Arabella -- Thank you so much for all the encouragement and patience
during all my rewrites. You are a true friend.
Ada Kensington - Thank you very much. I really enjoy writing this story. Hope you like this next chapter.
Anita -- Thank you. Sareei is the daughter of a old Numenorean warrior.
Hope everyone likes this next chapter. There are a few unexpected surprises I hope you will enjoy.
Chapter 9 Liam
Sareei sighed and opened her eyes. Her gaze fell on a dark blue robe and black boots. As her gaze traveled upward they came to rest on Elrond's face. She sighed again and tried to sit up. Burning pain shot through her left leg and she fell back on her pillow.
"I'm afraid Sareei that this time you will have to stay put. The injury to your leg is very severe and you will be in bed for quite some time."
He took a small glass of cordial from the bedside table and helped her drink it down. The cordial started to take affect almost immediately and Sareei's head started to swim.
She tried to get up again and only succeeded in making the pain worse. She cried out and Elrond moved swiftly to her side, gently laying her back down on her pillow.
"Please lie still, Sareei, and give the cordial a chance to ease your pain. You are only hurting yourself," Elrond told her quietly.
She continued to struggle against his hold. "But they're going to get away.", she said her voice breaking.
Elrond held her firmly in his arms. "Who is going to get away, Sareei?" he asked gently.
She laid her sleepy head on his shoulder and cried. "All of them.", she sobbed. "I promised Papa I would get all of them, and I haven't."
Elrond's eyes warmed in sympathy. "You do no need to get all of them, Sareei.", he said softly. "Your father never meant for you to spend the rest of your life hunting out the evil in this world."
"But I have to stop him.", murmured Sareei sadly as the cordial took hold. "He had Papa killed. And he told me he killed my mother too."
Elrond's attention was riveted on Sareei's words. "Tell me Sareei. Tell me all about it. Who is he?"
"My uncle.", whispered Sareei. "He sent a grey warrior to kill Papa and to take me to him. The warrior wounded Papa. While he was lying there, it pushed its sword into his leg and started to twist it. I had to stop him." Sareei started to cry.
Elrond held her close against his shoulder as she lay there trembling.
Sareei shuddered and continued. "I heard Papa scream. And then it was like I was watching someone else. I saw her swing her sword and cut off the grey warrior's arm, the one holding the sword in Papa's leg. Then she just kept screaming and hacking at it until it was dead." She stopped. "I had never killed anyone before. After it was dead, I went to Papa. I couldn't get the bleeding to stop so I just held his head in my lap. We talked about all our favorite memories until he fell asleep." Sareei couldn't bring herself to use the term died. "Then I got Ariel and I backtracked the grey warrior to find my uncle. Papa could track across rock and he was a good teacher. I found my uncle and told him he was going to answer for killing my father. He told me....." Sareei started crying again.
Elrond held her in his arms and waited patiently for her to calm herself.
She finally took a deep breath and continued.
"He told me that in every other generation in our family there is born a female who is an empath. That I was supposed to be an empath, someone who can heal wounds. He told me he killed my mother the day I was born and tried to steal me out of the house. And now that I was old enough to train as an empath, he had my father killed. He wanted to 'marry' me to one of his grey warriors to create a self-healing army. He said they would be invincible."
She looked up at Elrond with tears streaming down her face. "My parents were killed because of me. I took out my sword and I fought him. I tried to kill him, but he just kept laughing at me and moving away. Finally he chased me to the top of a waterfall. I had nowhere else to run. I turned with my sword still in my hand. If I was going to die I wasn't going to disgrace Papa doing it. He told me to give up. That serving the darkness and Sauron would have generous rewards. The grey warriors were behind him, cutting off my escape. I stood looking at him for a second and then gave him my answer. "I am a Numenorian, like my father before me, and his father before him. And I would rather be dead than serve Sauron."
"His face twisted with rage. He said, "Then die." He hit me across the face with the back of his fist and knocked me off of the waterfall. I hit a tree limb halfway down and I think it broke my fall. I remember waking up in the mud and a small pool of stinking water. I had been left on a trash heap. I guess my uncle thought I was dead and he threw me out with the rest of the garbage." Sareei started to sob again.
