Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Warnings: Again, mentions of child abuse. If you don't like don't read.
A/N: Woohoo another chapter! Again thank you for all of the great reviews. I have become a junkie. . lol. I just want to warn everyone right now, that the next chapter is going to be the most angsty so far. I have it written and am right now reading and rereading it to perfect it before I put it out. I have the day off work Friday so I will be able to work on it all weekend. Hopefully it will be up by late Sunday if not earlier.
CHAPTER 5: Nightmares
They reached the talan a few hours after night had set. They made the child a makeshift bed with the blankets as the night before and placed her in it. She only curled up into a little ball, staying asleep. Rúmil and Orophin were on a talan in another tree leaving Haldir and the child alone. Haldir sighed as he sat down and watched the girl. Even in her sleep her expression was guarded, as if waiting for some pain to happen. He leaned back against the tree and relaxed letting his thoughts wonder, trusting his brothers to keep watch.
A few hours passed when the girl made a soft noise. Haldir's thoughts immediately went back to her. Her face was frowning and she shifted in her sleep. She mumbled something that he could just make out.
"Master, I'm sorry." Her voice was tinged with fear. Then she tensed and curled up into a tiny ball, and started whimpering. Unsure of what to do Haldir only watched her for another second. "ALAR!" She screamed as she sat up suddenly breathing heavily. She looked around and when she saw him she tensed and immediately snapped her head down to her lap.
"Are you well?" he asked hesitantly. The girl nodded but didn't look up from her lap. A tear caught the light as it fell to her hands. "Would you like me to sing?" He saw that she looked at him sharply, her eyes questioning. She slowly looked back down to her lap but didn't answer. "Can I get you something?" Still receiving no answer Haldir sighed not sure how to treat the creature in front of him. "You are allowed to speak, you do not have to ask permission from any here." She looked at him questioningly but then looked away.
"I'm sorry I woke you." Haldir smiled, he had gotten her to talk.
"You did not wake me, elves do not need sleep as much as humans. Would you like some water?" He wanted to keep her talking.
"Yes." She answered and looked at him. This time she did not drop her gaze. She tensed as he handed her the water skin but took it from him. She took a small sip and then put it down. "Thank you." She looked up to the stars and pulled the blanket closer to her.
"Do you have a favorite?" He followed her gaze to the sky. When he looked back down and saw that she smiled.
"No, they are all my friends." She answered pulling her knees to her chin. There was a pause. "Alar likes the brightest one though. The one that looks blue." Haldir smiled sadly at the child in front of him. "He says that it is the mom of all the other stars. And it was the brightest because it was the oldest." She finished before lapsing back into silence.
"My favorite is that one." He pointed to the star that his mother had been born under. She followed his finger and then smiled slightly. She slowly laid back down watching Haldir. He looked back down and smiled at her.
"Where are we going?" she asked finally, her eyes were closing slightly though he could tell that she was trying to stay awake.
"We are going to my city."
"Are there more elves there?"
"It is a city of elves." Her eyes were closed and there was a dreamy smile on her face.
"Alar would have liked to see that." Haldir heard her breathing even out shortly after. She had fallen back asleep.
The sun was rising as Haldir and his brothers readied their gear for departure. They left the girl sleeping while they packed their equipment. When they were done Haldir went to the child with a water skin and some lembas. He quickly woke her up and she ate. The day progressed much as the first, though it seemed that the girl was not as hesitant around Haldir anymore. She still stayed three steps behind him now, but she would not drop her head when he turned. It was a few hours into the walk when she started singing quietly to herself.
What is she singing brother? asked Rúmil as he listened to her. Her voice would never match that of an elf, but the tune interested him. The child stopped and Haldir laughed.
She sings a song of three wise men from Gondor. Haldir didn't bother.
Well, what were the lyrics. Rúmil resisted rolling his eyes.
Three wise men from Gondor, went to sea in a bowl. If the bowl had been stronger, my song would have been longer. Rúmil and Orophin laughed at the song.
Indeed it would have. Orophin looked down to the girl. She looked at them curiously but didn't break her stride. Do you have any more songs? She looked to Haldir as if for translation.
"He asked if you knew anymore songs. He has taken a liking to you most recent one." Haldir turned and looked to the girl. The girl's reaction confused everyone. She stopped walking and looked like a pack of orcs were surrounding her.
"I'm sorry. I'll be quiet." Haldir frowned and stepped towards her. She actually flinched as if afraid of being hit.
