Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or Ranger's Apprentice. Kari is the only thing which is mine.

Chapter 7

I dreamed that night, I dreamed of my time in Araluen, with Halt and Will. It was after we had killed the two boar, and Will and Horace had finally stopped their foolishness and become friends. Will and I were out practicing...

I frowned in concentration. Halt had set up four targets at different ranges, telling us never to shoot the same target twice in a row, or to both shoot the same target at the same time,which proved rather difficult. We even had to make sure no more than five seconds passed between each shot. I waited until Will fired the first arrow of his set, then fired mine, going in the same pattern by following where he shot. It was a system we worked out to practice quick aim.

"Collect," I said, setting down my bow. We had decided to have a signal that we were both out of arrows so that we didn't ever accidentally shoot each other.

We both turned when we heard a footstep, automatically stepping together to provide a more defensive position. I was startled to find three Battleschool apprentices standing there watching us. I let Will handle the talking, "Good Morning, what brings you down here?"*

I stayed silent, looking at them carefully. They all carried thick canes, and their expressions held something suspicious. I couldn't really tell why, but I really did not like these three boys.

Then the blonde one spoke up, "We're looking for the Ranger's apprentice."*

I almost laughed, "Which one?"

It was the red-head's turn to speak, he didn't hide the fact that he was glaring at me very well, "Both of them!"

I almost rolled my eyes when Will smiled, "Well, you've found them, what can we do for you?"

The blonde one spoke up again, "We've brought a message from the Battleschool for you,"* He was still smiling, but something was off, and they were to close. We backed off a pace.

This time it was the third boy, the tall, olive-skinned one, that spoke, "It's about what happened at the boar hunt,"* He was definitely not smiling. I kept my face carefully expressionless as I regarded the three of them. Something was very wrong, the blonde boy was still smiling, but the other two looked like this really wasn't something to smile about.

"You know," Will said, "people are talking a lot of nonsense about that. I didn't do much."*

"We know!" It was Mr. Red-head again, and he sounded angry. we stepped back again as they moved closer. Halt always told us never to let people get to close, no matter who they are.

"But when you go swanking around telling everyone you saved a big, clumsy Battleschool apprentice, you make us look foolish," the tall boy accused*. We both frowned at him.

"I never said that!" Will protested. "I..."*

While we were distracted, Blondie tried to drop a sack over Will's head, and Mr. Red-head tried to grab me. While Will evaded the sack and tripped Blondie, I took the short way and punched Mr. Red-head in the face. He wasn't happy, but at least he stayed back for a bit. I whirled when I heard Will cry out, then flew at Tall-dude, who had whacked Will with his cane. I gave him a punch to, even as Blondie recovered his feet and hit Will. I turned to kick him, when Mr. Red-head gave me a whack on the head. I staggered and cried out, striking out furiously and catching Blondie under the jaw. Tall-dude jabbed me in the ribs as Mr. Red-head hit my shins, sending me to the ground beside Will.

"Thats enough!"*

I looked up as the call made the boys stop, scrambling to my feet as they turned to see Horace standing there with a wooden Battleschool drill sword. Horace looked beat, with a black eye and a bloody lip, but the pure determination and hatred in his eyes made him quite intimidating. For a moment the boys hesitated, then they moved to encircle Horace, momentarily forgetting Will and I. Bad move, I grinned and helped Will to his feet as the boys began to goad Horace. I was about to step in when an arrow ripped Tall-dude's cane from his hand. The same happened to Blondie. I smiled as I recognized Halt's arrows.

Not waiting for Halt to speak up, I ran to the targets and pulled out a few of each of our arrows. I came back and handed Will his, he had seen what I was doing and picked up our bows. I watched as Halt dealt with Mr. Red-head. Halt had his knife to his throat and was saying something to him, which apparently scared him witless. He nodded, then Halt shoved him away. He turned his attention to Tall-dude then, making him pick up his cane and give Halt his arrow. Then Halt made him fight with Horace. I smiled humorlessly as Horace ended up spanking him for quite a while. I grinned as Blondie tried to creep away, "Take one more step and I'll put an arrow through you."*

I nodded to Will. "Make that we'll put two arrows through you."

Halt glanced at us approvingly, "Good idea, aim for the calves. It's a very painful wound."

I watched Horace then take care of each of the bullies in turn, but my thoughts weren't on what I was witnessing. The three boys did deserve punishment, and I was relieved to see them taken care of, but it was slightly disturbing to me how Halt, Horace and Will seemed to be happy to see them hurt. For me, it would have been an necessary, but unpleasant task. Yet Horace seemed to enjoy it. I shrugged it off and joined Halt and Will after Horace had laid the last one out cold with a punch. I shook Horace's hand and thanked him, but my mind was still far away...

"Kari, rise and shine! You leave today My Lady, and you mustn't be late, else the Fellowship shall leave without you!"

I groaned and rolled over... right off the edge of the bed. I hit the floor with a thump and growled crankily as I stood up. I never have been much of a morning person, despite the name the elves gave me. I huffed at the clothes Nerressa held out for me, it was another of Arwen's "Lady" tunics, "Don't tell me I have to wear these the whole trip?" I really did not mind them all that much, I was just cranky and felt like complaining. Narressa laughed at me and I pouted, "They make me look girly. And they're really tight," I picked at the laces of the one I had just put on, "And these stupid laces are annoying."

Narressa just laughed at me again and swatted my hands away, "Oh stop acting like a child and let me lace up this tunic."

