1Wow! That's a-lot of reviews! Thanks everybody!

Here's Chapter 16, which is pretty long compared to the others.

Manipulated

RECAP:

As they reached the gates, and entered, they saw a small group of people, gathered at the foot of the stairs. They had evidently just arrived, for their horses were just being led away by the stable hands. Tari eyes the five curiously, that spoke to her father and brothers. All had hoods up. She dismounted, with Legolas at her side, and approached. At that moment, one of the travelers turned around quickly, causing their hood to fall off... Tari's eyes widened as she saw the face of the person beneath the cloak. Her heart froze inside her chest, and shattered as the cold hands of despair crushed it.

It was Legolas's betrothed...

Arya was every inch the 'perfect elleth'. Her pale ivory skin was smooth and flawless. Her dark grey eyes glittered like dark stars. She was somewhat tall (though half an inch shorter than Tari), and was as skinny as the boughs of a young tree. Her face was that of an angel; slightly cherubic cheeks, full ruby lips, high cheekbones, etc. Hair that was long, straight and as black as ebony. She smiled widely as Legolas and Tari approached.

"Ai! Legolas!" she exclaimed, practically throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her own around his neck. "How long I have waited to see you!"

Legolas tried to force a smile, but it looked like a grimace. Tari stood next to him, her hand still in his own as the elleth embraced him. Legolas managed to 'pry' her off of him.

Her smile faded as her cold gaze fell upon Tari. "Who is she?" she asked, all blitheness gone from her voice, and now replaced with venom and ice.

Legolas grasped Tari's hand reassuringly, and pulled her a little closer to him. "This is Tariathon (her full name; Tariathon Estellia), daughter of Elrond."

"Ah, adar told me I might have to deal with her." Arya almost whispered, crossing her arms and glaring malevolently at Tari.

"Excuse me?" Tari asked, venom lacing her own voice as she took a step toward Arya.

Legolas held her back, whispering a quiet reprimand in her ear.

Arya rolled her eyes at the sky which was becoming steadily darker. "You heard what I said, princess." saying the last word with disgust. "Now, I'm giving you a singular opportunity-"

"Here or inside?" Tari interjected with different implications than Arya. She wrenched her arm from Legolas's grip, and took a step toward the loathsome she-elf.

Arya met her glare, but did not falter as Tari came within an inch of her. "I was saying, that I am giving you a singular opportunity to forfeit your love for Legolas."

"Let us pretend I didn't. Pray tell, what might my oh-so-awful consequences be?" Tari asked in mock terror.

Arya ignored her question, but leaned in by her ear, and whispered so faintly that only she could hear, "He will be mine, Tari. I care not what love affair you think you have, but he will be mine... And you will pay for thinking that he ever loved you..."

Tari said nothing as she drew away and swept up the stairs, into the Hall, with her guards following at her heels.

Legolas laid his hand on her arm again, looking grim. "What did she say to you?" he asked.

Tari was completely silent, still staring after Arya. After a few moments, she drew away from Legolas, and went to her room, ignoring the calls from Legolas to come back.

When Tari awoke the next morning, it was to find the sky filled with dark grey clouds, and rain lashing against the roofs of the houses of Rivendell. Candles were lit in corridors and rooms, giving off a hazy light that made the rooms feel cozy. Normally, Tari relished in these rare days when she could curl of on her sete with a good book for hours on end. Yet, the thought of Arya had driven the intension far to the back of her mind. At breakfast that morning, Arya had watched Tari's every move, as though scrutinizing her, to remember everything for something in the future. This made Tari feel uneasy. Legolas was on a hunt with her brothers, and would not be back for several days.

In the meantime, Tari had discovered her gift. It was to control the minds of others. "A very rare, and powerful gift..." her father had said. "It is one thing to be able to read someone's mind, and another thing entirely to be able to bend it to your will."

With that being said, he made her work twice as hard at being able to block forces upon her own mind.

On the third day, (four days before Legolas's return) Mithrandir came to Rivendell. Tari embraced the old wizard fondly, with a broad smile upon her fair face. Tari always loved Mithrandir's visits. He always would be in good moods, and have his usual fireworks display.

"I have something for you." he said with a smile, revealing a parcel from his bright white robes.

Trying to hide her eagerness at what the gift may be, Tari hastily unwrapped the gift, revealing a velvet black box. She opened that, which in turn revealed a pearl necklace with three sapphires embellished with white silver. "Ai! Mithrandir! It is beautiful!" Tari exclaimed, staring down at the sparkling jewels.

Gandalf smiled at her reaction. "I thought that before I left, I would give you the gift I was going to give you at you and the prince's wedding."

At his words, Tari's smile faded into dust... He didn't know. She sat down upon the stone bench, which was in the garden's where they were. Gandalf noticed this, and stooped down next to her. "What ails you, Tari? Is there something wrong with your gift?"

Tari shook her head, while wiping away a stray tear that had sneaked it's way to her cheek. "Nay, Gandalf, the gift is wonderful. 'Tis the purpose for which you give this gift..."

"How so?"

"Mithrandir - Legolas and I... we aren't betrothed anymore. Thranduil broke that contract when I disappeared, and promised him with someone else..." Tari whispered, touching the sparkling necklace in it's silken box.

Gandalf frowned. "Why and to whom did he betroth Legolas to then, in your stead?" he asked with polite seriousness. He knew well how much it was affecting her, no matter how much she might try and hide it.

