Anna ran until her sides hurt and she collapsed onto the beach crying and gasping for breath.

Breath.

If only they had let her drowned, at least she would have some hope of seeing her family again. Here, where there were no familiar sights or people, her life just went on in an endless round of hope and despair. And no relief was in view, just a continuance in a friendless and lonely world. She loved her family and she loved being human. She was grateful to the elves, but now she may be torn even from them.

And now she found she was to be flung from the one place she called home and transplanted with a whole village of strangers. Not just that, but a new family? How could the Prince Fingon assume she would want a new family? He had tried to tell her gently but the pain of him telling her that she should leave was worse.

She laid her cheek against the warm sand and cried until tears wouldn't come anymore. Than she simply lay there not caring how the sun traveled across the sky and began to set. But the cold wind off the sea brought her to her feet in search of the way home. However she headed in the other direction and into the human village.

The fishermen had already gone out and only the town good-for-nothings were hanging around wasting time doing nothing. Just as she came to the borders of the prince's estate she felt a queer tingle up and down her back, and suddenly the air grew colder. But she didn't really think about it and went on. She did not realize the enchantment that covered the lads governed by the elven race.

As she drew closer, the village roughs noticed her, nudged each other nodding in her direction. She saw them and their lustful glance and began to walk a little faster. She looked straight ahead as if she knew where she was going and had no time to fool around with the men.

They quickened their pace to hers and were fast gaining on her. She looked around and saw an alley up ahead and ran for it. She pushed through the crowds of milling people and prayed that the roughs wouldn't see where she had gone. She was just a skinny teenager anyway not beautiful like her sisters. But the roughs saw their and exchanged a smile as she disappeared done the filthy alleyway. They knew there was no way out.

Anna skidded to a stop because the alley ended in a dead end! Hearing the sniggers of malicious laughter behind her she spun around and saw that she was surrounded! She backed up against the cold wall pressing herself hard into it as though she would pass through it. One of the men laughed a little, showing a mouth accented by a pus oozing cold sore. He reached out and touched the ends of her short hair.

"Well, look at that a little maid with boy's hair! I think I kinds a like it! He leaned in close to her face and breathed. "Do you take a fancy to me little maid?"

She was too afraid to do anything, but shake her head no, they were going to rape her and no one knew where she was or how to find her!

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"Maehsos! Maehsos! Where is Anna?"

This came from the Fingon as he ran into the courtyard. Maehsos lowered his sword and looked at the Prince in puzzlement

"What in Arda do you mean." he asked "Isn't she up at the house?"

"No, she's never been gone this long and I am beginning to worry. She doesn't understand the danger of wandering too far and….

He trailed off as a queer look came over his face. He gave a little gasp and grabbed Maehsos and dragged him toward the stables.

"We have to hurry she's passed out of the borders of my protection. She doesn't understand the danger she could be in."

As they spoke them sped out to the stable and made ready the horses.

"Do you have any idea what direction she went in? asked Maehsos a strap of leather between his teeth and he buckled the lead harness on.

"She went toward the village, but she has done that before without going the whole way." Fingon said and then he knew, "She was upset because I told her about the family who want to adopt her. She hasn't given up on her own yet. No wonder she went!"

They mounted the animals and the horses knowing their riders well sensed their mood and cantered out to the road. Maehsos rode to the center of the road and took a long breath and held out his left hand. His eyes closed in concentration and his brow creased, the wind picked up a little and blew tendrils of his red hair out of its braid and into his face.

Sighing with frustration he pushed it back and said "She's in the village like you supposed, and in trouble. We need to hurry!"

The two elves whispered to the horses and flew down the road toward the Edain village.

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Anna found herself confronted by the gang of roughs, there was no way out of it now. She backed away as far away from the men as she could, but the wall of the alley blocked she escape. And it was solid and strong oak boards. The group sniggered in delight at her fear and one, the leader she guessed came forward.

"Now than, what's a pretty girl like you doing out here without any protection? It's not safe, no indeed it isn't. Maybe we should look after you?"

The gang laughed in a way that sent icy chills of fear up and down Anna's back, they all looked as if they would as soon eat her alive as "protect" her. Gooseflesh prickled over her body as the thought, she may be fifteen, but was a virgin as the day she had been born. She needed to stall for time, for what she didn't know, but she had to try to escape.

"I..I am waiting for my master to come for me, please let me pass by. I have nothing to give you."

"I can think of something" the leader said and drew a dirty finger along her lean cheek. His finger was dark and tanned against her skin looked black. He was so close that she could see the dirt in the creases of his neck. The sight made her want to gag, she fought the urge and said " Please let me go."

He smiled showing a mouth full of brown decaying teeth; as he drew closer and she pushed herself into the wall.

