Disclaimer: I do NOT own "Lord of the Rings" or anything of its characters. If I did, I wouldn't be here writing this. I'd be living in a hundred-million dollar home while relaxing in a warm pool and drinking a Dr. Pepper with a pretty umbrella in the glass.

Chapter 7: Giving What You Can

Samantha stood by as she watched Glorfindel and Elrond talk. Their voices were hushed but the discussion sounded so serious that Samantha did not even wish to know what they were saying. The twins currently stood beside her, staring out over Imladris while also speaking quietly to themselves. Samantha whimpered when she heard a particular horrifying screech in the distance. It saddened her to know that such a lovely and beautiful place would be in danger. The twin who was closest to her, who she realized was Elrohir because he didn't have the bruise on his head, turned to look at her and on his face were signs that he clearly felt the same way about everything that was happening.

The foul stench of wood burning filled the air and a thick and choking smoke floated above the valleys of Imladris. The dark and cold night felt like it would never end, and Samantha could tell because of where the moon was positioned in the sky that it was only around midnight. This would be a very long night indeed.

A commanding voice came from behind them. The three of them turned and faced Glorfindel who was no longer talking to Elrond. He eyed Elladan and Elrohir before barking out another command. The twins nodded and began walking away, but not before Elrond placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Samantha watched, puzzled, but came to the conclusion that they had some sort of relationship with each other. They certainly looked alike but Samantha could not place their relation. She shrugged this off, however, when the twins continued walking away along with everyone else with the exception of Elrond. Even if she did not know any of them very well, it terrified her to know that she may not see any of them ever again.

"Samantha," Elrond's voice broke her thoughts. She faced him. "Tolo hi." Samantha understood that he was telling her to come with him and mutely she took his offered arm. With one last look over her shoulder at the fires burning off in the distance and soldiers assembling, she walked back inside.

Elrond led her into a small sitting room which held several more books, a large desk that had papers neatly organized on it, and four red, velvet chairs. He closed the door behind him and motioned for to sit down. Samantha did as she was told and watched him take another seat on the other side of the desk. A comfortable silence filled the room and it came to Samantha's attention that she had never personally talked or been alone with the elf. He had always been off talking with someone else or he couldn't be found. But the circumstances that she was under now hardly made it a joyous occasion.

Elrond eyed her carefully and when her eyes met his, his suspicions were proven true: she was frightened. He could read it in her eyes. Of course he could relate, being terrified about the fate of everyone, but she was knew here, didn't speak their language, and thus no one would be able to truly comfort her. He sympathized for Samantha, but there was nothing anyone could do. Elrond watched as she surveyed the room with her blue eyes, trying to take in her new surroundings. Yes, she was very frightened.

"Hebo estel," he said, knowing that she didn't understand him. Samantha looked at him before lowering her eyes.

"I'm scared," she whispered to herself, knowing that she had to get it out in the open even if he had no idea what she was saying. She opened her mouth to say something again but a knock on the door stopped her. Elrond said something and in walked yet another beautiful elven maiden. She glided over to Elrond and set down a tray she had in her hands. Elrond spoke yet again and the maiden smiled and nodded before leaving the room just as quickly as she had entered.

Samantha's eyes wondered back over to Elrond and smiled slightly as he offered her a small glass of water. She thanked him in elvish, smiling even wider as he replied. Together they sipped from their glasses in silence, pondering on what the future would bring.

It was around noon when the bell went off again. Samantha's eyes widened in horror as she rushed back down to the balcony. Elrond, she noted, was already there, staring down at the ground beneath them. Samantha followed his gaze and noticed the elven soldiers riding back into the courtyard. There were fewer than had left but Samantha knew that it had been likely to turn out that way. Elves held on to other elves in front of them who appeared to be injured. Elrond glanced at her before leaving without a word. Confused, she stared after him and seconds later she saw his form walking towards the soldiers down on the ground. Samantha listened to the orders he was giving out as well as the groans of pain as elves were hauled off the horses and inside.

Samantha resisted the urge to cry at the loss of life. It was upsetting to her, as it would be to anyone. But this hit her particularly hard. She had never imagined death while here in a peaceful city and she came to realize that even life here wasn't as perfect as she had assumed it to be.

Making a quick decision, Samantha ran in the direction she had seen Elrond leave in. She suddenly had the urge to help in any way she could, even if all she could do was watch over people. After all, wasn't Imladris now her home as well? Everyone had been so considerate towards her and the least she could do was help others in any possible way.

Samantha came to a hall way she had never seen before but she instinctively followed Elrond's commanding voice that could be heard. She continued walking in that direction until she came upon the sight of seeing the elven lord. She jogged over to him and peered at what he was currently staring at. Samantha's breath caught in her throat, however, when she saw some of the elves carrying one of the twins on a stretcher.

Blood was smeared over his face from a deep gash that was on the side of his head. His right leg seemed to twist at an odd angle that Samantha was sure she had never seen before. He was groaning in pain and along with the cries of other elves, it was the worst sound she had even heard. To see such beautiful people, both inside and out, was hard on her and she wished it would stop, but it didn't. She took another long look at the wound on his head and she had to cover her mouth to suppress a cry of her own. How she hated blood and the sight of other people's wounds made her sick. Nonetheless, Samantha knew she was going to have to deal with it.

The other twin, she suddenly noticed, was walking beside the stretcher, holding his brother's hand while whispering to him. He suddenly glanced up and met Samantha's eyes. Unshed tears glistened in his eyes and Samantha's heart broke into even smaller pieces. Looking away, Samantha watched as Elrond followed the other elves. Samantha walked behind him quietly, yet very concerned, and she was led to the healing house where she had first woken up.

