thanks to everyone who follows and reviews this story! Love to keep seeing your comments. Grateful someone picked up on a few mistakes last chapter - fixed now.
Enjoy
-Edith
George and Michael were at Lauren's side in an instant. Their stance protective, George put his arm around Lauren and held her tightly. Michael, stepped forward and put his hand out towards Elrond, making it clear he was not welcome to approach Lauren. This gesture was read as decidedly unfriendly as Elladan and Elrohir stepped towards Michael.
"No, it's alright Elladan, Elrohir. Your sister, she needs time" Elrond dictated. With that, his sons stepped back reluctantly. Elrond's sons and eldest daughter were angry at the way the two mortal men had acted as if their father was something undesired around his own daughter. Their feelings were plainly seen in their expression.
Swallowing hard, Elrond smothered his pained reaction when Lauren had snatched her hands away and backed away from him – the rejection stung hard.
"Luthien, I- we never stopped loving you. We, your brothers, sister, grandparents and I are so glad you're home" Elrond said, in the calmest voice he could muster, as he gestured to the rest of the family. He was actually full of emotion. He knew that the baby he had once held lovingly in his arms would be a fully grown person, with a personality of her own. He had anticipated she would want answers and accepted the possibility she may be hurt she was taken to another world. He had not fathomed she'd be so angry. In his mind, he had never given his daughter up. He had held and cherished her in his heart all these years.
"She's not home, she's visiting." Michael insisted, adding insult to injury.
"My name is Lauren. Lauren Johnson." Lauren emphasized. These people had no right to rename her. They had done nothing for her, and she refused to go by the name they chose. "And people who love their children, don't give them up for adoption" she added forcefully.
"I did not have a choice-I" Elrond replied hastily. He wanted to tell her he had only done it to save her, that if he could have given up his life for hers he would have gladly done it. He wanted his daughter to know how the choice had torn him apart, that her absence had ripped the love from his heart. Mostly, he wanted her to understand that she was just as cherished as his other children had been, as all elven children are.
He would not get his chance. "You chose to throw your own child away. I see you kept your other children. Was one daughter enough for you? You're a despicable parent, speaking of despicable parents, where is my so-called birth mother?" Lauren demanded.
Elrond had been wounded by his youngest daughter's first words to him. These subsequent words shocked him into speechlessness. The intensity of the anger with which she spoke impressed upon him that she may be lost to him forever. If he wanted to avoid that ending, he would have to earn her love. Punishment, he thought, for failing his wife and daughter all those years ago.
"Your mother died during an orc attack. You were a newborn, weakened. Your father did what he thought was best, he gave you a chance at another life" Galadriel explained. She had a calming effect on Lauren, who felt her stress begin to dissipate.
"A better life. My family, the people that adopted me, they loved me and cared for me. And I have a great life, no thanks to you" Lauren followed up, in a slightly calmer tone.
Arwen rushed forward, to stand by her father who looked as if he had taken a physical beating from Lauren's words. "Please, Lu-Lauren. We have thought of you all these years. Ada has grieved for you every day – you have always been in our hearts. Don't do this, just come to know us. We so wish to know you." Arwen pleaded with her younger sister. It had been so easy to placate her the last time they were together – a simple caress and a smile would light up her baby sister's world. It was so much harder now.
"I don't care what he has to say for himself. I-" Lauren began a new onslaught of insults.
"Lauren, I think you should give them a chance" came the reasoned voice beside her. Surprised by the interruption, she looked at her cousin George.
"I believe them. I believe that they love you. This is not the reaction of people who didn't want you. Get to know them, don't let your anger blind you." George said softly. He always had a way to get through to Lauren's stubbornness, even when David and Robert couldn't. Her silence indicated she was giving his advice a brief thought, a courtesy she always afforded the cousin she revered.
Before Lauren could conclude she didn't agree with her cousin, as it seemed a real possibility, Galadriel smartly intervened. "It has been a long journey for all of you. You must be in want of rest and refreshment. Haldir will show you to your accommodations."
Taking his cue, Haldir and his brothers stepped forward. He had not been entirely surprised by the exchange. After Lauren's tone on their way into the city, it had been clear she held animosity towards her elven family. George, also taking his cue, gently led Lauren out of the flet. "Come on, you need to clear your head, freshen up". Michael followed, giving Elrond and the remaining elves a glare before leaving.
Elrond sighed deeply after the travellers left the flet. Wearily, he looked at Galadriel and Celeborn. "That did not go as I hoped. She is full of anger and resentment towards us. She has a temper like Celebrian. I do not know she wants to believe how we cherish her" Elrond said sadly. He seemed defeated. Years of longing and hope had culminated to this day and it had ended calamitously.
"You too need rest and refreshment Elrond. It has been quite the day. As any child, Luthien will need patience. She will need more patience than you have had to give any of the other children. For with her, we start at a disadvantage – she does not trust us and we will all have to earn it." Galadriel said sagely.
"We should start with calling her Lauren. She reacted strongly to Luthien. She does not like us imposing the name upon her" Celeborn suggested.
"Perhaps Elladan and I can befriend her companions? At least the one beside her seemed not so hostile" Elrohir added.
"Good suggestions, thank you" Elrond said feebly. He saw the slightest flicker of hope that perhaps his daughter may yet find a way back to her people.