"I'll let you go if you give me a little kiss? I think that's fair don't you? What about it boys? Don't you think she owe me a little peck on the cheek for treating her so nice?"

The group laughed again this time the lustful light shining from their eyes. She shook her head no, and bit her lips trying to keep them as far from his as possible. He frowned and grabbed a fist full of her hair and force her head back.

" I can see ya shy, but I'll soon remedy that and if you fight me I swear it'll go worse for you then you can possibly imagine."

She saw him lower his mouth toward hers and then remembered that it was her own fault that she was here and she would be her only savior this time. She brought her knee up and kicked him where it would really count. It worked, with a yelp of pain he fell like a nine pin and released his grip on her arm and hair. A commotion could be heard out in the main street, but none of the gang seemed to notice.

The rest of the gang stood there in shocked silence at their leader writhing in pain in the mud. Then they looked at her and she swallowed and tried to edge away. Another rough grabbed her and slammed her against the wall and struck her with the back of his hand.

He spat out. " You little hussy! You'll pay for that, I'll break every bone in your pretty little body."

He struck her again and Anna tasted blood in her mouth, the man pulled back for yet another hit when he was flung against the opposite alley wall. His head meet the stone with a crack and his slumped unconscious on the ground. Fingon stood over him breathing heavily. Another of the men rushed at him when he looked down the end of a blade.

"I really wouldn't do that." advised Maehsos.

The man who had grabbed let Anna go so suddenly she would have fallen if Fingon had not caught her. He pulled her to him while keeping his blade at the throat of the gang member. Anna hung on to Fingon as if her life depended on him, hiding her face against his chest. Maehsos could be seen sword high keeping the gang cornered.

Fingon turned the ringleader as the man staggered to his feet.

"If any of you ever come near this girl again I will personally hunt you down and tear you apart. She is under my protection and not a play thing for the likes of you. I hope I make myself perfectly clear? Fingon grated out.

"Uh sure your Lordship, we weren't goin' hurt her, not if we knew she was one o' your people." The gang tried to look as innocent a possible, but the leader said "If she didn't want to get hurt she should never had come this way elf! It's Sure lordly of you to corner us without weapons too."

Fingon expression hardened and grew dark, a sight that made them all draw away. Ann felt Fingon's heart beat speed up at this challenge and saw his hand tighten on his sword hilt. She was afraid for a moment.

He spoke low and menacingly, "Get out, if you value your pitiful lives."

He and Maehsos stood aside as the gang hurriedly filed out and disappeared in the throng of home bound peasants. Fingon nodded to Maehsos and the Steward went and watched them go as Fingon's attention went to the bundle in his arms. She clung to him sobbing and shaking as the shock of what almost happened settled on her. He smoothed her short hair and whispered softly to her.

"There child it is over and ended, you're with friends now. Never fear them, I won't allow anyone to harm you. I would like a thankless shepherd to let my little sheep stray without going to find her."

She looked up, her eyes and nose a bright red; an angry welt growing on her left cheek and joined by her spilt lower lip. He frowned and touched it, gently wiping away the tears that stung it. It ceased to sting, but was still there red and raw. He tenderly wiped away the blood from her mouth with a handkerchief.

" My poor lamb" he said holding her closer as he brought her to his horse.

Maehsos mounted and saw the welt that was beginning to swell up. He said something to Fingon, and Fingon laughed a little. He looked down and said " Maehsos said you're the most annoying little Edain girl he's ever worried about so much in all his life."

Sniffling a little Anna looked at the red haired elf and asked "How old is he?"

Fingon was about to answer when Maehsos interjected with a sharp "Daro Findekáno!" than speaking slowly he addressed Anna directly "Learn our tongue and find out for yourself."

She nodded and leant against Fingon as they rode home and he kept a arm wrapped around her all the way. As the bright lamps of the great white house came into view Anna sighed in relief.

Fingon looked down and asked "What is it Anna? Are you well?"

"I'm fine considering, it's just so good to be home." she said and laid her head against his shoulder.

Fingon smiled in the darkness and kissed the top of her head as they rode in the front gates. Home Sweet Home.

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Fingon carried Anna into the hall as Maehsos went in search of some maids to tend to her. The shock of what had happened to her had finally come upon the girl, and she began to shake violently. He brought her close to the fire in the grate. It was a small fire because of the mild summer weather, but the stone castle was always cold.

He wrapped her in his cloak and it pooled around her in rich black folds, making her face pale in comparison. She pulled it close and her teeth chattered against each other loudly. He pulled her to him and rubbing her icy hands with his own and called for something hot for her to drink.

"D..do you think that they'll follow us back?" she asked staring up at him fear lighting her eyes.

He set his mouth firmly and said "No, I hardly think so. I have guards every night that keep out any unwanted trespassers or gangs. You not fear their return my dear."

