Yeesh! I broke my own heart! *staggers* meh, please go on and read... And as always, please don't kill me, I promise that I'll make things better! Pinky promise?

WoodElfJedi: yes, I totally agree... As for SitCTE go check it out! *winks*

FandomFangirl100: *snickers* because! Mellon nîn! you know how much I love torturing you...

NightlyRowenTree: you are most welcome.

Pip the Dark Lord of All: I facepalm everytime I see the scene. No apology needed, Galadriel was probably thinking the same...

Missy-loves-Waffles: Valar yes, it is. Oh, okay! Hehe.

Rainbor123: oh really? That's interesting... I do like it, though. It's cute! Like Eruanna. *giggles* my- Errm, Glorfindel's- poor little elfling... We shall see what we can do, hmm?

Guest: here you are!

TheMouseOfAwesomeness: probably because she doesn't, so it's human to want her too... I don't know. But I'm sure we will see her speak someday! *eruanna slaps hand over my mouth* no spoilers!

Chapter 29

Glorfindel was awake, as were the twins and Legolas. All of them were gathered in the room where Eruanna lay on the bed, still and unmoving except for the gentle rise and fall of her chest with breath.

Glorfindel was standing by the window, face carefully blank and hands clenched behind his back. Legolas was sitting on the headboard of the bed, hand gently stroking the elfling's light hair. Elladan was wearing a path in the floor. Elrohir was sitting next to the elfling, watching her carefully and once in a while checking on her condition. He had taken his father's skill of healing, and was tending to Eruanna.

"Is she stable?" Glorfindel asked tersely for the fiftieth time- in three days. Elrohir opened his mouth to reply but suddenly paused, face darkening as he felt the little elleth's forehead. Everyone snapped to attention at the lack of answer.

"Her pulse has evened out. She should awaken soon." Was the relieved answer. Legolas sighed and leaned his head against the wall in relief. Elladan made his way to the side of the bed. But Glorfindel stiffened father.

"Glorfindel?" Elladan noticed.

"Nothing. Good." He said absently.

"What is it?" Legolas pressed. The golden elf sighed.

"Have you ever wondered what this will have done to her?" He asked them wearily. "What she will do or how she will react to us?"

The other elves froze, horror overcoming their features as this new worry presented itself. "Of course! Her feä will have suffered from the fright and trauma." Elrohir cried, and then groaned. Legolas smacked his head against the wall. Elladan began hissing colorful imprecations under his breath, causing Glorfindel to swat the back of his head in reprimand.

Just then, Eruanna began to stir slightly, her face twisting in discomfort. Glorfindel all but sprinted to the side of the bed, sitting down and watching anxiously. Her mouth opened in a groan, and she snapped it shut, nose wrinkling.

Eruanna slowly woke from her unconscious state, feeling pain start to blossom in the vicinity of her arm and a general ache permeate her sluggish senses. She squeezed her eyes together to relieve the momentary throbbing in her temples, and dizziness came over her briefly. With a groan of discomfort, she let out a whimper. Slowly, as memories began to filter back into her mind, a slow panic began to creep up on her.

She remembered feeling so utterly terrified from seeing Sauron, and then screaming something in pain- screaming. She belatedly realized that she must have let out her inner light from sheer horror, allowing her to speak once again. Her nose wrinkled. Then it had all gone black, and a fuzzy awareness was all that had been left. The sensation of fleeing from something or someone, and then relief from the sudden feeling of safety.

And after that there had been something tugging at her, slowly coaxing her back into some tight, constricting thing- and the feeling of needing air before utterly blacking out into nothingness.

Then her mind came back to the present, and the growing fear became full-blown panic. Where was she? Was she still in Dol Guldur, or- Valar forbid- Angband? With a cry of fear, she snapped her eyes open, letting out a silent yelp as pain stabbed through her head at the sudden light.

Through her gasp she heard several other gasps, and her vision slowly swam into focus. The first thing she saw was gold threads. No, she corrected herself. Hair. Golden strands of hair, looking like silk. There was so much of it, she thought absently.

