DISCLAIMER: I don't earn anything for writing this story except personal enjoyment.

AU: A lot of elvish is going to be used in this chapter. I thought about putting it in italics but I thought it would retain the mood better if I didn't. So, translations will come after the elvish in these ().

Please R&R (read&review) so that I can have some R&R (rest&relaxation). I love reading and responding to all of them ^-^

.oOo.

Chapter XI

Accusations and Bittersweet Farewells

Save what has been lost,

Bring back what once was mine.

What once was mine.

~Rapunzel

.oOo.

So, it turns out that the elfling was only in need of a short power nap. Because in hardly five minutes she was up and prancing around all over the place like the big, cute ball of energy that she is.

Her name was Elveawen. A fitting name for the girl, as her eyes twinkled as bright as the stars. Not to mention her hair was like strands of silver and white-gold.

I wondered how she trusted me so quickly, 'Could Silvius have told her about me? No. He wouldn't dare mention me to his people if they were as opposed to Easterlings as he said they were.' I smiled down at the small elf as she followed a butterfly here and there, 'Then again, she is really innocent to the world.'

I looked up to the horizon, 'Only a few more hours until sunset. Come on Silvius! Where are you?'

I then turned around abruptly when I heard the piano being played. There sitting on the bench was Elveawen. Her feet were barely touching the floor and she had to lift up her arms quite a bit to play but she was happily pecking out notes that soon formed a tune which she began to sing to. A few moments later she stopped, I assume she forgot the rest of the song, and hopped off the bench to run to me. She led me over to he instrument and pointed to it.

"Linda."

'She must want me to play her something.' I smiled and said ok before sitting down at the bench and playing her a little catchy tune that I learned in my first years of piano lessons.

I laughed merrily as she began dancing around the room to it and even began making up her own words to the music.

We stayed there playing and singing songs until twilight came. The last song ended and I looked behind me to see that the sun had nearly all but sunk beneath the horizon.

I sighed, 'Well. It's now or never.'

I called to Elveawen and began walking her towards the border of the Avari's land. I felt her shiver again and disassembled my hoodie so that I could wrap it around her. I placed my sketch book and pencil in a safe location nearby and we crossed my dead-line into her homeland.

As we navigated through the dense forest it became apparent that the girl was tiring with every step she took. The poor thing was tripping over everything in the path so I scooped her up in my arms and started to carry her. To my surprise, she wasn't as heavy as I thought she would be so I was able to carry her for a while before having to stop for a breather. I suppose I have my training to thank for that.

I set her down next to a tree and she immediately curled up happily in it's roots. I sat down beside her and leaned back on the tree. Almost immediately sleep came over me like a heavy cloud, and before I could fight against it, I became victim to it's spell.

oOoOoOo

I awoke sometime later with a jerk. I thought it was only a couple of minutes but I became painfully aware that it had been hours when I opened my eyes to near darkness.

There was a soft throbbing in my head that increased then diminished as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

The first thing that I noticed was that Elveawen was no longer beside me. I blindly jumped up calling out her name and was suddenly jerked back to the ground by something cold around my wrists. I held them up to my face and sure enough, my hands were in chains.

'Wonderful.' I thought sarcastically as I finally noticed the cell door. 'I'm in prison. The Avari found me and they threw me in here to rot.'

I sighed, 'Where is Silvius?'

I got up again and strained to see out the cell door window. All I could see was a darkly lit hallway.

"Hello?" I called out in Braric. After not getting an answer I decided to revert to Quenya, "Alla?"

Nothing.

"Silvius?!"

Still nothing.

I sighed and sat back down mumbling to myself in English, "Whelp. I suppose there's nothing to do but wait."

But I didn't have to wait long before I heard a key turn in the lock of my cell door. I stood as it opened to reveal a masked elf clad in dark blue leather armor. He silently walked over to me unchained my hands from the wall and led me out with a firm grasp on my upper arm. An unmasked guard, who looked of higher status, met us outside the cell, and he did not seem happy to see me.

He looked at me coldly, "You have been summoned by the king. Do not think of escaping, Easterling. You would be dead before you took the first step."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Excuse me, but my name is Eleanor." I mentally slapped myself, 'Really? Why does your big mouth have to rear it's ugly head in the worst possible situations?! These people could kill you if they wanted to!'

He narrowed his dark purple eyes and got in my face with a low and dangerous tone, "Do not try my patience." He then turned, "Come. The king is waiting."

The guard who had my arm, let go of said arm and pushed me forward. With a sigh I began to walk between them.

