~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 7

Disclaimer- No, we don't own LOTR or anyone in it (We just wish we did). We also don't own Les Mis or the songs. We decided to add them since for the most part they fit well with the story. We did make minor changes to them to help them fit better. Don't bother suing us cause we got no money. Lisa owns Sitara Amaya, her necklace and powers. And Kellie owns Arlywren Emrys and her Gifts. By the way, Sitara means morning star in Sanskrit and Amaya means night rain. Please Read and Review: flame if you want, but flames will be sent to Mordor. Enjoy!

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Golden beams of light were already streaming in through the holes in the canopy of tress above. Musical songs and calls of waking birds and beasts pierced the calm silence of the Golden Wood. And Sitara, already dressed, was silently heading for her favorite bathing pool, one she had found during her childhood explorations many long years ago.

Last night had been an interesting one to be sure. Sitara had spent quite awhile making long explanations to the Fellowship, who had clearly been bewildered by Sitara's strange appearance. She had woken at dawn, in need of some quiet time to gather her thoughts. Not to mention the fact that, if allowed to accompany the Fellowship, she would not have the opportunity to have a proper bather for quite awhile.

Soon after, Sitara found she had reached her destination. It was as beautiful as ever. Crystalline water rippled and glittered in the morning light, its waters confined by beautifully crafted wood that was cleverly shaped into vies that twisted into one another, leaves shaped in periodically.

Sitara smiled, feeling more at ease then she had in days. Humming a joyous song under her breath, she moved closer to the pool. Undressing quickly and leaving her clothes in a pile, Sitara seated herself on the steps that lead down into the naturally warm water. Splashing the soothing water over her body and gently cleaning the wounds created by orcs and her father, Sitara was unaware of the silent observer until he was already upon her. She turned suddenly, eyes wide as a rough hand gripped her shoulder. "What, did I surprise you?" sneered an all too familiar voice of her father. "And not one friend in sight, what will you do?"

Sitara tried to pull away from him, opening her mouth to scream for help, but Feanaro held her with an iron grip, clasping a hand over her mouth to silence her screams. "None of that now, wench. We can't have any of those 'friends' of yours 'saving the day' before I'm done with you." He kicked her savagely, sending her sprawling across the clearings. Sitara groaned, trying to stand, but he was upon her in seconds, kicking her and yelling angrily, living up to his bad temper.

"Wren! Help me!" Sitara screamed through the Link she shared with her friend. Arlywren's voice replied instantly "Dove? What's going on? Where are you!" Sitara did her best to explain, but already felt panic rising in her. She could no longer resist and she shifted, calling her powers to shift into dove form. Giving a relieved coo, Sitara flew towards the canopy high above. The surprised Feanaro scuttled backwards, grabbing his bow from the spot he'd left it before the attack. Launching an arrow after his daughter, he cried "Your not getting away that easily, you good-for-nothing cur!" His cry sounded only seconds before the dove was struck by the arrow, slicing through the space between her wing and body.

A bright flash of green light blinded both dove and fathers, announcing the arrive of some being or another. That being was Arlywren Emrys. A muttered command froze the elf before he could launch another arrow skyward.

Sitara began a spiraling decent, shifting in a pale blue light to her human form. Arlywren once more cried a word of power, freezing her friends' fall and pulling Sitara's limp form to rest on the ground at her feet. Mumbling a soft word, Arlywren, Sitara and the frozen father were engulfed in the same green flash which transported them to the spot of Arlywren's choice. That spot was the council where Galadriel sat talking to Legolas and Aragorn, who were inquiring after transportation they would need for the remainder of the Fellowship's journey. Three pairs of eyes turned wide- eyed at the bright emerald flash that announced the trio's arrival.

"Greetings Lady Galadriel, I came bearing proof that you have long denied." stated the calm and solemn voice of Arlywren Emrys, who faced the Lady with fierce eyes. She motioned first to Sitara, who lay sprawled on the floor, arrow protruding from the space just below her bare shoulder, crimson blood dark in contrast to her paling skin. Already bruises darkened in places where her abuser had struck her. Both Legolas and Aragorn started noticeably at the abuse the maiden had taken and moved to her side, preparing to remove the shaft from Sitara's body. "Leave her." growled Arlywren, kneeling down and pushing the elf and man away. "I will care for her. Go and take care of....of that pathetic waste of a lifeform. Take him from my sight before I do something I may, or may not, later regret." She unfroze the archer as Aragorn and Legolas grabbed him by the arms. Galadriel, who had remained silent till now, called in a pair of guards, who entered and toted Feanaro away to the safe houses. "I must apologize to you, Arlywren Emrys, I had not known that any elf was capable of such cruelty."

