For those of you who have not read my other story, this is a sort of continuation. I guess you don't REALLY have to read my other story, but the other's MUCH better. This is just what I'm putting up right now, as I still haven't finished the next part of Kinya's story. I know, I'm a lazy bitch, what can I say? I've been watching ROTK EE…

Anyways, this story takes place after the War of the Ring. She's become friends with Gildor, and all you really need to know about him (if you currently know nothing of him) is that he is an elf, and has become a friend of Kinya's. He's currently been helping Kinya a lot in trying to help her after the war, as I explain briefly in this passage.

Another note for you lazy people who don't feel like reading the other chapter, Kinya is gifted with the Anna Celebrach, or the Sight. It comes in quick flashes of sliver light in her eyes…it was an important gift in the war, and the people of her town thought it was demons.

With that, enjoy, and please R&R!!!

Nove

I came over a final crest, and there it stood, cradled in a little lip in the land; Nove. It's chilling resemblance to the town I knew 13 years ago was so powerful it was enough for me to stand there, staring at it for a length of time I cannot recall, and probably never will. Perhaps one day I will wake up from a dream and be able to remember exactly where the sun was when I first saw Nove to when I moved again, but it is not important. What was important was that it shocked me so much I almost didn't have the courage to continue into it.

I took a deep breath, and made my way down.

The market was today, so I bought a pastry from a merchant (and had to keep from staring at him; he was Hilmof, the same old man making the same old pastries) and felt less obvious as I walked around as everyone was out and about. It was the oddest feeling in the world, walking through the place where I used to hide in fear of a confrontation; now it was only glances and the identification I prayed none would make. I'd see or make the slightest eye contact with someone I knew, and I'd get a fleeting feeling in my stomach that someone would recognize me, but no one did, they just averted their eyes, as anyone would do. Few paid any attention to me at all, unless I was looking at their booth, as I was indeed a young female (still in trousers, nonetheless…I was slowly finding wearing them slightly turned off any older men's idea of rape for some reason, among their many other positive points) and meant very little to them.

I looked around at the houses. Most of them had run down and been remade, but they were almost identical in structure. Most of the barns, the pub, inn, blacksmith shop and the storage house where all the same buildings, almost unchanging since I had gone. Even the house that had replaced my mother's was still there. But as I examined them closer, I noticed something that had altered on every single one of them.

Wards.

Peasant wards, most of which I knew did not work, but a few stuck in that would have some effect. They all had an identical symbol painted in bright red paint above their doors, one I'd never seen before. The paint was still vivid and fresh, and when I went up and studied one, I noticed many other layers of paint fading underneath; this was a renewed custom every year. And that was the least of them. Most houses had other charms and talismans hanging from windows, rafters, wagons, anyplace that would hold them. I had never seen a single one in my remembrance of this place. Not a single one.

Either someone had alerted the innkeeper, or he had picked me out himself, but he eventually came up to me in the crowd and greeted me like an old friend, which he'd been, except for when he was screaming at me for being too weak to carry a pot full of stew. He didn't care what age, gender, or whatever else I could possibly be. People needed rooms, and rooms for him meant money.

"A traveler to Nove, are ye? If you'd be needing a room, we're almost entirely vacant!"

I smiled as well as I could. Under no circumstances did I want to stay here tonight. Staying would obviously be the wiser decision; the hike here had been quite a long way, and I had not slept in a bed since Minas Tirith, several months ago. I had stopped in the Shire to see the hobbits, but obviously no one had a human-sized bed, even as small as I was. Not that it mattered; I'd hardly ever slept in a bed my entire life. But usually upon reaching a destination that took a few weeks to get to, people stay at least the night. But I did not want to dwell in it longer then I had to. I would come here to please Gandalf, Aragorn and Gildor, prove to them there was no reason for the journey, and return.

"Thank you sir; I will keep it in mind, although I'm not sure I'm staying the night. I had, um…family that came from these parts, and I'm searching out their history. Have you lived here long?"

Although a bit deflated now that the prospect of renting out a room was slightly less, he perked up again at the idea of showing his knowledge of the one thing he knew well, with the exception of ordering people around and how to make a good ale. "Aye, my whole life, young missy, which is a far longer time then you think!" He winked at me.

