The Journey
Part: 2b
Rating: Strong R
Pairing: Haldir/OFC
Characters: Just about every other elf that Tolkien created that's in the LoTR books and movies.
Warning: descriptions of wounds
Disclaimer: All known characters are owned by the great Tolkien, all others are of my own creation.
Beta(s): Marta, Kazzy, and Vi
Timeline: 80 years before LoTR and extends to post RoTK events
Notes: I want to thank Marta, Zee, Mal, Kay, Suse, Phyllis, Vi, Novedhelion, and Dorothy for their expertise. Without their input this story would not be what it is today.

This story follows the movieverse.

Summary: With no memory of a possible alliance with Mirkwood, an elleth, lone survivor of a devastating attack, is brought to Rivendell. This is her story.

"Ada, what's this?" Estel pointed to one of the many murals that lined the walls of the Elrond's chambers.

Elrond stopped and turned to see what his foster-son was interested in. It was a mural depicting Isildur cutting the Ring off Sauron's hand. "That, my son, is a picture."

"I know that, Ada! What I want to know is what it's about." The 7-year-old crossed his arms and pouted for a moment.

Elrond smiled at Estel's reactions. He knew he had to tread carefully with the information he gave the child, "That, little one, tells of the greatest thing Isildur ever did. His brother was the King of Gondor."

"Oh. Wha - -"

The cry that echoed throughout the house was completely unexpected.

"Ada?" Estel looked to Elrond. The child knew Elrond was caring for an injured elf, but nothing more.

"Go find Elrohir and stay with him, little one," Elrond ordered Estel then turned and quickly moved towards the Halls of Healing.

Tiniwen met him in the hallway outside the elleth's chamber. Shaking his head Elrond entered the room by himself and did not find what he expected. The elleth was huddled in a corner trying her best to fend off her unseen attackers. Haldir, who had been sitting with her, was just out of reach of her hands.

The march warden turned, concern marking his features. "My lord, she is in reverie, I think trapped in a dream."

"Hold her arms gently, Haldir. I do not wish to invade her mind, but I will if I have to." Elrond sank to the floor just out of reach of her hands.

"Yes, my lord." Haldir managed to maneuver himself into a position to hold her arms. Now sufficiently restrained she struggled even more which made her bleed again.

"Do not fight me. I am here to help you." Elrond spoke softly while his hands were hovering close to her head. There was no reaction to his voice. "Estel, leave now," Elrond's voice was not the voice of a father, but of the Lord of Imladris. Turning, the elf-lord saw Elrohir arrive behind Estel, who had not obeyed the command. "Elrohir, remove Estel."

"Ada!" Estel cried as Elrohir picked up the struggling child and carried him away to another part of the house. Elrond would talk with his youngest son later, now was not the time.

Turning back to the elleth, Elrond took her face between his hands and pressed his forehead against hers while she continued to struggle and whimper. From there he was easily able to enter her mind. At the sight before him he knew it was a memory she was trapped in. It was one full of carnage.

They never had a chance.

There were no orcs, but wargs were everywhere completely overwhelming the small contingency, playing with live and dead elves. Before the final attack, arrows came flying out of the trees killing several of the beasts, which made rest of them scatter. It was a respite before more of the creatures attacked. Finding her, Elrond grasped one of her hands and physically pulled her out of the nightmarish memory.

Elrond opened his eyes only to find the elleth looking at him with clear liquid-brown eyes full of tears. Before the elf-lord knew what was happening she sagged against him and clung to him, keening. Haldir must have let her go, Elrond thought. While exchanging glances with Haldir, Elrond brought his arms down and around her to give the comfort and safety she so desperately needed. "It's all right, little one. You're safe."

When the elleth calmed down somewhat, Elrond positioned her so he could look into her face. "I am called Elrond, little one. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" he asked gently. She shook her tear stained face and nestled against him again, knowing for once she was safe from all harm.

It was a long time before she fell into a fitful sleep, and Elrond was unwilling to move from his position on the floor until she did so. When she finally did fall asleep, and with Haldir's help, Elrond rose to his feet and placed her on the bed. With a low voice he said some healing words in Quenya and raised up to look at Haldir for a moment. "Rest yourself. She will sleep a dreamless, restful sleep." For now.

Haldir nodded while heading for the door, "My lord?"

"Yes?"

"Will she fade?"

"That, I do not know." Elrond shook his head while moving through the door. "There is only one other time I have seen someone wounded so deeply," the elf-lord sighed while turning to look back into the room they had just exited.

"I miss her too," the serious elf gave a sad sigh.

"Haldir," Elrond placed a hand on the warden's shoulder, "We will see her when we arrive in the Undying Lands. Think on that, and it will make the time apart much easier to bear."

"Then she will travel to the West when she is healed?"

"I do not think so. I would like for her to be under Galadriel's care until we know for sure. When she is ready I will have her travel to Lórien. I will go and speak to my son, then I will return to check her wounds and change her bandages. Her struggles have made her start bleeding again."

Once Elrond finished speaking to Haldir, he went in search for Estel. He did not know where Elrohir had taken his youngest son so it took quite some time searching for the child. Elrond eventually found Estel in the gardens, his small shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Estel?"

The adan child -- his child, Elrond corrected himself -- turned with surprise.

"Why did you order me to go?" Estel's bottom lip quivered slightly. His eyes were red and swollen. He had been crying.

Elrond closed his eyes, "Oh, Estel." Opening them, Elrond moved swiftly to his youngest son's side. He lowered himself to Estel's height and sat on the grass. "Estel, could you answer me something?"

Estel nodded.

"When you are sick or hurt, do you want your brothers watching while I am taking care of you?"

Estel shrugged his shoulders then climbed into Elrond's lap.

"You will understand in time, ion nin, my reasons." Elrond wrapped his arms around Estel and rocked him gently. You are not old enough to see something like this with the elleth, no one truly is. "She is hurt very badly in ways that are difficult for even my abilities to heal. I also want you to promise me something."

"What's that?"

"And that is to not enter the Halls of Healing, unless you have an elf or elleth with you. There are some things that are not good for you to see at this time."

"Why not?" Estel rubbed his face with a sleeve.

Elrond sighed while considering his words, "You will understand my reasons when you have children, ion nin."

"But that seems like foreeever," Estel pouted while crossing his arms.

"True, but it will come before you know it."

"I wish I was grown up," Estel sniffed while reaching down to pluck at the grass.

And I sometimes wish I were still at an age were I did not have the responsibilities I have now, Elrond thought to himself. "Ion nin, you will get to the point where you will think otherwise." He shifted Estel off his lap and got to his feet.

"Where are you going?"

Elrond didn't see why not to tell his foster-son, "I need to check on the elleth and change her bandages."

"Can I go with you?" Estel had a hopeful look in his face as he got to his feet.

Elrond placed a hand on Estel's shoulder. "I'm afraid not this time, Estel. When she is doing much better then you can visit."

Estel nodded and answered sadly, "All right, Ada."

TBC............