Disclaimer: I dont own it.
Margaret carefully dragged herself along the ground. Her leg and back were still in pain, and she could not bring herself to walk. The only thing that was keeping her going was the thought of staying out late at night again.
' I need to get back home,' she thought frantically, ' I need to get home!'
She heard a sound in the bushes, but ignored it. If something was there, she didnt want to find out what it was. Margaret kept going, determined not to let anything bother her.
Suddenly, she felt a thing grab hold of her shoulders. She screamed, but realized that it was another elf when he spoke to quite her.
" Margaret?" asked the elf simply, " We have been searching for you."
She looked at the one before her, and realized it was a warrior.
" Are you hurt?" he asked.
She nodded slightly, and he picked her up. Margaret felt the pain in her back get worse, but didnt care. She was going home, at last.
Glorfindel nodded to his lieutenant as he went over the instructions to train the men, and return in a number of months.
" The five of you will stay together in this village. Make sure you keep your wits about you, for they leave the valley unguarded at the moment."
" Yes sir," said the elf.
" We will take care of them and let no harm befall them," said Tahad with a smile. The lieutenant rolled his eyes in good humor, and saluted Glorfindel. He also saluted Amandil, who was to travel with the patrol back to Imladris.
" Take care," said Haomon, " Bring Margaret to visit us sometime."
" I will, my friend," said Glorfindel with a smile, " Thank you for your kindness. I only hope to one day be able to repay you." They shook hands and Glorfindel turned to his patrol and to Amandil.
" Lets go home."
"Are you alright?" cried Sulwen when Margaret was carried through the door by the warrior.
" Let me have her," demanded Elrond, taking her from the warriors arms and bringing her to the healing wing of the house.
" Are you well? Are you hurt anywhere? What happened? Why did you take off like that?" Sulwen now stood in front of Margaret, grasping her shoulders as Elrond looked her over.
" Im sorry," sobbed Margaret, " I got lost. I hid in a tree and then I fell. I was too scared to try to come home, because it was dark. I wandered away from where Glorfindel told me, because I thought it would be ok. He isnt here after all. I didnt mean – "
" Oh Margaret," said Sulwen with a sigh. She wiped away Margarets tears with a handkerchief, and even dabbed at her own eyes.
" Margaret," said Sulwen a bit more calmly, " Rules are not set so that you cannot have fun. They are set to keep you safe, and help you grow into a good person. Rules always apply, even when the person who set them is not here to keep them enforced."
" I understand," she said with a nod. She winced as Elrond touched her back and her ankle.
" My Lord?" inquired Sulwen, " Forgive me. I do not me to be so impatient."
Elrond just smiled and waved away her apology. " I believe she has bruise her back up, and perhaps landed a bit hard on her spine, but that will all heal. As for her ankle, she has twisted it. I want her to keep in bed until I say it is healed. Understood?"
" Yes my Lord," said Sulwen," Come, Margaret, lets get you cleaned up."
A/N: Ok this chapter was replaced. Next chapter is the last one! Should be up in about a week.
Thank you to all my reviewers!