The feast was still going on, and would for many hours yet, but Kari was
not inside. She sat on the balcony edge, one leg up and the other dangling.
She looked out over the kingdom of Rivendell. Once it had seemed so
impossibly huge, so boundless and wonderful. Now it no longer seemed so,
the forests that she had once thought lasted miles she could cross in an
hour, rivers she had once thought eternally deep she could reach the
bottom. It was true, then, what the travellers said. Rivendell is for the
young, the old and the tired. Kari grew tired of the borders that seemed to
draw in around her, like a skin that she was fast outgrowing. She grew
tired of the same old routine. Most of all, she grew tired of being caged.
And caged she was, within walls of wonder, she was caged. For never once since her finding had she been outside the borders of Rivendell with permission. Once, true, she had ventured out, but she had been found scant footsteps from the border, and Elrond had been livid with rage. Kari could feel the change now, though. In the nights before there had been a halfling brought in for healing. She knew now, it was a halfling, at the time she had thought it some wounded villager. This coming had triggered some change, and it carried itself over the air, flowing through the veins of living things. The dread within her dreams, she had once known nothing of, was growing. And then there were the whispers...
Long fingers gripped her shoulders, and she jumped. Doubtless she would have fallen had Legolas not maintained his hold on her. Her cousin smiled down at her, raising an eyebrow. "titta wilin" He brushed a small strand of her hair from her face. "Why are you out here alone, what troubles you?" Kari contemplated, for a moment, telling Legolas of her thoughts, of her feelings but she did not. Legolas would probably dismiss it as a childish notion. He may be her cousin, and adored, but he was still.. She ceased the train of thought. "Nothing is wrong Legolas" she gave him a smile. "I was just thinking" Legolas smiled, and in a moment scooped her up into his arms and carried her back inside. "Thoughts are not for tonight, tonight we will be merry" he kissed her forehead as he set her down. "There is much time for thoughts" Kari did not show her puzzlement, instead she allowed herself to be whirled onto the dance floor by Legolas, where she spent the next few hours going from partner to partner, all dark thoughts forgotten.
"She is tired of this place, Aragorn" Legolas ran a hand through his blond locks, letting out a sigh. "I fear for her, if Lord Elrond does not release his hold on her willingly, even for a short time, she will break it. And then the harmonies know where she will go" Aragorn smiled. "With you, as she has always craved to do, Legolas" Legolas shook his head, turning his blue eyes on his friend. "Aragorn, Mirkwood is no better for her than is Rivendell, it will but surpress her for a little more time" Aragorn smiled, and pushed away from the balcony. He patted Legolas' shoulder comfortingly "Do not worry, Legolas, we will find something" He pulled Legolas from the balcony along with him, back into the noise and music of the dance. "See Legolas? She is content for tonight, at least, allow yourself to be also" and with that he left. Legolas shook his head and started towards the doors of the 'Hall of Fire' "Would that a could, Aragorn, Would that I could"
When Kari, tired of Dancing, turned and walked through the doors into the Hall of Fire she spotted Legolas in the half shadows. He seemed deep in conversation with a dark haired elf, who stood and left as Kari drew closer. Legolas looked up and smiled at her. She opened her mouth to speak, but as another song began she merely shrugged with a smile, and sat on the floor at Legolas' feet, as the seat beside him had been taken by another elf seconds before. She recognised the voice as that of the Halfling Bilbo Baggins. She sat, allowing herself to be swept away by his words and tales. Behind her Legolas would talk and listen at intervals, his fingers idly playing in her fiery hair. Though the singers, and storytellers changed many times Kari's contentedness did not wane along with the night. She sat with her head rested against Legolas' leg, his fingers playing with her hair, and she had no desire to do anything else. Her feeling of being caged was forgotten, along with her dark thoughts of before. Legolas gave a soft tug on her hair, and she listened, instead to his conversation. Many things could pass unspoken between the cousins, who were often as close as siblings. She recognised the voice as Aragorn's. "Elrond is speaking of the prophecy, of the." Aragorn's voice dropped until even with her elfish hearing Kari could not hear him, "and of the halflings. If we are to travel then perhaps he will allow her to come along with us. She will be more use than the hobbits at any rate." Aragorn sounded exhausted. He stood and left some time later, Legolas lent forward.
