Disclaimer: Still on the Monkeys and cucumbers.
A/N: Ok, here goes. . . I would like to thank two people for reading my story this far. This is for namarie2legolas and Dunthonwen. You two have kept up with the story and keep me writing. I think one of the new favorites in this story for me would be Yami. He reminds me of my dog that died last year on this same day. Enough babbling, here is the next chapter.
Chapter Nine: The Tiger of Imladris
Kevaline sat down in the dinning room, closing her eyes as the warriors called to her. "Melamin, what ails you?"
Kevaline opened her eyes and looked over at Elrohir. She smiled at him, "I am not sure. It seems everyone thinks I am a little pale, and I don't feel so great. . ." She glared as he opened his mouth to speak, "And if you say why don't you go to the healers, I will punch your face."
Elrohir changed his tactics, "Kevaline, remember, we are to go riding this evening. I hope you feel better after lunch."
Kevaline leaned over to him and kissed him. She then winked, "Don't worry, I will be fine."
"Where are you to go after breakfast?" Elrond asked, coming in on the conversation.
"I am going to take a walk in the woods with Yami," Kevaline smiled.
"Elrohir will accompany you," Elrond stated.
"But!" Kevaline yelled.
"No, Kevaline, the orcs have been restless for the past few weeks. I do not wish anything to happen to you for Elrohir would surely die if you were harmed." Elrond sighed, staring into Kevaline's eyes.
Kevaline sighed, "Very well, just as long as I am not stuck with Elladan than I will survive."
Elrond grinned at her, "Well then, maybe I should have Elladan accompany you instead."
"NO!" Kevaline yelled, "That's not funny 'Rond!" She gasped and quickly put her hand over her mouth, finally realizing that she had said his nickname in front of everyone.
Kirwine smiled wickedly at her as whispering started up in the dinning hall. Kevaline's eyes stated that she was sorry for yelling it. Elrond just shrugged as Kevaline looked at him. Kirwine's smile disappeared as she heard a couple of comments. "So Kev, you've giving your future father a nickname already?" or "Kev, we didn't think you thought that way about our lord!"
Kevaline sunk down in her chair, totally embarrassed. Elrohir chuckled, "Well it seems to me that you have the approval of the warriors!"
Kevaline whimpered, "I hate myself!" She desperately looked at Elrond and stated quietly, "I'm sorry 'Rond, I didn't mean to say it, it just came flowing out."
"No apologies needed my dear," Elrond winked, "after all, the warriors think it is a new nickname that you have thought up for me because I am to become your future father."
"Yes, do not worry about it, Kevaline," Haldir smiled. He nodded to Elrond, "I think lord Elrond will forgive you, I don't think anyone could hold a grudge against you. . ."
"Then you don't seem to see Kirwine down there, glaring at Kevaline," Elrohir chuckled as Kevaline glared right back.
"She will be the first to go after I marry you!" Kevaline growled, not taking her eyes off of Kirwine, "Even if I have to throw her out myself!"
"It seems that you are making plans already," Elrohir whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver.
She pulled away from Elrohir, gasping for breath and not quite sure why, "I guess I am." She then stood up, trying to control her shivering, "Well, I guess I should go for that walk now. I want to make it back before lunch." She then walked out, talking to herself, "Get a grip on yourself, you are marrying him in two days time, why are you acting like you just met him?"
"Yes, I would love to know that." Elrohir stated, putting his arm around her waist as they walked back to her room. "You have been acting a little strange lately, ever since you found out about your past life."
Kevaline stared into his eyes, sighing as it brought her calmness, "I think that my old life is trying to spice a few things up in my life, the top of the list is love." She kissed him on the cheek, "But don't worry, you are the only one that I love, and you are the only one I will love."
Elrohir smirked, "That is good news to me!"
Kevaline sighed as she walked through the trees with Yami, Elrohir on her right side. The trees seemed to comfort her, giving her a sense of freedom that she could never feel. The three of them had been out for about two hours.
Elrohir quickly glanced at Kevaline's face, "Kev, my sweet, where do you plan on going in these woods?"
Kevaline looked up at the sky, shrugging, "I don't know, I was hoping you would pick somewhere, seeing as you know these woods better than me." She then smiled at him, "Well, where do you plan on going?"
Elrohir couldn't help but laugh at Kevaline, she was still the same in his eyes, "Kevaline, I am afraid that I really don't know where I plan on going. I plan on following you even to death, if that means that I have to jump into mount doom after you then I will!"
Kevaline felt her heart start to race, "Elrohir, why would you say that? I mean, one of us has to survive to watch over Andrew, Elladan, and Legolas. . . If no one was there to stop them from doing stupid things, then Middle Earth would be doomed as we know it!" She stopped dead in her tracks as Yami growled in front of her. "What is wrong Yami?"
*I smell something, I am going to check it out!* Yami growled and then dashed off into the woods.
"How much you want to bet that he just did that to get us alone?" Kevaline sighed as Elrohir came to stand even closer to her, hand on his sword hilt.
"No, I sense something foul in the woods, I don't know what though," Elrohir stated, grabbing Kevaline's hand with his free one.
"Melamin, are you sure?" Kevaline asked.
"Shh, stay still and feel for yourself!" Elrohir silently commanded.
Kevaline did as she was told, gasping quietly as she felt it is well. She reached out with her mind *Yami, what is it?*
*I don't know what it was, but it ran off as soon as I reached the clearing it was in.* was Yami's answer. *I'm coming back.*
Kevaline let out a sigh, "We are safe now, that thing ran. . ."
"I think after Yami returns that we get back home." Elrohir desperately stated.
Kevaline smiled at him and bowed, "As you wish my lord. . ."
"Stop that!" Elrohir desperately stated. He grabbed her waist as she bowed, causing her to straighten up. He laughed, "Ticklish are we?"
"Not fair!" Kevaline yelled as Elrohir started to tickle her, "Please let me go!" She buried her face in his chest and continued to laugh, tears forming in her eyes. An idea then struck her. She pinched his sides as a reminder to stop tickling her.
"Ok, I give up!" Elrohir yelled, stopping his tirade of tickling. He then wrapped his arms around Kevaline's back, trapping her in a hug. He smiled as she looked up into his eyes, "It seems I have caught you."
Kevaline smiled, "Well, it seems you have. . ."
*I leave you two for only a couple of minutes, and look what happens!*
Kevaline gasped, and Elrohir chuckled in amusement, "Well Yami, it was your fault for leaving us."
Yami shook his head and continued over to the two *Are we going back now?*
Elrohir nodded, letting Kevaline go, "Yes, we are going back now." He smiled as Kevaline grabbed his hand, "We have to get back before lunch."
Kevaline let out a yawn at her seat in the dinning room. All of a sudden she felt tired in a way that she couldn't explain. She really wasn't tired as if she wanted to sleep, but she was tired. She shook her head as heads turned in her directing.
"Are you alright?" Haldir asked his daughter, turning from his conversation with his brothers and Elrond.
Kevaline yawned yet again, "I am fine."
*Kevaline!* Kevaline jumped up from her seat, causing all eyes to fall on her.
She quickly sat back down *What is wrong now Caldin?*
*I am sorry to frighten you, but a group of elves is on its way to the palace at this moment.*
Kevaline smiled *Thank you.* She looked at Elrohir, "You heard him, I know you did!"
Elrohir nodded, "Yes, I did indeed hear him." He turned to his father's questioning look, "It seems that the lord and the lady of Lothlorien have arrived in the woods."
"Well then, I guess your plans for after lunch have been cut off?" Elrond asked his son, his eyes apologizing to his son.
"It is alright, we will live. . ." Elrohir smiled.
At that moment, Kevaline grabbed her chest and moaned playfully, "Oh! My heart is dying!" She then stopped as the warriors jumped to their feet, getting ready to run to her side. She laughed, "I am alright! You are too easy to fool!" She smiled as the warriors sat back down, laughing at their own worry. "No, it will not kill us, Elrond," Kevaline winked.
Kevaline shifted in her place as the horses came into view. She couldn't keep her excitement in, it was just bubbling to come out. She smiled as Galadriel and Celeborn dismounted. She was to be the one to greet them. She bowed slightly, "My lord and lady, I would like to welcome you to Imladris. . ."
Galadriel smiled at Kevaline, "Well Tiger of Imladris, I see that you can barely contain your excitement."
Kevaline stood up abruptly, "My lady, please, don't utter about that. . ."
Celeborn looked Kevaline in the eye, "Kevaline. . ." He took a step back, "But how. . ."
Kevaline smiled at his reaction, "Nice to see you again as well Cele'."
"Roar'?" He asked, taking a step towards her.
"Yup, reborn!" Kevaline laughed. She then lowered her head, "Can you forgive me for what I did during the Last Alliance?"
Celeborn took another step towards her, "You shouldn't feel sorry, you were only trying to relax me. I am very sorry that I acted that way."
Kevaline gasped, "Cele', I had no right to do that to you! I mean, you. . ."
Celeborn held his hand up, willing her not to continue, "Don't say it!"
"I'm sorry!" Kevaline was frantic. She muttered under her breath, "I am going to have to have a talk with 'Rond! He did this on purpose!"
"Roar', you are talking to yourself again," Celeborn sighed, shaking his head as he watched Kevaline talking to herself.
Kevaline quickly looked up, "I am sorry, please follow me, I will take you to lord Elrond."
Celeborn looked at Elrond, "She is still the same."
Elrond nodded, looking out a window to see Kevaline laughing as she jumped on Elrohir, "Yes, I can see that. She still has that care free spirit that she had way back then."
"That is why the Valar gave her the choice," Galadriel smiled, "because she was Aurora reborn."
Elrond continued to watch the two out of the window, "This gives me another reason to keep her safe. At first I just wanted to keep her safe because she made an impression in our hearts, then it was because she became the pride of Elrohir, and now this."
Celeborn looked out the window as well, smiling as Elrohir pushed Kevaline off of him and then ran at her, laughing, "It is a sight for sore eyes. I had felt horrible to the way I had acted to her."
Kevaline ran away from Elrohir, laughing, "You will never catch me!" She turned her head to see where Elrohir was and tripped on a rock in the path.
She started to fall, but Elrohir raced to her side. He caught her before she fell and checked her, "Are you alright, are you hurt?"
Kevaline smiled up at him, "I am fine whenever I am in your arms, you give me a feeling of safety that I could never feel." She then pulled out of Elrohir's grip, standing up, "Well, you still have to catch me. . ." She then ran off, laughing as Elrohir raced after her.
Haldir smiled as his two brothers argued over who was better at archery. He shook his head as he heard familiar laughing. He knew it was his daughter and wondered what could make her laugh like that.
Kevaline came bursting into the archery range. She spotted her father and ran behind him, "Father, save me!"
Haldir suddenly became very protective of his daughter, "Save you from what? What is chasing you?"
Elrohir came running into the range a moment later, smiling as he laid eyes on Kevaline, "I'll catch you yet!"
Kevaline couldn't stop her laughter, "Save me father, uncles!"
Rumil looked at Elrohir, "I think I am going to side with Elrohir, this seems to be interesting!"
Orophin smiled, "I am coming to the rescue of my niece!" He puffed out his chest, pretending to take this serious, "I will not let her fall into turmoil and shadows!"
Haldir stared at his brothers and Elrohir, "Well, someone has to be her knight in shining armor. . ." He smiled, playing along with the game they were playing, "I will be Kevaline's commander of her army!" He pointed at Rumil, "Orophin, attack!"
Orophin turned to his brother, and bowed, "As you wish commander!" He started to run at Rumil, smiling. He was closely followed by Haldir, smiling as big as his brothers.
At that moment, Legolas, Estel, and Andrew entered the archery range. They watched as the three brothers pretended to fight and Elrohir silently sneak up on Kevaline. Kevaline screamed and ran at the three that had just entered, "Legolas, my friend, save me!"
Legolas just stared at her as she grabbed his arm, "What are you. . ."
"He wants to catch me!" Kevaline yelled as Elrohir ran at them.
Legolas grabbed her arms, a devious smile playing at his lips, "I am sorry that you came to me. . . I am on his side!"
Kevaline looked over at Estel to see him the same as Legolas, "You are on his side as well?" Estel nodded, and then Kevaline turned to Andrew, "Andrew, my big brother, help me." She gave him a puppy-dog face.
Andrew smiled at her and puffed out his chest, "I will save you little sister!" He looked at Legolas and winked. Legolas nodded and let Kevaline go. Andrew pulled Kevaline into a hug, "See, I told you I would save you. . ."
"Not if I take her from you!"
Kevaline looked to see Elladan jump down from a tree. Andrew backed away from Kevaline as Elladan grabbed her, smiling. Kevaline then yelled, "Where is my knight in shining armor that I know loves me?" Two hands then went over her eyes, and she smiled, "So, he has finally come!"
Elrohir whispered into her ear, "Yes, I have finally come, and I have finally caught you!" He smiled as Kevaline shivered as his breath brushed against her ear. He picked her up, smiling at everyone standing in the clearing, "I have saved the beautiful one!"
Haldir chuckled, "Well done!" He turned to his brothers, "Now tell me again why we just did that?"
Orophin smiled at Kevaline as she dug her face into Elrohir's chest and fell asleep, "It was all Kevaline!"