"He did so, because he thought me dead; never to return. No amount of persuasion from my father could dissuade him either. As to who; she has just arrived in Rivendell, nought three days before yourself. Arya."

Mithrandir was still frowning. His eyes seemed to be lost in thought before he spoke again. "I know no knowledge of this elf. Who is her father?"

"I have only just heard of his name. 'Tis Sircin, and I know nothing about him. My father said something. That he was along the lines of a dark lord?"

Gandalf nodded gravely. "Aye Tari... Indeed he is..."

Tari looked at Gandalf, probing the barriers of his mind. "You know something Mithrandir. Tell me of what you know, and answer me nought in riddles!"

Mithrandir met her fierce gaze, and heaved a sigh of defeat. "I do know who he is, I have seen Saruman training him in Orcthanc, many years ago. No, he is not an Istari, though, he is very powerful; as are all wizards."

"He is a dark wizard?" Tari gasped. "Legolas is marrying the daughter of a dark wizard!"

"Aye, that he is. I fear that Thranduil knows nothing about Arya's father. I for one, know that he is 'highly respected' in Mirkwood. That is because he does nothing but wear a mask there; being the good-natured, skilled lord. But he was once in the service of Sauron, and Saruman when he turned, make no mistake about that."

Tari was horrified. She knew that Arya was indeed evil, but not that kind of evil... Then that explained why she felt so awkward around her. If this was true, then she had to tell her father, and get a message to Thranduil about this.

"Why would they want to do this?" Tari asked Mithrandir as she bolted out of her seat and began pacing up and down the garden path, biting her thumb.

"Why else would a stereotypical elleth marry Legolas? For his crown, the title, and the power." Gandalf said, watching as the she-elf paced.

'Why didn't I realize that! Why didn't I see it from the beginning?' Tari berated herself as she smacked her forehead. "I have to tell adar about this!" Tari finally said, taking off at a sprint down the path to her father's chambers.

But when she reached the Dining Hall (it was dinnertime) she was halted by none other than Arya. Immediately, Tari felt that powerful cold presence, and stopped before she ran into her. She was dressed in black velvet trimmed with gold, a dark circlet set with rubies was upon her equally dark haired head. "Suilas, princess..." (Greetings) she hissed. When Tari tried to move around her, Arya moved again to block her.

"Move!" Tari said loudly to her, not in the mood to take any 'crap' from her.

Arya raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Such a temper. One must tame that."

"I normally have a calm temperament, but it is you who causes it to rise, my lady." Tari spat, once again failing to move around her.

Arya chuckled maliciously under her breath, her dark eyes flashing. "Remember what I told you earlier?"

"Oh, I quake in fear at the memory." Tari feigned, rolling her eyes. "Let me pass and I shall not harm you."

Arya let out another small laugh. Her malevolent eyes locked with Tari's, and she felt a strange sensation. She blinked a few times then stared at the floor 'till her vision was better, then looked up again to continue her argument with Arya, only to find an orc standing exactly where Arya had been, holding a scrimtar. Tari drew her own sword (which she kept with her at all times) and slashed out at the beast, the thing anyone would have done. The orc went down to the ground, clutching it's side, and howling in pain. The next thing Tari knew, blackness was clouding her eyes, and she felt herself falling to the ground...

Tari moaned as she woke, a dull throb on the back of her head. Her eyes opened, to find herself lying on her bed in her candle-lit room (obviously it's nighttime). As she tried to raise her hand to feel her aching head, she found it held back... by ropes. Someone had tied her hands to her bed!

Tari looked desperately around the room, and her eyes landed upon the only person there; her father. He looked very distressed, and his grey eyes were the color of a storm. "Adar!" Tari cried, "Help me!"

Elrond stared at his youngest daughter with sternness, and answered, "They are there, for a good reason Tari. And you know that."

"No! I do not! What has happened? Where is that orc?" Tari said, struggling against the silken elven ropes that she knew firsthand were of no use to fight against.

Elrond looked at her, frowning. "Stop this nonsense, Tari. You know what you did! Everyone in the Hall saw you do it!"

"I DON'T!" Tari yelled.

"You almost killed Arya! I saw you! You were standing there, speaking harshly to each other. You looked down, then looked up, and then you whipped out your sword and sliced into her! By Valar Tari! Why did you do that! I know that you love Legolas, and that Arya is to marry him instead of you, but that does NOT justify your attempt to kill her!" Elrond shouted.

Tari stared at him, openmouthed. "...no." she whispered, "I can't have! She was gone when I looked up! There was an orc there! Adar, believe me!"

"I can't."

"Why not!"

"Because of your actions, and your behavior. You are not my daughter anymore! You are merely the one she looks like! My daughter would never do something like this-"

"Unless she were controlled!" Tari interjected, realizing what Arya must've done.

"DARO!" (Stop!) Elrond shouted, "Right now! I will hear none of that! You know what you've done! You almost killed one of your own kin in front of witnesses."

"Adar, I swear it by the Valar! I couldn't have!"

"You did. You have. You are lucky that Arya survived."

Tari was quiet, as silent tears streamed down her face. Her father made for her door, but she called to him. "What is to happen now?" she asked in a whisper.

Elrond looked at the ground, then raised his gaze to meet his daughter's teary-eyed one. "You are going to be put on trial in four days... for attempted murder."