Chapter 10

Two days later a funeral was held for Beriel. He was cremated, as had been the custom of the elves of Numendale, but first Thariel had taken a lock of his hair to put in her locket beside her mother's. Everyone in the village, with the exception of Jocen showed up. None came near to her except Codian, Coniel, Muria, Jilien, and Tolon, and even they kept their distance from Thariel, partly in deference to her feelings and partly in awe for they remembered her speaking of the prophecy. Thariel, however, did not remember saying anything. She knew she had spoken a curse on Jonen, but could not remember doing it. Legolas and Aragorn discussed it and they decided not to press the matter. They reasoned that she had been through so much already that it would be unfair to burden her further. They would tell Elrond when they reached Rivendell and Elrond could determine when, and if, to talk to her of it.

The funeral pyre had burned away to nothing before Legolas and Aragorn could convince Thariel to leave. They were talking to Coniel, so she used the chance to say one final prayer for her father. She had just turned away when a voice called out, "Awww…poor little elf, mourning her dead father. Now she's an orphan and all alone. I wonder if she's smart enough to know that the only reason he died was because of her." She turned around and saw Jonen and his friends standing there, laughing at her. Laughing at her pain. She gave into the anger that was inside her, and she took a step towards him. Coniel stopped Legolas and Aragorn from charging after the youth.

"Let her be. This is a battle she needs to fight for herself." Everyone else who was left cleared the area around them while staying to watch.

"You are right about one thing Jonen. My father did die because of me. He valued my life more than his own." She clutched her locket with one hand.

"You are wrong though when you say I am alone. My father and my mother will always be with me." She took another step towards him. He stood his ground, uncertainly, but his friends backed up.

"Let's talk about fathers. Or more precisely, your father. Your father is a lying, greedy, coward, who sacrificed his own village for riches, and power. I remember exactly what happened two days ago Jonen, do you? Your father has been cursed because of his actions. Of our two fates I would rather have mine, for I can be proud of my father and my heritage, whereas you all will condemn you for your father's actions," she said contemptuously. She laughed at him.

"How dare you say such things? Who do you think you are," he snarled.

"I am Thariel, daughter of Beriel, and I am an elf. For too long I gave you power over me. Now it's over. No more can you hurt me. You are nothing. I am through with you Jonen, and I am through with this village," she finished, and deliberately turned her back on him. The furious boy drew his sword and rushed towards her.

"Thariel look out, "Aragorn shouted. Thariel looked behind her. Just as Jonen started his swing, she sidestepped and stuck her foot under him. He had too much forward momentum to stop and he fell to the ground. His sword went flying. Several people in the crowd laughed. Thariel went and picked up the sword then came back to stand before him. He stood. They looked at each other without saying a word. She held out his sword to him. He glanced at it, then turned and fled the other way, followed by his friends. Legolas and Aragorn approached her. She looked up at them.

"I want to leave this place as soon as possible. There's nothing here for me," she said, sounding very much like the lost, lonely child she still was. She let the sword drop from her hands.

That afternoon Legolas and Aragorn made preparations for the return trip home. Thariel sorted through her belongings, trying to decide what to take with her. She spoke little as she worked. While in her bedroom, she paused for a moment in reflection. How different things were now than three nights ago. Then, even though she was leaving, she knew her father would still be her. She could think of him in their familiar surroundings. There was even a chance that she could come back and see him. Now however, things had changed. She knew in her heart that once she left the village she would never come back. She would never see the people she loved again. She felt the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her race through her, and she fought for control. She closed her eyes and took several breaths in and out, until she felt calmer. She opened her eyes. Her father's trick had worked again.

"Thank you Ada," she whispered, then smiled sadly and went back to work.