A new life.

Another day in pain was over. Kicks and punches to the face and body. All I wished for was for it to be over. That I one day would wake up anywhere but here in this hell. My Abusing dad and a mother that had lost all hope for a healthy, happy life.

In the end, my life had been nothing but pain for as long as I could remember. Tears down my cheeks scars and dried blood on my bedsheets, another thing id be beaten for or worse the next morning.

"Please, dear God, if you really exist. Please take me away from here to a place where I won't be beaten or abused anymore… Please, I will be the best girl I can be no matter where you send me please please please…"

As I talked to myself in my mind hoping and praying to wake up somewhere else, I suddenly fell to sleep. A sharp pain pinched into my side, and all I could do was to scream in pain, even tho I knew I would be beaten for it. Even if I begged him not to, even if I swore to be better, I knew my dad hated hearing me.

But as I opened my eyes, I was no longer in my room if it could be called that. I was in the middle of a road in the dark as I heard the sounds of horses moving fast towards me. As I saw them, I screamed in fear as the lead rider howled at his horse and me to make it stop and not go straight over me. Seeing him dismount his horse and come for me, I screamed and tried to move away, but nothing I did got me away from his grip, it was firm, and his will was even stronger than that. Hearing him speak, I didn't understand anything he said. Scared as I was, I felt dozy, my eyes closing, and I was drifting off either by fear or exhaustion.

Next thing I knew, I woke up in a soft clean bed, with bandages on all my wounds, and the scars on my arms were gone. Slowly as I got to myself, I started looking over my body and seeing all my scars where gone. With that, the door suddenly opened, and the same man that gripped me last night came in. Dressed weirdly. Nothing like anyone would dress like that in 2020… His hair was long, and his face was fair, skin clean. He was looking more like a God than a man.

"You little one gave me quite a scare last night. Where did you come from? And how is It you don't understand our language? I had to put a spell on you, so you now know the common tongue, at least." Feeling his worried look, I didn't know how to answer any of his questions. Feeling scared and confused that he hadn't hit me yet.

"I I I don't know I don't know. one moment I was in my bed and suddenly I was in the middle of the road, I am so sorry for being in your way and for the language I do not know either… I am decent in Norwegian and a little less so in English. Why I did not understand you, I do not know, and I am sorry."

He looked at me, and my bandages seeming worried but also relieved that I was healing. But worried about what had been done to me. perhaps even somewhat confused when I mentioned Norwegian and English Once again speaking slowly to me

"you were very badly hurt, little one. Was it orcs or men? Where did your guards go? The white lady would never leave an elfling like you alone like this! Norwegian? English? What are those?"

Shocked by what he said, that someone would guard me and who was this white lady and elfling? I'm human. Not and elf… and orcs? I've only heard of them in stories my teacher read to us from that book Uhm what was it again… that English writer..

"I am sorry, you should not have worried about my wounds, I will get more when I go home again.. and no there were no orcs? If that's what you really said… it's my father… he does it everyday… he drinks a lot… Also, I must say sorry, but you are mistaken. I am no elf… I'm a girl… Human… Helene is my name…"

As I spoke to him scared as I was, he looked at me and held me, when I mentioned my father and the abuse I could see the disgust on his face and shock when I said I was no elf.. and that it seemed I had just appeared out of nowhere.

"Little one. You are not going back from where you came. You are now a guest in my house, and here you would be allowed to stay for as long as you want. My name is Elrond halfelf, and you are like me an elf."

As he stood up he reached for a mirror and let me see my face, I could somewhat see myself in it, and my ears were not rounded anymore but pointy, my skin fair as his. Somehow I was not the girl I had been the day before.

"Welcome to Imladris, little elfling. A new name we need to find for you. For that is not a name fitting for such a fine elfling as yourself…. Itarriel, you will be named. It means Starlight as it was on the night I found you. And if you are not of Lady Galadriel's people, then you will be of my people."

Shocked and amazed at my looks and his loving behavior towards a random girl he has found late at night in the middle of a road… in a strange world where there were no electric lights, only candle lights. So primitive and yet so advanced. Waterfalls in the background and the early morning sun lighting up the valley.

