𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘━︎━︎L. Greenleaf

❝CHAPTER TWO❞

▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐨 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎THE SWORD ON her back felt like a feather, it's beckoning call telling her to prepare herself and use it when the time was just right. Orcs weren't fond of elves, at least not in this part of Middle Earth. Well, to be fair, Orcs weren't fond of anyone, not even themselves. Ellaria moved closer to the pack of Orcs, lowering herself from her horse and pulling her sword from her back. She examined it, the silver glinting in the sunlight. She smiled when the Orcs spotted her and went running for her. Good, let them come.

As soon as they reached her, she began fighting. Twisting and turning, killing on after the other, ducking gracefully under the swing of an Orcs blade. A smile was on her face the whole time. She spun, clinging her sword against one of the creatures, hitting his sword multiple times before catching him in an unprotected spot and quickly sending her sword through him. She flicked the blood from her sword, looking at the others and holding her sword in front of her, eyes searching for who would attack next, and when he struck, she struck back.

Arwen sat in her room, an unsure look plastered on her face. Her sister was no doubt putting herself in a dangerous situation, and Arwen knew it was wrong of her, but she had to let someone know. Even if that someone was their father. She pushed herself out of the room, spotting her father and a group of armed men. Quickly, she made her way towards them.

     "Where are you going?" Arwen softly asked.

     Elrond turned to look at his daughter. "There's been Orcs spotted on the south, we mean to hunt them." Arwen stared at her father for a moment, a deep frown pulling on her lips. Elrond could see the worry in her eyes. "I will be fine, Arwen."

     Arwen shook her head. "It is not you I worry about."

     Elrond furrowed his brows, staring at her before realization dawned on him. His shoulders straightened as his mouth formed a thin line. "Arwen, where is Ellaria?" Arwen opened her mouth but before she could speak, Elrond interrupted her. "Do not lie to me."

     Arwen closed her mouth, her eyes diverting towards the ground as a regretful sigh fell from her lips. "I do not know. She was angry with you, and she wanted to prove herself because she believed if she showed you proof you would allow her more freedom. Truthfully, I do not know where she went, but I have a feeling she's there." Arwen looked up, meeting her father's angry eyes.

     "Why didn't you stop her?" Elrond practically hissed. Panic seized his chest, thinking about his daughter being out there on her own, fighting a pack of Orcs with no one to back her up. What if she was injured? What if she got lost? What if. . . what if she got killed? Elrond couldn't think about it, he refused. Instead of giving Arwen time to answer, he made his way outside where his horse was patiently waiting him. Arwen swiftly followed.

     "I'm sorry." Arwen said. "What was I to do? You and I both know that when Ellaria puts her mind to something, there's no stopping her."

     Elrond paused beside his horse, taking a moment to turn his head and look at her. "You should have told me." He climbed onto his horse.

     "Father―︎"

     "We will talk when I return." Elrond dismissed, before sending his horse forwards with his men following after him. When he arrived at the scene, he instantly spotted Ellaria who was fighting off two Orcs at once. Multiple bodies laid at her feet, and she seemed completely unharmed. The elves went forwards, helping Ellaria finish up the fight and when it was done, the bodies were burned.

     Instantly, Elrond went up to his daughter. Ellaria watched him with a narrowed gaze, sheathing her sword on her back. "I had it under control."

     "You are a fool." Elrond hissed. "What were you thinking?"

     Ellaria's shoulders straightened, her hands balling into fists. "I was thinking that in order to keep myself from being chained to my home, that I had to go out and prove myself to you so that you knew I could take care of myself." Rage boiled in her veins as she stalked closer to him. "For years I have been trying to play the good daughter, I have tried to play the princess role for your sake, but that is not who I am. I want to be set free. I want to discover places that have never been discovered. I want to travel lands that others dare not travel. I want to be free. I want to have fun."

     "This is fun to you?" Elrond asked. "This is a game?"

     "It is not a game." Ellaria snapped. "It is what I have to sacrifice to make you see that I am not some princess that does not know how to take care of herself."

     "I had no doubt that you can take care of yourself."

     Ellaria frowned, anger being replaced with frustration as tears built in her eyes. She didn't understand. If he knew she could take care of herself, then why keep her held in a cage? Why keep her locked away? Why rip her dreams from her hands and crumble them to ashes? "If you know that, then I do not understand. Why cage me like this? If you do not trust me you can simply tell me."

     Elrond let out a frustrated sigh. Glancing to the ground for a moment before looking at his daughter once more. "I do trust you, Ellaria. I am simply trying to protect you as a father is supposed to. You are a princess, not a warrior."

     Ellaria looked at him with a straight face. "What if I don't want to be a princess?"

     Elrond stared at his daughter, taking a second to mull over her words. He shook his head. "It is not something that can simply be taken away."

     Ellaria nodded. "I understand." She glanced around, eyes staring into the fire of the burning Orcs. "You have to let me go at some point, father. I do not wish disgrace on you or my family, I just want to explore. I just want adventure."

     Elrond sighed in defeat. "You are my daughter. I do what I must to keep you and Arwen safe. I was never trying to make you hate me."

     Ellaria frowned. "I do not hate you. You are my father. You have done so much for me and for Arwen. I could never hate you." She reached forwards grabbing her fathers hands. "I do not mean to be difficult. I never meant to make it seem like I loathed you. I just. . . " She let out a sigh. "I just want to be my own person. I want to see what life is like when I move away from my title. Is that too much to ask?"  

     Elrond shook his head, offering his daughter a gentle smile. "Of course not." He looked at the burning bodies before a proud smile fell on his face. "I am proud of you. You proved yourself well."

     Instantly, Ellaria beamed. That's all she'd ever wanted to hear from him. "Thank you."

     "Let's go home, shall we?"

     Ellaria nodded, her smile still on her face as she got on her horse and rode beside her father as they made it back home.