"I was so afraid no one would find me, I…I was so afraid." She cried and drew a little closer to him.

He caressed her cold hands and silently communicated calm and peaceful feelings to her. Her breathing slowed and the color came back to her cheeks as Maehsos returned with the maids.

A flurry of worried elleths hurried into the room and quickly had Anna settled with slippers on her feet and a mug of hot Minovir in her hands. They spoke in hushed tones and listened to Fingon's explanation with shocked faces and coos of consolation to the poor tiny human girl. She felt loved and cared for in the gentle hands of the elven women, they all looked on her as a little sister of sorts.

Anna felt safer and more comfortable with them then ever before and as she stared from the maids to Maehsos, to Fingon she thought. "It's so strange that I would be more at home with elves then humans. And more afraid of my own kind than theirs."

As she sipped the drink a hazy cloud of warmth reached her very toes and finger tips. She laid her head down drowsily thinking that whatever had happened before she was safe now. Soon the warmth of the fire, and elven wine swept her off to dreamland, and she slept a peaceful dreamless sleep. Fingon smiled into his own drink as he and the other elves watched she slipped into dreamland. The elleths carried her to bed and the Steward and Prince stayed up late talking.

The next morning Maehsos was waiting for Fingon when he came to breakfast, he was pacing before the table spread with a tempting array of dishes. He paused and bowed as Fingon came into the room and pushed a few hairs out of his eyes as he straightened up.

"Good morrow my friend, I trust you rested well?" He inquired as Fingon sat.

"Well enough, I was worried that the child would be troubled by dreams and so I stayed by her all night. However I think I did sleep a little toward dawn. And yourself?"

"I was almost as bad as you." laughed the red-headed elf as he pouring himself a glass of water and sat. "What are you going to do with her now that she has made this mistake? I hardly think it wise to place in her a village with enemies already."

Fingon sighed "I understand, she will have to continue here for a while yet. Lady Bethriel returns at the end of next week and she will no doubt help us as to where to place her."

"No doubt." agreed Maehsos dryly, as he peeled an apple into thin slivers.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"She hates the Edain more than anyone I know, and I hardly think that she could give an unbiased judgment concerning one, don't you?"

"I am not unaware of that Maehsos." Fingon said choosing a orange for himself. "I think however she has always been able to give clear advise as how to care of eflings and children. That is why my Mada sent her here to oversee the running of this house when I am absent."

Maehsos looked unconvinced at this and was about to speak where a maid entered and said. "My Lord, the child is awake, and desires to see you, shall I show her in?"

"Yes of course and bring an plate, she shall eat with us this morning."

The maid nodded and glided out of the room. A moment later the door creaked open and Anna peaked around it, sleep still giving her that sweet look of a new born elfling. She wore a long white night gown that trailed along the stone floor, from the top of her tousled head to her little bare feet she was exhausted. Worn out with shock and fear, she looked more helpless and childlike than Maehsos and Fingon had ever seen her.

She stood in the doorway a moment a question on her face. Fingon motioned her to come in and sit, she did so, perching on the edge of the chair. She sat biting her lip and casting anxious glances across the table at him. Maehsos offered her a slice of his apple and she took it, but instead of eating it she merely turned it around in her fingers.

The maid floated in and laid a plate down in front of the girl, asking Fingon "Do you wish me to return soon and take the child back to her room?"

"No thank you, I'll keep her with me today, I will send for you if I require anything else."

"Very well my Lord" she curtsied and glided out again. Anna watched her go and asked, "Why does everyone always call me "the Child?" I'm almost sixteen years old!"

"How did you know she called you child?"

"Because only you call me Anna, and everyone else calls me "child". What I mean is that I haven't lived in you home for months not to pick up a few words here and there."

"Good, I am glad that you are. Please eat, you need to keep up your strength. Did you rest well last night?"

"I slept like a log, I think it was something in the drink you gave me." she said, she shivered a little. "Thank you for coming after me like you did. I was stupid to run away like that, I just wanted to be alone. I never thought something like… like that would happen."

Fingon reached out and covered her hand with his own comfortingly. "Of course not, do not dwell on it. It is over and believe me it will not happen again. However you must never leave the grounds of the estate without an escort. Unfortunately you discovered the reason why in the hardest manner possible. Thank Eru, you were not harmed!"

She sat there head bowed and suddenly asked. "How did you find me? I didn't think anyone would."

"Thank Maehsos for that, he was the one who lead me to you. I knew you had left the estate but not where you had gone."

She looked across at the elf who smiled back, and pushed a few hairs out of his eyes at the same time. "Aiya herunya hantanyel" A bright smile stretched across Maehsos's face at this and he bowed formally.

"It was a pleasure my Lady."

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Ronald looked up in surprise. "I thought Maehsos only spoke elvish!"

