~*~Kiri's POV~*~ Gweldon-my father-continued, and I listened carefully and somewhat disbelievingly to his words.

"When Erniliel reached home ten minutes later, we immediately sent a host of Elves to that area. The dwarves, unfortunately, had been too quick and had disappeared into their caves. "We traveled long and hard through the caves, but after several days we gave up; there was no sign of you or the dwarves, and we didn't think that they would bother to keep you alive. Erniliel and I returned home, heartbroken, but without our second daughter, we were able to live better and easier, and get our firstborn, Liadriel, a good education and upbringing."

I looked at Gweldon, startled. "But." I started timidly. "Well, thank you for explaining all this to me, but. Didn't you say you wanted to talk to me, or was this what you meant by talk?"

Gweldon and Erniliel exchanged miserable glances, and Erniliel turned to me. "Well, you see," Erniliel said quietly. "Gwel and I have always been a pair of perfectionists, if I say so myself. Liadriel has been a perfect little daughter, never complaining, cheerful and obeying us, and we've rewarded her by bringing her up well, and oh-"

Gweldon helped her out. "You see, girl, we don't want you. You haven't been brought up well, you're probably a spoiled little brat, and besides, what would all our friends say if we suddenly took in a ragamuffin little twit!"

"Anyways," Erniliel added a little nicer, "We probably would have agreed to take you in anyway, and I convinced Gwel that we could educate you, that you were still a very young girl, and besides, it would be nice to have a playmate for Liadriel."

Gweldon spoke up. "The only major problem with all this was your hand. I might have accepted you even with all the other circumstances, but the last thing we want is a permanently maimed girl who will never be good with weapons, or writing, or sewing, or any other thing Liadriel or any other girl her age would be able to do without a problem!"

Erniliel finished. "You see, darling, we could never have taken you in. If you had been found 10 years ago, this would never had happened. I'm so sorry."

I stared at them with horror. "You mean, you're just going to throw your daughter out of your home!?! Then an idea flashed into my head. "But- how do you know that my hand is permanently maimed? I mean, yes, it was injured, but not that badly!"

Erniliel looked at me sadly. "We had several different healers come here while you were asleep, but they all agreed that it was way beyond their healing skills. They did say that Lord Elrond of Rivendell would possibly be able to heal it, but Gwel and I aren't traveling to Rivendell just because of you! If you feel there is a chance, you can go to Rivendell, but really, we don't want you here."

I turned away angrily and bitterly. 'My own parents didn't want me here. MY OWN PARENTS HAD JUST PUSHED ME OUT OF MY HOME!?!?! Now what was I supposed to do? I had been dreaming all my life that one day, I would meet my parents. Well, my dream had come true, sure enough.'

"Fine," I snapped out forcefully. "You don't want me here, I'm leaving!! But I swear, one day I will get my revenge and show you how it feels to be turned out of your own home!!"

Erniliel and Gweldon looked at each other uncertainly, but I just stomped away, back to the forest I had come from.

I thought that I heard Erniliel call out "Amin hiraiaitha, iel nin. Naamarie!" *I'm sorry, daughter. Fare well*, but then I entered the forest and all outside sounds were muffled.

I walked through the forest for about half an hour before I realized that I was walking in circles. As I tried to find that right direction, I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me. I spun around, and saw in front of me, a huge, mutated creature-an orc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Author's note: OK, before I write the next chapter, I need some help. First of all, I have no idea whatsoever on the geography between Mirkwood and Rivendell. Second, I really need to know-how would Kiri be able to take on an orc?? Or should she just like escape from it?? (Remember, she has a maimed right hand). And no, please, don't suggest that Leggy rescues her-this is not a Legomance!!! Please review!!!