A/N: K well I finally have another chapter done. I hope you all like it. And just remember to review at the end! ( Anith.

Chapter 2

Whenever I am confronted with something new, I always view it with an open mind. Unless it attacks me in anyway, or gives me a bad feeling, I will not be hostile towards it, or anything less then polite. The way I was being treated at that moment was way below my standards.

Any attempts I had made at communication, were brushed off. Both the man and woman stayed away from me as if I would kill them at any given moment. The man was walking behind me with a arrow pointed at my neck, should I try anything, while the woman walked quite a distance in front, leading the way. I had no idea where I was or where I was being taken. I still was not sure on what had transpired earlier during the storm and I was still dreadfully worried about the others.

But even as all these things ran through my mind, I still did what I have always done, I observed. As we walked, I could only hear my own footsteps. The others were as silent as if they were walking barefoot on a carpeted floor. Now I had been taught to pass by silently, but even in a forest full of leaves, one trained in the Night Court could not go unheard. The fact that these two could, was unsettling.

Although I had learned their names. From both of them yelling at each other, I gathered that the raven haired beauty was named Karenwë and blond archer was called Legolas. I had never heard of names such as these, and I have traveled far and wide. But I had not heard them speak enough of this new language to pick it up yet. If I heard it for a longer period of time, I should have been able to say a few key phrases. But as it was, the two decided to keep silent.

We continued to make our way through the dark and beautiful forest for a time. By this point I was very hungry and very tired. Every once in a while I would lose my footing. Legolas would tighten his grip on his bow until I had gotten off of the ground. He would then wait until I started to move forward again before he relaxed his grip by a fraction. I was more then a little shaken by this point.

Just when I thought I would collapse and never get up, we came to the base of a huge rock face. Karenwë was waiting for us to arrive, she seemed to be fidgeting with a small outcropping on the wall, more then looked natural. But before I could dwell with that thought any more, a hand on my shoulder spun me around. The blond archer had put away his bow and arrows in exchange for his dagger once more. Again it found its way to my neck. He said something, I still could not understand him. But he had not even finished his sentence when a terrible scraping sound started behind me.

I jumped at the sudden noise and almost cut my own throat. He smiled at the action, while it a nerved me more then I already was. Slowly he turned me around, with the dagger still at my throat, and led me forward. Before me, lay the mouth of a cave, where once was sheer rock. That would have explained the awful noise. But how was it that it opened? That's what the girl must have been playing with, the key or something of the like. I kept this stored in the back of my mind for future reference.

Karenwë was already halfway down the tunnel by the time we entered it. As soon as we had entered, there was a loud bang and a rush of air. We were immersed into darkness. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the lack of light, not that there was much before, but I could not even see my hand in front of my face. I took that my captor on the other hand, could, for he kept leading me forwards. Thankfully there were not any lose pebbles or stones for me to trip over in my blind state.

I could hear nothing except my breathing as we made our way down into this strange place. There were no leaves scattered everywhere, so my footsteps were not heard. Legolas had already shown me that he did not make noise unless he wanted to, so I was not surprised. But he was so close to me, I should of been able to hear him breath. This did surprise me. How could he breath so quietly? It was almost as if he was holding his breath.

But my mind was thrown from its train of thought when my eyes picked up light ahead. As we came closer to the source of the light, I could start to make out a large arch, and beyond was a room, enormous in size. Once we had entered this room, I saw that it was crowded with people, all of whom had the same enhanced d'angeline beauty. At the head of the room on a platform sat a man with the same hair as the one who held me. As we passed people, I noticed that they too, had the pointed ears. But they in turn noticed my left eye. In my wake I could hear them whispering to each other.

Once we had reached the platform, I saw a striking resemblance to the man with the circlet upon his head, and the one who held me. This must be his brother. And by the looks of it, his brother seemed to be a king. I knew how to act before a king. But before I could even bow my head or give a curtsy. I was forced to my knees by Legolas. The knife was removed and I felt him leave me and walk to the front of the platform. He was replaced by four others, all whom had spears pointed at me.

