She lay curled up in the corner of her cell listening to the distant sounds about her, foot steps, shouts laughter. They were all so faint and that was the way she preferred them to be. When they drew close to her that generally meant that they were coming for her and that would mean pain something that she did not like, even if it came with food, which her stomach now growled fiercely reminding her that it had been a number of days now since she had last eaten, and it needed sustenance. There was none in her cell to be had, she'd finished of the meager meal she'd been brought last a few days ago, which meant that despite the distance in the voices and the footsteps they would soon draw to her so that the guards could have some sport of her and to bring her food.

She glanced about the dark room and reached out and touched the cool rock wall that she was facing, with her hand, and wondered about some of the things that the guards spoke of when they taunted her. They spoke about trees and sky and flowers, none of these things had any meaning to her, yet apparently they should, apparently she should long for them, but how could she? She had never seen any of the things that they had ever taunted her with and so she had not reacted ever, which resulted in beatings, thinking that she was trying to be strong in fron of them and not show how much she longed for the open. All elves long for the open lands. That is what they kept telling her, apparently she was also an elf, though she knew not what an elf was she assumed that her guards were elves, but she didn't think she looked anything like them. They were despite their cruelty beautiful and she could see the difference in her hands and body when they came with their bright lights that stung her eyes, in her clothing, in everything. Her wandering mind though was quickly brought back to the sound of footsteps, they were still distant but they were closer than they had been before and with each on they drew nearer and she drew her arm back to her and scuttled up to the corner until she was pressed right against it, and prayed to what she did not know that the footsteps would go the other way but it was a futile hope and she knew it, in moments they would be at her cell and she would have to suffer their amusement until they grew bored of her.

The door swung open and light flooded the small cell, she had her eyes shut tight though she could tell there were at least two figures in the door way for the light they blocked out.

"Filthy little creature is she not?" Came the laughing voice of one of the guards, "I do not know why King Thranduil does not just kill her, she has not moved from this cell in years." The guard said calmly taking a few steps in, the other stayed in place though she had caught the sharp intake of breath and a rustling of cloth with a soft gag. A new guard likely being trained.

"How long has she been in here?" Came the soft question from the guard that still stood in the doorway.

"I do not honestly know she has been here longer than I have been a guard." He said with a shrug, she curled up tighter now since he was standing right over her. "How long have you been in here?" She was being asked a question, one she did not know the answer to, and she whimpered knowing that if she did not answer she'd be beaten for it, but how could she answer? Suddenly a sharp pain burst from her chest as a boot connected with her ribs ripping the breath from her lungs and she tried to keep from crying out but she must have failed.

"Answer me." The guard said coolly laughing as he reached down and grabbed her by her hair and pulled her up from the ground, she opened her eyes whimpering slightly as she tried to cover her body so that he had less to hit.

"She does not seem to speak much."

"She never has, she has always been odd like that, nobody even knows why she is in here except King Thranduil." The guard said slamming her against the wall, how long have you been in this cell?"

The question again, and stills he had no answer though she looked at the new guard, he wasn't dressed like a guard and he was so bright and she could not help but stare at him. The guard that was holding her noticed and slammed her against the wall.

"How dare you stare so openly at someone so high above you." He hissed. "You will lower your eyes when a prince comes to vewi your wretched hide."

Prince? She had never heard that word before and she looked confused.

"Enough Gilodan." Suddenly he advanced and his light flared even more and she winced as the cell brightened up more than it ever had before, so much so that Gilodan even noticed it and turned.

"Prince Legolas, your light." His words trailed off as even he was caught mesmerized by the light streaming from his lord. The bright elf was coming for her and she was afraid, he paused with a frown noticing his light as well before he continued until he was almost touching her and she tried to shrink back but she was held against the rock wall and she looked everywhere except at him she'd been told to look away so she was, and then he touched her. And the room was so bright she needed to shut her eyes again for it hurt so much.

"How long have you been in this cell?" This time the question came from the Prince and he took her from the guard and she whimpered covering her eyes.

The guard she quit paying attention to he was standing back in awe

"How long?" He was not hurting her save for the bright light that came from him, perhaps that was what the word prince meant? But if she spoke she likely would find out just how much he was willing to hurt her and she sobbed hopping that it was the reaction he was looking for. He lowered her down to the floor and let her curl up tightly, and she ventured a quick glance.

"Have you ever been out of this cell?" He asked and that she could answer, she shook her head and he licked his lips. "Ever?" Again she shook her head he looked angry at that and she shrank back.

"Where did you live as a child?" His questions were odd, had she not just told him this was the only place she had ever been? He still had not harmed her.

"Here."

Neither of them though had noticed that Gilodan had left at a run, Prince Legolas turned and noticed he was gone, and with the keys, and he was not about to stay here any longer.

"You are coming with me, if my father knows why you are in here then I would learn what crime a child could do that would warrant such a harsh sentence." With that she was pulled up again and pulled from the cell, and she was afraid.