A young elfling lay in a large bed, curled into her father's side. Her long dark hair was damp from the fever she currently had. Her blue grey eyes were half open, staring at her father's concerned face.
Her father had the same color hair and eyes and her, but he had more grey in his hair. Her father was also human, a ranger from the north; one of the Dúnedain. He was the chieftain and the true king.
"Rainaiel, you must rest little one." He told her. The small child stared up at him, not wanting to. "No…I hurt." She mumbled, fighting the need for sleep. The two year old had quite to the reunion with her father not even a day ago. "I know, I promise that I will find something to make it stop." He told her. The toddler nodded at she finally allowed her body to give into the much needed sleep.
Aragorn, son of Arathorn sighed, running his hand over his face. He was worried that her wound may be infected and he had no way of treating it. His small daughter should never have left her home, even if the dark lord wanted her. The child was just too small to be away from him or her mother. Her mother… the elleth that would be heartbroken to know what happened to their child. She was the daughter of Lord Elrond Halfelven, the Lord of Rivendell. He was also his adopted father when he was a small child. That was his home as well.
Rainaiel had been sent to a human village to live, where they had hoped that she would blend in. It turns out that they were very wrong, the man that they sent her to live with was cruel and had a deep hate for the elves. When he had passed through the town, to check on her from a distance, the ranger found his daughter in an alley way near death.
The man had beaten her and cut the top of both her ears off about a week earlier. The wounds became infected and the child had nearly succumbed to the pain. Rainaiel had just barely recognized her father when he found her.
Now he was currently in a ranger village in Arnor. He had sent one of his closest friends and fellow ranger to send for his father, Lord Elrond. If anyone was going to help him, it would be him. Aragorn needed him to save his little girl, or else he would lose all hope.
Suddenly a knock at the cabin door brought him out of thoughts. The ranger rose from the bed and walked to the door. Aragorn silently prayed that it was Lord Elrond.
The valar must had heard his prayers because the Lord of Rivendell stood outside the door; a worried expression on his face. He stepped back to allow him to enter. The elf lord removed his hood as he stepped in.
"Estel how is she?" Elrond asked, not knowing the full situation. "Are you sure you want to know…Rainaiel is really upset." Aragorn replied. "What had happened?" Elrond asked. "It's better for you to see, it will explain everything." Aragorn replied.
The elven lord followed his foster son to his granddaughter's side. The small child trembled from the fever that would not come down. The ranger gently swept the hair from her ear and removed the bandage carefully.
Elrond gasped when he saw the tip of her tiny elven ear missing. What was left was swollen and infected. He looked up at his son and then Rainaiel. Aragorn looked down, guilt filling his weathered features.
"Who did this to her?" He asked. "The person that we sent her to live with…apparently he has a great hatred for the elves. Rainaiel was teething and he had beaten her because she was crying." Aragorn replied. "How long ago did he do this… there is little I can do for her…she needs her great grandparents." Elrond said. "I know, but she will not last that long…not with the infection." Aragorn asked.
The elf rose and went to his bag and pulled out a salve that would help take the pain away as well as heal the infection. He knew that little Rainaiel would not drink the tea even if she wasn't hurt.
"Rain, guess who is here to see you?" Aragorn said, pushing a newly formed, damp curl from her face. The elfling opened her eyes and stared at her father. "Who is it?" She asked, staring into her father's grey eyes. "Daerada is here…we are going to see grandpa Celeborn and grandma Galadriel." He told her, hoping it would make her smile.
Rainaiel looked up and smiled weakly, she turned onto her back to see her grandfather smiling down at her. She had him wrapped around her tiny finger as much as any male that was in her family.
"Really, we goes to see them?" She asked, her voice sounding brighter. "Yes, we are going to see them…but you need to have some warmed clothes, little one." Elrond told her. "Why?" She asked. "It's snowing where they live, little one." Aragorn told her. Her grey eyes lit up at the sound of snow. It was her favorite thing to watch in the winter.
Elrond carefully help his son remove the ragged dress that Rainaiel wore and replaced it with a long sleeved velvet dress of deep purple. The elfling sighed happily being in a dress that actually fit. Aragorn sat her on the bed and went to put her boots on. They were the same color as her dress and were not going to fall off while riding. Her stocking were a lighter shade of purple that came over her knees.
"Is that better Rain?" Elrond asked. She nodded, beginning to feel tired again. "Hold on there, Rainaiel, you need to have something to cover your ears." Aragorn said. "Your ada is right; you should keep them warm for now." Elrond said as the ranger produced a long lavender colored cloak. The elflings eyes lit up at the sight of the cloak. "That looks like nana's cloaks." Rainaiel said, smiling at him. Aragorn smiled at her as he helped her put it on. "I know, you remind me of your nana so much." Aragorn told her.
After Aragorn put his cloak on, the trio was off to the Golden Woods. Rainaiel was excited to be back there because it was home for her. She was going to go see her great grandparents again, no doubt stealing her great grandfather's heart all over again.