As he began to speak, I strained my ear to pick up the words, only to find that he was speaking another language. This one was very strange. It sounded nothing like any other I had heard, and had a strange rhythm to it. It seemed to simply flow right from his mouth. It was absolutely beautiful. But this posed another problem for me. I now had to learn two languages in order to free myself. One of them would be easier then the other, but it would still be a lot of work.

My attention was caught when one of, the guards I assumed, pulled me up by my arm and led me forward to the king. I was again forced to my knees in front of him, but once there, I was let go. That is until I felt a hand take hold of my chin, and lift my face up. I studied the king, as he studied me. I could see many years in his eyes. Even though he looked almost identical to his brother, his eyes told me that he was much older. Much older. His face remained neutral the entire time. When he was finished, he let go of me and spoke to me.

I knew it was me he was addressing, for his eyes never left mine, but I had no idea what it was he had said. So I tried my luck to see if he knew some d'Angeline.

"Je m'éscuse, mais j'ai pas d'idée de quoi vous avez dissez."

This only seemed to amuse him. But I could tell that he did not understand a word I had spoken. I could see we were in the same situation, so to speak. I could have spoken every single language I knew, and I would have gotten the same reaction. I would have to learn their language, and I would have to do it very fast.

The king stared at me a few more moments, and then announced his verdict. Before I had a second glance at him. I was being pulled to my feet and led through a different door way then the one I had come through. This hallway was also made of stone, but there were torches on the walls to see by at least. We descended many stairs before finally coming to a very long and narrow hallway, with many doors. This reminded me too much of La Dolorosa. That is one memory I try not to remember very often.

I started to struggle against them. I would not be put in a cell. Never again would I step into one. The further they took me down the hall the more I struggled. It came to a point where one of the guards hosted me over his shoulder and then continued on. I kicked and screamed and pounded his back. I did everything I could have done to escape his grip. I would not be put into a cell. But it seemed they had won. The next thing I knew, I was thrown from his shoulder onto a stone floor. Before I could even get to my feet, the door was slammed shut. The bolt clicked into place.

I jumped onto my feet and threw myself against the door. I would not be held prisoner again. I hammered against the door until my hands bled. Finally defeated, I slumped against the wooden door and tried to forget. I sat there a long, long time. But no one came to let me out. After a time I realized that my hands were in a great deal of pain. Looking at them, I saw that they were blue where I had not broken the skin. Blood still oozed from them. I tore off the end of my dress and wrapped each one. Though this hurt quite a bit.

After I had finished wrapping each hand, I turned my attention to the room in which I was being held. As my eyes skimmed the far corner, a movement within the shadow, made my heart stop. I wasn't alone. Sitting on the floor was another. He saw that I had finally realized that he also occupied the room, and moved out from the darkness and closer to me. There was a small window in the cell which let some moon light into the room which in turn, allowed me to see him clearly. Immediately I noticed that he also had the pointed ears. His wild blond hair was in disaray, and his clothes absolutely filthy. But his gray eyes told me all that I needed to know.

He stood in front of me and offered his hand. Hesitantly I took it. I winced when he squeezed it to lift me off the ground, but soon I was on my feet, with him studying me, as I was doing the same to him. He had most likely been watching me the entire time, just without my knowing. But now I knew he existed. When he had finished with his observations. He started to pace the room. Pacing isn't what I would count as usual behavior. But who am I too judge? I did not know how long he had been locked in here for. Even though his eyes showed me he was sane, how was I to know things about him that weren't shown in them?

After he had made three laps of the room, he stopped in front of me, and spoke. "So they have stuck you in here with me have they?" I raised an eyebrow. Not really knowing what it was he had said, I also shrugged my shoulders. "Do you understand anything that I say?" This time I motioned to him I did not understand his words. His face seemed to reveal that he got my message. "So I could shout profanities at you night and day, and it would mean as much to you as if a mouse was squeaking at you. Yes I see. And I expect that you have done something extreme for them to have placed you in the same cell as me. They'll probably expect me to have my way with you, to teach you a lesson you know. But what they don't know is that they imprisoned the wrong elf, and that murdering buffoon is still running out there. So you are quite safe my dear. Now that eye of yours. There's something you don't see every day. But enough with that, I expect we'll have to find a way to communicate."

