I finished the chapter! Yay! Three chapters posted in one day! I am proud of myself :-D

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of The Rings or anything created by the genious J.R.R Tolkien :-(

Neniel felt her knees give out as she landed with a thunk on the bottom step. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest, beating violently against her ribs. Her father - had he really came back after all these years? She didn't know what to think. Part of her wanted to believe her father; that that man was her real father. But the more sensible part of her mind was telling her that chances were it could just be a lone wanderer. The words of her grandmother kept playing through her mind, He could just be a traveller though...

Neniel suddenly realised that the voices of her father and grandmother had stopped. She heard the slow footsteps of her father crossing the kitchen floor. She jumped up, not wanting her family to know that she had heard them, and tried to compose herself and act as though nothing had happened.

The kitchen door opened to see her father standing there. 'Morning, Neniel... How long have you been out here for?' He asked, trying to sound as nonchalent as possible.

'Goodmorning, father,' Neniel said, attempting to smile. 'I just came down for some breakfast. Dérnwyn is being innsufferable as always.' She walked past her father and sat at the kitchen table. 'Have we any of that nice bread left?'

'Yes, I'll get some for you now,' her grandmother said while giving her father an odd look.

'Thankyou, Nana. I'll just take the one piece. I'm off to see Holdwyn this morning and won't be back till lunch.' She took the slice of bread from her grandmother and proceded to eat it. 'I really have to be leaving now,' she said through mouthfuls of bread, 'I don't want to keep Rowena waiting.' And with that she fled through the front door and strode up the lane before her grandmother or father could stop her. She didn't know what she was doing. She couldn't just stride up there and ask him if he was her real father, could she? What would he say? What if he wasn't even her father?

She suddenly stopped walking. She could just turn back and go and listen to Dérnwyn go on about her hair, pretend that nothing had happened, everything could go back to normal. Besides, she already had a father. A father who had been there for her her entire life. Not a father who had abandoned her at birth. And if this man was her real father, surely he would come and seek her out as soon as he was able to. But even so, Neniel knew that she would not turn back now. She was too inquisitive for her own good - she had to find out.

She continued her fast pace up to Rowena's house, ignoring the greetings from the villagers, she had other things on her mind. Eventually she made it up to Rowena's odd looking home, various wind chimes hanging around the door frame. Stopping infront of the door, she took a deep breath. She did not need to knock. Rowena had made it clear years ago that she was welcome to come in anytime. She opened the door and walked into the front room. She could hear familiar voices coming from upstairs but could hear no sign of a man's voice. She quietly walked up the rickety steps and peered around the door of the large room that Rowena used for sick patients.

And there he was; a pale man with a mess of dark hair streaking across the pillow. He had a noble face and Neniel guessed that if he opened his eyes they would be grey. He looked very fevered, his pale skin clammy as he mumbled incoherent words. Holdwyn was sitting beside him wiping his brow with a damp cloth. It was then Neniel noticed Rowena standing there smiling at her, as though she knew she had been coming. Neniel thought she had been quiet in coming up the stairs but then she was rather clumsy.

Holdwyn looked up at her and smiled. 'Are you just going to stand there looking gormless or would you like to come over and help?' Neniel walked over and took a seat on the other side of the bed. 'Here, you can crush these herbs for me,' Neniel took the bowl Holdwyn gave her and began to grind the pestle into the herbs. She found that her mouth had become very dry. 'He's going to be alright,' Holdwyn explained. 'He was poisoned by one of the orc blades but fortunately he got here in time. We just need to break his fever now.' Neniel nodded, she did not know what to say.

That morning, she stayed with Holdwyn and Rowena while they attempted to heal him. She often found herself closely examining his features, looking for some resembalance between them. At around midday his fever finally broke and he slept peacefully in a deep slumber. The three then made there way downstairs. 'Would you like to stay for some lunch, Neniel,' asked Rowena. 'We have plenty here.' Even though Rowena had invited her to stay, it was clear she was itching for her to leave. Her and Holdwyn kept shooting glances at eachother, obviously wanting to have a private conversation. It was not hard for Neniel to figure out what they so desperatly wanted to discuss.