The thought of her being in the same place where she had woken up made her think of what she had left behind. Her mother, her father, her friends, she even missed Mr. Squire's annoying smiling face. Before she could dwell on the subject even longer, however, she pushed those thoughts aside. That was what had been and she knew there was no going back. This was now and she needed to focus on helping others as they had helped her.

For the first few moments, Samantha stood awkwardly off to the side, watching the healers bustle around. It was complete chaos, but Samantha knew that this had probably happened in the past. Nonetheless, healers were running everywhere, from one patient to the next, and elves that were uninjured were standing next to someone else's bed making the wide, spacious room look crowded.

Samantha turned her head and noticed that Sidhiel was now in the room as well. She ran around, just like the other elves, tending to anyone she could. When Sidhiel turned to get something, she noticed Samantha. Sidhiel immediately walked over to the younger girl, grabbed her arm, and began pulling her further into the room. Samantha didn't struggle but when Sidhiel reached down and grasped a bowl full of water and a white rag, Samantha knew something was up. Sidhiel placed the two things into her hands before pointing over at the wounded twin. Samantha began to shake her head but stopped when she realized that because the injured twin's wounds were not as bad as some of the others, he would most likely not be tended to until later. Samantha's eyes surveyed the room and she came to the conclusion that there also were not enough healers.

Sighing, Samantha nervously walked over to the twin. She tried to stop the shaking of her hands by telling herself that this was why she had come in the first place; to help. But the closer and closer she got, Samantha feared hurting him even more or becoming too disgusted at the sight of blood. When she was finally by their bed, she gently sat down next to the wounded soldier. His eyes were closed tightly and bleeding appeared to have stopped. Nonetheless, she was slightly scared.

Because Samantha had never done anything like this before and because she wasn't trained in the field of healing, she at first didn't know what to do. But realization quickly came to her as she gazed down at the white rag and bowl of water. She lightly placed the rag in the water before timidly putting the rag over his gash. A slight hiss of pain came from the dark-haired elf, but he quieted and bit his lip to keep from crying out.

"Goheno nin," she said softly, actually knowing that the words meant "Forgive me" and how to say them. As she glanced down, she saw the elf smile ever so slightly. He whispered something in return but Samantha didn't respond, not knowing how to partly because she didn't know what he was saying. Instead, she hushed him and proceeded with her work. Samantha continued to pat the rag on his angry looking cut until she remembered that he had also hurt his leg. Frowning, she quickly looked at it before shuddering and facing the soldier once again.

A sudden hand on her shoulder caused Samantha to jump. She turned around and found herself looking into the eyes of the other twin. Dirt was on his face and he looked considerably tired yet there he stood, trying to watch over his brother. Samantha had never had any siblings so she had never known the love and dedication that two siblings could share. However, Samantha could see all the pain written clearly in his eyes for his brother, who was also having his own share of pain.

Samantha went to stand up so he could sit next to his brother, but he quickly placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her from moving. He then gave her a new bowl full of clear and clean water and it was then that Samantha saw that her own water in the bowl was a deep red. Samantha thanked him in his language and he nodded before putting the bowl somewhere else and walking to the other side of the bed. Samantha found herself glancing between the two of them, wondering if she would ever be able to tell the two apart. To her it seemed unlikely.

"Estannen Elrohir," the uninjured twin suddenly spoke up. Samantha looked at him. Then he pointed to his brother. "Elladan." Samantha nodded before saying her name. So she now knew which one was hurt, but that would not help her tell the two apart in the long run. Eventually the scar would fade away and again she would be left to guessing which one was which. Sighing, Samantha turned back to her patient. It wasn't long until a healer came over and relieved her of helping him. She stood up and walked slowly away, knowing Elladan was in good hands.

Samantha was left to watch once again as the chaos settled down. She found a chair and sat down, not wanting to get in the way. It fascinated her to see how much the elves cared for one another and she found herself wishing that someone was there for her, but everyone she truly knew, and understood, was gone. And it would most likely be that way forever.

Congrats! You made it through yet another chapter of mine! I'm so happy that you took your time to read it. Thank you!

And to my reviewers:

Pop-tarts- I'm glad you liked it! I hope you'll continue reading and reviewing my story! Thanks!

Fk306- I think I'll definitely take your advice on putting your name as "Fk306"! I'm glad you think it's getting interesting, and I hope you'll think that it's getting better as it goes along. I'm just trying to take the time to add to the story by giving it good detail, and character and plot development. I hope you don't mind! Review again!

EresseElrondiel- Thanks, I didn't want to change it but I didn't want to make you mad or anything. I was just checking with you before the story went too far. I'm trying to make it different and unique, just like yours is. Thanks again.

Joy4eva- I'm happy that you reviewed again! And I hope that you'll continue to like it!

Black Spell- I'm so happy that you like it! Keep reviewing! Thanks!

TriGemini- Yeah, she now knows they're twins. I wanted her to find out a certain way because it's interesting to know a pair of identical twins. Trust me, I knew a pair and I got so confused on which one was which. I didn't like it. Anyways, the part of her dying in the other world has already happened. They're just kind of flash back as to what happened. Samantha's issues are currently happening. But after she's dead in the other world, that's when it is happening currently. Do you get it? If you don't, just say so and I'll try to explain it better.

Well, that's it! Please review!