The real story begins here!  There is no formal linkage between this and the Prologue so if you're a little confused, don't worry, you're mean to be! Hope you like it, please let me know. NB.  To those who read this chapter before I re-loaded it, please note this chapter has been added to…

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Chapter 1: Found

The three Elves were flat against the ground, breathing quietly.  They were hidden in the thick undergrowth near a large clearing of the Tedian forest, which covered much of the land in the north of Valinor.  From their vantage point, they would have been able to see the ten patrol soldiers talking together, all dressed in the same brown and green of the Royal Household of King Thranduil.  These patrol soldiers were a normal sight in the forest, which was part of the Kingdom of the Wood-Elves.  As the Wood-Elves had once dwelt in Eryn Lasgalen, the greatest of all the forests of Middle Earth, they had established their new abode in the greatest forest of Valinor.  But instead of watching the soldiers, the three Elves had their eyes tightly shut, their faces drawn in concentration, their bodies completely motionless.  On closer inspection it was unclear if the three were in fact Elves.  They appeared to have Elven features and grace but their ears were delicately rounded at the tips.  It was also strange that they would refrain from taking advantage of their Elven eyesight, if they were indeed of that Kind, in this obvious attempt to escape detection. 

The eldest of the three was a young Elf-woman; her dark brown hair tightly braided down her back, skin pale in the gleaming moonlight.  The second was younger than her, male, his hands and face still chubby with childhood.  The third was another female Elf, younger still than the second.  Her eyes were shut, as she had been instructed to do so, but with childlike impatience, she opened them, peeking around quickly.  Her eyes quickly focused on the clearing, shimmering under the stars of Varda Eléntari, where the group of soldiers had congregated, their faces tense and deadly, their shoulders broad.  The young Elf noted all this, as her eyes grew wide in shock and fear.  She couldn't help herself.  The small, involuntary gasp escaped from her lips before she could even think.  Beside her, her brother's head whipped round in an echo of those of the guards'.  Ten solid, intimidating soldiers immediately began to run in their direction, swords drawn.  The first Elf whispered urgently to the younger two and all three began wriggling backwards, deeper into the undergrowth.  The elder Elf again closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of the ten threatening guards who were there for the sole purpose of trying to search her and her siblings out.  Beside her, a twig snapped and she flipped over on to her back, pushing the other two Elves under a thicket.  An Elf towered above her, bow and arrow aimed directly at her heart, his stance controlled and menacing.  He did not move; his body seemingly carved out of marble as he stared at his prisoner.

"Young Elf, you are trespassing.  What is your business in the Oropher, realm of the Wood-Elves?  Speak now for your life is in great peril."

The young Elf woman could feel her whole body trembling in terror.  It was no wonder her kin had always stayed well away from this strange Elf-kind.  Would they slay her here, in the forest, in the dead of night with none but the stars to witness their barbarity?

Her voice trembling, she answered, "Please I bring no evil here, sir.  I come on business.  I carry a message for the King of this Realm."

The Elf's stance relaxed somewhat but still he kept his arrow trained directly at her, "You are an Elf-woman.  Why are you out here in this forest where danger lurks at every turn?"

She looked back at him, unflinching, as his bow glinted in the moonlight, "I must see the King.  I am on urgent business and I cannot divulge my reasons for being here to any but him," she replied, trying to keep her voice calm and her will strong. 

He lowered his arrow as two of his kinsmen approached. 

"What is your will, my Lord?" one of them asked, respectfully.

The Elf turned to his captive once again, "We will escort you back to the Palace where you will explain yourself.  We cannot have strangers wondering through our territory, unknown and unchecked."  He turned, "And bring your two companions with you.  They will not last long out here on their own," he threw over his shoulder, as he walked away.

On the ground, the young she-Elf blinked.  They were prisoners?  She closed her eyes.  *Oh Earendur, faithful King of the Spirit Elves, now residing in Mandos, help me find the way*, she prayed.

One of the guards came to stand in front of her, demanding her attention, "What is your name?" he asked gruffly.

She answered quietly, "I am Eladrien, daughter of Aladwen."

He pointed towards the bush where her brother and sister were unsuccessfully trying to hide, "Get them out."

Eladrien called to their minds, 'We have been found out.  Come to me'

Like two faithful puppies, they emerged slowly from the bush, their eyes wide and fearful.

'Take your sister's hand, Enier.  Walk over to me, but do not run.  Do not cause alarm.'

Enier grasped Alare's hand and Eladrien's heart constricted when she saw the brave smile he gave his little sister in order to alleviate her troubled mind.  They walked slowly over to her and Eladrien gave them both a brief but fierce hug.  They were nearly all she had left in the world except for-…but here she stopped, as much for herself as for her siblings who would sense on whom her mind was focusing. 

She gave her baby sister a kiss on the cheek, 'You have been brave today, little one and I am so proud of you.  You must keep being brave for a little longer but I promise you that all will be well.  I will not let anything happen to either of you.'  She looked at Enier, including him in her thoughts.  He smiled to show her he was not afraid of the huge Elven guards and their shiny weapons.

"We are moving on.  You will follow behind me."  The guard motioned to Eladrien who took a small hand in each of her own and followed him.

She strained her eyes to see what was going on in front of them and, for once, regretted that her Kin had lost the famed Elven eyesight.  All she could see were the guards from earlier, walking briskly and in an orderly fashion.  Glancing back, she saw the rest were behind, guarding the rear of their little group.

This had not turned out quite as Eladrien had imagined.  In fact, it could not really get any worse.  Being taken to the Palace under armed escort would no doubt hinder her prospects of seeing the King.  She cursed the utter hopelessness of their situation.  'Why, Mother?  What was the point of all this suffering, if it achieves nothing?'  Enier and Alare looked up in alarm at their sister's uncharacteristic outburst and with an effort, she calmed herself.  There was no point in trying to speak to her mother for she had been taken back into the darkness and could not be reached.  Until Eladrien's job here was done, her mother was lost to her.  This steeled her determination again.  *Take what it will; I will see Thranduil, King of the Oropher.  No matter how many armed Elves are sent my way, I will do this.  I will*, she vowed.

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Okay, first chapter down *wipes sweat from brow*.  I'd love to hear what you think of it so far, be it good or bad…so please review if you're reading this far!  Hmm, my italics don't seem to work when I upload so…I've had to put " " marks for proper speech and ' ' marks for thought speech between the Spirit Elves…but I'm not sure this is obvious or is going to work…if not please lemme know if you review and I'll change it.

Thanks, Amelie xx