1No one spoke to each other for the next hour or so. Legolas called them to a stop at last, and dismounted from his horse in a fluid motion. He tied his horse's reins around a sturdy tree, and turned to look at them. They had not moved from the backs of their steeds. He gave them a reassuring smile and said, "We shall rest here for the night. I'll go gather some wood for a fire." The three hesitated, but then dismounted from their horses as well. Legolas had disappeared into the darkness to find firewood.
Katelyn tied her horse to a tree, and turned to find herself staring right at Abbey. "Why are you trusting him?" she asked in a hurried whisper.
Katelyn took a step back from her friend and answered in a shaky voice, "I, I suppose he just seems trustworthy; I do not think he would try to hurt us. And besides that, I feel like... like I know him. Like he's some long forgotten memory..."
"Oh stop it Katelyn!" Abbey yelled, "You're only falling for him! Get a grip for God's sake!" she dropped her voice back to a deadly whisper and went on, "Did it not occur to you while you were getting lost in his eyes that he might have been the one who killed your parents!"
Katelyn took another step back from her, shocked by her words and anger. She closed her eyes slowly, and willed herself into speech. "... He couldn't have done that... I know he didn't."
Abbey scoffed and turned back to tend to Hunny. Samantha seemed torn between the two. She didn't know whether or not to trust Legolas. He had been nothing but courteous since they had met him, but Abbey was right. There was the possibility that he could have killed Katelyn's parents...
Katelyn sat down with her back against a soft-barked tree, with a small wince. She was in pain... Not just because of the numerous cuts and bruises on her skin, but in her mind as well. The deep sense of loss that had engulfed her when she had seen her parents lying dead in that room had not left her. She felt scared, and so alone now... She had no one left in the world now. They were the only ones that she could've called family, and they were dead now... Katelyn glanced wearily at her dress, which had once been so beautiful and shimmery. Now however, it was smudged with dirt and stained with blood. The skirt of the dress was torn and tattered; the sleeves ripped up to her shoulders. Her own face was smirched with dirt, and her hair was slightly tousled. Abbey had kept low to Hunny's neck as she had ridden after Katelyn, so she was hardly damaged whatsoever. Samantha was more or less the same. Her white dress was slightly marred by mud and dirt, and her hair had a few twigs in it. But other than that, she was perfectly fine.
Katelyn jumped as she heard the crunch of leaves behind her. It was Legolas. He smiled at her as he walked past, his arms laden with dead logs and sticks. Within moments, he had kindled a warm fire for them. Samantha sat with her back against a tree like Katelyn, with her eyes closed as though in deep contentment. Abbey was staring at the flames licking the logs with a smug expression on her face, as though she would like nothing better than to be anywhere but here.
Katelyn finally forced herself into speech. "Legolas, when I asked you why you called me Tari, you said that it was a story for another time. Would now be an appropriate time?" she asked tentatively.
Legolas looked over at her from nearby, his eyes boring into hers like a blue searchlight. Katelyn dropped her own gaze. She saw so much in his eyes, that it overwhelmed her to stare into them for too long. Legolas blinked, as though coming out of a reverie, and said, "I suppose it is. Though it is a story I feel much remorse in telling."
"Then you do not have to burden yourself in telling it." Katelyn interjected hurriedly, not wanting to make him angry with her.
"No, my lady. You deserve to hear it since I have called you by her name so many times..." he paused as though thinking about what to say next. "I suppose that my story begins with her birth. When she was born her father, Lord Elrond, betrothed her to me. At that time I was hardly three hundred years old."
"Excuse me?" Samantha asked, looking shocked, "Are you saying that you are three hundred years old! That's impossible!"
Legolas laughed softly, his bright eyes glittering with amusement. "My lady, I am an elf. Elves are immortal. We can only die of a broken heart; which we call fading. Or, by the hands of an enemy, or our own hand. At the moment, I am almost just about two-thousand years old."
Samantha gaped at him in utter disbelief.
Legolas only smiled at her amazement, clearly not shocked to see her reaction. "I realize that the information I'm telling you is overwhelming, but it is the truth. Tari was an elf, and a powerful one at that. Though, she did not know that, for her father had kept her abilities a secret from her. Nor was she ever told of her betrothal to me. Ever since the Dark Lord Sauron discovered of her potentiality, and how she could overthrow his rule if she were told and trained of her powers, he wanted her dead. Once her father learned of his intentions, he sent her away to Lorien, where her grandmother would protect her. I met her at the borders of the realm, having been sent there by Lord Elrond. Our first meeting did not go very well. She was utterly furious. Though, not entirely at myself. Moreover, at her father for having kept the betrothal a secret. Then, the trouble began. Orcs attacked us, and knocked her from her horse. Devoid of a weapon, she was held at knife point by one of the yurchs. I fired an arrow, killing it, but in so doing the dagger nicked her throat. She bled profusely, and I was entrusted to get her safely to Lorien..." he paused, his mind filling with memories of how pale she had looked as he had held her in his arms as his horse raced down the trail to Lady Galadriel. He shook his head slightly, as though to shake the thoughts from his mind, and continued, "For three days I stayed by her bedside, hoping and praying that she would be alright. For each day that I waited, I brought her a rose-"
"Were-were they white roses?" Katelyn suddenly interrupted, her eyes narrowed as though trying to remember something. She put a hand on her forehead as though she had a migraine, massaging her brow to ease the pain.
