A Note:I do not own anything to do with Lord of the Rings---they belong to those running the Tolkien estate, and anything to do with New Line Cinema and anyone else affiliated with the movie trilogy. Tari and Colin are my own creations, you want to use them, just let me know, I'm pretty flexible. I am not making any money from this (as is well shown by my bank account at the moment, unfortunately); I'm just an obsessed fan who decided to try my hand at it, after reading the works of many others. Hope you like it, and review it for me please! Also thought up some part of the plot for much later in the story that will include Eomer, but look for that later on. Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Dinner was to begin momentarily, so Tari left her room to head down the hall towards the feast. She had to admit, after her sword lesson earlier, that she was starving! She wore the red dress Arwen had shown her earlier, matching mules on her dainty feet. One of the handmaidens had set her hair into ringlets, holding some of it up in a gorgeous gold clip while the rest of it tumbled down her back. A few curly tendrils framed her face, giving her the appearance of some kind of angel or princess. Tari had certainly never felt more beautiful!
She heard a door close lightly somewhere in the corridor behind her, but did not pay much attention; her thoughts more focused on what adventures were soon to come, and also of Aragorn's somewhat strange behaviour at times. "Lady Tari," a soft, silvery voice called out behind her, a sound much like sweet, lyrical music. Tari jumped slightly, putting a hand to her heart before turning. "Prince Legolas!" she exclaimed, adrenaline pumping through her veins, "My goodness! You startled me. How are you this evening, milord?" Legolas nodded his response and replied, "Forgive me, my lady, I did not intend to give you a fright. But I am quite happy to run into you like this. I wondered if you might allow me to escort you to the feast this evening." Tari smiled sweetly. "There is nothing to forgive. I've just forgotten how light elves are on their feet. I was wrapped up in my own thoughts as well, so it is partially my fault. Yes, I would be honoured to have you escort me to the feast. It will give us a chance to learn more about each other." Legolas smiled, offering his arm to her. "Then allow me to lead you, my lady." She took his arm and they sauntered down the hall together, descending the stairs after they had been announced.
Aragorn glanced at the head of the stairs as he heard Legolas and Tari's names announced. His eyes widened slightly as he saw her dress, and then narrowed as he saw her arm linked with Legolas'. He looked down, ashamed of himself. He was glad that Arwen had not arrived, for she would not have been happy to see Aragorn's reaction to Tari.
Meanwhile, Tari, arm linked with Legolas, glanced around the room nervously. She felt like she already knew quite a few people there, but she knew that she knew only very little about them. Legolas noticed her trepidation and paused his step. "Lady Tari, " he said softly, "you're so nervous and tense! No one is going to hurt you…everyone here is very friendly!" Tari mentally shook the fog out of her brain as she looked at the hand on his arm, noticing that it was turning white with the pressure she was exerting. She blushed lightly and relaxed her hand, rubbing the abused area of his arm absent-mindedly. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry…I hope your arm is alright. I don't mean to be so nervous really, I'm just truly overwhelmed with all of this. I feel completely out of place!"
Legolas continued down the steps once Tari had become mobile once more. "Well, it is understandable, considering all you've been through so far. It must have been quite a shock to end up in Middle Earth from your own homeland." Tari nodded in agreement before stating, "Well, I suppose things could always have been worse…I could have ended up closer to Mordor or been found by orcs! Its much better that the first person I met was Aragorn rather than Saruman or someone. At least I have some clue as to what's happening!" Legolas' laugh tinkled like bells as Tari chuckled softly herself.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Legolas noticed the look on Aragorn's face. He was watching Tari, trying to look like he was not. Tari didn't notice, since she was looking at the floor as she took her last step down. She heard Legolas mumbling something in Elvish, and she turned her head to look up at him, taking a deep breath to tell him that she hadn't understood him, since she spoke very little Elvish. However, she saw that he wasn't looking at her, but at Aragorn. She lowered her head quickly, trying to hide the fierce blush that crept up onto her cheeks. It's not all about you, Tari she thought in self-disgust. Meanwhile, Legolas had been asking Aragorn why he looked at Tari so intently. He responded with quick denial, and retaliated by asking if he had fallen for a mortal woman. Legolas, rather than answering such a ridiculous question, asked Aragorn if he was jealous, which was also very quickly denied. Tari, trying to keep her blushing under control, understood very little, except her name, so she knew that they were talking about her, but what it was, she would never ask. The conversation looked rather intense, and the last thing she wanted was to get in the way.
