She hugged Lenwë close, whispering, 'Don't worry I'll protect you.' It was starting to get dark. That meant that she had missed her dinner and her tea, her tummy rumbled. And no one had come to look for her. Her eyes began to fill with tears. 'Cry baby, cry baby bunting,' that was what her brothers called her when she cried at home. She choked back a sob.

'I hope the Orc didn't hear me, Lenwë. Can you still hear it?'

She peered out of the bush. It all seemed quiet, then leaning a little further forward she saw it. Well maybe it was the Orc but it looked like an old man, all dressed in grey with a beard and a smile on his face.

'Hello, little one. What are you doing out here all by yourself?'

'I'm hiding!' she replied.

'Yes you are indeed, in fact you are so covered in leaves that I thought you to be an Ent,' the Orc exclaimed as she crawled from her hiding place. The Orc was huge, much bigger than Daddy and it had a funny hat, all grey and floppy. She peered up at the Orc. Its face looked nice, all smiley.

'Excuse me, but are you the Orc? Daddy says that they hide in the woods and eat naughty children. Are you going to eat me? I'm not really that naughty.'

The Orc burst out laughing, throwing his back in delight. How rude, she'd only asked him a question. After a few minutes of her glaring hard the Orc managed to stop laughing, wiping tears from his eyes he sunk down to sit on a log which was lying on the forest floor.

'No child, I am not the Orc, and no I won't eat you,' it replied.

'Do you promise?' she asked.

'Yes, I promise.'

'Cross your heart,' she pleaded.

'Cross my heart,' the not orc said, solemnly crossing its heart.

She stood and thought for a minute.

'You're not a strange person are you? Daddy says that I mustn't talk to strange persons.'

The not orc smiled, 'I'm sure your Daddy thinks I'm very strange. But no, I'm not that sort of strange person.'

She took a step towards the strange person.

'I'm hungry!' she stated.

'Are you indeed? Well best you sit down and I'll see what I've got in my bag.'

He patted the log beside him. Giving him her very Special Look she sat down, putting Lenwë between them.

'I'm afraid all I've got is some lembas and water. Do you like lembas?' he asked.

She nodded. They never had lembas at home. Mummy had bought some home the last time she had visited Nanny. They were all allowed a tiny bit each and that was ages ago.

The strange person broke off an enormous piece of lembas and gave it to her. He then broke off a much smaller bit which he gave to Lenwë.

'Just in case she's hungry too,' he said.

Soon the three of them were happily sitting munching on lembas and taking sips of water.

'I like you, strange person,' she said.

'Oh, that is so kind.' He bowed to her. 'I am truly honoured.' His face was serious but his eyes were smiling. 'Now tell me, my small friend, what were you and Lenwë doing hiding? Your parents will be worried.'

'No they won't. They don't love me. They only love the boys 'cos they can ride and swim and all that stuff. I just break things and get in the way.' She felt her eyes beginning to fill with tears again, so she wiped her nose on the back of hand.

'Blow,' the strange person said handing her a hanky. She blew but that made it seem worse. She began to sob.

The strange person picked her up onto his lap and gently cuddled her. He smelt nice, all woody and smokey, a bit like Daddy but not the same. The hair on his chin was smooth, not at all itchy, and she wound her fingers into it. It was nice to snuggle up against. The strange person stroked her hair, gently removing the leaves and other debris while all the time quietly humming to her. She sobbed her woes into his chest until all that was left were dry hiccups.

'Better?' he asked.

She nodded yes.

'Now what is this about your parents not loving you? I'm sure they do really,' he said.

'No they don't.' She pouted. 'Daddy is always busy doing things in his office, and I'm not allowed to touch any of it. Mummy is always with Nanny and the boys are horrible to me all the time. They tried to cut Lenwë's hair and when I went to tell Daddy the vase got broken and then he shouted at me and I shouted back and then I ran away.'