DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters except Aliya, Kendre, and Pelanar…..
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~~~
ALIYA
~~~
Tell Kendre my story? Tell her my life? I didn't know if I could. I didn't know if I wanted to remember. But I had to make a decision.
"I will tell you my story….. If you will listen…" I said, fighting back tears once again. It was going to be so hard.
"Of course I will listen!" Kendre said, smiling warmly.
I sighed and began in a small voice, a voice that I noticed quivered just a bit.
"I lived in a small village, on the northeast border of the forest. We were artisans, painters, singers, farmers, we were simple people, and there were few of us. Only a few small families. It was just a few years ago that it happened. One night, it was late I recall, the orcs came. I can remember every piece of it, except the initial invasion. I remember going to sleep in our little hut that night, after saying good night to my mother of course, and feeling the cool breeze in my hair as I fell asleep.
When I awoke my mother was shaking me telling me that I had to hide somewhere. She was more panicked than I had ever seen her in my 3000 years of life. Her eyes turned red with fear as she ran from the cabin. I couldn't think straight. Everything was jumbled into a mess as I went into a sort of trance. I decided to go looking for my father and brother, who went on a hunting trip the day before. Not far past the door though, I was grabbed by an orc by the name of Ugluk I believe. He tied my hands and set me on the ground a few feet away next to a tree. I blanked out for a few moments but when I woke up everything was ablaze. The few houses that were there were all colored red and brilliant orange with flames. I tried to cry for the loss of such a lovely and small village but no tears would come. When I finally realized what was happening, I was in horror at what I saw. All of my people, the artists, singers, painters that we were, were being hunted down and put into the remaining hut that wasn't burning. Last of all, I saw my mother shoved into the shed and the door barred. The leader orc, he, he had a torch… he took it and….. I could see my mother in the window- she was screaming to me, yelling for me to help her- that is, before the smoke engulfed her entirely. I went away after that, I made myself leave consciousness, and I wandered a long time in the days of my childhood.
I awoke that same night, draped over an orc, being carried quite uncomfortably miles and days. I counted three days before we truly stopped and I was set down. I was placed against a tree facing the forest while the small band placed itself a bit away where they built a fire and ate. I was rather hungry myself but I would die before asking an orc for food. I gazed off into the forest for a while until I realized that a familiar face had appeared from behind a tree.
It was Valaë! My brother was in the forest in the middle of his hunting trip! I looked around for my father, and obviously my brother got the hint, so he pointed behind the tree meaning my father was there also. I would have screamed but I didn't want the orcs to hear me so I tried to signal that I needed help. It didn't work, being that my hands were tied behind my back, and my father also appeared from behind the tree. They were in a perfect spot so as I could see them but as long as the orcs didn't move- they were oblivious. They seemed to be busily talking anyways. I tried to signal help to my remaining family again- but they didn't come. My brother finally seemed to get the hint, and he started to say something to my father who frowned and spoke harshly back. They conversed for about five more minutes as I made sure the orcs weren't coming and I tried to scoot a bit closer. Finally I fell over and heard the orcs grunt at me and turn back to their food. I looked up at my father and brother as they looked at me and turned away. They had had the perfect chance to rescue me, being a few feet away, and they turned their backs on me. At first I only thought they were going to get help or something, from where- I don't know, but I waited for them. They never came back as long as I waited they never came. That night the orcs moved out. I was hauled up again and carried along the way. I never saw my father or brother again.
We stopped more frequently after that night by night. For a long time, it must have been two weeks or so I was just carried around in a daze. I was violently brought out of it by the beginning of over a 2 years of torture. I realized a while later that I was kept alive for the enjoyment of the orcs, the torture, the beating, the raping, it was all for their pleasure. They loved to see me in pain. They loved to see me in fear.