I looked at him with a blank stare. I rather do hate it when people speak to me in a language I do not understand, I'd rather they teach it to me first, then they may talk all they want. His lips rose in the faintest of smiles, then he placed his hand on his chest and said. "Lorindol." Now that I could understand. I in turn raised my own bruised hands and stated my own name. "Phèdre." He seemed pleased. "So my mystery woman was a name. And you are indeed a woman, for I can see that you are no elf. Hmm. Well I suggest that I start to teach you. Since that is what I did before they took me away. I taught. Yes. That seems a rather good idea. I hope you're a fast learner my dear, for I would have you explain just why it is you are here. And that eye of yours, very interesting."

Still having absolutely no idea what was going on, besides the fact that we now knew each others names, I followed him cautiously away from the door and slid down the far wall so that I sat on a pile of straw that lay there. He kneeled down in front of me and started to point things out while saying words slowly. It was then I realized what he had in mind. He was teaching me. Now I listened with great intensity. If he was willing to teach, I would take the lesson. I would start to repeat the words after he said them, and run through all the others I had learned while he tried to teach me more.

It took a very long time for me to finally be able to say a simple sentence in this language, that I learned was called the common tongue. But Lorindol never gave up. He would keep pressing me to learn more, even though I never gave any sign that I was not willing. Most of my time in that cell was spent learning, but there came twice a day, when my lessons had to stop, The first time it happened I had thought that my intuition had deceived me.

We heard a door groan open. It wasn't the one to our cell, but the one that separated this corridor from the rest of the palace. Lorindol's eyes widened and I could see thoughts running through them faster then normal. The sound of cells being opened, and then closed again came closer and closer. They were passing around the rations, for that was all we were given. But as the cell next to us was slammed shut, Lorindol turned to me. Now his eyes held an apologetic look. Then faster then I could have imagined, he threw himself upon me. His mouth pressed against mine, and his hands traveled up my body. Immediately I began to struggle. Then the door to our cell flew open.

I heard a snicker as I continued to fight my way out of the situation. Then it was over. Two of the guards held Lorindol against the far wall, while a third proceeded to hit him numerous times. Words were exchanged, which at the time I still did not know, and then they were gone. All that was left were two bowls of gruel and a bruised Lorindol. I did not help him up, not sure if he would attempt to jump me once more. But he did not stir. Instead he stayed where he was, slouched against the wall. For a long time he stayed there, neither making any attempts at movement or conversation. Not that conversation would have gotten very far at that time.

Then after a time he raised his head. He looked straight at me with a look that no one could have misunderstood. It was an apology. Clear and sincere, the message had hit its intended mark. After that we ate our now stone cold meal and then continued on with the lessons. But the sun soon shone form the small window. I had not slept in two days and was yawning quite frequently. Lorindol finally gave up competing with my lack of sleep, and let me rest for the remainder of the day.

Twice a day they would come with the meals. And twice a day we would have to assume some vulgar position, in order to fool the guards that Lorindol was in fact the murdering, ravaging scum they thought him to be. If they thought other wise, they would know that I was going through no horror, and I would be moved to a cell where I would be certain to receive that in which they thought I deserved. All because I was born with a red mote in my left eye. Because I was chosen by the gods.

I learned from Lorindol many things, not just how to speak his tongue. I was among the elves. When I gave no notion of knowing what elves were, it was his great pleasure to explain it to me. His explanation was one thing I was not so sure in believing, how could someone live forever. But I simply took it in and listened to what else he had to say. That was when I had found out I was in the land of middle earth. I had never heard of this land before, and questioned him extensively on it's whereabouts. I'm still not completely sure but I do believe that this place, middle earth, is across the ocean from my home. How I ended up here, I still have no idea. But when I told him about it, he shrugged his shoulders and said his guess was as good as mine.

