Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Warnings: Again, mentions of child abuse. If you don't like don't read.
CHAPTER 2: The Meeting
The girl seemed to sense something was wrong and was standing. She looked out at the woods alarmed. Haldir watched as her eyes grew bigger when she was looking in their direction. He saw her pick up a small stick lying on the ground and she held it out like a weapon. There was fear in her eyes but also a determination. Haldir, flanked by his brothers entered the clearing.
"Go away," she said hotly. She moved the stick a little as to threaten them. Haldir was taken aback by her statement.
"You have trespassed in our woods and you demand us to leave." He looked down at the girl. She actually blushed and looked ashamed. He also saw that she was absolutely filthy. There was dirt all over her, and some scratches and bruises on her arms, face and legs that were not covered by her grimy ripped dress.
"I didn't mean to." She never lowered the stick she was using as a weapon. "We will leave in the morning." Haldir raised an eyebrow at her.
"Where is the rest of your group?" The child looked at him confused.
"What group?"
"Surely someone as young as you would be here with an adult." The girl's eyes hardened.
"We are free!" The girl's tone was angry and he frowned. He had heard her say that to the other one earlier.
"You children are out here all by yourself? Where do you come from."
"No where we are going back to." She looked at him critically for a moment. "Who are you?"
"I am Haldir of Lothlórien and march warden of these woods. These are my brothers Rúmil and Orophin." He answered. "Now that you have our names, I would request yours."
"My name is Zinnia, and he's my brother Alar." Just then Alar moaned loudly.
"Your brother is hurt. Let us help." Zinnia looked at the three of them for a second then back to the figure in the blankets. It was a moment before she nodded and put the stick down. They walked over to Alar and Zinnia kneeled by his head. Rúmil kneeled next to the boy and gently pulled the blanket off. It revealed a smaller male child just as dirty as the girl. Rúmil went to lift off the boys shirt when Zia shrieked and he stopped.
"What is he doing! I thought you said you were going to help." Haldir looked at her surprised. He was standing closest to her next to Rúmil.
"My brother has to remove his shirt to look for wounds." Her anger confused him. She had agreed to let them help, he did not understand her reaction. At the noise Alar woke up.
"Zinnia!" he screamed seeing the strangers before his sister.
"I'm right here Alar." Zia leaned into his eyesight to calm him. "They are going to help. But they have to take off your shirt to see where the pain is," she said as she shot an untrusting glare at Rúmil.
"They're elves!" Rumil grinned at the excited tone of the boy's voice. "I always wanted to see an elf." Rúmil slowly reached for the boy's shirt. When the boy didn't protest the girl remained quiet. Although he noted that she watched his movements like a hawk.
Rúmil inhaled in surprise when he saw the large dark purple almost black bruise that flowed across the child's midsection. Orophin and Haldir both looked when they heard their brother's surprise. Both frowned when they saw the child's injury.
The elf looking at her brother made a sound when he saw her brother's bare chest. Zinnia frowned at that, it just confirmed her suspicions that the wound was serious. The one kneeling over her brother looked at her then said something. He was speaking in his language and she had no clue what he said.
"He asked what happened." She looked to the one called Haldir.
"Master had to punish me because I was bad." The boy frowned answering before Zinnia could.
"No, you were not. It wasn't your fault." Zinnia started petting the boy's head. Haldir looked at Orophin and saw his brothers frown. He had repeated what the little boy said. The little boy smiled and patted the girl's cheek.
"But we're free now mister elf! Free, can you believe it?" He looked up Rúmil. "Are your ears real?"
"Yes they are," said Haldir kneeling by the child's face. He smiled slightly at the boy.
"You're hair is really shinny. Like the moon. Can I touch it?" The little boy reached up and grabbed some of Haldir's hair before he could react. "It's really silky too." He said letting go. Haldir heard laughter and looked at his brother. Both were chuckling slightly. Then Rúmil's expression turned grave. He withdrew his hands and looked at Haldir. He said something and the other's faces grew serious as well. Haldir nodded his understanding and looked back down at the smiling boy. Then at the girl.
