Manwathiel: You didn't offend me at all! Don't worry about it!

Chapter 16

A Bitter Reunion

Tari walked down one of the corridors of Rivendell. She had 'awoken' in the library where Tala had fallen asleep. It was definitely past midnight, and all the candles in the room had burnt themselves out, coils of smoke lazily drifting upward from their blackened wicks.

Her bare feet knew where she was going, even though her mind was elsewhere. She still couldn't get her mind around the fact that she was home... She had been granted a second chance. Drawback number one: there was a war going on. Drawback number two: Arya, was still alive and looking for her.

Her hand grasped the cold handle of a door, and she opened it, stepping silently inside.

The balcony windows of this room were open, allowing the breeze to stir the room. Her white dress that she still wore swished and billowed.

The room was exactly how she remembered it... The fireplace mantle still held small objects of sentimental value; a silver etched arrowhead from Lorien, a jewelry box from her grandmother, figurines of celestial unicorns and horses from her days as an elfling, and much more besides.

But there was one thing in this room that she held much dearer than all the items of it put together.

And he was sound asleep beneath the sheets of her bed.

Tari smiled, wiping away a tear that had escaped her eye. She walked mutely over to the bed, slowly sitting down upon the edge next to Legolas's sleeping form. His silver-blonde hair was splayed out upon the pillow. The intense blue orbs of his eyes were staring up into oblivion as he dreamed.

She reached out a hand, and caressed the side of his face. Legolas slept on, not knowing that the she-elf in his dreams was sitting right next to him. Tari bent down, and bestowed a gentle kiss upon his lips...

Legolas felt someone softly placing a kiss upon his lips. He knew those kisses far to well, but was convinced that he was still in his dreams with Tari. A hand brushed the tip of his pointed ear, causing him to moan in his sleep. He heard something like a stifled giggle. "...Tari..." he whispered, still asleep.

"Aye meleth..." (love) he heard her voice answer. "Wake up my beloved... Wander no more in your dreams... For the one you seek is beside you at last..."

Legolas heard her voice, and hesitantly complied. He blinked a few times to restore his vision, finding himself staring up at the canopy of the bed.

"Legolas..." her voice whispered again.

He turned to the sound of the voice, and nearly jumped out of his skin, sitting up as fast as he could, and grasping both her hands in his; afraid that, if he didn't, she would surely fade away.

She smiled benignly at him, amused at his antics.

His hands left hers, and instead came to the sides of her face. She was all too real... This was not a dream... One of his agile hands moved to the back of her neck, and he pulled her forward into a passionate kiss, filled with longing, lust, and relief. She kissed him back, eagerly, feeling his arms pulling her onto the bed beside him, laying her upon the pillows.

Tari broke the kiss to laugh lightly, her hands tracing his jaw line. "I didn't realize you missed me that much, meleth..." she teased.

"Aníron le... pân arad a na pân blab o guren..." (I desire you... with every beat of my heart) he answered, nuzzling her neck. "I thought I would never see you again... I was losing hope..."

"But you kept my promise, Legolas... Despite it all, you did not break my trust in you." she said, kissing his nose. He kissed her again, his hands roaming over her body, wanting to touch every inch of her to make sure she was real. She stayed his hands as she felt them wandering beneath the hem of her dress. "Please Legolas..." she whispered, "Not yet... I want to see my daughter. I want to hold her in my arms for the first time..."

Legolas opened the door to Estellia's room. The sun was just beginning to dawn over Rivendell, and it's bright rays fell across the sleeping child snuggled up in her blankets. Tari came up beside him, gazing over his shoulder. Her eyes filled with tears, and her jaw slackened in the shape of an 'aww...' kind of gesture. Legolas noticed her reaction, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer, as he walked toward the bed.

"She's so beautiful..." Tari whispered, sitting upon the edge of the bed and staring down at her daughter with tear-filled eyes. She looked over at Legolas, who stood beside her. "Does she hate me? For abandoning her?"

Legolas crouched down next to Tari, wrapping her hands in his. "No! Of course she doesn't." he said, caressing her shaking hands. "You didn't abandon her Tari... It was not of your will..."

