Uh... about what I was saying before about quicker updates? They will also be in frequent sporadic bursts of randomness so... yeah... sorry...

And thanks to everyone who has reviewed!

Disclaimer: I have not ever and will not ever (Much to my great inconsolable dismay) own Percy Jackson or Lord of the Rings

Elrohir stopped his horse at the edge of the pass as the elf he loved faced off the orcs. Her reasoning was sound but that didn't mean he was going to just abandon her to die alone, she needed at least one pair of friendly eyes watching and remembering her final moments.

He watched sadly as she whirled in and out of the creatures gracefully but even from this distance he could see her weakening and tiring.

He felt his heart wrench as he saw an orc that Tari had obviously though dead lurch to its feet, dagger in hand and slowly drag itself towards the blonde blur that was Tari. He couldn't tare his eyes away as the orc lifted its foul blade and plunge it into an unsuspecting Tari's back. She stopped suddenly, her arms flung out, he watched as she slowly fell forwards amongst the dead creatures surrounding her and could almost feel the moment at which the blackness overtook her.

He was only vaguely aware of hands holding him back as a surge of rage filled his body. This was nearly as bad as finding his mother, broken and half dead and his hatred for the orcs increased twofold.

He swore to himself that he would kill every orc he laid his hands on, but with a last look at the place where Tari fell and the orcs surging up the pass towards them, he continued to lead his companions at breakneck speed to Rivendell. They could not let Tari's death be in vain.

….

Gilraen dully registered someone pulling on her hand. She had lost the elf that had been first a motherly figure, then a friend and then like a sister. And what was worst was that Gilraen knew; deep down, that it was the logical choice. It did have the best outcome. This knowledge made it even harder to bear.

She vaguely recognised the trees they were passing though and some part of her brain noted that Legolas and Elrohir were also being led, Legolas by Annabeth and Elrohir by his twin. She noticed the pressure one her hand once more and realised that she too was being led through the forest, although by whom she could not say.

Her mind was too taken up with memories of growing up with Tari presiding over her upkeep alongside her uncles and the fun they would have.

Flashback

Gilraen was still very young, only two decades old, when Arwen left. She couldn't really remember it, just the confusion that when she called for her mother only her uncles appeared. He uncles promised her every day for two months that her valaramil was coming to look after her. She waited for this day with anticipation; she only had good memories associated with Tari. Tari was the one to let her climb trees and make mud pies. She didn't make Gilraen do 'lady' lessons.

Gilraen was sat in her room, her hair falling out of its one long braid and covered in mud. She had fallen into a giant puddle earlier that week ad ran for it every time her uncles, grandfather or any elf of the household came near her. She was refusing to take a bath with all her might. It was her form of protesting; until her mother came back Gilraen was refusing to bathe.

She heard hooves outside, too many to just be a patrol or hunting party returning home and realised what it meant. She raced through the corridors, ducking and weaving around the elves she encountered within. When she reached the front door she burst out and spotted her valaramil. Gilraen launched herself into the blonde's arms and the blonde instinctively wrapped her arms around the tiny elf. It wasn't long though before she set Gilraen down with a wrinkled nose.

"Elrohir, when was the last time Gilraen had a wash? Or her hair brushed?" Gilraen looked at the floor slightly guiltily, it was her fault really that she hadn't washed, not her uncles. Her uncle mumbled something and Tari swore softly, "Come on 'Rae I have something special for you in my bag. But I can only give it to you inside."

She picked Gilraen up and marched inside, and before Gilraen knew what was happening she had been dumped in a bath full of hot water and soap was being lathered into her hair. She scowled at the wall the entire time and refused to even acknowledge Tari threatening her with a comb if she didn't cooperate. She was forced to make some sound however when Tari dragged a comb through her tangled mass of wet hair.

"There 'Rae, doesn't that feel better" Tari asked, plonking the tiny elf in front of a mirror and starting to rebraid her hair down her back.

"Yes." Gilraen said, glaring at her reflection in the mirror.

Tari left her there for a moment and started to rustle in her bag, when she returned she placed something cool on Gilraen's head. When Gilraen looked in the mirror she saw that it was a silver circlet with deep blue stones set in the centre of her forehead.

"Now that Naneth is gone darling, you're the lady in Imladris so you should start dressing like it. Or at least," Tari's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper "You should dress like a lady in public. And that melui, means washing and brushing your hair. You don't want to let Naneth or me down do you?"
Gilraen shook her head, she hadn't thought of that. Her Naneth hated her being dirty and unkempt. Maybe that was what had been keeping her away!

Flashback

Gilraen sat bored in the room Tari had taken over as a classroom. She was waiting for Tari to turn up and begin their lesson on – ugh- hobbit culture. The door opened and a blond head poked its way around the door.

"Gilraen," Legolas said "Tari had a little 'accident' earlier so I'm teaching you today. I know next to nothing about whatever it is your supposed to be learning today so what do you say about some archery lessons?"

Gilraen laughed softly, trust Legolas to ignore the fact that she was supposed to be doing theory and let her play sports instead.

She rushed out of the room and past him down the corridor to her room so that she could change out of the dress Tari made her wear, claiming that it would keep her from slouching. It was slightly hypocritical of her valaramil seeing as Tari only wore gowns when occasion (or her father) demanded it, preferring instead to race around Mirkwood in tunics and leggings.

Legolas watched her run to her room and waited outside of the door so that when she emerged from the room clutching her small bow he took it away from her hand and threw it back inside the room where he somehow managed to make it land on her bed. He then handed her the second bow that was strung over his shoulder.

"Don't tell Tari" He said placing a finger over his lips.

