(This is sadly a short summary of the concept of a character that I have some more complex or detailed ideas and stories about, but not enough time to put it on words for the challenge. But maybe some day! For now, this is my entry)

-~ Name ~-

He was called Aeldsvig, which meant 'hidden flame'.

-~ Description ~-

As one of the descendants of Beorn, he was tall, big and strong, and his hair was dark, but not black. He did not take much care of his hair or beard, so they usually were long and messy, especially when he spent some time wandering in the wild. His clothes were simple, a plain tunic and tros, with some heavy boots to work, and mostly of earthy colours. When he had to travel far, however, he could carry some heavy clothing, even with some protective elements, as he was strong enough to carry it easily.

But as all the descendants of Beorn, he could adopt the shape of a big brown bear, and he was then swift for traveling and strong for fighting.

-~ Character ~-

He was curious, always eager to learn about the world, and he cared deeply for plants and animals, especially the latter.

-~ Skills ~-

As a dweller of Beorn's house, he learned many useful skills for keeping a home in the wilderness, and also how to keep bees and other animals, and how to make delicious cakes with honey.

He liked, however, traveling and exploring, and he knew the lands between Mirkwood and the Mountains as few did.

From this, he knew many things about living in the wild and alone. He also knew how to find and hunt orcs and goblins, as the Beornings often did to keep their lands safe. As a man, he knew how to wield a big axe that he received as a gift, and although he did not usually fight in that form he was fearsome for any foe.

-~ Family and friends ~-

He was one of the descendants of Beorn, but he enjoyed mostly life alone in the wilderness. He spent some time in the house of his family, but he also was known around the villages of the woodmen. He also had many friends among the birds and beasts of the lands, and he was friendly to all, except for the spiders of Mirkwood, if he encountered them.

-~ Belongings ~-

Aeldsvig did not possess much, as he did not need it, but he carried a big two-handed axe, a gift from the woodmen, and usually when he traveled he carried some honey-cakes.

-~ Backstory ~-

Aeldsvig was born in the year 2981 of the Third Age, and he was one of the descendants of Beorn. He lived first in the house of his forebear, but soon enough he started wandering around the lands, and when he was older he spent much time in the wild, partly for his own enjoyment and partly to keep watch over them.

In the year 3000, some woodmen wanted to travel to Gondor to trade, as they usually did in that time. However, rumours of danger along the shores of the river made them ask for help from the heirs of Beorn, and Aeldsvig offered himself to go with them.

They travelled along the Anduin, and they arrived at Osgiliath, where Gondor still maintained a foothold, without any big peril. However, the rumour of the coming of one of Beorn's kin spread on the south, and many orcs that roamed near Mordor gathered.

On their way back north, as they ed Cair Andros, Aeldsvig and their companions were attacked at night. The assault was cunning: some orcs lured Aeldsvig away from the rest, and others prepared a trap. When he went back, a big brown bear in full rage, they tricked him, and used the bodies of gondorian people that they had recently attacked in Ithilien, so that in his rage and in the darkness he attacked them thinking they were foes.

When he realized that, thinking he was attacking innocent people, he stopped, and stricken by horror, once again in the form of a man, he fell on his knees and stood unmoving. Then he was captured, and the orcs took him and brought him towards Mordor. For some days he was cruelly treated, perhaps with the purpose of learning some secrets of his kin in the end, but he revealed nothing. His only relief was to learn that his companions had escaped, and they probably would be safe in Cair Andros.

-~-

One night, he noticed some birds had come close to him, unlike many who fled from the orcs. He knew how to speak with birds and beasts, so he quickly asked for help. The birds knew of the Rangers of Ithilien, and they managed to make some of them follow to the orc camp, and so Aeldsvig was freed.

He then went towards Cair Andros, but lo! He discovered then that he was not able anymore of adopting the form of a bear, after the horror of the trap and the torment of his capture. He met his companions there, and bade them return to the north, but now he took a different road, as he purposed not to return until he became a bear again.

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He travelled south, towards the mountains, and he noticed a dense forest, and he wandered inside it. Then he was surprised by the drúedain, as they were curious about him. He told them of his origin, and how he was not able to become a bear anymore. Then they taught him about their hatred for the orcs, and their anger, and how they did not let it loose, and he learned about himself.

They told also of some old traditions that they ed, from ages long past, of dances of many bears and men, on Westernesse long ago lost.

Then Aeldsvig wished to learn more about these bears, and that old tradition, and so he parted with the drúedain and travelled to Minas Tirith. There, after some initial mistrust by the archivists, he managed with their help to consult some records on Númenorean animals and plants, but not much of bears was there.

Then, as a last resource, the archivists told him of another place where some knowledge might be found, a hidden valley in the north, named Imladris, where some records and knowledge of the Northern Dunedain might be kept.

He traveled north, quite glad of leaving the city, and he followed the old path until he reached the fords of Isen. Upon crossing the Gap of Rohan, he turned north, and he wandered in the wilderness of Eriador. Travelling as a man he was swift, but much slower than as a bear, and he did not know those lands, and the valley of Imladris was hidden. However, at last he travelled along the mountains, and he arrived near the source of Bruinen, and he was surprised by some scouts of Rivendell. After telling of his errand, he was taken to the valley, and there learned of Elrond many things, of records kept there for many years, and of the bears of Westernesse that in so many ways resembled his own kin. But many details were missing, and still many things were a mistery.

-~-

However, still he didn't know why he had lost the gift of his people, and after a while he purposed to return to his own lands. He travelled up the High , and although wary he was unhindered. However, he then turned north, as there were the lands that he knew the most. But a day after he descended from the mountains he saw horrified how a party of goblins and orcs headed towards the homesteads of some woodmen. In his absence they had become daring and careless!

The people of the homesteads were gathered inside their houses, and in the night they did not see the attack coming, as the goblins didn't carry any light. However, they were noisy, and at last the woodmen noticed and went out, and the fight started. But the goblins were many, and the orcs, bigger than them, were fearsome enemies. But when they were at last cornered against the house, amd surrounded by foes uncounted in the darkness, a great roar echoed in the field, and a great brown bear charged towards their rearguard. Aeldsvig was their warden, and he would not fail! After all that he had learned, his biggest test was there, and he ed it. None of the assailants returned to the mountains, and the woodmen were certainly glad of seeing Aeldsvig back in his homeland.

-~-

After making sure the homesteads were safe, Aeldsvig continued his journey, and at Beorn's hall he met again his family. After his adventures he taught many things to them, and later he would only wander around his own lands, and keep them safe as all his people and kin did, save only once when he returned to the drúedain forest.

-~•~-

Credit for the pictures

Beorn, by Lelia

At the Carrock, by Jeff Murray

Beorn by Joel Kilpatrick

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