Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters you recognize, they belong to Tolkien, I am only borrowing them for a little while. I promise to bring them back in the same condition as I found them, maybe with a little wear and tear

"means elvish"

A/N I am soo sorry for the slowness of this update. I have been having lots of trouble with my asthma, and actually had to hospitalized for a week because I stopped breathing once. Scared me and my kids. Anyways, there is one more chapter after this one and I have it mostly written. So I should have it up soon.

Thanks to Griz for reminding me that there are some people that are reading this and are waiting for updates. big hugs

Thanks also to Dee69 for keeping up with Tithen Dulin as well.

Big hugs to you both

Now on with the story.

Please R/R

Chapter 3

Tithen watched the largest of the draugs separate from the pack and move cautiously towards the mother draug. He appeared to be the alpha of the pack. He nuzzled her and woofed softly at the young pup at her side. The pup licked the muzzle of the older draug as if to say that she was alright. He looked up at the child standing still behind his mate and pup. He gently nudged the two of them to the side and warily approached the frightened child.

Tithen held her breath as the draug softly padded to her side. Trying not to show her fear, she slowly held her hand out for him to smell, she waited silently as the draug carefully sniffed her, keeping his eyes locked with hers. He seemed to be satisfied with what he discovered and started to turn back to his mate. He lifted his head and looked sharply towards the garden gate that Tithen had come through. He evidently heard something that was too soft for Tithen's human ears to pick up. With one last look at the mother and baby, the large beast reluctantly led the rest of the pack off.

Tithen realized that the leader must have heard elves coming and had left hoping to get them to follow him away from his little family. Quickly, but careful so as not to frighten her, Tithen knelt in front of the momma trying to coax her further into the forest. "Come, they will not understand and may try and hurt you." The wounded creature slowly forced herself to her feet. Woofing softly to the youngster next to her, she slowly moved to follow the little girl.

Legolas lead the group of elves to the gate hidden in the bushes. "She definitely came this way." Legolas pointed to the small footprints that were too small to be made by any elf. He hurried out of the gate, his heart in his throat. Thranduil was only a step behind. At first they could see nothing and Legolas released the breath that he had been holding. No sign of Tithen, but also no sign of the draugs either.

"Ahh, no!"

At Thranduil's gasp, Legolas turned back to look at his father. Seeing dread in his father's eyes, Legolas hesitantly followed his father's gaze. Legolas could not hold back his own gasp of fear. Heading back away from the wall was the pack of draug amarth. "Where is she?" Frantically they both scanned the area for Tithen, both fearing the worst.

"My lords, here."

Thranduil turned to look at one of the guards that were studying the trail left by the child. "She went off that way."

Anxious about what they would find, the king and his son hurried after the guard.

"TITHEN!"

Tithen turned her head towards the anxious voice, cringing when she recognized it as Legolas'. "He is going to be sooo mad at me, I will be lucky if he lefts me out of his sight for a month," she mumbled as she hurried to make a nest under the boughs of the tree. "Here, you should be safe here while you heal. I will try and come to check on you, but I am not sure I will be allowed to."

"TITHEN DULIN!"

"EEK, that's ada, I have to go." Tithen tenderly picked up the pup and kissed her softly on the head. "You watch out for your mama. Maybe, one day we will meet again." She took a second to enjoy the baby softly nuzzling her cheek, the carefully put her back with her momma. She covered the hiding area with some branches and with one last glance, Tithen hurried towards her frantic family.

TBC