HELLO, MATES! I hope you liked the last chapter! Thanks for Reading an I´m adding the parenthesis anyway just in case you don´t have a Sindarin dictonary or you don´t know it. THANKS A LOT, NOVAER!

CHAPTER 12

It wasn't dawn yet when Legolas opened his eyes again feeling sundely colder. He looked for Tarí, but she wasn't next to him anymore. Quickly as an arrow he woke up and ran out of the bedroom. He crossed the corridor in few seconds, the saloons and the great hall. He arrived to the entrance when the sun was barely clearing the sky from a dark blue to soft gray. He discovered Tarí down the hill when she was just about to get on her black horse and ran toward her as fast as he could.

"Tarí, dartho (wait)!" Legolas exclaimed and she turned around softly. He jumped from a high rock and finally arrived in front of her. He sighed and then he sope again. "I didn't notice when you woke up."

"I didn't want to take you out of your dreams. You were sleeping deeply." She replied kindly.

"You are carring a sword and a bow." Said Legolas noticing the weapons in her back.

"Just in case, you know. But I'll be fine." Tarí smiled sincerely and caressed his cheek. "You must also be careful." She passed her hand softly to his chest where he had the stone. "May this starlight guide you wherever you are."

"I promise to carry it until the last of my days."

They stared at each other and then he took her hand carefully from his chest and kissed it delicately. However Tarí didn't say anything else and turned around to take the reins of his horse.

"Nîn velui a lalaith veren nalú en-agovaded vín. (Sweet waters and light laughter until next we meet)" Legolas said as a farewell with his heart beating stongly. "Guren nallatha nalú achenin le. (My heart shall weep until I see thee again)"

In that moment she stopped. There was an uncertain silence. Legolas thought that maybe his heart was beating so hard that she had listened to it. She turned around and ran toward him to kiss him deeply. He kissed her too feeling his heart burning like a fiery fire and then when the first sunbeam appeared in the horizon she rode to the west. Legolas saw her disappear like the summer in the last days of september.

Go back to the west. Return to the city of elves that once was your home.

Tarí remembered the words that Gandalf told her the day before while she rode swiftly.

We will bet everything to our last card. Take all the stones and crystals with starlight that you've gathered through the years. Our hope remains in the ambition of the Lord of Mirkwood. Offer him the treasure in exchange of your freedom. If the greed that consumes most of the hearts that have lived too much is now greater than the selfish love that brought you to this quest...

"This will be finally over." Tarí whispered with her eyes full of tears. She had a will to fullfill but now she knew that it was going to be harder and more painful to her heart.

That noon, Legolas, Gandalf, Gimli and an army of dwarves began their quest to the wild lands of the north where the last dark creatures remained. Gimli realized that his Elven friend had been in silence since he saw him in the morning. Gandalf had told him the reason the day before but anyway he wanted to make Legolas feel better.

"She caused more troubles than the ones we expected when we caught her with our weapons in the forest, huh?" The dwarf said friendly.

"Indeed." Legolas replied smiling a little but still sad.

"She will be back soon. I can feel it."

"Can you?"

"Yeah, sure. Trouble makes never rest. They always leave and return, like the snow every winter. Don't they, Gandalf?" Gimli asked to the mage who was riding by their side.

But Gandalf didn't answer and just sent them a quiet glance. Legolas smiled a little again to his friend but then he stood quiet and thoughtful for the rest of the day.

It was early in the morning when Thranduil went down from his room. He had uncertain dreams the night before and now he just couldn't stay calm. Something was going to happen, he could feel it in every whisper of the wind. He didn't eat or drink anything and just went to his throne to think. Perhaps it was his son who was in danger. Quickly he sent a group of elves to Erebor to look for him and bring him news. That made him feel better but still there was something...

Tarí finally arrived in front of the great doors of the kingdom of the elves of Mirkwood. She could feel her heart beating faster and stronger and her hands trembling. She went down of her horse and crossed the bringe with confidence. How many years had passed since she walked along that bringe by the side of the king, together, searching for adventures outside those walls, clearing the forest from the dangers? Suddenly she felt younger and her heart full of an old but gret strenght that she had almost forgotten.

"Milady." Called her a couple of guards approaching to her. "Could you please tell us your name and your intentions in this lands."

She turned to see them. The moment had arrived.

Thranduil was still meditating what could cause him that strange angst when he saw a guard coming quickly to his throne.

"My highness." Said the guard making a reverence.

"Yes?" Thranduil replied still thoughtful.

"There's a lady in the entrace. She says she desires to talk to the king personally."

"Personally?" Thranduil smiled with sarcasm. "Who does this woman belives she is to come and ask for my presence just like that? Did she told you her name at least?"

"Tarí, from North Undeep, milord."

Thranduil's smile vanished in that moment and he felt a deep hole in his stomach. He stood up suddenly and his hands were already sweating.

"What shall we do with the woman, milord?" Asked the guard again.

"Let her pass." Thranduil replied and the guards left immediately. "I've been waiting for her since a lot of time."

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