The Power of Love

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Tolkien's works...bla bla bla...you get the point.

AN/ Hi people, thanks a bunch for all the reviews! hugs all reviewers Gerich 'ell (Enjoy yourselves.)

Chapter 6: Tears

Araviniel was nervous once again. Legolas had asked to take her to the celebration tonight. The thing was did she really want to go? Yes she did. She sighed and walked over to the closet. Alphril had given her a different room to stay in. The theme was yellow. She smiled as she opened the closet. There were at least twenty dresses inside, each one a different color and design.

She picked out a slim sky blue dress. It reached to the floor where it fanned out. There were various small clear stones sewn into the fabric. The sleeves came to her forearm where they also fanned out. She looked to the bottom of the closet where she found Light blue slippers to match. She smiled as she slid them on and said, "Well she thought of everything didn't she?"

Araviniel walked over to the vanity and let down her hair from its previous fashion. She brushed through it and decided to let most of it down. She brushed out her part and swept her hair back. She took the top and put it up into a ponytail. Then she brushed the rest down and braided the ponytail. She took a few strands and let them hang loose around her forehead. She admired her handiwork and got up from her chair. She grabbed a silk transparent light blue shawl and draped it around her arms.

She took a deep breath and walked out the door, closing it behind her. The Celebration had already started. 'Legolas probably thinks I'm not coming.' she thought. 'Well it isn't right to make a price into a liar. Maybe I should go back.' She stopped midway into her walk before dismissing the idea. 'No, I'm not backing out of this one.'

Soon she spotted a few other elves in the hall. They were all dressed up and seemed to know where they were going. Which was one more thing then she knew, so she followed them. It wasn't long before two giant oak doors appeared. They were wide open and there were hundreds of people inside. The chances of Legolas finding her in this crowd were 3000 to 1. Yet once again he seemed to defy all odds.

Araviniel felt a small tap on her shoulder and she whirled to find the prince staring at her. "I'm glad you decided to come. I was hoping you would." She nodded and said, "Well now I'm here." He smiled and she could hear music start to play. It was a slow song. 'Great!' she thought. "Would you like to dance?" he said. She looked around at the other people who were dancing and she remembered how Well Tatharion and she were together. 'Don't worry; he may be a prince but no one could beet the pair that Tatharion and you make. You don't have to worry about falling in love with some one else.' That last thought angered her. "I am not falling in love with some one else! I'll prove it!'

Then it slipped. She used the same trademark response that she and Tatharion used. "Yes I would, actually." 'Darn You Araviniel. You're doing it.' He smiled and led her out to the middle. Automatically the people circled them. 'This is wrong.' She thought. Memories swirled back to her as they danced. Everything was the same, except the person she was dancing with.

Panic filled her as they continued to dance. Everything was perfect. The...Spins...turns...And footwork...was precise and lacking nothing. "This is very wrong!' She felt herself begin to give into this elf. That scared her more then Cúdir or Rion could ever. 'You have to get out of here Araviniel! You can't do this to Tatharion!' Suddenly she broke away from Legolas. He stood there oddly, very confused. "I'm...Sorry...I just can't." She turned and fled from the room, her blue dress flying behind her.

She hurried back the way she remembered till she could see her room. She pulled open the door and slammed it behind her. Slowly sinking to the floor with her back to the door, she began to sob. This wasn't supposed to be this way. She started to tremble as memories of Cúdir filled her mind. All the things she had shoved to the back of her mind flooded into sight. All the things he had done to her.

She crawled over to the bed in the center of the room and grasped a pillow from the top. She buried her face into the pillow to muffle her cries.

Flashback

Cúdir grabbed Araviniel from her bed where she was reading one night. "Do you know what you are?" He sneered at the look of pain in her eyes as he yanked her out of bed and pushed her to the floor. "You're nothing, it's that simple. All you are is a left over of the once beautiful sister I had. YOU RUINED HER! She gave up her life so you could live! All for What! A sniveling brat?" Araviniel began to cry. Cúdir had her wrist in a death grip and was slowly breaking it. "PLEASE! STOP! YOU'RE HURTING ME!"

