Thanks for the reviews, guys! I appreciate it..and just one quick response to levanna... Krystal *is* in a huge amount of pain when she first awakes, but I specifically made sure that she was numb, and even Elrond assured her that she would soon get the feeling back after acknowledging that fact that she could not feel her legs. I made she her mind wouldn't be focused on the pain and she would be able to focus on her response to the guys.

And now, on with the story!

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Starin' at the cracks in the walls

Cuz I'm waiting for it all to come to an end

Still I curl up right under the bed

Cuz its takin' over my head all over again

Lyin' awake watchin' the sunlight

How the birds will sing as I count the rings

around my eyes

Constantly pushing the world I know aside

I don't even feel the pain, I don't even want to

try

Pink ***************************

Aragorn's smile was pleading, his eyes desperate. "Please, Krystal? The elflings would love for you to join us..." He persuaded, in a last ditch attempt to prove his case. But the girl's eyes remained fixed on shadows in the distance and she shook her head once more, her voice politely disinterested, but laced with a note of finality.

"I said no, Aragorn. Maybe some other time."

Lalaith, the little elfling holding Aragorn's hand, sat on the foot of Krystal's bed, a book clutched tightly in her hand. Her eyes sparkled and her smile was charming as she tried to coax a grin from the girl.

"Please, Lady Krystal? I know you broked yourself but it'll be fun, I promise!"

Krystal allowed a tiny smile, but her answer remained the same. "Thanks Lalaith. Maybe tomorrow."

"You said that yesterday," Lalaith reminded her shyly, her eyes big. "And the day before that."

Krystal sighed and shrugged. "I'm sorry, but I'm too tired today."

Lalaith sighed and frowned turning to Aragorn. "Well, will you read to me, Lord Aragorn?"

Aragorn glanced at Krystal once more, worry etched in every line of his face.

It had been three weeks since Krystal had first awoken in Rivendell, but her attitude remained the same. She didn't leave her room, and rarely got out of bed, preferring to be alone and just think. It drove the four boy's - Elrohir, Elladan, Estel and Legolas - crazy that this languish, solemn girl was once the free spirit that had first known, but nothing would change her. Even Elrond's words had little effect.

They had tried everything - songs, promises, laughter, and now, even the pleas of small children to get her to rejoin the land of the living. But every time, no matter the circumstance, the answer was the same: Maybe tomorrow.

But what if tomorrow never came? Aragorn thought worriedly. What if she remained like this? She would never be able to fulfill her purpose for her coming to Middle Earth. She would never be able to return home.

Aragorn had managed to block out the thought that Krystal would one day leave them and return to ' New York ' or wherever it is she was from, but now the thought hit him squarely in the gut. She wouldn't be there one day, and now she was wasting time in bed. Why?!

She knew they were sorry. Was this whole affair simply punishment? Didn't she realize she was jeopardizing her own mental health by staying confined so long?

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he turned his head to Lalaith and forced a smile. "Of course, little one. I'll read to you. Come now, let us leave Lady Krystal to her rest."

Lalaith nodded amicably and sighed, tugging Aragorn's hand and leading him out of the room. Turning over her shoulder, the well mannered little elfling called politely, "Good day, Lady Krystal. Feel better soon."

Krystal managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Lalaith."

Aragorn turned, hesitant in the doorway, his mind having an inner debate. "Can we talk later?" He asked hesitantly, afraid he would be denied. She shrugged. "Whatever," she answered impassionedly.

He opened his mouth to say something, before he nodded fleetingly and turned away. He left and walked after the skipping elfling, closing her door lightly behind him. Lalaith paused in the hallway, the book clutched tightly to her chest. "Aragorn, why are you sad?"

Lalaith's eyes regarded him calmly and Aragorn sighed, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. He had spent his days off from training with the rangers with the little elfling, ever since a few years ago, when Aragorn had been much younger. He had been returning home from his first hunting party, when he heard a shout and a cry. Lalaith, a curious elfling at an age equivalent to a human age of 4, had fallen in the Brunien. Tearing from his horse and his brothers, Estel had jumped in after her and pulled her to safety. Ever since then, the two had become playmates - Lalaith would often seek him out on her days off from her studies, and Aragorn found her extremely amusing. Now, years later, Lalaith was the human equivalent of nine, but her childlike innocence remained and often spotted things Aragorn, with his jaded view, could not see.

Aragorn forced a tight smile. "I'm sorry, Lalaith. It's just I wish Lady Krystal would come and play with us."

Lalaith took this into consideration and then nodded slowly. "I think she's scared," she confided as a tug on his hand sent them walking slowly towards the gardens again.

Aragorn cocked an amused eyebrow and smiled gently. "Oh really? And why do you think that, young one?"

