Chapter 4

Aragorns POV

I held her as if she would break at any second. She weighed no more than a five year old elfling that would be another conversation to be had. Tightening my grip on her as she struggled knowing full well she was uncomfortable and walking faster having all intentions on finding out what happened to her. Her struggles became less and less until they no longer existed. I paused slightly wondering why she had stopped struggling. I looked at her face. She showed no emotion her curly brown hair swayed around her face. I placed her gently on the bed and alerted Ada, not taking my eyes of the child for one second. I sat on a chair next to her bed and watched her wriggle under my glance.

"Now I cannot keep on calling you little one can I?" I asked hoping to get a response.

After a few minutes she shook her head I smiled encouragingly for her to continue. She refused to talk.

"What shall I call you? Do you have a name?" she frowned and answered in a small shaky voice,

"Grace," I could tell she was lying but it was a start. I knew I had to gain her trust before she would start telling me the truth.

Hermione POV

The man who called himself Aragorn seemed much taller than me. I mean I was not exactly tall myself however I noticed that I was a lot smaller than usual. Why did this man keep calling me little one? I was 17 years old after all and here he was carrying me as if I were a toddler. I frowned as he asked what my name was, wondering if I should tell him my real name or make one up for the time being. Chances are that Death Eaters were still on the loose and will most likely be looking for revenge so the less this man knew the better,

"Grace." I answered shakily, if this man knew me he would have picked up on the lie, however he did not and brushed it of asking another question,

"Grace, where are your parents?" he asked, I felt hot water sting my eyes the warning sign that I was about to cry.

I had no idea what happened to my parents I could only hope they were still safe in Australia, I did not have the chance to go and find them after the war. I shrugged my shoulders; looking down at my arms I was surprised and pleased to see my arm no longer held the word MUDBLOOD. In fact my skin was a lot more pale and smoother than before. I looked around for my beaded bag,

"Where's my bag?" I asked and watched as Aragorn got up and walked towards the end of the room and grabbed my bag.

I smiled as he passed it too me, his eyes not leaving mine as he watched intently as I searched my bag. I smiled as my hand brushed over a mirror which Harry had brought me for my 13th birthday and pulled it out. I looked into the mirror and gasped my face that was once grown up now looked babyish, my eyes had turned a lighter brown and my hair had a golden tint to it, looking smoother and longer. My face was rounder and my ears had become pointed I dropped the mirror on the bed trying hard to not panic. Aragorn must have noticed, as soon as I felt my heart rate start to speed up he pulled my body forward a little bit and placed himself behind my body and rubbed my back gently.

Aragorn's POV

I saw her eyes become wide as her body trembled slightly, I placed myself behind her holding her and rubbed her back helping her to calm down. I did not know what had caused this reaction. I felt her heart rate come back down. I decided a direct approach would not be wise, I talked to her about Rivendell and a few stories about my life hoping to help her feel comfortable around me.

"I think I must have been about your age when my brothers decided to take me on an adventure through the forest. I was excited to be able to go somewhere new and different so I ran on ahead of my brothers and thought I would play a trick on them. I raced to the biggest tree I could find and started climbing it, sitting on the branch I waited for my brothers to come. They did not come, after a while I started wondering if I had really lost them and it had started to get dark. I was too scared to climb down the tree by myself so I sat and waited for someone to come and get me. I was not expecting what happened next. Legolas who was visiting, had found me he looked up at the tree looking straight in my eyes and said demandingly,

"Come down Estel, we have all been searching for you."

"I…I can't, to high up… scared." I answered,

Legolas started climbing the tree and once he reached me he pulled me on his back and told me to look down and to remember the feeling of being so high up that I had become scared. Once we were on the ground he still would not put me down I complained but he hushed me as if I were a toddler. We walked towards my Ada's study and I stiffened, scared of what would happen. Legolas opened the door and walked in the room was empty; He placed me in the corner and in a stern voice told me that if I ever pulled a stunt like that again he would throw me over his knee, and then he pulled me into a hug. From that day on I knew that no matter what happened I would always be loved and I would always have support and I now had someone who I could rely on. Legolas and I became very close friends after that. Now, how about some food?"

I asked hoping now she knew a bit about me she would open up a little bit. Legolas walked in holding some broth I smiled at my friend who still amazed me at how he managed to know when I needed him.

"Grace this is Legolas," I was glad I had explained to her about how elves grow otherwise I am sure she would have jumped a mile.

Legolas smiled at the young elf and looked at him question written in his blue eyes; I took the broth from him and sat next to Grace. I passed her the food and she looked at me I took the spoon and placed it to her lips, when she refused to open her mouth I frowned and wondered if perhaps she might think it was poison so I placed it in my mouth, I took another spoonful and placed it close to her mouth and still she would not take the food offered, I looked to Legolas wondering what I should do. Legolas moved himself on the other side of the bed,

"She does not understand common language, at least I do not think she does", I said in common language. He nodded in understanding,

"Grace, I know we have just met but I promise you the food is pure and it will help you feel better. Would Aragorn have taken a sip if there was anything wrong with the broth?" Grace shook her head, but still refused to eat my concern growing.