"Yes, I agree. Her spirit caused me to act that way. It is one that is care free, we are lucky to be related to her." Rumil smiled also. He watched as Elrohir walked off with Kevaline, "It's hard to think that she is getting married."
Haldir looked at his brothers, "Well, she is Elizabeth's daughter. Of course she would have a care free spirit!" He then smiled, "Yes, it is quite hard to think that she is getting married."
Galadriel smiled as she sat in the dinning hall for dinner. Kevaline was smiling at Elrohir with love reflecting in her silver eyes with specs of gold in them. It was nice to see Kevaline in such a happy state, someone like her shouldn't be sad.
Kevaline giggled, not sure if she could address Celeborn without calling him his nickname, "My lord Celeborn, how was your trip?"
Celeborn smiled, "It was uneventful in a good way."
Yami ate his food from his place by Kevaline's chair *That is good, I wouldn't want any elves in any danger!*
"You are sweet Yami, do you know that?" Kevaline scratched him behind his left ear, his secret spot that he loved.
*You have told me that countless times before.* Yami barked.
Kevaline smiled at him, content that she had raised him to be this way. She then looked up at Galadriel, "My lady, you seem to be in deep thought. . ."
Galadriel nodded, "Yes Kevaline, you have guessed right. I was in deep thought. I was thinking about how happy you are."
Kevaline stretched her arms out, smiling at everyone, "Why would I not be happy in a place like this? I have family and friends!"
Galadriel spoke to Kevaline in her mind, 'Yes, but there is that place in your heart that is empty. The place where a mother should be.'
'Please don't talk of such things. It was my fault my mother died, it was all my fault!' Kevaline stated, staring at Galadriel.
'How is that pen neth?' Galadriel asked her.
'When she was attacked, I didn't do anything to help her, I just watched her die! I could have drawn my bow to help her but I didn't!' Kevaline chocked, a tear running down her face.
"You should not blame yourself Tiger of Imladris, it wasn't your fault." Galadriel tried to soothe her. He turned to Celeborn, "So many things happen that people blame themselves for and yet it wasn't their fault. This is one of those cases."
Kevaline sighed and nodded her head, "I guess you are right." She then smiled, "I have everything else that I need right here!"
A full week passed from that night, the wedding had been a success. Kevaline sighed as she fell onto her bed, the day's events were too much for even her. She had woken up in the morning to Elrohir waking her. After that Elrohir apologized as his sister Arwen had decided that Kevaline would spend the morning with her. Then she had had training with Gandalf and Galadriel. After that was elvish lessons and then Elrohir's lessons.
Elrohir chuckled down at her as he got ready for bed as well, "Melamin, how was your day?"
Kevaline rolled on her side, looking up at Elrohir, "Don't get me started!"
Elrohir's chuckling died away and Kevaline could sense something was bothering him. When he sat down on the bed, Kevaline came over to sit beside him, rubbing his back. He sighed and looked at her, "Melamin. . ."
Kevaline gave him a stern gaze, "Spill it Elrohir! Don't hide anything from me, just say it!"
Elrohir grabbed her in a tight hold, not wanting to say anything, but knowing she would force him to anyway, "Kevaline, Elladan and I are going to travel with the Dunedain. . ."
Kevaline stopped rubbing his back, "You are thinking of just leaving me here, aren't you!" When he didn't answer her, she glared at him, "Yet you would take Andrew with you!"
"It isn't because you aren't skilled, it is because. . ." Elrohir started.
"It is because you are afraid that I will get hurt and distract you from the battle!" Kevaline yelled, standing up. She then looked at Elrohir's saddened face. She sighed, "I am sorry melamin, I didn't mean to do that. I know you are just doing it for the goodness of me." She moved over to the chair on their room and sat down, "When do you leave?"
"Four days from now," Elrohir sighed.
"I will die of boredom!" Kevaline cried as she stood up. She fixed her gaze with her new husband, "If you die, I mean anytime that I am away from you, I will personally make sure that I bring you back just so I can kill you myself!"
The next morning, both were awakened by an urgent banging on their door. Kevaline rolled out of bed and pulled on a robe. She then stumbled over to the door and opened it up, "Yes, what can I help you with?"
"My lady, I was told to come inform the both of you to quickly get dressed and then head to the southern border patrol. . ."
Kevaline thought for a moment, "What is wrong?"
"The border was attacked by a band of orcs. My lord would not say anything else," A messenger bowed and then left at a run.
Kevaline turned back to the bed to see Elrohir starting to get dressed. She quickly grabbed a forest green tunic and a pair of forest green leggings.
Elrohir turned to her after he was done dressing, "The southern border is what he said, am I correct?"
Kevaline nodded, finally pulling her leggings on, "Yes, why do you ask?"
"That was the border that Andrew was sent to without my brother." Elrohir stated.
Kevaline felt her stomach tie up in knots at that statement. She bit her bottom lip, "Elrohir. . ."
Elrohir nodded to her, "What is it?"
"I have a bad feeling about this!" Kevaline stated, pulling on her tunic and running down the steps, Elrohir right behind her. She turned her head to Elrohir, "Now tell me again why your brother wasn't sent to the border as well."
"Elladan was put on guard duty instead, and when Andrew was asked if he wanted guard duty, he said he wanted to stay on border patrol. He was given the choice, my brother was not." Elrohir explained.
On reaching the border patrol, Kevaline was almost sick at the sight before her. Elves were mingled with orcs and no one was winning. She then saw him, she saw Andrew deflect an orc attack and defend a wounded elf. What he didn't notice was the orc that was coming up behind him. Kevaline urged Clitus into a gallop, "Andrew! Behind you!"
Everything went in slow motion for her then. She watched as the orc stuck his crude sword straight through Andrew, and Clitus didn't get there quick enough. Everything then sped up again as Kevaline quickly dismounted from Clitus and unsheathed her sword. She ran to the spot that Andrew was and sliced the heads off of both orcs. She then knelt down and held Andrew's fragile body in her hands, letting her tears fall freely.
Andrew smiled up at her, "Kev, this has been quite an adventure. . ."
Kevaline shook her head, "No, keep your strength, we'll get you back to Elrond so he can heal you! Everything is going to be ok!"
"Just keep telling yourself that Kev, and it will be," Andrew coughed. He put a bloody hand on her right cheek, "Kev, listen to me. I am sorry for all the pain I have caused you, I wish I could have made it up to you."
"You have, you have made everything up that you did wrong!" Kevaline cried even harder, not caring about the battle going on around her.
"Listen!" Andrew yelled at her, "I want you to watch over my sister, I have a feeling she will show up here. I want her to have a better life than what she did have. Tell her I am sorry for not being there to welcome her, but you will do just fine. . ."
"Andrew, please, you aren't going to die!" Kevaline shook her head.
Andrew yelled even more at her, "Kevaline!"
Kevaline stopped, Andrew never called her by her full name unless it was something of great importance that he had to say. She nodded, "What is it Andrew?"
Andrew put his hand up to her temple, "I am giving you my wisdom and strength to keep. Use it wisely. It may cause you some pain to begin with." He took a deep breath, "Tell Elladan that I am sorry that I never did get to challenge him to a sparing match. . ."
Kevaline opened her mouth to answer, but a searing pain in her temple made her stop. She looked down at Andrew to see him still smiling at her. All of a sudden, Kevaline felt a new strength enter her body, one that was warm and wrapped around her. She blinked her eyes and then opened her mouth again, "Andrew, just relax, I won't let you die!" She got no response from him as his hand fell limply to his side. She cried even harder now, "Andrew, Andrew, please no!"
When he didn't answer her, she pulled his head into her lap and noticed that his hair had grown out from when they first came here. She wiped the hair out of his face and cried. After about another ten minutes, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She grabbed her sword and spun around, breathing heavy. She dropped her sword as she saw it was Elrohir. He grabbed her in a hug and tried to quiet her crying, "Shh, it is alright. . ."
"He's dead! I didn't get to him on time!" Kevaline cried. She then felt a searing pain in her temple and screamed in pain. She felt her legs give out and thanked the Valar for Elrohir being there, holding her. The last thing she remembered before she blacked out was being rushed over to Clitus.
Elladan paced the room Kevaline was in, waiting for her to wake up. He turned to his brother, "What happened out there?"
Elrohir looked at Kevaline, "I am not quite sure. I went to help some elves that were having trouble against the orcs while Kevaline went to help Andrew."
"Why did she black out?" Elladan asked, returning to his pacing.
"That is the one thing Kevaline can tell us. I have wanted to know it as well." Elrohir insisted.
Kevaline moaned and moved around in bed, "Andrew, no, we will save you. . . Elrond will fix you up when we get you back to Imladris. . ." She then shot up in the bed, breathing heavily and looking around, "Andrew! Don't leave me!"
"Kevaline!" Elrohir yelled, rushing to her side, "You are safe."
Kevaline turned her head to him, "Andrew, what about Andrew?"
Elladan tried his luck, "What happened Kevaline, what happened out there?"
Kevaline's eyes went out of focus, "It was all quiet, we had just switched watches. I was getting ready to get some rest when they attacked us! It was an ambush, we really didn't stand a chance. We sent a messenger on the fastest horse we had to relay the news. Then we tried to hold them off until reinforcements came. . ." Kevaline's eyes returned to normal, "When I get there, I saw Andrew struggling with an orc, he was protecting one of the wounded soldiers. He didn't notice the orc creeping up behind him. I race over to him to stop the orc, but got there too late."
Elladan looked over at Elrohir, "That first part, could it have been part of Andrew's memory?"
Elrohir put his hand on Kevaline's right cheek, "Kevaline, why did you black out?"
"Andrew, it was because of Andrew," Kevaline stuttered, "He gave me his wisdom and strength before he. . ." She pulled her feet over the bed, "Where is he? Where is Andrew? I want to see that he is all right! I want him to smile at me and say that he was just grazed in the battle!"
Elrohir stopped her from going anywhere, "Kevaline, he is dead. . ."
Kevaline's body felt numb, "Dead?" Elrohir nodded, and she started to cry, "I have failed them both! I swore to myself that I wouldn't let Andrew die since Adam did!"
Elrohir pulled her into a hug, "It is alright melamin, it is alright." He let her cry into his chest, knowing that it must be hard on her. He stroked her hair, "Melamin, it wasn't your fault."
Kevaline pushed away from him, "Leave me alone!"
"Melamin," Elrohir looked at her, "What is wrong?"
Kevaline turned away from him, "You are going to leave me in four days! Then I will have no one left!"
"Kevaline, what has gotten into you?" Elrohir asked.
"What has gotten into me?" Kevaline asked him back. She turned to face him again, "It seems that whenever I let someone I love go somewhere, they die! If that is the case then I will not love anyone anymore!"
"Kevaline. . ." Elrohir sighed.
"No, Elrohir, I love you! I don't want you to die like Adam or Andrew! I don't want that to happen!" Kevaline cried.
Elrohir looked at Elladan, "Brother, what shall we do now?"
Elladan looked at Kevaline who was now crying with her back turned to them, "I am sorry brother, but we can't take her with us. She will distract you too much. . ." He thought for a moment, "Wait, why don't we let her travel with Estel?"
Kevaline froze and turned around, drying her tears, "What?"
"It's perfect! She can go with Estel! Then she will never be bored or have any time to worry about us or anyone else!" Elladan smiled at her.
Elrohir looked at Kevaline's reaction. He could see a little twinkle in her eyes, "If Estel will take her with him, then I don't see a problem with it."
At that moment, Estel came walking into the room, "I see that Kevaline is up. . ." He looked at Everyone to see they were all staring at him, "What did I do?"
"Nothing!" Kevaline smiled.
Elrohir sighed, "Estel, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it?" Estel asked.
"Will you take Kevaline with you when you travel?" Elladan asked.
Estel looked at Kevaline to see the pleading in her eyes, "Well, I guess I can."
Kevaline jumped on him, laughing, "Oh thank you, thank you!" She then leapt off of him when he couldn't breath.
When she landed, Elrohir eyed her, "Kevaline, smile for me." Kevaline shrugged and did what she was told, Elrohir seeing that her teeth were that of a tiger's. He nodded, "It seems that your teeth have turned back into the tiger's, and that your agility and strength have improved."
Kevaline winked at him, "Ok, so it seems my past life has agreed with my present life."
Estel smiled, "Yup, she can come with me. I will need the extra help." He then turned to Kevaline, "Our first trip starts tomorrow. We are heading back to Mirkwood."
Kevaline nodded, "Great! I get to travel with you and Legolas!" She turned to Elrohir, "Well, it seems that I have work to do." She started to pack some clothes, not caring if they matched each other or not.
"Kevaline, maybe you should eat something," Elrohir stated, starting to help her pack.
Kevaline lay down in bed with Elrohir, snuggling closer to him, "Hey, this is the last night we will have with each other for a long time."
Elrohir smiled and wrapped his arms around Kevaline, "Well, Tiger of Imladris, then I guess we should savor every bit of it."
Kevaline woke in the morning before Elrohir. She smiled as she looked at his face. She wiped a piece of hair out of his face, "He is so peaceful when he sleeps."
*Thank you for telling me that, that is just what I wanted to hear this morning!*
"Yami, you have no respect!" Kevaline hissed at the wolf as he stretched from his place on some cushions.
"He only has the respect that you taught him," Elrohir chuckled as he woke up.