'That's alright, Rowena. I really have to be getting back now; you know how Nana gets.'

'Alright dear, we will see you soon no doubt,' Rowena gave an odd look to Holdwyn, who was looking very serious - something that Neniel had never seen before.

A while later, Neniel found herself arriving at her own front door. The walk from Rowena's had been a complete blur. She had thought that one of her mother's friends had attempted to talk to her, but she could not remember. She found her father and grandmother right where she had left them; sitting at the kitchen table. They were both giving her an odd look, she guessed they knew where she had been all morning. She took a seat opposite her father. 'Neniel...' He started.

'I heard you this morning,' Neniel blurted out before she could stop herself. 'I-I heard you taking about that man and how you thought he was my... father.'

Her father looked a bit put out by this statement but continued on anyway. 'Well, you were definitely not supposed to find out that way, but now that you know, you must not get your hopes up! We don't know anything about this man - he might not be who we think he is.'

'I know, but still... I-I think I need to have a lie down for a little while.' Neniel got up from her chair and smiled at her father. 'I'm fine, really, just a little tired.' Her father did not look at all convinced but let her go nonetheless.

It had been three days since the arrival of the mysterious man in the village. Three long, hard days for Neniel. Her father had told her not to go to Rowena's, claiming that the poor man would need rest in order to recover, so she had waited. Waited and waited for what seemed to be forever. She ate, slept, talked with her mother, helped Dérnwyn with her hair, and even willingly ran about town doing various errands for her grandmother. Anything to help the time go faster and to keep her mind on other things.

This had helped for the most part, but as soon as Neniel had a second to herself her mind wondered back to the dark-haired stranger. She knew not to get her hopes up. This had happened before afterall... But something inside her told her that this time was different, this man was different. She could feel that something was going to happen. She was almost positive that this man was her father. This thought excited her, but at the same time she was terrified. This could turn her whole life upside down.

Would he want to take her away with him? That scared her more than anything. The thought of leaving her family was unthinkable to her. She would be lost without them. But then again, this man was her family, her real family. She couldn't just ignore that!

'Stop this, Neniel! You're getting ahead of yourself,' she muttered. She didn't even know if he was her father. She was just going by what her gut was telling her. It was not just her though. Neniel knew from the way Rowena and Holdwyn had been talking and the strange looks they had been sharing, that they too knew something was going on.

And of course, Neniel was forgetting one of the most important parts; he had called out her name during his fever! Her father had said so! How would a stranger have known her name? Neniel had made up her mind; this man was her father.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and whipped round startled, only to find her grandmother standing behind her. 'Oh, hello, nana,' she said, 'How long have you been standing there for?'

'Not long dear, I only just came in.' Gléowyn gave her grandaughter a comforting smile and sat in the chair next to her. 'I know these past few days have been hard for you, Neniel. You've been waiting a long time for this, but you have to remember that you don't know who this person is! I know you are certain that he is your father, and certainly a lot of evidence points towards this, but that still does not make it certain.'

Neniel opened her mouth to interject but Gléowyn held up her hand, silencing her. 'This is why I think that it is time for you to meet him and find out the truth. Your friend, Holdwyn, came down earlier; he is well enough now to speak with you.'

Neniel could feel the beat of her heart in her chest. She was going to meet her father! She couldn't believe it! She suddenly felt a bit sick as the knot which had been present in her stomach for the past few days suddenly tightened. Gléowyn placed her hand on Neniel's and squeezed gently.

'Would you like me to come with you? We can find out together,' she asked. 'I know how nervous you are.'

Neniel considered this for a moment then replied, 'No nana, I'll be alright. I'll go myself, and if I change my mind when I get there, I can always ask Holdwyn to talk to him with me.' Neniel leant in and embraced her grandmother, breathing in the familiar, comforting smell. 'I'll be fine.' She gave her grandmother one more squeeze then got up to leave.