Legolas then turned back to Tari and saw that she was once again a light shade of pink, and looking at the floor. "Forgive my rudeness, my lady, I did not mean for you to look at your shoes all evening." Tari raised her head, her eyes looking into his as her lips curled up in one corner. "Nay, I was not looking at my shoes, milord, just thinking." She turned her head to nod respectfully to Aragorn, a soft smile lighting up her angelic face even further. "Good evening, milord Aragorn. It is lovely to see you again." Aragorn nodded in response, gently taking her free hand in his and placing a soft kiss upon it. "Milady, it is wonderful to see you once again as well. You look absolutely ravishing; that red most definitely suits you." Tari averted her gaze, blushing once again. "You flatter me, milord." She replied softly. Aragorn laughed. "Nay, my lady, it brings colour to your cheeks and the sunlight from your hair." Tari smiled, clearly not accustomed to such compliments. "You'll have me looking more like a giant tomato if you keep this up, my lord." Legolas and Aragorn laughed aloud at this, the elf's like silver bells, and the Edain's like a deep, hearty drum. "I am only reluctant that I do not match my lady's finery in my silver and blue!" Legolas sighed dramatically, causing another deep laugh from Aragorn and a giggle from Tari. "Somehow, I cannot picture a woodland elf in red, milord." Tari replied, her giggles subsiding. "Although my sister, if she was here as well, would become your constant shadow, not only because silver and blue are both her favourite colours, but because she has a particular fondness for golden haired elves." Tari sighed softly, thinking of the sister left at home, and missing her terribly. "You miss her, don't you?" Legolas asked softly. "Aye" Tari replied. "She would have loved to be here, especially meeting you. You were always her favourite."
To take Tari's mind off her evident homesickness, Aragorn suggested mingling around to see the other fellowship members and to get to know them better. Legolas looked to Tari, asking her, without words, if she wanted to. "I'd love to!" she exclaimed, noticing that Aragorn wore a red silk belt and a red rose in his long-tailed black cloak. "Should we wait for Lady Arwen, milord Aragorn?" Tari asked, not wanting Gondor's future queen to be wroth with her. He looked down at the floor briefly, soft grey eyes flickering between her and the floor before answering, "Nay, she was not much in the mood for celebrating this eve, I'm afraid." Tari gave him a confused gaze, asking him if all was well. "Nay, but I wish not to risk ruining your evening by talking about this now. I'd just like a chance to think about it some first." Comprehension dawned on her as she realized that he had told Arwen to forget about him and go to Valinor because he wouldn't be able to live with himself if she gave up her immortality for him. Legolas looked at him with concern, and Tari touched his arm lightly, sympathy clearly written all over her face. "Well, then, Aragorn, you must come mingle with us…perhaps you can help me get to know my future fellowship members." He nodded to Tari lightly, taking Tari's free arm and tucking her hand lightly into his arm. "I'd be delighted, milady." Tari allowed Aragorn to take the lead. He, along with Legolas on her left, led her over to where Gandalf was conversing with the hobbits.
