Chapter 19

A Trap

Jupiter's POV

It was very busy around the mountain. I was helping out anywhere I could and running errands. Fili told me I didn't have to but I was happy to help. One night on my way back to Dale, I heard something strange. It sounded like a baby crying. I ran towards the sound, I was starting to panic. I ran faster until I came to a small cluster of trees. The crying became louder and I found a baby.

"Oh mon Dieu!"

I picked up the baby and looked around. No one was in sight and I couldn't just leave the poor thing out here. I took off my light jacket and covered the baby with it. It was still crying and I started walking back to Dale.

"Venez maintenant, vous êtes en sécurité maintenant." (Come now, you're safe now.)

I rocked it gently and walked into the city.

"Jupiter! Where have you been and….is that a baby?"

"Yeah, I was a bit delayed. It was just out there alone, I couldn't leave it."

It was a human baby, and we discovered it was a girl. I took her to Bard, hoping he would know who her family was.

"I have never seen this child before. But I will find her family, I promise you."

I nodded and he took the baby. I looked down and stared at the floor.

"Are you well?" Legolas asked.

"She was just abandoned." I said softly.

"No, Jupiter do not think like that. We do not know what happened."

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

"How could someone leave a sweet and innocent baby out there like that?"

Legolas put his hands on my shoulders.

"I know how this makes you feel, believe me I do. But we will find her family, I promise. And if not, Bard will see to it she is well take care of."

I sighed and hugged him, not really knowing what else to do. He put his arms around me and Bard came back with the baby.

"It is far too late in the night to find where she belongs. She will stay here."

I nodded and I took the baby from him. She was fast asleep and so precious. I smiled and sat down.

"Dormez sur petit. Tu es en sécurité." (Sleep on little one. You're safe.) I whispered.

Legolas looked at her and smiled.

"She is such a precious thing. Children are a precious gift from the Valar. They must always be loved and cherished."

I nodded and looked at him. He was staring at me and he smiled.

"Jupiter I-"

"Jupiter!"

Bard came into the room and a woman followed. She saw the baby and ran forward.

"Oh my baby! Thank you lady Jupiter! Thank you!"

I smiled and handed her to her mother.

"My sister took her for a walk and she never came back. Is she here as well?"

I looked at her sadly.

"I'm so sorry. All I found was your baby."

I could see the fear in her eyes.

"She is only fifteen!"

My eyes went wide and I stood up.

"I'll find her! Gloradir!"

He ran in.

"Get ready, we're going out to look for a girl. She's fifteen and has been lost for several hours."

He nodded and left. Legolas would be coming with me and Haldir and Estelwen would stay behind. We took a lantern and wet out to where I found the baby.

"Helga!?" I called.

I had a bad feeling something was very wrong. I stopped and drew my sword. Gloradir and Legolas stopped in either side of me. I looked at Legolas.

"Take Gloradir and look for Helga. I'll handle this."

"No! Absolutely not."

I looked at Legolas and took his hands.

"I do better on my own. Find the girl no matter what. I'm coming back, I swear."

I kissed him passionately and then started to walk away. He pulled me back and looked me straight in the eye.

"I love you Jupiter."

My eyes widened and my heart nearly stopped. A smile came to my face and I hugged him.

"Je 'taime Legolas. I love you."

He kissed the top of my head and then I left. Fili had told me there were bandits out here. They probably had the girl. I took a deep breath and held up the lantern. Legolas had finally told me he loved me, which meant I was not going to let a group of bandits take me down. I found some heavy footprints. I followed them silently to a small sort of cave. I put the lantern in a tree, knowing Legolas would find it. I held my sword in front of me and slowly went inside.

Legolas' POV

I was not sure if it was the right time but I had to tell her. If one of us got hurt again, I needed her to know. And she told me she loved me! I could not have been happier.

"You have been smiling like that for the last five minutes." Gloradir said.

"I had not realized I was."

"I am happy for you mellon nin and…"

He trailed off and I saw what he was looking at. Jupiter's lantern was hanging from a tree. She had found something. We ran forward as quietly as we could. There was a small cave and I knew Jupiter was down there.

"Gloradir, you wait here and warn us if anyone comes. I will get Jupiter and the girl."