'Good luck, dear. I hope all goes well for you.' Gléowyn walked her to the door then watched as her grandaughter made her way up the cobbled street, and could not help feeling that things were definitely going to change. Sighing to herself, she shut the door.

Neniel slowly walked the familiar path to Rowena's house. Her heart was beating so violently in her chest she thought it would surely burst out. Now that the time had come she suddenly wasn't so sure she wanted to do this. She knew she had to though. She felt as though this was a pivotal moment in her life. She couldn't go back now. She quickened her step in a subconsious attempt to rid herself of her nerves.

All too soon for her liking, Nenial arrived in front of the familiar red doors, the sound of the wind chimes interupting her thoughts. She braced herself before opening the door and stepping into the house. Holdwyn was sitting in the small room, sorting through an old herb box. 'Neniel!' she said, standing up suddenly. She placed the box back on the shelf and walked over to her friend. 'How are you? I'm sorry I havn't been to see you in a few days but, well, you know we've been busy up here.' Holdwyn gave Neniel an apologetic smile and gave her friend a brief hug.

'Think nothing of it, Holdwyn. A man's life is far more important than my worries.' Her stomach gave another sudden lurch as she thought of who the man really was. Holdwyn seemed to sense what was going through her mind as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

'It will be alright, Neniel. Rowena is with him now. Would you like me to go up with you?'

'No, Holdwyn,' Neniel sighed, 'I'll go myself. I'll be down shortly.' Neniel made her way up the rickety stairs. The wooden door to the room was closed and Neniel could hear voices coming from the other side. 'This is it,' she told herself. She gently knocked on the door and the voices from inside immediatley stopped.

The old door creaked open to show Rowena standing on the other side. 'Come in, child,' she said, ushuring Neniel into the small room. Neniel's eyes were immediately drawn to the old bed in the corner of the room. He was sitting up with his back against the wall. His face was pale though had more colour than before. Deep, dark circles lay beneath his eyes, standing out against the paleness of his skin. Grey eyes stared up at her with a tired, but somehow still intense, stare. Even just by seeing him sitting up in bed, Neniel could tell that he was very tall, she could see the outline of his long legs beneath the covers.

She felt very unnerved beneath the stare of those intense eyes, but he gave her a sudden smile which brought warmth to the icy stare and immediately calmed her. She found herself smiling back at him. 'Neniel, this is Strider,' Rowena told her, taking her by the arm and leading her to the bed. She plonked Neniel down in the chair beside the bed. Neniel was too nervous to become angry at the fact that Rowena was treating her as though she were a child.

'Hello Strider,' she managed to mumble, inwardly cursing herself. At this rate he would think she was a child.

Strider gave her another warm smile, 'It is nice to meet you, Neniel. I've heard a lot about you.'

Rowena cleared her throat from the back of the room. 'I have to attend to some things downstairs so I shall leave you two for a bit.' She gave them a warm smile and left the room, closing the door behind her. 'I'll be back up shortly,' she called from the other side of the door.

Neniel was left sitting alone in the room with Strider. It was time to learn the truth. Though how could she ask a stranger such a personal question? Surely she couldn't just ask him if he was her father, could she? She didn't know what to to do.

Strider solved her problem by saying, 'I must thank you, Neniel. I was told you helped me to overcome my fever.'

'I only did what Rowena and Holdwyn told me to do. I have little skill in the art of healing. Rowena has tried to teach me but...,' she gave a small laugh, 'things did not work well. Rowena actually had to ban me from the healing rooms for a while. It seems that the particular combination of herbs I tried to use was lethal. It was lucky Holdwyn figured it out before I had a chance to administer them.'

Strider gave a deep chuckle, 'Well then I am glad Rowena and Holdwyn were here.' Strider's tone suddenly became serious. 'I cannot thank your people enough; if the patrol had not found me when they did I fear I would not have made it, and it was most important that I got here.'

The knot in her stomach gave another squeeze. He was going to tell her! 'So, you meant to come here?' Her heart was beating so fast she was sure that he could hear it.