Elrond rocked her in his arms and softly began singing a song of comfort he had used many times with Arwen when she was upset. Sareei relaxed in his arms and finally went to sleep. Elrond laid her back on her pillow and, putting a hand on her forehead sent her into a deep healing sleep. The kind designed to heal the mind as well as the body.
Rising, he swiftly went to his study to see what information he had on empaths.
The cloaked figure sat in a corner and watched the room from the folds of his hood. His face was well concealed. It had taken him days to track Sareei from the old house in the trollshaws. After finding her father's grave he had immediately set out looking for her. His search had led him to Greenmeadow. An older man was questioning the innkeeper about Sareei. The stranger took him in in one appraising glance. He was tall and muscular. His face was handsome, but his good looks were marred by the look of cruelty in his hard eyes and around his mouth. There was an aura of evil about him that the innkeeper clearly didn't like. He shifted uncomfortably in front of the man.
The stranger's keen hearing picked up the name Sareei as he inquired about her whereabouts. He listened as the innkeeper told the man that she had been taken away by a ranger and an elf and that they had mentioned Rivendell.
The stranger smiled. Finding Sareei wasn't going to be as difficult as he first believed. But there was this man to deal with. What did he want with Sareei? He watched as the man left the tavern. He rose and swiftly followed him through the dark to a camp some distance outside of town. He stood in the trees and watched as the man was met by some thirty creatures with a distinctly reptilian appearance. His skin started to crawl as he looked at them and his lip curled in distaste. The cloaked man settled down and waited as the man had his supper. His voice carried to the trees and the stranger heard him easily as he told the foul creatures his plans for Sareei. And how, now that he knew his niece was alive, he was going to teach that little witch a lesson she would never forget. He swore he would get her and break her spirit this time. Then use her to begin his new army.
The stranger's heart burned with outrage at this but he knew the wise thing to do was to get to Rivendell as fast as he could and warn Lord Elrond of the impending attack. He stepped lightly to his horse and silently mounted.
Riding hard for Rivendell, he arrived several days later, riding in the front gate just after sunrise. Dismounting he asked for Lord Elrond.
An elf servant bowed and said, "Please follow me my lord."
Elrond carried Sareei into the garden and gently sat her down at the table. Carefully resting her leg on a footstool and he then went to his own seat. Sareei looked around at the group seated at the breakfast table. Elrond and Gandalf were sitting at her left. Isilme at her right. Lord Elrond had ordered this in order to help Isilme get over his fear of Sareei. Aragorn and Legolas were seated directly in front of her.
Legolas was recounting a tale about the spiders in Mirkwood. "They can be most formidable in groups."
Aragorn nodded in agreement.
"I remember seeing some of them last year," Isilme commented, "when we visited with your father, Legolas. I agree, they are quite formidable."
"How big are the spiders in Mirkwood?" Sareei asked innocently.
"Very big.", said Legolas. He thought a moment. Deciding to discourage any spider hunting excursions he told her. "They are as big as a cow."
"Really?", breathed Sareei. "I would love to see that!", she said smiling.
Legolas opened his mouth to say something else, but was kicked by Aragorn. He shook his head at Legolas.
She turned to Isilme. "What is the scariest thing you ever saw?", she asked him.
Isilme grimaced involuntarily. "You mean besides you?" he thought to himself. After considering a moment he answered. "A cave troll. They are huge and ill tempered and carry ...."
"A huge hammer.", Sareei finished for him. "And when they open their mouth to scream at you like a fool they sound just like an angry warg."
Isilme froze in mid swallow. Elrond and Gandalf looked up from their plates frowning. Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other and then turned suspicious eyes on Sareei.
"And just how do you know what a cave troll looks like? Or what an angry warg sounds like for that matter.", asked Aragorn, his piercing eyes fixed on Sareei. In fact everyone was staring at her.
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, sensing a lecture in the making. Reaching for her glass she attempted to change the subject. "This juice is really good.", she murmured as she took a drink.
Gandalf fixed her with a penetrating gaze. "Just where did you see a cave troll?", he demanded.
