READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END!

Chapter Summary: Emotions are gonna' go all over the place in this chapter. And our poor Tari's work is not yet finished for the Valar. How will Legolas take it? Oh, I'm so evil...

Chapter 26

The Tasks Continue

Legolas awoke to find that he was alone in bed, the sheets tangled around his bare body. "Tari...?" he called, wondering if she was still in the room.

He recieved no answer.

Getting up, he dressed in dark leggings, tunic, and a royal looking robe. He rebraided his hair, for it had become quite tangled from last nights... ahem... events. Upon Tari's bureau, was a note in her handwriting, requesting that he come to the gardens when he woke.

He walked the pebble path that wound through the lush garden, singing softly, while his eyes gazed around for a sign of Tari among the beautiful flowers. Suddenly, something wrapped around his wrist and pulled him down. He landed upon a bench, and in the arms of the one he had sought.

Tari stifled a giggle at the surprised look on his face. She kissed the tip of his ear, with a smile. "You sleep far too long." she noted, letting him go so he could sit properly, only to be pulled into his lap.

"I, was having a very good dream." he said, gently placing a kiss on her neck, while his hands massaged her stomach.

"And why would you keep me waiting because of a dream? Do I no longer please you?" Tari asked with downcast eyes, and a doleful expression.

"Nay my love, you carried me to the stars last night with your 'ministrations'." Legolas teased, still latched onto her neck.

"Legolas!" Tari scolded, slapping his hands away. "You dare to bring up such things while in the gardens? Who knows what ears have heard your words."

"Lest it be an elfling, I care not." Legolas whispered, lacing his fingers with hers while nuzzling against her. "What did you want to speak to me about?"

"I was wondering whatyou wantto do now..." Tari said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Arya is still alive. And I ask you of what you wish toshould do; go back to Valinor and wait for her to reach us, or stay here while a war wages." Tari said, picking some niphredil blossoms, and beginning to weave them into a crown for Estellia.

Legolas sighed with mounting worry. "I know not... I fear that if we stay, we may be putting ourselves in unnecessary danger. Yet if we return, Arya may still seek us out. She ventured to Valinor before."

Tari sat long in thought, her brown eyes reflecting her worry. "You and Estellia should go back." she said at last.

Legolas looked at her as though she was speaking madness. He grasped her hands in his, with a firm grip. "And leave you here? Alone and vulnerable to Arya? Nay, if we go, you go with us. I will not leave you again. Too many times have I done that. I practically left you to ten years of torture!"

"You searched for me those ten years. I blame you not in the slightest." Tari said, feeling his agile hands, so calm and still when it came to holding the bowstring, tremble as they held hers.

"Legolas, you must understand. I must finish this." Tari said.

"And how do you know this? How do you know that not Elrond, or Celeborn, or I could defeat her? That it has to be you?" Legolas demanded angrily, his blue eye aflame.

"The Valar came to me whilst I slept. Do not doubt their words Legolas. Either Arya dies, or I do, along with the rest of the elves. Neither of us would return if we passed. Which means that Middle Earth would finally be able to live without fear if she is killed. Is that not worth fighting for? Worth making a sacrifice?"

"You lifeis not worth that sacrifice! Make the Valar choose another Tari! You do not deserve to be their toy! Too many times have you risked your life for those who do not even know your name! Too many times has your blood been spilled for a cause that seems so far out of our reach. Too many times, Tari, have I shed tears in fear for your life! An eternity, I had waited to hold you again. I cannot stand another lonely eternity, with my heart whispering your name." Legolas shouted. "I will not lose you again! I will not survive it!"

"Stop it Legolas! You are being selfish!" Tari retorted angrily, tears of frustration pooling in her eyes.

"I love you! You are my wife! Keeping you from your certain death is not selfish!" Legolas tried to reason loudly, grasping her by the shoulders, willing her to see sense.

"But keeping me from saving innocent lives like yours is!"

She pulled away from him sharply, and sprinted down the path, ignoring his every call for her to come back.

