"Catch him, Haldir!"
"Too slow!"
"Go on, Faelwen!"
"Got you!"
The courtyard of Imladris was filled with cheerful shouts and giggles, as Elladan and Elrohir chased Arwen, Faelwen, Haldir and Legolas around the benches and the ornate statues. They were engaged in a lively game and were taking advantage of the first time they had been allowed out to play in a while for days – thanks to the snow finally clearing.
Standing in the shadows of one of the archways, Erestor and Glorfindel watched them play with smiles on their faces. They were on their way to one of the final council meetings of Thranduil and Celeborn's stay and had stopped at the sound of the delighted laughter echoing through the courtyard.
"It is quite hard to believe she's the same elfling that arrived three weeks ago," smiled Glorfindel, indicating Faelwen. Erestor nodded.
Faelwen's cheeks were a rosy red with happiness and as a result of their running. Her eyes were bright and had no hint of fear or apprehension. And even better, she was smiling. She looked happy and content, and at ease with her surroundings.
She had finally started to come out of her shell this last week; twice she had spoken on her own, without having to be coaxed into conversation; she could look into the eyes of someone addressing her and although she still was somewhat nervous of any physical contact, she was beginning now to realise that a sudden movement in this household was more likely to result in a hug than anything else, and never in a slap.
She had stumbled over calling Elrond 'Ada' the first few times – as she was still in awe of the kind elf-lord, but now it was starting to come naturally to her tongue. She had also learnt that, no matter how many times Elrond and Glorfindel threatened to 'skin those twins alive', they never meant it. People here laughed and joked a lot and teased each other without being hurtful.
She also understood now that all her new playmates were loved unconditionally, and now her new Ada and Nana were willing to love her in that same manner. It was an immense lot to get used to, but she was more than willing to give it a go!
"I am just glad that our messages are starting to get through to her," said Erestor. "She is so much more relaxed now, even in just three weeks, though she is still terrified of doing something wrong. I swear, my heart almost broke in that first lesson."
Glorfindel nodded, remembering how distressed Erestor had been after the happenings of the first time Faelwen had attended a lesson with the other elflings.
Erestor had been incredibly patient with her, drawing out her name in clear letters and showing her how to copy them. Then he gave her a sheet of parchment to practise on, while he explained some of the history of Doriath to Haldir and Legolas, and Arwen continued to copy out some basic Quenya verbs.
Faelwen had worked diligently, copying out the letters until they became smooth and flowing. Her little face was flushed with pride, and when Erestor looked over, he couldn't help but smile.
"How are you managing, little one?" asked Erestor, as he dismissed the older elflings.
"I can do it!" she cried excitedly. "I wrote my name, look!"
She hurriedly picked the piece of paper up, and in her eagerness, she knocked over the little inkwell. It crashed to the floor, spilling the ink onto the grey flagstones.
Instantly, she froze, her blood running cold and her face draining of colour completely. She looked at the small pool of ink in horror, her eyes enlarging to about four times their size and filling with tears. How could she have been so clumsy? Now she had spoilt everything and the kind, dark-haired Erestor would think that she was wicked! Shaking like a leaf, she hung her head and turned around. Slowly, she gripped the edge of the desk and leaned over it; waiting for the first blow of punishment to fall.
She did not expect, however, two gentle hands to clasp her shoulders and gently pull her back to her feet again. With tears blurring her vision, she was turned round to face Erestor, who knelt before her to be on eye level.
"Look at me, penneth," he instructed gently, as he slipped a finger under her trembling chin and raised it. The teary eyes met his. "Did you think I should be cross with you because you spilt the ink?"
She nodded wordlessly, blinking another mass of tears out of her emerald-green eyes. She gestured to the mess on the floor, trying to get the words out, but they simply would not come. She had tried so hard to be good…she really, really had!
"And you expected me to beat you?" Erestor felt his heart constrict, and he had to blink back tears of his own. How could such a young child expect to be treated so heinously for such a trivial mistake? What had that human been punishing her for? He cleared his throat and pulled himself together.
"My dear, the ink will mop up. It is no great catastrophe, and it was just a mistake. I would never be angry over such a little accident. And if I were to beat every elf who has ever spilt a bottle of ink here, I should have had to beat over half of Imladris – and there would be nothing left at all of Glorfindel!"
His words had their desired effect and raised a watery smile from the child. He reached out to wipe her tears away, before continuing cautiously.
"And I promise you, Faelwen, that you will never ever be beaten in that manner ever again, no matter what has happened. Here in Imladris, if an elfling truly has done something to warrant punishment, it is never delivered in so brutal a fashion. Remember what Celeborn explained to you after I told you the story about the King Thranduil? I know it is very hard for you, sweetling, after all the abuse you suffered from that man, but please try to remember that everyone here loves you very dearly and no one will ever want to hurt you."
Faelwen nodded tearfully and did not flinch as Erestor gathered her into an embrace. Instead, she simply hugged him back with all the strength she had.
"She has calmed a good deal since you spoke to her, mellon-nin," praised Glorfindel. "Give her another month or so and she will be completely at home here, I believe."
"I hope so!" said Erestor fervently. "She has suffered more in her few years than most of us have done in a millennium. She deserves to have a peaceful life."
"We can thank the Valar she was blessed with those healing powers!" said Glorfindel seriously. "I dread to think what would have happened to her if she hadn't been able to keep healing so quickly."