Legolas looked at her strangely, scrutinizing her. "Yes..." he answered hesitantly, "They were... How did you-?"
"I didn't." she said quickly, almost angrily, "I just guessed." Her face was stern for some reason, almost as though she was furious at herself for having said it. "Please continue..." she whispered, lowering her head so that it was obscured in darkness.
Legolas was silent a moment, before beginning again. "On the third day when I came to her room, bearing another white rose, she was standing up. She had a strip of gauze tied loosely around her neck to keep it from bleeding. I still hadn't forgiven myself for shooting the orc, for it had almost cost me her life. After I put the rose in a vase with the others, we spoke together. She had asked why I had saved her, and I told her that I had 'cared too much to see someone so innocent die at the hands of orcs'. Yet still she detested of me. She was young, and naive, not wanting to admit weakness around men. Conceding defeat, I told her that if she despised me that much, I would go to her father and plead with him to end the betrothal. I gave her a locket... this locket, actually," he said, taking off the piece of gilded jewelry that had been hanging from his neck and handing it gently into Katelyn's hands so she could look at it.
As Katelyn took it from him, she felt a strong sense of deja-vu; as though she had taken this locket from him before... Katelyn looked carefully at the beautiful locket. It was in the shape of a heart, with a stone of no color shining in the center. Surrounding the jewel, were etchings of roses and vines. It was a most wondrous trinket. "It's very beautiful..." she said, handing it back to him quickly, as though it would burn her hand if she held it any longer.
"I told her to keep it. That it was my gift to her, whether or not she returned the love I held for her. I walked out of the room and down to the gardens where I could be at peace, thinking that I could live out the rest of my days in the Realm of Mirkwood, or else sail across the Seas to the lands where no mortal can follow. But as I sat there, she came to me. She was wearing not only the locket, but a smile as well. Tari apologized to me, saying that she had not meant what she had said... She confessed of her true feelings to me, telling me that she truly loved me as well."
"That sounds so romantic..." Samantha said, enraptured by his tale as she stared at him from across the flames of the fire.
"Ah, but that is where the story ends milady. Orcs attacked the borders of Lothlorien, and I went off to fight right after our meeting in the garden. When I returned, she was gone... The only thing I had left of her was the locket. And for decades and centuries I have waited for her to return, but I fear the worst. I curse the Lady Galadriel in my mind for having sent her away; for taking the only one I have ever loved away from me." Legolas finished somberly, his gaze now drawn toward the crumbling white logs.
Knowing that his story was over, Samantha and Abbey laid down upon the soft ground, and fell asleep immediately; not being able to overcome their exhaustion.
Katelyn looked over at Legolas, and saw that he had tears sparkling in his beautiful eyes. A single tear fell, coursing down his cheek and falling onto his hand. Feeling bold and saddened for him, she reached out a pale slender hand and gently wiped the still streaming tear from his soft cheek. He looked up at her touch, but did not push her away. "I'm sorry..." she whispered, withdrawing her hand immediately and beginning to back away.
"I care not..." Legolas answered softly, reaching out his own hand and grasping her arm carefully to keep her from retreating any farther, "You did no harm, there is nothing you should be sorry for."
"I feared I had offended you." she said, looking anxiously at his face.
"For comforting me? Where is the offense in that?" he pulled gently on her arm, inviting her to sit down again.
She did so, hesitantly. "I am very sorry... for Tari..." Katelyn whispered, keeping her gazed fixed determinedly anywhere but upon him. He still had not released her arm. Apparently, he did not realize it.
"I miss her... But I keep myself strong for her. I would have faded because of my love for her, but I forced myself to stay vigilant. I just... sensed that she might come back, and that it would be pointless to fade if she would return." Legolas said this all while looking at Katelyn, though unable to look into her eyes. He could tell that she was nervous around him. Realizing that he still was grasping her arm, he let it go quickly.
She looked up at him, as though bereft at the loss of contact. Katelyn quickly masked her dolefulness for an impassive look when he caught her eye.