We traveled for a little while before I figured out that we were in a cave. After a few more moments of walking we came to the mouth of the cave where my mouth would have detached from my face and dropped to the ground if it were physically possible.

The Avari's home was... amazing and so beautiful. Silver lights were hung in the trees and houses of golden wood were woven among the trunks of the great oaks who's strong branches sheltered them from the wind.

Another push from the soldier behind me kept me moving but I still gazed around at my surroundings in absolute wonder. Although, it wasn't long before I noticed that the other elves in the city were giving me cold and suspicious looks. I shrugged it off as best as I could but there was still that nagging thought in the back of my head that said, 'Yeah. You're definitely going to meet your maker tonight.'

I inwardly groaned when I saw that we were coming up on a throne. An anciently young elf sat apon it with his legs crossed and his purple blue robes flared out over his seat. A silver crown sat apon his head and a moonstone amulet lay clasped on his chest. He gazed apon me with a stare like pure ice. I couldn't help but flinch away from his eyes when I tried to hold his stare.

I was then pushed to the ground and forced to kneel before him by my two escorts. I tried to raise my head but it was only pushed down again.

'Oh boy, am I in deep trouble right now.' I inwardly freaked out, 'What in the world am I going to say to this guy?'

"Tell me your name." his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Even when speaking Braric, it was deep and smooth; filled with discernment and coldness.

I struggled to get my voice to work but I forced it to, "Eleanor. Eleanor Rose."

"That is not a name of the East." there was surprise and caution in his tone but there was still the coldness from before, "Where did you come by such a title?"

I took a deep breath and tried uniting all of my courage that had previously been scattered across the universe, "I was given the name by my parents. They named me after my grandmother... Sir." I didn't know what else to call him so I left it at that.

I heard him stand, well more like felt him stand because elves are extremely silent.

"Well, now that I know you better." I heard the shing of a sword as it was pulled from its sheath and suddenly felt cool metal under my chin. It forced my head up and I met the kings eyes which were a furious shade of crystal blue as he snarled, "Tell me why you kidnapped my granddaughter. I have been alive on this earth for may an age. Do not think that you can fool me. Speak the truth; I will know if you do not."

"Your... granddaughter." I stuttered in shock. 'Oh man alive. This is way worse than I thought it was going to be.'

"Yes." he answered coldly, the blade's point pressed harder into my skin.

I went into panic mode but forced myself to be calm, which probably failed miserably, "I... I didn't kidnap her! I found her out by the ruins and was bringing her back."

"You lie!" he growled.

I was fixing to open my mouth again to protest when a yell came from behind us. The blade was removed when Silvius came into view, "Silvius?" came the surprised voice of the king.

Silvius ran up beside me and bowed deeply, "Melda tar, inye alassenyan leryarya. Sa ea ninya saucare i urucarinrya si." (Beloved king, please let her go! It is my doing that made her come here.)

'I have no idea what he's saying.' I numbly thought as I stared in shock at my friend.

The king gaze softened at his grandson, "Manen ea tama anwa?" He then retreated into a suspicious tone, "Lye istaum sinaniss." (How is that true? You know not this woman.)

"Uito, inye finyarya." (No, I do know her.)

"Ui!" the unmasked guard exclaimed. (No!/It can't be so!)

The king was shocked but then became increasingly furious, "Lye?" (How?)

Silvius stood but still maintained a submissive stance, "Esse etelehtaninya vehte." (She saved my life.)

I have no idea what Silvius said but the king's anger diminished so I'm not gonna complain. He motioned for Silvius to continue.

The young elf took a breath and spoke for a few minutes gesturing to me and himself several times before finishing.

The king looked at me and I saw in his eyes a new understanding of me, "Rise." He commanded me and I followed.

He put away his sword and faced me fully, "I feel I must thank you. For you have done me a great service. You saved my grandson's life and have brought me back my granddaughter safe and unharmed, but it is apon cold terms that we must part today. You are free to leave this land of the Avari, but you are forbidden to return. You are an Easterling and we are Elven kind. I will not put the whole of my people in danger so that one may explore the unknown."

The king sent a pointed look at Silvius and the elf lowered his head in shame, "Please forgive me, my lord. I did not understand the magnitude of my actions."

The king nodded his head, "You are forgiven but this conversation is not closed." He then turned to me with a hard stare, "You may go from here in peace and honor, but know that the moment you set foot in my kingdom again, I will not hesitate to carry out the laws that have been written."

I nodded, "I understand, sir."

The king then turned to the unmasked elf to my right, "Sivevarn, you will escort her to the border."