"Elrond was absolutely astounded," said Erestor, smiling as he watched Elladan catch Faelwen up in his arms before spinning around and around, while she laughed excitedly. "She does not fully understand the magnitude of what she is capable of yet, but he thinks she is going to be a skilled healer when she grows older."
"If only the nightmares would diminish and stop blighting her happiness, she could truly move on," sighed Glorfindel. Erestor nodded.
The dark menace of Faelurinc kept coming back to haunt Faelwen in her dreams and on several occasions she had awoken in the middle of the night, crying uncontrollably and curled up as if to ward off the blows he had continually rained upon her.
Celebrian's heart had almost stopped the first morning she had gone to wake Faelwen and found the bed empty. But now the occurrence gave her no particular fear; she knew all she had to do was to proceed to the bedroom next door and she would find her foster daughter cuddled up beside one of the twins. The nightmares drove the little one to seek comfort and the twins were always more than happy to provide it, having become just as attached to this new member of the family as she was to them.
The severity of Faelwen's nightmares was revealed to Elrond one night as they all sat together in the Hall of Fire. While most of the elves were listening to a haunting ballad, sung by Lindir; the twins, Haldir and Legolas were crowded in small semi-circle around Glorfindel, who was telling them some tale of battle from the days of Gondolin. Arwen crossed over the room to sit beside her foster-sister and asked eagerly if she could braid Faelwen's hair. Faelwen agreed with a smile and sat in front of Arwen, who at once brushed her hair out – it had grown a little bit again – and began to deftly weave it into an intricate weave of braids.
Faelwen sat there happily and quietly, though she was beginning to get tired. She was very fond of Arwen, who had taken her under her wing in a very big-sisterly manner and fussed over her continually. The dark haired elfling was very gentle and spoke to her all the time as she continued to deftly work on her hair.
Elrond looked over at the scene with a fond smile, which immediately turned into a frown of concern. Faelwen was rubbing at her eyes every ten seconds. At first, the Lord of Imladris thought that Arwen was pulling her hair too tightly, but there was no sign of tears. She had looked so happy all night and he had no idea what could have upset her…then it fell into place. The child wasn't upset. She was trying to stay awake.
Elrond noticed that her tired eyes wanted nothing more than to close, but she refused to let them; pinching her own arms sharply every now and then to jerk herself back into the present. She had had a particularly horrible nightmare the night before, according to a worried Elladan, and was clearly afraid of the horrors that awaited her in her dreams. Her head was beginning to droop.
Celebrian met his eyes and they shared a look that said a thousand words. Elrond nodded and they both rose to their feet together.
"Come, Arwen, it's time you and your sister were in bed," said Celebrian, picking her daughter up in her arms. Faelwen looked surprised as Elrond did the same with her – it was usually Celebrian who put the girls to bed and tucked them in.
"I want to take another look at your back, little one." Elrond explained, as he carried her out of the room and up the stairs. "It should be almost completely healed by now."
Elrond sat down on the bed and divested Faelwen of her clothes; taking a good look at her back as he did so. To his delight, the heavy welts had faded to thin scars, but they were still prominent enough to be causing her a little pain. He put a light covering of salve on her back and then put her sleeping tunic on; noticing the way she continued to rub at her eyes.
"Are you sleepy, Faelwen?" he questioned gently. She shook her head at once, and then dropped her hands.
The reaction worried Elrond. When the twins were young, and had claimed not to be sleepy, it had been because they wanted to stay up later and not miss out on anything. Faelwen was saying this now because she was terrified. Elrond held her closer and stroked her hair comfortingly.
"Another bad dream last night?" he asked. She nodded sadly and snuggled against his chest. "Do you want to tell me about it?"
"He…he found me again," she whispered. "He took me away from here and he wouldn't let me see you or the twins or Erestor ever again. He thrashed my back with his riding crop and then shut me in this little hole in the ground. The walls started getting closer and closer. I…I couldn't breathe…"
"Ssssh, it's alright," whispered Elrond, rocking her gently. "It was only a dream, Faelwen. Only a dream. He can't hurt you now. Is that why you do not want to sleep?"
"Yes," she choked, shamefully hanging her head. "They make me so scared."
"Trust me, darling, he cannot harm you here." Elrond soothed her, pressing a kiss to the crown of her hair. "But I will give you something to help you sleep."
As he was giving her a spoonful of pale blue mixture, Celebrian entered the room, carrying a fluffy green object in her arms. Seeing it, Elrond could not help but smile. It brought back memories. He kissed Faelwen goodnight, and then went to bid goodnight to Arwen. Celebrian tucked Faelwen into bed and sat down on the edge with a gentle smile on her beautiful face.
"I have a new friend for you, my dear," she told her, and then handed her the object she had carried in. It was a fluffy green rabbit, and very cuddly, just like the pink one that Arwen slept with and the blue ones that had belonged to the twins over a century ago.
"He will sleep with you and keep your bad dreams away," Celebrian said gently. "He does not need to sleep, so he will watch over you all night. Sleep well, little one. See you in the morning." She kissed Faelwen's forehead and brushed the golden hair out of her eyes, smiling as she watched Faelwen snuggle up to the fluffy toy and shut her eyes sleepily. Quietly, she slipped out of the room and shut the door.
Faelwen was asleep in seconds, her new friend clutched tightly to her chest. And, to everyone's relief, she slept all night through without being haunted by the dark menace of that human face.