Strider gave a slow nod. 'Yes. I came here to find you.' Neniel averted her gaze; she found she could not look him in the eye.

Strider said in a low voice, 'Neniel, I know who you think I am... I'm really sorry, Neniel, but... I'm not your father.'

Neniel could feel her heart sink in her chest. The knot that had been present in her stomach for three days now, vanished. It was over. She would never meet her real father now. He wasn't coming back for her. Neniel could feel the familiar burning sensation behind her eyes. She could not stop the tears that suddenly flooded. She quickly wiped them with the back of her hand and tried to compose herself. Her family had been right in telling her not to get her hopes up. She should have listened to them.

There were still some questions that needed to be asked though. 'But, my father said you knew my name. You cried it out in your fever! How would you know?'

'I knew because I was sent here to find you.' Strider looked deep into her eyes and she knew that he did not lie.

'But-what? By who?'

'By Lord Elrond of Imladris and Gandalf the Grey.'

Imladris... she had heard of that place. It was the elvish settlement her father had set out to find all those years ago! Her grandmother had told her that her father had left on the night of her birth to find an elvish lord. That must be the Lord Elrond Strider spoke of. But why would an elvish lord send someone to find her? How would the elvish lord even know of her? Unless...

'My father! My father must have made it to Imladris! Nana told me that that was why he left!' Neniel sat up straight in her chair, her eyes burning bright with excitment. She could feel hope rekindling in her heart. What if her father was living in Imladris? 'Is my father there? Is he in Imladris?' Neniel could not keep the excitement from her voice.

Strider shifted uncomfortably in his bed and dropped his gaze to his hands. 'I'm afraid not, Neniel. Your father has not been in Imladris for fifteen years now.'

Neniel felt the crushing loss for the second time that day. She slumped back in the chair, head bowed, all previous excitement gone from her eyes. 'He-he was there though?'

'Yes. I was not there when he arrived, though I have been told of what happened. He stayed for a few weeks. It had taken him a long time to find Imladris, but when he eventually did he was in quite a state. Lord Elrond helped him to recover, and when he was ready, your father told him about you.'

Neniel raised her head, her eyebrows arched. 'What do you mean he told him about me? He left the day I was born! How would he have known anything about me?' Neniel's voice raised. All the anger that she had been repressing for years was starting to bubble. 'He left! He left me! He left after my mother had just died! How could someone do that? What could he possibly have to say about me?'

Strider shifted back a few inches in bed. He looked far from comfortable. It was obvious that he had never had to deal with an angry teenage girl before. He raised his hands, palms facing out as though surrenduring. 'I know this must be upsetting for you...'

'You know? Really? You think you know what I'm going through? I came here today expecting to meet my long-lost father! Instead, I find out that some stranger has been sent to find me by some lord, and that my father has not been seen in fifteen years, and I will probably never meet him because he's probably d-dead.' Neniel's voice wavered and the tears threatened to spring from her eyes again.

Strider reached out his hand as though to try and comfort her, but then thought better of it and let it fall to his lap. 'You're right, I'm sorry, Neniel.'

'It's okay,' she said with a sniff, desperately wishing that she had a hankerchief, 'I just let myself get my hopes up again.'

Strider did reach forward this and gently lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. 'Do not lose your hope, Neniel. Your father may be alive yet. We do not know. It took me a long time to find your village and I am an accomplished tracker! He may be the one to have given up hope in finding you! But one thing Lord Elrond did tell me, from the short time your father was in Imladris, it was clear that he loved you deeply. As soon as he could, he set out again to find you. It may be that he has merely got lost along the way.' Strider gave her a warm smile, and Neniel found herself completely trusting this stranger. She returned his smile and wiped her eyes again.

'Why were you sent to find me?'

Strider sat back in bed again and was silent for a while, as though contemplating his answer. 'Your father came to Lord Elrond with a strange tale. Before you were born your mother had been having some dreams; dreams about you.'

Neniel's eyebrows drew together in confusion. 'How could my mother be having dreams about me if I had not even been born?'