"Ah, yes, of course. Do you think you could answer some questions for me?"

"Well, of course. The pub is mine also, if you'd like to have a seat and sample some of our food or ale?"

I cursed myself for picking the innkeeper now. Although he'd been one of the kinder peoples of this town, giving us work often when other's turned us down, his pub was a place I, more then anywhere else, did not want to go to. It seemed, however, that I'd probably get the most information from him, and I didn't have much of a choice.

"Um, yes, that would be wonderful."

He turned around and led the way across the street and through the threshold of the inn's small tavern. Funny, how big it seemed to used to be…it was only about the size of my bedroom in Minas Tirith now.

After shouting some directions in the back, he came back and sat down in a choppy looking table across from me.

"Now, young missy, what would you like to know? Did ya have a family name?"

I didn't even think about it. The only family name I could even slightly recall was the name of the person I'd tried so hard to forget.

"Blagg. Father's name was Talcum."

His eyes widened a bit, then he frowned and patted my hand. "I'm sorry, miss, but that man died over a decade ago. Wife and two sons treated like royalty, but they left not two seasons after he was gone. Said they were looking for family. Thought that might be you." He reasoned.

"I-I'm related to the mister rather then the missus…my family moved out of this area a while ago…"

He didn't seem to be very interested, now warmed up on the gossip. "You see, his death, though, he took a hero's death. Amazing story, that. Changed this town forever. If you're a relative, I think you'll be pleased with him. Want to hear?"
I really didn't. Hero's death? Getting stabbed in a pub? Unlikely. I was already cursing the nature of human minds, even though I myself was subject to one.

"Of course…anything you can tell me about them."

He folded his fingers and shook them back and forth on the table. "Well, it doesn't even start with your family…it starts with another. I don't remember where she came from, but one day there was this woman, few years younger then you, coming and asking for jobs. She wasn't hired anywhere; everyone knew their place, and no extra help was needed. I offered her free bedding for the night, and she took it, gladly, and asked me before she turned in where the nearest town to the north was, and I told her she wasn't gonna find anything for another twenty miles. Didn't have a penny on her, couldn't go that far. She'd come from the east, then, obviously." It seemed he was quite proud of this deduction. "Anyways, after that, she looked at me kinda funny, as though I'd told her…hm…how was it exactly?…as if I told her the crops had burned down, and there was no more time left for another harvest. She sat down, had a good three or four drinks, which is quite odd for a female to be doing 'round here. But she's wasn't from here, now, was she?" Once again, he seemed quite pleased with his sense of logic. "And then she started chatting with a few of the boys having their fill. Didn't really watch her, too busy of a night. But a few friends told me she brought Mr. Wimlk up to her room with her." He said shyly. "And I was here for this part; he came down about fifteen minutes later and proclaimed, 'I LOVE THIS TOWN!' and stumbled up out of the pub."

"I…see…" This had started out far closer to home then I'd truly wanted. What did the Valar have in mind for me?

"Oh…young miss, please excuse me." My interruption seem to remind him he was speaking to a female, and a 'young innocent' nonetheless (although my clothes stated otherwise.) "Forgot myself…let me see."

"Please don't leave anything out." I said politely, annoyed with my gender and its common frailties. "I've heard much worse then the story of a common whore." I finished without blinking.

Rather, I didn't blink, but he gave me a few good double-eye winks before he continued with a cough, "Um…well, right then. She paid rent here for a while, but after a moon or so her…occupation was not enough to sustain her in the inn. She started doing it in barns, small alleyways, near abouts to this here pub. Saved her money, I guess, for after a year she bought the house right next to here, burned down about um….14, 15 years ago? More about that later. But anyways…she got wi'child. Two brats, can't remember the older boy's name, but that girl we called Ya. Obvious how that one had 'em, no one asked questions. We avoided that family, less you had an ache in the night, if ya pardon me, miss." He added.

"Go on, please." I had leaned in slightly, and had to force myself to relax to make myself somewhat unobvious.

"Well, they grew up alone, no one ever tried to find out if they were the fathers, for they couldn't tell anyways. Wives always looked carefully, lookin' for similarities. More 'en one family had a fight or two break out…but in the end they shouldn't have bothered…we recon'd she sold her service to a demon." His last sentence was a full bravado, and it took me a moment to realize he wanted me to question.

