I apologize for the long hiatus, life has been busy, but I now have time to update this more regularly

1Chapter 7

The arrow hit its mark and Tara nearly laughed at the realization that she was in no pain. She looked down to see several inches of arrow sticking out from her chest and she felt like she was falling; only she was already lying on the ground. Her vision became blurry and she saw Orc's falling dead around her.

Willow followed Legolas and Aragorn over the hill, towards the sound of Borimir's horn. Suddenly, Aragorn stopped short and motioned for them to as well. Willow saw Legolas's eyes grow wide and then he turned towards her and began ushering her in the other direction.

"What? Aren't we supposed to be helping Borimir?" she questioned.

"Milady, I-" His voice faltered and she was worried instantly. The calm elf almost never became emotional.

She pushed past him and stopped short.

Tara, her Tara, was lying on the ground, arrow embedded in her heart.

Willow couldn't breath, couldn't think. She felt numb. Vaguely, she saw the three men charge into action around her and continue to slay the Orc's.

Then she saw him.

The Orc with the bow and arrow. He seemed to be grinning, as he fought with Aragorn, basically tossing the human around.

Willow felt anger creeping through her. Using her mind, she seized Borimir's shield from his hands and tossed it towards the Orc Frisbee-style.

He was still grinning when his head flew off his body and hit the ground.

She didn't feel satisfied though. She moved on to the surrounding Orc's, flaying them, burning them. She let the magic flow through her veins effortlessly. She wanted all of them to die for what they did to her Tara.

When they were dead, she merely slipped to the ground next to her dead lover's body and wept.

"They took the Hobbits" Borimir said, as the three men stood around Willow, unsure of what to say.

Aragorn's head snapped up. "Frodo?"

"No, Merry and Pippin."

"We must rescue them."

He knelt down by Willow.

"Lady Willow, I realize this isn't your quest and if you don't wish to continue with us-"

Her head snapped up, her eyes having turned blood red.

"No" She said with resolve. "I'm gonna find that Sauron guy and make him pay for this. We'll see who the biggest baddest sorceror is then."

"Are you certain it is wise to use magic against him? Didn't your vision show similar events of someone you love falling and you'rw trying to end the world with magic?" Legolas put in.

Willow hung her head at the memory of Galadriel's vision and warnings. "I caused this!" she exclaimed and burst into tears again. "I should have listened and went home, but I wanted to be all "la-di-da I don't care, I can change things" and I didn't change anything."

"Lady Willow, We must continue on and save Merry and Pippin." Aragorn said gently.

"Fine" she got to her feet, wiped away the tears and started determinedly back to the camp.

They sent Tara over the falls and had a small, awkward ceremony for her. Willow stood by the riverside, hands clenched, eyes narrowed, swearing at Sauron and Saruman and all the Orcs.

"Argh" She burst out, suddenly.

"What is it, lass?" Gimli questioned.

"Sauron's deflecting everything I'm throwing at him. I'm gonna have to be face to face to kick his ass. And I'll need more power."

"You can not take on Sauron himself" Legolas protested.

"Watch me. And watch me win too." And with that she stalked off to gather her things.

They traveled days and days, following the Orc's. Willow kept up the entire time and Legolas wondered how. Even Borimir, a seasoned warrior, had to rest. But when they took a rest, Willow simply paced back and forth, muttering to herself.

When they discovered the Orc's were taking the hobbits to Isenguard, Willow's ears perked up.

"That's where this Saruman guy lives right?"

Aragorn answered carefully. "Saruman is there. But he is building an army and far too powerful for us to take on without Gandalf."

"I can take him" she said without hesitation. "I have to. For Tara"

"Lass, this is a powerful old wizard. Now your friend wouldn't want ye getting yourself killed in her name."

"I'm going after him" She put on her resolve face and faced the men.

"Lady Willow, We are talking about a wizard as powerful as Gandalf. I do not believe your power's-"Legolas began.

"And I'm talking about watching my lover die!" She snapped. She realized what she said as soon as the words were out of her mouth and turned away from the shocked gazes of Borimir and Aragorn. "But your right, I need more power."

"Your lover" Borimir repeated softly. "No wonder Lady Tara was none too pleased about my advances."

"Well if you hadn't drug her off into the woods for smoochies or whatever she wouldn't be dead." Willow fixed her glare on him.

"Enough" Aragorn interrupted. "It is no matter now. We must keep moving, for Merry and Pippin's sake". He grabbed his things and started out again.

Days passed and Willow soon found herself in Rohan. They had found the hobbits were alright and Gandalf was not really dead. As soon he heard of Tara's death and Willow's plans for Saruman he tried to talk her out of it.

"See this? You may not know but it's called my Resolve Face. You cannot win an argument with me. Saruman's ass is mine"

"Fool!" Gandalf cried. "You are throwing yourself at his mercy."

"And what are we doing if we don't stop him? People are still gonna die. I've done some pretty powerful stuff in my time. I ensouled a vampire and stopped the world from ending 3 times before I was even out of high school. I can take him."

Before Gandalf could protest further, Willow stormed off to the room Eowyn had fixed for her.