Cúdir laughed. "And you know what? I don't care!" He pushed himself down on her. And...

End flashback

Araviniel was saved from her memory by a knock on the door. "Araviniel?" It was Legolas. She couldn't move. Sobs continued to rack her body as she sat there. Slowly the door was pushed open and he stepped into the room. He looked around before spotting her in a ball by the bed. Suddenly it dawned on him.

"You're the girl from the celebration in Lothlorien!" He was greeted with more muffled sobs from the girl. He shut the door and rushed over to her. He knelt down and scooped her up in his arms. Araviniel gave in. She dropped the pillow and clutched his tunic. She began to sob into his chest as tears ran down her face unchecked. He rocked her back and forth as he knelt down next to the bed.

Araviniel could still hear Cúdir's shouting in her head. Legolas looked down at the girl in his arms and pieces of the puzzle began to fit. 'She was the one from Lothlorien.' He thought. Then another thought entered his mind. 'The he-elf that had carried her away to his talon.' Still he could not figure out why she was crying hysterically in his arms.

Soon her sobs faded and she pushed out of his lap. She knelt down in front of him with her hands in between her knees and her head down. The remaining tears fled down her flushed cheeks. Legolas tilted her chin up with his finger and with the other hand brushed away her tears.

"What is it? Why is it that I find you like this?" She diverted her eyes away from his and said, "I must return home Your Majesty." He frowned and said, "Look at me." She paused for a minute before giving in and looked into his ice blue eyes. "My name is Legolas, not 'Your majesty'." Araviniel nodded and rose from where she was sitting.

Legolas got up and grabbed her shoulders. He forced her to sit on the bed. "What are you doing?!" Fear flashed in her eyes and Legolas nodded. "I thought as much..." She pushed past him and stood by the door. "You thought what?" He shook his head and walked toward her. She backed up as he neared until she bumped into the door. "I AM NOT GOING TO HURT YOU." He said firmly.

Araviniel looked at him intently for a few minutes before slowly sliding to the ground once again. Legolas walked over to her and sat down. "What happened?" she looked over at him oddly for a minute. "Who did this to you?" Her normal untruthful response came out automatically. "No one has done anything to me." He shook his head and said, "It was your uncle wasn't it? The one I restrained that night in Lothlorien? He was going to kill you wasn't he? Maybe something worse?" Tears returned to her eyes but did not fall. She would not look into his face as she said, "It was long ago."

Legolas looked over at her. Her hair was messed and her eyes were watery with unshed tears. He tucked a small piece of hair behind her ear. She flinched. He stood up sharply and asked, "What else did he do to you?!" Words wouldn't come and the tears in her eyes fell silently. He sighed and leaned down in front of her. "Don't cry Melethen." (My Love)

Araviniel looked up at him sharply, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "Why did you call me that?" Legolas just stared for a moment before saying softly, "I'm not sure." Araviniel stood suddenly and walked past him. Legolas stood and turned around and faced her. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?" He walked to her and placed his hand on her cheek. "I only want your trust." She looked at his face for a few minutes before a small smile spread across her face. "I...Can...Give you that...With time." He smiled before pulling her into his arms.

Araviniel hid her face under his chin and basked in comfort for a few moments. "Come; let's get back to the party." She pulled away from him and looked in the mirror. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were red from crying. "I don't think so." He looked into the mirror. Legolas took down the remaining fastens in her hair and let it down. He turned her around and said, "You look beautiful." She smiled and walked over to the bathroom. She splashed some cold water on her face and dried it with a towel. She looked 100% better already.

Legolas came up behind her and said while he put his arms around her waist, "I have a better idea. Come with me, I have something to show you." Araviniel paused unsurely for a minute. "Don't worry." he said, taking his arms away, "I just want to show my favorite place to go when everything is so busy. It's a great place to relax." Araviniel sighed and smiled, "Ok." He smiled and took her hand. "Come on."