"I am sorry melamin, I didn't mean to wake you," Kevaline apologized.
"I'm glad you did. I would have hunted you down and then dragged you back to Imladris if I didn't get to say good bye to you." Elrohir answered her.
Yami rolled his eyes *I will be down in the dinning room.* With that, he padded off.
Kevaline embraced Elrohir strongly as Legolas and Estel stood back, letting her say her goodbyes alone, "I will miss you. . ."
"We will see each other in our dreams," Elrohir winked. He then turned to Yami, "You take good care of her, make sure she comes back to me in one piece."
*Now why would I not do a thing like that?* Yami asked, walking over to Clitus who was standing quietly, waiting for Kevaline to mount him.
*Kevaline, whenever you are ready.* Clitus stated, tossing his mane. Kevaline had decided that she would ride him bareback and without a bridle. He was thankful towards her.
Kevaline nodded and turned to the rest of them, "It has been a wonderful time with all of you. I can't wait to see you again." She ran to her father and gave him a quick hug, "Keep safe father." She then turned to her uncles, giving each of them a hug as well, "Watch over him and keep safe yourselves."
"Kevaline," Elrond stated, making her turn to face him, "Roar' please be safe on this journey."
Kevaline flashed him a smile that only he could understand, "Don't worry 'Rond, I will be safe." She then walked over to Clitus and quickly mounted him, "Well, until we meet again, namarie."
The three raced out of Rivendell. Starting their journey to Mirkwood. Legolas was on Kevaline's left side, "Kevaline, you will love Mirkwood."
Kevaline nodded, "Yes, I think I shall." She lowered her head, not wanting the two of them to see her cry.
Estel looked at her, "Kevaline, don't hide from us, we won't say anything about you crying."
Kevaline looked up at Estel, "They were like my brothers and now I don't have either one of them. Both died, telling me that I shouldn't worry about it!" She fixed her gaze on Clitus's ear that kept perking up and then going forward, "I first lost my mother when I came her, then I gained a father and a love, but then as soon as I gained them, I lost Adam and then Andrew!"
*Kevaline, don't talk like that!* Clitus snorted.
"I lost them! I lost the only two that could make me remember all the good times I had in my life!" Kevaline stated.
Clitus skidded to a halt *Stop it!* He pawed the ground *I am not going anywhere until you stop this talk!* Kevaline murmured she was sorry, and Clitus tossed his head, starting to trot again *There, now isn't that better?*
Clitus brought a smile to Kevaline's face, "I don't know what I would do without you Clitus."
Kevaline sat at the fire that the group had made. It had been two weeks of travel already, and they were reaching the forest of Mirkwood. She stared into the fire, thinking about how Elrohir was doing. She quickly unsheathed her Elvin knife as she heard a noise come into the clearing she was in.
"Relax Kevaline, it is just I," a familiar voice called.
Kevaline re sheathed her knife and sighed, "Legolas, I wish you wouldn't do that! You are going to end up killing me!"
"I hope not, Elrohir would kill me!" Legolas laughed as he sat down beside her, a pheasant in his hands.
Kevaline smiled at him, "At least you didn't kill a deer."
"Yes, it was because I stopped him!" Estel laughed as he came into the clearing as well. "Kevaline, we only have a couple more days."
"Then can I sleep in a regular bed?" Kevaline asked, laughing.
"Yes, you may. I am sure father will be pleased to see you," Legolas smiled.
Kevaline nodded and subconsciously started to mess with her marriage ring. Estel saw this and placed a hand on Kevaline's shoulder, "He is safe Kevaline."
Kevaline looked into the fire, sighing, "I just don't want to hear about him dying."
She looked up from the fire to see Legolas smiling, "Elrohir couldn't die if he has your love with him."
Kevaline looked at Yami who was sleeping by the horses, "It seems Yami is quite content." She then yawned, "Well, I know that if I don't go to sleep soon, you two will force me to, so goodnight."
On reaching the gates of Mirkwood palace, a guard yelled down to the three, "Halt, who goes there?"
Kevaline looked down at Yami, "Now you behave yourself in here. I don't want you causing any trouble!"
Legolas yelled up to the guard, "Don't you recognize your prince?"
The guard smiled, "Prince Legolas!" The gates opened, and the guard yelled to the rest, "Prince Legolas has returned!"
As Kevaline dismounted from Clitus, guards came rushing over to her. She looked at them, "What is your problem?"
One held his hand out, "My lady, please stay calm, a wolf is right behind you."
Legolas smiled and let Kevaline take care of the situation. Kevaline started laughing as she put her hand to her side, Yami thudding over to it and licking it, "This is Yami. He is no harm."
Legolas nodded, "She is right, you may go back to your posts." They did as they were told, and Legolas turned back to Kevaline and Yami, "I would have loved it when you told them that you were his mother."
Kevaline winked, "Well, it is true. I am not his real mother, but at least I fill in that whole in his heart."
At that moment, an older version came walking towards Legolas, "My son. . ."
"Ah, it is good to see you again Thran'!" Kevaline laughed.
Thranduil turned to her, "We have not met before," He turned to his son, "Legolas, who is she?"
"I save your butt a couple of times and you don't remember me!" Kevaline smiled, showing her teeth.
Thranduil saw her teeth and took a step back, "But how? I mean, you died in the Last Alliance!"
Kevaline took a step towards Thranduil, "Well Thran', I am reborn." She put out her hand, "Your son is just like you. . . Well, no, he isn't. He looks like you, but he is more worry filled than you were." She shook her head, "My name now is Kevaline, but I still go by my nickname."
Thranduil grabbed her in a hug, "Roar' I can't believe it!"
"Uh. . . Thran', Roar' can't breath!" Kevaline gasped.
Legolas burst out laughing, "Father, I think you are squashing her."
Thranduil let Kevaline go, smiling as Kevaline gasped for breath, "I am sorry Roar' I couldn't stop myself. . ."
Kevaline smiled, "I'm now used to it. Elrohir does it all the time to me."
Legolas nodded, "Yes, father, Kevaline is the one that Elrohir married."
Thranduil smirked, "What a coincidence. . . Roar' falling in love with. . ."
"Thran' we don't need to talk about that!" Kevaline stated quickly, shaking her hands in front of her. "That is between me and the elves from the Last Alliance." She eyed him carefully, "You had promised along with Gil-galad, Cele', 'Rond, and Glor' that you would not utter any of it after the Last Alliance!"
Thranduil bowed, "As you wish Roar' it is just good to see you again."
Kevaline subconsciously patted Yami's head, "It would be kind if you showed me the room that I will be staying in, I feel a little tired." Yami closed his eyes and his ears perked forward, symbolizing his calmness.
*Kevaline, I think it is right that you should get some rest.* Yami panted.
Kevaline turned to the stable hands that were trying to get Clitus to follow them, "I first have to make sure Clitus is properly taken care of."
Clitus stopped his prancing and turned his head to Kevaline *Oh, Kevaline, if you are tired, then I will just follow them. I don't want you to be uncomfortable.* He snorted at the stable hands and turned his head to Legolas' horse *Will you please tell me where the stables are. I do not want to be guided by anyone other than another horse or Kevaline.*
Kevaline was then led to the room she would stay in. She gasped as she walked into the room, "This can't be right!"
"My lady, are you alright?" the servant asked as she set Kevaline's things down on the desk in the room.
"Where is your King? I need to speak with him. . ." Kevaline started as she looked around the room.
"No need to ask, I am right here," Thranduil chuckled as Kevaline turned to him.
"This is the same room that I stayed in back then! Nothing has changed!" Kevaline stated, sitting down on her bed. "I remember the time I spent here, 'Rond wanted me to stay away from Imladris, this being the first place that he could think of."
"I have honored you, I have kept it just the way you left it," Thranduil smiled, "Many times I have come in here to think about stuff."
Yami jumped up on the bed beside Kevaline, curling up and then falling asleep. Kevaline giggled, "Well, you have Yami's regards. He seems to feel at ease here."
"That is comforting," Thranduil smiled. He then nodded, "Well, I am sure that you are hungry so why don't you accompany me down to our dinning hall."
Kevaline nodded, "Yes, I am a little hungry, thank you Thran'."
The servant gasped as Kevaline called Thranduil his nickname, "How dare you!"
Kevaline smacked her forehead, "Geez, I blew it again!" She bowed to Thranduil who was now almost dying of laughter, "I am sorry your highness, I didn't mean any disrespect."
Thranduil nodded, leading her out into the hall, "It is alright, I quite like that nickname, it reminds me of an old friend." He winked at her, "Call me that if you wish."
Kevaline whistled as she entered the dinning hall, "Wow! It is just like I remembered it!" She let Thranduil lead her to her seat, on the right side of Legolas. She smiled at him, "Hey there friend, I love it here."
"Well then, maybe tomorrow you will want to go to the archery range with me. How does that sound?" Legolas smiled at Kevaline.
Kevaline smiled back, "Sure, as long as Thran' doesn't need me tomorrow. . ." She then stopped and thought for a second, "Hey Legolas, after dinner can I talk to you alone?"
"Yes, you can," Legolas nodded.
Estel nodded to Kevaline, "I am glad that I agreed to let you come with us. . ."
"Oh, you are stuck with me forever now," Kevaline deviously smiled, "Elrohir told you that you had to take me on all your journeys."
Kevaline sighed as she sat down on a bench in one of the gardens, "Legolas, I have to ask you something."
"What is it?" Legolas smiled as he sat down beside her.
"What happened to Adam's body?" Kevaline asked, looking at the ground.
Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "We buried him, to honor him. . ."
"Where is he buried?" Kevaline asked, looking up into Legolas' eyes.
Kevaline awoke in the morning, feeling a little better than what she had the day beforehand. She looked over at her window to still see it dark. She sighed and closed her eyes, falling back asleep.
~*Dream*~
Kevaline ran with all her might, not knowing what she was running from or to what. Then she saw it, a sight that made her heart break in two. Elrohir was fighting off twenty orcs. She grabbed at her side for her sword or Elvin knife, but found that she didn't have them.
She couldn't stand to see the only one that she would love with all her heart die so she ran at the orcs, screaming at them. They turned their attention to her, sneering as they saw her. She kept running towards them, hoping to get them away from Elrohir.
Elrohir looked shocked, "Kevaline! I thought you were in Mirkwood!" He then shook his head, "Kevaline, run!"
"No!" Kevaline yelled as she continued to run towards the orcs, "I will not watch you die!" She summoned all her courage and yelled even louder at the orcs, "Get the hell away from my husband!"
Just as the orcs were upon her, she felt something inside her click. She growled at the orcs, transforming into her tiger form. She then lashed out at the orcs, roaring as her front paws killed the front six in one swipe. She then pounced on five more, biting them and clawing them until they died. He eyes narrowed at the nine that were left. Before they could run or move, Kevaline had killed them.
She then transformed back. She looked at Elrohir, "I couldn't let you die, I just couldn't see another die!"
Elrohir grabbed her in a hug, "Kevaline, how did you get here? I thought you were in Mirkwood. You should have reached it by now. . ."
Kevaline sighed as she relaxed in Elrohir's comforting grasp, "I am in Mirkwood. We reached it earlier today."
"Then how? How are you here?" Elrohir asked, confused.
"I thought of you before I fell asleep for the second time tonight. I thought about your caring face and how much I missed your touch." Kevaline closed her eyes. She opened them up again, staring into Elrohir's, "I wanted to see you."
"I am glad that you were thinking about me, but that really doesn't explain how you showed up here when you are in Mirkwood and I am in Gondor." Elrohir stated.
Kevaline pulled out of his grip, "I am sorry, but I have to go. I have to wake up."
~*End Dream*~
Kevaline awoke with a start, looking around the room just to see of she was still in Mirkwood. She heard a knock at the door and stood to answer it, "Come in."
Legolas and Estel walked in, looking at Kevaline, "Are you alright?"
Kevaline's eyes showed her relief, "Was it a dream?" She shook her head, "No, his touch was real, the blood was real. . ." With that startling thought she looked at her hands, seeing dried orc blood all over them. She felt sick at the sight of it, but held it down. She slowly walked over to the bathing room and cleaned her hands, seeing that there was no more blood on her.
"Kevaline whose blood was that?" Estel asked as she came back out.
"Orcs' blood," was her simple reply.
Legolas notice that she was a little pale, "What was orcs' blood doing on your hands?"
Kevaline turned away from them, "You wouldn't understand, it is too complicated for even me to understand." She shook her head, "The Valar have blessed me, that is all I can say." She shivered as she felt the urge to go find some more orcs and kill them as well.
Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "Are you alright?"
Kevaline nodded numbly, "Yes, I just think I am a little ill." She smiled at them, "I am fine. . ."
"Why don't you go to the healers?" Legolas asked, looking at Estel.
Kevaline shrugged, moving out of their reaches, "They couldn't help me. . ."
"They are some of the most talented healers. . ." Legolas argued.
Kevaline shook her head, "They might be, but they can't help me."
"Why, Kev?" Estel asked.
"I am different from any being on Middle Earth, they can not help me. I just have to bear through my illness. . ." Kevaline started.
"That is not true Roar'," Kevaline turned to see Thranduil, "There has been one healer that has been able to help you through your times of need. . ."
"I will not let you send him here!" Kevaline stated urgently, stomping her foot down, "Just let him stay in Imladris! He has enough to worry about already!"