Lalaith shrugged as if it were obvious. "Well," she began as if talking to a small child. *Smaller than she, that is*. "She doesn't look you in the eye much, and I saw her wince when you raised your hand." Helpfully she added, "Perhaps she just doesn't like you."

Aragorn stopped dead and stared at her. "You saw her what?"

"Don't worry," Lalaith assured him hastily, throwing him a reassuring glance. "I still like you."

Bending down to see the child in the eye, Aragorn shook his head. "No, child, that isn't what I mean. You saw her what?"

Lalaith stared confused at him. "When you raised your hand to fix your hair, I saw her flinch. I don't know why, you're hair isn't *too* messy."

Aragorn leaned his head back and shut his eyes briefly, beginning to understand. Lalaith was right - Krystal was scared. Of what, he couldn't be sure, but he knew it had something to do with her beatings in the village. When they had asked her how she had gotten her injuries, she had just shaken her head. She had definite bruises on her cheek and face that were just now beginning to heal, Aragorn reasoned, so she must have been...

The human stood up abruptly and Lalaith started in surprise. "What's the matter, Estel?" she asked confused, her voice baby-like.

Aragorn shook his head reassuringly. "Nothing to be concerned of, my friend. I just remembered something important I must talk to Lord Elladan and Prince Legolas about...do you mind if we read another day?"

Lalaith sighed and paused a moment, considering. "Promise you'll read tomorrow?"

Aragorn smiled gratefully. "I give you my word."

She nodded, resigned. "Bye, bye."

"Don't you want me to bring you home?"

She shook her head. "Can I stay in the garden please? Maybe Glorifindel will read to me."

Aragorn chuckled at the way this young elfling spoke and acted so freely among some of the most respected and feared elves to have ever lived. Bending down to share a secret with her, he smirked. "You know, I think Lord Glorifindel was in the Hall of Fire when I last saw him...looking for someone to read to."

Her eyes lit up and she charged away from him, running down the hallway, beaming excitedly. "Glorfy!" She called happily. "Glorfy!"

Aragorn watched her disappear around the corner before chuckling to himself. Then the future King straightened and shook his head, walking towards the training fields where he knew Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas were practicing their swordplay.

He arrived quickly, and watched them from the shadows for a moment, unwilling to interrupt the perfect blend of shadow, light, body, nature and steel he saw dancing before him, as Legolas and Elrohir, coached by Elladan, quickly parried each other's blows. Elladan scowled, crossing his arms, and called out to his 'pupils'. "Elrohir, your feet are not quick enough! Your hands are acting two seconds ahead of your legs because of the weight of your sword, and it's throwing you off balance for defensive blows. Legolas, you're being *too* aggressive. You're not paying enough attention to your defense - three times Elrohir had a perfect opportunity to cut your left arm off! Go it again, and this time, *pay attention*!"

With an obedient nod, Elrohir adjusted his body position and Legolas moved his left arm further into his chest, moving his right left forward, locking eyes with the darker haired elf. Aragorn stifled a smile. They may argue on other things, but each of the elves had their strengths, and they were smart enough to use all of them to their advantage. Elladan was a master swordsman, second only to Aragorn, while Elrohir and Legolas struggled a bit, preferring their knives and bows.

With a bow, the two charged at each other again, this time keeping in mind the advice Elladan had given them. Clashing steel rang through the serene clearing, as Elrohir spun quickly, his feet carrying him lightly and easily to bring his sword down heavily on Legolas's, aiming for the elven Prince's left arm. The Prince blocked the blow, and another before charging at his opponent, aiming for Elrohir's legs, but the elder elf saw the move coming and jumped lightly, the dull steel swords they used in practice missing his foot by inches.

Elladan saw his younger brother and raised a hand to stop the mock battle. "Halt, halt!" he called as Legolas jumped deftly and in midair, spun to avoid Elrohir's sharp blade as the dark haired elf charged forward. Both elves landed breathing heavily, glancing up as Aragorn entered the clearing.

"Peace, Aragorn. Why do you look so troubled? Is something amiss?" Legolas called, his face shining with tiny sweat as he sheathed his sword.

Aragorn shook his head, but beckoned them closer. "I'm sorry to disturb your training, my friends, but I have discovered - with the help of Lalaith - something rather disturbing about Lady Krystal."

Elrohir raised his eyes and Elladan frowned at the mention of Krystal. "Is there no change?" he asked despairingly, his eyes pleading. Aragorn reluctantly shook his head.

"I'm afraid not."

Elrohir sighed. "But this is not news, Aragorn. What is it you've discovered?"

"She's frightened." Aragorn announced dramatically.

Legolas raised a doubtful brow. "Of?"

Estel looked sheepish. "Well, that I'm not sure of.."