"In a cave.", Sareei said innocently as she took another sip of juice.
"What cave?", Elrond asked resignedly knowing how driven this young woman had been by her pain to seek out danger.
"Uh....", Sareei hesitated.
Gandalf got up from his chair and came to stand beside Sareei's, his hands on his hips. "Just where did you see a cave troll young lady?"
Sareei sighed as she looked up at Gandalf. "Well.... I was traveling and I found this cave and night was coming on and.....well..."
"And well what?", demanded Gandalf sharply.
"Well, I wasn't the only one in the cave and .......well.....he started it!", she finished defensively.
Elrond sighed deeply. "Sareei, I think you had better tell us what happened."
"Indeed!", agreed Gandalf, fixing her with a stern glare.
"Oh alright.", said Sareei. "I was in the cave and I found this pit. And I went to the edge to look. I wasn't doing anything wrong", she said in her own defense. "I just went to the edge and looked. That was all."
"And?", asked Elrond sighing.
"Well, there was this cave troll at the bottom of the pit. And he was walking around at the bottom fussing to himself. And the sides were so tall and steep he couldn't climb up so he could never get to me. Well, he looked up and saw me and he opened his mouth and roared at me for no good reason!"
"Imagine that.", muttered Gandalf. "Go on.", he ordered Sareei.
"Well, he made me mad so I stood on the edge and told him don't you yell at me like that! I didn't get you into this pit and if that's going to be your attitude you can just rot there for all I care." She turned to Isilme. "And do you know what he did?"
Isilme silently shook his head.
"He picked up a huge rock and threw it at me. He almost hit me too. So I said 'If you want to throw rocks two can play at that game master troll!' So I went to find a rock of my own. Well he must have thought I had left because by the time I wrestled it to the edge he wasn't looking up anymore. So I pushed it over the edge and it hit him on the head. Then he started screaming like he'd lost his mind and started clawing at the walls of the pit." She hesitated. "I may have kicked one or two more rocks down on his head."
"Please continue, Sareei.", said Elrond dryly. "I'm sure there's more."
"Well, I saw him reaching up on the wall for something so I went over to see what it was. And there was this big hammer caught between two big rocks. He was trying to reach the handle. I jiggled it a little with my foot and managed to keep it just out of his reach. But then he jumped up and got hold of it and started pulling. I kicked another rock off on his head and he got really mad and jerked the hammer down. It landed right on top of his head. Then he really started screaming and pounding on the walls. Well, he was making so much noise, things were starting to come down off of the ceiling and giving me a headache so I left."
There was a long silence. Sareei grew uncomfortable under their stares. "Well, it wasn't like I haven't done it before.", she blurted out.
Gandalf fixed her with a fierce scowl. "Teasing a cave troll is not like teasing the neighbor's dog!", he thundered.
"I know. They are so much easier to provoke.", Sareei snickered.
A soft melodious voice interrupted with a chuckle, "Up to your old tricks again, my beloved?"
An elf servant stood before Lord Elrond. "A stranger to see you my lord.". He bowed low and left.
Sareei froze and her eyes widened slightly. "It can't be .... Liam!!??."
Everyone looked over at the newcomer. He was standing under a nearby great oak, his dark brown waist length hair shining in the morning sun, his long cloak swirling around him. He was beautiful, fair of face, with high cheekbones and a soft generous mouth beneath a proud strong nose set in a square jaw.
He bowed low before Elrond, his hand to his chest. "My Lord Elrond, my name is Liam. I come on urgent personal business." His penetrating gaze rested on Sareei.
Sareei watched as the tall elf moved towards her; one lean eyebrow arched up, his thick river of silken hair flowing around his waist. It had several thin braids and there were tiny knots at the ends decorated with small silver beads. Some of the braids were pulled back from his face in intricate patterns. His dark brown silk shirt had a border of intricate silver embroidery of leaves down the front. The intricate silver belt he wore over his brown silk pants, was woven in elegant swirls and patterns. It held an equally elegant sword, with an ornate silver grip. It was sharper than a dragon's claw. Over all was a dark emerald green velvet hooded cloak, with the same silver embroidery. His black boots made no sound as he walked towards her.
