Author's Note: Hey guys! Marie here. No, this isn't a rewrite of Not What They Expected…not yet, anyway. So, here's the prologue of my new story, Set Free! I hope you enjoy!

Prologue

"Alasse," my mother whispered to me, "we must move. They are coming."

I snapped my eyes open from my small bed on my tree branch. I dropped gracefully, then swung onto my horse, my mother doing the same. We had only just turned our horses in the right direction when we heard a battle cry.

"Mother…" I began.

"Run!" she shouted. And that's what we did. That's what we've been doing for the past two days. Running from those things, Orcs. They had raided our home, killing all who came in their path. Mother and I watched my father die at their hands, fleeing just as the things noticed us. We've been running forever. I just wanted them to leave us alone.

Just go away. I turned my horse sharply right as I kept close to my mother.

"Alasse!" she shouted. The things were coming closer. "Go! Run!"

"No!" I screamed. "I won't leave you!"

"Go!" she shouted again, before shouting a command to my horse in Elvish.

"No!" I screamed again, but the horse has already heard the command, and it was already racing to whatever destination Mother told it to. The things completely ignore me for some reason; I guess they are too stupid to hear more than one thing at a time. As I kept speeding towards a large house, the horse slid to a stop, throwing me off. I landed at the house's door with a thump and a groan, and I heard voices. A man of my kind with long black hair and flowing robes emerged and saw me lying there.

"What is this?" he asked in a voice I could tell seemed to view the whole world logically. "Who are you, my daughter?" I inwardly cringed at that reference.

"My mother. She is-" I pointed in the direction I saw her go, but it was accompanied by a scream. "Mother…" I whispered.

"Child." The man walked closer. "What is your name?"

"It is…" I realized how insignificant my name was to myself at that moment. "It is Nienor, my lord." His face was puzzled, but he had no time to question it, for a boy about two or three peeked out from behind him.

"Papa? Who dis?" he asked in that adorable toddler dialect. He tottled in front of me, peering at me with his wide hazel eyes. "My name Estel." He smiled proudly, showing his small pearly teeth.

"Come, Nienor." The man helped me to my feet. "You may stay here for the rest of your days, if that is your desire. However, you need not decide that now. For now, let us get you indoors so you may rest." I nodded weakly, and he led me into his home.

So began my life in the house of Elrond.