"When was the last time you had a proper meal?" I asked, Grace paused in thought.

"What is the common language?" She asked, I sighed as she avoided the question

"Will you not try and eat for me?" I asked in the common language,

"I will try when you answer my question." She replied in Elvish."

"So you understand both languages but can only speak one, that is odd."

"I can speak both I think. Am I speaking in common language now?" I smiled and nodded, she just looked confused.

"So I was speaking Elvish?" I nodded my head wondering where she was going with this. "How, I've never heard of Elvish before?" I frowned,

"I am not sure, at least you are able to communicate with us. Now will you eat at least half of this broth? It is very light and will not upset your stomach, trust me." Her fearful eye's looked in mine searching for a trap searching for a lie.

When she saw nothing but concern and trust she opened her mouth slightly and I placed the spoon in her mouth I watched as she slowly drank the broth. After a few sips she refused to eat and settled down closing her eyes. Legolas and I left the room talking quietly outside.

"What happened to her?"

"I am not sure. All I know is that I do not think she knows she is an Elf, and she is lying about her name. I will keep talking to her to gain her trust. All of this is very peculiar. Who would leave an Elfling alone and starving with injuries?"

"I cannot answer that my friend, it is rare to see an Elfling. And one that is alone."

"Aye it is. I will sit with her tonight. Will you help me with her?" Legolas nodded his head placing a hand on my shoulder and walked into the girl's room.

I walked in after and we both sat and waited. I closed my eyes letting myself go into a light sleep.

A deadly scream woke me from my slumber as I looked around trying to figure out what had happened. Legolas was holding onto the girl and I physically relaxed seeing no danger. The struggling girl screamed as tears rolled down her face. I pulled her body up willing her to wake up while Legolas held down her arms to stop her from hurting herself. Her eyes snapped opened looking around she uttered the word "Sick," I placed her forward holding a bowl under her chin, and rubbed her back as she threw up her food, before relaxing back in my arms shakily , I saw Legolas silently walked out the room giving us some privacy.

"What was the dream about little one?" I said soothingly.

Hermione POV

The thought of eating terrified me. I had been tricked before; they would tease me with the food. I watched as Aragorn drank the soup going over his child hood story in my head again. Was there a point to his story, was he trying to tell me that I could rely on him to bring me back down if I got scared? I was unsure or this man and this enchanted place. A tall man entered the room, he had long blonde hair and his eye's were bright blue and shinning, he walked in and told me his name was Legolas, and gave the bowl to Aragorn. I was a little shocked at seeing the man look so young as if he did not age. But surly he should have looked older than Aragorn; I still did not understand Elves. Aragorn placed the spoon to my mouth but I was scared everything was different and there was an odd vibe in the air. I watched as Aragorn had a sip. Legolas started to encourage me after a bit more talking I opened my mouth hoping I would not vomit the food back up. He was right the broth was very light and easy to drink. I ate half and fell back on the pillow closing my eyes and drifting into what I hoped would be a dreamless sleep.

I watched from my holding cell as the rat that had belonged to Ron who was now a man and fighting for the dark side walks towards me with a plate of food and pressed it under the small gap. My hungry eyes looked at the food I extended my arm to grab the fresh looking apple as my hand touched it, it vanished a group of Death Eaters stood watching me laughing at me. I did not give them the satisfaction of seeing my desperate face instead I went back in the corner keeping eye contact with them. Fenrir Greyback walked in the cell and laughed. The werewolf approached me, his teeth dripping with fresh blood. I wanted to vomit, I wanted to scream. I closed my eyes. I felt something sharp on my arm I looked down and saw he was engraving something in my left arm. He took his wand out and sent a cutting hex my way. I screamed in pain as my own thick red blood stained the cold hard tiles. I cried and screamed. I did not care who heard me I just wanted it to end. A body was thrown next to mine I looked at it recognising it as Luna's. He left and I held Luna close to me hoping to bring both of us comfort.

Strong hands held my arms down soothing words were said another hand was rubbing my back,

"Sick," was all I could say before I started throwing up the broth I ate. More soothing words were said my whole body shook, I had lost control. I felt someone leave my side,

"What was the dream about little one?" I recognised the voice and willed myself to stop shaking as I re told part of my dream. A warm cloth was placed on my forehead and I water run into my mouth. I saw Legolas who was holding my hand and nodded to Aragorn, who placed a hand on my forehead and my eyes felt heavy once again I tried to stay awake not wanting to re live my horrors.

"Trust me," was the last thing I heard before falling into a deep sleep.