As I was saying though, I was cruelly brought back from my already growing misery by what began as a simple ownership issue. We had stopped for the day, for some reason, and I was sitting next to the one called Ugluk who had a tight hold of my bonds and was holding me close to his disgusting body. They brought up the topic of branding and moments later they had a round metal like object warming on the fire. It loomed red hot for minutes in with the logs getting redder and redder. I can't relay anymore than that after the attack I had several circles permanently imprinted upon my back. There were more- assaults. It went on for over a year so many times I can't even recall some of them.
The next day I can clearly remember was one of pain and escape. For weeks I vaguely recall working on my bonds slowly considering the rope was thick and excessively knotted. That day though, I was able to free myself entirely thought I hid it from the orcs. I was in terrible pain from an extremely long battering session. They has assaulted me once again with hot iron and slashed my arms and face, throwing me around and causing my body to bruise even more. They had discarded me for the moment, a broken and boring toy. I realized I could free the ropes holding me and began to form a plan. By midnight I was strong enough to escape using the strategy I had in my head. I slowly looked around me for the orcs who were eating next to their campfire and chatting in their horrid language. I undid my chain, which had held me for so long, and as quiet as an elf fearful for her life can- I ran behind the nearest tree. Trying to catch my breath I peered around the tree at the orcs who were as ignorant as always. Picking up rocks as big as I could lift, I hurled them one by one quickly in the opposite direction from which I was standing.
Finally I fled towards where, I didn't know, but anywhere seemed better than where I was. I listened for the orcs who never came to hunt me. They had taken the hint and went far from me, thank the valar. I lost what strength I had mustered quickly and began stumbling clumsily. I finally fell into a muddy bank exhausted and unable to move. I must have gone unconscious because the next thing I remember is that I was surrounded by icy water swirling around me. For a long time I wallowed in the water, unable to grip anything but the stream around me. Finally I grabbed a rock and dragged myself onto the river bank. The last thing I remember was hoping that death would come to me fast and not wait for me to awaken again."
I stopped. And it took me only a moment to realize, only a moment to remember that I had been talking to a person.
Kendre had listened through my whole story, not making a sound. She had shared my pain and misery as I told my story, and I could see clearly her eyes were filled with tears as were mine. I could see clearly she felt as much pain as I did.
When my story was finished I cried. I wept because only then I remembered the full extent of the pain, the betrayal, the fear. I felt Kendre put her arms around me and pull me into a tight embrace.
"Aliya…" she whispered over and over again, "Don't cry! You are safe now. Nothing will ever happen to you here!"
I could feel her warmth, and it calmed my shaking.
"I must tell my Father of this!" she said, pulling away from me just a bit, "He must know!"
She brushed a tear from my cheek and from her own and stood up, "I must go for just a little while… I will be back…"
Her eyes closed in disgust and she said, "I will be back…"
As she left, I buried my face in my arms and cried more. I did not even see the figure that followed Kendre out of the room.
~~~
LEGOLAS
~~~
I avoided Kendre's eyes as I closed the door behind us. Just as Kendre had, I had listened to Aliya's story. I could not believe what she had endured. I did not want to think about what she must have felt. About her father's betrayal, about the beatings, the rapings, the branding. I did not want to think what that beautiful girl had gone through.
It was no small wonder that she hadn't trusted us. After the things she went through, I'm surprised she even talked to us at all. Or talked to Kendre, that is.
I could see the tears on Kendre's cheek that I hadn't noticed earlier. I pulled her into a hug.
"She's fine now," I crooned to my upset sister, "She's safe….."
"Don't you see, Legolas?" Kendre whispered, "She's not fine. She has been hurt to much. I don't think she will ever be fine again, Legolas. She saw half her family murdered before her eyes, and the other half turned their backs on her."
"Like you said, we must tell father."
Kendre nodded, and walked in front of me down the hall to my father's Royal Chambers.
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I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY EXCEPT REVIEW, ALIYA'S STORY ALMOST MADE ME CRY, IT WAS SO SAD.
THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND CARA WHO HELPED ME WRITE MOST OF THIS CHAPTER.
