1"So lad, tell me about this lass you fancy." said Gimli from behind Legolas. The two were upon Arod, making their way to the haven of Rivendell. After Aragorn's coronation, Legolas could stand it no longer; he had to see her.
"She's Lord Elrond's youngest." Legolas answered, staring up the trail. The two had ironically become good friends.
"Arwen?" Gimli asked, horrified.
"No! No, not Arwen. He has a second daughter." Legolas almost shouted in indignation.
"I've never seen her then. She must have her sister's beauty if she's managed to capture your heart." Gimli chuckled, "What is the lady's name?"
"Tariathon. I will bet you a trip to the Glittering Caves that you will find her more fair than the Lady Galadriel." Legolas said with a smile, thinking back to their time in Lothlorien, and how Gimli was so infatuated with the Lady of Light.
Gimli laughed again, "Is that so? Why then would Elrond keep such a beauty locked away in Rivendell?"
"She is not locked away Gimli, just rarely seen. The eyes of the dwarves are not so keen if they cannot spot so fair a maiden." Legolas jested. He nudged Arod into a canter, causing the dwarf to sputter in indignation as he flailed to keep his balance.
"Slow that beast down you crazy elf! We'll get there soon enough, but not if you have to keep picking me up from the ground!" Gimli protested as he regained his composure.
Legolas gave a defeated sigh and slowed Arod back to a walk. His ears suddenly pricked at the sound of movement ahead. He had just reached up to grasp his bow, when a familiar voice called out, "Daro!" (Halt!) Two elves upon horses emerged from the woods, their riders clad in gray, and indistinguishable from one another.
"Elrohir Elladan!" Legolas called in greeting, "How does it come that you have reached Rivendell before I? For I am quite sure I saw you at the coronation, did I not? Your father, and Arwen attended as well. Yet I did not see your youngest sister. Why is it that Tari did not accompany you?" he asked quickly.
Elrohir laughed quietly, "Adar wanted us back here in Rivendell as soon as the coronation was over, for he did not wish to burden it upon Tari to watch over the realm." he answered.
"I see. But that still does not answer my question as to why she did not come. For I am sure that Lord Elrond would be willing to have Lord Erestor look after the city." Legolas said.
At this, Elrohir and Elladan exchanged solemn looks of meaning, before Elladan answered, "I know not of the reason Tari did not go. She has not left the borders of Rivendell at all. I warn you, Legolas, she is not the same elleth anymore; she has changed since you left. She hardly speaks to anyone anymore... " (Elf-maiden)
'At least she is alive...' Legolas thought desperately. 'She would be dead if it had not been for Elrond... It is worth it if she has only changed a little. All people change, do they not?'
"Will the sons of Elrond allow me and Master Gimli to stay in Rivendell for awhile?" Legolas asked politely, with a warm smile.
"Aye Legolas, it would be an honor to harbor the Prince of Mirkwood and his guest." Elrohir said.
"Speak carefully around him, for he has a true dwarfish temper. He cleave you in two as soon as look at you." Legolas warned in a feigned tone of concern.
The dwarf grunted behind him and muttered something about elves being jealous liars...
As the four approached Rivendell's gates, Elladan spoke, "Tari is not here now, Legolas. She is out hunting. Valar only knows when she will return, but I expect it will be around dinner. 'Till then, we shall raid Adar's stock of Miruvor, sit in the Hall of Fire, and listen to you and Gimli's stories of the Fellowship."
"Still not apprehensive about breaking rules, I see..." Legolas said, raising his eyebrows, "I thought that you two would've grown up while I was gone."
Elrohir laughed aloud, "You forget who you speak to, prince. These are the same two twins who led you out into the middle of the forest, then ran off, only to find you again two days later."
"It was not two days." Legolas answered sternly, a slight flush creeping up into his cheeks, "And if I recall, I rewarded you by changing your wardrobe while you were bathing. Arwen's dresses certainly look good on you, Elladan." he chuckled.
"I don't think I want to tell about the Fellowship's journey. I would much rather hear about how badly you've humiliated this princeling." Gimli said, very interested to know more about the twins antics.
"Aye master Gimli, I'm certain your ears shall be tired by the end of your stay from hearing all of this nonsense." commented Elrohir.
They all dismounted in the courtyard, and let their horses be led away by stable-hands. "Come, let us go to the Hall of Fire 'till dinner." Elladan proclaimed, leading them down a corridor.
Elrohir disappeared for a few minutes, only to return with food and a few bottles of miruvor. They four spoke long into the night, telling story after story until Gimli was so drunk, that he fell off his chair. "I think that it is best if we call it a night." Elladan suggested, still holding his own bottle of miruvor and looking down at the unconscious Gimli.
"Aye, I agree." said Elrohir, standing up. "Legolas, you'll stay in your old room. You know where it is, don't you?"
Legolas nodded.
