Child of Stars
By Evenstar of Hogwarts-
Chapter 1- In Arda
"Sarah Andrews! Are you paying attention?" barked Miss Moore. The seven year old girl flushed.
"Yes Miss Moore," she mumbled.
"Good," the teacher snarled.
Sarah sighed and went back to staring out of the window. A window which showed a barren landscape, with a few dried up trees. That was all of the nature that inhabited Miles Orphanage.
Sarah hated the orphanage and everything in it. All the teachers made her the butt of their rages. According to them, young girls should be seen and not heard. And Sarah was talkative by nature.
All the other children in the orphanage constantly teased and bullied her. She wanted to get away as soon as possible. But after all, who would adopt a bizarre and worthless girl like her. Nobody. Sarah stifled a sob as the thought flashed through her mind.
Just then, the bell rang, signifying the end of her geography lesson. Sarah quietly gathered up her books and left the class. She was lost in her thoughts as she walked to her Maths class. Just then, a really annoying girl, who was usually at the forefront among bullies purposely bumped into her. She giggled leaving Sarah to pick up her books and veer into the class unnoticed.
Sarah went to her usual seat, one near to the window at the back of the class. She tried hard to concentrate upon Miss Hodge's ramblings but considered it a lost case and began to stare out of the window, imagining that she was a princess in a vast castle, where all girls were treated equally and nobody was allowed to be wicked. Imagination was the only thing that Sarah could use to make her bleak life better. Imagining opened the gateways of new dreamlands to her and she would be lost in her dreams until she would be brought back to Earth by an abrupt realisation- she was just Sarah Andrews, a young, odd, hopeless orphan girl.
Now, she was brought out of her reverie as John Robinson cast a paper ball at her head. She opened the paper and winced when she read the word 'Witch' scrawled across it. She threw it into a dustbin, angry tears obscuring her vision.
When the bell rang, she hurried out of the class for her next class, English.
English was a subject Sarah liked naturally. She liked the teacher, Miss Taylor. She was probably the only consolation in her miserable life. With her bright, sunny nature, she always encouraged Sarah to write more and better. She always enriched her vocabulary and made her read out her essays to the entire class. Sarah often daydreamed that one day she would escape this life and go and live in a magical place and take her beloved teacher with her.
Unlike the other classes, Sarah hurried to one of the front seats in the class. She listened attentively while Miss Taylor taught them a poem by the great Wordsworth. She then asked them to write an essay on Nature. Sarah worked diligently on the piece, sinking into the magic of language. When the bell rang, she was really disappointed.
Classes were over for the day as was her homework. Unlike the other girls who were talking to each other and exchanging what little candy they had, she was sitting at her desk, writing a story. She was so engrossed in her work she didn't notice the dinner bell ring.
When she got to the dinner hall, everyone was already having dinner. She hurried to get a tray but when she reached them, Miss Carter, an imposing teacher, stopped her.
"Sarah Andrews! Dinner began 10 minutes ago! How many times have I told you be punctual? Go to your bed NOW!" she bellowed.
All the children burst out laughing at this disgrace. Sarah said nothing but promptly hurried away. As soon as she got to her room however, she began to sob.
After wearing herself out with sobbing, she tried to find a few biscuits that she kept in a container in her drawer. Eating them, she threw herself on her bed. She ended up crying herself to sleep, praying to God to give her a home. Never knowing that her wish might come true…
Sarah awoke prepared to condemn herself to another day of endless bullying and torment. What she saw instead took her breath away
She was in a deep, gorgeous valley. The fresh air whipped about her, making her long brown hair beat around her face. Trees were covering every inch of the ground and there were waterfalls and greenery all around. Nestled in the heart of the valley was a lovely, inviting city.
"Where am I?" she wondered aloud in awe.
She hesitated. Should she go towards the house? It looked warm and comforting, not like the cold, bleak building of the orphanage. But if she would go there, would the people there turn her away? After all, they probably wouldn't want her.
After some time, her hunger and thirst overcame her doubts and she started walking towards the house. She was absorbed in the bounty of nature around her. This was a whole new experience for her. So engrossed she was, that she didn't notice a few bows being lowered and the gleam of eyes watching her every move.
