Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, if i do I'd be rich... but I'm not...


Twelve-year-old Isis Dawn belongs to an abusive home. And like most abuse children, it's not the wound that hurts them most. It's the fact that their own parent/s, the one whom they adore, trust and love are the one who did that to them. It's the kind of wound that refuses to heal.

It was a rainy day. She stood in the middle of the muddy road, her tears flowing freely from her cheeks. Her stomach grumbled from lack of sustenance and the cuts in arms and the lashes on her back are starting to sting. It's not the first time this happened. Her father went home drunk many times before. It was nothing new.

Isis is starting to feel cold and she still needs to clean her cuts. She walked to their backdoor cautiously, trying not to make a sound. She feared that her father may still be awake. Hopefully he will be passed out on the couch by now. He usually sleeps on the couch or on the floor, so whatever she does, she'll have to avoid the living room.

She tip-toed up the stairs to the bathroom. She opened the medicine cabinet and took out bandages, disinfectants and etc. her father must have lost another game of poker. He seemed angrier than usual. The welts on her body are red and very bloody. Looks like she'll have to avoid school for a few weeks again.

"It's the only place where I feel safe." She said sadly. The school year is about to end, and she has nowhere to go this summer. She finished cleaning out the cuts and started dressing them. It was all a familiar routine to her.

She stood in front of the mirror, studying her reflection. She just saw her own fine pale face framed with curly hair, as black as the crow's wing that reached down her back to her slender waist. Her green eyes that lit up with kindness and intelligence.

She sighed and decided to go to her mother's room.

Florence suffered stroke six years ago, and now she is paralyzed and bed ridden, she cannot speak clearly. Every now and then she'll experience hallucinations and nightmares. Sometimes she can't hold her water back and she'll end up pissing on the bed. Her husband gave up in taking care of her years ago, so naturally, Isis took the job.

Normally, her mother would just stare at her when she enter, but today was somewhat different.

When she entered the room, Florence's head shoot out to her direction and she smiled— something that she hasn't done for six years. Isis was surprised, but did not question why. It was a miracle that her mother was able to move her head and smile like that.

"Mama!" She cried, "You're awake! How long have you been awake? Are you hungry?" she said wanting to make her as comfortable as she can.

Her mother smiled again and motioned for her to come closer.

Isis bent sat down and bent down to her mother's head, careful not to smother her. "What is it ma?"

"Isis, my little star." She started. Her voice is so soft that Isis has to hold her breath to catch every word. "I know you are unhappy, I know your father is hurting you." She said sadly. She held her daughter's hand tightly as a sick person could muster. "I am sorry I could do nothing to stop him. It should never be like this…" her voice faltered and sobs came in place… soon she began to weep. Isis did her best to comfort her to no avail.

"Mama, I'm fine." She insisted, stroking her mother's face, wiping her tears. "Papa is old I—"

"No, Isis, no." Her mother objected firmly. "You don't deserve this kind of life, you deserve better than this. You are a good child, never as bothersome as the other children your age."

"Mama, I have no choice. This is my life."

Once again her mother wept. "My child, my child! If I only knew this would happen, I would never have agreed to marry this man!" she looked at Isis, her eyes forlorn. "I never thought that one day, I will ask my own daughter to do this… but you must leave."

Isis' mind whirled. "What?" she asked weakly.

"You must leave. You must find a better place for yourself."

"Ma, I have nowhere to go!"

Florence shook her head fervently. With great effort she sat up in her bed. She told Isis to get under the bed and search for a loose floorboard. When she found it, her mother instructed her to search inside for a small wooden box.

"I found it ma, here" Isis gave the said box to her mother who took it eagerly and caressed the smooth surfaced.

"This was your great-grandmother's." she said fondly. "My mother said it was passed from one generation to another. Your great grandma gave it to my mother who gave it to me. Now, I'm giving it to you." she opened the box and took out the most beautiful necklace Isis ever saw.

The chain is silver and beautiful woven to form a circle. The pendant was also silver but the shape was cleverly designed. The details were engraved nicely. The image of a small star-like-flower is formed. In the middle lay a small white crystal.

"It's beautiful isn't?" Florence asked. Isis nodded. "It is yours now."

Isis held the necklace in her hands feeling its smooth curves and looking at it shining brilliance. It felt right in hand, like she is really meant to have it.

"Isis, you really must leave this place."

"Ma, I have nowhere to go."

Florence shook her head, "Anywhere is better than here, Isis, and the necklace will point you to the right place." She said mysteriously.

"I don't want to leave you here."

Florence smiled sadly. "But you have too. It's for your own good. She paused, listening to the rain. "You must go. He might wake up soon." She hugged her daughter for the first and last time in six years. "I love you Isis, remember that."

Isis doesn't want to leave her mother to the care of her father. She knew he won't bother to feed her, or to give her a sponge bath or to stay up for her when she experience back pain— and he did, he will not do it kindly.

But she saw reason in her mother's word. If she wants a good future, she must leave and find her own fortune.

After packing some of her clothes, she went again to her mother's room for one last goodbye.

Her mother wept silently as she walked out of the room and out of the house.


The rain has finally stopped. Isis stepped out of the small shed and started walking again.

She doesn't know where she is going. She never went this far from home before, and she has nowhere to spend the night.

After walking for a few more minutes, she reached a small park and decided to stay there for the night.

She bought hotdog bun, from a walking vendor and ate quietly as she watched girls and boys mignle about and some families enjoying a night stroll with there pet dog. Once, again the thought of home and family made here eyes water. Leaving home might not be such a good idea after all. She is not strong enough for this.

Many times already, she felt like turning back and head home, and just accept her fate. But she remebered her mother... she won't let her down.

"Please, if anyone is up there, listening to me." She prayed that night, clutching her mother's necklace tightly. "Please, help me and bring to a place where I can be happy..." she sniffed and blinked rapidly trying to stop the tears from falling. "And please take care of mother. Don't let my father do anything bad to her..."

she curled into a ball on the soft grass and went to sleep. Hopefully tomorrow would be better for her.


AN: Well? what do you think? is it good? is it bad? do you think I'm a lousy writer? TELL ME! please read and review! :)