"And why would that be?" Thranduil asked, smiling at Kevaline.
"Both his sons have gone with the Dunedain! He is probably worrying about them! He doesn't need to worry about me!" Kevaline growled, her eyes narrowing.
Thranduil pulled Estel and Legolas behind him, "Well Roar' that is why you don't feel so great." He answered Estel and Legolas's questioning looks, "She has been granted the power to transform as you probably already heard."
"That isn't why!" Kevaline growled even more, not aware of how close she was to transforming.
"Then what is it?" Thranduil asked, watching Kevaline intently.
"I-I was somehow with Elrohir! I went to sleep and found myself where Elrohir was, in Gondor! He was fighting twenty orcs! I-I saved him. I did transform to save him but. . ." Kevaline started, turning even paler.
Thranduil rushed to her side as he legs gave out, "I guess you don't remember the times during the Last Alliance that you somehow mysteriously appeared to help out when you were half way across the battlefield." He sat Kevaline down in a chair, "Kevaline even after those times you became ill. The only one that could help you, let alone get near you at those times was. . ."
Kevaline had lost it, she growled low in her throat in a threatening tone, "Don't you dare utter his name! I hated myself for those times of weakness that I gave in to you all and let 'Rond heal me! Never again will a healer touch me!"
Legolas looked at his father, "What is going on?"
"It is the aftermath of her gifts. She is able to sometimes appear at scenes that could kill someone. She then transforms to save the person. Then she disappears. If you are with her real body you can see what happens. She grows deathly pale sometimes and her tiger instincts take over her body." Thranduil explained, keeping himself between Kevaline and the other two, "Stay back there, she is going to transform. . ."
Kevaline growled even more as she stood up. She then transformed, becoming the beautiful white tiger with black stripes. Her eyes narrowed at Thranduil. With his experience with Aurora, he knew exactly what that meant. He pushed Legolas and Estel back even more.
Kevaline took a step towards the three, the muscles in her shoulders getting ready to pounce. Thranduil glared at her, "Roar' are you going to attack me?"
Kevaline's tiger ears perked up at the voice, seeming to know who it was. She roared, not a roar of attack or vengeance, but one of sadness. She then laid low to the ground, lowering her head. She then heard it, the voice that could control her. "Roar'!"
Kevaline froze where she was, not believing that it was he. She shook her tiger head, just thinking it was a voice from the past. "Roar'! What are you thinking?"
Kevaline looked up to meet eyes with Elrond. She then quickly looked away, ashamed of how she let the tiger's instincts get the better of her. She quickly transformed back, not looking at anyone. "You, you were supposed to be in Imladris, you weren't supposed to come. . ."
"If I didn't, you would have torn them all to pieces!" Elrond stated, authority in his voice. Kevaline winced at the truth behind it all. Elrond softened his voice, "What caused you to do that?"
"Elrohir. . . He was in Gondor. . . Twenty orcs. . . I had to do something!" Kevaline fumbled with her words.
Elrond gabbed her chin and brought it up so he could look at her face, "The aftermath then?" Kevaline nodded, and Elrond nodded, "You are safe, don't worry."
Kevaline felt relief at those words. She couldn't stop the tears that fell down her face, "I couldn't stop myself! My anger, it was horrible!" She started to shake, "The blood, it was just like back then. Blood everywhere!"
Elrond escorted her over to the chair she was sitting in and sat her down, "Shh, you are safe now, we are here."
Kevaline didn't care about how pale she was, she only cared to here those words. Legolas looked at his father, "How is it that lord Elrond is the only one that can calm her?"
Thranduil looked at Elrond, "I will let you handle this one, I promised Aurora that I would not utter a word about it."
Elrond sighed, looking at Kevaline who had fallen asleep, "Aurora was a strange half elf. She wanted to be with the males, excepted by them as one. There was one thing she had not counted on, and that was love." He took a breath, "At first, she loved Glorfindel, but when he didn't return her love, she started to give up on it. . ." He paused, not sure if he should go on, "Then she fell in love with her other best friend. When she told me that she loved me, I didn't know what to say. Later on she still held that love for me. That is why I am the only one that can get close to her when she is in the aftermath."
"You know that isn't the full story," Thranduil chuckled.
Elrond sighed, "Aurora didn't want anyone to know about the rest. You know that she made all of you promise to never utter it again!"
Estel looked at Elrond, "My lord, Kevaline is going to be alright, isn't she?"
Elrond nodded, "Yes, she is. She just needs some rest for the day and then she will be up and moving." He sighed, "I guess I was right to follow you. I thought that this would happen." He looked into Thranduil's eyes, "Her powers are getting stronger than what she was back then. She has a new body with a new meaning. She has also had help from two mortals, they have left her gifts that she doesn't understand at the moment."
"There is another that can calm her heart when she is in that state, isn't there?" Thranduil asked Elrond.
Elrond nodded, "Yes, there is. My son Elrohir is the only other one that can soothe her when she is in that state."
Kevaline awoke to the sounds of talking. She turned on her side and slowly opened her eyes, "What is all the noise about?"
Legolas and Estel rushed to her side, "Kevaline, you are alright!"
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" Kevaline smiled, sitting up. She froze as she saw Thranduil and Elrond sitting in chairs, staring at her. She then remembered what she had almost done. She put her head in her hands, "Oh, no, what have I done! I could have killed you!"
Thranduil smiled, "I have had past dealings with you, you wouldn't have killed us."
Kevaline shook her head, "I am different from when I was back then, I am stronger and wiser. I take more foolish attempts then I did." She felt her whole body shiver and closed her eyes tightly.
Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "What is wrong?"
Kevaline pulled away from him, gasping as another shiver ran through her body. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "It is strong. It's coming this way! It seeks blood. . ."
*Kevaline, I feel an evil force! I don't like the feel of it either!* Yami growled. He sniffed the air *It smells horrible!*
Kevaline jumped out of the bed, scaring everyone in the room, "Orcs!" She felt her legs give out under her and fell, landing on the floor, "They come, they thirst for blood!" She took in a breath and gagged, "Their stench is horrible!"
Thranduil and Elrond exchanged looks. Estel shook his head, "Kevaline, you must be imagining things. . ."
Thranduil stood quickly and walked out of the room, nodding to Elrond, "I will get my troop together."
Elrond nodded, "I will get these three ready." He then turned to Kevaline who was still on the floor, her eyes darting back and forth, "Legolas, Estel, go get ready for battle, I will help Kevaline." He then nodded to Kevaline, "Come on Roar' now isn't the time to be lazy. . ."
Kevaline shot up, "What did you call me, 'Rond?" She then fell again, her legs not working on her side. She then remembered the aftermath, "'Rond, my legs, the aftermath!"
Elrond smiled, remembering the last time this had happened, "You have always made excuses. . ."
This time when Kevaline stood up, she stayed up, "I don't agree!"
Elrond nodded, "There, now we can get you ready for battle. . ."
Kevaline smiled, handing her weapons to Elrond, "Nope, all I need is right here." She pointed to herself, "I am a weapon in disguise, you know that!" She nodded to Elrond as he took her weapons, "You use them, they would just slow me down. But don't lose any of them!" With that she ran out of the room, leaving Elrond to equip himself with the weapons.
Thranduil watched Kevaline run out of the palace over to him. She nodded to him, "Ready?"
Thranduil looked her over, "Where are your weapons?"
"'Rond," was her simple answer. She smiled, "Well, here I go, tell your troop not to freak out when I transform!"
*Kevaline! You are not going into battle without me at your side!* Yami howled as he ran out of the palace to skid to a halt beside her.
Kevaline transformed, scaring half of Thranduil's troop. She growled *I thought it might be safer if you stayed out of the battle, Yami!* She then lunged at the gate as it opened *Let's go, we will be the first to meet the orcs in battle!* Yami was right behind her, howling in determination.
One of the elves in Thranduil's group just stared at the two, "A wolf going into battle with elves, fighting on our side. Now I have seen everything."
"My lord, I had heard your tales about the Tiger of Imladris, but I thought that they were just stories," Another elf stated, talking to Thranduil.
Thranduil shook his head, "No, they were real, you now have proof." He nodded to Elrond as he came running out with Legolas and Estel, "Roar' has already gone, we better hurry. She won't leave any for us if we don't."
Yami growled at the advancing orcs *This is it? I have fought more before!*
Kevaline growled in her tiger form *Remember, I have already defeated half of them. Come on Yami, my score is eighty-two!*
*Alright! So my score is only fifty-one!* Yami pounced on another orc, breaking its neck. *Make that fifty-two!*
Kevaline swiped at five advancing orcs, roaring. *Make mine eighty-seven now!* Kevaline's eyes narrowed as ten orcs backed away from their dead companions. *If they think I am just going to let them run away, then they don't know that I don't give mercy!*
She pounced on the nearest one, her tail wrapping around another's neck, cutting off its air supply. Yami howled as Thranduil and his troop appeared. *It looks like our fun is over Kevaline!*
Kevaline jumped backwards so that she stood in front of Elrond who was standing in the front with Thranduil, Legolas, and Estel. She licked her lips and narrowed her eyes even more. Elrond scratched her behind her right ear, "Roar', give no mercy!"
Kevaline then lunged at an orc that she thought had gotten too close to the group. With a quick lash of her tail, it wrapped around its neck and snapped it. Kevaline then paced uncertainly in front of the group of elves. *Yami, remember that move I taught you when we went on that one hunt?*
*Yup, why wouldn't I?* Yami growled as he ran at a tree. He jumped at it and pushed off its trunk, giving him a force behind his attack as he flew through the air towards an orc. Yami lashed out with his front paws, slashing the orc to pieces. *Kevaline, what is going on through your head?*
Kevaline growled low in her throat. *I don't want the elves to fight, I want to get rid of these things before they get over their shock. . .* She yowled in pain as something imbedded in her shoulder. She turned her tiger head to see an ugly looking arrow there. She gnawed at, knowing that it was dangerous if she kept it in her. *Get it out! Get it out of me!* She started to thud in circles, trying to get her mouth on the arrow. *Yami!*
Yami growled as he started to run at the orc archer. *I will get rid of him!* He jumped and bit at it's neck, causing blood to spray on his already blood stained coat. He looked around at the orcs, growling low in his throat. *Who is next! Anyone who dares to attack Kevaline will die by my teeth!*
Thranduil knew this was the time to act, "Archers! Choose a target! Do not hit the wolf!" He then nodded, "Fire!"
Yami yelped as arrows took out the rest of the orcs standing around him. *Kevaline!*
*Stay still Yami. . .* Kevaline's voice came in his head, though it was weak.
Yami quickly turned to face Kevaline. *Kevaline!* He could tell something was wrong with her. *Kevaline what is wrong?*
Kevaline continued to try and get the arrow out, still in her tiger form. *Nothing, I just need to get the arrow out.*
Yami didn't care about the arrows, he ran to Kevaline, barking wildly. *Kevaline, Kevaline! Something is wrong!*
Elrond placed a hand on Kevaline's shoulder by the arrow that had sunk into her shoulder. He whispered to her, "Relax Roar', I can't take it out if you don't stop fidgeting." Then in a quick movement, he pulled the arrow from her shoulder.
Everyone present, except for Yami, covered their ears as Kevaline yowled so loud that it hurt even Estel's ears. Then she collapsed, breathing heavily. Yami nudged her with his nose. *Kevaline, please, don't leave me, don't leave me like mother and father did.*
Kevaline transformed back, orc blood covering her. She still breathed heavily, "Yami. . ." She put a hand on his nose, "My count was ninety. . ."
*Yes, you won, you always win, just don't leave me!* Yami whimpered.
Elrond watched Kevaline's breathing start to quicken and become shallow, "That arrow was poisoned. We must get her back quickly if we are to save her."
Legolas quickly picked her up and started to run back to the palace with everyone right behind him. He shook his head, "I will not watch a friend die! I will not let her die, not after what I had promised Adam!"
"I have done all that I can do to help her, she must now help herself." Elrond sighed, sitting down in a chair beside Kevaline's bed, "She has never been that careless in a battle. . ."
Thranduil looked at Kevaline, "You know that the aftermath is going to be worse this time. She went battle crazy out there. She has only done that once before. . ."
Elrond lowered his head, "Yes, I know. I might not be able to stop her this time."
Legolas paced the room, not relaxing, "It is my fault!"
Estel shook his head, "No, it was mine!"
"It was neither of your faults!" Thranduil stated. Both looked at him, "Only two can control her when she is in her tiger form. That would be Elrond and Elrohir."
~**~
There ya go! Chapter nine! Well, school starts tomorrow, but hopefully I will be able to update by Friday if I get reviews.
Weird words of advice. . . Ok, this is going to not make any sense, but here goes. Live by the rules and die by them to!
It is from my soccer team. Ya see, I am on defense, and the goalie has made a rule for me to follow since I am the captain. I can't let anyone by or I die, unless I am unconscious, then she will forgive me.
Oh, and I was wondering if anyone would read another story if I put it up. It is about this soccer player that is from our time. During one of her soccer games, she brakes her ribs, and then somehow ends up in Mirkwood with Legolas. He automatically takes a liking to her, but they have their differences. Like she wants to be a Lone Wolf while he wants to get close to her and get to know her.
Personally I think it is a good story so far, but if you guys don't want to read it then I won't put it up and waste my time.