"Um….why do you think that? Demons?"
"Aye, the youngest, that girl, was half-demon herself. Little lights went on in her eyes when she was mad, and everything rattled around. If she looked right at you, you saw all your deepest fears right in your heart. Pure evil, she was…and she'd grow up to be something 'orrible. Only she never did."

"What-um, happened to her?" I questioned haltingly.

"Well, ya see, I'm not quite sure. The trollop died, when Ya was 'bout two winters old. The two brats went off by themselves, stealin' from the villagers, who never did 'em a spot of harm. I gave them little jobs on occation, felt sorry for the two, they were a fragile sight. That was before I knew about her being a demon child, course." He added hastily. "Something always seemed to break when she touched it, though…"

Perhaps because she was hungry, young and clumsy to boot? I thought bitterly. "Really? Odd."

"Yes, well, see, we thought that perhaps something with her brother was keepin' her here. A few of us thought that if we got rid of the brother, her and her evil ways would go. Those few years she was here, everything went bad. Crops died, fires, sickness, all of it. Never before or after." He proclaimed solemnly and somewhat out of order. "Not to mention having a street rat isn't the nicest thing; who knows what sort of lying thief he'd a turned into?"

A brave man, who died to save you, you miserable fool.

"Hmm."

"So, you're brave relative, the good man Talcum, decided to try and get rid of her. He found the boy alone one day, cornered him, and tried to find out about the girl, the demon. He wouldn't say a thing, and then he threatened him, and eventually, seeing no other way, killed him. We didn't see her for three nights, and thought perhaps his valiant deed had rid us of her. But the little imp came in the night. No more then four years old, and she came with a knife, eyes glowing, and flew up and stabbed him. The poor man died almost instantly."

I was staring at him, amazed at what my story had turned into, how they'd twisted it to make their own kind a hero rather then a villain. I had expected it somewhat, yes, but upon hearing it, it made me want to gag.

"The Gray Wizard…Gandalf, have you heard of him?" Nod. "He was passing, I'm sure he heard of our toils with the demon child, he came and ripped her form off of poor Talcum before she could burn his body or suck his blood and threw her into the cold, and she's not returned since. We tried to offer him some recognition for his wondrous deeds, but he declined and was on his way with a servant of some sort in the night. That's how we knew we were rid over her forever."

Not forever, this town is still cursed with the demon's presence. "I see…"

"You should be proud, young miss, to have such a brave and valiant deceased loved one. Proud, indeed."

"I am proud. I-thank you for your story." I was aching after sitting over so tensely for so long, and suddenly a bed sounded somewhat pleasant, and I didn't care where it was, even in Nove. I was so bone weary I could've fallen asleep in the chair right then if the pub didn't make me want to puke the contents of the pastry. "Sir, I think I may stay here the night; it's a long way back, and I was planning on starting right away, but the prospect of a room seems overwhelming…"

Thinking he'd sold the bargain with wittiness, he smiled slyly and got up with a slight push on his right hip and walked over behind the counter. "Alright, miss, I'll give you the room right above; it's got the best view. Walk right up the stairs, and it's all the way down to your right. Two bronze pieces." He said officially.

I fished the money out of some unfathomable reach of my bag and banged it on the counter, and noticed another ward on the desk and the opportunity to ask about it. "I've noticed a lot of similar things...signs on the doors…what are they?"

He looked down. "Ah, them, yes. Ever since that demon left, we've had wards so her or anyone avenging her can't harm us. It's a yearly ritual, about the time she was born, midwinter, and we repaint to symbol's on our doors. So don't worry, miss, you're safe under this roof!" He proclaimed happily.

"Ah, yes, that makes sense. Thank you." I nodded and turned to the stairs. I'd been up there twice before, removing bedding for the wash. The stairs were a bid more squishy with moss, and when I ascended the floorboards cracked so much I feared I would fall straight through. My luck, cleaver assembling or perhaps my miniscule size saved me, and I made it to my room. Same beds, same dressings from 13 years ago. I thought even the same bedspreads. But I didn't care, but simply closed to door and collapsed onto the sheets.