First of all I want to thank IwishChan and Chicky Poo for reviewing my ninth chapter. Second of all, I am going to be out of town for a while, so this might be my last update 'till I get home. But, I will update as soon as I get home. I'll try to give you a long chapter to make up for my going on vacation-ness! Here goes the tenth chapter!

In the Clearing

"Aragorn?" questioned Legolas, getting off Tunidel's back. "Is it really you?"

"Yes. I've brought with me Tári Isnlagir of the woods of Lorien." Aragorn grabbed Legolas' arm. "Legolas, the Uruk-Hai have the sword, as you probably suspected, and I believe they are taking it to somewhere in Mordor."

"They cannot learn how it works!" said Elrohir, interrupting.

"Brother," said Aragorn, bowing his head, "And other brother," he said, nodding at Elladan. "I am glad that you are here. We will need your help in regaining the sword."

Tári stole a shy look at Legolas. He really was good looking. "Excuse me," everybody's attention shifted to Tári. "Shouldn't we be moving to someplace safer to sit and talk. This place has already proven to be dangerous."

"Well said," said Legolas, remounting his steed. "Come Aragorn, we shall ride to Imladris."

"No," said Aragorn harshly. "It is too far. By the time we get there, the Uruk's will be in Mordor and the sword will have been presented to their lord. He will be working out how to work it. We have no time. Talking must take place here."

Tári threw a dirty look at Aragorn. "It isn't safe here!" she stated.

"It has to do," said Elladan bluntly.

"Tári, tell us your part of the story," said Legolas, getting off Tunidel and settling himself on a large rock. "Elladan and Elrohir have not heard that part, and they need the whole story."

"Very well," said Tári. "I was angry at my father. He was always too protective of me, keeping me away from the outskirts of Lorien and away from people way older than me. He insisted that I bring a guard whenever I traveled to Imladris or Mirkwood. Well, he had gone to fight the Uruks that were invading our land. He was killed and our home was looted. It appeared to me that we were losing the battle, though I know now that I was wrong. But I snuck into the holding room, and stole the sword, telling myself that I was actually protecting it and that I was going to bring it to Master Elrond. I changed my mind. There were rumors all throughout my homeland of a witch in the forest. It was said that she knows everything and sees everything that is ever going on. I was going to bring the sword to her and ask her for advice about what to do with it. But as I was traveling through this land right here, the land we sit on, I was ambushed by a party of Uruk-Hai. They rendered me unconscious, and took the sword. That's all I remember before I woke up in jail and Aragorn was with me." Tári looked at her feet, ashamed at how rashly she had behaved when she took the sword.

What a stupid girl, said Tunidel to Legolas.

Legolas looked up, surprised. She is not stupid. Her actions were stupid. Can't you tell that she feels badly about what she did! So, most of it was her fault. All of these things were meant to happen. Have you ever talked to Gandalf the White? He would agree with me.

Aragorn doesn't like her, was all that Tunidel had to say.

Aragorn stood up. "You said your father was killed by Uruks, but you did not mention that these Uruks were the ones that you were running from."

Tári looked up into Aragorn's blazing eyes. He was mad alright. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"Sorry isn't good enough! You've gotten us into the whole mess!"

"Aragorn!" said Legolas standing up to comfort Tári. "She's had a tough time."

Tári nearly melted at the closeness of Legolas' body, but she knew that she had to stay on focus. Unfortunately, Tári was not used to the lack of food and the overwhelming heat, and she fainted, right into Legolas' arms.

"Now look what you've done," said Legolas to Aragorn, laying Tári on the cool ground.

"Legolas," said a soothing voice, the one of Elrohir, "Nothing of this is Aragorn's fault. True, he may have been a bit harsh on the girl, but you yourself are acting quite unusual."

He's right you know, agreed Tunidel.

"Elrohir," said Elladan suddenly, "You always tell the truth. You must. Correct? Right. So, do you know if this forest witch exists?"

Elrohir's voice went low and different from his normal one. "She comes and goes. Not a witch, but a spirit. She knows not everything, but nothing. She waits, eager to give advice and to learn of the world around her."

"She sounds like a very weird lady," muttered Aragorn.

Legolas changed the subject. "Aragorn, did they feed you when you were captives?"

Aragorn looked at him. "Would you feed a captive?" Answering a question with a question was always one of Aragorn's talents.

"Yes. No. Maybe. Anyways, what's the point? They either fed you or they didn't," said a frustrated Legolas.

"Feed her if you must," said Aragorn. He had taken a particular disliking to Tári. She was so young and naive. She knew nothing of the world and the trouble that the elves and men and even dwarves with the Uruks.

She would if you told her, said a voice in Aragorn's head, causing him to jump about ten feet into the air.

Who are you? thought Aragorn.

Legolas' spirit steed. I am a Shiri'tel, said Tunidel.

Aragorn looked at Legolas in amazement. Where on earth did he get a spirit steed?

"Legolas!" said Aragorn. "Put the girl on your horse. I have an idea."

"What is your idea, Aragorn?" asked Elrohir.

"We will go to the leader of the Shiri'tel tribe to ask for advice. He, or she, will know what to do."

Legolas frowned, but agreed, and Elladan and Elrohir were fine with the idea. Tunidel was overjoyed at the idea of going home and he told Aragorn one thing before leading the way.

It's love.

Okay! That's the tenth chapter. I hope everybody likes it. And . . . if you read, you review. Please!