Chapter 10

Legolas and the others reached the stables and found Tari surrounded by the palace guards. They hadn't heard her enter the stables, but knew who she was. Legolas pushed his way through them to get to her. She was lying in a heap on the stable floor. He could see that she was unconscious.

He pulled her into his arms and looked up to see Arwen and Aragorn.

Arwen, saw the fear and pain in Legolas' face. "Send for the healers," she said to the guards.

Legolas stood, holding Tari close to him and walked out of the stables with Arwen and Aragorn on his heels.

Legolas looked down at Tari as he carried her to her room. "Tari," he whispered to her. Hoping that somehow she would hear him. He lay her on her bed as the healers came rushing in after them. "Help her," he begged them.

The healers began to examine Tari, but could find nothing physically wrong with her. "Your majesties," they said bowing to Aragorn and Arwen. "There is naught anything wrong with her physically. We feel that given her emotional state, there is nothing further we can do for her. Our best advice is to give her more time to rest and perhaps she will wake up on her own."

"On her own!" Legolas yelled at them. "You are supposed to be able to heal anything. Emotional pain as well!" he said frustrated. He rushed to Tari's bedside and knelt there. Taking her hand in his. Kissing it, holding it close to his cheek. "Tari, please, let me help you. I need you," he spoke to her. Pleading with her.

Aragorn turned to Gimli. "What do we do now?" he asked.

Gimli watched his young friend kneeling by the bed. "I'm not sure Aragorn," he said sadly. "Until we know of Tari's past, I fear that we cannot help her heal."

Arwen moved to Legolas' side. Gently, she touched his shoulder. "Legolas, there is nothing that you can do for her now," she said.

Legolas shrugged off Arwen's hand. "Leave me be Arwen," he said in a stern voice. "Please."

Arwen backed away and moved to stand next to her husband again. "Perhaps we should let them be. Knowing how stubborn he can be, he will not leave her side."

Aragorn and Gimli nodded in agreement. Aragorn gave instructions to the guards that no one was to enter Tari's bedchamber unless he gave permission to do so.

Tari felt herself being lifted away from her body. Her mind remembering a little more clearly as to what had happened to her and her family.

"Tiana, come along now," Tari scolded her sister. But with a gentle smile. "I need your help."

Tiana rolled her eyes but then giggled. "Oh that's right," she said with a smirk. "You must pick out the cloth for your wedding dress to Legolas." She said and then kept laughing.

Tari playfully pushed Tiana as they walked back to the palace. They hooked arms as they walked. Suddenly, they heard the horns of alarm in the air.

"What is it?" Tiana asked in a panic.

"I do not know," Tari replied. "Come on," she said and they began to run.

They arrived at the gates of the palace. Only to discover it being overrun with Orcs. And Rangers. Tari couldn't believe her eyes. The Rangers were meant to protect the elves and men, not to destroy them. Her eyes widened as she watched in horror at the carnage that lay in front of her.

She turned to Tiana who now had tears streaming down her face. "We must find Ada and Amil!" she cried. They held hands and ran towards the back of the castle. But they didn't get far. They screamed as they were grabbed around their waists.

"No, stop!" Tari screamed and began to beat her fists at her attacker. "Let us go!"

Tiana began to do the same. They were brought to a Ranger that smiled smugly at them. Tari couldn't believe her eyes when she saw who it was. It was Theron'. He was the Ranger that had been assigned to their kingdom. "Theron'," she cried. "What is happening?"

Theron' moved to stand in front of her and traced her cheek with his fingers. "I'm taking over pet," he said in a sadistic voice. "And my first order of business will be to dispense of your meddling father," he said and turned away from her.

Tari could hardly believe her ears. She broke free of the orc that was holding her and began to plummet her fists on Theron's back. "Stop Theron', you can't do this!" she screamed at him.

Theron' turned around and as he did, he backhanded her across the cheek. "I can and I will and you will watch." He hissed.

The orcs held tight to Tari and Tiana as their father and mother were brought before Theron' and forced to kneel in front of him.. Tari couldn't stop the tears that fell from her eyes.

Theron' looked at the king and queen and moved closer to them. "Now you will pay for the mistrust that you had in me, your highnesses," he said angrily. He moved back away from them and nodded to the orcs that stood behind the king and queen and they lifted their bows and fired their arrows into them. They fell instantly.

"No!" Tari and Tiana screamed at the same time.

Tari shot up from where she was lying down, screaming. "No!"

She turned her head to see Legolas at her side. His face paled by her screams. He reached for her and she collapsed into his arms.