Chapter Five
She had to leave. She could not stay. She was a threat and a danger to these elves that had been so kind to her. She had repaid them by exposing them to danger. She also angered the King of Mirkwood and increased his anger toward another. She had not thought. She had let them convince her it would be all right. She had been foolish to think it would be.
She had fled up the hall, intending to go to her room. Tears streamed down her face. When she realized that nothing within the room belonged to her, she had headed for the door to the courtyard instead. The clothes she was wearing were not even her own, but a gift from Lord Elrond.
She escaped into the dark, no destination in mind. She had but the clothes on her back, her cloak, and her bow and quiver. She needed to get away. Far away. She headed into the woods; the last fading rays of sunlight were disappearing over the mountains in the west. She began to run, dodging low limbs, not even mindful of the direction in which she was heading. She brushed past branches in her path, they reached out to snag her clothing and scratch her skin. She needed to put as much distance between her and Rivendell as possible. She feared someone would come after her. She did not know what she would do or what she would say if they did. Her mind was confused and she was frightened.
The sky was growing dark as Fin realized she was headed toward the lake. The air was cold and there was fog floating quietly above the ground. She wrapped her cloak close, feeling the dampness more than the chill, and hugged her arms round her body. Her feet were soaked and cold. She kept all her senses alert, both to thwart any danger and to ensure she was not being followed. She knew not what to do. She had to leave but was loath to.
Why? Why did I let myself believe? It was a foolish wish. And I have put them in danger. Fin was filled with shame and regret. All her life she had been content being alone because she knew nothing else. Now that she had gotten a taste of what it was like to live among others, she was distraught at having to leave it. She had never before felt despair over her situation, but it was fast creeping over her very soul.
She did not know how long she had walked. Several times during the night she had lost her way and using the moon as her guide, she had found the trail. She finally ended up at the lake. The moon, nearly full, shone it's light down and the clearing around the lake shone with the brilliance of near day time. It was so peaceful here and the realization of her predicament hit her fully. Sinking to the ground onto her knees, tears spilling from her eyes, Fin's body shook with anguished sobs. She had never felt so alone. _______________________________
When they realized her room was empty, the elves knew that Fin had fled. Though they hoped she had merely wished to be alone, Legolas knew she ran away, as she had done before, to protect them from danger. Night had fallen, and though the moon provided much light, it was not enough to track her. She would not want to be found, and Legolas knew she had enough experience in the wild to remain hidden from them. With regret in their hearts, they decided to wait until morning to search for her. Elrond posted a guard to watch for her in case she returned and he, his sons, and his guests from Rivendell retired to his study to sit or pace. It would be a long night, for none would find sleep.
She had to leave. She could not stay. She was a threat and a danger to these elves that had been so kind to her. She had repaid them by exposing them to danger. She also angered the King of Mirkwood and increased his anger toward another. She had not thought. She had let them convince her it would be all right. She had been foolish to think it would be.
She had fled up the hall, intending to go to her room. Tears streamed down her face. When she realized that nothing within the room belonged to her, she had headed for the door to the courtyard instead. The clothes she was wearing were not even her own, but a gift from Lord Elrond.
She escaped into the dark, no destination in mind. She had but the clothes on her back, her cloak, and her bow and quiver. She needed to get away. Far away. She headed into the woods; the last fading rays of sunlight were disappearing over the mountains in the west. She began to run, dodging low limbs, not even mindful of the direction in which she was heading. She brushed past branches in her path, they reached out to snag her clothing and scratch her skin. She needed to put as much distance between her and Rivendell as possible. She feared someone would come after her. She did not know what she would do or what she would say if they did. Her mind was confused and she was frightened.
The sky was growing dark as Fin realized she was headed toward the lake. The air was cold and there was fog floating quietly above the ground. She wrapped her cloak close, feeling the dampness more than the chill, and hugged her arms round her body. Her feet were soaked and cold. She kept all her senses alert, both to thwart any danger and to ensure she was not being followed. She knew not what to do. She had to leave but was loath to.
Why? Why did I let myself believe? It was a foolish wish. And I have put them in danger. Fin was filled with shame and regret. All her life she had been content being alone because she knew nothing else. Now that she had gotten a taste of what it was like to live among others, she was distraught at having to leave it. She had never before felt despair over her situation, but it was fast creeping over her very soul.
She did not know how long she had walked. Several times during the night she had lost her way and using the moon as her guide, she had found the trail. She finally ended up at the lake. The moon, nearly full, shone it's light down and the clearing around the lake shone with the brilliance of near day time. It was so peaceful here and the realization of her predicament hit her fully. Sinking to the ground onto her knees, tears spilling from her eyes, Fin's body shook with anguished sobs. She had never felt so alone. _______________________________
When they realized her room was empty, the elves knew that Fin had fled. Though they hoped she had merely wished to be alone, Legolas knew she ran away, as she had done before, to protect them from danger. Night had fallen, and though the moon provided much light, it was not enough to track her. She would not want to be found, and Legolas knew she had enough experience in the wild to remain hidden from them. With regret in their hearts, they decided to wait until morning to search for her. Elrond posted a guard to watch for her in case she returned and he, his sons, and his guests from Rivendell retired to his study to sit or pace. It would be a long night, for none would find sleep.