Elladan raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "We know she's scared, Estel."

"No, but she's scared of...well...us!"

Elrohir chuckled outright, and Legolas raised a hand to cover his smile. "Somehow I doubt that, Estel."

"It's true!" Aragorn insisted. "She flinched."

"She what?"

"When I raised my hand to my temple," the human explained impatiently. "She winced!"

Legolas shook his head. "That means nothing! Maybe the light got in her eyes."

But Estel persisted. "Not according to Lalaith."

"Lalaith is but a child," Elladan protested, but Aragorn interrupted him. "And? She also happens to be a female child, and will have a greater understand of Krystal then we will."

"Why don't we just ask her?" Legolas proposed, but Aragorn rolled his eyes. "Ask her if we frighten her? You can have that job."

Elrohir frowned at the group. "I think we should just let her alone.." he began but Estel sighed. "We've let her alone for some time now. All her injuries, save her broken bones, have healed, for the most part anyway. She should be able to at least get out of her room, with assistance."

"She doesn't seem to care anymore," Legolas said mildly into the awkward silence that followed. "It's like talking to an empty shell."

"She never used to be like this." Aragorn answered wearily. "Espically when we fussed over her like we do now."

Elladan nodded thoughtfully, a plan forming in his mind.

"Yes, she used to be furious. I never saw her so...spirited, as she was when she was fighting with us."

A thoughtful paused ensured as his comment fell, and one by one, every male raised his eyes to each other. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Elrohir asked quietly.

Legolas nodded slightly. "If what you're thinking involves yelling..."

"and screaming..." Aragorn added.

"And basically one irate little girl.." Elladan put in. Elrohir nodded. "Yes. That's what I'm thinking."

They all looked quickly at each other. "I'm not doing it," Aragorn said immediately. "That's much too dangerous."

Elrohir snorted. "And to think you hope to reunite a kingdom."

"Elrohir, don't start," Legolas warned but he to shook his head when eyes fell his way. "She and I have had enough spats without purposely starting one."

Elrohir frowned and glanced at his older twin. "You are the oldest, Elladan."

Elladan was still lost in thought, but rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Please, and you three call yourselves warriors! 'Tis nothing but a woman, and a vulnerable one at that. You cower like dwarves stuck up a tree!"

Legolas scowled. "Then you, O brave and Mighty Elladan, will just have to lead us!"

"Indeed I shall," Elladan shot back but glanced up warily at the palace when they stared expectantly at him.

"What, you mean now?"

-----------------------------------

Krystal gazed lazily at the shadows on the ceilings. It was sort of like cloud watching, she mused silently, trying to identify the forms the shadows turned into from the dancing of the candle light. That one looked like a monkey doing the salsa...and that one...a horse with a beret...and that one, in the far corner...sort of looked like her old principal when she got mad...

An intruding knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts, and with a frown, Krystal carefully placed the mask of impassiveness back on her face and retreated her soul deep inside herself for what seemed like the hundredth time.

She hadn't meant for it to go on this long, but it seemed once she started, she couldn't stop. Originally, she did it just to see reactions and to intensify their guilt. But now...now it had gone too far. She couldn't remember the last time she smiled for real, or the last time she had been out of bed. All she wanted, she claimed, was for them to leave her alone.

But when she was alone, she was almost as dissatisfied. Nightmares were a regular occurrence, and whenever she attempted to eat, the vile smell of the dump would rise in her nostrils and her throat would automatically close. What she really needed, she knew was someone to talk to...but she couldn't stand to see the look of pity in anyone's eyes.

So she retreated inside herself...became politely disinterested in everything and anything...and as her heart became heavier and heavier...her will to laugh and smile diminished.

"Can I come in?"

Elladan voice jolted her out of her thoughts and she shrugged emotionlessly. "Whatever," she answered tiredly as he stepped forward. Inwardly, she cured at herself. Why did she have to be so stubborn!?!

As he shut the door, she saw a quick glance of three other heads, poised to listen and as she frowned outwardly, inwardly she smiled. It appeared she had an audience.

"What now, Elladan?" She prompted in a bored voice when he glanced around the room, looking at everything except her.

He glanced one more time at his feet before latching his gaze on hers. "Krystal, can we talk?"

"What do you think we're doing?"

He felt his spirits fall a little. He hated to start a fight with her, but it was the only way he could think of to break down the wall she had carefully constructed around herself.

"I think you're being pathetic."

He could hardly believe he spoke the words, and he tore his eyes away as the comment landed. But when no angry outburst followed, he glanced warily back at her. She studied him mildly, but though she was an excellent actress, she couldn't hide the flash of annoyance skittering across her face quick enough and he felt a rush of triumphant. At least he was getting through.