Glorfindel watched in wonder as a young girl made her way to Imladris. She was a young thing, not older than seven summers. Yet the soul behind her eyes looked withered, one who had seen or experienced a lot of tragedy. Her eyes had a haunted look in them, like they didn't know love. He gave the command for his archers to lower their bows.
Glorfindel stepped out. "Who are you, child?" he asked.
Sarah jumped. Seeing the elf, she shrank back quietly.
"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you," he said in a gentle voice, kneeling down so he was on eye level with her.
Sarah looked at him, frightened out of her wits. Who was this strange man? Yet, stranger or not, he looked very kind. Slowly, she took the extended hand.
"That's it," he said gently. "Now, who are you?"
"My name is Sarah Andrews," Sarah answered shyly.
"Well, hello Sarah. I'm Glorfindel," the elf said, introducing himself.
"Where are you from?" he asked
"Miles Orphanage. In London," Sarah replied, heart sinking at the thought of this hated place. What if this man sent her back there?
Glorfindel's eyebrows lifted slightly. Oh. So this young girl was an orphan. He was overcome with a feeling of pity and remorse for her. However, he could tell by the child's tone that she had disliked that place. What had she said? London?
"Where is London?" he questioned
Sarah thought this was ridiculous. This man didn't know London! She had probably landed in a nuthouse. Keeping this thought to herself, she replied, "London is the capital of UK."
"Nay, there is no UK in Middle Earth," he said, confused.
It was Sarah's turn to be confused. "What is Middle Earth? I have never heard of it," she said timidly.
Glorfindel looked puzzled for a moment, and then his expression cleared. "Come on," he said, standing up. "I'll take you to Rivendell."
"So you want me?" she asked hoping against hope that this was true.
"Whatever do you mean child? Of course we want you," Glorfindel said.
"But why? Miss Carter said that worthless and wicked girls like me don't get adopted by anyone. No one wants them," she said, tears glistening in her crystal blue eyes.
Glorfindel's expression darkened. He could tell, whoever this Miss Carter was, she was a really horrid woman. What an awful thing to say to a child!
The girl was silent for the rest of the trip.
When they entered Rivendell, Sarah gasped. She hadn't seen such a beautiful place in all her life.
Glorfindel took them straight to Elrond's office.
Sarah shyly went forward when the imposing elven lord beckoned to her.
"Sarah, this is Lord Elrond." Glorfindel introduced the elf.
"Hello," Sarah said shyly.
"Who is she? And where did you find her?" Elrond questioned in their native tongue.
"I found her on the borders of Imladris. She is very young, not more than seven summers. She told me her name was Sarah Andrews. She is an orphan. She was raised at an orphanage in some place called London. I can tell; however, that she disliked the place and the people there were unkind to her. Furthermore, I don't think she is of our world." Glorfindel informed back in that same, strange language.
Sarah looked confusedly on. Were the two of them deciding whether to keep her or not? And why were they talking in such a strange language?!
Elrond nodded, before kneeling down in front of her.
"Sarah, do you want to go back to London?" he asked kindly.
Sarah hesitated. Should she tell these two, nice people the truth?
"No," she finally admitted. "I hate the orphanage. And I hate the teachers and kids there. They always bully me. Only last week, Melody pushed me in the pond! And Miss Carter sends me to bed without dinner." She complained in a voice choked with tears.
"Well come on then. I shall show you to your room." Glorfindel said.
"Are you sure you want to keep me?" Sarah asked. "Miss Carter says I am a wicked girl. I always want to have adventures and I like talking and imagining. Miss Carter says that isn't becoming in a lady. She says no one will adopt me because I am very strange and worthless."
Glorfindel gasped. "Sarah you are not worthless. You are a very gifted child. And here in Rivendell, having adventures, talking and imagining is what most of the people do," he said, tucking a strand behind her ear.
Then he gasped. "You are an Elfling!" he said in awe. Elrond was looking at her in the same manner.
She caught a glance of her reflection in the mirror. And she gasped too! Her ears were pointed. They were not like that till yesterday! What was happening?"
Still looking odd, Glorfindel led her from the office to a beautifully decorated room.
"Stay here pen dithen." He said. Then he turned and went back to the office to have a long chat with Elrond.
So tell me what you think of it guys!