First off, thank you for the reviews/favs/alerts and all that good stuff. It's nice to know that others are reading this after the long wait from when I first posted this story. I am greatly appreciated and it helps with the motivations.

Secondly, I do want to give a little warning: not everything is a picture perfect world, not even in the Hobbit world (at least in my Hobbit world). This is why I decided to show some lives are dark and ugly behind closed doors. But I do feel in Izabel's case there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel and he will get what is coming to him. I did a little game with my husband to help with plot bunnies and when they are going to happen. I was undecided so he helped out (future chapters). And the reason why I haven't had her meet any of the dwarves yet because I believed she needed a friend first.

But that's all about to change.

I hope you like this third installments and stay tune for more.

Reviews are great and wonderful, Flames aren't tolerated.

...

Chapter Three: Outside The Darkness

The morning breeze was heaven to her skin. It was cool, blowing lightly as the sun was warming the air. Relief washed over her the further she got away from the house, picking up speed but it seemed she couldn't get away fast enough. She only had two hours before she had to be back but it wasn't long enough. She wanted more time, she needed more time to explore the outside of everything that she was missing out on.

Despite the time limit he gave her, she was just happy he gave her some. He could have been mean and told her no. She felt lucky that he didn't. Even when he was a complete monster most of the time there has been a very few times he caved into her wishes and gave her what she wanted.

They were far in between.

She made her way down the path that led to the inner city and the market. It had been so long since she was there or being outside for that matter. Eaoden kept her locked in her room mostly only allowing her out long enough to make him food and fulfill his needs before she was forced to return and be by herself.

There was so much she forgot, the sweet smell of flowers, the way the grass felt beneath her feet. The way the wind swirled through her hair making the strands from her braid tickle her face; even the noises the leaves and stick made as she stepped on them she missed. The sight of small animals scurrying away from her. The smallest and simplest of things no one knew or paid any attention too: Izabel missed them.

Some may laugh or roll their eyes at her for her excitement but if only they knew...

There were steps she had to agree too before she adventured out the door. He reminded her even before she could get her foot out the door.

"Remember what I said," He began repeating himself from his earlier demands. "Head straight to the dress maker."

She nodded. "Yes sir." She muttered. "Say nothing to no one and return home in two hours. Yes Eaoden I do remember and I do understand. I would never make you distrust me in any way."

"Don't get snippy with me, Izzy. I trust you to follow my orders and listen." He took a step towards her and Izabel took one back.

"Forgive me Eaoden, that was not my intention. You can trust me." She regretted what she said before but he had to know that he didn't have to tell her a thousand times when only once was enough to know what would happen if she didn't follow his orders.

"Good, now be on your way."

And she was gone before he had the chance to even think about changing him mind.

The only reason why Eaoden didn't want her speaking to others was because he knew if the right words were said, the young brunette would cave in and tell that soul about what he does. She knew this but she knew the consequences that would come if she did. They would be fatal. He would make her pay. It wasn't a threat but a promise and that was enough to put the fear in her and keep her mouth shut.

But there will always be the nagging voice, the want to talk to someone else other then her self, just to hear another voice. That was wishful thinking though because no one knew who she was.

It sadden her so, no friends to see. While Eaoden visited the city often, Izabel was trapped and far away from the people.

Izabel grew custom to the hell that came upon her, living it for three years now. She learned to speak, not to ask questions and just do what was expected.

Sometimes that was not good enough.

Eaoden was a very evil, troubled man. He was greedy and abusive. He enjoyed having power over her; scaring her to the point that she begged him on her hands and knees not to hurt her. Just once could he not treat her as his personal slave.

The one time that she tried to voice her concerns, the first time that she ever tried to run away from him. It cost her dearly. He was enraged, full of such hatred that she coward and feared he would kill her when her body became his pouching bag. He smacked her around, spit in her face and uttered such mean words they sometimes still haunt her at night.

She never tried it again after he left her bloody on the floor and unable to move for two days.

As she rounded the flowery bush, plucking one of the white flowers from its steam, the city came into view. It was a busy time, filling up with people of Lake-Town. They came to the market for food-vegetables and fruits, bread loafs of all sizes that were freshly made. Meats that were hanging and ready for purchase. Live stock to be traded. That was only part of the line she saw making her way further down the path. She dodged as many people as she could keeping her head down low and her hood up to keep wondering eyes from seeing the bruise on her cheek.

The next part of the market, tables and carriages all in a line was the fabrics of many colors, shapes and lengths. Some hung on ropes or over wooden slabs for everyone's viewing pleasure. She saw thin and thick, pretty colors combined and a few that were sore on the eyes. Izabel would sometimes stop to run her hands over them just to feel them. She listened carefully to what the women had to say about the differences between each one. And then they tried to get her into buying one.

But she couldn't. Her task was to buy a new dress. Eaoden didn't give her enough to buy all the fine things she dreamed about having.

She was not that lucky.

All she could do was smile her apologizes and move on to the next area. There was not much to see-small sized daggers were shined and displayed on a black cloth. The merchant who stood behind made her feel uncomfortable when he smiled at her.