It was so long and thick- and so, so much. It was everywhere, spilling over a broad pair of shoulders almost down to the bed, falling over her face and chest, and even blowing above her from the sudden breeze that passed through the room. Her gaze traveled up, eyes glazed, to the eyes and face that studied her with clear apprehension on his features.

Who was this? His eyes were so blue, like sapphires held up in front of the sun. They practically sparkled, looking for all the world as though they were the truest blue you could ever get. His face, though, was young. That is to say, it seemed young with the open emotion portrayed on it.

Obviously this Maia, she thought, was old. His eyes held that age that was in hers too, with a light that was reminiscent of one long gone. There was worry in that face; concern, apology, stark fear- vulnerability?

"Seler? Are you alright? Do you know me?" He asked her, making her blink as she sluggishly registered the question. Then the sentence hit her so strongly that she was surprised she didn't actually fly into a wall. Her eyes cleared so rapidly that before any of the elves could blink, she had flown up from her sitting position.

Eruanna immediately reached out for the elf. Glorfindel. Her brother. How could she forget? Her hands clamped onto his tunic and her face buried into his side, shaking violently and refusing to be budged one little inch from his side.

He froze, then his arms were around her and his face was buried into her hair as he lifted her up and clutched her closely to himself. "Eruanna." He whispered, his fingers running through her hair, playing with it and stroking it.

She burst into tears, sobbing in relief and the overwhelming sensation of lingering fear, trauma, and now safety. She hiccuped, tears flowing onto Glorfindel's robes in a salty stream. He grasped her close, hushing her gently and kissing her hair and cheeks softly.

The twins and Legolas watched, hearts aching and tears in their eyes for their little companion that had been reduced to such a state. Glorfindel looked positively heart-broken. Finally, her shoulders stopped shaking and her breath hitched, tears slowing as she calmed from her breakdown.

"Eruanna." Glorfindel murmured again, stroking her hair. She stopped crying, looking up at him with bleary, red eyes and a sniffle. He bent down and pressed his lips against her cheek. "Hush sweet, you are safe, I promise." He whispered.

"I'm so sorry for failing you." He said in an agonized tone, hanging his head. Eruanna shook her head and buried into his front again.

'Not Muindor fault. Couldn't do anything.' She said through their bond, which was still fraught with pain that cleared slowly. A hiccup bubbled from her lips and spilled into the air pitifully. He said nothing and just raked his fingers through her hair.

Then he finally stirred. "Eruanna. Will you show Elladan and Elrohir and Legolas that you are well? They have been very worried for you." He murmured in her ear. She looked up again and her face twisted in confusion- and then smoothed into recognition. She turned and saw the twins first.

Elrohir reached out to her, and she allowed herself to be picked up and hugged. But the fact that she did not reach out first showed her condition, and the elves grieved to see it. Her hand, though, did clutch his robe, and they were relieved to note it.

Elladan took her next gently, pressing her to himself in his usual brotherly fashion. Her hand reached up and gently pressed his cheek, causing a single, crystalline tear to fall onto her finger, splashing into droplets that scattered on her hand. She pulled back and stared at her hand blankly, eyes looking slightly glazed. Pulling her hand up, she suddenly stuck her finger into her mouth, Elladan's tear dissolving on her tongue in a burst of salty bitterness.

"Penneth, what are you doing?" He asked, pulling her hand away worriedly. She reached out with her mind and connected to his.

'I'm thirsty.' She whispered, looking at her hand again. 'He doesn't like tears. He doesn't know what to do with them.' She said dazedly, staring up at him. Elladan looked a little spooked.

"He? Who, Eruanna?" He asked. Everyone watched, tense.

'He saved me. From the orcs. He came and saved me. He called me Eruanna, because I forgot. He doesn't like tears.' She reiterated. He blinked. Glorfindel picked her up.

"He saved you?" He asked gently. She blinked sluggishly.

'Mmhm. He's big, Glorfy.' She said, tangling her hand in his hair slowly. 'He has bright hair and blue eyes too- but you're prettier.' She answered. His lips twitched as Elladan went into hysterical laughter and nearly broke down in tears. Elrohir and Legolas looked confused.

