Disclaimer: I don't own nothing and nobody.

Chapter Quote: "You are never alone."

Chapter Seven

Never Alone

Estel?

I waited silently that night in bed, trembling as I thought of what had awaken me. Nightmares, they never used to bother me as often as they did now. I had, had one every night since the day Valanna had died. That numbered four with the coming of dawn. I was too frightened to tip-toe out of bed to look outside to see what time it was. I had an uncanny ability to do so.

I waited in the darkness for Estel to answer me. But he didn't The images flashed through my mind again as I tried to fall back asleep, hot tears began to roll down my cheeks. I couldn't help it. Estel? Why wouldn't he answer? Why wouldn't he come to me?

There was fire everywhere, fire and ash. I ran with the monsters all around and blood running through the streets. The people scream, and horses ran free. I could never see their faces, their terrified faces. My own fear blinded me as I stumbled along.

"HURRY!" A woman screamed to me. She was clasping my hand tightly. Buy my legs would not carry me far enough. I stumbled, falling to my knees. She hurled me up to me feet and pressed something cold in my hands. "Take this to your father. Do not worry about me. Take the way through the window, that's a good girl."

"But you must come with me!" I protested.

The woman was frantically looking over my shoulder, her eyes wide with fear. I tried to turn but she would not let me. "Do not look! Give me a kiss, then you must go. Good girl, that's it. Do not worry for your nan, I will be fine." She looked again, a cry on the tip of her lips. She shoved me forward towards a great building. A horse screamed from behind me. I turned, startled to stare where I had been moments before.

The woman stood there, her body cowering before one of the monsters. He had a great sword, a great long bloody sword. She was screaming, as was the horse. The horse ran from behind me and shoved me forward, forward to the window where I could get inside. Where I could be safe.

I never saw what happened to the woman, but as I climbed through the window, I could not longer hear her screaming. And the horse, who had pushed me towards the window and now stood as monsters had followed it, was a bloody heap just outside the door.

He did not scream for me again...

The tears came heavily, falling rapidly down my cheeks in waves. Estel! Estel! I called fearfully, sobbing into my pillow. There were footsteps outside my door, the door opened.

"Dineniel?" He asked in concern.

Estel's nightshirt was open, his eyes squinting through the darkness. I was sobbing and for a moment I was unable to answer.

He came to my bed and sat beside me. I turned over so that I lay facing him, my back still against the sheets.

"What is it my friend?" He asked softly, caressing my cheek.

I had a dream.

Estel sighed, "Another?"

Yes.

Estel did not answer for a moment, he smiled sadly and gently wiped away my tears. "They are getting worse aren't they?"

I nodded, sitting up and wrapping my thin arms around his strong shoulders. I am frightened Estel, they are always so real. Everyone...everyone always dies...the tears came again before I could stop them, my small body shook with sobs. Estel rubbed my back and cooed softly in my ear.

"Peace Dineniel. Peace. It is all right. I'm here now."

I felt my eyes close as he whispered to me, my nightmare fading from memory. My limbs relaxed and I felt myself letting go. He gently laid me back on the pillows, and as he did so, I took his hand.

Please do not leave me alone. I begged mentally, the sleepy tears forming in my half-closed eyes. He smiled kindly at me.

"You are never alone." He said softly. "How about I stay until you are asleep?"

I hesitated, then nodded slowly. I would always be safe with Estel. I felt the drowsiness overwhelm me again. I felt my eyes closing, and I felt peace as Estel sang a lullaby to me, and my world fading into a sweet darkness.

It was strange, now that Estel could really understand me it was almost as if something had changed...and yet at the same time, it hadn't. It was great fun, being able to really talk to him. Even more so when Elladan and Elrohir would join in on our games. Most of all, I found that my nightmares lessened because I knew I was safe. I could probe far and wide for Estel whenever I wanted to reassure myself of his presence. I knew I was safe, and that I knew he would never let anything happen to me. I would often go with him to visit Gilrean, who became more a mother to me then I could ever recall. I think I soon grew to love her has well.

Yet during that time, something else also changed in me. For it was then that I truly met the son of Valanna. It was then, that I truly met Lightfoot.

I avoided the stables for only two days. It was all I could bear. I was both awed and terrified of this little colt, the colt who was the son of one whom I knew could have told me so much. One who had laid on me a heavy burden. The knowledge that I was not the same as the others who resides in Imladris. The knowledge that I would not always fit in here.

I walked down slowly that morning to the stables. The grooms were only just starting to feed all the horses and they paid me no mind as I walked quietly through the aisle way. I stopped at Lightfoot's stall, breathing deeply before I went in. I stared in horror, the colt looked worse then before. His scrawny ribs stuck out under skin that was stretched much too tightly for his body.