And then he mentioned something about a wizard. I had no idea what a wizard was and asked him to explain. Once I had gotten a sensible answer out of him, I decided that this 'wizard', Gandalf he called him, might be able to help me should I ever get out of here. It seemed that he had powers, much like Hyacinthe had, but with many differences. For he could do much more then control the weather. I would have to find some way out of this prison and then find him. With everything that I've ever gone through, I was sure I could manage it.

But what baffled me the most, was why Lorindol was not absolutely petrified of me as the others were. I asked him the question once I was able to communicate with him properly. He explained to me that Iluvitar, that was his god, sent many strange creatures to middle earth. He had met many of these beings and found them harmless. He believed I to be one of them, and therefore, harmless. Well I was far from harmless, in a sense, and I wasn't so sure about being sent by his god, but it was starting to become a possibility as to why I was here.

After three weeks of living there, in a cell with a friend made out of necessity, and constantly attempting to appear as if I was being molested by him, the gods heard my prayers.

The sun had just set, and the evening meal was on its way. We set ourselves up so that I lay curled in on corner, while Lorindol eyed me from the other corner. My dress was in shambles and resembled a rag that had gone through a meat grinder more then a gown. I had dirt caked onto almost every inch of my body. My hair was in unimaginable tangles, and I was just as starved as was every other soul in this god forsaken prison. The only reason why I did not loose my mind in memories of La Dolorosa, was because I had other things to keep my thoughts away from it. Such as the learning of new languages, and plans for escape.

We heard them open the cell next to ours. Now it was all a matter of time. While Lorindol was supposedly watching me when they entered, he would actually be finding the one who held the keys. Once they left we would further our plans from there. They had finished with the cell next to ours, now they would open ours. But as the door was pried open, there was not the usual three elves. But five instead. One placed a bowl of food on the ground, one held the door, another stood out in the hallway. But the other two came inside. Straight to me they strode, and without hesitation they took hold of my arms and hoisted me from the ground. I struggled to get out of the grip, but it was very strong, and before I could even glance at my companion, I was gone from the cell.

The three elves who usually came by, continued with their routine after they had sealed the door. All this I saw as I was dragged backwards kicking and trying to get free. As I was taken from the prison hallway, I realized that my struggles were futile, and I memorized the passage ways as they brought me through instead. I would not stay here longer then I had to, and opportunity could knock at any moment it pleased. As we came into the hall I had entered on that first day, I saw that there was no one except a few guards, who all stared at me as I was dragged past. We did not linger very long in this room, but made for another hallway and through twisted corridors lined with flaming torches did we come to a beautifully carved door.

They righted me so that I was now facing the direction I was headed for. One of the guards knocked, it was a coded knock. After a few moments the door slowly swung inwards, and we stepped through. I looked around. I have been surrounded by beauty before, but none at all like this. As I took it all in, I made sure that my expression was a bored one. I did not want to seem like some vagabond, but like someone who was of a higher standing.

As my eyes came to the front of the room, I saw him there. His hair flowing over his shoulders, his regal pose, his perfect features. This was a man worthy of the title, king. He stood from behind the desk he was sitting at, and came to the front of it. Once he had leaned across it and folded his arms over his chest, he spoke. Only this time, I understood him.

"Well you're certainly not a daemon as my son thought. But the question now is, just what exactly are you?"

"Human, my lord." I replied, with only the slightest hint of an accent. If I wasn't trained for it, I would not have caught the brief moment of surprise that transformed his features for only a fraction of a second. But with a straight face once more, he addressed me.

"And now you speak the common tongue, when before you did not." I could tell he was prepared to speak to a wall, but I had introduced a slight problem to that plan.

"I learn quickly, my lord ." His regard held amusement, as it did when I first met him. One of the guards at my sides shifted a bit, but kept his hold on my arm.

"So I see." He took a breath then continued. "Well then, shall we start with your name?"

"Only my name?" I was going to make him think about what he was asking. He regarded me then with curiosity and suspicion.

"Yes," He started slowly, "Only your name."

"Phèdre."

I saw him think about it for a few moments. When he looked up at me there was confusion in his eyes, but the rest of his features remained the same.

"I am not familiar with that name. From where do you come?"

At this I smiled.