Eruanna turned to Legolas, who picked her up next and hugged her softly, pressing a kiss to her temple. She seemed to snap out of her trance and her eyes cleared. She reached out hesitantly to their bond. In reply, Legolas grasped it and connected with her instantly, conveying to her his relief.

'Las okay?' She asked tiredly. He sighed.

"You go and give us the scare of our lives, and then you ask if I'm alright. Oh penneth, penneth, what shall we ever do with you?" He asked into her hair. She stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed once more with a sniffle.

'Want Glorfy.' She pleaded, and Legolas handed her over.

'Want Glorfy.' She whispered again, making him clutch her to himself tightly. His hands buried into her hair as she grabbed a lock of his hair tightly. The twins and Legolas exchanged looks as Glorfindel looked down at his sister as she fell asleep. The look on the golden warrior's face could be perfectly described with one word. Obsessive.

LOTRLOTRLOTR

The next time Eruanna woke up, it was with a clearer mind and much better awareness. Glorfindel was still holding her, his eyes glazed in sleep. When she looked around, she found that the twins and Legolas were all in an exhausted sleep as well, breathing shallow.

With a sigh, she nestled into Glorfindel comfortably, causing him to stir and slowly wake up. His eyes unglazed as he stared down at her groggily for a moment, and then he quickly sat up.

"Are you alright, sweet?" He asked anxiously, tucking a blanket around her. She nodded and gave him a weak smile, which he returned with such relief on his face that she had to look away. With groans, the other three began to wake up as well, stirring and stretching from their uncomfortable positions.

The sun was high in the sky, and by all signs it was about noon at that point. The trees rustled outside, and the wind blew stiffly, making the curtains flutter wildly like the cloak of a fleeing wraith.

As they noticed that she was awake, Eruanna's brothers and cousins looked to her in anxious concern. Her face broke into a wide smile and she reached out to Legolas first, nearly falling out of Glorfindel's lap and causing the WoodElf to leap forwards and catch her.

He smashed her to himself tightly and she wheezed. 'Toron, let go! Hurting me!' She shrieked, causing him to abruptly pull back with a sheepish smile.

"Forgive me, onònë. I was worried for you." He said with a relieved sigh. She reached up and began to happily chew on his hair, causing the rest to burst into laughter that cleared the air of the last residues of tension that had remained.

'Las no worry no more. Me hundry.' She pleaded, drooling on his hair.

"Eruanna." He groaned. "Do you know how hard it is to wash that out?" He asked exasperatedly. Elrohir was in tears from laughing so hard in his mingled relief and hysteria.

Eruanna gave him a toothy grin and reached out for Elladan, who swept her up and immediately kissed her cheek. Her face lit up happily and she smiled at him shyly, causing him to laugh. Elrohir snatched her away and buried his nose in her hair, planting a kiss to her temple.

She snuggled into him and began to try to sate her hunger on his hair. He didn't complain, though, and instead checked her over for any injuries. Eruanna looked down at her arm, a confused look on her face as she came across the burn. She looked up at Elrohir with a querying face.

"When- he-" Elrohir spat the word- "grabbed you, he left his mark there. I'm afraid the scar will not disappear until..." He didn't finish, but everyone understood. Until Sauron disappeared forever.

Eruanna just stared down at the black mark, eyes tracing the individual finger marks to the palm. Then she blinked, and shrugged. With a cheeky grin she looked up at him.

'I like it. It shows I survived lots.' She declared triumphantly, and sniffed haughtily. Glorfindel began to laugh, as did Elrohir as he repeated for the others.

But even as they laughed, they saw the dark, haunted shadow that was in Eruanna's eyes, and they couldn't help but feel grieved at the suffering that she had gone through. It didn't help that Glorfindel's laughter sounded slightly forced, or that festering anger lurked deep within his eyes.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Eruanna suddenly clung tightly to Elrohir, a look of utter terror appearing on her face. Elrohir held onto her, stroking her hair. "It's alright, Eruanna. It's alright." He soothed. "It's probably only King Thranduil. No one will hurt you now." He promised softly.

