Hi all! For those of you who have read my HP fic "Two Hearts", I'm sorry that I had to discontinue it but I was very uninspired. And I have had this in my head for a long time and I am so excited! It's my first Lord of the Rings fic, so please be kind! Also, I live for reviews! The faster the reviews, the faster the updates. I need motivation. Thank you so much and I hope you like it. Enjoy!

Odilyn

"Damn!" The exclamation echoed through the small wooded dell. A bird stopped his chirping and cocked his head. A deer paused in his drink. A squirrel stopped its chattering. And a lovely elf maiden continued to mutter under her breath as she inspected a large cut on her finger. Her fiery red hair was pulled back and covered in a blue scarf as she knelt by the creek bank, but some strands had escaped and blew across her face, almost as bright as the blood oozing from her finger. Her bright blue eyes gazed at the cut in concentration. As she gazed, a look of pain crossed her face. The cut on her finger began to knit itself back together and then it began to glow a bright golden. The golden specks in her eyes and the golden streaks in her hair shone even brighter for a moment, making her look like one of the Valar themselves. And then the moment was gone and she shrunk back to her simple elven beauty. Her finger was unblemished and she flexed it in satisfaction.

A large hound put his head on her lap and whined softly.

"Oh, don't look at me like that, mellon." Her voice was soft and beautiful, but slightly harsher than most elves. It was more approachable, more human. "It's not like I can use my gifts in any more important way. They wouldn't want me to." The bitterness in her voice increased. Her pale, smooth face hardened and her natural golden light diminished to almost nothing.

"Don't let us think of that, dear. There are other things to do. Like washing these rugs for example."

She turned back to the task at hand. It was a strange sight. She had the beauty of an elf maid, yet the voice of a mortal. Her eyes held not the depths of the elves, though they were wise. She wore a simple blue gown covered by a brown apron, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and her hands covered in soap. It was not a situation you would find the typical elleth in.

When she had finished with her washing, she hung the rugs up to dry. She then stretched her back and rubbed her neck. Washing was not one of her favorite chores. Humming to herself, she picked up her basket and then moved across the clearing quietly on her bare feet. It was nearing the beginning of autumn and she wished to enjoy the warm weather as long as possible, before being holed up in her home alone for the winter. She sighed as she approached her cozy hut that was tucked away in a little copse of oak and maple. She had to admit that it got lonely. She had a great affinity with animals, so she never suffered for company in that regard. But the fact was, animals were not humans...or elves for that matter.

As she neared the door, the sound of hooves startled her and she dropped her basket, its load of herbs scattering in the wind.

"Damn!" She bent to retrieve what she could. "It seems I do little more than curse out loud these days," she said wryly to no one in particular.

When she straightened up, a coal black mare had entered the copse. Her head was arched proudly and she nickered as she pranced toward the elf maid.

"Ah, how are you, mellon nin? It has been a while." The horse nickered and snorted, pawing the ground and tossing her head impatiently. The maid looked at the horse sharply.

"Someone's coming?! How far?"

The horse snorted again.

"I must be distracted today. Usually I would have known sooner."

She ran into her hut and strapped a simple blade to her slim waist. Then she grabbed a long bow of exquisite craftsmanship, though simple in design. She stroked it gently and then proceeded to make sure every strand of her bright hair was covered by a green scarf. It would draw way too much attention to itself.

When she was ready, she set off towards the south, the direction from which the visitors were coming. She had only gone about a mile when she heard them- the soft steps of elven steeds. She quickly and gracefully scaled a tree and waited, bow drawn, an arrow knocked and ready. There were five- five male elves riding magnificent steeds. They shone with a pale, star-like glimmer. A twinge of envy appeared in the maiden's eyes, but was quickly suppressed. Their faces were flawless and alert to any sign of danger. Her eyes slid over them with a calculating look. And then they landed on one- he had dark midnight hair which stood in great contrast to the pale locks of the others and clear gray eyes. He rode at the head of the party. Her clear blue eyes widened in recognition. Then, a golden fire blazed to life in them. It was a hot, raging fury. She swung round and dropped lightly to the ground, right in front of the approaching elves and their leader's horse, her bow drawn, an arrow aimed directly at his heart.

"Stop!" Her voice was clear and rang with authority. The other elves had drawn their bows as soon as she had landed, except for the dark-haired one. She now had four arrows aimed at her, but she paid them no heed. Her blazing eyes were fixed solely on their leader. He raised one hand.

"Lower your weapons," he said in his clear, strong elven voice that resonated with power. They obeyed, though somewhat reluctantly. She, however, did not budge one inch and kept her weapon aimed.

"What Anariel? What sort of greeting is this, dear cousin?"

Her eyes narrowed as the other elves looked at their leader in surprise. Cousin?

"Give me one reason, Elrohir, one good reason why I shouldn't bury this arrow in your sorry hide?" A golden shimmer began to surround her and her eyes glowed more furiously. The elves shifted nervously. Elrohir, however, was quite calm, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I can give several reasons, Anariel, why you shouldn't and why you won't. Firstly, your innate sense of justice will tell you that I have done nothing deserving of death, no matter how I have mistreated you. Secondly, you would not slay your kinsmen, not while you could help it."

Through this speech Anariel's light diminished, until she looked like a forlorn little human child. A single tear slid down her cheek, like a solitary diamond and her bow was lowered.

"You have no idea, Elrohir," she whispered sadly. "You have no idea how your words and your father's words have haunted me. At night, when I am alone in the darkness but for the howling of the hunting wolves, they echo in my mind. 'We would have loved you' 'We would have been your family'. You are my family. You should have loved me, despite my choice." She started to shimmer slightly once more. "No, Elrohir. It is too much to ask. You want to come here, after fifteen years, which I know isn't long to you, and you ask me to act as if nothing is wrong. As if I have not been alone for fifteen years with no one to speak to. I am sorry." She turned and began to walk away.

"Anariel! Wait!" Elrohir spurred his horse and cut her off. She lifted her blue eyes to his gray ones. He read there all the hurt and sorrow that had hidden in her heart, unhealed, all those years. He slid off his mount and stood before her, her small stature causing him to have to bend over to look her in the eye.

"Anariel. I have come to apologize. No don't turn away," he took her small hands in his larger ones. "We were wrong. All of us. Father admitted it to all of us. He wanted me to get you. We need you... and your gifts."

Her shoulders slumped dejectedly. They just wanted her for what she could do? Fine. If that's what they wanted, that's what they would get.

"I will come Elrohir," she said softly. He started to smile. "But it is hard to forget. It is hard to forgive. I need time." She stepped away from him and lifted her head proudly. "I will be ready to leave for Imladris at dawn tomorrow. Do not follow me and do not come within half a mile of my house. I will know if you do. The birds are my sentinels as well as Anar."

She turned and walked away through the trees, leaving a slightly frustrated Elrohir and confused elves behind her.

"What was that about?" A tall, blond elf asked, baffled. Elrohir shook his head and answered not. The morning would come all too quickly.

What do think? Like it or hate it, please review. (But please, please, please like it...)