The power of Love

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Tolkien's, places, characters, names, ect. I do however own all other characters that you do not recognize.

Author's note: Hi everyone. How is the story so far? Review and tell me. Thanks to all my faithful reviewers. You guys are the best!!! Well hear goes...

Chapter 9: A moment in time

Araviniel ran out of the throne room and headed to her own room. She rushed inside and grabbed a short blue dress and light blue leggings. She put on the outfit and got a purple cloak. She ran to the bedroom door and locked it, then snatched a pair of black boots and slipped them on. Before leaving she took Tatharion's sword that was by the door. Araviniel threw open the balcony doors and reached for a tree branch that hung low over the balcony. She pulled herself up and then carefully climbed to the trunk.

She half climbed, half jumped, down the tree until her feet touched the ground. When her feet hit the forest floor she took off. Her thoughts were jumbled and nothing she did could get them off Cúdir. Her hair was whipping her face as

she ran.

As she passed people she saw the shocked looks on their faces. She ignored them and just kept running. The forest deepened and she ran as fast as she could. She knew where she was going. As she brushed away the branches and underbrush she came to a clearing. It was small and round and in the center was a pool. There was a white bench by the pool and next to it grew a rose bush.

Tears came to her eyes once again. This was the place from her dream, her nightmare. She sat down on the bench and stared into the water. She expected to see faces. She expected to scream and wake up in her bed. She expected to wake up in her mother's arms and be safe and sound. But the faces didn't appear and the only scream was coming from the birds above.

Araviniel placed her head in her hands and wept. It wasn't long after that she felt arms around her and she cried into Tatharion's shoulder. "Don't cry melethen. It's all over now." She shook her head. "It's never over." He squeezed her and then lifted her up in his arms. She clung to him as he carried her. They left the pool but as they did a flash of color caught her eye. When she looked back into the pool she saw what she had seen only a few nights before. In the pool was a picture of a dying Tatharion with arrows imbedded in his chest and shoulder. She was kneeling next to him and crying.

She clenched her eyes shut and when she opened them the picture was gone. This was no longer just a dream; it was a premonition. She began to cry even harder into his chest.

Tatharion held back his anger for Cúdir. This was not the time. He walked for a while before they came to a tree talon. He climbed up the rope ladder with her in his arms and then went inside. He opened his door and placed her on his bed. Araviniel sat on the edge and slowed her breathing. She pushed away the image that she saw in the pool and wiped away the tears in her eyes.

Looking around the room and she noted that nothing had changed. She let a small smile grace her lips as she realized that was the same for Tatharion as well. Nothing she could ever do could change how he felt about her. He never left her side unless she wanted him to, and she never did. She wanted him to hold her in his arms until the end of time. Even if the moon and sun crashed down around them she knew she would be safe. The power of love would keep them together forever.

Tatharion shook his head and opened the window. Something about Araviniel; she always wanted a window or door open. She wanted the feeling that she could be free. She wanted the air to fill the room and sweep her off her feet. He turned around to find her sitting on his bed with a thoughtful look. She was not here, in this room. She was not Araviniel and she was not confined. Right now she was far away, over the sea and above the clouds, flying away to some place she could let down her defenses and fly.

He shook his head and said, "What draws your thoughts away?" In truth Araviniel was thinking of Mirkwood. She was thinking of the freedom and relaxation she had found in the arms of a certain prince. She blushed as she heard Tatharion's voice. 'Why am I thinking of him?' she asked herself.

"Nothing that could be important, I was only thinking of the future."

Tatharion sat down next to her on the bed and said, "Would I happen to be in that future?" Araviniel looked at him and said with a smile, "Yes, and a couple of elflings besides." Tatharion grinned and pulled her down on top of him. "Would they happen to be our elflings?" He tickled her and she giggled saying, "That's for me to know and for you to find out." He smiled and said, "Well how on arda am I going to find out?!" She looked into his eyes and her smile faded. "I don't know." He stared back at her before rushing in and capturing her lips in a kiss.