Legolas opened the door and Thranduil indeed walked in, holding a missive in his hand with a resigned look. He turned to Eruanna, who was a little pale, but color leeched back into her cheeks slowly as she looked at him, relaxing slowly. He swept forwards and reached out his hands gently towards the elfling, who reached out in return, allowing herself to be hugged softly.

The Elvenking held her gently and began to hum quietly, face still calm and seemingly unruffled as he walked towards the window. He turned his head and gently pressed a gently kiss to her crown, still humming quietly and holding her gently.

"You are safe, tithen pen, there is nothing to hurt you here." He said calmly, coaxing her to look out the window. "See? Just the trees and the wind." He placated. She laid her head on his shoulder with a shake of her head.

'Ada.' She said weakly, with a sense of plaintiveness. He shifted her slightly.

"Ada's here." He confirmed, with an air as though he had done the same thing before many times. Legolas' far-away, reminiscent look confirmed their suspicions. "Ada will not allow the nasty ones to take you away." He crooned, slowly making the elfling go limp in his arms. After another moment, he sighed.

"Tithen pen, I hate to do this, but I must give this to you. It is an urgent letter that came an hour ago. I cannot put it off any longer." Thranduil said, urging her head up and handing her an paper cylinder tied with a blue ribbon signaling urgency and setting her down on the bed. She took the missive and slowly untied it, a look of worry creeping into her eyes.

As she unfolded it, a small wooden carving tumbled out into her lap. She stared at it, color slowly draining from her face. Then she turned to the letter itself and began to read it silently. She finished one and turned to the other that was added to the missive. As soon as she finished it, she went stark white down to her very lips. She burst into tears, clutching the wooden toy to herself and weeping silently.

But even as Glorfindel leapt for her, they noticed that the nature of her new sorrow was not pain, but rather shocked disappointment and grief for another. Glorfindel picked up the letter and began to read it aloud after Eruanna gave him a jerky nod of permission.

My dear Eruanna-

I must thank you for the help you gave me in Dol Guldur. I heard of what you suffered and I grieve to hear of the price you had to pay. Have hope, little angel, and do not forget that Olòrin is here to help you whenever you should ask for it, in repayment for what you did for me.

Now, I write to you to confirm Bilbo's news and also to assure you that I will do all I can to remedy this situation. Pray to Eru and the Valar that we may succeed and that the men and dwarves will see their way to a truce for both of their people. Your help is appreciated. Yours truly,

Gandalf the Grey

He paused in confusion, and Eruanna pointed to the other letter, finger shaking. He began to read the next one as well, causing a fresh wave of tears from his sister.

Miss Eruanna-

I regret that it had to come to this measure, but it unfortunately has. Gandalf told me what happened and I even more hate to press this upon you, but I frankly have no choice.

We arrived at the mountain and I was sent down to fetch the Arkenstone. Unfortunately, Smaug awoke, and to make a long story short, suffice it to say that we riled him to the point of making him head for LakeTown to destroy it in fire.

Bard the Bowman, however, succeeded in killing the dragon with the last black arrow, the legend of the missing scale true, and Smaug is now dead. But through all of this, I had noticed that Thorin had changed.

He has now succumbed to the dragon sickness, and he no longer cares for anything but the Arkenstone. I had kept the Arkenstone after finding it, and did not give it to Thorin for fear of what should happen should he have it in his grasp. Of course, he denies that he has the gold sickness, and now we are in a plight.

Azog and his armies are marching upon us even as I write this to you, as well as goblins, but Thorin refuses to listen to this and instead is concerned about the situation with LakeTown.

When we were in LakeTown, in exchange for weapons we promised gold to rebuild their city. Now that Bard is lord of the city and slayer of the dragon, he rightfully demands what was promised for his people, who suffered the wrath of the dragon. But Thorin refuses to part with, as he says, 'one piece of our hard-earned gold.'

He is in no condition to ask for the help of the elves against the coming destruction, and therefore I have brought the Arkenstone to Bard and Gandalf as fair trade as my fourteenth share- or blackmail if you wish. I'd like to think that I am an honest burglar if anything. And now I present you with the token in reminder of your promise for help whenever we needed it.