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~~~
ALIYA
~~~
Tell Kendre my story? Tell her my life? I didn't know if I could. I didn't know if I wanted to remember. But I had to make a decision.
"I will tell you my story….. If you will listen…" I said, fighting back tears once again. It was going to be so hard.
"Of course I will listen!" Kendre said, smiling warmly.
I sighed and began in a small voice, a voice that I noticed quivered just a bit.
"I lived in a small village, on the northeast border of the forest. We were artisans, painters, singers, farmers, we were simple people, and there were few of us. Only a few small families. It was just a few years ago that it happened. One night, it was late I recall, the orcs came. I can remember every piece of it, except the initial invasion. I remember going to sleep in our little hut that night, after saying good night to my mother of course, and feeling the cool breeze in my hair as I fell asleep.
When I awoke my mother was shaking me telling me that I had to hide somewhere. She was more panicked than I had ever seen her in my 3000 years of life. Her eyes turned red with fear as she ran from the cabin. I couldn't think straight. Everything was jumbled into a mess as I went into a sort of trance. I decided to go looking for my father and brother, who went on a hunting trip the day before. Not far past the door though, I was grabbed by an orc by the name of Ugluk I believe. He tied my hands and set me on the ground a few feet away next to a tree. I blanked out for a few moments but when I woke up everything was ablaze. The few houses that were there were all colored red and brilliant orange with flames. I tried to cry for the loss of such a lovely and small village but no tears would come. When I finally realized what was happening, I was in horror at what I saw. All of my people, the artists, singers, painters that we were, were being hunted down and put into the remaining hut that wasn't burning. Last of all, I saw my mother shoved into the shed and the door barred. The leader orc, he, he had a torch… he took it and….. I could see my mother in the window- she was screaming to me, yelling for me to help her- that is, before the smoke engulfed her entirely. I went away after that, I made myself leave consciousness, and I wandered a long time in the days of my childhood.
I awoke that same night, draped over an orc, being carried quite uncomfortably miles and days. I counted three days before we truly stopped and I was set down. I was placed against a tree facing the forest while the small band placed itself a bit away where they built a fire and ate. I was rather hungry myself but I would die before asking an orc for food. I gazed off into the forest for a while until I realized that a familiar face had appeared from behind a tree.
It was Valaë! My brother was in the forest in the middle of his hunting trip! I looked around for my father, and obviously my brother got the hint, so he pointed behind the tree meaning my father was there also. I would have screamed but I didn't want the orcs to hear me so I tried to signal that I needed help. It didn't work, being that my hands were tied behind my back, and my father also appeared from behind the tree. They were in a perfect spot so as I could see them but as long as the orcs didn't move- they were oblivious. They seemed to be busily talking anyways. I tried to signal help to my remaining family again- but they didn't come. My brother finally seemed to get the hint, and he started to say something to my father who frowned and spoke harshly back. They conversed for about five more minutes as I made sure the orcs weren't coming and I tried to scoot a bit closer. Finally I fell over and heard the orcs grunt at me and turn back to their food. I looked up at my father and brother as they looked at me and turned away. They had had the perfect chance to rescue me, being a few feet away, and they turned their backs on me. At first I only thought they were going to get help or something, from where- I don't know, but I waited for them. They never came back as long as I waited they never came. That night the orcs moved out. I was hauled up again and carried along the way. I never saw my father or brother again.
We stopped more frequently after that night by night. For a long time, it must have been two weeks or so I was just carried around in a daze. I was violently brought out of it by the beginning of over a 2 years of torture. I realized a while later that I was kept alive for the enjoyment of the orcs, the torture, the beating, the raping, it was all for their pleasure. They loved to see me in pain. They loved to see me in fear.