"I shall take care of this carrion..." muttered Elladan as he heaved the dwarf upon the sete he had fallen off of. "Adar should be returning by mid-day tomorrow... Perhaps I shall put the dwarf in his bed? I daresay it would be a better 'Welcome home adar!' than a bouquet of flowers... Not to mention I would love to see the look on his face."
Legolas closed the door to the hall of fire, and began his walk to his room, pausing every now and then to listen to the waterfalls, or to enjoy the scenery. It was wonderful to be back in Rivendell again, but he would feel much happier if he could just see Tari, and know that she was alright. As he passed the courtyard, he heard the sound of many approaching hooves. He stopped and waited to see six elves canter through the gates and dismount. Their garb signified them as soldiers of the Rivendell guard. Five left right away to take care of their horses, and to discuss the decrease in orc attacks lately since the ring was destroyed. The sixth let it's horse be led away, before they began to walk up the stairs and down the corridor; having not noticed the immobile prince. The elf seemed to be lost in thought. They pulled back their hood, revealing a long length of golden-blonde hair that fell almost to their waist. The guard was a she-elf! Legolas could not see her face, but he had a strong feeling of who it was. Silently, he followed her as she walked through the gardens, and into the deeper parts of Rivendell that Legolas had never had privilege to explore. She begean to sing softly and quietly, in that of a sad and sorrowful tune...
"I have been blind,
Unwilling
To see the true love,
You're giving
I have ignored,
Every blessing
Now I'm on my knees,
Confessing...
Then I feel myself surrender,
Each time I see your face
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place
I can't hide it,
Now hear my confession
I have been wrong about you
Thought I was strong without you
For so long,
Nothing could move me...
So long...
Nothing could change me(!)
Now I feel self surrender
Each time I see your face
I am captured by your beauty
Your unassuming grace
And I feel my heart is turning
Falling into place
I can't hide it,
Now hear my confession
You are the air that I breathe,
You're the ground beneath my feet
When did I,
Stop believing?
'Cause I feel myself surrender,
Each time I see your face
I am staggered by your beauty
Your unassuming grace
And I feel my heart,
Is falling into place
I can't hide it,
Now hear my confession
I can't hide it,
Now hear my...
...Confession..."
Legolas had been so enraptured by the she-elf's hauntingly beautiful song, that he had not realized that she had finally sat down upon a rock by a waterfall and pool. She was staring into the watery depths, as though almost contemplating whether or not to drown herself in it.
"Tari?" Legolas asked tentatively, in a soft and docile tone, taking another step toward the she-elf.
The elf whirled about, a dagger in hand. As her eyes came to rest upon the he-elf before her, she lowered the dagger. It was Tari, but a changed Tari... Her eyes were darker than they had been before she had left, and her face was still relatively pale. Her eyes... there was nothing there. It was as though an empty shell of an elf sat before him, wanting nothing but to die.
"I do not deny," Tari whispered, "that I wondered if you would ever return to this place..."
Legolas took it that now she had sheathed her dagger, it was safe for him to approach. She did not move as he sat down beside her. He reached out to take one of her hands in his in a comforting way, but she withdrew farther from him. "No..." she said, "I will not do this. I am alone, and I wish to be left that way. I did not want to be pulled from the shadows, yet my bastard father did so against my will."
"Do not say such things of your father, Tari, he loves you. I love you. I tried to call you back from the shadows but you would not listen to me! Why?" Legolas said, his voice rising.
"Because I wanted nothing to do with you. I wanted to pass." Tari retorted angrily. She wanted to get up, walk away, and never look upon him again. The pain was too much for her to bear...
"Then why do you still wear this?" Legolas asked with a hint of anger, reaching out and pulling the chain of her locket, which fell out from her beneath the neck of her tunic. The stone glowed baby-blue; she was in utter depression. The gem's color kept changing from blue, to white (in need), and then light green (worry). Tari tugged the locket from his hands and put it back under her tunic. "Why do you sing such songs of lost love? I know you Tari, and whether you will deny it or nor, I know you still have feelings for me. Do I not speak the truth?"
Tari stood up, walking away from him and his unanswered questions. But Legolas was quicker. He grabbed a hold of her arm, wheeling her around to face him. She struggled and pushed away from him with more force than he thought she possessed. But still, he held her. "Let me go you vile, you loathsome, bast-"
What happened next, was so unexpected by Tari, that she did absolutely nothing; not able to comprehend it. Legolas had claimed her lips with his own in such a passionate, sensuous kiss, that she might have fallen to her knees if he had not been holding onto her so tightly. As she felt his tongue run lightly along her lips as it pleaded gently for entrance into her mouth, Tari snapped out of her reverie, pushing with all her force away from him. Once out of his grasp, she ran as if the very whips of Sauron were behind her, leaving the prince of Mirkwood to stand there alone. But as he watched her retreating form, he immediately began to think about how he could prove his love to the one that denied him... Perhaps there was still hope for her? Could he pull her out from the depths of darkness that had consumed her before she left him for good? Would he even see her again? Only time would tell... And for an immortal, there was more than enough of that.