A/N- Okay, so before you read this chapter, for any of you who wanted to and did read my FAQ, there's now another question for you to have a look at, concerning Elyzabêth's relationship with her parents. Apart from that, here's the next chapter.

So, withut further ado, here it is! Enjoy!

Thanks

Sphinxy

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Chapter 3

All was quiet later on the next day, save the odd chirp of a bird or buzz of a bee.

Or the thudding of hooves.

Elyzabêth and her two guards were slowed to a trot as they rode across the land. The sun was bright and warm as it shone upon the land. The moon was still faintly visible in the sky as it sometimes is and it was still as bright and fascinating as it was the night before. Elyzabêth studied it as she rode and memories flooded into her mind. Memories of trust and loyalty, of cruelty and lies. Elyzabêth had been only a child when it had happened, but it was not something she could forget so easily.

The moon had been out as it was then; the sun was at its highest point, its rays touching the hilltops. Arwen had given birth to two children before Elyzabêth, Talia and Rayne. Or so the people thought. They only knew about the two girls, the two girls that left the lands to rule other places. But there was a third child. A boy.

An heir.

The first born child of the king and queen, kept secret because of his value to Gondor, because of his heritage. Only Elyzabêth knew of his existence, Elyzabêth and her siblings. His name was Isildur, named after his ancestor. Elyzabêth knew him well as a child, they were closer than any two siblings ever were. She trusted him most, she would confide in him all the time. He would laugh and joke with her every day, they would play in the sun until it sank beneath the horizon, behind the hills and trees. Then they would gaze at the stars, and he would tell her how each star represented one of their many ancestors. That Isildur's was the brightest of them all, because even though he had made many mistakes in his life, he had been forgiven once he had died. Forgiven because his mistakes were no fault of his own, because his mind had been corrupted. Everything was perfect.

Until he came.

The black hooded one. The one who lured Elyzabêth to him and told her to trust him.

So she did.

He told her to tell him her secrets, her desires. And she did. He lured her further and further into the shadows, making her confide everything in him. And she came willingly into his trap. She told him of the palace, of the king and queen, she told him all she knew. Finally she told him about her brother, about the third child and how he was next in line to the throne. Then he thanked her.

And he ran.

Elyzabêth didn't know where he ran to, she just remembered her father's panicked state when she returned to the palace.

Isildur was missing.

He ordered the guards to search for him, he got the army ready to fight. He got everyone ready for war. The sun was at its highest point, the moon was hung in the sky.

They found the hooded figure at last, but it was too late.

Isildur was dead.

Elyzabêth had never forgiven herself after that, even though it wasn't entirely her fault. She vowed never to trust anyone ever again, even her parents. She still loved them like any child would love their parents, but she just couldn't trust them like she'd trusted Isildur.

She shook the thought from her head as she rode on and looked back to the moon. The hooded figure was killed that very same day, but no-one knew why, save Elyzabêth and her family.

Memories of it still haunted Elyzabêth to that day, ghosts of the past still swam across her vision at night. But still she soldiered on, through the nightmares, through the visions.

As the horses were slowed to a walk, a single blue butterfly flew down from the sky and landed on Elyzabêth's free hand. She smiled down at it and lifted her hand to look at it. It had the most beautiful markings, and the sun glinted off its delicate scales every time it fluttered its wings. Tribal like patterns of midnight black curled around its tiny wings, and swirls of white also shared the space. Suddenly, it took off from Elyzabêth's hand and flew into the soft blue sky. She watched it fly away before she turned her attention back to the land ahead. They were steadily approaching the Fangorn forest, North of Rohan. It is one of the smaller forests of the world, not even half the size of Mirkwood, whose oaken boughs stretch on for many miles. As they reached the edge of the forest, they ate a small amount of elvin bread before entering the forest.

The ground was well shaded by the leafy canopy above and sunlight dappled the ground in small patches. Wildflowers grew in clumps amongst the untamed grass, and birds chittered up in the branches above. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing as the trio made their way through, silent and unseen. Not a leaf was rustled, not a twig snapped. Even the horses hoof falls were muffled. They continued like this until they reached a small clearing. Elyzabêth told the guards to dismount and let the horses have a rest and drink from the stream that ran by. Elyzabêth was first to dismount and she strode over to the stream, splashing her face with the cooling water. She cupped it in her hands and took a sip. When she was sure the water was safe to drink, she drank her fill and went back over to the guards. After insisting they spar with her, she picked up Isildur's blade and swung it was the first guard, catching him off guard. He just about manage to defend himself before he moved to attack. Elyzabêth blocked it with ease and flicked his sword from his hand sending it flying through the air. It struck a tree and stayed imbedded there as Elyzabêth turned to face her next opponent. He attacked first and she quickly defended herself, stunning him. She attacked him with extreme speed and knocked him off his feet. She smiled to herself and sheathed her sword.

"Come," She told the guards who were busy picking themselves up from the ground, "We must move on."

And with that, they continued their journey through the forest.

Soon enough it started to become darker, and Elyzabêth, sensing Absalom's need to stretch his legs, spurred her horse onwards, dodging the trees and swerving around the bushes. Absalom's hoof falls quietened as he lengthened his stride and Elyzabêth took this as a perfect opportunity to hide from her guards. She spun Absalom round and snuck behind the guards, who were desperately trying to find her.

Suddenly, she spurred her black stallion forwards and the alarmed guards turned round to see her galloping straight towards them. They moved out of the way as Elyzabêth rode through the middle of them and all they could do was watch as she flew past them. She slowed
Absalom to a walk and reined him in. She laughed a little as the guards approached her with caution, but she wasn't done yet.

She spun round unexpectedly and took off, heading away from the two guards. They sped off after her but she was too quick and she could outrun them with ease. She laughed as she left them behind looking rather dazed and confused, but they wouldn't give up. It was their job to stay with her and keep her safe after all. They followed her through the forest until they reached the edge and they left its oaken borders.

But Elyzabêth was nowhere to be seen. They spun round and searched for her, but they couldn't see her. Then all of a sudden she burst through the trees behind them causing their horses to shy and bolt. They managed to control them before they looked up to see a rather amused Elyzabêth looking at them.

They sighed in unison and made their way over to her. She smiled and told them to turn and continue their journey North. They nodded and followed her lead.

She once again urged Absalom onwards and he obeyed, speeding up to a gallop once more. They were faster than the guards, but Elyzabêth made sure to stay close to them this time, after all, she'd had her fun.

So they rode on across the plains until they found the forest of Lórien.