Chapter 2
The Courtyard

I had never been so frightened as I was at that moment. The blond elf was off to my left and led me by my elbow, but not half as forcefully as he had been leading me before. I could feel his eyes on me, but I could not meet them or tell him to stop. His gaze didn't seem as judgmental as it had just outside the wood. It almost felt curious.

We passed many little cottages as well as little (and not so little) homes in trees. We finally came to a large gate that was open. We passed into it and entered into a courtyard.

"Aragorn, stay for a moment, if you can. I will need your help." Legolas asked.

"Of course." The human answered with a nod.

"The rest of you may go and rest." The prince said. The company deployed themselves throughout the area. He then turned his attention back to the human. "Take her other arm."

I did not resist; I was too weak to anyway. They sat me down on a bench that had been created out of a wide flat tree root that had almost shaped itself to be a wide seat.

I was sat down, with the human on my right and the prince standing in front of me. He tilted my head up, so I had to look into his eyes. "Who are you?" He asked softly, but still full of authority.

I did not answer. I never answered when I was scared.

"Answer me." He commanded, his voice still soft. When he saw I had no intention of answering, he sighed. The elf knelt down in front of me.

"Estelwen." I answered, my voice not even a whisper.

"Maiden of hope." The human next to me translated. "Why would Sauron name you 'hope?'" He asked.

"I am not his. I am not. Amil said so. Tawarthion said so too. He said none of us were. But... the master said we were... Am I?" I asked more to myself than the two beings near me.

"Legolas, we should take her to your father. See what he thinks. I'd say she can probably work in the kitchens or-" The human started before I cut him off.

"No!" I yelled with renewed strength. I tried to knock the stunned elf out of my way, and I did. I tried to escape, but the human was quick, and I was still physically weak.

The man grabbed me from behind, around my stomach. I screamed, because the worst of my bruises and laceration were there. He held tight as I struggled to be free from the pain, but to no avail. I looked down and saw blood. So much blood. The only other time I had seen so much was when Tawarthion had died.

I stopped my struggle. I looked up into the eyes of the human and elf. Their eyes held concern. Had I misjudged them, as they had me?

I did not know.

My breathing was becoming fast and shallow and the world spun. I passed out into nightmare filled dreams.