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The Nature of Evil

Eleniel: 15

Estel: 20

Eleniel watched with cold, blue eyes at the scene unfolding in front of her.

Her brothers had just returned from a short patrol with Glorfindel and Feredir. It hadn't been a long one, the warriors only meaning to make sure their borders were well protected and there was no sign of danger, but they had returned with grim faces, an orc as their prisoner.

Elrond had been horrified at the sight of the creature in such a peaceful place as his home and had absolutely forbidden it to even touch the walls of the Last Homely House. His sons had only just come home, and were still in their armour, having not even set foot inside yet. As soon as the elf lord had seen the orc, he had immediately pushed Eleniel out of its line of sight, commanding Erestor to keep her away.

The orc kneeled on the ground, snarling up at Lord Elrond, who was beyond angry at the fact that this… thing was in Imladris. Most of his people had never seen an orc before, including Eleniel, and so he had told his warriors to surround the small group of elves and the creature, ensuring nobody could see it. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten them.

Glorfindel and Elladan stood behind the orc, holding its gnarled arms tightly behind its back while Elrohir's sword pointed straight at its neck.

"Where did you find this thing?" Elrond asked. Spat.

"He was wandering around just outside of our borders, Ada," Estel informed him, who stood beside his father.

"Why?" the elf lord hissed, directing his question at the orc knelt in front of him.

The creature grinned suddenly; yellow, broken teeth showing behind its black lips. "Got lost."

Eleniel's eyes narrowed, and she quickly looked behind her, making sure that Erestor had not found her after she had escaped him. She turned back to what was happening in front of her and found herself wanting to scream.

One half of her brain was telling her that she should be terrified of this creature. That it had killed so many innocent people and would probably slice her throat in a heartbeat if it had the chance… but the other half, the – unfortunately – more dominant half, was telling her that this orc was part of a race that had stolen her mother, broken her body, and was the reason Celebrian was not at her side right now.

In a fit of anger, the elleth tore out from behind the door and set off running down the steps, screaming all sorts of death threats at the creature in front of her.

Elrond, his sons and Glorfindel turned immediately, eyes widening at the sight of Eleniel thundering towards them. The balrog-slayer made a move to grab her before she came any closer, but Estel was quicker. The man rushed out and caught his sister around her waist, turning her swiftly and pinning her to his chest, arms crossed in front of her. He carried her inside quickly, not wishing the orc to witness this.

As soon as he got through the door and out of sight of everyone still stood in the courtyard, he spun Eleniel – who was now crying hysterically – around and drew her into his arms, hugging her tight.

"Shush, now," he told her quietly, gently rubbing her back and rocking her.

He wanted to believe that everything was okay, now; that Eleniel had only seen an orc, so what harm could there be? But he knew that he was wrong...

Because once you saw what was the nature of evil, there was nothing you could do to take it back.