Sivevarn slightly bowed, "Yes, my lord." He then turned to me, "Come."

I looked longingly at Silvius, "Silvius..." my voice trailed off.

"Go." he abruptly said in Braric before turning away.

I looked at him once more before I walked away with the guard, 'I wish this had never happened.'

We passed many a suspicious face as we walked to the city gate. I was caught off guard; however, by a tiny yell that sounded off to the right.

"Elanor! Elanor!" I turned to see Elveawen running towards me as fast as her little legs could go. Many of the elven faces were pale with shock as she ran up to me and hugged my leg. I crouched down and she threw her arms around me crying, "Avauta, Elanor! Avauta!"

I didn't know exactly what she meant but I had a pretty good idea that she wanted me to stay. I rubbed her back then pulled from the hug to wipe away her tears with the hem of my sleeve.

I smiled sadly, "Numarie, Elveawen."

She sniffled, "Nu-numarie." but she didn't finish the word before bursting into tears. She ran to my escort and grabbed a hold of his pant's leg, "Sive, ava senryauta!" (Sivevarn, don't let her leave!)

I stood as he crouched to her level with a compassionate stare, "Apsenenin, herince. Esse horyauta." (Forgive me, little lady[pet name]. She must leave.)

She shook her head; the tears streaming down her cheeks were tearing me up inside, "U!" (No!)

"Apsenenin." Sivevarn said before he stood and gently led her over to another elf. He motioned me to continue following him.

I did so trying my best to ignore the wails of the poor girl but they still tore my heart to shreds. I sniffled as a lonely tear slipped down my cheek but I quickly wiped it away. Kids always knew how to tear my heart in two; I shouldn't be surprised that it was any different here.

We reached the gate and they let us through easily enough. Outside the guard turned to me, "It is here that I will bind your eyes. We cannot permit you to see the way to our home."

I nodded, "Alright, just so long as I don't trip and fall on my way."

"You will not." he stated before tying a strap of cloth around my eyes. Boy, when he meant bind he really did mean bind! I've never had a blindfold on this tight before. It certainly got the job done though, because I couldn't see a single thing other than blackness.

I felt a hand gently take hold of my arm and start to lead me through the forest. We walked for hours before he finally stopped me and took my blindfold off. My eyes hardly had to adjust because it was already nighttime but I couldn't resist blinking and rubbing them anyway.

My escort pointed to me to the ruins, "Go and never return." He was then fixing to go when Silvius emerged from the trees. "Silvius!" he stated in shock before pinching the bridge of his nose, "Imne hande le neuro." (I should have known you would follow.)

Silvius knitted his eyebrows, "Inya mercarpa ana merya. Alassenyan, hano." (I wish to speak to her. Please, brother.)

Sivevarn sighed, "Lempe." (Five[minutes].)

Silvius nodded, "Hantanyel." (Thank you.) then walked over to me. He took my elbow in his hand and led me into the ruins.

Once inside I broke away from him and combed my hair back with my hands, "I'm sorry, Silvius. I should have waited here for you. I'm sorry-"

"Thank you." he interrupted me in English.

I turned to him shocked but he continued before I could say anything, "Thank you for bringing my sister home."

"I... I don't know what to say." I shook my head, "Why are you thanking me? I disobeyed you by crossing the border."

"Yes you did," he nodded, "but you did so with the intention of bringing Elveawen back to her people." He then turned away, "If anyone should apologize, it is me. I am the one who told her about you. I suppose she was so enthralled by my stories that she wanted to meet you herself. So, she went in search of you. It is because of me that we are in this situation to begin with."

I walked up and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Don't be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes."

He shook his head, "No. You do not understand. I am young. I do not have the wisdom of the elders, I do not even have the skills to serve in the guard yet, and I do not have enough forethought to make good decisions."

'Does that mean he thought that meeting me was a bad decision?' I thought with tears brimming in my eyes.

He sighed and turned to me, "I'm sorry, Elanor." He placed his hand over his heart, "Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Silvius." I shakily said.

He turned to walk away but stopped mid step to looked back at me, "If you are ever in need of aid. Come here and call my name; I will answer."

"Thank you." I sad before he walked back to Sivevarn and they both disappeared into the trees.

I turned away from the ruins with a heavy heart and tear stained cheeks. I picked up my sketch book and pencil reflecting on how my hoodie was still in the Avari's camp. I smiled weakly as I thought, 'Good. It will give him something to remember me by.'

Sighing, I turned away from the ruins once more and began the short trek home.