Lost

by MoonCrown

You don't know if you are lost, or if you have lost something. Maybe you have never had something, or someone, to lose. Have someone maybe lost you? Perhaps, but you don't know. What is something or someone? You don't know that either. You don't know anything, but then again if you don't know anything, then it doesn't really matter if you are lost or not, does it?

14. Chapter 14

It was an odd sight, seeing Thranduil staring at the girl and even stranger seeing her staring straight back at him. Neither one of them moved an inched until she tilted her to the side in slight confusion. It was almost possible to touch the disbelief of all present when their King, instead of his usual cold and uninterested attitude, started to chuckle softly.

"I see," he said at last, still looking at the girl, "we will need a name, does anyone have any suggestions?"

The elves in room looked at each other in confusion.

Annoyed by the silence the King gazed over his subjects and raised his brows, "well?"

Malgelir, never having a problem with awkward situations was the first to break the silence, "maybe Nimmil?"

"There is nothing frail about her!" Asgaron snorted, "Rhawiel would be a fitting name; she certainly acts like it!"

Thranduil frowned, disapprovingly "she is not of the wild, can you not see wisdom in her eyes? Silence youngling; speak not of what you do not understand!"

Elwion did not even bother to try and hide the smile that was brought to his lips as Asgaron was told off. At least one good thing happened this day. He did however refrain from expressing his doubts that a human girl no more than 9 maybe 10 years old, at least according to Melgelir, could be wise at all.

"She might not be of the wild, but she is indeed lost," Taleth said, "should we not call Lake-town and ask if someone is missing her?"

Thranduil calmly looked at her from the corner of his eyes, "I have already had Beridhren send message to anyone it might concern, until further notice she will stay here."

Thaleth face became blank. The sudden claim shocked all elves within hearing distance, though only Elwion openly showed his surprise with a mouth agape. Was this really their King? Did he just welcome a stranger into his kingdom and a human child at that?!

Elwion quickly scanned the room to see the others' reactions. The only ones who were absolutely unreadable and apparently not surprised at all were the very oldest elves, the ones that had walked Arda since a time long forgotten by most.

"Then… maybe Wanweth?" Thaleth offered carefully, "she is lost after all; it might serve as a name until we find where she belongs."

"It certainly is fitting," he mused in reply, "very well, we shall call you Wanweth, the Lost Girl."

The Lost Girl herself, now called Wanweth by the wood elves, stayed true to her new name and looked quite lost during the whole exchange.