16 years later/1600 years Middle Earth

I was 16 years old today, I thought dimly as my eyes regained consciousness. My entire body burned and ached with pains both new and old. My hand felt like it was on fire, I was sure that they had broken it last night. I held back screams as I pulled myself into an upright position, my back and torso were protesting this movement quite vehemently.

"Girl!" I could hear my father shout from downstairs. With a groan and using the support of the wall I slowly rose to my feet. Thankfully I did not have to go down or up any stairs as I was on the first floor, in an old bedroom.

"Yes, father," I whispered, trying to keep the ice from my voice. I didn't look him in the face, I stared at the cracked tiles underneath my bloodied feet.

"Do you see anything wrong with the kitchen this morning?" He snapped at me, his voice deathly quiet and calm. Quickly I looked around, but didn't see anything amiss, so I shook my head. In a sudden movement he held the back of my neck in his hand. I winced as his hands grabbed some older injuries. "How about breakfast?"

"I'm sorry!" I cried out as he tightened his grip. Letting me go he turned me to face him and slammed his fist into my stomach. I gasped as I curled around my abdomen, he just laughed.

"Get to it!" Hobbling over to the refrigerator I pulled out bacon, eggs, and sausage then began to cook them. My stomach growled as the aroma floated throughout the house, but I knew that I wouldn't get anything. I had forgotten to get up and take care of breakfast, and I would forego any food until I could remember my chores.

"Today you are to clean the entire house," my father growled at me as he ate his breakfast. I tried not to stare at the food, and simply nodded.

"I expect it to be spotless by the time that I come home tonight." I nodded again and cleaned the kitchen, clearing his dishes when he finished. After a few more moments he left the house, leaving me to the peace and quiet that the house offered. I cleaned the house, slowly, for that it all the movement my injuries would permit. Sometime around three o' clock I began to cough, leaving blood splattered on my hands.

My mother would be here in an hour and my father would be home at five, and the house wasn't fully cleaned yet. I began to panic as the pain grew too much. I remember falling down the stairs, before looking up to see a kind, wrinkled face before me. He chanted something before I fell completely unconscious.

When I came to, I was on the back of a horse. My head was swimming, and the nausea rolled in my stomach as the horse's gait rolled underneath my behind. I could feel someone behind me, and there were more beside me, but I couldn't get any of my words out. The people surrounding me were speaking but I couldn't make out anything in their fluid and beautiful language. I felt myself fall asleep once more, letting the language wrap me in its sounds and lull me back to a time before I came to live with them.

Waking up seemed hard as I was surrounded in warmth and my body no longer ached. I opened my heavy eyelids to see a beautiful cream colored room. The windows were open and I could feel the sweet spring breeze blow throughout my room. I greedily drank in this air, then I swung my legs over the side and tried to stand up. I promptly fell with a crash, my door opened moments later.

"Lá, iell nin!" a dark haired man said to me, before picking me up and placed me back underneath the coverlets. "Elrond!" Another dark imposing man came into the room and began to look over me. I pushed his hands away, certain for the strikes that never came.

"Elrond, mellon-nin," the man that I had briefly seen before I passed out came into the room.

"You!" I gasped pointing at him. He looked at me before looking at Elrond, the imposing figure. He spoke to him softly in that language. Whatever he said had the first guy gasping and looking at me in horror. This guy approached me slowly, like I was a wounded animal, perhaps I was. He looked at me with soft eyes and said something in a low voice. I whimpered as I could see the anger laced through his angelic face. He softened his face in regards to my distress, but he still snapped something at the man in grey. He simply nodded and strode over to my bedside.

I flinched backwards as his hand reached out for me. Firmly he grasped my hand, the uninjured one and began to speak in another language. I could feel this magic wrap around me and felt comforted by its caress. When this was over I looked up at the three men who looked expectant.

"How do you feel?" Elrond asked gently. I looked up at him astonished. I actually heard him!

"I feel fine," I said softly, as I hung my head.

"Iell nin, lá do not do that," a hand gently tipped my head back up, and I reflexively flinched back. Iell nin, meant my daughter. So this must mean that he was my father? My real father?

"Ada?" I questioned as I tipped my head to the side.

"Yes, gwinig," He gave me a soft smile. "I am here now Meril. Shh." He enfolded me in his embrace, in which I completely broke down, sobbing into my newly found father's robes. He began to hum gently, soothing me as I let out all 16 years of fear and pain. "Goheno nin."

Translations

Iell nin – my daughter.

Meril Amaurëa – Rose Dawn

Gwinig – baby

Mellon-nin – my friend

Lá – please

Goheno nin – forgive me