"Ai. He is a sad little one isn't he?" Asked a stable hand from over the wall, I glanced back at him, slightly startled. I nodded, turning back once more to gaze pityingly at the foal. "You were here before, were you not?"

I nodded.

"Would you like to try and feed him?" Asked the stable hand. I hesitated, and I looked into the colt's small face, and I again nodded.

I knelt in the straw, staring intently at the little thing. It was so helpless, so weak. Do you miss your mama? I asked him silently. The colt did not so much as move. The impulse that I had received on the first day of meeting him was nearly non-existent. I did not move for a long moment, then, I slowly reached out and stroked Lightfoot's dull neck. The coat was no longer gold color, it was cold, as if all warmth had left it. As if the little thing was dead. I shuddered and drew back my hand sharply as a sudden rush of emotion entered my mind so swiftly that it knocked me off my knees.

...death...

The boy ran fast, and I could not keep up. I stumbled, but he would pick me up and urge me on.

"Faster!" He hissed as we plunged into the forest. I no longer tried to hold back my tears, my grief over flowed, tearing into my soul. I could hear screams behind me, but the boy would not let me stop. The trees grew thicker and the night darker and still we plunged on into the madness.

Suddenly, he fell. And I tumbled next to him in a heap of sobs. We laid still, and I feared that he was dead. I cried out and then I saw him stir.

"Keep quiet." He said hoarsely.

And it was then that I realized the boy was crying. I moved closer to him and embraced him tightly, and he held me close. Then he broke away, I turned to look back the way we came but he stopped me. Turning my face to him, his hand was cold and his eyes dull.

"We must not look back." He said. "We must not. We can never return, do you understand me?"

Tears rolled silently down my cheeks as I stared into his eyes.

"Do you understand me?" He hissed, his voice becoming high-pitched.

I nodded, "Yes." I whispered softly. It was the only word I could think to say. And then we heard them, the monsters. I could hear their shouts and their heavy footfalls. The boy jerked, hearing the noises and pulling me to my feet.

"RUN!" He shouted, drawing his sword, "RUN!"

I took a few steps forward, and then turned back to him. His eyes were cold, full of harsh determination. He was going to die. I knew it then like I knew nothing else in my life. He was protecting me.

"GO!" He screamed, they were so much closer now.

"I can't leave you!" I sobbed.

"Our future lies with you now! Do not look back. Never look back! RUN! NOW!"

I flew from him and I ran faster and further into the forest. I reached a small hill, and from it I stopped, and despite his warnings, I looked back. I saw the city in flames. My city... my home. The people screaming and shouting. The shadows of the monsters dancing in the fire light.

And I saw death.

It was so cold.

...so very cold...

I started in shock and looked up at a gentle touch on my shoulder. It was the groom, looking slightly concerned.

"Are you all right my child?" In his other hand he held a leather pouch, shaped to slip a liquid into the mouth of an animal. I nodded hurriedly, shaking the coldness from my bones. I held out my hand and the groom handed me the pouch.

"I hope you can help this little one." The groom said sadly, "He has become dear to me."

I never heard the groom leave. My whole concentration was fixed upon the little colt, the colt who I felt was fading. I brought the pouch to hips lips, squirting a little of the liquid inside. The colt did nothing.

I reached out to the colt's mind as Aragorn told me to try and do. Lightfoot please, do not leave me now. I will take care of you now, you are not alone. I thought to him urgently. Nothing happened. The colt became so still that for one sickening moment I thought he had died right there in my arms when suddenly his eyed opened. He looked up at me and he stared. I heard the jumble of thoughts in my head, a flash of pain that made me gasp. And I heard a small voice, hardly above a whisper.

You left me.

I blinked in shock and nearly recoiled in fear from the colt. I took a deep breath, clearing my mind of all other matters. I didn't mean to...

You left me. The foal repeated...were there...were there tears in his eyes? Could foals cry.

I...you frightened me. I thought so softly that at first I thought he hadn't heard me.

You gave me a name and you never came back. You left me. Mama left me. I am so alone... Lightfoot closed his eyes, sighing, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

I lowered my body over his, my face just above his cheek. I nuzzled him gently and kissed his velvety nose. I am with you now. You are never alone.

What had I done to him? I might of well have starved him with my own hands. A tear rolled down my cheek as I wrapped my hands around his thin, bony neck. I heard him lick his lips and I raised my head. His eyes were opened once more...he was reaching for the bag. I hurriedly slip the tip into his mouth and he very slowly began to suckle. I smiled and stroked his dull coat. I had done this once before, and I have given up on him. Forgive me, I did not see.

I stroked his neck and I thought of a tune I knew from long ago. The words were no longer familiar to my ears. But I knew the tune, I thought it to him as his eyes closed and his stomach filled.

You are never alone Lightfoot. I thought gently to him as he finished eating and drifted off to sleep.

You are never alone.

TO BE CONTINUED...