Far into the woods she ran. Far away from the one that she so dearly loved, but was so angered at.

He was being selfish. If she could save hundreds of lives in exchange for hers, then is that not something she should do? If she is the only one who could save middle-earth, her home for so many millennia, then why does he stop her? Does he not realize that this is the last chance middle-earth has? Their only hope?

"I will not lose you again!... I will not survive it!..."

His words echoed on her ears again and again. She knew his words to be true. He had lost her once, and could not bear the pain again. She could not ask him to keep his promise again. He would surely fade, and leave Estellia in the capable hands of her relatives, as she wondered why her parents had abandoned her...

Tari stopped running, collapsing against a tall willow tree. She sobbed uncontrollably, her fears and worries collapsing upon her like the breaking of a wave. She didn't want to die again, and have to be torn from her daughter and husband.

Was not Legolas right? Had she not suffered enough? Why should this trial be her own, and not anothers?

"You have strength in you that none other has..." Elbereth had said to her in her dreams.

"But why not Galadriel? Surely she is more powerful than I? No power do I hold any longer." she had answered.

Elbereth smiled, laying a hand upon Tari's cheek. "Frodo thought the same. Why would such a small hobbit be destined to carry out this quest, when there are great wizards like Gandalf who could do it?"

"Frodo did not have a family! He was not bound to anyone, and did not have a child! Why did you choose me? Why do you make me go through Hell to carry out your damn plans?" Tari yelled, her eyes aflame with anger, and her hands balled into fists. She did not care about her foul language in front of the Valar.

Elbereth had shaken her head with sadness. "Wars and battles are not fought only by childless men and women, Tari. There are others with families, and yet they fight too."

"None of them have gone through what I have." Tari said through gritted teeth. "Why can you not choose another? I beg you sweet Elbereth! Do not make me leave them again!" she pleaded, on her knees and crying. "He won't survive if I die again! And my daughter Elbereth! What is to become of her?"

Elbereth had raised Tari back up to her feet, holding her in a gentle embrace as Tari cried softly upon her shoulder. "Legolas will not understand why you must leave again. He will not let you go. But despite his pleas, you must carry this out Tari. If you do not go, or if you fail, then you will not have to worry about leaving them. For they will join you in the Halls of Mandos."

Tari gasped sharply, pulling out of the embrace and gazing at Elbereth with horror struck eyes. "N-No!" she gasped, "No! Please! Do not let it happen! Spare them, I beg you!"

The Star-Kindler did nothing, but merely continued to hold Tari's gaze. "That is the harsh truth. It is what will come to pass, if you should fail in your quest, Tari. I am not the one who judges their fate. They will die. Every single one of your race will perish under Arya. And after she destroys the elves in Middle-Earth, she shall move to the men, making them slaves. And the Hobbits, and then the dwarves. She will not rest until she has killed every last elf." she paused to take in the look of disbelief on Tari's face.

Tari couldn't believe what she was hearing. Elbereth stared hard at her, awaiting what the last daughter of Elrond would say.

The memories of all that had passed between her and Legolas flashed past her eyes. Estellia's smiling face floated on the surface of her mind... She couldn't let them die. Estellia had almost been lost once, and Tari wouldn't allow it to happen again.

At last, Tari answered. "I will do what you ask of me..."

Sorry about the wait everyone. The fact is, I was waiting for more reviews. It really depresses me that I don't get too many anymore. PLEASE REVIEW!

The end of Tari's journey is near at hand. Only four more chapters are left...

Will you follow me into another story? I don't want to write something knowing that no one will review or like it. I have to know your opinion. Yes, or No, to begin a new story. I have already begun writing (hail plot bunnies!). Yes, it will be a 'Legomance' as so many like to call it. I am sure some would call it a Mary-Sue, but my character is NOT at all perfect.

On the subject of Mary-Sues, I don't hate them ALL. But there are a chosen few that just make me laugh.

Ahem, anyway. If you would like a teaser/summary for my new story in the next chapter, say so in your review.