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Tara woke up suddenly; she thought that someone was calling her name.
She sighed loudly; she must have been hearing things.
It was early morning and the orcs were still asleep. They looked as if they were just thrown onto the ground in total disarray. Even the ones that were assigned to guard her had dosed off several hours ago.
Wait, there it was again. Someone was calling her.
Tara looked around but didn't see anyone. Then, a small twig fell from the tree above her. Tara looked up, there she saw the last person in the world that she would have ever expected to see at that moment. Nia.
'What was she doing her? Shouldn't she be long gone?' Tara wondered
Nia and Tara stared at each other for a moment before Nia began to silently climb down the tree.
When Nia reached the bottom she soundlessly walked passed the orcs. Without a word to Tara she carefully cut the ropes that bound her to the tree.
Tara started to say something but Nia quickly held a finger to her lips indicating silence. Tara got up and brushed herself off, by then Nia was already half way across the orc camp.
Tara's dress scuffed softly against the ground as she hurried to catch up with Nia. In her haste she accidentally knocked into one of the orcs. Tara held her breath as the orc rolled over to face her. Its orangey-red eyes opened in surprise, the orc was just about to yell in warning to the others when there was a soft thunking noise.
The orc gurgled and rolled over onto its stomach. Tara saw the shaft of an arrow imbedded in the orc's back. She looked over at Nia who was tightly clutching her bow and frowning.
Tara nodded in thanks and carefully continued onward.
When they were finally away from the orc camp, Nia turned and walked in silence back to the place where Legolas was waiting for them. It wasn't far but to Nia the time seemed to drag on. Every so often she would look back at Tara and sigh sadly.
Tara noticed and wondered about this. What could possibility make Nia look so upset? Tara was clueless and would remain this way for only a while longer.
Nia could see the small clearing up ahead where she and Legolas had stopped. Again she looked back at Tara before she entered the area and sat down on a rock across from the one where Legolas sat. He was holding the saddlebag and looking intently at Tara.
Tara stood there suddenly uncomfortable.
'Something is wrong. I can feel it.' She thought
There was an awkward silence between the three of them until Tara decided to say something.
"Well, thank you for saving me. I-
"This is yours." Legolas said and tossed her the saddlebag
Tara caught it as the bag came flying at her. She looked at Legolas, then at Nia and frowned.
They knew. They knew everything.
"Thank-you." She said quietly and sat down on a rock away from Legolas and Nia
"Is there something you want to tell us, Tara?" Nia asked and crossed her arms
"No, is there something you want to tell me, Nia?" Tara replied
"Why would there be anything to tell you?" Nia hissed
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe why you and Legolas are out here?" Tara asked sarcastically
"We suddenly decided to go on an adventure, but then again I could ask you the same question." Nia replied
"That's just what I'm doing." Tara said flatly
"Funny, you never seemed like the adventurous type." Nia said sarcastically
"Well, you can learn something new about people every day." Tara said with a smile
"You would be surprised." Nia hissed
"Yes Nia you can, and you did. Didn't you?" Tara asked annoyed, "Lean things about me, I mean?"
Nia nodded, "I did. I also learned a lot of other things too."
Tara stood up, "What else Nia?! Care to enlighten me!?"
There was a bit about sisters and parents. A great deal about love, and oh yes…Rings, thieves, lies, poison, secrets, evil plot and murder!!" Nia screamed and stood quickly
Now you know why you shouldn't read other people's diaries! That was none of your business!" Tara yelled back
"None of my business!? I was mentioned in it! My death, as well as Legolas' was plotted and you say that's none of my business!" Nia exclaimed
"Those were personal thoughts! No one was supposed to read it!" Tara exclaimed
"Apparently so! I can't believe you!" Nia screamed, "You and that crazy sister of yours are planning the death of every Elven ruler in Middle Earth, even Legolas who you claim to love in that twisted mind of yours!"
"Stop it Nia." Tara said, "You don't know what you are taking about. I thought that my 'best friend' would be more understanding."
"Understanding!? I understand perfectly! Someone is going to die at Lord Elrond's party and I am NOT going to let that happen!" Nia promised
Tara narrowed her eyes, "I should have let Mera kill you."