"Pleased, titta wilin?" Kari smiled and nodded, before allowing herself to fade into the music again.
She awoke being carried along the corridor, strong familiar arms kept her close, her head was resting against his shoulder. She gave no movement, no noise, to allow Legolas to know that she had awoken. It reminded her of when she was smaller, before he had left the last time. He had found her, curled up on a stone bench, asleep, her book fallen from her lap. He had carried her back to her room, then made a separate journey just to get her book for her. She felt herself slide back into sleep, lulled by the soft sound of Legolas' heart.
She awoke, and there was a bell tolling. The council bell. She stood, and quickly washed and dress, leaving her dress laid on the bed. She dressed in breeches and hurried along the corridors of Rivendell. She reached the corridor which lead to the meeting, only to find two hobbits sat against the walls, listening. Although she thought them to be on the same quest as herself, she did not want to listen with them. Alone, she could perhaps hear much more and stand a better chance of remaining uncaught. She took a detour, outside and up into the trees. She listened as Gandalf told of the Ring, and of its power.
A man stood forward. "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of my people are your lands kept safe!" Kari almost spat, so easily men became angry, she did not understand what he thought could be accomplished. Gandalf had said, had he not, that the ring could only destroy? Why would the man not listen? Then she almost moved too fast, she would surely have been discovered. The man had insulted Aragorn! She held herself back, indeed, Legolas stood by him. She watched as a Dwarf stood, and struck at it. She alone seemed to notice that the hobbit flinched, but no, Gandalf had seen, for he sat by his side. She bristled, she wanted to get in there, for as the argument started she could hear the words of the Dwarf, and the Man. Why were they all so blind?!
And then she heard it, or thought she did. There was a whispering, a dark whispering within her mind. The ring, though she did not know it, was reaching out of Karitryn Half Elven, reaching for her mind. But it retreated, it had found a better host for its plans.
The nine were chosen, Legolas of course among them. Kari felt her eyes tear up, she caught and held the sob in her throat before turning and running silently back along the branches until she came to the waterfall. Here she dropped down, and sobbed. Behind her Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood watched her go with shining eyes.
The council broke, within the week they would leave Rivendell, the Fellowship of the Nine. Legolas caught Aragorn's arm and held him back. "Kari was here" he whispered as an elf passed them both. "I thought I saw something move, but I thought it was just a bird, your eyes are better than mine, however" Legolas let his hand drop and ran it through his hair, frowning. "How do I tell her Aragorn? What do I tell her?" "The Truth" Aragorn saw the distress on his friends face and patted his shoulder. "She's a big girl now, Legolas, I will talk to Elrond" Legolas looked at him with thankful eyes, and the ranger walked away. Legolas stood a second and watched him go, lost in thought as he watched the rangers retreating form, before turning himself, and heading out the way he had saw Kari go.
"Why do you cry, Lady Elf?" Kari jumped, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She turned and looked over her shoulder. The man stood there, he was tall, brown blond hair fell over his shoulders. He smiled down at her, and she managed to pull up a smile in return. "Why do you Cry, Beautiful one?" Kari took a breath. "The world is a cruel place. My Aratoamin leaves tomorrow, and I fear he will not return" The man looked confused as he sat beside her. "I fear I know little elfish, Is he your lover?" Kari burst out laughing, then to soothe his feelings replied. "Aratoamin means Champion. He is my cousin, Legolas" The man nodded. "He was at the meeting, was he not?" "He may have been, I would not know" The man laughed. "No need to guard your back with me, Lady, I am no traitor, I will not sell you out" Kari looked at him and smiled. There passed a moment, and he stood, bidding his farewell as he walked off. She paused a while looking over the waterfall.
"Come out, Legolas" The elven prince came out as silently as he had arrived, and sat beside her. There was another silence before he said. "Aratoamin?" He questioned, and smiled. Kari relaxed and lent against him "Amin liy llie selen, ent Amin dele ten' llie . Amin sint llie poldora aul eny leha Amin sal' del tanya llie n' entul" (I love you Cousin, and I worry about You. I know your strength in battle but I still worry that you will not return) Kari sighed, relieved that Legolas knew now how she felt, and at the same time ashamed that she had told him. Legolas sighed, and hugged her close. He kissed her forehead. "I always come back Amin Cartel" (My Rose) he looked out over the waterfall. "Aragorn is talking to Lord Elrond, I want you to come with us, and Aragorn agrees with me"
There was a soft sound behind them, and Aragorn stepped out from under the trees.