Gilraen giggled as she recognised the carving and runes decorating the bow. Tari would throw a fit if she realised that Legolas had stolen her prized bow.

The two of them went outside where they set about practising archery. Gilraen pulled the string taught against her chin and let go. As it hit the target she grinned gleefully, it was her first bull's-eye!

Gilraen sobbed quietly to herself, what she wouldn't give to have those days back again. When the most she had to worry about was whether or not Tari would find out that she had stolen her bow.

An arm wrapped comfortingly around her, she leaned in to the warmth it provided and sobbed gently into the chest at her side, allowing herself to be led through the trees.

...

The group made camp almost robotically that night, but only after Annabeth yelled at Elladan that they all needed rest. Elrohir, Legolas and Gilraen did not quite comprehend the loss of Tari and as such had not fought against the breakneck speed that Elladan drove them all at. He too was upset at losing Tari but he would not let his twin die and as such was attempting to make as much use of the time Tari had brought them as possible.

Everyone sat in silence gazing at the fire in the centre, most of the demigods were asleep and Elladan shot a grateful look at the one still awake. Nico was leading Gilraen closer to the fire and wrapping her blankets around her, he approved of this by as a sibling for his niece; he had managed the almost impossible, getting Gilraen off to bed without Tari nearby.

He was just considering the benefits of drugging his twin and friend in an attempt to make them sleep when Legolas suddenly stood and sprinted back the way they had come. Elladan stuffed a leaf in Elrohir's mouth and ran after Legolas praying that Nico would care for the others while he was gone and that Legolas wasn't about to do anything too stupid.

He finally caught up with Legolas above the pass, looking down into it he saw that it had a backlog of foul black corpses at its narrowest point and one small pale body draped over the top.

Legolas started to talk as Elladan approached; he had obviously heard Elladan's footsteps on the rock

"She died a warrior's death and deserves an… an honourable burial. Not to be left like this as carrion for the crows."

Elladan inwardly agreed with him, but had to be the logical voice of reason for once unless they both wanted to die.

"Is there any sign of movement down there Mellon Nin?

Legolas turned to face him sadly "No,"

"Then we can go, but we must be careful, keep your weaponry at the ready and at the first sign of movement we leave. Is that fair?"
Legolas looked like he was about to protest so Elladan continued

"If we die, so will the others. Do you really believe that Tari would be pleased that we took any risk at all that would undermine her sacrifice."

He felt mean as he finished his argument and saw Legolas' face drop but if it worked as it was meant to then all was good.

The pair cautiously entered the rocky passage, skirting pools of congealed black blood and taking note of the multitude of footprints heading out of the mountains, they would need to watch out for orcs later.

They came across Tari's gleaming silver circlet, having rolled from her head as she fell and as Legolas bent to pick it up his face morphed into an expressionless mask, similar to the one they all hated on Tari.

They found Tari's limp body; face down with the black hilt of a dagger still protruding form her back. Elladan bent to pick her up but as he manoeuvred his fingers to support her neck he felt a faint pulse. Sure that it was just his imagination playing tricks on him but still hoping against hope he tried again, to his amazement there it was. A pulse! Faint, but still a pulse!

Eyes widening he called out to his friend.

"Legolas, she is still alive…"

…

Nico was in pain, seeing his sister like that. She was unresponsive to most things and he had quite literally had to force her to eat something earlier. To try and get a response out of her he hadn't even complained when Leo hugged her and comforted her when she was crying!

He was exhausted from watching her all day to make sure that Gilraen didn't fall off her horse or walk into a tree or that Leo didn't accidently hurt her and now he was effectively left in charge.

Legolas and Elladan had run off leaving him behind as the only person awake and capable of coherent thought. Even Elrohir was asleep although he supposed that could be blamed on the leaf that Elladan had forced into his twin's mouth before leaving.

Nico was sat by the fire trying to ignore Percy and Annabeth who were asleep wrapped in each other's arms. He had stopped really liking Percy in that way but still… it was better to not be reminded that Percy was essentially forever out of his reach.

His head snapped up and out of his thoughts as he heard a rustling in the bushes surrounding the clearing. Maybe it was just the elves returning from wherever they had run off too…

...

Tari blinked in the sudden light, the voice was still calling her name but it was softer and nearer now. She pushed herself up and immediately felt a sharp pain in her back, she winced and a figure moved into view.

The figure was female and had long honey blonde hair twisted into a braid on top of her head. Her eyes were a stormy grey and her resemblance was so strong to Annabeth that Tari suspected who she was.

"Nana?" she whispered, looking into the figure's eyes. The lady smiled and nodded. Tari felt a surge of emotions; finally she met the woman who had given her life!

"Where... where am I?" She asked, looking around the room in confusion.

Athena smiled, "Technically you are still in that mountain pass, your body lies unconscious there. But your mind, well I called your mind to me. I could not let it go to Hades' realm. I could not give up on my child that easily."

"You abandoned me before why did you not do it again?"

Athena grimaced "I could not stay with your father, it would have made his line insecure had he been seen with another woman so soon after his wife's death. I truly regretted leaving him alone to raise you, but I visited whenever I could. The elf maid who taught you to weave? That was me, just in another form. I've been teaching you your entire life, so you see Tari I never really abandoned you before."

Tari narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to catch the hint of a lie, "Fine, but what of the others? Are they all safe?"

Athena nodded that they were and invited Tari to sit, "We have but a little time for me to help you defeat Morgoth. I will tell you what I know of the ritual; hopefully that will save you some time my dear, but be warned it is not a pleasant subject..."

….

A/N: Please, please, please, please, please, please review! They do help me to update faster I swear!