"So sorry to have earned your disapproval," she drawled and he sighed, but nodded.

"You certainly have. I used to respect you."

"And now?" her voice was calm, but still retained that slight edge to it, that slight edge that reminded him so much of the Krystal he used to know, the girl who would deliberately pick fights with the Prince of Mirkwood.

"Now I rather think you've become pathetic." He answered quickly and she shrugged. "Is that your word of the day? Pathetic? I thought you had a better vocabulary than that."

Biting his lip in frustration, he unclenched his hands with conscious effort. She knew what he was doing, he decided, and was doing her best to prevent it.

"I have full string of adjectives, if you like." He answered, his voice far calmer than he felt.

She nodded slightly. "Oh, enlighten me."

"You're becoming feeble, sad, dejected, if you will, wretched, desolate, weak. And last but not least? I think you've become pitiable." He kept his tone light, as if discussing the weather, but saw his words land harshly in her ears.

"Is that your way of telling me I suck?" she snapped, but took a deep breath to control herself.

'do not do this..' a voice inside her warned carefully. 'he's trying to force you to talk about what happened...but he doesn't know...he doesn't see the nightmares...he wasn't there...'

"You have no idea what I am or what I am not," Krystal said airily after a moment. "You have no idea."

"And I never will, unless you tell me."

"Then I guess you never will." She fired, and much to her chagrin, he began to chuckle.

Elladan forced the giggle over his lips in an attempt to anger her, and from her eyes he could tell it was working. "Are you that scared?" He taunted breezily. "That scared to tell me?"

Her eyes lit with barely contained fury and her hand twitched, as if she longed to slap that silly ass grin off his face.

"I'm not scared," she hissed at him, fighting to keep her control.

"You cannot stay in here forever Krystal. I mean, really, I think your being a bit melodramatic about this whole affair - we got you back here safe and sound, didn't we?"

Slowly and deliberately, he raised his hand towards his face, and at the same time leaned over towards her. If he had wanted to, he could have smacked her, not that he would of course. He just wanted to achieve that position, so he could see if what Lalaith claimed was true. Was she truly still so afraid that she would wince no matter who raised their hand to her?

She winced, and regret and pain ran rapidly through him as he saw he curse silently at herself. She hadn't cringed intentionally, that was what drove her nuts...it was now an automatic reaction, and it scared her.

Elladan's posture softened and his gaze landed sympathetically on hers.

"Krystal, listen--"he began, but the absolute fury in her gaze stopped him short.

She wasn't sure if it was the pity in his gaze or the sound of his voice, but suddenly millions of tiny tears, all holding swords, stabbed at her eyes and instead of making her sad, it made her furious.

"How dare you," she hissed dangerously. "How dare you even..say anything like that! Elladan, just who the hell do you think you are? You say I'm being melodramatic?!"

Her voice rose to a hysterical pitch, and outside Elrohir and Aragorn exchanged glances. Legolas pressed himself closer to the door.

"How..how dare you?!" She repeated furiously again. "Melodramatic? Elladan, you have no idea what your talking about! How can you even think of saying such things when you weren't there! You didn't get slapped every time you opened your goddamn mouth, you didn't worry every five seconds that some asshole was going to rape you! You didn't almost die of damn heat exhaustion; you didn't have some lunatic give you twenty lashes across the back when you managed to escape! You don't have that..that man's friggen snicker echoing in your nightmares, you don't see his face everywhere you look! You don't wince every time someone raises their damn hand, because something inside you tells you that next time they move, that hand is going to slap you across the face! You don't know, Elladan, and you never will!"

Her voice echoed savagely throughout the courtyard of Rivendell, and several elves outside the palace, glanced up worriedly, but she took no notice. Now that she started, she wasn't going to stop.

"Krystal--" he began soothingly, but she took no notice.

"How dare you call me pathetic! You know whose pathetic, Elladan? YOU ARE! You call yourself a warrior, you..you tell me I'm your friend and then leave me there to die so you can have a comfortable ride home! You don't know what it's like, Elladan, to be lost and alone in some fricken world when guys have pointed ears and for Christ's sakes, you don't know where New York is, only to have the only four people in the entire place you trust turn and leave you!"

"Do you know what I see everything I look at you Elladan? Your back. Walking away from me. I swear to God, that's what I see. You know what else I see, no matter where I look? That physco, Worti's face, and his damn snicker right before he physically tore my flesh. And you call me melodramatic?!"

She began to shake, but as she spoke, her heart began to feel lighter. She would never admit it, of course, but suddenly, maybe, she didn't feel as oppressed as she had a second ago, but she continued on, her voice savage and rugged as she stumbled over words, but her tone was low once more.

"Spare me your pity, Elladan. I think you've given me enough already. Now get out."