"How's your shoulder doin' tonight, Mr. Frodo?" she heard Sam ask with concern. Frodo, who had been taking a sip out of his ale mug, turned to look at Sam smiling with love and gratitude (A/N: this isn't one of those stories, no sam/frodo slash, that's just wrong!!) and answered, "its not too bad, Sam. That Elvish medicine from Lord Elrond is helping immensely." The trio, containing Tari, had arrived to hear Frodo's comment, and Tari added her own. "Well, Master Ring bearer, 'tis very glad I am to hear that!" Frodo turned 'round in surprise to see the lovely lady from that afternoon's Council meeting, escorted by Strider and the fair elf prince. "Oh, my lady, you startled me! I thank you for your kindness and concern for my well-being. You are looking enchanting this evening. You shine like the sunset, with your red and gold. But please, do call me Frodo. I'm rather uncomfortable being called master and ring bearer." Tari flushed once again, murmuring softly, "the men of Middle Earth certainly have a way with words that is simply beyond anything I have ever been fortunate enough to experience. I thank you, Frodo, for your kind words and compliments. You are looking rather healthy and robust yourself! I sincerely hope to see you looking stronger and stronger as each day passes, and I will give you aid and strength so long as it is in me to share."
Sam beamed up at Tari after hearing her vow to Frodo. "Lady Tari, you will always be a treasure to me for all you have promised to Mr. Frodo." Tari looked to Sam with a quivery smile and bright, teary eyes. "Oh, master Sam, you shall make me cry! You also will mean much to me, for your integrity and loyalty will surpass all of us! I am most honoured to share in this fellowship with you!" Gandalf piped up at this point. "Now now, gentlemen, we cannot allow the lovely lady Tari to shed tears on this night, for this is to be a celebration! Let us have some music for dancing!" he cried, striking his knarled staff on the marble floor.
Music began to play, and Legolas heard the beginnings of a song he particularly loved. "Lady Tari," he began softly, "would you honour me with a dance?" Tari glanced around to the dance floor, watching a few other couples dance a sort of waltz that she thought she might know a few steps to, but not nearly enough without making a fool out of herself. "I'm afraid I don't know the steps to this particular dance…" Legolas waved his hand, dismissing her admission without a care. "You will not make a fool out of yourself, milady, do not worry. As long as you follow my lead, you shall be the envy of every lady in the room." Tari furrowed her brow for a moment before deciding, what the hell. "Alright, I'd be delighted to." Excusing herself from the hobbits, Gandalf, and Aragorn, she allowed Legolas to lead her to the centre of the floor.
Aragorn and the hobbits watched Legolas and Tari as they glided gracefully on the dance floor. "Wow!" Aragorn murmured softly to himself, "she moves as gracefully as an elf! Never have I seen a mortal woman dance as Tari does! I must know how she does it!" Frodo, having heard the Edain's musing, watched him closely as Aragorn's soft gaze followed Tari's every ladylike step. The ring bearer knew of his promise to lady Arwen, having met her on several occasions since her rescue mission from the forest to Imladris. He thought it odd that Aragorn seemed to look somewhat lovingly at Tari. "Strider," Frodo began softly, "why do you watch Lady Tari so intently?" upon hearing Frodo's question, Aragorn came out of his trance, startled by the bold question. "What? I…I…I wasn't watching lady Tari…I was…I…uh…was just making sure she was alright out there, that's all. She was nervous about the dance steps since she's never done them before." Frodo raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Well," Frodo mused, "she seems to be doing rather well. Prince Legolas seems to be a good leader." "Yes," Aragorn muttered in annoyance, "it would appear so…excuse me, Frodo, I believe I shall get a glass of wine."