"Amin cael beth" (I have word)
And caged she was, within walls of wonder, she was caged. For never once since her finding had she been outside the borders of Rivendell with permission. Once, true, she had ventured out, but she had been found scant footsteps from the border, and Elrond had been livid with rage. Kari could feel the change now, though. In the nights before there had been a halfling brought in for healing. She knew now, it was a halfling, at the time she had thought it some wounded villager. This coming had triggered some change, and it carried itself over the air, flowing through the veins of living things. The dread within her dreams, she had once known nothing of, was growing. And then there were the whispers...
Long fingers gripped her shoulders, and she jumped. Doubtless she would have fallen had Legolas not maintained his hold on her. Her cousin smiled down at her, raising an eyebrow. "titta wilin" He brushed a small strand of her hair from her face. "Why are you out here alone, what troubles you?" Kari contemplated, for a moment, telling Legolas of her thoughts, of her feelings but she did not. Legolas would probably dismiss it as a childish notion. He may be her cousin, and adored, but he was still.. She ceased the train of thought. "Nothing is wrong Legolas" she gave him a smile. "I was just thinking" Legolas smiled, and in a moment scooped her up into his arms and carried her back inside. "Thoughts are not for tonight, tonight we will be merry" he kissed her forehead as he set her down. "There is much time for thoughts" Kari did not show her puzzlement, instead she allowed herself to be whirled onto the dance floor by Legolas, where she spent the next few hours going from partner to partner, all dark thoughts forgotten.
"She is tired of this place, Aragorn" Legolas ran a hand through his blond locks, letting out a sigh. "I fear for her, if Lord Elrond does not release his hold on her willingly, even for a short time, she will break it. And then the harmonies know where she will go" Aragorn smiled. "With you, as she has always craved to do, Legolas" Legolas shook his head, turning his blue eyes on his friend. "Aragorn, Mirkwood is no better for her than is Rivendell, it will but surpress her for a little more time" Aragorn smiled, and pushed away from the balcony. He patted Legolas' shoulder comfortingly "Do not worry, Legolas, we will find something" He pulled Legolas from the balcony along with him, back into the noise and music of the dance. "See Legolas? She is content for tonight, at least, allow yourself to be also" and with that he left. Legolas shook his head and started towards the doors of the 'Hall of Fire' "Would that a could, Aragorn, Would that I could"
When Kari, tired of Dancing, turned and walked through the doors into the Hall of Fire she spotted Legolas in the half shadows. He seemed deep in conversation with a dark haired elf, who stood and left as Kari drew closer. Legolas looked up and smiled at her. She opened her mouth to speak, but as another song began she merely shrugged with a smile, and sat on the floor at Legolas' feet, as the seat beside him had been taken by another elf seconds before. She recognised the voice as that of the Halfling Bilbo Baggins. She sat, allowing herself to be swept away by his words and tales. Behind her Legolas would talk and listen at intervals, his fingers idly playing in her fiery hair. Though the singers, and storytellers changed many times Kari's contentedness did not wane along with the night. She sat with her head rested against Legolas' leg, his fingers playing with her hair, and she had no desire to do anything else. Her feeling of being caged was forgotten, along with her dark thoughts of before. Legolas gave a soft tug on her hair, and she listened, instead to his conversation. Many things could pass unspoken between the cousins, who were often as close as siblings. She recognised the voice as Aragorn's. "Elrond is speaking of the prophecy, of the." Aragorn's voice dropped until even with her elfish hearing Kari could not hear him, "and of the halflings. If we are to travel then perhaps he will allow her to come along with us. She will be more use than the hobbits at any rate." Aragorn sounded exhausted. He stood and left some time later, Legolas lent forward.
"Pleased, titta wilin?" Kari smiled and nodded, before allowing herself to fade into the music again.