Sareei was momentarily mesmerized by his compelling eyes. They captured your attention immediately, as though he could look see your every thought. A dark grey like Elrond's, they practically glowed when they fell on Sareei. His glance danced with laughter as he smiled at Sareei, who sat there with her mouth open in surprise.
His beloved! He had not seen her since they had parted in haste from each other over two years ago at her father's home. Sareei caught by his focused gaze, her lips still parted slightly, stared in return, still stunned by his unexpected appearance. Liam! Of all the elves to come walking into Rivendell! It had been so long! She had thought perhaps he had forgotten all about her and their engagement. Smiling tentatively at him, she stood up awkwardly from the table, resting her weight on her good leg. He did not miss this and immediately took her in his arms. As he drew her to him she had the impression of immense power surging just below the surface, like being near a raging river. His piercing gray eyes captured hers. He bent and kissed her, softly at first, feathering her lips with his but soon, the kiss became more fervent and intense, and the two held each other tightly, shutting out the others watching opened-mouth at this unexpected reunion. Sareei melted into his embrace.
When he finally released her, Liam sat Sareei back down and knelt beside her. Taking her hand, his eyes held hers as he slowly kissed it. His betrothed had not changed that much. She still had auburn hair and stubborn green eyes. And the same saucy look on her face that had captured his heart so many years ago. His heart began to beat faster. "Your beauty outshines the sun, my heart.", he said softly.
"H..Hello Liam.", was all she could get out. 'Darn', she thought, 'why does he always do this to me? I get too close to him and I can't put two words together.' She sat and fumed at herself.
Gandalf gave Liam an appraising look and turned to Sareei, "I feel you may have left out one or two details about yourself, my dear.", he said smiling at her.
Sareei actually blushed.
Liam's eyes went to Sareei's bandaged leg. "What is this?" he asked her.
She shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze. "Well.......I sort of got a hole in my leg.", she explained.
"Two holes.", corrected Gandalf turning to Liam. "Her leg was impaled on a spike."
Liam's gaze never left Sareei. "And how did this happen?", he asked Gandalf as he stroked Sareei's cheek, his dark gray eyes gazing into her stubborn green ones.
"She has been hunting orcs and one of them laid a trap for her.", said the wizard. "She very nearly bled to death before she got here."
Sareei give Gandalf a dirty look for telling Liam that. She didn't want him to know. She quickly turned to her fiancée.
"Really Liam, I'm fine. I will be up and walking in no time." Trying to get his mind off of her injuries, she tried to change the subject. "Why don't you let me show you the garden? The roses are really lovely."
Liam knew she was trying to change the subject, "I don't think that is possible, my heart.", he said gently, his face unreadable. Sareei always found this infuriating.
"Why not?", asked Sareei suspiciously. He was being too gallant. He was up to something.
Liam's eyes twinkled with mischief as he bent closer, his hands gently stroking her hair. "Because my dove, I think it is time you took a nap.", he said firmly, as he stared into her eyes, his own turning a dark storm cloud gray.
Her eyes light up with fire. "Liam, don't you dar.....", her voice trailing off as Liam sent her to sleep. He caught her as she slumped in her chair. He gently picked her up, cuddling her in his arms and turned to Elrond.
"My lord, it is imperative that I talk to you. But first I must be sure that Sareei will remain asleep. Can you show me to her room?"
Elrond led the way to Sareei's room. Liam carried her in and placed her on the bed. Whispering "A blessed sleep my love", he gently kissed her forehead. She sighed and fell more deeply into her slumbers.
Liam then turned to Elrond, all business. "My lord, Sareei's uncle and a contingent of thirty grey warriors are nearing the ford. With your permission I would like to assist you in confronting him before he reaches Imladris. He means to take Sareei and I will not permit that." His face was taunt, his voice was deadly calm and his usually warm gray eyes were black with anger.
"Nor will I.", answered Elrond, his own eyes turning dark.
"This man has been a burden on Middle Earth far too long my lord.", said Liam. "He means to use Sareei..."
"I know.", interrupted Elrond grimly. "She told me. This must stop." Elrond led Liam from the room as they began making preparations to deal with the uncle and the gray warriors.