"Be careful."

I nodded and went into the cave. There was gold and weapons and food. Orcs were not behind this. It had to be bandits. I saw a light and looked around the corner. Jupiter was there along with the girl. Two of the bandits were asleep and she was untying her. She saw me and smiled. I rushed over and knelt down. The girl was hurt and scared. I looked over at the bandits and found them still asleep. I saw some rope nearby and smiled. I looked at Jupiter and pointed at the rope and then the bandits. She smiled and nodded. We had Gloradir take the girl and we quickly tied up the bandits. He kissed me and then we left, the only problem was, it was all a trap. The girl was in on it. She had a sick smile on her face and a knife at Gloradir's throat. Jupiter tried to go forward but I stopped her.

"She sent you after me did she not? My stupid sister?!"

I was trying to find a way to save Gloradir and the girl. From the way she was holding the knife, she was highly inexperienced and had no idea what she doing.

Jupiter's POV

She was a typical runaway teenager. In Chicago I would've thought she was on drugs. I stepped forward.

"Listen to me, you don't want to do this." I said.

She laughed at me and I held up my hands.

"Listen to me, you have a family that loves you. Your sister is worried sick! I have scars all across my back from parents who hated me and never wanted me. They kicked me out when I was your age and I had to fight to survive. You're not a killer, Helga. You don't want to do this. Let me take you home, to your real family."

She pressed the blade harder to his throat. I narrowed my eyes.

"Fine, I've tried being nice. Now I'm giving you a choice. You can come with me willingly, or I can drag you kicking and screaming. Don't make me hurt you." I said.

She raised her brow.

"You do not have any power here."

"Oh believe me I do. You failed to take into account we had a fourth person with us. They went to get the guards. I'm a personal friend of Bard and the mountain king. So let's try this again. Let my friend go and we'll take you home."

"I should think not."

I sighed and shook my head.

"Then you'll have to answer to them."

She turned and I ran at her. I got the knife and threw her to the ground. She struggled and kicked but I had her pinned. Gloradir was unharmed and I picked up the girl. We took some of the leftover rope and tied her up. It was early morning by the time we got back. We untied Helga but she was still struggling.

"Helga!"

Her sister came running to her.

"Helga stop! They are not going to hurt you."

Helga spit in her sister's face.

"You are so stupid Helen! I did not want to come back here to this pathetic life! I belong back with him!"

I looked at her and turned her towards me.

"You want to be back there? He beats you silly girl!" I said.

"No! He loves me!"

She was in denial. I shook her.

"Listen to me! He doesn't love you! He uses you and then throws you away like trash! Is that the life you want? Is it?!"

She was crying and glaring at the same time. She turned and ran away before I could grab her. I knew she was going back to the bandit's camp. I ran after her and I let her get to the cave. The bandits were gone. She stood there in the middle of it all and looked around. It looked like they'd cleared out in quite a hurry.

"No, he said he would never leave me behind." she said.

I looked down sadly. She fell to her knees and shook her head.

"He will come back. He probably went to get something or….or…"

I waked forward.

"Helga, you know he's not coming back."

She shook her head and continued to deny it. I knelt down in front of her and had her look at me.

"Listen to me carefully, what you felt for that man wasn't real. The real love of your life is still out there somewhere. You just have to keep looking, like he's looking for you." I said.

She didn't seem to believe me.

"How long?" she asked.

"I can't answer that. But he will find you, I know that now more than ever. I waited twenty two years for someone to tell me they loved me. He finally told me last night. You're still so young, and there are many who love you. In time the love you seek will come. I promise you that."

"Well when did you tell him you loved him?"

"Last night. My life hasn't been easy, and I didn't know what it meant to love someone. He showed me and I love him very much. That kind of love is worth waiting for, believe me." I said.

She nodded sadly and I put my hand on her shoulder.

"Let me take you home. You're sister is probably worried."

She shook her head.

"She hates me! Look at what I have done."

"The best thing about love, it comes with other things. And forgiveness is part of the package."

She looked up and I could see a bit of hope her in her eyes. I stood up and held out my hand.

"Come on."

She slowly took my hand and I pulled her up. I took her back to Dale once more.