She moved on to the next, the area that she was looking for and buried herself into looking for that perfect dress.

...

She was torn between the two dresses, a burgundy wine color or the dark green one. She never imagined finding one that would suit her needs was so complicated. But it was also unsettling that she had to dress proper for Eaoden and his gusts when she was use to the baggy dresses that were his mothers or the tattered ones from when he got rough with her.

She thought maybe if she could find one that was awful to look at; over powered by lace and embellishments and it was sore on the eyes. One that was sheer ugly with bright colors or terrible designs. Eaoden didn't say what kind of dress to get after all.

Izabel couldn't do that, there was not one that would turn her stomach sour because each one she saw were just as pretty as the last one.

"Did you need help lassie?" The woman's voice was soft as she asked.

Izabel turned her head and looked over her shoulder. The woman was not much taller then she was, short and plump, rosy red cheeks and lots of gray hair pinned back at the nape of her neck. But it was the blue eyes filled with care that stared back at her that Izabel noticed. There was no alarming feeling or even the slightest hesitation to turn and walk away.

"I could not help see you standing there staring." She said smiling, taking a few steps towards her. "May I?"

Izabel moved out of the way for the older woman who came up and stood next to her. She was careful to keep her face shielded and the woman was quick to notice.

She did not say a thing of the matter only her smile grew and her eyes softened. She turned her attention to the two dresses. "These are some fine choices, lassie. They are made from the finest material of silk. Floor length and loose fitting only clinging to where it needs be. You will not suffocate which is a good thing. Some dresses can be really tight to the point where you could faint at any given time."

She looked at Izabel then back to the dresses. "In the years I have made dresses I can not understand why they need to be so confining. We need to breath and not prance around with tiny waists and have our bosoms be pushed up. True beauty is what lies inside not in our chests."

Izabel's eyes grew wide and she gasped. Her cheeks flushed and she choked on a staggering cough; a mixture of shock and amazement that the woman was so straight forward.

The woman chuckled pushing a lock of her gray hair from her eyes. "Either dress would suit your needs."

Izabel stepped forward and ran her hand over the dark green dress. Both were beautiful in her eyes and both would be great to show off.

She sighed heavily, frustration shook through her breath.

"Why don't you..." The woman stepped in and scooped up both of the articles of clothing into her arms and looked at her. "Come with me. The only way to know for sure which one to choose you must try them on." When the young woman didn't make a move, she held out her hand. The smile on her face was bright as can be. "Do not worry child, no one will see you."

Izabel hesitated at first but knew that the woman was right. She had to try them on and get the feel and look before deciding.

She nodded her head slightly, a small smile reached the corners of her mouth and placed her hand into the old woman's and allowed her to take her into the tent that was set up behind them.

The inside of the tent was huge, at least to Izabel, she thought so. There was fabric every where piled on top of each other that formed lines along the edges of the tent. The woman had her work station set up closest to the door on the left. Lights of all styles were scattered throughout giving out enough light to light up the areas that needed it the most. Even with the sunlight shining down from the ceiling, she was able to see herself clearly.

She took Izabel to the far back of the tent where a long white curtain was draped over a line that she used for others that wanted to try on the clothing before they purchased them. "If you need my assistants just shout." She told her as she hung the dresses on the line. "Come show me when you're done. If it needs to be altered, I can do it."

Izabel kept her silence for far too long. It would be against what Eaoden wanted but the woman has been nothing but nice and helpful to her. It would be rude not to say something. "Thank you..."

The light in her eyes beamed brightly when the young woman spoke. She could see something was off about her from the beginning; the way she kept to herself and kept her cloak close to her body. "You're welcome. You may call me Irina."

"I'm Izabel."

Irina smiled. "A pretty name for a pretty girl. I'll leave you now."

She left her to her privacy with Izabel pulling the curtain forward and took a few steps towards the wall of the tent. She sighed softly removing her cloak first and draped it over one of the piles of cloths beside her. She began with the front ties of the dress she was wearing, it was easy to shimmy out of. Ten times too big for her to wear this dreaded thing, if she had it her way she would burn the over sized, ugly dress and smile delightfully as she would watch it go up in flames. She would be happy never to wear it again.

But sadly, she couldn't. Almost all her clothes were given to her by Eaoden. And they were all awful and hideous. Way too big and down right ugly. She couldn't fix them to her liking or even alter them to make them fit. The one time she tried to turn one of the dresses that was blue and brown and add some embroidery to it, Eaoden taught her never to do it again by breaking her hand. The dress was that of his mothers. He was furious, never again did she pick up a pair of sheers.

The bones in her hand eventually healed over time, leaving only an achy throb on cold days or when it was going to rain.

Izabel sighs softly as she pulled the tattered white lace over her head. She yelped, flinching and shielded her side with her arm. The pain was horrible as it traveled up her rib cage. The area was tender from the jabbing of his boot consistent this morning. She sucked in a deep breath and held it. The constant pulse was persistent and slightly annoying. She hoped it wasn't going to turn into another bruise. She had enough of them as it was. They were inconvenient, they made it very difficult to move, do the house work, cook his meals and do the imaginable that made her want to crawl into a hole and die. She was sick of them, she hated them and the way they made her look. She hated when they made her feel so shameful and helpless. She hated that she always had to cover herself so that no one who came to the house could see the brutality and the scars from all the times that he turned his anger onto her.

