[LúthienTinúviel]

Tinuiel sighed. The wild girl only had one of her arms pinned, and she hadn't noticed Tinuiel's daggers. When the girl had grabbed Rûdhchamion, Tinuiel seized her chance. She drew her dagger, twisted back and brought the blunt end of the hilt down on the prisoner's head. The girl slumped over into Rûdhchamion's arms. The guards moved in, but Tinuiel held up a hand. "What has this girl done? She behaves as if she has been mistreated. We of the Green Wood do not mistreat our prisoners. Explain."

The guards eyed each other nervously, for Tinuiel was of noble blood and had the ear of the Prince. They whispered among themselves and then seemed to decide on the poor victim who would have to explain. They pushed forward a rather timid looking, young elf. He fumbled nervously with his spear. "I beg your pardon, Lady Tinuiel, but this girl was caught hunting in the forest. We..uh..had her brought to the prison..and..uh..she's been here ever since."

"Has she?" said Tinuiel. "I see. What is King Thranduil's judgment?"

The guard fidgeted even more nervously. "Well, we haven't exactly brought her before him yet."

"She had not been judged yet?" The guard quavered under Tinuiel's wrathful glare. "You know as well as I that it is law in this realm that prisoners be given swift judgment. We do not keep prisoners without reason. As you are all obviously unfit to take care of this girl, I will see to it myself."

The guards all exchanged looks. What the Lady was suggesting was not exactly allowed, but she looked so fearsome in her anger that none dared to rebuke her. The poor elf who'd been unwillingly elected spokesman nodded timidly. Then they all bowed to Tinuiel and left, muttering to each other.

Tinuiel sighed and turned to Rûdhchamion. "So, now I have two prisoners on my hands, and one with Anarya and the healers. What am I to do?" Rûdhchamion didn't answer. He laid the wild girl down on the ground and smoothed the hair from her face. "She'll wake up soon. You did not hurt her badly."

"That is well," said Tinuiel absentmindedly. She was thinking of the wild girl's eyes. They were fierce and almost animal like, but Tinuiel thought that she could see a glimmer of something beyond that fiercess, and it reminded her of her own eyes, and Rûdhchamion's, and Mornovarion's. The wild girl's eyes held the same kind of pain. The pain of one who has witnessed great evil done to loved ones, and lived to carry the guilt. Tinuiel sighed and repeated her question. "What am I to do? By law I have to bring you both before Thranduil immediately, but I fear that it will go ill with this girl, perhaps unfairly ill, if I do that now." She laughed bitterly. "So, where is my wisdom now? I fear it has abandoned me, or else is all used up." Just then, the girl stirred.