Tatharion rolled over so that he was on top of her and then pulled back slightly. Their eyes met for a moment. Then Tatharion did something unexpectedly. He slowly got up and shook his head. "This isn't right melethen." Araviniel pushed herself up on her elbows and looked at him questionably. He just shook his head before pulling her up to her feet and staring at her face to face. She just looked at him. Araviniel brush his silky hair out of his face and pushed forward to kiss him.

Tatharion put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back slightly. "You are suffering much. I know you seek comfort but this isn't what you really want." Araviniel looked into his eyes and realized he was right. All she wanted to do was to be swept off her feet and be carried away to paradise, but that was because if she wasn't she would be forced to stay on Arda and have her thoughts drift back to her uncle.

Araviniel nodded and looked to the door. She turned away from him and walked toward the living room. On both sides was a door. One door led to the kitchen and one lead to the bathroom. There was a large porch that surrounded the talon and it was very airy. The bedroom was on the east and the bathroom was on the west. The kitchen faced the north and the living room was to the south. There were many windows

Araviniel walked into the kitchen and found a bottle of wine. Above the washbowl were glasses hanging by their stems. She stood on her tip toes and snatched two of them. She poured the wine into the glasses and headed into the bedroom. She stopped by the door. He was searching around inside his dresser and when she entered the room he quickly placed a silver box down inside it. He shut the drawer and turned around. She shook her head and smiled saying, "Come into the living room and have some wine."

She walked into the living room and sat down on one of three wicker chairs.

She placed the bottle of wine on the glass table in the middle of the room, and turned around to hand a glass to Tatharion. When she turned around Tatharion was no longer behind her. She looked around the room before calling out, "Tatharion? Where are you? I'm not going to wait all day." She sighed and placed the glass down on the table, making the red wine inside swish around.

She cleared the room in a total of 15 steps and stepped out on the balcony.

Tatharion wasn't anywhere in sight. Suddenly she heard scuffing in the other room. Araviniel stepped cautiously around the corner and went into Tatharion's bedroom. There he was, fumbling around in his dresser draw. "What are you doing?" she asked. He turned around sharply and said, a little nervously, "Looking for something. It's not important." He shut the drawer and smiled. "Ok now where's the wine?" Araviniel stepped across the room and eyed him suspiciously. He just smiled.

With a shake of her head she smiled back and walked into the living room again. He sat down across from her and leaned over picking up the crystal glass. Araviniel sat down and took her glass from the table. Tatharion seemed odd to her. He was fidgeting a little and he was constantly looking back into the room. She shook her head and downed the wine with one gulp.

Tatharion stopped and looked at her with wide eyes. She grinned. "What? You've never seen a girl drink before?" He fixed his face to a neutral expression and said a little sternly, "That is not drinking. That's a sure way of getting drunk." She shrugged and poured herself another glass. "Maybe that's exactly what I want." She leaned her head back and finished off her second glass.

Tatharion got up and took her glass. With a mock motherly tone he said, "That's enough young lady. You have had quite enough of this." He straitened his face and asked, "By the way do you have any idea what kind of wine this is?" She looked down at the bottle before smiling and looking back to him and shrugging her shoulders. "Not a clue dearest." He smiled back at her and shook his head. "This wine is from Mirkwood, It's the strongest around."

She looked back and the bottle, shocked. "Well...um..." Then with a small smile she snatched the glass from his hand and poured herself another glass. "In that case," Tatharion knew she was somewhat drunk already. "Here's to the Prince Legolas and his kingdom of Mirkwood!" She drank the glass and stood up a bit wobbly. She shook her head and rubbed her temple.

Tatharion had seen her drunk only once before. It was after a strong beating from Cúdir. She had come to his talon half drunk in only her nightgown. She had numerous cuts and scrapes down her back and stomach and the blood came through the soft, silky materiel. She had fallen into his arms and complained of a headache. While he went into the other room to find her something else to wear she took out the wine and drank the whole bottle. When he came out of the room she was asleep on the chair.