He led her out of the room and outside of the palace. Soon they were in the court yard. The air was filled with elvish singing and there was the scent of Lavender in the air. "It smells so beautiful!" He smiled and said, "Yes I know." He led her out of the gates and into the forest. "Are you sure it's safe out here?" He shook his head and said, "I'm very sure. The guards are patrolling this area." He carefully led her through the trees until they came to a hedge. "It's a dead end." She said with a smile. "Ah yes, to the naked eye, but if you look close enough..." He leaned forward and revealed a small opening.

She smiled and crouched down. She slid through and gasped and the hidden garden inside. There was a large Fountain and a pool of water. Many flowers surrounded the pool and in the corners were white stone benches. The hedge surrounded the garden in a large circle. Moonlight streamed through the trees above and reflected on the pool. Legolas slid through the opening besides her and smiled. "Beautiful isn't it?" She turned and smiled, "It's more then that. It's gorgeous!" He smiled even wider and said, "This is my retreat. You may come here whenever you wish."

She smiled and through her arms around his neck, giving him a big hug, "Oh thank you!" She walked around and took everything in. Legolas stood back and watched her. The moonlight cast an ethereal glow on her. 'She looks like an angle.' He thought.

There was a large tree in the middle of the garden. Araviniel smiled and pulled herself up into it. She stood up and walked out to the end of a think branch and held out her arms. The wind stirred and blew through her arms and caused her dress to swirl around her.

Suddenly she felt arms around her waist and Legolas leaned down and whispered a song in her ear, "Come away with me and fly. Come away with me. Come away with me and soar. Come away with me. Come away with me and touch the sky. Let go of yourself and fly away with me. Shoot the stars with me and Fly." She smiled as his melodious voice slid over her skin. This was heaven.

He lifted his head up and together they watched the moon rise over the palace.

Suddenly a sharp cry was heard. "Attack!! GET THE PRINCE! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!!!" Legolas jumped down from the tree and landed on his feet in a few moments he was up and running for the palace. Araviniel jumped down the tree as well, her movements resembling a cat's. She ran right behind him and as they neared they were greeted with a horrible sight.

Orcs were storming the gate. The elven soldiers were backed up and slowly being surrounded. Suddenly Legolas saw out of the corner of his eye his brother Calenmir lead a troop of elves to reinforce the others. Araviniel spotted a dead elf near by with a sword and a bow by his side. She ran and snatched the bow and arrows and began to fire at the orcs. Legolas saw her and ran over to her. "You have to get out of here!" He ran over and grabbed the sword before charging into the battle. She stood her ground and kept firing.

Legolas began to chop his way through the orcs to the slowly retreating elves. "Hang in there! Form Up! Hold your ground!" he cried. He stopped short in his tracks. There was an elf on the ground next to him. His shoulder was pierced and his middle was sliced open.

Araviniel fired her last arrow before noticing that another troop of elves was coming. 'They will be more then enough to send these orcs into Hell!' she thought. The troop overpowered the orcs until there were only about a dozen. They had just realized that they were the only ones left on the field and were about to run for the safety of the trees when the reinforcements cut them down in there tracks.

Araviniel scanned the crowd for Legolas but didn't see him anywhere. "Quick send for a healer, the prince is wounded!" Araviniel held her breath and raced into the middle of the Elves. There on the ground was Legolas. He was holding Calenmir's head in his lap and tears were flowing down his face.

"Tell...Ada...I...love...him." Calenmir said. "You may tell him yourself muindor." Legolas said through his tears. Calenmir smiled and said, "El cúdír vaen Legolas. You will make an even better king then I would." Legolas shook his head and frowned. "Cúen linnatha a magil lín once again." Calenmir reached up and gave Legolas a small charm on a chain, "Hebich sen enni, It was naneths."

Legolas nodded and took the chain. "I shall see you again brother." Calenmir said. Legolas couldn't manage anymore words. The healer broke through the group and knelt down by the fallen prince. He looked him over and in a few minutes a stood up and said, "I'm sorry Prince Legolas. There is nothing I can do for him." Legolas didn't answer.

