"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."
-- (Anna) Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), American diplomat, writer, US First Lady

A/N: There is a warning for violence for this chapter. If you feel you may be disturbed, you may want to skip this Chapter 34.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Chapter 34

The Death of Innocence

Very strange things had been happening over the last few days and with Glorfindel and Erestor visiting in Lórien, the twins, Aragorn and Legolas off hunting and Lord Elrond closeted in his study, it fell to Anayah to handle the little things, the strange happenings that were trying to drive everybody in Imladris mad.

Earlier that morning, Anayah had heard a most disturbing shriek from Elurin, and running into the kitchen, she stopped in the doorway and stared, for the imperturbable elven butler was sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor, crying. Around him, the room was in chaos with every cupboard having been emptied, every door and every drawer having been pulled out and emptied into the middle of what was normally an extremely pristine environment. It had taken a team of six volunteers the entire morning to pick up, clean and repair the damage that had been done. Elurin's nerves were another matter entirely, for those would take longer to heal.

Now she stood in the Hall of Fire, talking to an extremely agitated house maid who was telling her that every linen closet in the guest quarters had been emptied, the linens spread up and down the long hallway.

Anayah saw her foster father walking toward her and sighed quietly, hoping that the wise Lord could shed some light on what was happening for the events of that day could not just be a coincidence.

Rahan watched the Lord of Imladris as he approached Anayah. He could sense that something was not right, for though there was determination in the Lord's step, there was a look of panic in his eyes and watching him made Rahan feel as if someone had just poured a pitcher of ice water down the neck of his tunic causing him to involuntarily shiver. Looking over to his brother, he saw the questioning look on Semoro's face and shook his head, no, for what threat could Lord Elrond possibly pose towards his foster daughter? Yet somehow, he could not get rid of the feeling of "wrongness" that had pervaded the room the moment the Noldor Lord had entered it.

He could see that the other three members of the guard had alerted to something as well, and were standing, watching their charge carefully. They knew that there was danger somewhere though they had not yet been able to determine exactly where that danger lay.

When Elrond stopped beside his foster daughter, she quickly concluded her conversation, dismissed the housemaid, then turned, smiling, toward her Lord, ready to greet him then address her concerns. She frowned when she saw the panicked look in his eyes and took a step towards him. Anayah was unprepared for what happened next as he did the last thing that any of the elves in the room would have expected him to do - he punched her in the face. His blow was delivered with all the power of his elvish strength and it was only because she, herself, was an elf that she lived beyond that first blow. Her body flew backwards over the couch behind her then, after hitting two small chairs and knocking them over, rolled into one of the large wooden pillars, causing it to shudder from the impact.

Rahan signaled the other three guards to move in immediately for, Lord of Imladris or not, he could not be allowed to harm their charge further. Elrond sensed movement and turned towards the approaching Guards and muttering words understandable only to him, he managed to produce a barrier around the Guards that prevented them from approaching any closer. Afterwards, he turned back to his target.

He strode to where the she-elf was trying to push herself to her knees and grabbing her by her braid, punched her again, this time knocking her into a large wooden table and splitting her head open. Viciously he kicked her as she tried to crawl away from him and when she crumpled to the floor, trying desperately to catch her breath, he kicked her again.

Using her braid as leverage, Elrond walked the entire length of the hall, slamming the she-elf's face and head into every pillar and table they passed seeming to enjoy the pain and distress he was inflicting. Throwing her to the floor, he kicked her viciously and repeatedly, even after she curled up into a ball, in a futile effort to protect herself. Again and again he punched her, and soon the entire length of the Hall of Fire was smeared with blood though it did not yet seem to be enough for the enraged elf.

All four Guards were heartbroken as they were forced to watch helplessly as the young elf they had grown to respect and care for, was beaten to within an inch of her immortal life.

Rahan was both enraged by the Lord and baffled by Anayah's inaction, for he could not understand why she had not yet done anything to defend herself, for she was a capable fighter with an indomitable will to survive - she could have at least tried to run. Then as if some divine presence had decided to intervene, he heard words whispered in his ears.

"Tell her to fight back. She will listen to you."

He opened his mouth to call out to her but found that whatever force had created the barrier around him, also prevented him from using his voice. Then, an idea came to him. Knowing how sensitive Anayah was to those who spoke without words, Rahan knew exactly how to reach her. He just prayed that there was something inside her still capable of listening. Staring hard at her as she continued to suffer at the hands of the Noldor Lord, he blocked out all of his own raging emotions and focused solely on the act of telepathically sending her a two-word message.

"Fight back!"

Seeing no response, he tried it again.

"Anayah, fight back! I know you can do it. I have faith in you!"

