I don't own LOTR!
Secret Hurts
Chapter2
"Ow," the girl woke up with birds chirping in her ear. Far off, she heard singing. Slowly getting to her feet, she held her head still until the pain subsided. Curiously, there was no tree anywhere within four feet of her. She was apparently in a small thicket, in a forest, and she had the sinking feeling that she wasn't dead. The melodious voice continued to sing, and out of pure curiosity, the girl decided to find who was singing and ask them for help and directions… that is, if they didn't look like an insane criminal.
The girl burrowed her way through the tall grass and bushes that surrounded the thicket to be confronted with a very shocking sight! It was a very tall boy, and he was singing to the trees! The girl let out a startled gasp. The boy turned around quickly, and stopped his song.
He frowned as he walked towards the girl, "Len, esse hi men na Imladris (Maiden, in this direction is Rivendale)."
"Um, excuse me?" the girl stares at the boy oddly.
"Ah, you speak Westron," the boy smiled.
"No, I'm speaking in English," the girl frowned as she crossed her arms. "Excuse me, but do you know where I am? I seem to be lost."
"You are in the forest near the outskirts of Rivendale," the boy grinned. "Please follow me, Lady."
The boy began to head off, and the girl could do not but sigh and follow after the strange boy. Her feet making little noise as they walked, she struck up a bit of her courage to tell him her name, "I'm Aldalóme."
"I am Elrohir." The boy frowned as he decided to speak his mind, "Your name is Elvish."
"My parents were a bit obsessed about J.R.R. Tolkien's work. They bought a book on Elvish names and that's how I got my name," Aldalóme sighed. "I never did find out what it meant."
"It means Tree-shadow," Elrohir frowned. Something troubles her… He quickly smiled as the neared the gates of Rivendale, "Welcome to Rivendale, Lady Aldalóme."
"Wow," Aldalóme gasped in shock.
"Follow me, please," Elrohir grinned at her obvious marvel with his home.
"We're going there?" Aldalóme gasped in surprise.
"This is Rivendale, one of the many houses of the elven kind," Elrohir smiled politely, hiding a chuckle.
"Elves?" Aldalóme frowned in suspicion. Elrohir stopped and turned to face her questioningly, as she brought her hand up to push her hair behind her ear, "But… elves do not exist. It's a common know factor and… Oh bloody hell!" Aldalóme gasped in shock and horror as she felt her ears.
"Are you alright Lady Aldalóme?" Elrohir asked worriedly.
"I'm gonna pinch myself and wake up in the hospital with multiple injuries from that tree and tornado, and then I'll go and visit the graves…" Aldalóme began to rant, but she pinched herself painfully on her arm. "Okay, I guess that means I died…" Aldalóme frowned in deep thought, not noticing Elrohir's facial expression of surprise.
"Lady Aldalóme, we must move on," Elrohir told the elven maiden nervously. "The first people that we shall speak to are my Lord father and Lord Glorfindel."
"Do you think they can explain to me why the heck I'm talking to Elves, and when I was just another human a few moments ago and now, suddenly, I'm an elf?"
"It is possible that they may know the answers to your questions," Elrohir frowned. "You say you were mortal a few moments ago?"
"Yeah, I was just sitting in a tree, thinking about…" Aldalóme stopped herself from saying any more, not wishing to place her burden on the shoulders of anyone but herself. "I was just sitting and thinking when a storm came up. Lightning hit the tree I was in and it fell on me."
"It must have been by the grace of the Valar, that you lived, then," Elrohir nodded with certainty.
"I was crushed by the tree," Aldalóme frowned at her elven guide. "I know I was crushed by that tree and I think I may have died… But if I died, then why am I not with them?"
"Who do you speak of, Lady?" Elrohir asked curiously.
"Don't worry about it Elrohir, it's in the past," Aldalóme sighed as she continued to follow the elf up to the gates of Rivendale.
"Lady, if it troubles you so… why do you not tell others to relieve the burden from your shoulders?" Elrohir frowned.
"I do not wish to give my burden to those who should never have to bear such," Aldalóme sighed. "Please, I do not wish to speak of this anymore."
"As you wish, my lady," Elrohir furrowed his brow, but made sure to nod to his father and Lord Glorfindel as they had entered Imladris.
"Elrohir, who is this fair elleth?" Elrond questioned his son.
"Lord Elrond, my name is Aldalóme. I have come to you for you are known for your honesty and your guidance," Aldalóme paused and waited as she watched Elrond's startlement at her introducing herself; something that was not common in this time, day, and age. "I seek your knowledge and advice, as well as that of Lord Glorfindel. Lord Elrohir was courteous enough to help me while I was confused in the woods and has guided me to your house in hope that you might be able to assist me with answers to my questions."
Elrohir was shocked that this girl could speak in so stately a manner that she had rendered both his father and Lord Glorfindel speechless with her serious words and truthful gaze, "Adar, len engwa?" (Father, be thou sickly?)
"No," Elrond shot his son a look that was clearly a warning that he was treading on thin ice. "You seek both Lord Glorfindel's help and mine. We shall assist you; however, we do not hold all answers."
"That is more than I could have possibly asked, Lord," Aldalóme curtsied and lowered her head respectfully to Lord Elrond Peredhil and Lord Glorfindel of Gondolin.
"Elrohir, you shall escort the Lady Aldalóme to a room where she can rest before the banquet," Lord Elrond turned his gaze to his son, and then back to Aldalóme. "Lord Glorfindel and I will hear of your questions tomorrow."
"Thank you, Lord Elrond," Aldalóme curtsied again. "Lord Glorfindel."
Elrohir chuckled as he led Aldalóme down to an empty room, "I have never seen my father so startled by a mere elleth!"
"Elrohir," Aldalóme began to scold him, but a shadow leapt at Elrohir. Aldalóme tugged Elrohir out of the way, only to find the mirror image of the elf on the ground.
"Elladan! How good it is to see you, brother!" Elrohir laughed at the site of his brother's indignant and shocked face.
Aldalóme twitched as he claimed Elladan to be his sibling, her mind began to look to fond memories of her own sister, but Elladan, fortunately, stopped her from reminiscing, "Who is this lovely new elleth on your arm, dear brother?"
"This is lady…" Elrohir began, but felt her step on his toes. He yelped in astonishment.
"I am standing right here, and I can introduce myself. I am Aldalóme, and could the both of you please not call me a lady? I don't feel like one, and I certainly have never acted like one."
"Well, that's a pleasant relief!" Elladan grinned roguishly. "So, where are you taking this fine elleth to?"
Elladan yelped as his toes were stepped on, "I don't like meaningless flattery, either," Aldalóme frowned at the hopping elf.
"I am taking Aldalóme to her rooms…" Elrohir backed away from Aldalóme, "Please do not step on my foot again."
"I won't if you stop acting like I'm not standing right next to you when you are talking. And please refrain from calling me a 'lady' or giving me meaningless flattery," Aldalóme bit her lip in amusement.
"I think we can live with those terms," Elrohir smiled.
"And so can our feet!" Elladan winced as he placed his foot gently back on the ground. Elrohir finally showed Aldalóme to her room, but as the twins came down a hall, they spotted their sister.
"You two are such big babies!" Arwen laughed at her two brothers.
"But sister dear, we had our toes stepped on by an elleth!" Elladan pouted and Elrohir put on an innocent look.
"Grow up," Arwen continued to laugh. "I'm sure you two deserved it!"
"She just didn't wish to be called a lady, ignored, or receive our flattery…" Elrohir pouted.
"Good! I hope to speak with this difficult elleth, later," Arwen grinned and left her two brothers pouting for all that they were worth.