A/N: Ok, here goes. . . I would like to thank two people for reading my story this far. This is for namarie2legolas and Dunthonwen. You two have kept up with the story and keep me writing. I think one of the new favorites in this story for me would be Yami. He reminds me of my dog that died last year on this same day. Enough babbling, here is the next chapter.
Chapter Nine: The Tiger of Imladris
Kevaline sat down in the dinning room, closing her eyes as the warriors called to her. "Melamin, what ails you?"
Kevaline opened her eyes and looked over at Elrohir. She smiled at him, "I am not sure. It seems everyone thinks I am a little pale, and I don't feel so great. . ." She glared as he opened his mouth to speak, "And if you say why don't you go to the healers, I will punch your face."
Elrohir changed his tactics, "Kevaline, remember, we are to go riding this evening. I hope you feel better after lunch."
Kevaline leaned over to him and kissed him. She then winked, "Don't worry, I will be fine."
"Where are you to go after breakfast?" Elrond asked, coming in on the conversation.
"I am going to take a walk in the woods with Yami," Kevaline smiled.
"Elrohir will accompany you," Elrond stated.
"But!" Kevaline yelled.
"No, Kevaline, the orcs have been restless for the past few weeks. I do not wish anything to happen to you for Elrohir would surely die if you were harmed." Elrond sighed, staring into Kevaline's eyes.
Kevaline sighed, "Very well, just as long as I am not stuck with Elladan than I will survive."
Elrond grinned at her, "Well then, maybe I should have Elladan accompany you instead."
"NO!" Kevaline yelled, "That's not funny 'Rond!" She gasped and quickly put her hand over her mouth, finally realizing that she had said his nickname in front of everyone.
Kirwine smiled wickedly at her as whispering started up in the dinning hall. Kevaline's eyes stated that she was sorry for yelling it. Elrond just shrugged as Kevaline looked at him. Kirwine's smile disappeared as she heard a couple of comments. "So Kev, you've giving your future father a nickname already?" or "Kev, we didn't think you thought that way about our lord!"
Kevaline sunk down in her chair, totally embarrassed. Elrohir chuckled, "Well it seems to me that you have the approval of the warriors!"
Kevaline whimpered, "I hate myself!" She desperately looked at Elrond and stated quietly, "I'm sorry 'Rond, I didn't mean to say it, it just came flowing out."
"No apologies needed my dear," Elrond winked, "after all, the warriors think it is a new nickname that you have thought up for me because I am to become your future father."
"Yes, do not worry about it, Kevaline," Haldir smiled. He nodded to Elrond, "I think lord Elrond will forgive you, I don't think anyone could hold a grudge against you. . ."
"Then you don't seem to see Kirwine down there, glaring at Kevaline," Elrohir chuckled as Kevaline glared right back.
"She will be the first to go after I marry you!" Kevaline growled, not taking her eyes off of Kirwine, "Even if I have to throw her out myself!"
"It seems that you are making plans already," Elrohir whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver.
She pulled away from Elrohir, gasping for breath and not quite sure why, "I guess I am." She then stood up, trying to control her shivering, "Well, I guess I should go for that walk now. I want to make it back before lunch." She then walked out, talking to herself, "Get a grip on yourself, you are marrying him in two days time, why are you acting like you just met him?"
"Yes, I would love to know that." Elrohir stated, putting his arm around her waist as they walked back to her room. "You have been acting a little strange lately, ever since you found out about your past life."
Kevaline stared into his eyes, sighing as it brought her calmness, "I think that my old life is trying to spice a few things up in my life, the top of the list is love." She kissed him on the cheek, "But don't worry, you are the only one that I love, and you are the only one I will love."
Elrohir smirked, "That is good news to me!"
Kevaline sighed as she walked through the trees with Yami, Elrohir on her right side. The trees seemed to comfort her, giving her a sense of freedom that she could never feel. The three of them had been out for about two hours.
Elrohir quickly glanced at Kevaline's face, "Kev, my sweet, where do you plan on going in these woods?"
Kevaline looked up at the sky, shrugging, "I don't know, I was hoping you would pick somewhere, seeing as you know these woods better than me." She then smiled at him, "Well, where do you plan on going?"
Elrohir couldn't help but laugh at Kevaline, she was still the same in his eyes, "Kevaline, I am afraid that I really don't know where I plan on going. I plan on following you even to death, if that means that I have to jump into mount doom after you then I will!"
Kevaline felt her heart start to race, "Elrohir, why would you say that? I mean, one of us has to survive to watch over Andrew, Elladan, and Legolas. . . If no one was there to stop them from doing stupid things, then Middle Earth would be doomed as we know it!" She stopped dead in her tracks as Yami growled in front of her. "What is wrong Yami?"
*I smell something, I am going to check it out!* Yami growled and then dashed off into the woods.
"How much you want to bet that he just did that to get us alone?" Kevaline sighed as Elrohir came to stand even closer to her, hand on his sword hilt.
"No, I sense something foul in the woods, I don't know what though," Elrohir stated, grabbing Kevaline's hand with his free one.
"Melamin, are you sure?" Kevaline asked.
"Shh, stay still and feel for yourself!" Elrohir silently commanded.
Kevaline did as she was told, gasping quietly as she felt it is well. She reached out with her mind *Yami, what is it?*
*I don't know what it was, but it ran off as soon as I reached the clearing it was in.* was Yami's answer. *I'm coming back.*
Kevaline let out a sigh, "We are safe now, that thing ran. . ."
"I think after Yami returns that we get back home." Elrohir desperately stated.
Kevaline smiled at him and bowed, "As you wish my lord. . ."
"Stop that!" Elrohir desperately stated. He grabbed her waist as she bowed, causing her to straighten up. He laughed, "Ticklish are we?"
"Not fair!" Kevaline yelled as Elrohir started to tickle her, "Please let me go!" She buried her face in his chest and continued to laugh, tears forming in her eyes. An idea then struck her. She pinched his sides as a reminder to stop tickling her.
"Ok, I give up!" Elrohir yelled, stopping his tirade of tickling. He then wrapped his arms around Kevaline's back, trapping her in a hug. He smiled as she looked up into his eyes, "It seems I have caught you."
Kevaline smiled, "Well, it seems you have. . ."
*I leave you two for only a couple of minutes, and look what happens!*
Kevaline gasped, and Elrohir chuckled in amusement, "Well Yami, it was your fault for leaving us."
Yami shook his head and continued over to the two *Are we going back now?*
Elrohir nodded, letting Kevaline go, "Yes, we are going back now." He smiled as Kevaline grabbed his hand, "We have to get back before lunch."
Kevaline let out a yawn at her seat in the dinning room. All of a sudden she felt tired in a way that she couldn't explain. She really wasn't tired as if she wanted to sleep, but she was tired. She shook her head as heads turned in her directing.
"Are you alright?" Haldir asked his daughter, turning from his conversation with his brothers and Elrond.
Kevaline yawned yet again, "I am fine."
*Kevaline!* Kevaline jumped up from her seat, causing all eyes to fall on her.
She quickly sat back down *What is wrong now Caldin?*
*I am sorry to frighten you, but a group of elves is on its way to the palace at this moment.*
Kevaline smiled *Thank you.* She looked at Elrohir, "You heard him, I know you did!"
Elrohir nodded, "Yes, I did indeed hear him." He turned to his father's questioning look, "It seems that the lord and the lady of Lothlorien have arrived in the woods."
"Well then, I guess your plans for after lunch have been cut off?" Elrond asked his son, his eyes apologizing to his son.
"It is alright, we will live. . ." Elrohir smiled.
At that moment, Kevaline grabbed her chest and moaned playfully, "Oh! My heart is dying!" She then stopped as the warriors jumped to their feet, getting ready to run to her side. She laughed, "I am alright! You are too easy to fool!" She smiled as the warriors sat back down, laughing at their own worry. "No, it will not kill us, Elrond," Kevaline winked.
Kevaline shifted in her place as the horses came into view. She couldn't keep her excitement in, it was just bubbling to come out. She smiled as Galadriel and Celeborn dismounted. She was to be the one to greet them. She bowed slightly, "My lord and lady, I would like to welcome you to Imladris. . ."
Galadriel smiled at Kevaline, "Well Tiger of Imladris, I see that you can barely contain your excitement."
Kevaline stood up abruptly, "My lady, please, don't utter about that. . ."
Celeborn looked Kevaline in the eye, "Kevaline. . ." He took a step back, "But how. . ."
Kevaline smiled at his reaction, "Nice to see you again as well Cele'."
"Roar'?" He asked, taking a step towards her.
"Yup, reborn!" Kevaline laughed. She then lowered her head, "Can you forgive me for what I did during the Last Alliance?"
Celeborn took another step towards her, "You shouldn't feel sorry, you were only trying to relax me. I am very sorry that I acted that way."
Kevaline gasped, "Cele', I had no right to do that to you! I mean, you. . ."
Celeborn held his hand up, willing her not to continue, "Don't say it!"
"I'm sorry!" Kevaline was frantic. She muttered under her breath, "I am going to have to have a talk with 'Rond! He did this on purpose!"
"Roar', you are talking to yourself again," Celeborn sighed, shaking his head as he watched Kevaline talking to herself.
Kevaline quickly looked up, "I am sorry, please follow me, I will take you to lord Elrond."
Celeborn looked at Elrond, "She is still the same."
Elrond nodded, looking out a window to see Kevaline laughing as she jumped on Elrohir, "Yes, I can see that. She still has that care free spirit that she had way back then."
"That is why the Valar gave her the choice," Galadriel smiled, "because she was Aurora reborn."
Elrond continued to watch the two out of the window, "This gives me another reason to keep her safe. At first I just wanted to keep her safe because she made an impression in our hearts, then it was because she became the pride of Elrohir, and now this."
Celeborn looked out the window as well, smiling as Elrohir pushed Kevaline off of him and then ran at her, laughing, "It is a sight for sore eyes. I had felt horrible to the way I had acted to her."
Kevaline ran away from Elrohir, laughing, "You will never catch me!" She turned her head to see where Elrohir was and tripped on a rock in the path.
She started to fall, but Elrohir raced to her side. He caught her before she fell and checked her, "Are you alright, are you hurt?"
Kevaline smiled up at him, "I am fine whenever I am in your arms, you give me a feeling of safety that I could never feel." She then pulled out of Elrohir's grip, standing up, "Well, you still have to catch me. . ." She then ran off, laughing as Elrohir raced after her.
Haldir smiled as his two brothers argued over who was better at archery. He shook his head as he heard familiar laughing. He knew it was his daughter and wondered what could make her laugh like that.
Kevaline came bursting into the archery range. She spotted her father and ran behind him, "Father, save me!"
Haldir suddenly became very protective of his daughter, "Save you from what? What is chasing you?"
Elrohir came running into the range a moment later, smiling as he laid eyes on Kevaline, "I'll catch you yet!"
Kevaline couldn't stop her laughter, "Save me father, uncles!"
Rumil looked at Elrohir, "I think I am going to side with Elrohir, this seems to be interesting!"
Orophin smiled, "I am coming to the rescue of my niece!" He puffed out his chest, pretending to take this serious, "I will not let her fall into turmoil and shadows!"
Haldir stared at his brothers and Elrohir, "Well, someone has to be her knight in shining armor. . ." He smiled, playing along with the game they were playing, "I will be Kevaline's commander of her army!" He pointed at Rumil, "Orophin, attack!"
Orophin turned to his brother, and bowed, "As you wish commander!" He started to run at Rumil, smiling. He was closely followed by Haldir, smiling as big as his brothers.
At that moment, Legolas, Estel, and Andrew entered the archery range. They watched as the three brothers pretended to fight and Elrohir silently sneak up on Kevaline. Kevaline screamed and ran at the three that had just entered, "Legolas, my friend, save me!"
Legolas just stared at her as she grabbed his arm, "What are you. . ."
"He wants to catch me!" Kevaline yelled as Elrohir ran at them.
Legolas grabbed her arms, a devious smile playing at his lips, "I am sorry that you came to me. . . I am on his side!"
Kevaline looked over at Estel to see him the same as Legolas, "You are on his side as well?" Estel nodded, and then Kevaline turned to Andrew, "Andrew, my big brother, help me." She gave him a puppy-dog face.
Andrew smiled at her and puffed out his chest, "I will save you little sister!" He looked at Legolas and winked. Legolas nodded and let Kevaline go. Andrew pulled Kevaline into a hug, "See, I told you I would save you. . ."
"Not if I take her from you!"
Kevaline looked to see Elladan jump down from a tree. Andrew backed away from Kevaline as Elladan grabbed her, smiling. Kevaline then yelled, "Where is my knight in shining armor that I know loves me?" Two hands then went over her eyes, and she smiled, "So, he has finally come!"
Elrohir whispered into her ear, "Yes, I have finally come, and I have finally caught you!" He smiled as Kevaline shivered as his breath brushed against her ear. He picked her up, smiling at everyone standing in the clearing, "I have saved the beautiful one!"
Haldir chuckled, "Well done!" He turned to his brothers, "Now tell me again why we just did that?"
Orophin smiled at Kevaline as she dug her face into Elrohir's chest and fell asleep, "It was all Kevaline!"
