Chapter three - Voiceless Introductions

Elrond looked over at her exasperated, and then looked down at his hands. The first sign of live he had seen, and she was refusing to go near him. He did not understand why she was so afraid of him; he had not done anything to provoke her fear. He had shown nothing to her but kindness.

The girl sat trembling in the corner, watching him with a slight mix of curiosity and fear. Elrond looked up at her; making eye contact... she jumped slightly at his intense look then went back to staring at the floor.

The Elven Lord walked over to her again, but this time sitting a little further away then he had the first time. At about two metres away, he stopped, and sat down, being careful not to startle her or to touch her in any way.

The girl looked up at him, watching his every move intently, just waiting for him to make a move and strike her, but the move never came. Instead he just sat there, watching her. It was slightly unnerving at first, but gradually she got used to him sitting so close.

Elrond opened his mouth, thought for a second then spoke to her. "My name is Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. I assure you My Lady, that I will bring no harm to you." Elrond finished, then looked at her expecting an answer.

The girl looked at him, puzzled for a second, her brow scrunched slightly, then nodded when recognition passed over her features. She sat up slightly straighter and examined his face closely.

Elrond spoke again, interrupting her as she gazed at him. "May I have your name My Lady?" he asked quizzically. Her face remained blank, as she said nothing. She instead bit her lip, and shrugged her shoulders.

"Will you not talk to me Lady", he questioned. "Surely I am not that frightening". He shot a gentle smile at her, trying to show her that he was no threat to her.

To this, she merely scrunched her features up. shrugged and half smiled at Elrond. Tentively, she took his hand, placed it palm upwards in right palm, and drew a cross on his palm.

Elrond looked at her. "You cannot speak My Lady." He said, more of a statement then a question.

She sighed and nodded in agreement.

"Well I must still know the name of the beautiful maiden sat before me." He told her. They were stuck in the same cell together, for an unknown amount of time, and he definitely needed to have some sort of elven contact, otherwise he would go insane. They would have to work something out.

She looked at him, he seemed trustworthy, he had not made any movement to hurt her so far. He was a Lord indeed as well. Lord of Rivendell. She vaguely remembered the name, from some point in her life. So on that note, she took a deep breath, looked at the floor, looked back at him again, and then began to scrawl her name in perfect elven, in the dust. "Lilithië" she paused for Elrond to read this, then shortened it to Lily.

Elrond read this and smiled at her. "Well Lady Lily, it is indeed a great pleasure to be acquainted with you".

Lilithië did not smile back, yet suddenly buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking with the sobs that wracked her body.

Elrond tilted the maidens head up, and looked into her eyes, before wrapping his arms around her, picking he up and placing them both in a more comfortable spot, still holding her close to his body, protectively. For the moment, his mind was taken off the position he was in, and how he would escape, as he comforted Lilithië, trying to make everything better for her.

Lilithië cuddled close to him, sighing and closing her eyes. At least for now she was safe, safe and warm, she felt comforted with his warm presence next to her, and she clung to him as she fell asleep in his arms.