"Thank you thank you so much," I said as I started to cry if hope and of fear that he didn't really mean what he said

As I cried, he came and gave me a long hug, holding me in a way I had never felt before. Care? Yes, he was caring for me?

"Shh now little elfling, you need to rest. Your wounds inside have still not healed.

In the next few weeks, Lord Elrond and his people cared a great deal for me, helped me heal, and showed me that I had nothing to fear from any of them. The days of being beaten and abused was over. Aswell as Regaining a strength I never knew I had. Slowly I started to learn the language of the elves, By Lord Elrond's order. My people and Yes, it still feels strange to say that. But Lord Enestor and the other scholars made sure I would be as good in any variant of elfish as they were.

My self-esteem also got better and better as one evening, and someone knocked on my door.

"My Lady Itarriel, My name is Aerin, your maid and helper as ordered by Lord Elrond."

Shocked by what this stunning elf girl said and seeing her bow her head with her right hand on her heart.

"And if My Lady will please come with me, Lord Elrond has you summoned for the evening meal with him"

As I enjoyed her looks for a few moments and her sweet, sweet voice I smiled

" Of course and please, I would love the company even tho I do know the way," I said and smiled at her.

As we walked down the halls of the last homely house, I was still being amazed by the way it was built and the art on the walls.

"My Lady, if you do not mind me saying so, it is nice to see Lord Elrond happy again. Not since before the war has he smiled so much and that he made you a part of his house is something we all feel joy about."

Looking at Aerin, I smiled and blushed a little as I was not at all used to praise like this.

"Is that so? Why is that so special? I am happy. My Lord Elrond is happy, but I am sure it's not because of me?"

Aerin smiled

"My Lady to be made the adopted daughter of the Lord of Imladris means you are exceptional; we can all see it. Not just Lord Elrond."

As she said it, I stopped, amazed, and shocked by what she had just told me. How could I be that special compared to all of his people that he had lived with for years.

"I am his adoptive daughter? I just thought it meant I was allowed to live here, not that I was his family."

Aerin stopped and took my hands and looked into my eyes.

"My Lady, you are his family and our lady, and we could not be more happy about it, but please come we need to go so you won't be late for the evening meal."

Seeing Lord Elrond at the table as we walked in, a bowed my head and put my right hand on my heart as Aerin had done toward me with Lord Elrond making the gesture for me to sit.

"My Lord," I said as I sat down

Lord Elrond was nodding as I sat down.

"Itarriel, I am so happy to see that your strength has returned and that you are settling in well here with us, and I am sorry that I have been very busy as of late. But it seems you do well for yourself with our people."

In my shock, he, out of no warning, changed from the common tongue to elfish. And how natural it had become for me to understand it and speak it myself.

"I do hear that Lord Enestor practice your skills and that in just the time you have spent here learned much of our language."

Looking at Lord Elrond and smiling while I blushed and responding in elfish

"He is too kind, My Lord. I just try my best to become the best I can and not disappoint you or make you regret taking me into your home and land."

Smiling as he did when I spoke

"Itarriel, I could not be more proud of you or happy that I took you into my home and land. You are my Kin. Never forget that. But I would like for you to start training with weapons and the guard. I want you to be able to defend yourself and never again be a victim to anyone ever."

Happy and shocked by how much he cared, I bowed my head.

"As you say, My Lord. I'll be happy to do as told. And happy, do repay you in any way I can."

As he smiled and took his first bite of the meal

"I do not want anything in return, little one. I just want you safe and to be able to better yourself as all the children of the Eldar."

With that, the meal continued with Smalltalk about what Lord Enestor had taught me. We spoke about the history of our people and even some that he had lost in the war. After the meal, we went to the garden I was shown the beauty of the skill the elves had with flowers, trees, and nature in general.

Something had changed in me. I saw things differently then I had before. I felt like I was changing for the better. If nothing else for the first time, we're happy? Yes happy is the word