What is wrong brother? Orophin was concerned and Rúmil was scanning the forest as if looking for the reason for her fear.
She thinks that we are angry with her for singing. He looked back to the girl. "Child it is okay. We like your songs," said Haldir trying to calm the girl. She opened her eyes and looked at him. There was still fear there, but not as before.
"Master always wants quiet. Do not speak unless spoken to." She replied right away as if it was the response that was required.
"None of us here are your master Zinnia." He kneeled down in front of her. "You are free here." She looked at him untrustingly.
"I'm free?" she asked slightly confused. "But, you found me. I belong to you now."
"No child. I am not your master, nor are either of my brothers." She looked at him for a moment and then looked away.
"If none of you are master then why are you taking me with you and giving me food?" He could tell that she was very confused now. "Am I to be sold to another?"
"We take you with us because we can not leave you alone in these woods. We are its guardians and as such it is our duty to take you to our Lord and Lady when you enter our borders." Haldir tried to find a simple way to explain it to the confused child..
"So I am to become theirs." Her tone was that of understanding.
"No, elves do not have slaves." She still did not understand him. He could tell by the look in her eyes. He sighed and looked to his brothers. She does not understand that none will become her master here.
Then we will just have to show her. Orophin knelt next to her and smiled. Please let me gift you with some of our songs to repay all of the gifts that you have given us. She looked at him then to Haldir. Haldir translated what he said and the girl actually blushed slightly.
"They were only songs."
"Come we must get going." They started walking again, but this time Orophin was the one singing. He sang upbeat happy songs. Most of them child rhymes and poems. Rúmil even joined in for a couple. By the end of the day they both had the girl laughing though. She had even started walking in between them, no longer shadowing Haldir. They had walked in silence for the past hour when Haldir felt a tug at his hand. He looked down and saw Zinnia.
"I need to stop." Haldir stopped walking and looked down to her and smiled slightly.
The child needs to go to the woods for a break. Rúmil and Orophin nodded and watched as Haldir took her to the woods.
I think that this child is good for Haldir. Rúmil spoke quietly knowing that his brother would not stray to far.
Yes I have never seen him smile as much in the past ten years as he has in the past few days. They quieted when the two came back and saw that the girl was actually holding his hand. When they started walking again the girl was at Haldir's side, still holding his hand.
After another hours walk they had reached the telain they would be staying in for the night. Again Haldir and Zinnia would be on one talan while Orophin and Rúmil were on the other. Haldir gave Zinnia some more food and water and almost laughed when she started to fall asleep while eating. He gently took the water and food from her and laid her down on her blankets. She quickly fell into a deep slumber. After Haldir was sure she was asleep he went to the telain with his brothers to talk.
We should reach the city by tomorrow night. Rúmil took another bite of his dinner.
Yes, and then we will find out what is to become of her. Orophin looked over at the child on the telain in the tree across from them. Haldir remained quiet during the exchange.
Well at least she will be getting a bath tomorrow. Her smell is quiet appalling. Rúmil put down the water skin. Plus we must get those cuts cleaned before too much longer.
Yes I will take her in the morning before we set out. Haldir finished his dinner before standing. I am going to rest. Rúmil and Orophin nodded and watched him go. They smiled as he leaned over and pulled the covers closer around the child before sitting down and relaxing against a tree limb. It was a few more hours before the girl got Haldir's attention again. She had started to thrash and moan as if in pain.
Run Alar!!" she screamed as she sat up quickly crying. "Run. Run run run." She was still screaming. Haldir was in front of her in an instant.
"Shhh child. You are safe now." She backed away from him and cowered into the tree. She was still crying.
"He's dead. I failed. I tried to get Alar away. I didn't mean to but. . but he found us." Her words came haltingly between tears and sobs. Haldir slowly moved closer to her. He went to put a hand on her shoulder when she jumped into his arms crying. She wrapped her arms around him and pushed her face into his chest. He stilled for a second not knowing what to do then slowly wrapped his arms around the crying child in his arms.
"Shh. . it all will be well." Haldir rocked the child until her breathing became even and calm again. He looked down and saw that she was asleep. When he went to place her down on her blanket her grip around him tightened. He tried again but the girl made a sound of protest and grabbed even harder. In the end he pulled the blanket around both of them with a sigh. The girl sighed too and burrowed deeper into his side. Haldir reached up and started stroking her hair. 'Tomorrow you are getting a bath little one.' He thought as he felt the grime and dirt under his fingertips.