Disclaimer: Okay...don't own it...*tick tock tick tock tick tock*....Still don't own it...I DON'T OWN IT AND I NEVER WILL!!!! Whew...
A/N: So thanks to everyone who reviewed!!! Anyway, give suggestions if you want stuff added in...Suggestions will always be welcome and may even be used...As always REVIEWS are excellent and much appreciated! Flames will, once again, be used to roast marshmallows...I'm so proud, I got a flame on one of my other stories! It was on "I Bring Word From Elrond of Rivendell"...I was very proud of my little ficlet! Anyway, thanks for reading and please REVIEW! Hugs and Bunnies!!!
Chapter Six: Journey
Lorel walked on and on, never stopping even as the sun set and the night grew dark. Because of her Elven heritage, her eyesight and hearing were excellent and she had no trouble seeing in the dark, except when tears blurred her vision. Days passed, Lorel walked on in a trance, numbed by grief for her mother and grandparents' deaths. She walked on, never resting and barely eating. She had just left Bree when she finally collapsed on the side of the road, exhausted. There she lay all the night.
When she woke the next morning, she was disoriented and confused until memories flooded back. Her grandparents. The creatures. Her mother being murdered. She began to weep at the memories and wept until there were no more tears. Exhausted once more, Lorel stumbled off the road, hid in some brush and slept.
At nightfall, Lorel woke and ate some of her supplies, ravenous. She managed to remember that she still had a fairly long journey ahead and stopped herself. Stretching stiff muscles, she began to walk again. This time she paced herself. For two more weeks she walked and camped until she had almost reached the end of the small forest of Trollshaws.
Bandits often camped in the forest so she tried to go swiftly and silently, praying that she could slip through unnoticed. It seemed as though she would make it until, the day before she reached the end of the wood, a small group of bandits took notice of her. Thinking a small girl, alone wouldn't be a problem, they attacked her.
They were drunk and clumsy and Lorel had been taught to defend herself well. She did not make so easy a target as the bandits had assumed she would. She wounded several of them and killed one before they decided that she wasn't worth the trouble and retreated. Lorel's defense of herself, however, did not come without a price. One bandit, quicker, less drunk and clumsy than his comrades, managed to slash her upper right arm, causing a deep wound that burned like fire.
Once the bandits were gone, Lorel stumbled along until she found a place to hide. Biting back screams of pain, Lorel tried as best she could to clean and treat the wound with her limited supplies. Thankfully, though deep, the wound was not long or very large. Once she staunched the flow of blood from the wound, she bandaged it as best she could with strips torn from her cloak. After her wound was seen to, Lorel weakly made her way again, knowing that the first place Lordirion might be, Rivendell or Imladris, was close. She staggered on until she crossed the Ford before collapsing on the other side.
The sentries, two Elves with long dark hair, floated over, weapons drawn. Fear and surprise gave Lorel a burst of strength and she lurched to her feet unsteadily, hands out to show she had no weapons drawn. Without a word, the two Elves stood on either side of her and began walking her briskly to the dwelling through the trees. They led her to a great room where a tall, dark-haired Elf stood waiting. The Elf, Elrond, seemed to already know how she had come to Rivendell and asked in the Common Speech, "Why do you violate the borders of this sanctuary, trespassing on this land?"
Lorel's jaw set stubbornly as she met his stern gaze defiantly, "I'm looking for someone," she replied quietly.
"For what reason do you search here?" he asked.
"This is one place I was told to look," Lorel answered evasively.
"You seem young for such a journey," he observed, moving to stand in front of her, "Where are your mother and father?"
Tears stung Lorel's eyes as her memory flashed to Andra's death. A single tear made its way down her cheek. Angrily she swiped at it, turning away from Elrond. Firmly but gently, he took her right arm to turn her, inadvertantly pressing her wound. She cried out, jerking away and gasping in pain. Concerned and puzzled, Elrond took her wrist and pushed back her cloak to find the blood-stained bandage. Silently motioning to one of the guards, he soon had a chair for Lorel to sit in and supplies to treat her wound. As she watched Elrond intently tending her wound, Lorel saw the question in his eyes and answered before he could ask it.