Arlywren didn't reply, for she knelt by her friends side, accessing her wounds. Aragorn moved closer to the pair. "Lady Arlywren, if there is anything we could do to help, you have but to let us know." She looked up, her eyes solemn and sad. "Kneel beside her, one on either side and hold her down. For all that she is unconscious, I fear she will feel more then just a pinch when I remove this arrow."

Both man and elf did as they were told, holding the limp and abused body of Sitara Amaya with matched firm grasps. Arlywren, hands glowing emerald, took the arrow in both hands and freed it from Sitara's flesh. The sickening sound it made was covered by a bloodcurdling scream that released itself from Sitara's throat, filling the tree room with its potency.

Tossing the arrow aside, Arlywren placed her hands over the bleeding wounds. Healing powers, concealed as green light, pulsed through her hands into Sitara's body. The blood slowed and clotted, the muscles and tendons began to mend and a scab formed a protective covering over the arrow puncture. The worst bruises and cuts began to fade away as Arlywren's healing powers made their way throughout Sitara's battered body.

Sitara quieted, falling back into her unconscious guise. Arlywren took her friend from Aragorn and Legolas' hold, placing Sitara's head in her lap. "I'll need to wrap her shoulder, keep it imobile for awhile. It's always best to allow the body to finish the healing, makes it stronger." Galadriel approached the group, standing over them, her face a mask of calm. "You have done well Arlywren, but now you must return to your safe house." Arlywren caught the Lady's gaze with her own. "I will not. You can no longer hold me there. Not when Sitara needs me. I will stay with her." Arlywren wrapped her arms around her sleeping friend, glaring warningly at both man and elves like a protective mother keeping wolves from her child.

At that point, a rather confused Aragorn spoke up. "Lady Arlywren, if I may ask, who exactly are you? And how do you know Lady Sitara? Your appearance was rather sudden." The woman turned her gaze to the man, eyebrow arched "And you are?" "I am Aragorn, an this is Legolas of Mirkwood." Legolas nodded in greeting.

Arlywren glanced up at Galadriel, who nodded content. "As you already know, my name is Arlywren Emrys, close friend of Sitara Amaya." started Arlywren, her voice taking on the melodic tone of a bard beginning a story. "I came to this world by mistake many years ago. I am trapped here until I can find a way to teleport home, to my own world and time. Which is, consequently, how I managed to blow up my first room and land myself in the safe house. A spell I tried backfired." she sighed and continued "I've been staying in Lorien, under the kindness of Lady Galadriel. That's how I met Sitara. I took care of her when no one else would." Arlywren sent an angry glance at the Lady before continuing. "I protected her from that....elf....and healed her wounds. I was even starting to teach her subtle magic when she was forced to leave the Golden Wood." she finished, her voice raised and angry. Legolas opened his mouth to speak, but stopped as Sitara began to stir.

She tried to push Arlywren's hands away, mumbling softly under her breath. "Shhhh, Sitara my dearheart., Wren's here for you..." She leaned down, placing a featherlight kiss on her friend's forehead, like a mother would to comfort a child. "Shush now my Dove, you'll be all right now." With a soft sigh, Sitara rolled her head to the side and fell deeper into a land of dreams.

Arlywren smiled sadly, brushing a lock of dark blond hair from Sitara's face. "It'll be a hard night for her. Dark thoughts cloud her mind." Arlywren turned her attention back to Lady Galadriel. "If it be your will Lady, I will move Sitara to a room for the night, one of the double ones, if you please. I'll also need something with which to wrap her shoulder with."

Lady Galadriel nodded "You may have it as you wish. Aragorn, Legolas?" she asked, turning to face them "Would you accompany the Ladies to an empty room? One of my guards will lead you. We can decide on the matter of the journey in the morning." Both elf and man nodded and rose, Aragorn taking the sleeping woman into his arms, while Arlywren and Legolas took the lead.

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Later, after the two members of the Fellowship had taken their leave and Sitara's shoulder had been neatly bound, Arlywren lay down to get some needed rest. Speaking a word in an old language, she placed an invisible shield over both her bed and Sitara's. "Good night, Dove. Rest well, for my shield will protect you from both dark dreams and danger."

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A/N- How are you all liking it so far? I haven't gotten much, if any, feedback! R/R please and tell me what you think! If you have any questions or suggestions, ask! ttyl! ~*Lisel and Bean*~

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