Ada Kensington - Thank you very much. I really enjoy writing this story. Hope you like this next chapter.
Anita -- Thank you. Sareei is the daughter of a old Numenorean warrior.
Hope everyone likes this next chapter. There are a few unexpected surprises I hope you will enjoy.
Chapter 9 Liam
Sareei sighed and opened her eyes. Her gaze fell on a dark blue robe and black boots. As her gaze traveled upward they came to rest on Elrond's face. She sighed again and tried to sit up. Burning pain shot through her left leg and she fell back on her pillow.
"I'm afraid Sareei that this time you will have to stay put. The injury to your leg is very severe and you will be in bed for quite some time."
He took a small glass of cordial from the bedside table and helped her drink it down. The cordial started to take affect almost immediately and Sareei's head started to swim.
She tried to get up again and only succeeded in making the pain worse. She cried out and Elrond moved swiftly to her side, gently laying her back down on her pillow.
"Please lie still, Sareei, and give the cordial a chance to ease your pain. You are only hurting yourself," Elrond told her quietly.
She continued to struggle against his hold. "But they're going to get away.", she said her voice breaking.
Elrond held her firmly in his arms. "Who is going to get away, Sareei?" he asked gently.
She laid her sleepy head on his shoulder and cried. "All of them.", she sobbed. "I promised Papa I would get all of them, and I haven't."
Elrond's eyes warmed in sympathy. "You do no need to get all of them, Sareei.", he said softly. "Your father never meant for you to spend the rest of your life hunting out the evil in this world."
"But I have to stop him.", murmured Sareei sadly as the cordial took hold. "He had Papa killed. And he told me he killed my mother too."
Elrond's attention was riveted on Sareei's words. "Tell me Sareei. Tell me all about it. Who is he?"
"My uncle.", whispered Sareei. "He sent a grey warrior to kill Papa and to take me to him. The warrior wounded Papa. While he was lying there, it pushed its sword into his leg and started to twist it. I had to stop him." Sareei started to cry.
Elrond held her close against his shoulder as she lay there trembling.
Sareei shuddered and continued. "I heard Papa scream. And then it was like I was watching someone else. I saw her swing her sword and cut off the grey warrior's arm, the one holding the sword in Papa's leg. Then she just kept screaming and hacking at it until it was dead." She stopped. "I had never killed anyone before. After it was dead, I went to Papa. I couldn't get the bleeding to stop so I just held his head in my lap. We talked about all our favorite memories until he fell asleep." Sareei couldn't bring herself to use the term died. "Then I got Ariel and I backtracked the grey warrior to find my uncle. Papa could track across rock and he was a good teacher. I found my uncle and told him he was going to answer for killing my father. He told me....." Sareei started crying again.
Elrond held her in his arms and waited patiently for her to calm herself.
She finally took a deep breath and continued.
"He told me that in every other generation in our family there is born a female who is an empath. That I was supposed to be an empath, someone who can heal wounds. He told me he killed my mother the day I was born and tried to steal me out of the house. And now that I was old enough to train as an empath, he had my father killed. He wanted to 'marry' me to one of his grey warriors to create a self-healing army. He said they would be invincible."
She looked up at Elrond with tears streaming down her face. "My parents were killed because of me. I took out my sword and I fought him. I tried to kill him, but he just kept laughing at me and moving away. Finally he chased me to the top of a waterfall. I had nowhere else to run. I turned with my sword still in my hand. If I was going to die I wasn't going to disgrace Papa doing it. He told me to give up. That serving the darkness and Sauron would have generous rewards. The grey warriors were behind him, cutting off my escape. I stood looking at him for a second and then gave him my answer. "I am a Numenorian, like my father before me, and his father before him. And I would rather be dead than serve Sauron."
"His face twisted with rage. He said, "Then die." He hit me across the face with the back of his fist and knocked me off of the waterfall. I hit a tree limb halfway down and I think it broke my fall. I remember waking up in the mud and a small pool of stinking water. I had been left on a trash heap. I guess my uncle thought I was dead and he threw me out with the rest of the garbage." Sareei started to sob again.
