Did you guys like the twist that I put into the story. How they know each other is going to be explained in this chapter. Hope you like it.

Once Haldir sets my feet back on the ground, I look up at him. My lips turn up into a pout, realizing that he's much taller than me now. Before, he was six foot and I was about five foot seven. Now I come up to his breastbone.

"Hey!" I exclaim, mad that he's taller than me, pouting. "How come you're taller? Everyone's taller than me."

"That is because you are somehow the size of a dwarf. I am the size of an Elf, which is bigger than a dwarf." Haldir explains, scrunching up his nose in thought.

Suddenly more elves come galloping up to us on horseback. Safe man and Scary man gather in front of me, pulling their weapons. Haldir stays right behind me, looking over my head to the new people, smirking in excitement.

"What is going on? We just found Orcs on the border." One of the new men, a man with long brown hair, and a nice look, demands.

"Lord Elrond." Haldir says, stepping around me, Safe man, and Axe man. He begins speaking in a different language that I don't know or recognize.

"How do you know that elf?" Safe man asks, looking me up and down like I'm hiding injuries from him and the others.

"He appeared one day and I helped him. He needed it." I quickly reply, trying to get him to explain that Haldir is just like my brother.

"How could you like an Elf?" Axe man demands, saying 'elf' like it's a nasty curse word, voice tinged with disgust.

"Because he didn't instantly scare me like everyone else, except you." I reply, getting angry that they would question my actions.

"What do you mean?" Safe man asks me, left hand reaching over and gently gripping my right fingers in a soothing manner.

"Since Them, I have been scared of everyone, knowing what they could do to me. But then I met you guys and I wasn't scared." I look over at Axe man, adding. "Well, until you decided to get loud and angry, just like Them."

"I'm sorry. It was just awful that you would think that. I acted before I thought and I did not mean to scare you, Lass." Axe man answers, bowing at the waist to me.

"Who are Them? Why are you so scared of Them?" The new man says, before bowing to me. "I am Lord Elrond, this is my home."

I jump, turning to the new man, just now realizing that everyone is looking at me, Safe man, and Axe man. My cheeks redden, not used to everyone looking at me. Without realizing it, I step back, trying to melt into Safe man.

"They tortured me for years before burying me alive. I barely survived, unable to remember Them but Their faces and a couple of the names They called me." I hesitantly explain.

"Did you meet Haldir before or after they buried you?" Lord Elrond asks, briefly looking at Haldir before looking back at me.

"I met him afterwards, during one of the class trips. He seemed so lost; he needed me." I try to explain, not like being the center of attention.

"Let us go inside. Haldir, please lead Lady Audrey and her friends to their rooms. We will talk later when you have freshened up." Lord Elrond decides.

I follow Haldir as he leads me into the palace. Safe man, Axe man, and the others follow after us. They are not too wary of Haldir, since I seem to trust him. Safe man is right next to me, not letting go of my right fingers.