'Some would say they were prophetic dreams. How your mother came to have them, not even Lord Elrond knows. But had them she did and they spoke of you. Your mother was very confused and with good reason, but one thing she did know, was that you were in danger and had to be brought to safety. Voices spoke to her in her dreams saying that you would be safe in Imladris. That is the reason your parents set out. However as you know, things did not go according to plan... You were unexpectedly born and your father could not bring a new born baby with him on his quest to find Imladris. You would have died!'

'But I don't understand, what was I in danger of? What were the dreams about? What had they to do with me?' Neniel was sat ram-rod straight in her chair again, all signs of her previous misery gone.

Strider held up his hands again, 'One question at a time, please. I cannot give you all of the details and certaintly not here, but there is something I need to tell you, though you will not like it.' Strider paused, took a deep breath, then continued. 'I'm afraid, Neniel, that while you are in this village you are in danger.' Strider stopped talking, allowing Neniel time to process this piece of information. Neniel's brow furrowed in confusion.

Before she could start asking questions again, Strider said, 'In the dreams it was said that four children would be chosen. For what I cannot tell you, not here. Besides it would be best that you hear that from Lord Elrond.' It took a moment for Strider's last words to sink in. Neniel had a shrewd expression on her face.

'What do you mean I need to hear it from Lord Elrond?' she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice, 'Surely he's not here with you?' She folded her arms across her chest and sat back in her chair.

Strider was beginning to look very uncomfortable again. He scratched the back of his head restlessly then proceded to fiddle with a ring on his finger. 'No,' he began slowly, as though choosing his words with care, 'He is not here.' Another pause. 'I came here to take you to him, to take you to Imladris.'

Neniel's eyes darkened with anger. 'Well then your journey has been a complete waste of time because I am not going!'

Strider gave a deep sigh and absentmindedly ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. 'Neniel, please just listen.' She gave him another hard stare but allowed him to continue. 'You cannot stay here, you are in danger. There are people out there, Neniel, trying to find you! While you are here, you are in danger.' Neniel had averted her eyes while Strider spoke, but they flicked back to his now, the anger gone to be replaced with worry. Strider held her gaze, trying to communicate the seriousness of the situation.

Neniel swallowed loudly, her eyes roaming around the room, not settling on one thing for too long, until they eventually settled on the hands in her lap. Strider softened his gaze and said quietly, 'This is for your safety, Neniel. I would not ask you to come for any other reason.'

'I still do not understand though, my mother wanted to bring me to Imladris before I was even born because I was supposedly in danger. Well, I have been living in this village my whole life, and not once have I been in any sort of danger.' Neniel raised her eyebrows questioningly at Strider. 'How do you explain that?'

'It... is complicated.'

'I'm sure I will understand,' Neniel said sharply.

Strider hesitated for a second then said, 'I do not think it is wise for me to speak of this, but I will tell you what I can-' There suddenly came a short, sharp knock on the door which then quickly creaked open, startling both Strider and Neniel.

Rowena walked in carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and a glass containing a strange coloured liquid which must have been the medication for Strider. She placed the tray on the table in the room and walked over to them smiling. 'I'm sorry for interrupting, but Strider you need to rest, you are still recovering. Neniel, could you maybe come back tomorow?'

Neniel felt like yelling at Rowena to get out so that she could listen to Strider's explanation, she doubted he would be so willing to tell her after this; she got the feeling that he was only telling her so much because he was tired and ill. She knew that getting an explanation from him would not be so easy in the future.

'Of course, Rowena,' Neniel said, smiling back at her despite her inner frustration. Neniel got up to leave and said goodbye to Strider.

'Holdwyn is waiting for you downstairs, dear,' Holdwyn stated. Neniel expected Rowena to come downstairs with her, but instead she took the seat Neniel had been sitting on, beside Strider's bed. It was obvious that she wanted to speak with him. She raised her eyebrows at Neniel as if asking her why she was not leaving. Neniel got the message, smiled again at Rowena, and left the room.

As soon as she shut the door she heard the voices from the other side. She once again found herself in a position to eavesdrop and gladly took it. Whatever was going on, she wanted to know.

