Painful Sanctuary

An: Sorry it took so long, but I am suffering through major writer's block. Well this is a short chaper hopefully it is not too bad. Well enjoy


Tayla was warm. She did not want to wake up, so she cuddled down and squeezed her eyes tight. She felt gentle fingers run through her hair, she sighed and opened her eyes. “Oh no.” she gasped. Tayla jumped out of Haldir’s arms and started to blush. “I am so sorry.”
Haldir looked up and shook his head. “You need to wash and break your fast. Your brother has already done so.” He wisely chose not to make any comment. He stood up and unfurled his legs, stretching as he did so. “This way child.” He turned, fully expecting Tayla, he no longer thought of her as the female, to follow him.
They where not far from the river that ran parallel to Lothlorien. In a matter of moments elf and human stood next to a gently flowing section of the river. Haldir walked over to Talya and handed her a small bundle. It was a shirt much like he was wearing and some leggings. “Wash and get dressed, then we will have our morning meal.” Haldir simply crossed his arms and looked across to the other bank.
Talya just stood there and blinked. Surely he was going to go back to camp. He would not stay where she was going to bath. Well?” She tapped her foot.
“Well what?” Haldir said confused.
“Well you can’t stay here while I bath. It’s not proper.” she said exasperated.
“Well I can’t leave you alone it is not safe here.” Haldir arched his eyebrow at her. “We are at the boarders of my homeland. There are things here more dangerous than modesty.”
Tayla frowned, but she looked up into his serious face and found him immovable. “Well can you at least turn around?” Haldir sighed and turned around. Talya watched him for a moment. He was so still. If she was not looking right at him, she doubted if she would have been able to see him. Standing in the shadows of the trees he almost seemed to disappear. Talya moved to the bank of the river and started to undress. Her own tunic was stiff with mud and sweat. She waded into the water and quickly began to wash. The water was freezing. Her teeth were chattering before she was finished. She dressed quickly in the cloths that Haldir gave her. “I’m finished.” she said.
Haldir turned around and the corners of his mouth lifted in amusement. The child was no way near as tall as an elf so the cloths hung off her. The sleeves hanging almost to her knees. Her dark brown hair was unevenly cut from her mishap with the underbrush. She looked no more than thirteen seasons, if not younger. “Good.” was all he said. He motioned for her to follow him and they walked back to camp.

“You sure caught that rabbit real fast Ory-fin.” Her brother’s voice preceding them into the camp. “Can I shoot your bow and arrow?”
Haldir and Tayla stepped into the makeshift camp and saw Luke bouncing beside a rather bemused looking Orophin. The elf was kneeling down, preparing the rabbit for their morning meal; while Luke talked. Luke was dressed very much the same as all of them. Though being of a decent height, the cloths did not hang off of him so badly. Luke looked up and saw his sister. His face broke out into a smile.
“Ory-fin caught a rabbit.” He pointed to the elf. “He said he would teach me to hunt. Can I have a bow and arrow Tayla? I’ll be real careful.”
Talya looked at Haldir and back at the elf Luke called Ory-fin. “I don’t think so Luke. We won’t be staying with them long enough for them to teach you anything?”
Orophin stopped working and watched. Haldir frowned. He had not thought about what to do with the humans. Was he just going to escort them to the other of of the woods? *Orophin.* he spoke in elvish to his brother. *What are we going to do with them?*
*There are not pets my brother.”* Orophin spoke back.
*They are alone. They are children.:*Haldir made an expressive gesture with his hands.*”We can’t leave them to fend for themselves.”
Understanding dawned in Orophin’s eyes. *Their situation mirrors ours. I think the same should be done for them.”*
*”We will take them to the Lady.” Haldir spoke.
Talya had listened to the two elves converse between themselves. She knew they were talking about them. They kept looking at her her her brother. She decided that he fate could not be that bad, the could not be planing evil when their language sounded so pretty. Haldir turned to her and the corners of his lips twitched. She figured that was the closest thing to a warm smile from him that he had.
” You do not wish to stay with us?” Haldir asked. “We are going home. To Lothlorien.”

Talya looked at her brother. She saw the hopeful look in his eyes. She knew if she said no, he would go with her to where ever they were going. That was just it, they had no where to go. They were being offered a home. Talya just nodded her head and sat down next to the fire. She reached for the roots that were sitting by the fire and began to clean them, to get them ready for cooking.
“Tayla?” her brother can and sat down beside her, “Are you alright?”
Talya looked at her brother and smiled a bit sadly. The pain of the loss of her mother was still there. It would always be there, but now it was somewhat lessened. Luke had smiled for the first time in days. Talya was beginning to feel that things might just work out. Orophin seemed nice and Haldir was not even that bad. “Yes.” she bumped her shoulder against his gently. “I am”