I grew solemn when she said that, "In all rights Narressa, I am still a child," I looked away as she finished with my tunic, "I haven't aged physically since the Valar took me from my world. Only mentally, from all that I have seen and done," I faced her, "I am still a child Narressa. Here, in my heart, I am still a scared little girl. A little girl who was ripped from her childhood by tragedy, and not allowed to heal. A little girl who has seen and done more than many seasoned and battle hardened warriors. A little girl who has been the pawn of gods that she believed were the product of some geniuses imagination. A little girl who was used to help others, no matter what she had to pay, for many years in many worlds. A little girl who has never been able to just say, "No. What about my happiness?". A lonely, sad little girl who was thrown into the wide worlds before she ready. I must go on Narressa, no matter how I feel inside. I am the Traveler."

She looked at me in slight shock, "Forgive me. I did not mean to upset you so."

I shook my head and turned away grab my belt, shoulders drooping. I was about to andwer when there was a knock on the door. I immediately straightened and schooled my expression, "Enter."

I was surprised, to say the least, to find a whole group of elves, and Aragorn, outside my door. I raised an eyebrow at Legolas, who was leading the party, "And why have you brought a crowd of people to my door Melleth?"

He chuckled, "Your family and I have gifts for you before we depart."

I almost took a step back I was so surprised, "…Gifts?"

Ada and Arwen stepped forward with mischievious smiles. Ada heald something out to me, "A weapon worthy of the Morningstar, my duaghter. How could i allow you to depart without a proper sword?"

I took the sheathed blade reverantly from his hands, examining the hilt and scabbard. The hilt was wrought of mithríl and gold, delicate leaves intertwing around the sturdy branches of the crosstree. The andle was wrapped securely with leather, ending in an ornately carved pomel that held a single glowing ruby. It was beautiful, but strong and deadly. The scabbard was mostly plain, with elvish words burnt into the leather in patterns alonside leafed vines. I slowly drew the sword, admiring the engraved words that wrapped around the blade just above the hilt. I held it in front of me in a warriors salute, feeling its superb balance and analyzing its keen edge. I grinned wolfishly, "Thank you Ada, for this is indeed a blade beyond any I have had the honor to wield."

He smiled and nodded, stepping back as Arwen approached me. She took the again sheathed blade from my hands, and fastened it carefully to a wide, sturdy, and yet beautiful belt. She removed the belt I was wearing and placed her own around my waist. She went to speak through her tears, but I silenced her with a hug, "Thank you, my sister."

Now Elladan and Elrohir stepped forward, bearing a set of daggers. Each held two, Elrohir had a wide-bladed throwing knife and a good sized dagger that would both hang in their own scabbards. Elladan held two identical knives that could be hidden in my boots. They to wordlessly armed me, then hugged me as they stepped back.

Then Aragorn approached, holding a pair of engraved gauntlets. He spoke quietly as he strapped them to my forearms, "Wear these and remember thy brother, Morningstar." I just nodded to him, to emotional to speak. And then it was Legolas' turn. I faced him, and saw that he was carrying a beautiful bow, elaborately carved in the manner of the Wood-elves. He also carried a quiver full of white-fletched arrows. He came forward and strapped the quiver to my back, handing the bow to Aragorn as he did. He kept his eyes on mine, even as he handed me the bow, "Kari Aran, the Traveler, Elrondion," here he paused, "Warrior princess of Mirkwood."

I gasped and flung myself into his arms, I couldn't help myself. He had just declared me his. Wonderfully, irrevocably, undeniably, his. He wrapped his arms securely around me and held me close, whispering elvish in my ear. I could not understand him, though it was soothing and gentle, full of love. I pulled away slightly and smiled up at him, still unable to find words in my happiness.

"If the Prince would release his Lady for but a moment, I also have a gift."

I kissed Legolas quickly on the cheek before turning to Narressa. She was holding a large flowing cloak made up of some material I had never seen before. It was a beautiful, natural shade of green, and seemed to be made of some kind of silk. She grinned at my wondering expression, "It is made of the silk of the spiders that roam Mirkwood. Sturdy, light, and made to disguise you from unfriendly eyes. It will keep you cool in the warm days of travel, and warm at nights. Wear it in memory of your friend and advisor, Narressa."

I could not stop myself then from crying as she placed the cloak around my shoulders. It even had a flap so i could wear it over my quiver, but still be able to reach my arrows unhindered. The brooch she fastened it with was the same one I had seen her wearing at the feast. I pulled her into a tight hug, rocking her side to side a bit as i cried into her shoulder, "We will meet again, my dearest friend. Whether it be in ages long to come on the distant shores of Valinor, or as soon as this war ends, we will meet again. This I promise you."

She could not find her voice to speak in return as she pulled away. She dashed at her tears, then made a shooing motion, "Oh, get on with you. You'll be holding everyone up at this rate."

I just grinned slightly and shook my head, taking Legolas' proffered arm as he lead me out into the courtyard. I sighed and glanced around as Ada blessed our departure. I would miss this place, that is true, but I was eager to get out and see this wonderful new world. I looked back once and raised a hand in farewell to all those gathered for our departure. It was starting. The war for Middle-Earth had begun.

I want to say thank you so much to Book-nerd(Guest) and Clementine Folchart for faithfully reviewing. I hope you guys like this chapter, I added a bit of her memory of her time in Araluen, which I will continue until she comes to the memory of being throw to the next world, then it will change to a different cross-over. I'm not sure which one yet ;). I won't put in every memory though, only important ones.

Please Review with any suggestions or constructive criticism, I am always willing to listen to others opinions.

Always~ Kari