She awoke being carried along the corridor, strong familiar arms kept her close, her head was resting against his shoulder. She gave no movement, no noise, to allow Legolas to know that she had awoken. It reminded her of when she was smaller, before he had left the last time. He had found her, curled up on a stone bench, asleep, her book fallen from her lap. He had carried her back to her room, then made a separate journey just to get her book for her. She felt herself slide back into sleep, lulled by the soft sound of Legolas' heart.
She awoke, and there was a bell tolling. The council bell. She stood, and quickly washed and dress, leaving her dress laid on the bed. She dressed in breeches and hurried along the corridors of Rivendell. She reached the corridor which lead to the meeting, only to find two hobbits sat against the walls, listening. Although she thought them to be on the same quest as herself, she did not want to listen with them. Alone, she could perhaps hear much more and stand a better chance of remaining uncaught. She took a detour, outside and up into the trees. She listened as Gandalf told of the Ring, and of its power.
A man stood forward. "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of my people are your lands kept safe!" Kari almost spat, so easily men became angry, she did not understand what he thought could be accomplished. Gandalf had said, had he not, that the ring could only destroy? Why would the man not listen? Then she almost moved too fast, she would surely have been discovered. The man had insulted Aragorn! She held herself back, indeed, Legolas stood by him. She watched as a Dwarf stood, and struck at it. She alone seemed to notice that the hobbit flinched, but no, Gandalf had seen, for he sat by his side. She bristled, she wanted to get in there, for as the argument started she could hear the words of the Dwarf, and the Man. Why were they all so blind?!
And then she heard it, or thought she did. There was a whispering, a dark whispering within her mind. The ring, though she did not know it, was reaching out of Karitryn Half Elven, reaching for her mind. But it retreated, it had found a better host for its plans.
The nine were chosen, Legolas of course among them. Kari felt her eyes tear up, she caught and held the sob in her throat before turning and running silently back along the branches until she came to the waterfall. Here she dropped down, and sobbed. Behind her Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood watched her go with shining eyes.
The council broke, within the week they would leave Rivendell, the Fellowship of the Nine. Legolas caught Aragorn's arm and held him back. "Kari was here" he whispered as an elf passed them both. "I thought I saw something move, but I thought it was just a bird, your eyes are better than mine, however" Legolas let his hand drop and ran it through his hair, frowning. "How do I tell her Aragorn? What do I tell her?" "The Truth" Aragorn saw the distress on his friends face and patted his shoulder. "She's a big girl now, Legolas, I will talk to Elrond" Legolas looked at him with thankful eyes, and the ranger walked away. Legolas stood a second and watched him go, lost in thought as he watched the rangers retreating form, before turning himself, and heading out the way he had saw Kari go.
"Why do you cry, Lady Elf?" Kari jumped, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She turned and looked over her shoulder. The man stood there, he was tall, brown blond hair fell over his shoulders. He smiled down at her, and she managed to pull up a smile in return. "Why do you Cry, Beautiful one?" Kari took a breath. "The world is a cruel place. My Aratoamin leaves tomorrow, and I fear he will not return" The man looked confused as he sat beside her. "I fear I know little elfish, Is he your lover?" Kari burst out laughing, then to soothe his feelings replied. "Aratoamin means Champion. He is my cousin, Legolas" The man nodded. "He was at the meeting, was he not?" "He may have been, I would not know" The man laughed. "No need to guard your back with me, Lady, I am no traitor, I will not sell you out" Kari looked at him and smiled. There passed a moment, and he stood, bidding his farewell as he walked off. She paused a while looking over the waterfall.
"Come out, Legolas" The elven prince came out as silently as he had arrived, and sat beside her. There was another silence before he said. "Aratoamin?" He questioned, and smiled. Kari relaxed and lent against him "Amin liy llie selen, ent Amin dele ten' llie . Amin sint llie poldora aul eny leha Amin sal' del tanya llie n' entul" (I love you Cousin, and I worry about You. I know your strength in battle but I still worry that you will not return) Kari sighed, relieved that Legolas knew now how she felt, and at the same time ashamed that she had told him. Legolas sighed, and hugged her close. He kissed her forehead. "I always come back Amin Cartel" (My Rose) he looked out over the waterfall. "Aragorn is talking to Lord Elrond, I want you to come with us, and Aragorn agrees with me"
There was a soft sound behind them, and Aragorn stepped out from under the trees.
"Amin cael beth" (I have word)