"Yes, I agree. Her spirit caused me to act that way. It is one that is care free, we are lucky to be related to her." Rumil smiled also. He watched as Elrohir walked off with Kevaline, "It's hard to think that she is getting married."
Haldir looked at his brothers, "Well, she is Elizabeth's daughter. Of course she would have a care free spirit!" He then smiled, "Yes, it is quite hard to think that she is getting married."
Galadriel smiled as she sat in the dinning hall for dinner. Kevaline was smiling at Elrohir with love reflecting in her silver eyes with specs of gold in them. It was nice to see Kevaline in such a happy state, someone like her shouldn't be sad.
Kevaline giggled, not sure if she could address Celeborn without calling him his nickname, "My lord Celeborn, how was your trip?"
Celeborn smiled, "It was uneventful in a good way."
Yami ate his food from his place by Kevaline's chair *That is good, I wouldn't want any elves in any danger!*
"You are sweet Yami, do you know that?" Kevaline scratched him behind his left ear, his secret spot that he loved.
*You have told me that countless times before.* Yami barked.
Kevaline smiled at him, content that she had raised him to be this way. She then looked up at Galadriel, "My lady, you seem to be in deep thought. . ."
Galadriel nodded, "Yes Kevaline, you have guessed right. I was in deep thought. I was thinking about how happy you are."
Kevaline stretched her arms out, smiling at everyone, "Why would I not be happy in a place like this? I have family and friends!"
Galadriel spoke to Kevaline in her mind, 'Yes, but there is that place in your heart that is empty. The place where a mother should be.'
'Please don't talk of such things. It was my fault my mother died, it was all my fault!' Kevaline stated, staring at Galadriel.
'How is that pen neth?' Galadriel asked her.
'When she was attacked, I didn't do anything to help her, I just watched her die! I could have drawn my bow to help her but I didn't!' Kevaline chocked, a tear running down her face.
"You should not blame yourself Tiger of Imladris, it wasn't your fault." Galadriel tried to soothe her. He turned to Celeborn, "So many things happen that people blame themselves for and yet it wasn't their fault. This is one of those cases."
Kevaline sighed and nodded her head, "I guess you are right." She then smiled, "I have everything else that I need right here!"
A full week passed from that night, the wedding had been a success. Kevaline sighed as she fell onto her bed, the day's events were too much for even her. She had woken up in the morning to Elrohir waking her. After that Elrohir apologized as his sister Arwen had decided that Kevaline would spend the morning with her. Then she had had training with Gandalf and Galadriel. After that was elvish lessons and then Elrohir's lessons.
Elrohir chuckled down at her as he got ready for bed as well, "Melamin, how was your day?"
Kevaline rolled on her side, looking up at Elrohir, "Don't get me started!"
Elrohir's chuckling died away and Kevaline could sense something was bothering him. When he sat down on the bed, Kevaline came over to sit beside him, rubbing his back. He sighed and looked at her, "Melamin. . ."
Kevaline gave him a stern gaze, "Spill it Elrohir! Don't hide anything from me, just say it!"
Elrohir grabbed her in a tight hold, not wanting to say anything, but knowing she would force him to anyway, "Kevaline, Elladan and I are going to travel with the Dunedain. . ."
Kevaline stopped rubbing his back, "You are thinking of just leaving me here, aren't you!" When he didn't answer her, she glared at him, "Yet you would take Andrew with you!"
"It isn't because you aren't skilled, it is because. . ." Elrohir started.
"It is because you are afraid that I will get hurt and distract you from the battle!" Kevaline yelled, standing up. She then looked at Elrohir's saddened face. She sighed, "I am sorry melamin, I didn't mean to do that. I know you are just doing it for the goodness of me." She moved over to the chair on their room and sat down, "When do you leave?"
"Four days from now," Elrohir sighed.
"I will die of boredom!" Kevaline cried as she stood up. She fixed her gaze with her new husband, "If you die, I mean anytime that I am away from you, I will personally make sure that I bring you back just so I can kill you myself!"
The next morning, both were awakened by an urgent banging on their door. Kevaline rolled out of bed and pulled on a robe. She then stumbled over to the door and opened it up, "Yes, what can I help you with?"
"My lady, I was told to come inform the both of you to quickly get dressed and then head to the southern border patrol. . ."
Kevaline thought for a moment, "What is wrong?"
"The border was attacked by a band of orcs. My lord would not say anything else," A messenger bowed and then left at a run.
Kevaline turned back to the bed to see Elrohir starting to get dressed. She quickly grabbed a forest green tunic and a pair of forest green leggings.
Elrohir turned to her after he was done dressing, "The southern border is what he said, am I correct?"
Kevaline nodded, finally pulling her leggings on, "Yes, why do you ask?"
"That was the border that Andrew was sent to without my brother." Elrohir stated.
Kevaline felt her stomach tie up in knots at that statement. She bit her bottom lip, "Elrohir. . ."
Elrohir nodded to her, "What is it?"
"I have a bad feeling about this!" Kevaline stated, pulling on her tunic and running down the steps, Elrohir right behind her. She turned her head to Elrohir, "Now tell me again why your brother wasn't sent to the border as well."
"Elladan was put on guard duty instead, and when Andrew was asked if he wanted guard duty, he said he wanted to stay on border patrol. He was given the choice, my brother was not." Elrohir explained.
On reaching the border patrol, Kevaline was almost sick at the sight before her. Elves were mingled with orcs and no one was winning. She then saw him, she saw Andrew deflect an orc attack and defend a wounded elf. What he didn't notice was the orc that was coming up behind him. Kevaline urged Clitus into a gallop, "Andrew! Behind you!"
Everything went in slow motion for her then. She watched as the orc stuck his crude sword straight through Andrew, and Clitus didn't get there quick enough. Everything then sped up again as Kevaline quickly dismounted from Clitus and unsheathed her sword. She ran to the spot that Andrew was and sliced the heads off of both orcs. She then knelt down and held Andrew's fragile body in her hands, letting her tears fall freely.
Andrew smiled up at her, "Kev, this has been quite an adventure. . ."
Kevaline shook her head, "No, keep your strength, we'll get you back to Elrond so he can heal you! Everything is going to be ok!"
"Just keep telling yourself that Kev, and it will be," Andrew coughed. He put a bloody hand on her right cheek, "Kev, listen to me. I am sorry for all the pain I have caused you, I wish I could have made it up to you."
"You have, you have made everything up that you did wrong!" Kevaline cried even harder, not caring about the battle going on around her.
"Listen!" Andrew yelled at her, "I want you to watch over my sister, I have a feeling she will show up here. I want her to have a better life than what she did have. Tell her I am sorry for not being there to welcome her, but you will do just fine. . ."
"Andrew, please, you aren't going to die!" Kevaline shook her head.
Andrew yelled even more at her, "Kevaline!"
Kevaline stopped, Andrew never called her by her full name unless it was something of great importance that he had to say. She nodded, "What is it Andrew?"
Andrew put his hand up to her temple, "I am giving you my wisdom and strength to keep. Use it wisely. It may cause you some pain to begin with." He took a deep breath, "Tell Elladan that I am sorry that I never did get to challenge him to a sparing match. . ."
Kevaline opened her mouth to answer, but a searing pain in her temple made her stop. She looked down at Andrew to see him still smiling at her. All of a sudden, Kevaline felt a new strength enter her body, one that was warm and wrapped around her. She blinked her eyes and then opened her mouth again, "Andrew, just relax, I won't let you die!" She got no response from him as his hand fell limply to his side. She cried even harder now, "Andrew, Andrew, please no!"
When he didn't answer her, she pulled his head into her lap and noticed that his hair had grown out from when they first came here. She wiped the hair out of his face and cried. After about another ten minutes, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She grabbed her sword and spun around, breathing heavy. She dropped her sword as she saw it was Elrohir. He grabbed her in a hug and tried to quiet her crying, "Shh, it is alright. . ."
"He's dead! I didn't get to him on time!" Kevaline cried. She then felt a searing pain in her temple and screamed in pain. She felt her legs give out and thanked the Valar for Elrohir being there, holding her. The last thing she remembered before she blacked out was being rushed over to Clitus.
Elladan paced the room Kevaline was in, waiting for her to wake up. He turned to his brother, "What happened out there?"
Elrohir looked at Kevaline, "I am not quite sure. I went to help some elves that were having trouble against the orcs while Kevaline went to help Andrew."
"Why did she black out?" Elladan asked, returning to his pacing.
"That is the one thing Kevaline can tell us. I have wanted to know it as well." Elrohir insisted.
Kevaline moaned and moved around in bed, "Andrew, no, we will save you. . . Elrond will fix you up when we get you back to Imladris. . ." She then shot up in the bed, breathing heavily and looking around, "Andrew! Don't leave me!"
"Kevaline!" Elrohir yelled, rushing to her side, "You are safe."
Kevaline turned her head to him, "Andrew, what about Andrew?"
Elladan tried his luck, "What happened Kevaline, what happened out there?"
Kevaline's eyes went out of focus, "It was all quiet, we had just switched watches. I was getting ready to get some rest when they attacked us! It was an ambush, we really didn't stand a chance. We sent a messenger on the fastest horse we had to relay the news. Then we tried to hold them off until reinforcements came. . ." Kevaline's eyes returned to normal, "When I get there, I saw Andrew struggling with an orc, he was protecting one of the wounded soldiers. He didn't notice the orc creeping up behind him. I race over to him to stop the orc, but got there too late."
Elladan looked over at Elrohir, "That first part, could it have been part of Andrew's memory?"
Elrohir put his hand on Kevaline's right cheek, "Kevaline, why did you black out?"
"Andrew, it was because of Andrew," Kevaline stuttered, "He gave me his wisdom and strength before he. . ." She pulled her feet over the bed, "Where is he? Where is Andrew? I want to see that he is all right! I want him to smile at me and say that he was just grazed in the battle!"
Elrohir stopped her from going anywhere, "Kevaline, he is dead. . ."
Kevaline's body felt numb, "Dead?" Elrohir nodded, and she started to cry, "I have failed them both! I swore to myself that I wouldn't let Andrew die since Adam did!"
Elrohir pulled her into a hug, "It is alright melamin, it is alright." He let her cry into his chest, knowing that it must be hard on her. He stroked her hair, "Melamin, it wasn't your fault."
Kevaline pushed away from him, "Leave me alone!"
"Melamin," Elrohir looked at her, "What is wrong?"
Kevaline turned away from him, "You are going to leave me in four days! Then I will have no one left!"
"Kevaline, what has gotten into you?" Elrohir asked.
"What has gotten into me?" Kevaline asked him back. She turned to face him again, "It seems that whenever I let someone I love go somewhere, they die! If that is the case then I will not love anyone anymore!"
"Kevaline. . ." Elrohir sighed.
"No, Elrohir, I love you! I don't want you to die like Adam or Andrew! I don't want that to happen!" Kevaline cried.
Elrohir looked at Elladan, "Brother, what shall we do now?"
Elladan looked at Kevaline who was now crying with her back turned to them, "I am sorry brother, but we can't take her with us. She will distract you too much. . ." He thought for a moment, "Wait, why don't we let her travel with Estel?"
Kevaline froze and turned around, drying her tears, "What?"
"It's perfect! She can go with Estel! Then she will never be bored or have any time to worry about us or anyone else!" Elladan smiled at her.
Elrohir looked at Kevaline's reaction. He could see a little twinkle in her eyes, "If Estel will take her with him, then I don't see a problem with it."
At that moment, Estel came walking into the room, "I see that Kevaline is up. . ." He looked at Everyone to see they were all staring at him, "What did I do?"
"Nothing!" Kevaline smiled.
Elrohir sighed, "Estel, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it?" Estel asked.
"Will you take Kevaline with you when you travel?" Elladan asked.
Estel looked at Kevaline to see the pleading in her eyes, "Well, I guess I can."
Kevaline jumped on him, laughing, "Oh thank you, thank you!" She then leapt off of him when he couldn't breath.
When she landed, Elrohir eyed her, "Kevaline, smile for me." Kevaline shrugged and did what she was told, Elrohir seeing that her teeth were that of a tiger's. He nodded, "It seems that your teeth have turned back into the tiger's, and that your agility and strength have improved."
Kevaline winked at him, "Ok, so it seems my past life has agreed with my present life."
Estel smiled, "Yup, she can come with me. I will need the extra help." He then turned to Kevaline, "Our first trip starts tomorrow. We are heading back to Mirkwood."
Kevaline nodded, "Great! I get to travel with you and Legolas!" She turned to Elrohir, "Well, it seems that I have work to do." She started to pack some clothes, not caring if they matched each other or not.
"Kevaline, maybe you should eat something," Elrohir stated, starting to help her pack.
Kevaline lay down in bed with Elrohir, snuggling closer to him, "Hey, this is the last night we will have with each other for a long time."
Elrohir smiled and wrapped his arms around Kevaline, "Well, Tiger of Imladris, then I guess we should savor every bit of it."
Kevaline woke in the morning before Elrohir. She smiled as she looked at his face. She wiped a piece of hair out of his face, "He is so peaceful when he sleeps."
*Thank you for telling me that, that is just what I wanted to hear this morning!*
"Yami, you have no respect!" Kevaline hissed at the wolf as he stretched from his place on some cushions.
"He only has the respect that you taught him," Elrohir chuckled as he woke up.
"I am sorry melamin, I didn't mean to wake you," Kevaline apologized.