Please, Eruanna, for the sake of the dwarves, loyal even to a fault; for your care for the Naugrim, as I have heard them called by the elves, please do not desert us in our hour of need. I would not ask you unless it was necessary.

Even in this, though, there is a ray of hope- Thorin will not compromise his life debt for him and his company, nor will he discredit your timely help; and although admittedly reluctantly, he has already readied many starlight gems for your payment.

I hope that this will reach you in time and that you will help us.

Your elf-friend, Bilbo Baggins

Eruanna broke down completely in sobs, shoulders shaking from her potent grief. 'I pro-promised help. Please, Ada, help them! The g-gems were for y-you anyway. I d-didn't want them.' She hitched out, hiccuping. Thranduil gave her a startled look.

"You asked for the gems as payment instead of anything else you could have had? For me?" He asked, obviously shocked. Then he quickly composed himself. "Worry not, Eruanna, I will help them, if only for the sake of elf-friend Bilbo Baggins. What a wonder hobbits are." He was heard to murmur as he calmly swept down the hall to order the army.

Glorfindel hugged her gently. "Well done, seler. You have done your part." Then he became grave.

"Eruanna, we should go to Lothlòrien. It is not as far from here as it is from Rivendell, and it would be the best place for you to heal." He said sternly, drying her tears as she sniffled. She looked up at him, obviously exhausted. She was as white as a sheet and slightly trembling from exertion.

The sun set, causing a ray of light to hit her just then. Glorfindel paled. Elrohir shouted, "no!" Elladan gasped. Legolas had to grasp the bed to keep from himself from falling off. Her skin was slightly translucent looking, and they could faintly see the outline of something bright inside of Eruanna, the light slightly flickering.

Eruanna was fading.

Glorfindel was so pale for a moment Elrohir was afraid he would have to catch the ellon, but after a moment he straightened with effort. "Eruanna, no. We must go to Lòrien." He whispered. Eruanna looked down at herself, and then sighed wearily. The flickering light steadied and flared brightly, staying strong. Color slowly returned to her brother's face at the sight.

'I'm sad Muindor. It hurts.' She grasped her tunic. 'But I won't fade. I promise.' She said wearily, leaning against him and clutching a lock of his hair, eyes closing in pure exhaustion, not able to take the strain with her already fragile condition. The balances hung on the needle precariously, and Glorfindel knew that he needed to get her to a place of healing fast. The tiniest thing could tip the scales towards either side, and he could not afford to take the risk.

As she fell asleep, he exchanged one look with Elladan and Elrohir, who nodded and immediately went off to send a letter to lord Elrond informing their father of what had happened and where they were going. The journey would be swift, and the stakes were high. Much too high.

LOTRLOTRLOTR

"So it begins. The chessboard is nearly set." Tulkas' eyes glittered at the prospect.

"How went your hunt, Oromë?" He turned to the hunter, who smiled thinly.

"Melkor did his work unfortunately well. A new nest of Ungoliant's spawn are now no more in the forest near the mountains that lead past the border." He answered darkly.

"The rape of the trees did much harm in Aman." Yavanna sighed.

"Our elfling is not doing too well." Irmo strode into the circle and sat down, hands tucked into the sleeves of his robe.

"It's getting to the point where I am allowed to call her- not that I am or intend to." Nàmo raised his hands placatingly, making the others smirk.

"No worries. She will heal in Lothlòrien, although I will admit that we have much to apologize for when she finally comes to us." Manwë sighed heavily.

"The children never fail to amaze me." Vairë shook her head. "Her tapestry clearly points to Lothlòrien; but also there is something else approaching that I cannot quite yet see. Atto's creations are truly incredible." She said.

"They are made in his image." Manwë smiled. The Valar smiled at the thought, eyes softening as they thought about the children of Eru Ilùvatàr.

"Indeed, such naughty, imperfectly perfect creations, which I sometimes believe were made solely to frustrate us and provide higher amusement." Varda said, and they burst into laughter, another voice from beyond the circles of Arda joining them in their amusement.