She was staring at him her eyes wide and full of unshed tears. She may not understand exactly what was said but she knew the meaning. Her brother would not last the night. She looked back down at the boy. Haldir could feel pain radiating off of her like heat from a flame. She caressed the boy's cheek.
"Don't cry sister! We're free!" said the boy happily though he started coughing. Tears started flowing down her face. Haldir stood and motioned for his brothers to give them some peace. "Are the elves leaving? I don't want them to leave. Are we going to live with them like in the story Zia?"
"Maybe, but right now you have to rest. You have to get better Alar. You can't leave okay. You can't leave." She lowered her face to the boys shoulder crying. He wrapped his arm around her neck.
"It's okay Zia. We're free. I even got to meet an elf! Don't be sad." He started coughing again. "My tummy isn't hurting as much any more." Zia only started to cry harder. "Please don't cry," he said sadly wiping tears off of Zia's cheek.
"Okay. No more crying." Zinnia sat up and wiped her tears away.
"That's better." Alar smiled and looked up to the stars. "The sky is always so pretty. I wish I could go touch a star." He coughed again.
"Maybe you will get your wish," said Zia holding his hand tightly. The little boy looked to her.
"But who would be here with you then?" The girl opened her mouth to answer but shut it quickly not having one. She felt a hand on her shoulder and some one kneeling down next to her.
"I will watch over her." The little boy smiled widely at Haldir.
"An Elf!" he said happily. "I always wanted to meet an elf. We're free you know. Free free free." The boy started coughing causing him to be unable to speak.
"Quite Alar, you need to rest. Close your eyes and sleep," said Zia softly. He looked to Haldir.
"Zia said that elves have the prettiest songs in all of middle earth. Can I hear a song mister elf?" Haldir smiled and nodded. He started singing and the boy smiled. His brothers joined in.
Zinnia couldn't understand what the lyrics were, but the song was beautiful and sad. She closed her eyes and held her brother's hand a little tighter. She felt him squeeze back then after a while slowly let go. Tears slipped down her face, but she wouldn't open her eyes. In her mind she knew that her brother lay dead next to her, but her heart told her that if she didn't look it wouldn't be true. The elves stopped their singing and she felt the elf next to her shift. They were quiet for a while, then another whose voice she hadn't heard before spoke. She still refused to open her eyes.
"Zinnia." It was Haldir's voice. She didn't move still clutching her brother's hand. He tried to get her attention but again she didn't move. He reached under her chin and pulled her face to his. Her eyes finally opened and Haldir could feel his heart constricting at the pain and confusion he saw in her eyes.
"Zinnia we have to go." She looked at him for a minute then shook her head.
"I'm staying with Alar." Haldir shifted uncomfortably. He didn't know how to deal with this.
"Alar is no longer with us Zinnia." He kept his explanation simple hoping she would understand. Zinnia just sat there holding her brother's hand numbly. "We will give him a proper burial," said Haldir trying to gently remove Alar's hand from hers. The girl seemed to shut down. When he finally separated them he nodded and his brothers came over and sat down a blanket.
They picked up Alar and sat him in it then proceeded to wrap him up. He was quickly buried and they sang another song of lament. Haldir was concerned at the girl's reaction. Or rather her non-reaction. She hadn't moved once or said anything since they had buried her brother. He went over to her and kneeled in front of her. Her gaze was fixed but her eyes vacant.
"Zinnia we are leaving now." She didn't respond at all. He looked over to Rúmil. She is not responding.
I do not have the skills to help her brother. Perhaps Lady Galadriel would. Haldir nodded and looked back to Zinnia. She still hadn't moved a muscle.
He placed his hand on her shoulder and frowned when he felt the shivers that were going through her body. He wordlessly took off his cloak and wrapped it around the child in front of him. There was still no reaction. Sighing he stood then lifted the child in his arms. After making sure she was comfortable and that his cloak wouldn't trip him, he started to walk after his brothers.
A/N: I just wanted to give a big thanks to all of my reviewers out there.