The second that Tara said that, she regretted it. That was almost exactly what Mera had said to her…Tara screamed in frustration and stalked off into the woods.
Nia stared in shock for several seconds before she growled and sat back down on the rock in a huff.
"Are you quite finished?" Legolas asked
He had been watching the whole exchange in silence.
Nia glared in response.
"I guess that's a no." Legolas said
"Do you think that she will come back?" Nia asked and sighed heavily she had just destroyed the longest friendship that she had with anyone. Besides Legolas, of course.
"Probably, where else would she go?" Legolas replied
"We did remember to take the vial out of the saddlebag before we gave it back to her, didn't we?" Nia asked in sudden alarm
Legolas took the vial out of a small pocket in his shirt and held it up.
"It's odd," Legolas said, "In a way I'm looking at my own death."
Nia rolled her eyes, "You are not helping."
"I wasn't trying too." Legolas replied with a smile
Nia couldn't help it. She smiled too.
"I'm glad we found out about this before the party." She said
"We still have to get to Bree." Legolas said, "But what should we do about Tara?"
"I don't know." Nia mumbled
Tara would be back, for she had nowhere else to go at the moment. She was still planning on going to Bree too and as Nia promised not to let her go through with her plans, Tara promised not to let Nia stop her. Her best friend had suddenly become her worst enemy.
Tara had suddenly gotten a new breath of air. She was scared and weak no longer. She was Atarawen Merilvor and no one would stop her.
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She walked down the streets of Bree with a long black cloak hiding her face. She stopped and stole an apple from a street vender before she continued her long lonely walk down the narrow cobblestone path.
Children were playing in the streets with their toys and games. She looked at them with an empty expression, void of any emotions whatsoever. She could not afford to feel anything anymore, except maybe for anger.
She passed several hobbits and quite a few humans. They were going about there business of selling and buying things. They stopped and looked at her as she passed. Quite a few of them stopped and whispered something into the ear of another about the strange woman that lurked in Bree.
She kept her head straight and didn't bother to look at them as she passed even though she heard every one of their cruel words. She would never admit it, but those things the people said hurt her bad.
"Pathetic mortals." She hissed as she turned a corner and walked down a long ally where two beings waited at the other end for her.
She wiped the tears from her eyes in disgust and approached them.
"What do you want Emmenna? We can't keep meeting like this. I have stuff to do and-
"Shut up Vocoyen." Emmenna hissed, "I am not in a good mood today."
"When are you ever in a good mood?" Telnar asked
"Never. So do not annoy me. What I wanted to say was, I have bad news." Emmenna said surprisingly calm as she shook the cloak hood off her head
Her dark blond hair fanned out around her face. She pushed some of the stray hairs out of her face before she continued.
"I just received word from Mera. Its seems someone else found out about our plan and they are on their way to Bree." Emmenna said
"Who found out about it?" Vocoyen asked
Emmenna scowled, "The Prince of Mirkwood and some girl named Nia!"
"Well, what do you want us to do about it?" Telnar asked and leaned against the hard stone wall of the ally
"GO FIND THEM!" Emmenna exploded, "Bring them here alive and well. I do not want them harmed…yet. If you kill them I swear-"
"I'm not worried about killing them Em, we won't, but I'm worried about them killing us." Telnar said, "I used to live there, remember? I know of them and they are two of the best warriors that Mirkwood has."
Emmenna crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "So?"
"Em, how do you expect us to-
"That's why you sneak up on them!" Emmenna yelled
"Easier said than done." Telnar replied
"Just do it! I not that hard! You make it sound like I asked you to slay a Balrog and bring it to me on a sliver platter!" Emmenna exclaimed
"You just about did! Upset them and I'm sure they will show you the temper of five Balrogs!" Telnar insisted
Emmenna sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"Just go now before you make me even more angry and I'll show you the temper of ten Balrogs! NOW GO!" Emmenna yelled and pushed Telnar and Vocoyen away from her
They sighed and quickly walked off. There was no use arguing with her. The two knew that they would never win.
Emmenna watched them leave before she put her cloak hood back up and walked out of the ally. This Nienna that Telnar mentioned interested her and Emmenna wanted to meet her.
Yes, and Emmenna would meet her, just not in the way she would have hoped.
Someone was going to Die at Elrond's party the question is, who?