Elrond rocked her in his arms and softly began singing a song of comfort he had used many times with Arwen when she was upset. Sareei relaxed in his arms and finally went to sleep. Elrond laid her back on her pillow and, putting a hand on her forehead sent her into a deep healing sleep. The kind designed to heal the mind as well as the body.
Rising, he swiftly went to his study to see what information he had on empaths.
The cloaked figure sat in a corner and watched the room from the folds of his hood. His face was well concealed. It had taken him days to track Sareei from the old house in the trollshaws. After finding her father's grave he had immediately set out looking for her. His search had led him to Greenmeadow. An older man was questioning the innkeeper about Sareei. The stranger took him in in one appraising glance. He was tall and muscular. His face was handsome, but his good looks were marred by the look of cruelty in his hard eyes and around his mouth. There was an aura of evil about him that the innkeeper clearly didn't like. He shifted uncomfortably in front of the man.
The stranger's keen hearing picked up the name Sareei as he inquired about her whereabouts. He listened as the innkeeper told the man that she had been taken away by a ranger and an elf and that they had mentioned Rivendell.
The stranger smiled. Finding Sareei wasn't going to be as difficult as he first believed. But there was this man to deal with. What did he want with Sareei? He watched as the man left the tavern. He rose and swiftly followed him through the dark to a camp some distance outside of town. He stood in the trees and watched as the man was met by some thirty creatures with a distinctly reptilian appearance. His skin started to crawl as he looked at them and his lip curled in distaste. The cloaked man settled down and waited as the man had his supper. His voice carried to the trees and the stranger heard him easily as he told the foul creatures his plans for Sareei. And how, now that he knew his niece was alive, he was going to teach that little witch a lesson she would never forget. He swore he would get her and break her spirit this time. Then use her to begin his new army.
The stranger's heart burned with outrage at this but he knew the wise thing to do was to get to Rivendell as fast as he could and warn Lord Elrond of the impending attack. He stepped lightly to his horse and silently mounted.
Riding hard for Rivendell, he arrived several days later, riding in the front gate just after sunrise. Dismounting he asked for Lord Elrond.
An elf servant bowed and said, "Please follow me my lord."
Elrond carried Sareei into the garden and gently sat her down at the table. Carefully resting her leg on a footstool and he then went to his own seat. Sareei looked around at the group seated at the breakfast table. Elrond and Gandalf were sitting at her left. Isilme at her right. Lord Elrond had ordered this in order to help Isilme get over his fear of Sareei. Aragorn and Legolas were seated directly in front of her.
Legolas was recounting a tale about the spiders in Mirkwood. "They can be most formidable in groups."
Aragorn nodded in agreement.
"I remember seeing some of them last year," Isilme commented, "when we visited with your father, Legolas. I agree, they are quite formidable."
"How big are the spiders in Mirkwood?" Sareei asked innocently.
"Very big.", said Legolas. He thought a moment. Deciding to discourage any spider hunting excursions he told her. "They are as big as a cow."
"Really?", breathed Sareei. "I would love to see that!", she said smiling.
Legolas opened his mouth to say something else, but was kicked by Aragorn. He shook his head at Legolas.
She turned to Isilme. "What is the scariest thing you ever saw?", she asked him.
Isilme grimaced involuntarily. "You mean besides you?" he thought to himself. After considering a moment he answered. "A cave troll. They are huge and ill tempered and carry ...."
"A huge hammer.", Sareei finished for him. "And when they open their mouth to scream at you like a fool they sound just like an angry warg."
Isilme froze in mid swallow. Elrond and Gandalf looked up from their plates frowning. Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other and then turned suspicious eyes on Sareei.
"And just how do you know what a cave troll looks like? Or what an angry warg sounds like for that matter.", asked Aragorn, his piercing eyes fixed on Sareei. In fact everyone was staring at her.
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, sensing a lecture in the making. Reaching for her glass she attempted to change the subject. "This juice is really good.", she murmured as she took a drink.
Gandalf fixed her with a penetrating gaze. "Just where did you see a cave troll?", he demanded.
"In a cave.", Sareei said innocently as she took another sip of juice.
