THIS IS IT! No more after this and no, there will not be a sequal, so don't ask. Time for new things. (And maybe finish posting `Figher', maybe not.) I may do a LOTR and Hogwarts cross. Not focus on Harry but on one of my original characters outside in the storage shed. Don't know yet. Must think about it. If you have advice for me, let me know, I would really like that.

Thank you for all who have read this and I hope you like the final installment.

Disclaimer is the same and thank you for all that read this and reviewed, I appreciate it deeply.

BTW: Kleenexs may be needed. (Tiffany45!) :-)

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~*~ The Namelss Elf: Have fun doing your dance and don't hurt yourself! Read this chapter and see what happenes.

~*~ Voldie On Varsity Track: Thank you, I try to make it `spiffy'. BTW, cool name Its real original.

~*~ Tiffiany-45: No that wasn't the end! If you glanced at the disclaim you'd of known that! *looks at you sternly* Oh, well. THIS one is the end. You've been a great support and I hope that whatever I come out with next will entice you like this one apparently did.

~*~ Soccer-Bitch: Your wish may be granted, and it may not. You'll have to read and find out. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, they really helped keep me going on this story. Good luck with your friend's story as well.

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Chapter 15

The next morning broke crisp and bright and Legolas laid in the bed with Zara wrapped in his arms. She looked so peaceful when she slept. It was as if she had no concerns or worries to cloud her mind.

Legolas placed his hand on her stomach and felt the life form move within it. He and Zara had discussed it, and it came to pass that Zara wanted a son and Legolas wanted a daughter.

This was unusual because normally the male would want a son to bear his name and carry on the lineage. Legolas, on the other hand, wish for a daughter that he could spoil, pamper, and cherish. When Zara pointed out that a girl was more work and more stress because you had to keep young suitors away when she becomes of age, Legolas responded with a "No suitor will get past me. I will approve and I will know what will happen on all meetings. If I do not like him, he will NOT come near my little girl. That is final." Zara responded with a. "See, you're stressing about it already."

Legolas smiled at the memory. He sighed and gently pried his body away from hers and quietly got dressed. This was the morning that all would be decided. This morning depicted their future and what it would consist of.

He glanced back at his wife and sent a silent prayer to the heavens that he would be able to return. He wasn't as confident in his dueling skills as Lord Rinarmo was. Legolas had some talent in the area but he had heard the rumors of Rinarmo's supremacy in the sport.

However, he had made an oath to keep Zara and his family safe and he would uphold that promise, no matter the costs. He heard faint voices being spoken outside the door. He leaned over the bed and kissed Zara gently on the stomach and lips and stroked her now short hair one last time before he left back out of the room and to the courtyards.

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"Legolas, are you sure of this?" Aragorn asked as he and Legolas made their way to the courtyard. "Aragorn, this is one thing that I am completely sure and unsure about. If I happen to win, all will be well. If not, I lose both Zara and the baby." "Is there no way around this?" Aragorn asked with a worried sigh. He too knew of the stories of Lord Rinarmo's dueling.

"No. You idea of a compromise was promising, but not obtainable. You cannot stand there and tell me that if you and Arwen were in this situation that you wouldn't do everything in your power to keep her safe. Please, my friend, trust my judgment." "I do trust you Legolas." Aragorn said earnestly. "But I do not trust Lord Rinarmo. He is up to something, I can feel it." "That may be true Estel but I must do this, my family is depending on me." Legolas declared as he stepped into the courtyard.

"Glad to see that you have finally decided to show up your highness." Lord Rinarmo chided as he arrogantly walked around his opponent with his sword in his hand. "I was beginning to think that you had finally come to your senses and left this game and woman to a real man."

Legolas cocked a smile and chuckled softly as he retracted his sword from it's holster. "No my lord, I was simply giving you more time to come to /i/your/i/ senses and rid your venom from this land, and for me to spend some quality time with my wife." Legolas' eyes danced at the discomfort shown on Rinarmo's face.

"You know the terms of this sport. The rules of engagement are as followed: Anything goes but no member of the audience may interfere. First blood drawn from the torso ends the duel." A voice informed. "Get into position."

Rinarmo and Legolas placed their bodies into their traditional stance and Legolas' eyes broke with Rinarmo's to land on Zara who was standing in the back of the crowd. Her eyes were fearful but her stature was confident. She smile and mouthed `I love you' to him, giving him the support he needed.

"Ready? Fight!"

Rinarmo lunged toward Legolas, who barely dodged out of the way of the sharp blade. "Going to make his easy on me are you?" Rinarmo quipped. "Oh no. I plan on giving you false hope before I skewer you in two." Legolas retorted as he made his move. His blade clashed with Rinarmo's as they made their way towards the steps.