After the Earthlings left the flet and were out of earshot from its occupants. Lauren paused and took a deep breath. Though it may seem strange to an observer, she felt relieved. Years of lonely feelings of abandonement, rejection that she could never share with her adopted family had built up inside her. Just now, she was able to open the pressure relief valve a little.
"That went well" George said, he could always be counted on for a well timed sarcastic comment.
"I'm glad you got to say what you wanted to them Lauren, it's what you came here to do" Michael added.
"There's plenty left where that came from" was Lauren's reply.
"Where did that come from. I never knew you felt so strongly about your birth family, you never mentioned it" George probed.
Lauren glanced quickly at their escorts, Haldir and 2 wardens who looked so much like each other she had a strong sense they were siblings. "Let's just get to our rooms" Lauren deflected, she did not want to talk in front of strangers.
The group was led to another large tree upon which there were several small flets – guest houses normally used by elves visiting from other realms. Orophin and Rumil showed George and Michael to their respective flets. George had somehow secured himself an invitation to see the Galadhrim training grounds and how the soldiers of Lorien prepared for battle.
Lauren's flet was just a short walk away, Haldir led the way. He opened the door for her and she walked into a spacious and beautiful room, with an adjoining bathroom.
"For a jail cell, this seems quite nice" Haldir commented, alluding to Lauren's previous reference to him as her jailor. Despite trying not to, Lauren laughed lightly. Haldir's tough exterior cracked just the slightest at the sight of her smile. "If you require anything, I will be happy to fetch it for you my lady".
"My lady?" Lauren asked, that was a new one for her though this was the second time the captain had addressed her with the title.
"Your grandparents rule this realm, Lothlorien. Your father rules Rivendell, another Elven realm. This makes you royalty on both sides. On formal occasions, you would be addressed as Princess. All who address you would use my words." Haldir explained. He could not forget his station was far below hers. She was the crown jewel of their people, and he was the soldier tasked to protect it. If her safety could be exchanged with his life, his duty would require it and he would gladly have given it.
Lauren scoffed at the notion of titles. "I certainly don't want to be anything like them. I'll call you Haldir and you can call me Lauren" she said decidedly. Haldir wanted to do anything to accommodate her, so he nodded his assent. They had come to a silent truce. Haldir understood Lauren didn't trust anyone in Middle Earth, he had not missed how she deflected one of her companion's questions on their way to the flets. He hoped he would be a safe space for her.
"Your companions, it is obvious they care for you deeply. You are lucky" he commented, a topic he hoped she would feel secure in talking about.
"George, the one who was talking about being in the army, he's my cousin. But we're most like siblings. There's almost no difference between him and my brother. And Michael, the other one, he is my brother's best friend and my father's right-hand man. I have known him most of my life. Yes, they care about me deeply. It's quite hard to find people who care for you unconditionally isn't it" Lauren opened up ever so slightly.
"I think you will find there are many more like them, even here. I shall leave you to get settled. If you get hungry, the kitchens are right beyond that tree over there - Lauren" Haldir instructed, gesturing the direction.
"Thank you, Haldir" came her answer. Unadorned with sarcasm or anger. Just authentic.
He took his leave then, closing the door gently behind him. He found his brothers waiting for him outside and together, they left the trio to rest. It didn't take any of the mortals long to unpack and acquaint themselves with their flets. None of them were particularly tired either, but they were most definitely famished. They grouped outside their flets and headed towards the kitchens. The scent of fresh baked bread wafted into their noses and grew stronger with each step. They were so focused on their hunger that they did not notice looks from the elves they walked past. They were a sight indeed to the elves of Lorien. The news of Princess Luthien's return travelled fast and there was no doubt to anyone who saw Lauren of who she was. The trio's dress also turned heads – entirely novel to the elves around them.
After they had found a secluded table in the dining hall, food was courteously served to them. When they had fulfilled their obligations to their stomach, the debriefing began.
"Looks like they didn't get the memo on women's equality, they're all dressed like it's the 17th century" Lauren commented sarcastically.
"Don't judge what you don't know Lauren. Orophin and Rumil said there have been quite a few female wardens in their ranks over the years" came George's defence.
"Orophin and Rumil? Are you friends with them now?" Lauren asked.
"Soldiers are soldiers everywhere Lauren. Besides, they're good people. They're going to show me their training grounds tomorrow" George answered easily, with a shrug.
"Good to see you're settling in nicely" Lauren sniped.
"Lauren, this attitude does not suit you well. You've been nothing but angry and rude since you got here. These people, elves, they have done nothing but welcome you" George said sternly.
"Maybe if these nice elves had cast you away when you were nothing but a baby, you'd feel a little less positive towards them" Lauren said testily.
"Ok, I think everyone's had a long day" Michael, the peacemaker, finally stepped in. "Lauren, George is just trying to get you to more receptive to your birth family. And Lauren, you have every right to feel angry and hurt about the situation" he quickly added before Lauren could respond. "Why don't we all go back to our flets and have a good night's rest" he concluded.
No one would argue with that. They were all feeling the effects of the food coma. They made their way silently back to their accommodations; Lauren bade the two men good night with a quick hug and peck on the cheek before entering her flet. Once alone, she reached into the bottom of her hiking sack and pulled a photo. Her mother, Elizabeth, smiled brightly back at her. At that moment, Lauren would have sold her soul to have a conversation with her mother. She needed her advice. Uncharacteristically, she felt unsure of where she fit in this world. Finally, Lauren succumbed to her fatigue and fell into a dreamless sleep.