Pressing her ear up against the door she could hear the low voice of Strider saying, '-cannot stay here, Rowena! Not only will she become a danger to herself, but also to everyone else here. She will be coming of age in less than a year! Without the proper training things could go terribly wrong!'

'I know, I know, I just wish it didn't have to be this way.' Neniel could hear the softer voice of Rowena floating through the door. 'I take it she did not respond well when you told her she had to leave?' Rowena's voice had a tone to it which suggested that this was what she had been expecting.

'Of course she didn't, who would? You are going to have to help me to convince her. We have to leave as soon as possible. Every day we get closer to her eighteenth. When she comes of age she will come in to power. Without the proper training, she will become a danger.' A pregnant pause followed this statement.

'Two have been found, have you heard any news of the other two?'

'We have heard something but we are hopefully wrong, it is not good news. We fear that-'

'Neniel?' Neniel quickly turned round. Holdwyn was was coming up the stairs, her expression curious. 'What are you doing?'

Neniel could feel herself blushing deeply. 'Oh nothing, I was just coming down now.' She smiled at Holdwyn, who had stopped walking up the stairs, the curious expression still painted on her face. Any suspicion she felt, she obviously dismissed because she said, 'Could I walk home with you, there is something I need to tell you.'

'Of course,' said Neniel, her own curiosity now roused. The two girls walked down the stairs and out of the house in silence. This silence continued on for some time. Holdwyn seemed to be lost in her thoughts. She was wearing the same serious expression on her face as she had the day Neniel first came to see Strider. Neniel got the feeling that she needed to let Holdwyn speak first.

Her patience was rewarded as Holdwyn said in a quiet voice, 'I am leaving for Edoras in the morning... My father is ill. I recieved the letter this morning. He's going to be alright,' Holdwyn looked into her friends eyes, 'He will be alright, I still need to see him though... Besides I have been away from home for years now, it's time to go back.' Holdwyn looked away, her eyes following the path ahead. 'I'm sorry for leaving, Neniel.'

'Holdwyn, don't you dare apologise! Of course you must go back, he's your father! You go back for as long as you need!' Holdwyn looked down at the path again.

'That's just it, Neniel. I won't be coming back.' Neniel stopped walking, her mind reeling. Yet another blow she had recieved today.

'Not coming back? But-why?' Holdwyn was silent for a while,her eyes glazed over, staring into the distance. Slowly she turned her head and looked at Neniel.

'I've been gone from my family for so long now, Neniel. It is time I went home. Rowena has taught me all that she can.' Neniel nodded her head in understanding, not trusting herself to speak. She could feel her eyes starting to water again. She couldn't even remember how many times she had cried this day. She was surprised she had any tears left. Holdwyn pulled Neniel into a big hug.

Sniffing she said, 'Lets meet at the rock later, okay?' Neniel could feel herself nodding again, still not trusting her voice. At least she still had tonight, there was still time.

It had been three hours since the two friends had arrived at the rock. They had spent their time laughing, crying, talking of old times. They had even had a small confrontation, but this had been settled quickly. They were now lying in their favoutrite spot, the sun setting in the west. It would be dark soon and they both new that there time together was coming to a close. It did not matter though, they had already said their goodbyes and did not want to have to go through it again.

'Do you think we will see eachother again?' Neniel asked. Holdwyn leaned up on her elbow to look down on Neniel. A big smile played across her lips.

'Of course we will!' she exclaimed, 'I'm certain of it.' She flopped back down on her back.

'Good,' was all Neniel had to say. A comfortable silence reascended. This continued until the last of the sun sank below the western horizon. Neniel knew it was time to go. As she said goodbye to her friend for the last time, she thought about how many more times she would have to do this with the people she loved.

Okay so I know that so far it's been kinda boring but it will get better soon! Unfortunately I have no chapters left so it might be a while until the next one, I will try to be as quick as possible though :-D

Thankyou to my first reviewer, Beatrix Hart :-) I'm glad you liked it. There will hopefully be more soon.