Beyond the Forest {Hobbit fanfic}

4. Seeking Safety

Soon after Melda's escape, the king received the news from the guards.

"Melda, my child!" He exclaimed, "How long ago did she flee?"

The four guards exchanged looks before replying, "Before dawn, sir. She left no sign." The king held his forehead in his hand, slightly shaking his head side to side.

"Has there been no word from the Silvan Guards? No sights? Nothing?" Thranduil had clear desperation in his voice.

"I'm afraid not, my king. She left no footprints behind."

The king seemed to shuffle the facts in his mind, deciding on the next possible step to seize the problem. For a while, he thought, confusing the guards on his outcome. But finally he spoke, "There is only one possible solution. Send out a reward for her safe return. She will be worth gold and jewels, just being her back." He had now stood on his feet, coming forth to his guards with the request. They nodded, carrying out their order and left.

That day the news was sent out across the map, and it spread as far as Rivendell.

••••

Melda did not stop running until she felt completely safe, which did not happen for over an hour. She fled as far as the edge of the forest and at the time she didn't know how far she was to freedom.

Carefully, she set the child on the ground. The young girl with pain in her eyes, stared into Melda's own. Her frail hands covered her wound as if protecting it from harm, but it made her flinch when she made the slightest contact. Melda had ripped up one of her shirts that she had packed, wrapping the strips of Elvish fabric around the girls leg. Then slowly, they began to walk.

It took less them an hour for the two to make it to the open plain outside of the forest. Melda could barely believe the beauty of the long grass that blew in the wind like ocean waves. The sky was turning darker by the minute and the air colder. So, the girl suggested building a fire, and camping for the night.

They found a grassless spot behind a few isolated trees a few meters away. It consisted of a few rocks and dead leaves that barely covered the ground. Melda brushed them aside and broke a few branches from the trees, making a small pile and lighting them ablaze. They crowded around the small fire that provided heat.

For almost an hour, they were silent, until the girl spoke out, "You're an elf." She simply commented, "Do you live in that forest?"

Melda looked up, taking her gaze off the golden flames, "I live in a realm hidden in the forest, but it is kept from the world." Slowly, her gaze returned to its original spot, the dancing flames reflecting off her eyes.

"So, you ran away?" The girl had curiosity in her eyes.

"Indeed." Melda had a jolt of pain hit her heart, giving her a hint of sadness. But she did not want to be sold to another kingdom, so anyways she would have left one way or another, "It was not an easy decision. But it had to be done."

The girl was silent for a few more minutes. She didn't move, only her eyes flickered from the fire to Melda and back.

"Why did you leave?"

"I rather not speak of it," Melda's face sunk in sadness just thinking of her father's greed, and she wondered what he possibly was doing now.

"I understand," Slowly, the girl began to lie down on the floor, with only her arm supporting her head. She twisted and turned, her back to the fire.

Melda watched her for a while, thinking that she had gone to sleep, but just as she prepared herself, the girl's voice was heard, "I'm Erwen, what's your name?"

"Melda."

Slowly, the young girl and elf went to sleep, until the sound of padding footsteps was heard near the break of dawn.

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