Chapter 4

Ethrin had the nightmare again. Except this time, she saw demons around her, trying to kill…somebody. Who that somebody was she could not tell. But then the smoke came, and she was concealed once again. She could hear the screams and crying again, though this time they were louder. And so real. They frightened her, and she could feel a tear running down her cheek. Then she woke up again, back in reality.

Laphaela sat beside her bed, head turned facing the door. Ethrin wanted to thank her for being so kind, even though she had been less than polite when she was staying in Mirkwood. Laphaela brushed her hair out of her face, and then looked out the window. Ethrin remembered everything that had happened. She remembered riding the horse, and then sensing the danger. She didn't know how she really knew it was there, but a sixth sense had warned her. And then she had, for some reason, started concentrating on the things around her, and she didn't know why she had done that. But she had found the evil, and destroyed it. But it had hurt her, and the wound was now gone…

"Who saw me here? Who else knows now that I am a female elf? Who else knows I'm here?" She kept her head down, but turned in Laphaela's direction. Laphaela was surprised at Ethrin's sudden action, surprised that Ethrin had seemed to recover so quickly all of a sudden.

Laphaela replied quickly, "nobody saw your face, not even Elrond, who treated your wound. I told him specifically that you wanted to remain unseen, and so I asked him to let you keep your cloak on. He agreed after awhile, and then treated your wound. Nobody in Rivendell has seen you, except Elrond and Arwen."

Ethrin looked around her and saw that her cloak was indeed still on, although one sleeve had been pulled up high so that the wound could get some air. She pulled the sleeve back down, and sat up. Ethrin whispered, "I must see Elrond. I must talk to him. Now probably only he can help us. Mirkwood is in much danger right now. How I know the evil, I don't know. But I know that there is great danger around these lands now. I don't even know if your father got my note. I need to talk to Elrond!"

Laphaela nodded, and then rushed outside. She returned later, bringing Elrond with her. Legolas also followed close behind them. Elrond came in and saw that she was rested. Legolas also had a look of relief on his face. Elrond bade Legolas and Laphaela to leave, and then said, "Laphaela said that you wanted to talk to me. About some danger in Mirkwood."

Ethrin nodded. "I don't know how exactly I found the danger, but it is here. I sensed it a long time ago and I didn't know what to do. It seemed to follow me everywhere. I tried to loose it in Mirkwood, although then I didn't know that I was in Mirkwood. Then I was captured by Thranduil's men, and brought to their town, their caves. I stayed there, and was afraid that the evil had followed me. I went with Laphaela and Legolas one day to have an archery contest, and I saw the one of the evil, and shot it. Thranduil had told me about your great knowledge and wise advice, so I decided to come here and ask you if you know anything about the things that are following me."

"And Laphaela said that you also came to me to ask if I know who you are. But yet you remain hidden."

"I do not wish to reveal myself to anybody yet. I think that this danger to Middle-Earth matters more at the moment. I have killed a few of them, but they seem to keep on coming, and they get stronger. I don't know if I can hold them off any longer. And nobody else seems to be able to sense that they are here."

"Do you remember where they started following you?"

"Well, I saw these barren lands once. There was a fire mountain in the distance, and the land around it was black and barren. I knew that that place was a place that was full of danger, so I went on. Then I sensed some evil following me. So I decided to try to loose them, but couldn't. I don't know what to do."

"I think that the land you are describing is Mordor. That was where the Dark Lord Sauron forged the one ring of power, which is supposed to be destroyed now. Have you ever thought there was a reason that they followed you?"

"Yes, but I still can't seem to figure it out. All this confuses me. Why are they after me, and not someone else?"

"I think we will find that out in due time. But now, get some rest, and I will speak with Legoas and Laphaela."

Elrond got up and left, while Ethrin lay back down. She was scared now, scared that she might have gotten the new evil into Rivendell, scared that she might be killed, scared that she might not ever find her past. Nothing in the world hurt more than these fears, and she couldn't help weeping quietly. But after a few moments she controlled her tears. Years of hurt and betrayment from people had taught her to be tough, and not to break out crying. And now she needed to test her toughness. Ethrin pulled the blankets around her and fell asleep, her face down and her hood, once again, casting a shadow that hid her.

Again, nightmares hit her. She wanted to wake up, but something kept her down. It was useless. She couldn't get up, couldn't move. But then she knew that the thing holding her down was her own weakness. The fire was there again, and the screeching of something started. The screams now each had their own tone, and could be identified to be screams of different people. There seemed to be puddles of tears all around her, but then blood from a dead body would seep into a pool of tears. This time, along with the blinding flash of light, there came a great booming sound. Ethrin shuddered and lay still.

Moonlight streamed in through the windows. The wind blew slightly. The sky was a dark bluish-blackish color, and stars shone brightly. Ethrin walked onto a balcony, her cloak and hood still on, as usual. The night then became still, and only the soft sound of rushing water could be heard. Everything seemed so peaceful, so perfect; that nobody would think that something bad was lurking around just over the mountain. Ethrin thought, "I am safe now."

Suddenly, a dark shadow covered the moon, and a loud scream sounded in the air.