Legolas spoke again, in a more light and gentle tone. "You look so much like her, you know... Your golden hair, and soulful brown eyes... I know those eyes..." Katelyn looked over at him, and found herself caught in his icy blue gaze. He was very close to her now. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heartbeat quickened steadily as he stared into her eyes with such warmth, that the flames of the fire could not compare. Katelyn had always turned down every man who asked her to go out with him, because she felt like there was someone else she was waiting for... And now, it felt as though the man sitting right next to her who was staring so longingly into her eyes, was that man... And yet he had just spoken to her of his devoted love to another woman.
"No..." she whispered, pulling back from him and standing up quickly.
"No what?" he asked in politely puzzled voice, staring at her retreating form. "Tari,"
"No! I am not your Tari! I am Katelyn! You look at me with love in your eyes, and yet I know that the love I see is not held for me, but for your Tari. You see me as her. And I am not her!" Katelyn yelled at him furiously, her deep brown eyes shining with tears. 'How could I have been so foolish as to not see the truth?' she thought miserably as he stood up, approaching her slowly with his arms stretched out toward her. She stared into his eyes, and saw that there was not only love there, but sanity as well. He wasn't going mad; he truly thought that she was Tari.
"I cannot believe that..." he said to her confidently, "Your name is not Katelyn... It makes sense to me now. Lady Galadriel erased your memories when she sent you here. That is why you have no recollection of me." He placed his hands on her shoulders comfortingly.
"No Legolas!" she said with powerful anger, jerking away from his touch and retreating into the darkness of the forest.
"You must believe me, Tari! Remember me, please!" Legolas pleaded, stepping closer to her with a sorrowful look glazing his eyes.
"I-am-not-Tari!" she yelled back at him, turning and running into the unknown forest as fast as her already weak legs would carry her.
"Tari, no!" Legolas cried, snatching up his sword and running in after her. 'Does she not know of what dangers are out in this forest?' he thought frantically. "Tari stop!"
She ran onward; the branches and thorns cutting into her fair skin and her legs screaming in agony for her to stop running. But still she went on, not caring what danger might lie within the woods. All she wanted was to put as much distance between him and her as possible. Tears ran down her face, and she wiped them away; furious at herself for having shed them in the first place. She heard him calling out Tari's name as though it were her own. A small sob escaped her lips as she thought of how she had almost longed for the of them to be together. 'How could I have been so careless?' she asked herself silently and wretchedly while her tears became accompanied by small cries of despair. 'Why does he pursue me? Why must he torture me like this! I love him, but he only loves a shadow of the real one he loves...'
Katelyn stumbled in her strong haste to get away, and fell sprawled on the ground, still crying bitterly. She felt strong comforting arms gently pick her up from the ground, while whispering soothing soft words in a language she did not know. Katelyn knew it was Legolas, but she didn't have enough strength to fight him; she was so weak, so distraught... Her only parents she had ever known were dead. She was in a place that she had no idea even existed. A man she did not know was telling her that she was his one and only love Tari... Katelyn began to struggle weakly against him as she recalled those very events.
"Calm yourself..." he whispered consolingly, as he ran a warm hand along the side of her face as he examined her cuts and bruises. Legolas grimaced as he saw several thorns embedded in her fair flesh, and the numerous cuts which were bleeding. Katelyn flinched at his touch when he brushed over every cut, contusion, and thorn.
"Leave me alone..." she whispered, trying to push away from him. He held her at bay, knowing how weak she was.
"You need to relax, my love..." Legolas said softly as he picked her up off the ground carefully, and into his arms.
"I am not your love." Katelyn said firmly, stopping her fretful squirming and hanging limp in his arms.
"I may not be your love, but you are mine. I can see that now." Legolas said with a small smile.
"And how can you be so sure of yourself?" Katelyn asked waspishly, glaring at him.
He looked down at her and answered with an amused smile, "Because you have her spirit. You have her eyes, her soulfulness, her love... Everything except her name and a pair of pointed ears. But, once I take you to Lord Elrond, he shall know his own daughter when he sees her..."
"I don't want to see this Lord Elrond! I want to go home, and away from you!" she hissed at him.
Legolas did not answer the remark, but continued to walk with her in his arms down the trail that led back to the camp. Silence fell between them as he tread in the darkness, apparently knowing where he was going. Katelyn closed her eyes with a grimace; wanting to escape from his arms. But she knew that he would easily catch up to her again. She opened her brown eyes.
Legolas had stopped. He was very tense and still; like a deer that sensed a predator. "What is going on?" she whispered to him.
"Hush..." he answered sharply. Legolas slowly set her on her feet while his hand wandered casually to his blade. "We must get back to camp quickly-" his statement was cut short by the sound of someone yelling.