Chapter 5
Eradrin and her friends sat behind the waterfall and talked for a long while, until the first stars shone brightly in the sky. Then they climbed down from it and parted. Eradrin walked back home, more peaceful than she had been since the battle. She slowly opened the door to her room. Pulling back the covers on her bed, she hopped on it and was about to blow out her candle when... Footsteps trotted outside the hall. She looked at the doorway, and Elrond appeared in the frame.
"Vedui' (greetings) Ada," she whispered. He paused outside the door, took a deep breath, and walked in. "Mae govannen Eradrin," he said. To Eradrin, it seemed his voice was shaking a little. He looked at her with an almost scared expression. "Ada, what's wrong?" She asked. Elrond breathed inward deeply, and sat down next to her bed. "Eradrin, I have... to tell... you something..." He said uncertainly. Eradrin said, "Papa," Elrond flinched, "you can tell me anything." Elrond said sadly, "I just don't know how to start this off... Or to end it. I should have told you long ago."
"Celeborn and Galadriel in Lothlorien sent me a messenger a week before they left to visit Rivendell. The week passed, and I rode out with two companions at midnight to look for them. I knew a place that was hard to cross not far from home; a huge, deep river. When I arrived, a huge battle was taking place. Orcs, probably in the hundreds, were attacking the small group. I rode up to Celeborn, who was in the middle of the fighting. He reached under a large bush and handed to me something wrapped in blankets, saying the orcs were after it in the first place. When I was halfway home, I looked at the bundle. What was in it shocked me most. It was-" "Me!" Eradrin finished, looking a tiny bit frightened. "Yes. I regret not telling you. But this recent battle proved that the orcs, and Sauron-" "SAURON?!" Eradrin exclaimed. "Yes, Sauron, were after you, and still are. Glorfindel found out the Sauron part after he went down to the battle field after the fight was over. In a dead orc's hands, there was a ugly-looking scroll, with orders to find you, and kill you." Eradrin's face went white. "I feel like I have deceived you too much, but Eradrin, I am not your father." After that Eradrin just slouched slightly and said nothing, just looked with wide eyes at nothing. "Eradrin, I am so sorry..." Elrond said, trying to apologize. "It's o-okay Ad... Elrond." She said, still shocked. Elrond sighed quietly, eyes sad and voice quiet, and said, "Eradrin... There are still orcs out there, looking for you. They know you're here. You will have to leave for Mirkwood." Eradrin didn't even argue. She just raised her head and looked at Elrond with sad puppy dog eyes. "Okay, I will go." She slowly got up, when Elrond said, "Sauron wanted you gone. You might have a power against him, or a great importance to play in this story." She looked at Elrond. "Maybe I do..." She whispered.
Suddenly, screams fell out side. Elrond and Eradrin peeked out side her high window. Orcs, in the hundreds, raced around outside, attacking anything in their path. "They're here!" Eradrin gasped. Elrond glanced at Eradrin, fear thick in his gaze. "Quickly! Pack the thing you will need on the journey! Food, weapons, extra clothes-" "I'll get food and weapons. After I will grab a horse and go." Eradrin said hurriedly. She turned around, but Elrond put a hand on her shoulder and and stopped her. Eradrin looked back at him. "Be careful on your journey to Mirkwood." He murmured. Her gaze softened. "I will." She whispered back.
About ten minutes later, Eradrin snuck around the side of the horse stable. She looked up at the moon. Clouds completely covered it. Suddenly, gruff voices were heard near by. Eradrin pressed up against the stable wall, hardly daring to breathe. "I thought the she-elf went this way!" One growled. Another, whose scratchy high pitched voice creeped Eradrin out, said, "The elf went the other way!" "No, this way!" "That way!" "This way!" "That way!" "No way!" Elrohir cried. He and Elladan jumped out behind a house, killing both orcs. Elladan signaled with his head at Eradrin. "Run." She ran around to the entrance, snuck in, and sprinted over to her horse. Moonsnow was a pure white Anglo-Arab horse. She was faster than the wind and more graceful than a swan. She saddled and bridled the horse quickly, and pulled herself up. She hung her bow and quiver on her back, grabbed a sword, and charged out. Galloping out, she rode down the riverbank, killing orcs on the way. No one saw her as she crossed the river. No one saw her as she galloped into the night, trees and bushes swallowing her shape as it rode on, getting smaller and smaller.