As I was saying though, I was cruelly brought back from my already growing misery by what began as a simple ownership issue. We had stopped for the day, for some reason, and I was sitting next to the one called Ugluk who had a tight hold of my bonds and was holding me close to his disgusting body. They brought up the topic of branding and moments later they had a round metal like object warming on the fire. It loomed red hot for minutes in with the logs getting redder and redder. I can't relay anymore than that after the attack I had several circles permanently imprinted upon my back. There were more- assaults. It went on for over a year so many times I can't even recall some of them.
The next day I can clearly remember was one of pain and escape. For weeks I vaguely recall working on my bonds slowly considering the rope was thick and excessively knotted. That day though, I was able to free myself entirely thought I hid it from the orcs. I was in terrible pain from an extremely long battering session. They has assaulted me once again with hot iron and slashed my arms and face, throwing me around and causing my body to bruise even more. They had discarded me for the moment, a broken and boring toy. I realized I could free the ropes holding me and began to form a plan. By midnight I was strong enough to escape using the strategy I had in my head. I slowly looked around me for the orcs who were eating next to their campfire and chatting in their horrid language. I undid my chain, which had held me for so long, and as quiet as an elf fearful for her life can- I ran behind the nearest tree. Trying to catch my breath I peered around the tree at the orcs who were as ignorant as always. Picking up rocks as big as I could lift, I hurled them one by one quickly in the opposite direction from which I was standing.
Finally I fled towards where, I didn't know, but anywhere seemed better than where I was. I listened for the orcs who never came to hunt me. They had taken the hint and went far from me, thank the valar. I lost what strength I had mustered quickly and began stumbling clumsily. I finally fell into a muddy bank exhausted and unable to move. I must have gone unconscious because the next thing I remember is that I was surrounded by icy water swirling around me. For a long time I wallowed in the water, unable to grip anything but the stream around me. Finally I grabbed a rock and dragged myself onto the river bank. The last thing I remember was hoping that death would come to me fast and not wait for me to awaken again."
I stopped. And it took me only a moment to realize, only a moment to remember that I had been talking to a person.
Kendre had listened through my whole story, not making a sound. She had shared my pain and misery as I told my story, and I could see clearly her eyes were filled with tears as were mine. I could see clearly she felt as much pain as I did.
When my story was finished I cried. I wept because only then I remembered the full extent of the pain, the betrayal, the fear. I felt Kendre put her arms around me and pull me into a tight embrace.
"Aliya…" she whispered over and over again, "Don't cry! You are safe now. Nothing will ever happen to you here!"
I could feel her warmth, and it calmed my shaking.
"I must tell my Father of this!" she said, pulling away from me just a bit, "He must know!"
She brushed a tear from my cheek and from her own and stood up, "I must go for just a little while… I will be back…"
Her eyes closed in disgust and she said, "I will be back…"
As she left, I buried my face in my arms and cried more. I did not even see the figure that followed Kendre out of the room.
~~~
LEGOLAS
~~~
I avoided Kendre's eyes as I closed the door behind us. Just as Kendre had, I had listened to Aliya's story. I could not believe what she had endured. I did not want to think about what she must have felt. About her father's betrayal, about the beatings, the rapings, the branding. I did not want to think what that beautiful girl had gone through.
It was no small wonder that she hadn't trusted us. After the things she went through, I'm surprised she even talked to us at all. Or talked to Kendre, that is.
I could see the tears on Kendre's cheek that I hadn't noticed earlier. I pulled her into a hug.
"She's fine now," I crooned to my upset sister, "She's safe….."
"Don't you see, Legolas?" Kendre whispered, "She's not fine. She has been hurt to much. I don't think she will ever be fine again, Legolas. She saw half her family murdered before her eyes, and the other half turned their backs on her."
"Like you said, we must tell father."
Kendre nodded, and walked in front of me down the hall to my father's Royal Chambers.
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I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY EXCEPT REVIEW, ALIYA'S STORY ALMOST MADE ME CRY, IT WAS SO SAD.
THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND CARA WHO HELPED ME WRITE MOST OF THIS CHAPTER.