"It was bandits in the Trollshaws. Caught me by surprise. I got rid of them, but one got lucky and gave me that," Lorel murmured as Elrond finished wrapping a bandage around the wound, "Thank you."
Elrond didn't respond. His daughter, Arwen, stepped forward from the door, "You said you were looking for someone, who?" the lady asked.
Lorel bit her lip, thinking about how to answer and decided to tell them the truth in repayment for the treatment of her wound, "H-he was called Lordirion Elenion...I have a message for him."
Arwen looked surprised, "He is known here, but has not dwelt in this place for some time.." hesitantly she continued, "As my father said, you seem young for such a journey. Where are your parents?"
Lorel closed her eyes in pain for a moment then replied, "My father I have never known..." she paused and Arwen prodded, "And your mother?"
Lorel looked up at her, eyes full of pain and sorrow, "Sh-she's dead."
Both Elrond and Arwen were taken aback. Softly, Elrond murmured, "I am sorry for your loss..."
"I was there...These-these creatures burned the house. When I saw, I hid...They picked her up and ran her through for fun and let her drop like-like a piece of trash! When they'd gone, I went over...Mama was still alive..She-she told me she loved me and I had to go away and died...She had a map, he told her if she ever needed to find him to follow the marked path. She always said we'd go together someday, when I was older...I only stayed long enough to-to make sure the wolves wouldn't get her and get the things we'd stored. Then I left. I walked for a long time, until I got here..." Lorel whispered, studying her hands in her lap. For a few moments there was silence then Elrond asked, "Why have you never known your father?"
Lorel glanced up at him, "Their famlies didn't approve...Papa's family left and took him before mama realized and could tell him..."
Though Lorel didn't say that her father was Lordirion, Elrond concluded that it could be the only reason why Lorel would be searching for him.
Arwen broke the awkward silence by saying "I am called Arwen. This is my father Elrond. What is your name, young one?"
"Lorel, ma'am. Lorel Elanna, I was born and raised in Fornost," Lorel answered softly, "But I haven't got a home anymore..."
"Welcome to Rivendell, Lorel Elanna, "Elrond told her gravely.
"Thank you, sir. Elen sila lumenn omentielvoA star shines upon the hour of our meeting.," Lorel replied. Yet again, she surprised the Elf-lord and his daugher for they did not realize that she spoke their tongue. Elrond told her as much and she replied with a faint smile, "Lordirion taught mama and she taught me."
That only reinforced Elrond's deduction that Lordirion was Lorel's father, but he said nothing of it, instead telling her, "You must rest for a time so your wound may heal. Stay here and when you have regained your strength, we will provide you supplies for your journey. Also, I will send word abroad telling your name and errand-."
Lorel cut him off, distressed, "Please, no! I-I thank you, but I do not wish-please not my name, what I'm doing..."
Elrond was puzzled but Arwen understood-Lorel was Lordirion's daughter and she wanted to tell him herself without any interference-and intervened, "I understand. If you would not have your name and errand broadcast, we shall give you a token to name you friend to those with power for good." Although puzzled, Elrond trusted his daughter and agreed. Lorel looked at them relieved and said, "Thank you so much." Arwen smiled and took a ring from her finger, placing it in Lorel's hand. (A/N:Think evenstar pendant only in a ring.)
"Wear it and those with power for good will know you for a friend," Arwen told her. Lorel nodded and slipped the ring on her right-index finger. Seeing she was weary, the two let her to a room where she could rest, telling her where she could get a meal when she woke, then leaving her in peace.
A/N: Okay!!! Another chapter! Hope you liked it! Now to thank my loyal reviewers!!!
BBLLPMLover: Yes there's more. If you have suggestions, review and tell me!!!
Alina11: I have the whole story written out, but I'll maybe add more if you suggest stuff!
Merry the Psycotic Coconut: Well, you psyco coconut you...I'll update soon as I can, write more in your own!!! Hugs and bunnies!!!
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