Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I hit the ground running, my only thought is to get away from the orcs that seem to be dead set on getting ahold of me. Why didn’t I put shoes on before stepping through the portal? Actually, why did I step through the portal in the first place? I’m full of good ideas, as you can clearly see. The orcs are yelling at each other, arguing about how to catch me. I only start to really panic when arrows start flying by my head, some coming to close for comfort. I run for as long as I can, but I get tired after a while and the orcs close in around me. They seem to have wolf creatures as mounts, and I somehow managed to outrun those. There are at leas five arrow aimed at me, so I do the smartest thing that I can think of. I run. Or try to, I am hit with four of the arrows, the fifth hitting the ground right next to me. As if that weren’t bad enough, something hits me over the head and I black out.

I wake up in a cold stone cell, the only light is from a torch on the wall outside. Unfortunately I can’t use it as a weapon if I can’t get my hands on it. I stumble to my feet and notice that the arrow wounds have almost fully closed over, the one on my shoulder must have been poisoned because it hurts like hell and is still bleeding. 

As the hours go by I start to notice the veins on my arm turning black and spidery, confirming that it was poisoned. At least it stopped bleeding. As I start to contemplate escape an orc walks by and notices that I’m awake. He doesn’t say a word, just grabs me and drags me to a torture room, although not without struggle. I didn’t stop struggling until they shackle me to the wall. Honestly I’m surprised that I haven’t started crying yet. I almost do when another orc grabs a chain whip from the wall and steps up to me. I gasp as the whip strikes my back, but I do t give them anything else. I refuse to scream. I won’t give in. I’m stronger than that.

The next day they brand me with hot irons, but I refuse to cry out. I am left with almost no skin on my back, and my arm is only getting worse. The orcs throw me roughly against the wall of the cell, then stand outside to gloat. I want to get them to leave. So I sing.

Chapter Text

The first thing I notice when I wake up is the lack of an arm. Honestly, I’m less concerned than I probably should be, but then again I am in a lot of pain right now. If I was a normal person I would start crying and pass out. However I’m far from normal, so I haul myself to my feet and stumble over to the window. Looking out I see a beautiful city made mostly of stone, but it has no shortage of gardens, I count at least five. Someone chooses this moment to open the door and yelp in surprise. On instinct I grab them in as good of a chokehold as one can do with only one arm and shove them against the wall. I let them go once I realize what I’ve done and stay silent as they get to their feet.

”Forgive me. I did not mean to startle you. I am Arwen, and you are currently in Imladris.” I don’t respond, only turn back to the window and look down at all the gardens. My legs are getting tired, so I sink to the ground and lean against the wall. Arwen tries to help me to my feet but I slap her hand away. She doesn’t try again, but she does offer to take my to the gardens. I am aware that this is just a ploy to get me back in bed, but I go along with it anyway. As soon as I am back on the bed Arwen calls out for someone, but at this point all I can really do is try and stay awake. A moment later someone else walks into the room and starts looking me over. I hiss at him and he calmly introduces himself.

“I am Lord Elrond, one of the ones who rescued you. Can you tell me how long you were there for?” 

“At least a week.” He seems sympathetic, and that just makes me angry. I just want to go home. This is when my dish decides it’s had enough and I pass out.

When I next wake up there is a different person sitting next to me, and as soon as she notices that I am awake she hugs me. Now, because I wasn’t expecting this, I scream. The first thing the person does is try and sooth me, exposing her pointed ears in the process. She’s an elf. That information is enough to make me stop screaming and she pulls me onto her lap.

”Easy. I am Lady Galadriel, and you are finally home my child.”

What.

Chapter Text

What? No, no she’s not my mother. I’m not an elf. I’m just human? Why would I believe her? I’m so confused that I just end up sitting in this elf’s lap without complaint.

”Demeter? Can you hear me?”

How does she know my name? All of a sudden everything becomes to much. I have to get out. I wrench my way out of her arms and run for the door. I make it into the hallway before she can even process what is going on, and am taking off in a mad dash before she can call out to anyone. I know running away is the wrong idea, but honestly I prefer torture to information like this. To my surprise nobody tries to stop me as I run for the woods, but I’m their defense there is a one armed child running half naked through their home. I wouldn’t know what to do either. I make it to the woods and hoist myself into a tree before I let myself stop. I need to breathe. But I can’t rest for long. I need to run. I launch myself into another tree, I can travel faster this way despite the lack of an arm. I feel free. Safe. Happy. Due to my tiredness I don’t realize that someone has climbed up into the tree with me. I wouldn’t have even noticed if they hadn’t sneezed. I jump onto the ground and try to run, but someone grabs me and wraps me in their cloak. I struggle for a good five minutes, and whoever is holding me gets a kick to the face before he’s able to restrain me. Eventually I tire out and honestly this is comforting. Imma just take a quick nap.

”Sleep well my child.”

Wait what.