Prologue

Gasps and whispered echoed around the small village as three god-like figures came into sight. They rode magnificent horses, each of them also carrying a bow and a quiver on their backs. All were handsome with beautifully distinctive features; pale skin, pointed ears, chestnut hair. They were like the gods that the villagers were taught about personified! Each of them oozed power and calmness, yet something seemed to disturb that peace. One of the creatures looked around, as if searching for something, when a soft cry sounded, north from their position, followed by the sound of something slapping against skin. Another cry came, and quick, almost hurried footsteps.

Suddenly, a small girl shot out from behind one of the stables, followed by a woman with her hand raised threateningly in the air, ready to strike.

One of the elders who stood closest to the elves turned to the unnamed woman. "Eleanor, for crying out loud, what did that wretched child do this time?"

The woman named Eleanor turned her accusing gaze to the elder, her expression murderous. "Set fire to the stables, she did! And guess what's even better – we ain't got no matches! How on middle-earth did she set fire to the stable without the bleedin' matches? The child is a monster!"

The old man sighed and run a hand through his grey hair. "Forgive her. She is just constantly on edge, ever since that hybrid child came here." The way he spat 'hybrid child' proved to the newcomers that the child was not well-liked around the village.

"There is nothing to forgive." The eldest of the creatures spoke, his voice calm.

The other two that came with him appeared to be more interested in the little girl than in what the Elder had to say, as they appeared to be in the middle of a heated argument in their home language.

"But Elladan, the child cannot be one of our kind! Just look at her!"

"I tell you, Elrohir, do you not see her face? Sharp, well defied features even though she cannot be older than ten human years?"

Once again, the eldest of the Elves spoke. "I am Elrond, son of Eärendil and Elwing and a ruler of our homeland, Rivendell. These are my sons, Elladan and Elrohir. My apologies but they are not very fluent in the Common Tongue."

Suddenly, Elladan, in one of his rare shows of understanding the Common Tongue spoke up. "Who is this child?" his voice was smooth, and held confidence in what he said although his vocabulary was limited.

"We do not know. She came here three fortnight's ago and has been nothing but trouble since."

Elrond dismounted his horse and crouched down gracefully, turning to the little girl. Even though he knew nothing of her, he could freely tell that she wasn't completely human. A mystery, is what she looked like.

"Come here, child." He spoke, his voice soft, and extended a hand in a reassuring gesture.

The girl didn't take the bait. She stood still, only her lips moving quickly, yet no sound was coming out.

Elrond turned towards the woman that was first seen with the girl. "Can she not understand me?" he questioned.

Eleanor placed her hands on her wide hips. "That's the problem 'ere, you see. The brat never answers to my calls, only mutters incoherent words every now and again. We have given up trying to contact her long ago. It's like she ain't human!"

One of the villagers seemed to take that as his cue. "She's a hybrid, I tell you! Bloodthirsty monster is what she is!"

"Aye!" the woman shouted back, "We all await the day that she slaughters us all in our sleep!" she laughed mirthlessly at her own joke.

The girl, although not understanding what was going on, seemed to grasp the fact that the woman was talking about her, and her mumbling only got louder.

This time though, Elrond and the twins were all able to hear it.

"Nana, manke ier lle? Ho tolo, ho ndengina. Tua amin…" (Mother,where are you? He came, he killed. Help me…) the girl whispered into the air.

Elrohir paled even more. "She speaks our tongue…" he muttered. The villagers didn't hear him though. They lost interest in the beautiful strangers once they began talking to the horrid child.

"Auta yassen lye?" (Come with us?) The elf lord questioned.

The girl's eyes widened, before she smiled. "Uma." (Yes.) She said, before shaking her head at the woman who was now slurring because of alcohol overdose. "Amin n'rangwa edanea."
(I don't understand these humans.)

Elladan chuckled. "She has a sense of humour!" another rare display of his use of the Common tongue.

Elrohir was currently observing the girl with a scrutinizing gaze. As much as it pained him to admit it, his brother's suggestion that the girl was an elf seemed almost… plausible.

She had long black hair, but I wasn't straight and soft like normal elf's, but it was spiky and the back and looked almost silky. Her eyes were a dark, sparkling midnight blue, but held the knowledge of that beyond her years. She wore a torn, yet still beautiful scarlet dress and clearly worn black slippers. But what surprised him most was the large arrow and quiver strapped to her back. The weapons seemed so out-of-place that he almost laughed.

He listened half-heartedly to the small-talk his brother was making with the girl, and he learned that her name was Lilian. Not exactly an elvish name, yet not fully human either. Also, that she was seven years old. He barely supressed a snort. She was still a child. He perked up when he heard his brother ask Lilian if she needed to pack, but was surprised when she shook her head. Apparently all her belongings were already with her.

The little girl seemed to notice his questioning gaze and turned to him with a knowing smile. "Not all." She whispered cautiously.

Elladan jumped. "You speak the Common Tongue!" he exclaimed, almost shocked.

Elrohir shook his head. His brother was just so immature it was embarrassing. Lilian shook her head. "Ha… Hardly." The words seemed to come to her very slowly. "I… often overheard… Eleanor… sp-speak." She uttered.

He nodded understandingly. She taught herself what she could. That was smart.

Elrond looked at the darkening sky. He met his sons' gazes and nodded. It was time they returned to Rivendell.

They mounted their horses, Lilian sitting with Elladan, as he promised to teach her what little he knew of the Common Tongue during their journey.

Lilian didn't even look back at the small town as they rode off. She only smiled.

They have been travelling for a couple of hours and only stopped to give the horses a break. Lilian smiled softly as she saw Elladan drop the fire wood he had gathered and watched with an amused look in her eyes as he set up to light the fire. After a few fruitless seconds ticked by, she giggled and walked over to him.

She could feel the men's questioning gazes at the back of her head, as she crouched down beside the twin and snapped her fingers. To their utter disbelief, a small flame appeared at the tip of her pointer finger, and she touched it lightly to the biggest branch. It lit up, and she straightened.

"S-Sut?" (How?) Elladan questioned, completely shocked. The two males behind him also regarded the girl with curiosity.

She smiled. "I am an Elemental Elf."

They ignored her correct use of the Common Tongue as Elrond shook his head. "Incredible. Until today, I was sure that they were extinct."

Lilian spread her arms as if to say 'I'm here, aren't I?'

Elrohir smiled and ruffled her hair. "We'll make a warrior out of you yet."

He laughed at her puzzled look.

Oh joy…

~::~

OK, I know this seems weird right now, but it will get better. I have a basic plan ready and I hope that you will like it.

Any comments or constructive criticism is welcome!

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