"What cave?", Elrond asked resignedly knowing how driven this young woman had been by her pain to seek out danger.
"Uh....", Sareei hesitated.
Gandalf got up from his chair and came to stand beside Sareei's, his hands on his hips. "Just where did you see a cave troll young lady?"
Sareei sighed as she looked up at Gandalf. "Well.... I was traveling and I found this cave and night was coming on and.....well..."
"And well what?", demanded Gandalf sharply.
"Well, I wasn't the only one in the cave and .......well.....he started it!", she finished defensively.
Elrond sighed deeply. "Sareei, I think you had better tell us what happened."
"Indeed!", agreed Gandalf, fixing her with a stern glare.
"Oh alright.", said Sareei. "I was in the cave and I found this pit. And I went to the edge to look. I wasn't doing anything wrong", she said in her own defense. "I just went to the edge and looked. That was all."
"And?", asked Elrond sighing.
"Well, there was this cave troll at the bottom of the pit. And he was walking around at the bottom fussing to himself. And the sides were so tall and steep he couldn't climb up so he could never get to me. Well, he looked up and saw me and he opened his mouth and roared at me for no good reason!"
"Imagine that.", muttered Gandalf. "Go on.", he ordered Sareei.
"Well, he made me mad so I stood on the edge and told him don't you yell at me like that! I didn't get you into this pit and if that's going to be your attitude you can just rot there for all I care." She turned to Isilme. "And do you know what he did?"
Isilme silently shook his head.
"He picked up a huge rock and threw it at me. He almost hit me too. So I said 'If you want to throw rocks two can play at that game master troll!' So I went to find a rock of my own. Well he must have thought I had left because by the time I wrestled it to the edge he wasn't looking up anymore. So I pushed it over the edge and it hit him on the head. Then he started screaming like he'd lost his mind and started clawing at the walls of the pit." She hesitated. "I may have kicked one or two more rocks down on his head."
"Please continue, Sareei.", said Elrond dryly. "I'm sure there's more."
"Well, I saw him reaching up on the wall for something so I went over to see what it was. And there was this big hammer caught between two big rocks. He was trying to reach the handle. I jiggled it a little with my foot and managed to keep it just out of his reach. But then he jumped up and got hold of it and started pulling. I kicked another rock off on his head and he got really mad and jerked the hammer down. It landed right on top of his head. Then he really started screaming and pounding on the walls. Well, he was making so much noise, things were starting to come down off of the ceiling and giving me a headache so I left."
There was a long silence. Sareei grew uncomfortable under their stares. "Well, it wasn't like I haven't done it before.", she blurted out.
Gandalf fixed her with a fierce scowl. "Teasing a cave troll is not like teasing the neighbor's dog!", he thundered.
"I know. They are so much easier to provoke.", Sareei snickered.
A soft melodious voice interrupted with a chuckle, "Up to your old tricks again, my beloved?"
An elf servant stood before Lord Elrond. "A stranger to see you my lord.". He bowed low and left.
Sareei froze and her eyes widened slightly. "It can't be .... Liam!!??."
Everyone looked over at the newcomer. He was standing under a nearby great oak, his dark brown waist length hair shining in the morning sun, his long cloak swirling around him. He was beautiful, fair of face, with high cheekbones and a soft generous mouth beneath a proud strong nose set in a square jaw.
He bowed low before Elrond, his hand to his chest. "My Lord Elrond, my name is Liam. I come on urgent personal business." His penetrating gaze rested on Sareei.
Sareei watched as the tall elf moved towards her; one lean eyebrow arched up, his thick river of silken hair flowing around his waist. It had several thin braids and there were tiny knots at the ends decorated with small silver beads. Some of the braids were pulled back from his face in intricate patterns. His dark brown silk shirt had a border of intricate silver embroidery of leaves down the front. The intricate silver belt he wore over his brown silk pants, was woven in elegant swirls and patterns. It held an equally elegant sword, with an ornate silver grip. It was sharper than a dragon's claw. Over all was a dark emerald green velvet hooded cloak, with the same silver embroidery. His black boots made no sound as he walked towards her.