The crowd immediately followed the two to the steps where the rumors about Rinarmo were shown to be true. His blade was quick and accurate, each blow aiming not to scratch the torso, but to kill. Legolas was beginning to have a hard time keeping up with his opponent. Rinarmo's strikes were getting faster and more difficult to block. Rinarmo was also quite skillful in blocking Legolas's blows as well.

Rinarmo released a savage yell and lunged forward. Legolas turned to avoid contact with his torso and the blade roughly pierced his right arm. Legolas sucked air through his teeth at the feel of the fiery hot blade penetrating his skin. He dropped his weapon and grasped his arm with his free hand and fell to his knees. He looked up with unfocused eyes and saw Rinarmo looking quiet smug and pleased with himself.

"I told you to choose wisely Legolas." He whispered softly. "Your rashness will cost you everything you worked so hard to protect. Now be a man and let me cut your torso so we can get this over with." Legolas's arm was becoming numb as he faintly saw Rinarmo's blade raising above him. He knew that this was his consequence for it was against regulations for any in the crowd to help the duelists.

He tried to grasp his sword but the blade had been kicked away in the scuffle. He heard a faint outcry in the crowd and a flash of color before his senses regained aptitude. His eyes focused and saw Zara being held at the throat by Rinarmo's blade. Her eyes were fearful and her body was trembling. Tears streams streaked her cheeks as she looked at her husband with remorse eyes.

"Leave her alone." Legolas croaked as he stood on his legs. His arm was still bleeding liberally and it hurt deeply. Legolas walked several feet over and picked up his blade. "Your quarrel is with me, not her."

Rinarmo looked at him with laughing eyes. "Say you surrender Legolas. If you do, she'll live. If you keep this masquerade up, she'll die." Gasps were heard in the crowd and Zara's father tried to make an advance but was held back by a guard.

Suddenly Zara's expression changed from fear, to terror. Her mouth dropped and her breathing quickened. Legolas looked at her with concerned eyes. "It's time!" She mouthed as Rinarmo roughly shoved her away and lunged his sword forward but Legolas obstructed the strike and slashed Rinarmo across the chest. "Touch‚!" He cried as the lord looked quite abashed and surprised.

Legolas did not stay for congratulations but he instead rushed to his wife's side. She was beginning to sweat and her breathing was labored. "The baby is coming." She panted. "It is too soon." Legolas said, panicking slightly. "I know, but it doesn't matter because he's coming."

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After several long, painful, and trying hours, Araviniel Greenleaf was born. Araviniel, meaning `Daughter of the new Dawn' laid in her proud father's arms as he watched her sleep.

A lock of fine blonde hair curled at her brow and delicate eye lids concealed bright blue eyes. Tiny rose shaped lips, so much like her mother's, moved slightly as she slept. Legolas walked to the open window and stared out into the open land.

He should be overjoyed and proud, and he was, but something was missing. A lone tear slid down his cheek and landed on the sage blanket that the child was wrapped in. Legolas, dressed in morose black, thought back to the time this bundle of life and joy was born.

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Zara was in deep pain and the healer was concerned because it was too soon for the child to be born and Zara's body shape and size was not designed for risky childbearing.

"Legolas." She panted between gritted teeth. "I can't do this. Do it for me." "You are doing fine love, just hold on a little longer. Soon our lives are going to be exactly like we dreamed they would be." He kissed their intertwined hands and wiped her sweaty brow. His motions comforted her as she groaned and moaned in agony.

The healer and midwife gave instructions to push and Zara obliged. Legolas could feel the pain her tiny body was enduring to screams piercing the room. At last her body went limp and she gasped for air.

"Congratulations, it's a healthy, beautiful baby girl." The midwife announced as she wrapped the child and gave her to her father. Legolas grinned widely as he looked to Zara who was smiling gently. "We have a baby girl. I told you we were!" Legolas teased as he sat next to her and placed the babe in her arms.

"Lets call her Araviniel." She whispered weakly. Legolas nodded his approval. "That name does not even compare to her beauty, but it comes close." He said as he stared at the child in wonder. Zara kissed the child's forehead. "Amin mela lle" She said to baby and her husband before she closed her eyes, and left this earth.

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Legolas closed his eyes as a sob escaped his lips. This was not the way things were supposed to be. Araviniel was all he had left in the world. She was the only link he had left of Zara, and he will do anything and everything in his power to make sure she stays safe and happy. He promised to never have her go through all that he and Zara had to do, just to live in peace.

He could feel his life slipping away to be with Zara, but refused the call. Araviniel needed him. He couldn't save her mother, the love of his life, but he could keep her safe. She will never want for anything, he will make sure of that.

He held his sleeping daughter closer and kissed the heart shaped birthmark on her temple, so much like her mother's.

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There you go. That is it. No more. I hope you have enjoyed as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Your positive feedback has been wonderful. Thank you so much. Please review.