"I'm glad you did. I would have hunted you down and then dragged you back to Imladris if I didn't get to say good bye to you." Elrohir answered her.
Yami rolled his eyes *I will be down in the dinning room.* With that, he padded off.
Kevaline embraced Elrohir strongly as Legolas and Estel stood back, letting her say her goodbyes alone, "I will miss you. . ."
"We will see each other in our dreams," Elrohir winked. He then turned to Yami, "You take good care of her, make sure she comes back to me in one piece."
*Now why would I not do a thing like that?* Yami asked, walking over to Clitus who was standing quietly, waiting for Kevaline to mount him.
*Kevaline, whenever you are ready.* Clitus stated, tossing his mane. Kevaline had decided that she would ride him bareback and without a bridle. He was thankful towards her.
Kevaline nodded and turned to the rest of them, "It has been a wonderful time with all of you. I can't wait to see you again." She ran to her father and gave him a quick hug, "Keep safe father." She then turned to her uncles, giving each of them a hug as well, "Watch over him and keep safe yourselves."
"Kevaline," Elrond stated, making her turn to face him, "Roar' please be safe on this journey."
Kevaline flashed him a smile that only he could understand, "Don't worry 'Rond, I will be safe." She then walked over to Clitus and quickly mounted him, "Well, until we meet again, namarie."
The three raced out of Rivendell. Starting their journey to Mirkwood. Legolas was on Kevaline's left side, "Kevaline, you will love Mirkwood."
Kevaline nodded, "Yes, I think I shall." She lowered her head, not wanting the two of them to see her cry.
Estel looked at her, "Kevaline, don't hide from us, we won't say anything about you crying."
Kevaline looked up at Estel, "They were like my brothers and now I don't have either one of them. Both died, telling me that I shouldn't worry about it!" She fixed her gaze on Clitus's ear that kept perking up and then going forward, "I first lost my mother when I came her, then I gained a father and a love, but then as soon as I gained them, I lost Adam and then Andrew!"
*Kevaline, don't talk like that!* Clitus snorted.
"I lost them! I lost the only two that could make me remember all the good times I had in my life!" Kevaline stated.
Clitus skidded to a halt *Stop it!* He pawed the ground *I am not going anywhere until you stop this talk!* Kevaline murmured she was sorry, and Clitus tossed his head, starting to trot again *There, now isn't that better?*
Clitus brought a smile to Kevaline's face, "I don't know what I would do without you Clitus."
Kevaline sat at the fire that the group had made. It had been two weeks of travel already, and they were reaching the forest of Mirkwood. She stared into the fire, thinking about how Elrohir was doing. She quickly unsheathed her Elvin knife as she heard a noise come into the clearing she was in.
"Relax Kevaline, it is just I," a familiar voice called.
Kevaline re sheathed her knife and sighed, "Legolas, I wish you wouldn't do that! You are going to end up killing me!"
"I hope not, Elrohir would kill me!" Legolas laughed as he sat down beside her, a pheasant in his hands.
Kevaline smiled at him, "At least you didn't kill a deer."
"Yes, it was because I stopped him!" Estel laughed as he came into the clearing as well. "Kevaline, we only have a couple more days."
"Then can I sleep in a regular bed?" Kevaline asked, laughing.
"Yes, you may. I am sure father will be pleased to see you," Legolas smiled.
Kevaline nodded and subconsciously started to mess with her marriage ring. Estel saw this and placed a hand on Kevaline's shoulder, "He is safe Kevaline."
Kevaline looked into the fire, sighing, "I just don't want to hear about him dying."
She looked up from the fire to see Legolas smiling, "Elrohir couldn't die if he has your love with him."
Kevaline looked at Yami who was sleeping by the horses, "It seems Yami is quite content." She then yawned, "Well, I know that if I don't go to sleep soon, you two will force me to, so goodnight."
On reaching the gates of Mirkwood palace, a guard yelled down to the three, "Halt, who goes there?"
Kevaline looked down at Yami, "Now you behave yourself in here. I don't want you causing any trouble!"
Legolas yelled up to the guard, "Don't you recognize your prince?"
The guard smiled, "Prince Legolas!" The gates opened, and the guard yelled to the rest, "Prince Legolas has returned!"
As Kevaline dismounted from Clitus, guards came rushing over to her. She looked at them, "What is your problem?"
One held his hand out, "My lady, please stay calm, a wolf is right behind you."
Legolas smiled and let Kevaline take care of the situation. Kevaline started laughing as she put her hand to her side, Yami thudding over to it and licking it, "This is Yami. He is no harm."
Legolas nodded, "She is right, you may go back to your posts." They did as they were told, and Legolas turned back to Kevaline and Yami, "I would have loved it when you told them that you were his mother."
Kevaline winked, "Well, it is true. I am not his real mother, but at least I fill in that whole in his heart."
At that moment, an older version came walking towards Legolas, "My son. . ."
"Ah, it is good to see you again Thran'!" Kevaline laughed.
Thranduil turned to her, "We have not met before," He turned to his son, "Legolas, who is she?"
"I save your butt a couple of times and you don't remember me!" Kevaline smiled, showing her teeth.
Thranduil saw her teeth and took a step back, "But how? I mean, you died in the Last Alliance!"
Kevaline took a step towards Thranduil, "Well Thran', I am reborn." She put out her hand, "Your son is just like you. . . Well, no, he isn't. He looks like you, but he is more worry filled than you were." She shook her head, "My name now is Kevaline, but I still go by my nickname."
Thranduil grabbed her in a hug, "Roar' I can't believe it!"
"Uh. . . Thran', Roar' can't breath!" Kevaline gasped.
Legolas burst out laughing, "Father, I think you are squashing her."
Thranduil let Kevaline go, smiling as Kevaline gasped for breath, "I am sorry Roar' I couldn't stop myself. . ."
Kevaline smiled, "I'm now used to it. Elrohir does it all the time to me."
Legolas nodded, "Yes, father, Kevaline is the one that Elrohir married."
Thranduil smirked, "What a coincidence. . . Roar' falling in love with. . ."
"Thran' we don't need to talk about that!" Kevaline stated quickly, shaking her hands in front of her. "That is between me and the elves from the Last Alliance." She eyed him carefully, "You had promised along with Gil-galad, Cele', 'Rond, and Glor' that you would not utter any of it after the Last Alliance!"
Thranduil bowed, "As you wish Roar' it is just good to see you again."
Kevaline subconsciously patted Yami's head, "It would be kind if you showed me the room that I will be staying in, I feel a little tired." Yami closed his eyes and his ears perked forward, symbolizing his calmness.
*Kevaline, I think it is right that you should get some rest.* Yami panted.
Kevaline turned to the stable hands that were trying to get Clitus to follow them, "I first have to make sure Clitus is properly taken care of."
Clitus stopped his prancing and turned his head to Kevaline *Oh, Kevaline, if you are tired, then I will just follow them. I don't want you to be uncomfortable.* He snorted at the stable hands and turned his head to Legolas' horse *Will you please tell me where the stables are. I do not want to be guided by anyone other than another horse or Kevaline.*
Kevaline was then led to the room she would stay in. She gasped as she walked into the room, "This can't be right!"
"My lady, are you alright?" the servant asked as she set Kevaline's things down on the desk in the room.
"Where is your King? I need to speak with him. . ." Kevaline started as she looked around the room.
"No need to ask, I am right here," Thranduil chuckled as Kevaline turned to him.
"This is the same room that I stayed in back then! Nothing has changed!" Kevaline stated, sitting down on her bed. "I remember the time I spent here, 'Rond wanted me to stay away from Imladris, this being the first place that he could think of."
"I have honored you, I have kept it just the way you left it," Thranduil smiled, "Many times I have come in here to think about stuff."
Yami jumped up on the bed beside Kevaline, curling up and then falling asleep. Kevaline giggled, "Well, you have Yami's regards. He seems to feel at ease here."
"That is comforting," Thranduil smiled. He then nodded, "Well, I am sure that you are hungry so why don't you accompany me down to our dinning hall."
Kevaline nodded, "Yes, I am a little hungry, thank you Thran'."
The servant gasped as Kevaline called Thranduil his nickname, "How dare you!"
Kevaline smacked her forehead, "Geez, I blew it again!" She bowed to Thranduil who was now almost dying of laughter, "I am sorry your highness, I didn't mean any disrespect."
Thranduil nodded, leading her out into the hall, "It is alright, I quite like that nickname, it reminds me of an old friend." He winked at her, "Call me that if you wish."
Kevaline whistled as she entered the dinning hall, "Wow! It is just like I remembered it!" She let Thranduil lead her to her seat, on the right side of Legolas. She smiled at him, "Hey there friend, I love it here."
"Well then, maybe tomorrow you will want to go to the archery range with me. How does that sound?" Legolas smiled at Kevaline.
Kevaline smiled back, "Sure, as long as Thran' doesn't need me tomorrow. . ." She then stopped and thought for a second, "Hey Legolas, after dinner can I talk to you alone?"
"Yes, you can," Legolas nodded.
Estel nodded to Kevaline, "I am glad that I agreed to let you come with us. . ."
"Oh, you are stuck with me forever now," Kevaline deviously smiled, "Elrohir told you that you had to take me on all your journeys."
Kevaline sighed as she sat down on a bench in one of the gardens, "Legolas, I have to ask you something."
"What is it?" Legolas smiled as he sat down beside her.
"What happened to Adam's body?" Kevaline asked, looking at the ground.
Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "We buried him, to honor him. . ."
"Where is he buried?" Kevaline asked, looking up into Legolas' eyes.
Kevaline awoke in the morning, feeling a little better than what she had the day beforehand. She looked over at her window to still see it dark. She sighed and closed her eyes, falling back asleep.
~*Dream*~
Kevaline ran with all her might, not knowing what she was running from or to what. Then she saw it, a sight that made her heart break in two. Elrohir was fighting off twenty orcs. She grabbed at her side for her sword or Elvin knife, but found that she didn't have them.
She couldn't stand to see the only one that she would love with all her heart die so she ran at the orcs, screaming at them. They turned their attention to her, sneering as they saw her. She kept running towards them, hoping to get them away from Elrohir.
Elrohir looked shocked, "Kevaline! I thought you were in Mirkwood!" He then shook his head, "Kevaline, run!"
"No!" Kevaline yelled as she continued to run towards the orcs, "I will not watch you die!" She summoned all her courage and yelled even louder at the orcs, "Get the hell away from my husband!"
Just as the orcs were upon her, she felt something inside her click. She growled at the orcs, transforming into her tiger form. She then lashed out at the orcs, roaring as her front paws killed the front six in one swipe. She then pounced on five more, biting them and clawing them until they died. He eyes narrowed at the nine that were left. Before they could run or move, Kevaline had killed them.
She then transformed back. She looked at Elrohir, "I couldn't let you die, I just couldn't see another die!"
Elrohir grabbed her in a hug, "Kevaline, how did you get here? I thought you were in Mirkwood. You should have reached it by now. . ."
Kevaline sighed as she relaxed in Elrohir's comforting grasp, "I am in Mirkwood. We reached it earlier today."
"Then how? How are you here?" Elrohir asked, confused.
"I thought of you before I fell asleep for the second time tonight. I thought about your caring face and how much I missed your touch." Kevaline closed her eyes. She opened them up again, staring into Elrohir's, "I wanted to see you."
"I am glad that you were thinking about me, but that really doesn't explain how you showed up here when you are in Mirkwood and I am in Gondor." Elrohir stated.
Kevaline pulled out of his grip, "I am sorry, but I have to go. I have to wake up."
~*End Dream*~
Kevaline awoke with a start, looking around the room just to see of she was still in Mirkwood. She heard a knock at the door and stood to answer it, "Come in."
Legolas and Estel walked in, looking at Kevaline, "Are you alright?"
Kevaline's eyes showed her relief, "Was it a dream?" She shook her head, "No, his touch was real, the blood was real. . ." With that startling thought she looked at her hands, seeing dried orc blood all over them. She felt sick at the sight of it, but held it down. She slowly walked over to the bathing room and cleaned her hands, seeing that there was no more blood on her.
"Kevaline whose blood was that?" Estel asked as she came back out.
"Orcs' blood," was her simple reply.
Legolas notice that she was a little pale, "What was orcs' blood doing on your hands?"
Kevaline turned away from them, "You wouldn't understand, it is too complicated for even me to understand." She shook her head, "The Valar have blessed me, that is all I can say." She shivered as she felt the urge to go find some more orcs and kill them as well.
Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "Are you alright?"
Kevaline nodded numbly, "Yes, I just think I am a little ill." She smiled at them, "I am fine. . ."
"Why don't you go to the healers?" Legolas asked, looking at Estel.
Kevaline shrugged, moving out of their reaches, "They couldn't help me. . ."
"They are some of the most talented healers. . ." Legolas argued.
Kevaline shook her head, "They might be, but they can't help me."
"Why, Kev?" Estel asked.
"I am different from any being on Middle Earth, they can not help me. I just have to bear through my illness. . ." Kevaline started.
"That is not true Roar'," Kevaline turned to see Thranduil, "There has been one healer that has been able to help you through your times of need. . ."
"I will not let you send him here!" Kevaline stated urgently, stomping her foot down, "Just let him stay in Imladris! He has enough to worry about already!"
