Companions

Companions
Chapter One

The trees were once again in their golden state in the land of Lothlorien, leaving all who gazed upon them in awe of their splendor. A girl, young in measure of elves but already surpassing the lifespan of Men, walked with her grandmother among the great towers of beauty, taking joy in the happiness of those around them. As they spoke of the girl's home, to which she would soon be returning, an elven guard ran towards them.

"My Lady!" the man exclaimed as he came to a halt, bowing quickly. "A great army of men approaches. They are those we have had word of, and I beg you, come quickly!"

A cry was heard coming from deep within the woods, and the elves could hear the sound of hooves against the ground. The voices of Men screamed in anger, and the woman turned to the young girl beside her.

"Find your father and tell him of this if already he has not heard. Move quickly, my child, for time fades. Go now!"

With these words echoing in her mind, the girl sprang forward. Her elven abilities allowed her to run at a speed that few men had ever accomplished. When she came upon her father he was being told of the recent events.

"-Ada-, let me help. I can fight with the others," she pleaded, praying that he would agree.

"You are still but a child," her father said, raising a hand to ward off the usual response that she gave him to the statement and smiled slightly as he continued, "and yet you hold inside you wisdom beyond your few years. If you feel you are ready, you may take up your sword, but stay near your brothers and pull back at the slightest indication of capture. Understand?" he asked, looking into her eyes to guage her reaction. What he saw caused pride to grow within his heart for his only daughter. She understood what was happening and was prepared to fight for her people's safety, no matter what the cost.

The elf nodded and raced away to her room. She hurried to the chest at the foot of the bed and lifted the lid, her fingers brushing against the carvings. Taking out the sword, she unsheathed it, nonce again taking a brief moment to admire its craftsmanship before dashing off.

"-Muinthel!-"

Turning towards the voice she saw her brothers signaling to her. They ran together to the entrance of the city, where the battle was already raging. Men atop horses swung their blades at the elves around them, but soon dismounted when they realized the real fight would be on foot. Elven archers fired upon the humans from their positions in the tall trees, striking many with their accurate skill.

The girl and her brothers rushed into the battle, fighting side by side. They had often practiced together, perfecting silent signals, and therefore they were able to anticipate the other's actions. They worked as a team, quickly felling many of the intruders. The elves begans to think that fate was in their favor when suddenly cries errupted from the forest. An army three times that of the first emerged from the treeline. Swords clashed, arrows sang, and axes flew, but the elves were not prepared for a battle of this magnitude. Many fell under the great weight of Men, others fled or were captured.

As the girl lost sight of her brothers and realized that the elven people would not win this fight, she felt arms wrap around her small form and throw her to the ground. She jumped up and faced her attacker, her sword flying towards his. They met with crash after crash, each meeting the other's blows with equal force. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, an arrow appeared, its path leading straight to her heart. Her body twisted to avoid it, but not soon enough. A scream tore itself from her throat as the arrow buried itself deep within her chest. A darkness began to work its way across her vision, and she felt herself falling. The last thought she had before the arms of oblivion took her was, 'I have failed...'


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Elf. Elf! Wake, you impedent creature!"

She jolted awake. As her vision cleared, she saw her master towering above her. Quickly she rose, the haunting dream of her capture forgotten as his ever harsh tone told her that she was about to be punished.

"You think you have the privledge of waking when you please? Next you'll start believing that work is an option and you have rights! Hah! You are a slave and a poor one at that. I feel rather sorry for the man that has purchased this wretch that stands before me," her master spat, his hand striking her face. Her weak body slammed against the wall as he hit her again and again, taking out his rage at the world on her.

The woman was used to it. She had been the 'property' of this man and his large family for half a century. Before that she had been sold every few years, after they had "gotten tired of seeing her face" as they had put it. She had grown used to being a slave, and took the 'punishments' without complaint. It had been nearly two thousand years since she had known anything else, and had lost all hope of ever knowing freedom again.

The man stepped back, breathing heavily. He walked to the door and stood there, looking down at her. "Come."

She rose slowly, her body screaming in protest at the movement. Adjusting the rags that were her only clothing, she followed him out of the dark windowless room that they locked her in each night.

Her master stopped before a door and told her, "Wait here." As he stepped inside, she could hear that someone else was in the room, and she stepped closer so as to hear what they were saying.

"My Lord, are you sure that you want to sell this elf? It has been with us for many years, and I find it rather suspicious that Lord Raklend requested this one in particular. Why would he not want to buy to a newly captured slave instead of one that is old and weary?"

"The Lord is purchasing the slave for his son. Apparently, the boy has been complaining of having no other to speak with, and thought that and elf would be and ideal companion. The man decided that he wanted an old slave since the boy has little experience dealing with them."

"But, my Lord..."

"Enough! My decision has been made. We set out immediately. I have business in the city that I shall attend to after presenting the elf to Raklend."

The last few words said were too low for her to make out and she knew that the conversation was coming to a close. As the door began to open she stepped back quickly.

"Come," he said to her once again. They set off down the long hall. As they reached the door that would take them outside, he took a long pice of rope from the pouch at his hip and tied her hands behind her back. His aged fingers tied the pieces into a knot tight enough to rub her skin raw if left that way for long, which she knew it would be. They were going outside, a privledge she had not been allowed in all the time she had been there. Men knew that elves loved nature and took strength in being around it, and so many kept their slaves locked away inside their homes where they would grow weak and not fight back. Her master knew that she would gain some of her strength back as they journeyed, even though she would be made to walk as the man rode.

He was afraid, she realized. Afraid that she would be able to fight him and win. 'Well,' she thought to herself, 'he doesn't have to worry about that. I no longer have the will to fight.'


* * * * * * *
Ada = Father

Muinthel = Sister