Chapter VII

60 years later.

Gwirith 04th 3002 T.A

16 years before the War of the Ring.

There was commotion down by the eastern docks of Pelargir, the great port of Gondor. A young girl was seen being chased by two large dock workers who were shouting profanities and accusing her of stealing priceless jewels that had recent sailed in especially to be sent to the Capital.

Eliel dashed madly over the docks, her petite frame made it easier to be nimble over the water-logged boardwalk. She took a quick turn into an alley that led to the main marketplace where she hoped she could blend in with the hordes of customers and merchants alike. She knew she was still being pursued and ironically thanked her height this one time for keeping her hidden. "Someone catch that thief, quickly" yelled the larger man. She knew that there was no guarantee she'd survive if she got caught but she could not help herself. The girl was drawn to the jewels like it was in her nature, lured to the mystical serpent green, pomegranate and water-blue colours that just so happened to be worth a lot.

She sprinted as swiftly as she could towards the northern villas where her mother had an apothecary shop, but first she would have to lose the furious trail. She made a sharp turn around the textile stall hoping to lose them but instead she lost the hood and her long brunette hair had fallen out and was now another identifier. Curiosity got the better of her and she glanced over her shoulder and instantly regretted it, they were right behind her and not to mention the nine guards that had also joined the pursuit at some time.

Eliel forgot how long she had been running, she maneuvered her through the crowd. Luckily she was short enough to evade the notice of her hunters. She wasn't that undersized just small for being part elf, that's just what her mother tells her. She started a slow pace now and was convinced that the trail of her disappeared in the spring breeze, Eliel walked back to 'The Apothecary's Satchel' a shop her mother owned since her family moved to Pelargir.

"Now what could have you gotten into that has made you look worn out and drenched in sweat?" Sonir asked her daughter? The old woman was not the same as she used to be, 59 years can do an awful lot. Golden hair replaced with white and her childlike skin was overrun with blemishes and creases but she was as young as heart as girl who looked like she was barely 19 summers.

"Nothing at all mother." Sonir was doubtful of Eliel but it was always her best interest to let the girl do whatever she wanted. The woman looked at the 59 year old girl and wished she could be a half-breed elf, her skin as youthful as ever the healthiest brown hair you ever did see. Sonir remembered what the elf mother looked like and it seems that all she got from her was her hair length, slender frame and piercing green eyes, the rest must have been her father whoever he was.

"Well did you return what I asked for?" Eliel froze. The main reason she was down at the docks this morning was to collect a fungal pod that was commonly found in resistant brews and could sometimes be used as a healing plants. "I will take that look as a no shall I?" Stared into the apologetic deeps pools of moss that was her daughter's eyes.

"I am sorry mother. Would you like me to return?" before Sonir could answer there was a loud knock on the door. Eliel quickly slid the pouch of jewels up her sleeve and answered the door. Stood before her was two Gondor Guards with weapons at the ready.

"Eliel Nirn?" One of the men spoke.

"And to whom do I owe the pleasure?" She replied sarcastically with the most mischievous grin. "Eliel, Behave." Sonir then staggered towards Guards "Now what may I ask are you here for?"

"A thief was last seen heading this way with something quiet valuable, and many traders say that the half-breed Eliel here seemed quite in a rush"

"Are you accusing me of something or was that a statement of prejudiced?" Eliel asked politely "It was neither, just doing our job Miss." the arrogant companion added. "I think it would be best if you left my shop. Good day." Sonir shut the door rather hastily. "What have you done now?"

"I did not do anything. They just needed something to blame" Eliel argued back "What did you steal?" Sonir persisted.

"I did not steal anything, you are just jumping to assumptions again"

"It is not my fault my daughter is a petty criminal" this sent the young half breed over the edge. She might look sweet and graceful but her temper and stubbornness was as short, as well a dwarf.

"I am not a petty criminal, I know the difference between right and wrong and I am not going to stand here any longer to listen to these accusations " Eliel grabbed her hood and bow then continued outside. She knew she was a liar and petty criminal but she was doing it for the good, she was planning to trade them in for gold or use them to get necessary items. Who was she to judge the half-bred? Sonir wasn't even her birth mother. 'But she raised you when your own mother did not want you.' A reasonable voice in her head spoke.

Eliel's thought travelled along with her feet, going from thoughts of her mother and her father. Who they were, how they fell in love, if they were even in love and why they did not want her. Maybe Eliel was a bastard as well as abomination. With that thought she needed to let off these negative feelings clouding her mind, she took her bow and made her way to the stables just outside the harbor.