"And why would that be?" Thranduil asked, smiling at Kevaline.
"Both his sons have gone with the Dunedain! He is probably worrying about them! He doesn't need to worry about me!" Kevaline growled, her eyes narrowing.
Thranduil pulled Estel and Legolas behind him, "Well Roar' that is why you don't feel so great." He answered Estel and Legolas's questioning looks, "She has been granted the power to transform as you probably already heard."
"That isn't why!" Kevaline growled even more, not aware of how close she was to transforming.
"Then what is it?" Thranduil asked, watching Kevaline intently.
"I-I was somehow with Elrohir! I went to sleep and found myself where Elrohir was, in Gondor! He was fighting twenty orcs! I-I saved him. I did transform to save him but. . ." Kevaline started, turning even paler.
Thranduil rushed to her side as he legs gave out, "I guess you don't remember the times during the Last Alliance that you somehow mysteriously appeared to help out when you were half way across the battlefield." He sat Kevaline down in a chair, "Kevaline even after those times you became ill. The only one that could help you, let alone get near you at those times was. . ."
Kevaline had lost it, she growled low in her throat in a threatening tone, "Don't you dare utter his name! I hated myself for those times of weakness that I gave in to you all and let 'Rond heal me! Never again will a healer touch me!"
Legolas looked at his father, "What is going on?"
"It is the aftermath of her gifts. She is able to sometimes appear at scenes that could kill someone. She then transforms to save the person. Then she disappears. If you are with her real body you can see what happens. She grows deathly pale sometimes and her tiger instincts take over her body." Thranduil explained, keeping himself between Kevaline and the other two, "Stay back there, she is going to transform. . ."
Kevaline growled even more as she stood up. She then transformed, becoming the beautiful white tiger with black stripes. Her eyes narrowed at Thranduil. With his experience with Aurora, he knew exactly what that meant. He pushed Legolas and Estel back even more.
Kevaline took a step towards the three, the muscles in her shoulders getting ready to pounce. Thranduil glared at her, "Roar' are you going to attack me?"
Kevaline's tiger ears perked up at the voice, seeming to know who it was. She roared, not a roar of attack or vengeance, but one of sadness. She then laid low to the ground, lowering her head. She then heard it, the voice that could control her. "Roar'!"
Kevaline froze where she was, not believing that it was he. She shook her tiger head, just thinking it was a voice from the past. "Roar'! What are you thinking?"
Kevaline looked up to meet eyes with Elrond. She then quickly looked away, ashamed of how she let the tiger's instincts get the better of her. She quickly transformed back, not looking at anyone. "You, you were supposed to be in Imladris, you weren't supposed to come. . ."
"If I didn't, you would have torn them all to pieces!" Elrond stated, authority in his voice. Kevaline winced at the truth behind it all. Elrond softened his voice, "What caused you to do that?"
"Elrohir. . . He was in Gondor. . . Twenty orcs. . . I had to do something!" Kevaline fumbled with her words.
Elrond gabbed her chin and brought it up so he could look at her face, "The aftermath then?" Kevaline nodded, and Elrond nodded, "You are safe, don't worry."
Kevaline felt relief at those words. She couldn't stop the tears that fell down her face, "I couldn't stop myself! My anger, it was horrible!" She started to shake, "The blood, it was just like back then. Blood everywhere!"
Elrond escorted her over to the chair she was sitting in and sat her down, "Shh, you are safe now, we are here."
Kevaline didn't care about how pale she was, she only cared to here those words. Legolas looked at his father, "How is it that lord Elrond is the only one that can calm her?"
Thranduil looked at Elrond, "I will let you handle this one, I promised Aurora that I would not utter a word about it."
Elrond sighed, looking at Kevaline who had fallen asleep, "Aurora was a strange half elf. She wanted to be with the males, excepted by them as one. There was one thing she had not counted on, and that was love." He took a breath, "At first, she loved Glorfindel, but when he didn't return her love, she started to give up on it. . ." He paused, not sure if he should go on, "Then she fell in love with her other best friend. When she told me that she loved me, I didn't know what to say. Later on she still held that love for me. That is why I am the only one that can get close to her when she is in the aftermath."
"You know that isn't the full story," Thranduil chuckled.
Elrond sighed, "Aurora didn't want anyone to know about the rest. You know that she made all of you promise to never utter it again!"
Estel looked at Elrond, "My lord, Kevaline is going to be alright, isn't she?"
Elrond nodded, "Yes, she is. She just needs some rest for the day and then she will be up and moving." He sighed, "I guess I was right to follow you. I thought that this would happen." He looked into Thranduil's eyes, "Her powers are getting stronger than what she was back then. She has a new body with a new meaning. She has also had help from two mortals, they have left her gifts that she doesn't understand at the moment."
"There is another that can calm her heart when she is in that state, isn't there?" Thranduil asked Elrond.
Elrond nodded, "Yes, there is. My son Elrohir is the only other one that can soothe her when she is in that state."
Kevaline awoke to the sounds of talking. She turned on her side and slowly opened her eyes, "What is all the noise about?"
Legolas and Estel rushed to her side, "Kevaline, you are alright!"
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" Kevaline smiled, sitting up. She froze as she saw Thranduil and Elrond sitting in chairs, staring at her. She then remembered what she had almost done. She put her head in her hands, "Oh, no, what have I done! I could have killed you!"
Thranduil smiled, "I have had past dealings with you, you wouldn't have killed us."
Kevaline shook her head, "I am different from when I was back then, I am stronger and wiser. I take more foolish attempts then I did." She felt her whole body shiver and closed her eyes tightly.
Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "What is wrong?"
Kevaline pulled away from him, gasping as another shiver ran through her body. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "It is strong. It's coming this way! It seeks blood. . ."
*Kevaline, I feel an evil force! I don't like the feel of it either!* Yami growled. He sniffed the air *It smells horrible!*
Kevaline jumped out of the bed, scaring everyone in the room, "Orcs!" She felt her legs give out under her and fell, landing on the floor, "They come, they thirst for blood!" She took in a breath and gagged, "Their stench is horrible!"
Thranduil and Elrond exchanged looks. Estel shook his head, "Kevaline, you must be imagining things. . ."
Thranduil stood quickly and walked out of the room, nodding to Elrond, "I will get my troop together."
Elrond nodded, "I will get these three ready." He then turned to Kevaline who was still on the floor, her eyes darting back and forth, "Legolas, Estel, go get ready for battle, I will help Kevaline." He then nodded to Kevaline, "Come on Roar' now isn't the time to be lazy. . ."
Kevaline shot up, "What did you call me, 'Rond?" She then fell again, her legs not working on her side. She then remembered the aftermath, "'Rond, my legs, the aftermath!"
Elrond smiled, remembering the last time this had happened, "You have always made excuses. . ."
This time when Kevaline stood up, she stayed up, "I don't agree!"
Elrond nodded, "There, now we can get you ready for battle. . ."
Kevaline smiled, handing her weapons to Elrond, "Nope, all I need is right here." She pointed to herself, "I am a weapon in disguise, you know that!" She nodded to Elrond as he took her weapons, "You use them, they would just slow me down. But don't lose any of them!" With that she ran out of the room, leaving Elrond to equip himself with the weapons.
Thranduil watched Kevaline run out of the palace over to him. She nodded to him, "Ready?"
Thranduil looked her over, "Where are your weapons?"
"'Rond," was her simple answer. She smiled, "Well, here I go, tell your troop not to freak out when I transform!"
*Kevaline! You are not going into battle without me at your side!* Yami howled as he ran out of the palace to skid to a halt beside her.
Kevaline transformed, scaring half of Thranduil's troop. She growled *I thought it might be safer if you stayed out of the battle, Yami!* She then lunged at the gate as it opened *Let's go, we will be the first to meet the orcs in battle!* Yami was right behind her, howling in determination.
One of the elves in Thranduil's group just stared at the two, "A wolf going into battle with elves, fighting on our side. Now I have seen everything."
"My lord, I had heard your tales about the Tiger of Imladris, but I thought that they were just stories," Another elf stated, talking to Thranduil.
Thranduil shook his head, "No, they were real, you now have proof." He nodded to Elrond as he came running out with Legolas and Estel, "Roar' has already gone, we better hurry. She won't leave any for us if we don't."
Yami growled at the advancing orcs *This is it? I have fought more before!*
Kevaline growled in her tiger form *Remember, I have already defeated half of them. Come on Yami, my score is eighty-two!*
*Alright! So my score is only fifty-one!* Yami pounced on another orc, breaking its neck. *Make that fifty-two!*
Kevaline swiped at five advancing orcs, roaring. *Make mine eighty-seven now!* Kevaline's eyes narrowed as ten orcs backed away from their dead companions. *If they think I am just going to let them run away, then they don't know that I don't give mercy!*
She pounced on the nearest one, her tail wrapping around another's neck, cutting off its air supply. Yami howled as Thranduil and his troop appeared. *It looks like our fun is over Kevaline!*
Kevaline jumped backwards so that she stood in front of Elrond who was standing in the front with Thranduil, Legolas, and Estel. She licked her lips and narrowed her eyes even more. Elrond scratched her behind her right ear, "Roar', give no mercy!"
Kevaline then lunged at an orc that she thought had gotten too close to the group. With a quick lash of her tail, it wrapped around its neck and snapped it. Kevaline then paced uncertainly in front of the group of elves. *Yami, remember that move I taught you when we went on that one hunt?*
*Yup, why wouldn't I?* Yami growled as he ran at a tree. He jumped at it and pushed off its trunk, giving him a force behind his attack as he flew through the air towards an orc. Yami lashed out with his front paws, slashing the orc to pieces. *Kevaline, what is going on through your head?*
Kevaline growled low in her throat. *I don't want the elves to fight, I want to get rid of these things before they get over their shock. . .* She yowled in pain as something imbedded in her shoulder. She turned her tiger head to see an ugly looking arrow there. She gnawed at, knowing that it was dangerous if she kept it in her. *Get it out! Get it out of me!* She started to thud in circles, trying to get her mouth on the arrow. *Yami!*
Yami growled as he started to run at the orc archer. *I will get rid of him!* He jumped and bit at it's neck, causing blood to spray on his already blood stained coat. He looked around at the orcs, growling low in his throat. *Who is next! Anyone who dares to attack Kevaline will die by my teeth!*
Thranduil knew this was the time to act, "Archers! Choose a target! Do not hit the wolf!" He then nodded, "Fire!"
Yami yelped as arrows took out the rest of the orcs standing around him. *Kevaline!*
*Stay still Yami. . .* Kevaline's voice came in his head, though it was weak.
Yami quickly turned to face Kevaline. *Kevaline!* He could tell something was wrong with her. *Kevaline what is wrong?*
Kevaline continued to try and get the arrow out, still in her tiger form. *Nothing, I just need to get the arrow out.*
Yami didn't care about the arrows, he ran to Kevaline, barking wildly. *Kevaline, Kevaline! Something is wrong!*
Elrond placed a hand on Kevaline's shoulder by the arrow that had sunk into her shoulder. He whispered to her, "Relax Roar', I can't take it out if you don't stop fidgeting." Then in a quick movement, he pulled the arrow from her shoulder.
Everyone present, except for Yami, covered their ears as Kevaline yowled so loud that it hurt even Estel's ears. Then she collapsed, breathing heavily. Yami nudged her with his nose. *Kevaline, please, don't leave me, don't leave me like mother and father did.*
Kevaline transformed back, orc blood covering her. She still breathed heavily, "Yami. . ." She put a hand on his nose, "My count was ninety. . ."
*Yes, you won, you always win, just don't leave me!* Yami whimpered.
Elrond watched Kevaline's breathing start to quicken and become shallow, "That arrow was poisoned. We must get her back quickly if we are to save her."
Legolas quickly picked her up and started to run back to the palace with everyone right behind him. He shook his head, "I will not watch a friend die! I will not let her die, not after what I had promised Adam!"
"I have done all that I can do to help her, she must now help herself." Elrond sighed, sitting down in a chair beside Kevaline's bed, "She has never been that careless in a battle. . ."
Thranduil looked at Kevaline, "You know that the aftermath is going to be worse this time. She went battle crazy out there. She has only done that once before. . ."
Elrond lowered his head, "Yes, I know. I might not be able to stop her this time."
Legolas paced the room, not relaxing, "It is my fault!"
Estel shook his head, "No, it was mine!"
"It was neither of your faults!" Thranduil stated. Both looked at him, "Only two can control her when she is in her tiger form. That would be Elrond and Elrohir."
~**~
There ya go! Chapter nine! Well, school starts tomorrow, but hopefully I will be able to update by Friday if I get reviews.
Weird words of advice. . . Ok, this is going to not make any sense, but here goes. Live by the rules and die by them to!
It is from my soccer team. Ya see, I am on defense, and the goalie has made a rule for me to follow since I am the captain. I can't let anyone by or I die, unless I am unconscious, then she will forgive me.
Oh, and I was wondering if anyone would read another story if I put it up. It is about this soccer player that is from our time. During one of her soccer games, she brakes her ribs, and then somehow ends up in Mirkwood with Legolas. He automatically takes a liking to her, but they have their differences. Like she wants to be a Lone Wolf while he wants to get close to her and get to know her.
Personally I think it is a good story so far, but if you guys don't want to read it then I won't put it up and waste my time.