As Elrond jerked her to her feet once again and drew back his hand to deliver another blow, Anayah shoved him hard, causing him to take three steps back as did she. He stood for a moment, in surprised shock as he saw her just standing there with her head hanging down. Then taking both hands and placing them against her stomach, palms outwards, she suddenly shoved them towards her attacker. A large white ball of flame left her hands and flew towards Elrond, hitting him in the middle of his chest and causing him to fly backwards over the back of couches and into a wooden pillar where he then lay unmoving.

The four Guards were still trapped behind the magical barrier and had to watch helplessly as their charge sank slowly to her knees then toppled forward to lie still, blood pooling beneath her head.

Their attention was drawn to the big outer doors by the sounds of a horse's hooves as the animal came quickly up the stairs into the house and shortly thereafter entered the Hall of Fire. The big black stallion had come to the aid of his Lady at last and when his nudgings and snufflings went unanswered, he knelt, first his front legs, then his hindquarters, taking great care not to further harm the one he had come to help by rolling on her. He continued to nicker encouragingly and watch her.

Ever so slowly, one of her hands began to move until it found then came to rest against the massive black shoulder of the horse lying at her side. Using his long mane as a support, the wounded she-elf slowly and painfully pulled herself onto the stallion's back, crying out softly as one of her legs refused to take the pressure that she put on it. Finally, she was on the stallion who then slowly and as carefully as he could, rose to his feet, then turned and left the way he had come.

As the stallion walked by them with his now unconscious Lady on his back, the four Guards were shocked, for her entire face that they could see, was covered in blood. Moments after the big horse had left the house and had slowly and carefully descended the steps, they heard the sounds of his hooves as he left Imladris at a gallop.

Several minutes after Anayah had left the Hall, Elrond started to stir then slowly rose to his feet. Putting a hand to his head but finding no wound, he then collapsed back to his knees and stayed there for a time, trying to clear his head of the dizziness that was preventing him from standing.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of running feet which were followed soon after by an extremely agitated grey wizard as he entered the Hall at a run, pausing as he saw the carnage before him as well as the four guards, seemingly unable to move. With a wave of his hand, he released the spell and the Guards suddenly found that they could again move. As a unit they moved towards Elrond as he was attempting to regain his feet.

"Hold!" There was no disputing the authority in Gandalf's voice. "Let me handle this."

He walked over to Elrond and extended his hand to help the elf rise and was shocked when Elrond suddenly and violently shoved him backwards and onto the floor. The grey wizard quickly went way passed being angry for when he had looked the Lord of Imladris in the eyes, he had briefly caught a glimpse of what was inside the elf, the evil being with glowing red eyes. Rising to his feet and lowering his staff until it pointed at the Lord/demon, he muttered some words to himself. A sudden, blinding, white light shot out of the staff and enveloped Elrond sending him to the floor.

Gandalf raised his staff and stepped back, waiting. Slowly, a red, amorphous substance started to rise from the unconscious elf, its glowing red eyes glaring malevolently at the grey wizard, then, with a high pitched shriek, it flew through the ceiling and disappeared from Imladris.

Gandalf straightened himself then turned to the Guards, quickly telling them that he had been visiting friends in the Shire when Gwaihir had come to get him saying that he was desperately needed in Imladris. After the great eagle had dropped him off in the courtyard, he had sent him to find Elrond's sons as well as the Mirkwood Prince who were out hunting.

Saeros was shaking his head.

"That is the thing that she is trying to catch? Sweet Elbereth!"

Gandalf then looked around the Hall and paled, noticing the blood and overturned and broken furniture.

"Where is Anayah?"

"She has left Imladris, Gandalf. Lord Elrond beat her within an inch of her life then after she finally managed to stun him and he collapsed, Elias came inside the Hall and she crawled onto his back after which he galloped off."

Gandalf laid a reassuring hand on the Captain's shoulder.

"Captain Rahan, you need to make haste and find her and bring her back so that she may be cared for properly."

"I fear that she may not want to come back, especially after what has happened." He sighed. "But, for her own welfare, I will attempt to do as you request."

"You must try and convince her that Elrond is no longer a threat to her and that I have banished the demon that possessed him. It would be better if she comes back willingly, but if she is unconscious or resists, then you must do as you see fit and as your duty to her dictates. Just go quickly."

Rahan nodded then bowed his head to the wizard. Nodding to the other three, they all took off at a run.

TBC

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

COMING NEXT: Consequences: He looked down and gently stroked her hand for he could think of no other way to comfort her and help her with the fear and pain she was currently experiencing. He could not even be sure if she was even alert enough to understand what was going on and what he was trying so hard to explain - all he knew was that he had to try something.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Soccer-Bitch: Thank you for your kind review. I am glad you liked it although I was really hoping it wouldn't be too much for you to handle at this time. The message in the story about the emotion of grief was something I have had to handle, myself, over the last few years. Again I am glad that you enjoyed it. I am glad that school as well as soccer practice is going well for you and that you are enjoying it! About the story – the upcoming chapters are going to be somewhat dark so if you don't understand something – just ask and I will be glad to explain!