Disclaimer: I dont own it.

Glorfindel sighed as the debated around him continued. Haomon had arranged a meeting out in a field near Tahads village. They had met that morning, taken a break for midday meal, and came back out again. Only the leaders of the villages and a few others were present, but there was still about thirty five men. The men were obviously having a hard time trying to decide on what action should be taken to help those whos defense was needed. It was only a few minutes before evening meal, and they would soon be leaving this meeting for the night. They needed to decide soon, for Glorfindel could not stay here for another two weeks. He had been gone from the borders of Imladris long enough.

Glorfindel sighed again and rubbed his temple. He couldnt figure out how these men had managed to arrange any kind of system at all. They were so disorderly and close minded about everything. He looked around the table again and his eyes fell on the blacksmith.

Amandil was watching the men with silent interest. Glorfindel probably guessed that he felt they were going nowhere with this also, but the other elf hadnt spoken to him since the meeting yesterday. He had thought about what may have caused this elf to shut himself off from the rest of his kin, and found that the only explanation was that the orcs had done something terrible to him. Glorfindel also knew that he and his troops would not leave the valley until he at least tried to get Amandil to come home. He had made a decision to talk to him after the meeting ended for tonight.

As if his thoughts had conjured it up, Tahad suggested that they leave the debate for another day. The rest of the men agreed, and Glorfindel left the meeting feeling as if nothing had been accomplished.

" Amandil," said Glorfindel calling out the other. The other elf turned to him with a glare. Glorfindel ignored it and continued, " I wish to speak with you, privately." He didnt wait for a reply, and instead walked a distance out in the field, knowing that the other would follow.

Glorfindel turned again, and regarded the elf before him. " I wish to know why you have not yet returned to Imladris, or at least sent word of your whereabouts." His tone was not unkind, nor was it overly curious, but more concerned.

The other elf remained quiet for so long that Glorfindel thought he wouldnt answer. " I could not return," said the other elf, " Not after what happened."

" With the orcs?" Glorfindel asked gently.

The other elf nodded and turned cold eyes upon Glorfindels face. Blue locked with dark and for a moment, they held gazes, only for the other elf to look away. ' His heart has hardened,' Glorfindel thought, ' Yet, I can see the emotion he still has.'

" Come back to Imladris," demanded Glorfindel, " If there is anywhere left in Arda for your pains to heal, than it is there."

" I cannot," the other said with so much anguish that Glorfindel thought his heart would break. " I am changed. I would not fit in with them anymore. I am too different."

" I know you wish to come back," Glorfindel stressed, " I know you wish to be home."

" I do," he whispered.

" Then come," urged Glorfindel, " Come back to where you can feel peace again."

" Thats just it. I will find no peace. So much has changed. How can I ever go back to the life I had before?"

Glorfindel remained silent. In truth, he knew that if Amandil did return, it would be difficult. The young elf would never have the comfort he did before, not after all these years.

" Life may have changed," said Glorfindel, " But you can take that change and make it into something wonderful. Everything happens for a reason. I know you have suffered, but that doesnt mean you must punish yourself more by lingering in a place you are unhappy in."

" How do you know what I am happy with?" snapped Amandil, " You have never had this pain to bear. You know not what you talk about, my lord."

For the second time since Glorfindel had seen him, the elf turned on his heels and left. Glorfindel sighed.

" You do not realize how wrong you are," he said quietly.

Margaret walked around the forest, aware that she had wandered outside the perimeter that Glorfindel had set for her. She listened to the song of the birds and relished in the soft breeze that blew by. The sun beat down on her and she stretched her small arms high, as if to ask for more of its golden rays to praise her. The smell of leaves and dirt filled her nostrils and made her even more eager to see what was beyond the boundaries of her play. Margaret began to walked faster, hoping that she would see more if she hurried. Glorfindel was not here, so she figured it was alright.

As Margaret wandered further through the forest, she felt a sense of foreboding. She felt as if something was telling her to stop walking and turn around. But she continued on anyway, brushing the feeling off. ' I am just being a baby,' she thought, ' There is nothing wrong. I am still in Imladris.'

Margaret walked and walked, taking in everything that she saw. Trees , birds, chipmunks, turtles, frogs, butterflies, and even a large deer. She looked at these things in wonder, although she had seen them before. Everything was seemingly new to her, as if she had no knowledge of it at all. Soon seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours.

' Things never would have been this beautiful in New York," Margaret thought, ' I am lucky to see this.'

Suddenly, she stopped walking, noticing that the sun no longer shone on her. Instead, a dark blue was covering its place. Pink and purple colored the sky to her left. Darkness began to creep around her. With a start, Margaret realized that it was getting late, and she had no idea where she was. She could probably find her way back in the day time, but at night, it was nearly impossible to see. The only light she would have, would be the moon.

Abruptly, she began to think of something she could do. She had been told that at night, warriors set up a shelter, and slept until daytime. Knowing that she was not going to be in her bed that evening, Margaret climbed into the nearest tree as high as she dared. It was only several feet off the ground, but she was too afraid to fall to go any farther.

' Nothing can reach me up here,' she declared as bravely as she could. She listened to the sounds of the night, which seemed much more amplified than normal, and wondered if Glorfindel would come and look for her. ' He wont,' she thought despairingly, ' Because he does not know that I am lost.'

' I am lost,' she said to herself with a shudder, ' I am lost and alone in the dark.'

A single tear slide down her cheek, but she didnt dare cry out loud. She was too frightened, too fearful, of what might happen should someone or something hear her. Her shoulders shook with uncontrollable sobs that she could not even cry. Her body trembled at the night chill that began to settle. She felt herself slip into a dream like state, and knew she was falling asleep.

'I am in a tree,' Margaret thought lazily, ' I should stay awake.'

But even as that thought crossed her mind, her body gave way to all the stress and emotion, and her eyelids drifted shut.

A/N: Oops...I m a bit late. Sorry? smiles sheepishly Well, review if you have any comments. Oh, and yes, I know, its short, but I prefer short chapters. It is easier for me to keep a clear mind on the topic if I keep it short. Update should be in about a week!

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers! If I forgot to reply to your review, let me know!

elfiehead- Thank you! Im so glad you like it. I was a little worried that this would be too much for the story and make it seem fake. You have brightened my day!

Idril Miriel- Thank you!

IwishChan- Thank you! I have a soft spot for children : p