As the music came to an end, Tari came back, arm in arm with Legolas, laughing with him gleefully. "No, you dance like an angel!" Legolas entreated. "Have you been drinking too much Elvish wine? I stepped on your foot, like, 3 times! I've never felt so clumsy in a long time! So much for not making a fool out of myself!" Legolas shook his head, denying her claims. "Nay, my lady, I felt nothing on my feet." Tari snorted in self-disgust. "Well, then, your highness, I must have trampled all over some other elf prince's toes because I was not only dancing on the marble floor! How can a mortal girl not feel like a clumsy oaf (A/N: I was gonna write "oof" in honour of my sister's misspelling in my high school yearbook, but no one else would have appreciated the joke like we do!) when dancing with an elf?" Aragorn had arrived from the wine table by this time, so he had heard Tari's retort. "I'm afraid Legolas is correct, milady, you dance like you've known the steps your entire life. You looked lovely out there. Anyway, I thought you might be thirsty, so I took the liberty of getting you a glass of wine. I hope you don't mind." Aragorn said, mumbling the last part quickly. Tari touched her hand to her heart, exclaiming, "Oh my! That was so very thoughtful of you, yes; I'd love to try some wine. I've never had Elvish wine before, so I was rather excited to taste it." She took the offered glass from his hand, bowing her head and raising her glass to him before taking a sip. "Mmm! " she moaned lightly, "this is so much better than wine is where I come from. Wine in my world is simply dreadful! Thank you, Aragorn, this is lovely!" she said, flashing him a pearly white smile, blue eyes twinkling merrily. He smiled back, raising his glass to her as he replied, "it was my pleasure, milady" before he took another sip. "Something worth noting about the wine for those of us who are mortal borne, my lady…do not drink it too quickly, or in large quantities, or you will be rather intoxicated and feeling rather miserable in the morning. I have, unfortunately, learned this from experience." Tari tried to stifle her mad urge to giggle uncontrollably, but a few determined errant giggles escaped. "Then I shall keep that in mind. Thank you kindly for the warning."
"Now, milady, we should speak with Lord Boromir of Gondor. Please, allow me to escort you to him." Aragorn offered. "Unless you'd rather have another dance with Legolas first, of course." Tari shook her head negatively. "Nay, I don't believe I will just yet. I think I shall have my next attempt with a mortal man, for the next one at least. Despite how well you and he believe I performed on the dance floor earlier, I felt rather inadequate dancing with an elf." Aragorn furrowed his brow in concern as he pondered her face for a few moments. "He did not harm or belittle you, did he? Because if he hurt you, prince or no prince, I will harm him…" Tari looked up at him in shock, completely surprised to hear him threaten one of his very best friends. "No, Aragorn, he was lovely, a perfect gentleman really. He can't help it, he's an elf. Elves just seem so much more graceful and coordinated. I just feel more comfortable with people I know have a finite life span like I do. He did nothing to me, I promise you! Men don't seem to walk softly, as if they are on clouds, which is more like what I'm used to. This sounds utterly ridiculous, I know, but I'm used to dancing with men and being the better dancer, not the worse one…oh my! That sounded worse out loud than it did in my head! I'm sorry, I did not mean to insult the dancing talents of Middle Earth men, oh my, I'm just used to men I know in my world…I think I'm going to just stop talking now before I say anything worse!" Aragorn laughed as Tari flushed, looking at her shoes again. "Nay, my lady, I do understand what you meant. I just hope you'll allow me to prove myself later as more than a, how did you say it, a clumsy oaf?" Tari laughed softly as her words came back to haunt her. "Aye, I will, whenever you wish." Aragorn nodded in acceptance and smiled.
"shall we tour the room and speak to someone new?" Aragorn asked, extending his arm to Tari. "Aye," Tari replied with a nod of her head, accepting the offered arm. They came away from the table holding the drinks and walked slowly around the room, chatting among themselves. Taking a glance around the room, Tari noticed that most of the people were dancing. "Looks like we're out of luck! Even Lord Elrond is dancing, look!" Aragorn pointed out. Tari turned her head in the direction that he was pointing, her eyes widening at the sight. "Wow! He's a great dancer!" Tari exclaimed in surprise. Aragorn laughed heartily at her shocked expression. "Yes, he is. He taught me everything I know about dancing. But I am still more clumsy, since I am not an elf!" Tari laughed and elbowed him lightly in the side. "Alright, alright, quit twisting my words, funny guy!" Aragorn chuckled lightly and muttered, "As you wish, milady." Tari just rolled her eyes and shook her head at him. She was glad that his dampened spirits had been raised, even if just for a little while.
