By dinnertime Lord Elrond had already listened to the group of messengers that had come from Mirkwood earlier that afternoon. He, the messengers, Aragorn, Arwen, Kari, Virania and Legolas were all dining together.
Kari had known it would be unlikely that she would find out any information but she eagerly listened to all the various conversations around the dinner table in hopes that she could glean something. However, the conversation Lord Elrond was having with the messengers was not about the orcs but about the well-being of acquaintances in Mirkwood.
She picked idly at her food.
"The conversation is not stimulating enough for My Lady?" a soft voice asked from Kari's left.
Her head jerked up to the owner of the voice and she smiled politely. He was one of the messengers that had come along. He was a somewhat fair looking elf with blond hair and crisp blue eyes. He was rather bulky for an elf, but seemed to have a good disposition.
"I'm afraid not," she admitted quietly. "I was hoping to hear some of the news you bring."
The elf nodded with understanding as he sipped some wine. "And why would that interest My Lady?" the elf asked, keeping his voice low.
"Please, call me Kari," she said.
He nodded. "I am Galion, the butler of King Thranduil," the elf said, taking a large gulp of wine.
"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance," Kari said politely.
"So, what news may I tell you that would interest you?" Galion asked, his word slurring ever so slightly.
Only then did Kari realize that Galion may be a bit drunk. He had been sipping continuously from his wine glass that was being refilled often. She felt a bit guilty getting information from him in this vulnerable condition, but her curiosity got the better of her.
"A group of orcs attacked Legolas and me three months ago. Orcs do not come over here. Gandalf the Grey has visited here, and I sense an urgency that I have not previously. I wonder what is happening," she explained.
"It is curious that orcs attacked you, but no longer uncommon. Part of the news we bring is that orcs have attacked Mirkwood and a fiend named Gollum has escaped," Galion revealed.
"Attacked Mirkwood?"
"Indeed."
"And who is this fiend, Gollum?" Kari asked.
"A pathetic creature that has caused trouble in our world," Galion replied vaguely.
Kari wanted to press him further on this issue, but she was not sure she should.
"There is an evil stirring here that shall concern everyone," Galion added.
"What shall be done?" Kari asked, remembering what those words were similar to Arwen's a couple years ago when Kari had saved Aragorn's life.
Galion shrugged. "I know not."
Laughter broke out from across the table and Kari saw Virania laughing at a comment Legolas had said. Legolas was smiling though not laughing. Kari had been trying not to pay them any mind, but it was rather hard.
"That one is nothing but trouble," Galion muttered into his wine glass as he looked at Virania.
"Who is she?" Kari asked.
"She and Prince Legolas used to be lovers," Galion answered frankly.
Kari's mouth went dry. Of course they would be. She was beautiful and graceful and elegant.
"But she is ruthless," Galion said. "Prince Legolas left Mirkwood to escape her treachery. He was supposed to be gone for just a few years. Something must have made him want to stay longer," Galion added with a sidelong glance at Kari.
Kari smiled slightly. "Perhaps."
Legolas watched as Kari was deep in conversation with Galion. He had known the butler for centuries, but never liked him. In his mind, Galion was a drunkard that his father had a soft spot for. Why was Kari talking with such a character?
Virania watched as Legolas' gaze fixed on the mortal girl. Things had changed rapidly in the short time they had been separated. She was determined to have things the way they had been. It was fast progress that Legolas allowed her to kiss him that afternoon. Given a few more hours, Legolas would once again be in love with her.
"Lady Kari, please, tell me more about yourself," Virania said to the mortal sitting across from her.
"What would you like to know?" Kari asked politely.
"How do you spend your days here?" Virania asked.
"In the mornings I work in the Healer's Hall and in the afternoons I have training with Legolas," Kari said.
"Ah, yes, I remember Legolas mentioned you are a Healer. When did you become one?"
"About six months ago. I was an apprentice before."
"How long were you an apprentice for?"
"About seven years," Kari replied.
"So long? In Mirkwood the apprentices typically become a Healer after just five years," Virania said, taking a stab at Kari's ego.
The whole table seemed to quiet at this comment that seemed to be an ill-covered insult.
Kari bit back an angry retort. She knew where this was going now. She was not stupid like Virania apparently had hoped, she would not be baited to look bad.
"Most apprentices are not twelve when they begin."
"Ah, yes, you would be too young to appreciate the intricacies of healing. I understand why it took you longer," Virania said.
Kari fisted her left hand under the table. "I understood the intricacies well. I was learning archery and swordsmanship at the same time," Kari replied evenly.
"And how is my Legolas as a teacher?" Virania asked.
Kari nearly choked on the wine she had been sipping. Her Legolas? Legolas had not been hers in over fourteen years! How dare she! Kari inhaled deeply, knowing her reaction was exactly the reaction Virania was hoping for.