"So did Anna, but as she learned it was just his way of doing everything. He loved surprises and so he acted accordingly. He opened up a whole new world for her because where she was nervous around the Prince, she was quite at ease with his steward."

"Why was she afraid of the Prince?" Ron asked.

"She wasn't "afraid" of him merely nervous. And I know, your still curious as to why. I'll tell you, Fingon was the most handsome person ,or in this case elf, Anna had ever seen. She was an adolescent girl Doctor, she developed a little crush on him and so she always felt a little foolish around him."

"But he was a lot older wasn't he? I thought elves lived to be thousands of years old?"

"They do, they are in fact immortal creatures, but they never show their age. They bodies were created to last the wear of centuries of time without showing the effects of them. And so in Fingon's case he looked like he was in his twenties and Maehsos a little younger."

"How old were they really? Did Anna ever find out?"

Aeroniel smiled and said "You must wait for that part of the story. It came much later and you must wait as Anna did."

Ron nodded feeling foolish as he did so, he was beginning to care more about Anna her story, then whether or not Aeroniel was insane. Then he thought of something. "You said that Maehsos was the steward of Fingon's estate, but he had already mentioned a housekeeper. Who was that, and why did she hate humans so much?"

Aeroniel's smile faded a little and she turned to the portfolio again. "She was Lady Bethriel, a faithful member of Fingolfin's household back in Valinor. She had come to Arda at the bidding of Indis, Fingon's grandmother. She was a hard elf, a woman without sympathy or kindness toward those not of her own race. But she was the making of Anna in a way that no one could have ever thought."

"What do you mean?" Ron was confused

"Anna could not… no it's too soon to tell you that. Let me show you a picture of the Lady Bethriel."

Anna opened the book again and this time revealed the face of a beautiful, striking woman. Her features were perfect and firm, her chin raised in a proud tilt. Celery green were her eyes and piercing was her gaze. Ron unconsciously moved away from the portrait.

The woman's black hair was pulled away from her face in intricate braids that hung down her back. The style was such that it showed her elven ears in bold display. She was openly proud of who and what she was, but there was no kindness in her glance no softness to eyes or mouth.

She sat on a stone bench and held a hoop of embroidery in her perfect white hand. Her back was strait and fluid at the same time. Grace could be seen in every bone of her body, the artist had painted her to show the physical perfection of her body, but also the emptiness of her soul.

"She is very cold to look upon, Aeroniel. And this is the woman who raised Anna? Maehsos said she hated men, how could Anna ever hope to have a happy life with someone like that?" Dr. Hadhafang pointed at the portrait.

Aeroniel looked at the woman, no sign of fear on her face as she gazed at the woman. Instead the calm look of a superior on a subordinate.

"It wasn't something she understood at the time. She had no idea at the time just what she was going to go through. However she could never have become the woman she did if Lady Bethriel had not been so hard."

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Lady Bethriel was glad to be home, it had been too long. The castle was the only place she felt truly at home and at ease. Everything was run in the way she liked and the Prince rarely had any difference of opinion. So they lived in peace and calm or as much as they could considering the times in which they lived.

The servants went about carrying her things to her rooms, and so she went on to the house in search of Fingon. The Prince was not to be found however, and she stopped a servant and inquired where he was.

"I understand that he is in the gardens with the chi….Lord Maehsos, my lady"

The servants were told not to speak of the Edain girl before the Prince and the secret had almost gotten out.

Lady Bethriel narrowed her eyes, but didn't seek further information. The prince would tell her all she needed to know and so out to the garden she went. The day was beautiful, a fresh breeze sweeping off the lake and over the blooming flowers of the garden. Voices flirted through the trees and shrubs in the east garden and she followed it.

As she rounded the corner a figure collided with her and almost knocked her off her feet. Her steadied herself and grasped the arm of the careless child. She looked down, ready to reprove when she saw with shock that it was an skinny Edain child!

"What do you think you are doing in the gardens of the Prince child?" she asked.

Anna shivered at the way the woman said "child" the only thing said she understood. It sounded like something to be ashamed of.

"I was just running and I didn't see you! I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be here at all child. How did you get in?" asked Bethriel.

Anna answered the only way she could, "I live here! Let go of my arm please you're hurting me!"

At that moment Maehsos came around the corner as well saying " Anna? Come out…"

His words trailed away as he saw the two before him.

The lady looked a little relieved "Maehsos, my Lord steward, I just found this girl running ramp it in the garden. I do not understand how she got in the grounds."

Maehsos silently removed the lady's hand from Anna's arm and told the girl to go to the house. Anna was glad to be released and with one last curious look at the woman ran away, her skirt held a little above her knees as she ran. The Lady and Maehsos watched her go, the one in delight of seeing a child happy and free; and the other in consternation and confusion.

"Who on earth was that?" asked the Lady in disgust.