she should have found a husband, which perturbed her Father but delighted her more free-spirited Mother. As time went on, though, she found that there were limits to what she could learn by re-reading old books and pressing the odd traveler for news; the only way to expand her knowledge was to leave home and visit these distant realms herself.

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First Journey

Her first Journey began in the year 2600 of the Third Age, and took her first South to Rohan where she stayed long at Edoras and developed quite an appreciation for the horse-masters and a love of their vast, star-lit lands. Then East into Gondor, where she studied in its ancient libraries and saw the rebuilding of the White Tower. She wished to travel South then, into Haradwaith, for she had heard such wonderful tales of the strange Southern world from the sea-merchants of Dol Amroth, but the threat of another Orc-war pushed her away from Gondor and into the North, then East into Rhun. She traveled far into the East, getting all the way to the Sea over the Orocarni in her search for Cuiviénen, a search that was ultimately in vain; that land has been long lost since the changing of the World, and she knew that, but curiosity drove her to try anyway. She stayed long at Dorwinion on her way back, learning the ways of grape-growing and wine-making and, much to her continued embarrassment to this day, wine-drinking. After 12 seasons she went North up the River Running and stayed in Dale and Erebor, where she walked the glittering treasure-halls under the Mountain at the height of the realm of Thror. Alas for the unfortunateness of her timing, for she was forced to flee to the halls of Thranduil at the coming of Smaug the Terrible, a scene that still plays out in her nightmares. By fortune both good and ill she saw it from afar, for her feet could only bear standing on stone for so long. After some time in Thranduil's realm, she took the Elf-road to the Vales of Anduin and turned South for home. Alas for her timing once again, for no sooner had she reached the River did word reach her that the War of the Dwarves and Orcs had erupted. Having no safe place to go, and with Goblins about in force, she was blessed with the charity of Beornings and, through them, Radagast, where her love and respect of wild things earned the same from those folk and she learned a great deal more than she would ever have anticipated. She stayed in the Vales for some years, and well after the War had ended, she continued home, arriving finally in TA 2804.

Having faced such dangers, and finding herself ill-prepared for them, she took to studying the arts of the wild, especially running and hiding (which she was already quite skilled at), and spent a goodly time in practice before undertaking her Second Journey. By then, she was as good a scout and tracker as any but the masters of the arts, and far quieter than a Hobbit in a pinch.

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Second Journey

In 2900 of the Third Age she left Lothlorien again, traveling South to the Gap of Rohan. She would not pause to visit Orthanc, for though in her heart she desired it, she felt she was far from worthy. From there into Dunland, where she followed a tribe of nomads about the area, sitting by their fires and listening to their stories. She wandered through Enedwaith and Eregion, rarely crossing Greyflood, seeking what ancient ruins of the land once called Hollin as she could, ever meandering northward to Imladris. There she stayed a long time to master the healing arts she had begun to study, not to mention explore the vast and wonderful libraries of Lord Elrond. After a curious troupe of Dwarves, along with a strange little-creature reminiscent of the River-folk, passed by on their way to Erebor, she decided to continue her own journey, making her way North-east through the Lone-lands and Trollshaws and beyond. Upon the advice of Lord Elrond, she stayed with the Dúnedain, traveling with them and aiding in their efforts, and receiving a derth of practical experience in running and hiding and especially medicine. These were good years for her; map-making, scouting, and tactics were all built upon the lessons and studies she had developed over many years... but her position as healer meant her hands were blood-stained far too often for her liking... and in some terrible cases it was done in vain. When her heart grew too heavy to continue, and with the blessing and guidance of those she had made lifetime bonds with, she moved westward and north, studying what old ruins of Arnor were still unclaimed by foes, and at last traveled into Forochel, where she stayed briefly with the native Lossoth under the sky-lights, until she moved on to Thorin's Halls in the Northern parts of Erid Luin. Unfortunately, she was not able to learn Khuzdul here either, despite many years of pleading. But aside from that, her stay was warm and welcome, and her opinion of Dwarves continued to grow. Finally she made her way South to the Grey Havens, where she sailed the coasts of Forlindon and Harlindon and studied for a time in Forlond and Harlond while staying at the estate of her Aunt, the matriarch of her maternal line. Though fond of the sea and its many riches, she heard not its call; it was not yet her time. Leaving East, she followed the Great Road into the Shire, and spent a goodly time with the Hobbits there (primarily in and around Buckland, where she was more readily accepted), being very much appreciative of their ways, and they rather accepting of her habit of going barefoot and being ill-favoured toward adventure. After filling her brain with pleasantries, wisdom, anecdotes, the odd family recipe, and more genealogical charts than she is comfortable admitting, she finally traveled East again, arriving in Bree some years ago.

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Summary

Due to these long adventures, stretching far and wide, she has seen no small number of people; indeed, she has met, either for extended stays or in passing, a great number of important figures, the most notable being Radagast the Brown, where she learned a great deal about the forests of Mirkwood and the wilderland in general. She has traded timid words with Lady Galadriel and sent her furtive glances, as a shy child would. She studied under Lord Elrond along with another student then named Estel, sailed with Lord Cirdan (just once; he is a very busy Elf), bowed before Stewards of Gondor and Kings of Rohan, been a guest of trees, nobles, and each of the Seven Families of Dwarves at one point or another. She doesn't boast about these; indeed, she holds these encounters in high honour and would not use them for her own gain, even if it was simply to remind those who may have forgotten. Given her long stays and wandering feet, she has met many people, or many would have seen her. It is possible she will run into a few familiar faces, or the children of the children of the people she knew long ago, once again in Bree-town.

It is also due to her travels that she carries few if any racial indignities. Having learned a great deal of the people's of Middle-earth, she respects their quirks, appreciates their talents, and loves their idiosyncrasies. She knows well the richness and fullness of Dwarven laughter, the surprisingly steadfast hospitality of the Hobbits in the face of truly odd circumstances, the breadth betwixt mirth and sternness of the Eldar, and the absolutely indescribable complexities of Men, not to mention the pride of the Eagles, the patience of Ents, and more recently, the stubbornness of boars. As such, it would be found that, although shy around most, she can become strong friends with all.

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Family History

Cesistya can trace her family history back to the First Elves on her Mother's side, though her Father speaks little of his history, and as such, it is somewhat a mystery to her. Though her Father's side ends with him, on her Mother's side she has a great number of aunts and uncles, and cousins several times removed. Many of these took part in great events of the shaping of the world, from the wars in Beleriand and of the Second Age, and while a few did die in the efforts, most have, by now, sailed into the West.

Currently, Cesistya's Mother, Father, and Brother await her return in Lorien; when Cesistya is ready to sail into the West, so too will they be. Her Mother's eldest Sister has already made arrangements, and resides in her estate near the Havens, where she and a few of her nieces manage the families affairs, and assist those who come West for their Last Journey.

Family Tree