(A/N: This chapter is just the story of Adah. Obviously John didn't listen to his wife, and continued reading it, and really that's just because I'm way too tired to add anything else, and I want to post something because I haven't for a while. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, and I really hope you are enjoying this so far. In the next Chapter Adah's going to get a bit older. Probably in her teens, so that should be interesting, and really pay attention to the conversation she has with Elrond at the end of this chapter, because there's a real turning point for both characters in this chap. O.K, read and review. Love you all and God Bless.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything of Tolkiens.

"If I close my eyes real tight, no one can see me, and if I don't say a single word, no one can hear me, and if I don't move even the tiniest inch, no one can feel me. I thought I was jumping up and down screaming wildly, but apparently not."

CHAPTER 4: Little Sprite, Little Sprite

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Adah waited impatiently for Legolas' next visit. Every morning she rose with the sun's warm call, and she'd watch long hours out her window for him; in chill wind and welcoming breezes, till her maidens had to tear her away. Every chance she got, after escaping her days watcher, she'd set out into the forest and prepare a place for him; where they could talk and play.

Months had passed since there first meeting, and just when she was beginning to doubt his return, he came riding valiantly on his white steed, and it made her think of the elven stories she'd heard before. Particularly the one about Mayella; the slave Elf, who's fairy had given her a pretty dress and made her smell like roses and the prince fell in love with her. Adah smiled from ear to ear as he dismounted his horse and turned to face her.

As his gaze caught her own, she froze inside. For the first time, fear overcame her, and she came about the possibility that he'd forgotten her. Or perhaps his first kind words to her had all been but a cruel joke. She feared, unexpectedly, that maybe he didn't want to be her friend.

But he called to her.

Immediately the fear released her, and she squealed, running directly to his open arms. He lifted her in the air, and all the surrounding elves starred in shock. He held her to his side, and received a kiss on the cheek from the tiny sprite.

Many could not move at the fairy tale site, and Elrond, standing in the distance shook his head in disapproval. Still, he knew there was nothing he could do to persuade the prince of Mirkwood to change his mind, for Legolas was a stubborn elf, and little ever directed his decisions, save his own mind.

The maiden who was responsible for Adah that day stepped forward, and smiled sheepishly at Legolas. Many a maiden set their eyes on the young prince, for he was one of the fairest elves that dwelt on Middle Earth, and none could deny it. He overlooked her expression, and she reached out to take the child. Adah clung tighter to Legolas' neck, and he told the maiden, "Rest today Odene, for Adah and I have business to attend to."

The maiden blushed at the sound of her name departing his lips, and overpowered by his presence, became too weak to refuse him. He left her standing there as he walked away with Adah. "Come my love." He whispered in her ear. "For we have dragons slay, and new lands to discover." Adah closed her eyes tight, and dreamt of the wonderful adventures that lay before them.

*** "Princess Adah, stand back and hide, for the orc draw near. I shall do all I can to protect you, for I have sworn an oath!" Legolas shouted dramatically. He scanned the open field for Adah, who was hiding among the tall grass. He spotted her long white hair, with his sharp elven eyes, and smiled. With one swoop of his knife, he pretended to kill an orc, and then turned to where Adah had been positioned and called, "Princess, the beast is slain, it is safe to come out."

No sound or face appeared from whence he saw her last, and he once again circled around looking for the child. How had she escaped him? His ears could hear many a thing, but not a sound pressed against them then, with the exception of the gentle wind that blew back his golden hair and a faint bird song in the distance.

Legolas jumped as a hand tugged on his green cape. He turned to find Adah giggling behind him. "How? ... But... how?" He stammered.

"How what?" She asked.

"Did you sneak up behind me?"

Adah laughed at Legolas' expression. "Fredgar taught me how to be invisible."

"Who's Fredgar?" He felt a sense of protectiveness cloud over him.

"He's a rabbit."

"A rabbit?" He asked laughing and picking her up.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued, "yes, he's a rabbit. He has a family. It's SO big!" She opened her arms to signify its size. Legolas pet back her hair, and kept walking as she continued. "His wife's name is Ebony, and she's really pretty. But Fredgar showed me how to walk so that no one can see me or hear me."

"You have a strong imagination young one."

"I'm not making it up." She said defiantly. "He is my friend, and he showed me how to get away from my maidens."

Legolas released an enormous laugh at this. "You know, you must be careful when you escape them. It scares them when you leave."

"No, they like it." She looked down sadly at the ground, and Legolas' pace slowed. "They don't want me."

"That's not true."

"Yes."

Legolas stopped and looked at the child thinking of the right words to say. "If you leave them, and get lost, and no one can find you, I shall be very sad."

She looked back up at him and smiled. "Would you?"

"Always and forever. It should break my heart."

They looked forward, both alike in understanding the concept of the broken heart of an elf. Adah played with her hair and Legolas began to walk again.

"Legolas?"

"Yes?"

"Would you protect me from a real orc?"

He stopped again, and looked her right in the eyes. "To the death, and anything after."

They both smiled, and she kissed him again on his cheek.

*** Night's blanket began to cover the sky when Legolas and Adah had returned. Elrond had been watching from the window of his thinking room, and when he saw them walking up into the streets of Rivendell, he rushed to meet them.