"I know, meleth nin, but I can't help but feel guilty... She should hate me..."

Legolas shook his head sadly, and was about to reply, but stopped as Estellia stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she stared at the two figures beside her bed. Her brows knitted in confusion. "Adar?" she questioned, "Is something wrong?" her eyes turned to Tari, and she asked, "Who are you arwenamin?" (milady)

She did not recognize Tari for who she was, for there were indefinitely some differences between her and Tala. For example: she was taller, more lithe, her skin paler, her forhead a little higher, her lips fuller, etc. Small subtleties that made her different from Tala.

"Estellia," Legolas said, getting his daughter's attention right away, "I would like you to meet your birth mother... Tari."

Estellia looked confused. "But ada, I thought that - what about - how did - ?" she began rambling, her questions half finished.

Tari was looking crest-fallen, and the tears were slowly returning. She doesn't believe him... she thought miserably. She truly believes that Tala was her real mother... And now she thinks this a lie...

"Estellia, please listen to me..." Legolas said gently, "There are things that need explaining, in order for you to understand this..."

And he began to tell the long story, starting from Tari's death, Tala's birth with Tari's spirit in her body, and Tala's capture. Trying to convince Tala of her reincarnation, and that she was essentially Tari.

Estellia's eyes only narrowed as he told the story. "You lie..." she spat, her voice cold. Legolas inwardly flinched at the sound of her voice. Estellia had never spoken in this tone before.

"Iiel, you must believe that what I say is the truth, for it is." (Daughter) Legolas continued, his voice soft, and docile.

"I don't have to believe anything you tell me, because it's not true!" Estellia shouted at him. "You brought mother back from Arya! I saw her! She told me stories! She slept in my bed!" she turned her glare to Tari, and pointed, "This is not my mother... I have a mother. Where is she?"

Tari shook her head sadly, in grief. How could I have though she would believe us... She stood up, and walked from the room, closing the door behind her. Once outside in the corridor, she slumped against the wall, letting her tears fall.

Legolas stared hard at Estellia after Tari abruptly left the room. "Estellia," he began again.

"No! I've had enough of these lies!"

"What I tell you is the truth! I am your father! Why would I lie to you!" Legolas nearly shouted.

"Then perhaps you are deceived by her as well!"

"She is your mother!" Legolas yelled.

"No she isn't! She only looks like her!"

Legolas got up from the bed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "What will it take to convince you of the truth! Do you remember the painting in the library?"

"Yes." Estellia hissed, venom in her voice.

"Find a flaw in her compared to that painting! That is her! She is an elf! Tala was not! Tala was a mortal, holding your mother's spirit."

"You said she was my mother (Tala)!"

"You're not understanding what I'm saying! I called Tala your mother because she held your mother's spirit! It is a lie to believe that Tala herself is your mother."

"Then how do I know you aren't lying to me again?" she questioned vehemently.

Legolas could've roared in rage.

Estellia threw back the covers of her bed, leaping out of them. "I'm finished with this conversation." she stated in finality. "I have to get ready to go with my Uncles."

"What makes you think I'll let you go?" Legolas asked angrily as she went to her wardrobe.

"Because you promised me. Or did you lie about that too?" she exclaimed, glaring at him.

"Estellia! You are acting like a spoilt child!" Legolas reprimanded.

"And whose fault is that? The spoiled, or the spoiler?"

"That's enough!" Legolas shouted, grabbing his daughter by the shoulders and forcing her to look at him. "Why do you doubt your father? What did Tari do to deserve your anger and neglect?"

Estellia wriggled out of his grasp, snatching up her riding clothes again. "Give me time, adar. I truly need to think about what you are telling me..."

Legolas sighed dejectedly. "Vaer..." (fine) he whispered. "But do not take too long... Your mother feels guilty for your doubt. She has gone through too much not to deserve your love and trust."

Estellia finished lacing her boots. She hooked the last clasp on her silver-gray tunic, and turned. "I'll think about this while I'm away, adar." she said, her voice gentle again. She picked up her short bow, and left the room silently, her face a stoic mask.