"Get out of my way!" Araviniel heard a clear feminine voice call out. From the light coming from the palace she could just make out the figure of Alphril pushing her way through the elves. She hurried past Araviniel saying, "Legolas?" Tears were streaming down her face. She gasped and choked down a sob when she was greeted with the sight of her bleeding brother. "Legolas?" she asked. He looked up at her and shook his head, holding back his own tears.

Alphril ran to him and leaned down next to her dying brother. "Calenmir, Can you hear me?" Calenmir's eyes focused in on his sister. "Alphril..." She put her hand on his cheek and began to sob. "Don't cry little sister." he said. She managed a small smile and said, "Len melin muindor." He smiled and said with a bloody cough, "Len melin muinthel." She nodded and kissed him on the cheek.

Alphril leaned over to Legolas and said, "Keep him with us, father is coming." Legolas nodded and began to talk to Calenmir. It wasn't long before the king burst through the crowd and knelt down by Calenmir. "Len melin ada." The king held back his tears successfully and said, "Len melin iôn." Calenmir nodded and seemed to let go knowing he had seen them all one last time. "Navaer, No i hûl panna hebaid reviad lín." His eyes glazed over and a small smile appeared on his face.

Alphril began to cry and put her head down on her dead brother's chest. "I will see you again." Legolas held his brother's head as three elves broke through the crowd with a stretcher.

Araviniel had watched the scene in her own tears and something deep down inside her begged her to sing. "Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you That is how I know you go on. Far across the distance and spaces between us you have come to show you go on. Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on Once more, you opened the door and you're here in my heart and my heart will go on and on. Love can touch us one time and last for a lifetime and never let go till we're gone. Love was when I loved you, one true time to hold on to. In my life we'll always go on. You're here, there's nothing I fear and I know that my heart will go on. We'll stay, forever this way. You are safe in my heart and my heart will go on and on. "

Her sweet and soft voice flew through the night and brought encouragement to the royal family. Legolas lifted his brother up in his arms and placed him on the stretcher. The elves carried him reverently away. Alphril was weeping into her hands when Legolas bent down and scooped her into his arms. They sat there like that for the longest time. The king stood and walked toward Araviniel. He placed his hand on her shoulder and said deeply, "Thank you."

He walked past her and followed the stretcher. Alphril broke away from her brother and ran to the palace without a word. He went to follow her but decided she had to deal with it in her own way. He swiped the tears from his eyes and began to call out to the troops, "Form ranks! Search the area for any more remaining threats!" He walked past Araviniel with only a thankful gaze and searched the fallen elves for survivors.

He didn't get very far before he fell to his knees. She could see his shoulders shake with sobs. Araviniel walked over to him and knelt down by his side. He wouldn't look at her but instead made his hands into fists. He began to beat the ground in his grief. His tears mingled with the blood from his hands. Araviniel leaned over and grabbed his wrists. She pulled his head to her shoulder and stroked his hair. He cried onto her shoulder as she whispered comforting things into his ear.

Legolas pulled away from her and stared into her eyes. Tears were still wet on his cheeks and an expression of guilt filled his face. She shook her head and caressed his cheek. "No, no dear Legolas. It was not your fault. No one is at fault. These things happen and nothing in arda can stop them." He shook his head angrily, "I could have been there. I could have protected him. It's my entire fault." She shook her head and moved a strand of hair from his face. "Av'iston tan. Alphril does not blame you and neither does your father. It was out of your control."

Legolas stood and looked down at Araviniel. "To protect my brother was out of my control? I don't think so Brennilen." He walked off with his head high and his back strait. Hate filled his heart that night. Deep inside him something aroused. His heart hardened and somewhere his hope was lost. When Legolas walked away from her that night his soul was left in her care; for only she could break through his hate and the new found evil that swept through his veins.

Translations

El cúdír vaen Legolas= you are a skillful bowman Legolas. Cúen linnatha a magil lín once again= my bow shall sing with your sword once again. Hebich sen enni, It was naneths=." Hold onto this for me. It was mothers Len melin muindor= I love you brother Len melin muinthel= I love you sister Navaer=Farewell No i hûl panna hebaid reviad lín= May the wind fill your sails Len melin iôn= I love you son Av'iston tan= I don't think so Brennilen=Milady