"Legolas is an excellent teacher and a better friend," Kari said, choosing to ignore the possessiveness Virania implied.
Virania glanced at Legolas and smiled. "He is, isn't he?" she commented as though she knew something Kari did not.
Kari inhaled deeply and did not reply. Her attempts to not become worked up over this were not working well. Virania had a response or underhanded insinuation for anything Kari said.
"So, tell me, how did you come to live in Rivendell?" Virania asked.
Kari blinked, knowing that however she answered the question, she was going to receive another verbal blow from Virania. "I was born here," Kari replied.
"And your parents?"
"My mother died giving birth to me, I never knew my father either," she replied.
Virania sighed. "Poor child. Legolas must serve as a wonderful father figure," she said, her voice laced with sympathy.
Kari's eyes bulged. Father figure? She could not contain her laughter and she was pleased to hear Aragorn let out a soft chuckle as well.
Virania looked vexed.
"I apologize. I do not mean to be rude. But I have never viewed Legolas as a father figure," Kari said as she smirked at Legolas, who also had an amused expression on his face.
"Hm, no, I suppose you wouldn't," Virania said, her voice insinuating too much.
Kari, who had been trying to act civil towards this elf, now glared openly at her. She knew it was foolish to forsake propriety, but she had enough of Virania's comments.
"I have done nothing to you to deserve the level of inconsideration you are giving me. I ask that if you cannot control your disrespectful comments and snide remarks, please do not address me any longer," Kari said as calmly as possible. But her voice was as cold as her eyes.
Virania gasped loudly. "I have only tried to make pleasant conversation with you. You have been in close contact with Legolas the time that I have not been with him, and I only wished to learn more about you, and what has caused Legolas to be gone from Mirkwood for so long. But I was mistaken to believe you would have the propriety to answer my simple questions. Excuse me please, Lord Elrond, I do not want to be a bother any longer," she said, getting up from the table and leaving the dining hall.
The dining hall was silent, and Kari looked down at her food in shame. Not shame for what Virania said, but that she had let Virania make her look bad even when she knew it was happening. When she looked up, she saw Legolas get up from the table and follow Virania out, never looking at Kari.
"Kari, Lady Virania is our guest," Lord Elrond said. He did not need to say anything else for Kari to understand.
Kari nodded. "I shall apologize in the morning," she replied softly.
"Virania, please stop," Legolas said as he followed her down the hallway that led to her guestroom.
"She is an insolent child," Virania said, not stopping or slowing down her pace.
"No. You upset her," Legolas defended as he grabbed Virania's wrist and jerked her roughly so that she would face him.
"I said nothing to warrant that attack," Virania replied.
"You did. If you knew her, you would have known you did."
"And when I try to know her, she attacks me," Virania said sternly. "So, tell me Legolas, what am I supposed to do?"
Legolas looked at Virania and realized she either had no clue why what she said had upset Kari or she was an excellent actress. He hoped it was the former.
"But let us not talk about her," Virania said, her tone lightening. "May we talk about us?"
"Us? Is there something to talk about?" Legolas asked, reluctant to leave the topic of Kari when he knew Virania did not take his friend seriously yet knowing it was no longer his place to defend her. It seemed Kari was more than able to defend herself against Virania.
"Legolas, what of our kiss earlier? Did it mean nothing to you?" Virania asked softly, insecurity leaking into her voice.
"I do not know what it meant," Legolas replied honestly. "I do not know what any of this means."
"I understand you have reservations…"
"Large reservations. I do not trust you, Virania. And if my father banned you from seeing me all this time, he does not either. Perhaps only now does he think I am removed enough from the heartache to see things clearly, so he allowed you to come. But I fear I still do not see things very clearly," Legolas said.
Virania nodded in understanding. "Perhaps a walk in the gardens will help clear your mind? It is a lovely evening."
Legolas doubted it would clear his mind, but he offered her his arm and she took it graciously with a smile. He was still cautious of her motives, but when she took his arm and pressed her body against his side, it was hard not to remember times when they would take walks through Mirkwood. And when she smiled at him, it was easy to recall how she had given him that smile when he had given her the silver pendant that hung on her neck even now. He had given her the teardrop-shaped pendant as a token of his love for her, and she had beamed at him.
He sighed. It had been a long time since he had thought about those happier times.
Author's Note: Unfortunately Virania will not die from magical causes. It is a nice thought though. As you can suspect from this chapter, Kari did not see the kiss. Virania's name doesn't mean anything, I made it up as I also made up Kari's name. "Virania" sounds dangerously elegant with a hint of badness (like "virus"), or at least in my mind it does. "Kari" I feel sounds hopeful, and a bit naïve. If you find typos please let me know, I've read the chapters so many times that sometimes my mind skips over them (I did reload chapter 16 to get rid of minor typo). Thanks for all the support. 300 reviews already. That's pretty unreal and inspiring.