Immediately he took the child from Legolas' arms, and saying good night to the prince, carried Adah away to her chambers. Adah felt the resentment radiating off Elrond, and cried out to him, "you didn't let me say good night to Legolas."

"You needn't say good night to the prince. He has more important matters to attend to."

Adah stopped sobbing, and thought about the king's words. "No!" She screamed, stopping Elrond in his tracks. "Legolas is my friend." She kicked at Elrond, until he set her down, keeping a firm grip on her hand.

"He is not you friend." He yelled back. It was the first Elrond had ever lost his temper with the child. "Legolas is a prince, and you are dangerous to him. Do you understand what I say?"

Adah's adrenaline raised, and she felt no fear towards the king. "I understand you hate me, and you don't want me to be happy! Lego my hand!"

"Do not raise your voice to me, or presume you can tell me what to do." He bent down on his knees, took a deep breath, and calmed himself. "You are still a child," he whispered more to himself than to her. "Listen to me Adah." She bit back her tears, and tried to choke her sobs. "Listen. I do not want you to be sad here, but I have been left no choice. Do you know what happens to an elf when they are sad?"

"Their heart breaks." She said softly.

"And what then?"

She looked down to the ground not wanting to answer.

"One day, you will pass on from this earth, but Legolas will not. And he will be sad if he continues this friendship with you."

She refused to look up at him.

"Do you want Legolas to be sad?"

She felt a burning fire, and an untold rage grew inside her. For the first time, she hated Elrond, and she hated Rivendell, and a selfish need began to develop. One that could not be contained or controlled. She lifted her eyes to the king, and Elrond saw an unfamiliar blackness in them. "Legolas will be sad if you take me away from him."

The king was taken aback.

"Legolas has bound himself to me. He has promised to protect me."

"What do you know of being bound?"

"I know a lot of things." Her words became wise, and she no longer sounded like a 6-year-old girl. "You are bound to your people, and Legolas is bound to me."

The king's eyes grew wide, and he felt lost inside himself. He wanted to rid himself of the child, who no longer seemed human to him, but he knew that would not be possible.

Adah put her hands to Elrond's cheeks. Her words flowed soft, yet chilled his very soul. "He will not leave me. He cannot. And if he does, he will die." She gave him one last long stare, and then turned and skipped off to her room, singing under the stars.

When she disappeared, no sound was to be heard. Elrond was still positioned on the ground. He did not breathe, and an unnatural fear took over him. His mind raced back to all the humans he had ever known before, and all the children, but none had ever spoken to him in such a manner.

***

Back in his room, he stared at himself in his mirror. "I blame myself." He said to his reflection. "What will you do?" But he could think of nothing. He could not get rid of the child, he could not keep her from Legolas, or Legolas from her. The future looked dark to him now, and he wondered deep inside if the answer was close. But still, he saw nothing.

Elrond picked up a feather that lay on his wooden table, and rubbed it to his face. The softness comforted him, and he relished in the moment, letting his thoughts sooth, and letting graciousness sweep inside of him. He sang softly to himself, and tried to remember the troubles of old. Perhaps there his answer lye.

He thought of the look Adah had given him, and once again he felt himself chill, despite the warm air of the night. Something was happening inside her and he could sense it. He felt it had been of his own fault, letting the child grow up so alone, but still there was so much anger in her tone for a 6-year-old.

He put down the feather, losing any peace he had felt the moment before, and let his mind wander through desolate wastelands and toil. He had to come to a decision. Lives lay in his hand, and his friendship with Thranduil was also put at stake.

Still, he could not help but hear the child's warning in his ears. Had Legolas truly bound himself to her? He didn't doubt it, fully comprehending his young and innocent nature. Taking Adah away from him would possibly kill him, or change him. But then there was Adah's death. The alternatives weighed heavy on his heart, and he knew not what to do.

He bent down to his knees and prayed silently. When finished, he strayed to the window, and peered up at the stars. They shown brightly, and the moon glowed upon his pale face. The stars reflected in his eyes, and he searched for wisdom of the ages, but the heavens were silent that night.

He held his hand to his heart, and thought of his own daughter. He put her in Adah's situation, and tried to imagine watching Arwen living life and alone and unhappy.

She didn't have many friends. She mostly hid herself in the little room and porch area he had given to her for her own private thoughts. Though sometimes she would stroll with a maiden or two following behind her.

Then, Elrond began to realize that his daughter really did appear to be alone. He couldn't fathom why. And soon after his thoughts came back to poor Adah. The child did need a friend. Elrond knew he could never be that companion to her, and neither would anyone else in his kingdom.

When twilight arose, he came to the decision he would not mess with Legolas and Adah, and he would let prince learn in his own way this unfortunate lesson.

He finally laid himself down to rest, but did not receive much sleep, and soon, the sun was shining warmly and brightly through the room, kicking him out into the open air. He breathed in a new day, and somewhere in that breath, dust flew in, and dried at his lungs. He coughed, and then made his way down hall to speak with his council.

***

The day was hot, and tension was high, and Adah sat in the fields making songs of princes and flower crowns. She sat alone; No maiden, no animal, not even the breeze stood in her company, for none would dare. In the night she had become a stranger, and with the exception of Legolas, was more alone now, than she had ever been in her entire being.

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