Disclaimer: I own nothing except Ivoriel! Everything else belongs to Tolkien.
Author's note: ok so this is my first hobbit fanfic. I haven't read any of Tolkien's books so there will probably be some things in this that are out of place… just let me know, I don't bite. Anyways enough talking; P
Happy Reading!
The breeze caressed her skin offering no warmth or comfort. She desperately sought consolation from something but found no will to get up. Her body ached and her muscles tightened painfully at any movement. The ground felt dry and hard on my flesh. She stared almost dreamily up at the canopy of trees above me. The motions of the leaves were slower. In fact everything was slower.
Her vision began blurred around the edges. The orc arrow protruded from her side. It must have been poisoned.
The young elflings blood soaked the ground and her clothing. She no longer hears the birds sing. Her parent's dagger beside her lay limp in her hands. Ivoriel closed her eyes once but they did not reopen. No matter how hard she tried to keep them open this strange drowsiness won over her senses. Slow footsteps could be heard. They were heavy and strong. She began to despaired, her breathing already irregular. She wretched her eyelids open.
More Orcs had launched themselves from behind trees. One of them that were walking close enough near the girl saw that she lived. It gave a mirthless, deep laugh. But before the foul creature could do anymore damage, an arrow whistled pass, hitting the orc's armour's weakest point. Ivoriel realised as it struck the Orc, that it was elvish. She turned her head to the blurs that were the Orcs and she hoped elves. The Orcs ran to escape the assault but were shot dead before they got off the trail. She longed for her Naneth's embrace to comfort her but knew that she never could feel her warm arms again. A blurred face peered curiously down at her. Their long hair tickled her face. She reached out and tugged on it. The elf pulled the arrow out causing an even sharper pain in her side. It soon faded. The elf gently pulled up her tunic. The ellon stared down at her wound in shock as it slowly began to heal before his eyes. Ivoriel vision began to slightly clear. She began to feel the clutches of panic and adrenaline race through her. She jumped up and made a dash for the tree line but another elf grabbed her around the waist.
"What are we to do with the elfling?" the one holding her questioned in elvish to another. Ivoriel struggled against her captives. She was confused and terrified of the strangers.
"Take her to the palace for now, Feren." A voice answered.
…
The small group of guards strolled over bridges, and through grand corridors that lead to the throne room with their distraught prisoner. It was a network of caves. They passed many stone pillars on their path. Ivoriel dreaded every second. A throne made with great antlers stood at the far end, clearly their destination. The lord of all Mirkwood elves sat regally in his grand throne watching with cold distaste. As Ivoriel and the guards reached him, she could see him look down on her as if she were nothing. The same piercing gaze which now held a certain degree of curiosity now landed on the Ivorel making her tremble in fright.
"My lord." A red haired elleth bowed. He tilted his head.
"On our patrol there was an orc attack on a group of elves. This was the only survivor." She continued gesturing with her hand to Ivorel who cowered on the floor. She hugged herself. Her muscles stiff from the ever receding poison.
The tense atmosphere was enough for the elfling, who scrambled through Legolas' legs and made a run for it. Feren stood a few feet behind Legolas, made a grab for her but she rolled out of reach and continued to run but an unofficial guard roughly grabbed her arm. His grip was firm almost unbearably tight. He threw her in front of Thranduil's throne once more.
Thranduil decided she was too terrified to get any answers. 'Insufferable' he thought to himself.
"Tauriel. Take her to the healing chambers." He waved, dismissing them all. The elfling trembled as she picked her up. Tauriel could feel the elflings heartbeat through the thin layer of her ruined clothing. Her hair that flowed like mercury was tangled and dirtied. She began to struggle. Tauriel simply pulled her from the room offering small words of comfort.
…
"My king." Feren greeted with a low bow. Thranduil looked at him with a hint of boredom and annoyance.
"What is it, Feren?" he asked coldly. His sharp gazes making the guard squirm slightly.
"My lord, it is the girl." He paused.
"When I found her she had a morgul shaft embedded in her stomach… when I pulled it out it- her wound began to heal." He looked up at Thranduil. Thranduil in turn looked down at him, a mask of indifference.
"If what you say is true, it is quite unheard of. Especially that of a child with none or barely any knowledge of healing. Tell no one of this." He said apathetically, but behind that mask he saw opportunities arise. Ones he would use to his advantage.
…
Tauriel left the little elfling with a healer and a maid then continued to finish her patrol in the forest.
The young healer, Malenor saw nothing wrong with Ivoriel only tiny faint scars that would disappear completely in a short period of time. He concluded that she was only exhausted from the encounter with the Orcs. He wrinkled his nose slightly at her appearance. It was then he noticed that her lips were extremely pale, a sign of shock. He put his disgust for the smell away and gently caressed her back. Which he noted was tense; he was pleased to feel her muscles slowly relax.
"Perhaps a bath or an outing to the springs would help. Would you like that?" he asked kindly to her. Her green eyes found his hazel ones. She nodded in consent, her tiny hand latched on his sleeve in a death grip.
"Faenel is going to take you." He gestured for the maid. Ivoriel shrank away from Faenel and into Malenor. Her fear was evident.
"No one is going to hurt you, little one." He reassured but Ivoriel made no move to leave with the maid. In fact she now clung desperately to his robes. She trusted him more than the other elf.
"I'll take you then but Faenel is coming with us." He smiled picking her up in one smooth motion. They walked out a of the carved entrance to the healing chambers and down a corridor. Ivoriel looked over Malenor's shoulder only to see that Faenel disappeared. She tapped him gently.
"She has gone to get you a clean dress." He said gently.
"What is your name?" he asked curiously. Her lips moved but no sound came. He rubbed her shoulder in encouragement.
"I-Ivoriel." She whispered. She watched Malenor smile.
"It's almost as beautiful as you." He said as they turned only to face a flight of stairs and walked down another corridor. They arrived at a cave looking room; there was so much steam it made it hard to see further in the room. There were pools of water. Malenor put Ivoriel down and took off his long robe so it wouldn't get wet. He only wore his tunic and breeches. Faenel returned not long after and helped her bathe, washing away the filth that covered her but no matter how much they scrubbed they could never scrub away the memories.
Ivoriel played in a pool as Faenel and Malenor spoke. Her sharp hearing picked up something that spiked her curiosity. Though she felt dread at ever meeting the cold piecing gaze of the Elvin-king.
"The king wishes to see her after she rests." Faenel informed the healer. They noticed the quiet and realised Ivoriel had stopped playing.
"Are you ready to get out, Ivoriel?" Ivoriel nodded. The colouring in her pale face had returned Faenel noted as she pulled her out of the pool and dried her with a towel. Ivoriel pulled a deep white dress on and Faenel combed her hair afterwards.
"Thank you." Ivoriel said surprising both elves. Faenel smiled in acknowledgement.
"Malenor is going to take you back to the healing chambers now." She said kind heartedly before waving farewell and exiting. Malenor held out his hand for Ivoriel to take, which she did as they walked back. The healer couldn't stop thinking how small and soft her hand was in his.
…
Malenor watched the little elfling twist and turn in her sleep, but he would not wake her. She would need her strength for the upcoming visit by their king when she awakes. He wondered how she will react to his interrogation. If it were up to him, Malenor wouldn't let anyone question the poor thing on her encounter with the Orcs. He had no doubt that she lost people dear to her. Ivoriel mumbled in her sleep pulling Malenor from his musings. Yes this would be an interesting sight to be seen indeed.