Chapter 11

Merenwen turned away wiping tears from her eyes. Thorin took a step towards them as another flash appeared. Thorin now found himself in some sort of cave. He saw the little girl sat shaking whilst holding her mother's hand. Her father was a few feet away with her brother and sister, all armed and ready to fight.

"This was our last time together" Merenwen whispered.

Thorin watched as they waited. The air was damp and wet and he saw that all their clothes had started to cling to them as they shivered in the darkness. The small girl clenched her eyes firmly shut as they listened to the dripping water echoing through the many tunnels.

Then there were muffled noises added to the dripping water. The little girl's eyes shot open as they grew louder. Her elder sister turned her body into a defensive position. Her sword was in one hand and the other was ready to use magic if she had to. Still the noises grew louder and louder. They heard voices. The family's worst fear became reality within seconds. They sat stiffly and held their breaths. All they had to do was wait until the enemy left.

Blinding light suddenly filled the tunnel and made the girl shriek in fear. She bolted between her father and siblings. They cried out, her mother's voice screaming above them all. The little girl was yanked aside. War cries filled the air along with the clashing of blades. Scorching heat blasted through the tunnel and towards the girl. Murderous yells and torturous screams melted into one thunderous mess. The girl watched and scrambled backwards until she hit something. She turned… and screamed.

The teenage girl screamed out, "MERENWEN!" She threw herself at the enemy with such force that she knocked two of the men down. Thorin stared wide eyed at the teenage girl before looking to Merenwen.

"You're the small child?!" he asked.

She had tears running down her face, "Yes… Solana is my elder sister. Lord Elrond was the one to grab me and take me to safety. I… I haven't seen or know what happened after this." She said as her voice shuck.

They both turned to the teenage girl as she used her sword to slice the head clean off another man. Merenwen gasped as she grabbed Thorin's arm. "That's him… The one who has hunted my whole clan from the beginning."

Thorin saw a tall looming figure. Its arm glowed red before he sent flames towards Solana. She rolled out of the way only for her brother to be consumed. His agonising screams echoed through the air. Her parents were fighting two more men as their son burned to death. Thorin watched as Solana stood. Tears were running down her face as her hand began to glow. Sparks crackled between her fingers as she glared at her brother's murderer. Her parents cried out as they too were slaughtered. Lightning struck them from Solana's hand and killed the men instantly.

The one who was responsible for killing her brother turned and slowly stepped towards her. His face lit with light as he readied his magic again. It was an Elf. "Glorfindel Carnesir" Thorin heard Solana hiss. He moved forward wanting to protect her. As he did Merenwen pulled him back.

"We are in her memories there is nothing you can do." She cried.

Solana leaped forward firing the lightning at his face. He dodged and evaded her blade aiming for his heart. He tried to consume her with fire but she rolled out of its way before the flames neared her. She hurled herself at him and caught him by surprise.

He let out a thunderous roar as she slashed his face with her sword. He drew his sword and attacked her with all his rage. Thorin saw Solana was being overpowered by the elf's attacks. He cut into her back more than once and sent Solana flying into the wall. She struggled to get up as he marched towards her. Her face and body were a bloodied mess as she looked for her sword. It was too far for her to reach. Glorfindel lifted her by her hair and ran his blade over the marking on her neck slowly. Solana screamed out in agony before she looked to her brother's burnt corpse and her mother and fathers butchered bodies. She was consumed with hatred and anger. She clenched her eyes shut and screamed at Glorfindel. A white blast erupted from her body and sent him flying back.

Thorin shielded his eyes from the brightness of the blast. When he drew his arm down they were outside near a river. He spun round searching for Solana. "Where is she?!" he said.

Merenwen too, was looking. "There! Oh Solana…" Thorin turned to where Merenwen was looking and his breath caught in his throat. Solana was sat on her knees staring into the water. They both walked up to her and Thorin understood where most of her worst scars had come from. Her back had been sliced and hacked into. They sat down either side of her. Solana sniffed and drew a white cloth which was wrapped around something out of her pocket. Unravelling it Thorin saw the dagger Bilbo had shown him.

Tears fell from Solana's eyes as she ran her fingers over the markings. "Mother…Father…Finrod… Merenwen…" She began to sob and threw herself at the floor. She screamed in agony as she started pounding the ground with her bloodied fists.

Merenwen was sobbing her eyes out now as Thorin tried to touch Solana's back. After what seemed like an eternity Solana stood and walked towards a path and followed it. Thorin saw the emptiness in her face as she went.

There came another flash and they both found themselves watching Solana walking to what looked like the Shire. A horse and carriage appeared on the top on the hill heading straight towards her. When Solana stopped she looked to the rider before hitting the ground. The rider was wearing grey and jumped down. Thorin and Merenwen ran forward and saw that it was Gandalf. He wrapped her in a blanket and took her back to Hobbiton.

Everything seemed to speed up then. Thorin and Merenwen watched as Solana got older and stronger and travelled throughout Middle-Earth. She never stayed in one place more than a few days, a week at most. They watched the many battles she found herself in. Thorin saw how Solana always avoided people. She never made friends or contact with anyone if she had to. Then he saw her riding her horse along Brandywine River.

"She must be 25 now" Merenwen spoke softly. They watched her take a note off of a small bird before she rode off.

Suddenly she was in front of the Company of Dwarves and he saw her looking at himself. Here memory played out faster. They were travelling, and sitting by the camp fire and then being attacked by trolls. Everything went by so fast until they came to a sudden halt.

Thorin stared at himself and Solana the night they nearly kissed. Merenwen smiled to herself as Thorin simply gazed at them. "She must think of this moment often" Merenwen told him. He looked to the ground when he saw himself pull away and storm off.

Merenwen walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder and shut her eyes. Everything grew dark as they emerged from Solana's memories. They both looked to her sleeping form again. Merenwen stroked her sister's head. "She's been through so much all on her own" she said sadly.

"She won't go through anything on her own ever again" Thorin declared as he held her hand tightly in his own.