She quickly wiped the tears that fell from her face, pushed the awful feelings of despair, locked the pain away because if she stood there and thought about it any longer she was going to have a melt down.

She reached for the burgundy colored dress first and stepped into it. The silky fabric was soft against her skin. It was smooth and cool, sending chills through her body. She shivered and gasped as she put her arms through the sleeves and pulled it against her chest. The dress clung to her, revealing curves she didn't know she had, her hair shimmered with gold as it tasseled down around her shoulders. Her breasts filled the cups perfectly only revealing just a very small amount, enough to keep Eaoden from having a fit for exposing too much. The dress covered most of her imperfections and she liked that. It reached the floor, she giggled to herself when the silk tickled her toes.

But she had one problem, the ties to it were in the back and she couldn't reach behind her enough to close it. How was she going to pull this off? She would be exposed. Maybe if she was lucky, the woman wouldn't notice...

She grumbled to herself and pulled back the curtain enough to poke her head out.

Irina was standing just by the opening of the tent, shifting through a pile of dresses to bring out when she looked up and saw Izabel peaking her hed out. "Did you need my help?" She asked with a hopeful smile.

She nodded. "I can't reach to tie it." She said, her cheeks feeling warm. "Could you..."

"Of course." She put the two dresses she had in her hands back on the pile and made her way over to her. "This is such a beautiful color on you. It does wonders with your figure, it doesn't reveal too much either. It compliments you unlike that god awful dress you had on."

Izabel muffled her laughter with the back of her hand. "I don't like it either. It's too big. I'm afraid that I'll trip over it and fall flat on my face."

Irina agreed. "If you would like I can fix it for you." She offered, looking to the floor where the dress laid. She bent down and picked it up and shook it out. "If I can't change the colors at least I came make it fit."

The color drained from her face. "I...uh...I couldn't ask of you to do such a thing. I'm sure you have other dresses that need your attention."

"It wouldn't be a problem, lassie. Somebody has to save this thing." She said holding it up for both of them to see it.

Izabel frowned, it was a nice gesture and she was sure that Irina would be able to make it a whole lot better if she was given the chance but she couldn't let it happen. "Thank you for the offer but I must decline." She said, disappointed as she reached her hands out and took the dress. "I would have no way of paying for your service. I have no money for it." She placed the dress off to the side next to her cloak. "You've been kind to me...I couldn't ask..."

Her hand was warm and plump, placing it on Izabel's own with a gentle touch. "Don't fret child. I'm not asking for you to pay me, I'm offering it to you. Let me fix it for you."

She didn't know what else she could do to make her see that she couldn't let her but Irina was friendly, she showed kindness towards her like no one else has ever done.

She sighed softly.

All she could do was nod her head.

"Good. You can come back tomorrow to pick it up. Now lets get you all tied up so we can see what you look like."

"Okay." Izabel said barely above a whisper and turned herself around.

She had forgotten. Her back was exposed and all it's ugliness. She turned just right, the sun shining through the opening at the top and Irina saw it all.

"Sweet heavens..." The old woman gasped, her hand clasped over her mouth. Lines of white, scars scattered across her back, yellow tinted her skin as the bruises healed; some were still fresh and dark. She had a scab across her left shoulder blade that was still healing and there was spots that were red.

Izabel hung her head low, cheeks blushing and feeling of shame settled in her heart. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"My dear child," Irina spoke through her hand, blocking the full affect of her reaction. "What monster has done this to you?"

She shook her head. It was hard not to tell when someone showed her compassion. Irina was the first person ever to be nice to her, she took interest into talking to her.

She was lonely, afraid and empty...

But she knew not to open her mouth; she already broke the rules as it was. Izabel wiped at her face and sucked in a deep breath. She arched her shoulders back and straightened herself up. "I can not tell...there is no monster..."

The warning rang inside Irina's chest. She knew the young woman had just told a lie. Whatever the situation she was in that brought upon those marks and bruises was serious. "I understand." She said a moment later. "It is not my place." Irina held onto the strings to the dress and made her way around and stopped in front of Izabel.

Izabel looked away.

Her eyes were hard but filled with a great void of pain for the young one. She wasn't oblivious to the beatings or what was going on. She had years on her, many years. There was a time in her life when she first started her business that she came across such a sight once before. It was upsetting her then.

Irina placed her hand upon her cheek and Izabel looked at her. "Do not worry sweet child, you don't have to tell me. But know at any time you wish to talk about it I will give you my most undivided attention."

Izabel forced herself to smile, only to frown. "Thank you." Was all she could get out. All it would take was for the older woman to embrace her and everything would come out in a ball of raw emotion begging her not to let her return home. The wall she built to contain the pain would crack and she would never get it back. It took a year and a great amount of strength to push herself forward each day when the beatings first started.

Instead Irina did no such thing, a relief to the young woman. She smiled, nodded her head once and went onto tying up the back of her dress.