Araviniel swayed and grabbed onto the chair to steady herself. Tatharion shook his head and bent down. He put his arm under her knees and with his other arm he supported her back. He lifted her up and took her into the bedroom. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled her face into its base. He sighed and said sadly, "You have to stop this Araviniel. It's not going to help any, running from your problems. You have to face them someday. If you run you'll just have more to deal with when you decide to turn around and face them.

She grunted and mumbled something about him being the 'serious no-play-only- work' type. Tatharion stepped up to the bed and laid her down gently. She looked up at him and then said with a silly drunk grin on her face, "You know you look kindda like Legolas. Only he has blue eyes, all the time. He's a little bit aggravating though. He told me once that dreams pass just like the night and day is always right around the corner. I hope you aren't a dream. I don't think I could live without you."

Tatharion shook his head and shifted her so she was under the covers. "Don't worry my love. I'll always be here when you wake up. I'll never leave your side." Then he smiled. "Now do me a favor and don't think, just sleep. You'll have one heck of a headache when you wake up." She huffed and closed her eyes.

Tatharion shook his head and left the room. He silently closed the door behind him and went out to the balcony. The sun was casting pink and orange glows at the sky and the moon was in sight over to the east. Twilight. He sighed and leaned over the balcony rail. This was Araviniel's favorite time of the day. Birds were settling in for the night and the stars were peeking out from under day's bright light.

He took a deep breath and thought of the first time he had met Araviniel. flashback

Tatharion grumbled as he walked through the forest. His father INSISTED on him befriending the boring young she-elf and he HAD to comply. He kicked a stone with his foot and said under his breath, "Good for nothing wallflower"

As he approached the small river that ran through the forest he knew he would find the girl sitting there with a book. He and his friends had picked on her dozens of times before. She had always just smiled and said softly, "Do as you wish but you will find no tears here. If you are looking for some one to cry you might try the river." They gave up and went off to find some one more fun to tease.

Years had gone by since those times and he had grown into a "Mature he- elf". But soon enough he would find that Araviniel would show him how immature he was. The cruelty of Cúdir hadn't started yet and they would enjoy many years before she would come crying to him.

As he approached he found the "young she-elf" sitting by the river with her back against the tree. She was much different now. Her hair was very long and shone in tones of yellow and red. Her sea green eyes were full of passion and energy that filled him with curiosity. She delicately turned the page and began to read. Her mouth moved now and then with silent words and she tucked a piece of red hair behind her pointed ear.

He went up to her but before he could say anything she spoke with her eyes still moving back and forth on the page, "Hello Tatharion. I'm a bit busy right now and I don't have time for your boyish attempts to humiliate me. Where are your friends?" she looked around slowly. "They are missing out on the fun today?" He just stood there and his cheeks turned red with embarrassment. "I didn't come to make fun of you Araviniel. I came to ask your forgiveness and I wanted to know if you would like to come to the celebration tonight."

Araviniel looked at him and was about to tell him that the trick wouldn't work when she saw true interest in his eyes. "Maybe." She said. He sighed and asked softly, "Please Araviniel..." She looked back to her book and sighed, "Alright, you can come pick me up around sunset." He smiled and left her there. As he left he realized that the interest had grown. He said under his breath as he walked away, "She sure changed." Then to his surprise she called back to him, "Thank you." He smiled and headed back to his talon.

End flashback.

Tatharion sighed and backed away from the rail. The sun has set and the moon was rising. The night chill was getting to him. He brought up the ladder and shut the door that led out to the talon. He looked around the inside of the talon and decided to sleep in his bed. There was no where else but the floor and he had slept in the same bed with Araviniel more then once. They had something, both of them, they had complete trust. She wouldn't even worry about changing in the same room with him, not like they made it a habit.

He took off his tunic and grabbed a pair of loose fitting white pants from his dresser draw. He put them on and stretched, slipping into bed. Araviniel automatically withdrew and shuddered. He sighed and realized it had become natural for her to retreat when she felt someone next to her. Cúdir was the cause of that.

Tatharion slid next to her and whispered into her ear, "It's alright Araviniel. Sleep now, you are safe with me." She relaxed and curled against his strong muscled chest. He put his arm around her waist and pressed his cheek to her neck before falling asleep.