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Haradhel nodded. "I think though," she said, glancing at Shiara, "that what she needs now is rest. Ahren, will you take her to Arwen's old room? Help her get settled in?"

Ahren nodded and held out his hand to Shiara. "Come," he smiled gently at her. "We have a room and a bed for you, I'm sure you must be exhausted after all that travel."

Shiara looked down at Ahren's hand, and after a moment's hesitation she reached out and placed her hand in his. "Thank you," she said quietly. And then she followed Ahren out of the playroom.

Haradhel hesitated a moment, and a cloud passed over her face.

"I don't know," she said softly. "I have to admit, it's going to be a long time before she can heal ... emotionally, I mean. She doesn't even trust me, and shes terrified of everyone ... she seems to have accepted Ahren in some ways, though that may be because he was the one to have broken her out of the fortress. Still ..."

She lowered her eyes, thinking back to the bath she had helped Shiara to take.

"I've never heard of anyone being as badly treated as Shiara," she murmured sadly, "or seen anyone nearly as scarred. You know what Halmir looks like ... his face is so scarred that he frightens most people the first time they meet him. He's grotesque. And yet ... even that is nothing compared to the scars that cover Shiara's body. It's almost as if ... as if they had been deliberately trying not to leave any scars that showed around her clothes. As if they were trying to keep her outward appearance whole, for some reason. I can't even begin to imagine why."

She looked up at Donovan again.

"But even that is nothing in comparison to the damage to her spirit, to her soul. She is a shell of a being, afraid of everyone, male or female, dwarf, human, or elf-kind. Ahren said that she was trapped there ten years ... and she is still so young ... can she even remember what it is to feel kindness at the hands of another? She does not accept it now. She is afraid of kindness, just as she is afraid of abuse. In all honesty, I don't know what Ahren did to get her to accept him ... my only hope is that he can continue to help her so that someday she might be able to live a normal life."

Haradhel couldn't help but laugh at that. "You make it sound as if Ahren is some kind of monster," she smiled at Donovan, "someone who is difficult to accept. But I now what you mean. The fact that there is someone who doesn't utterly terrify her is a good sign. And I know that there is much that we can do for her here."

There were many people here who could help, whether the aid was physical, medical, or emotional.

"I wonder if it wouldn't be good for her to meet Shael," she mused aloud.

Haradhel nodded. "That's what I mean," she murmured softly. "By speaking with Shael, perhaps Shiara can learn that it is possible to overcome her past, and have a life of her own where she can be happy."

She smiled faintly. "Still, even for Shael it took a long time. Perhaps the fact that she could get over it at all is due to the fact that she never knew the worst that had been done to her. Shiara does not have that advantage. She knows all of it, and I doubt if she will ever forget it."

Haradhel nodded. "That will be fine. We'll make sure to have everything documented for you, just in case. After all, we never know who's going to be here when you come, or who will be able to tell you what's all been going on."

She rubbed her hands together. "I'll go find Elrohir and bring him back here, I'm not sure if he knows Ahren is back yet." She turned and left the playroom.

Ahren was sitting in a corner in Arwen's old bedroom, which seemed as though it might become Shiara's room, sitting in a chair and watching over her. He smiled at Saki and motioned for her to come in. Why not? It was after all her job to meet the new rescuees and try to make them feel better.

Shiara was asleep, curled up under the blanket, one hand clenched tightly around a handful of it, and her expression was anxious, despite her sleeping state. It was clear that she was only sleeping lightly, even though she was so exhausted by her ordeal as well as the journey.

Gentle though Saki was, Shiara woke with a start, and she sat up abruptly, holding the blanket tightly to herself. She stared down at Saki, her expression amazed. But for all that she was surprised, there was no fear in her gaze.

"What ... what are you?" she asked in a whisper, though she clearly didn't expect a reply. She looked over to Ahren for an answer, but he simply smiled and nodded back at Saki.