Sareei was momentarily mesmerized by his compelling eyes. They captured your attention immediately, as though he could look see your every thought. A dark grey like Elrond's, they practically glowed when they fell on Sareei. His glance danced with laughter as he smiled at Sareei, who sat there with her mouth open in surprise.
His beloved! He had not seen her since they had parted in haste from each other over two years ago at her father's home. Sareei caught by his focused gaze, her lips still parted slightly, stared in return, still stunned by his unexpected appearance. Liam! Of all the elves to come walking into Rivendell! It had been so long! She had thought perhaps he had forgotten all about her and their engagement. Smiling tentatively at him, she stood up awkwardly from the table, resting her weight on her good leg. He did not miss this and immediately took her in his arms. As he drew her to him she had the impression of immense power surging just below the surface, like being near a raging river. His piercing gray eyes captured hers. He bent and kissed her, softly at first, feathering her lips with his but soon, the kiss became more fervent and intense, and the two held each other tightly, shutting out the others watching opened-mouth at this unexpected reunion. Sareei melted into his embrace.
When he finally released her, Liam sat Sareei back down and knelt beside her. Taking her hand, his eyes held hers as he slowly kissed it. His betrothed had not changed that much. She still had auburn hair and stubborn green eyes. And the same saucy look on her face that had captured his heart so many years ago. His heart began to beat faster. "Your beauty outshines the sun, my heart.", he said softly.
"H..Hello Liam.", was all she could get out. 'Darn', she thought, 'why does he always do this to me? I get too close to him and I can't put two words together.' She sat and fumed at herself.
Gandalf gave Liam an appraising look and turned to Sareei, "I feel you may have left out one or two details about yourself, my dear.", he said smiling at her.
Sareei actually blushed.
Liam's eyes went to Sareei's bandaged leg. "What is this?" he asked her.
She shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze. "Well.......I sort of got a hole in my leg.", she explained.
"Two holes.", corrected Gandalf turning to Liam. "Her leg was impaled on a spike."
Liam's gaze never left Sareei. "And how did this happen?", he asked Gandalf as he stroked Sareei's cheek, his dark gray eyes gazing into her stubborn green ones.
"She has been hunting orcs and one of them laid a trap for her.", said the wizard. "She very nearly bled to death before she got here."
Sareei give Gandalf a dirty look for telling Liam that. She didn't want him to know. She quickly turned to her fiancée.
"Really Liam, I'm fine. I will be up and walking in no time." Trying to get his mind off of her injuries, she tried to change the subject. "Why don't you let me show you the garden? The roses are really lovely."
Liam knew she was trying to change the subject, "I don't think that is possible, my heart.", he said gently, his face unreadable. Sareei always found this infuriating.
"Why not?", asked Sareei suspiciously. He was being too gallant. He was up to something.
Liam's eyes twinkled with mischief as he bent closer, his hands gently stroking her hair. "Because my dove, I think it is time you took a nap.", he said firmly, as he stared into her eyes, his own turning a dark storm cloud gray.
Her eyes light up with fire. "Liam, don't you dar.....", her voice trailing off as Liam sent her to sleep. He caught her as she slumped in her chair. He gently picked her up, cuddling her in his arms and turned to Elrond.
"My lord, it is imperative that I talk to you. But first I must be sure that Sareei will remain asleep. Can you show me to her room?"
Elrond led the way to Sareei's room. Liam carried her in and placed her on the bed. Whispering "A blessed sleep my love", he gently kissed her forehead. She sighed and fell more deeply into her slumbers.
Liam then turned to Elrond, all business. "My lord, Sareei's uncle and a contingent of thirty grey warriors are nearing the ford. With your permission I would like to assist you in confronting him before he reaches Imladris. He means to take Sareei and I will not permit that." His face was taunt, his voice was deadly calm and his usually warm gray eyes were black with anger.
"Nor will I.", answered Elrond, his own eyes turning dark.
"This man has been a burden on Middle Earth far too long my lord.", said Liam. "He means to use Sareei..."
"I know.", interrupted Elrond grimly. "She told me. This must stop." Elrond led Liam from the room as they began making preparations to deal with the uncle and the gray warriors.