Chapter 23

The Choice

Legolas was handed an envelope of parchment as he sat in the hall of Minas Tirith with Gandalf and his father. The page said nothing to him, but left after he had taken the envelope.

Uncertain, Legolas opened the letter, and tipped it so that the contents fell out, revealing a single piece of parchment, and Tari's wedding band.

Gandalf watched as the letter fell from his hands, falling open upon the table. Legolas read it slowly, carefully... His heart was screaming in agony by the end of it... Arya now had Tari too. And the proof was mere inches away from his hand, glittering innocently in the candle-light.

"What does the letter allege?" Thranduil asked slowly, not sure if he himself wanted to hear news of his daughter in-law, and grand-daughter, now that they were in the hands of that witch.

Legolas raised his eyes from the letter, trying to compose himself. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "She demands that I come alone to the fortress. She says, that I have a choice to make. If I do not come at all, then she will kill them both, and have their b-bodies sent to me..."

"What choice is this?" asked Elrond, having entered the hall.

"I know not..." Legolas admitted.

"And your decision?" Gandalf prompted.

Legolas picked up Tari's ring, enclosing it in his hand and closing his eyes. "I will go... If I have to give myself over to her, I will do it. I will not let them die. I can't."

Gandalf only nodded solemnly. "I will ready the armies. Celeborn is already with them. Elrond, Thranduil, if you'll join me? As soon as Legolas reaches the fortress, I plan to engage the uruks for a last stand."

Both elves nodded. "Of course." they said in unison.

Arya watched from her balcony as a single rider cantered towards the tower, bearing a white flag of informal parley. She grinned evilly. Her plan was now set in motion, as her favorite little prince was roughly pulled from his saddle, and taken into the Hall.

Legolas stood before an empty throne, his hand upon the hilt of his sword. The uruks at the exits glared at him menacingly.

Arya entered the room, looking very smug indeed as she sat herself luxuriously upon her black marble throne. "You recieved my letter, I assume?"

"I have no patience for small talk, Arya. Where is my wife and daughter?" Legolas spat, taking a few careful steps toward the evil elf-witch.

"They are here, I can assure you." Arya said casually, finding her fingernails very interesting.

Legolas felt anger boiling up inside of him. "I will make no 'choices' until I see them both, Arya." he demanded, his voice full of anger and hate.

Arya sighed dramatically. "Oh, very well..." she signaled the guards to go and fetch her prisoners with a wave of her hand, as she sat up straighter to look at Legolas. "Now, about your choice." she began, watching as Legolas fought the urge to roll his eyes. "It is quite simple. You will take one or the other. The one you choose will leave safely with you. The other, I will kill." she said, as she heard her guards approaching with her captives. "You will either take Estellia," the guard came through the door, holding Estellia firmly by the wrist. She looked helplessly at her father. But she was perfectly unharmed; the bruises and cuts that had once marred her skin had vanished...

"Or..." Arya began again, summoning a second guard forth, who entered with a seemingly lifeless Tari in his arms. He dumped her on the ground at Arya's feet, eliciting a cry of pain from Tari as she landed upon her wounded shoulder. Her wrists were bleeding, and she was clearly in great pain as she tried to sit up, but failed dismally. "You choose Tari."

Arya could hear the raging battle outside; the clash of steel on steel as her uruks fought against the army of men...

Legolas looked at Arya with hatred. "Why not trade my life for theirs?" he asked.

"N-no!" Tari managed to cry out, tears falling from her eyes as she struggled to push herself up.

Arya laughed, full of mirth. "No no, Legolas. That won't do." she said standing up. "I gave you your choice. Now, think carefully. You either take a perfectly healthy daughter, who has many thousands of years before her, though knowing that the wife you set out to rescue is dead anyways. Or, you take a dying elleth, killing your innocent young daughter. You can risk trying to heal Tari, in the hopes that you might be able to have more children, but still live with the fact of knowing that you sentenced your own daughter to death." she sneered, dragging Tari up to her knees and setting a dagger at her throat.

The guard did the same with Estellia, causing her to whimper in fright at the feeling of cold steel against the vulnerable line of her throat.

Tari would've whimpered as well, save she hadn't the strength, and was practically falling on the knife already. Tears fell from her eyes as she saw the look of utter horror upon Legolas's face.

"Legolas..." Tari whispered faintly.

The men were gaining ground outside, the White Rider leading them closer and closer towards the black castle of Durthang...

"Tick-tock Legolas! Choose!" Arya shouted, pressing the knife harder against Tari's neck. She would be gone before those wretched mortals reached her gates if it was the last thing she did...

"Legolas!" Tari said louder, drawing the elf's gaze to her eyes. "Take Estellia..." she said in finality. Legolas eyes filled with fear, and he shook his head at what Tari was telling him to do. "Legolas! I will not have you kill our daughter! I am not worth her life! Choose her!" Tari yelled, feeling the dagger cut into her flesh.

"You can always walk away and let them both die!" Arya suggested, looking elated at the expression of utter turmoil and desperation on the Prince's face.

"Do it Legolas! Take her!" Tari yelled again, hearing Estellia let out a soft cry.

"I cannot choose!" Legolas roared, falling to his knees. "Arya! I beg you! Take me, but not them!"

Arya cackled insanely. "I already told you Legolas! That won't work! NOW CHOOSE!"

Wow... Intense, eh? Okay, when you review, tell me who you think he will choose. It should be interesting. And no, I do not mean to be cruel to my characters. It is just how the story goes.