She actually did keep busy. So busy that the only time she deeply missed Legolas with a fierce longing was during the night. During that time Kari would think about his blue eyes upon hers, his mischievous smile she saw not often enough, and how much hotter his skin felt when they made love. She slept uneasily without Legolas' warmth beside her, which was strange to her because she had slept without his presence for twenty years. She supposed her mind was used to the idea of Legolas next to her and refused to be alone again.

With Aragorn and Legolas both gone, she relied on practice fights with other elves to keep her skills honed. Many male elves were eager to fight against her because they had watched her skill progress over the years. It was also a good chance to test her skills against different weaponry. Many of the elves used a single long sword, or different styles of short sword fighting. Sometimes she would fight more than one elf at once to see how well she could manage. Sometimes she would use hand-to-hand combat. The variety was refreshing, though she would easily choose Legolas' presence over all the other elves. She did not win every battle, but she won a large majority. She realized fighting two elves was quite feasible but fighting three was a challenge. She lost most often when she fought three or more elves much to the delight of her opponents who could not beat her individually.

Nearly a month passed without much excitement, but then things began happening too quickly. Arwen became increasingly worried about Aragorn because his arrival was late. Glorfindel, a skilled warrior, went to look for Aragorn and the hobbit holding The Ring. Kari tried to appease Arwen, but Arwen was anxious, knowing that the last time Aragorn was late because he had been dreadfully hurt. Arwen did not want to repeat those feelings of despair or see Kari collapse from healing Aragorn once again.

Glorfindel had been gone for nine days when Gandalf arrived in Rivendell, badly beaten and quite weak. While Kari was speaking to a few of the other healers, a loud crash erupted from down the hallway. She ran out to see what had happened.

"Gandalf!" Lord Elrond exclaimed, trying to help the wizard up.

"Gandalf," Kari said, falling to the ground looking at the collapsed wizard on the floor. He was conscious, but seemed a bit dazed and thoroughly exhausted. She tried to assess his injuries, but it seemed many of them were a result of a magical fight. She knew it was rash, but she cared for Gandalf greatly and would not allow him to suffer. She would not repeat her hesitation she had when Aragorn arrived injured. She placed her hand on Gandalf's chest.

Lord Elrond realized what she was going to do. "Kari, do you think this wise?"

"Yes."

Golden light and warmth poured into Gandalf through her. Kari winced suddenly and pulled back, collapsing onto the floor. She gritted her teeth and moaned in pain a lot longer than she had when she had healed Legolas, but she did not collapse like she had after healing Aragorn. Lord Elrond was quickly down on the floor to comfort her.

Gandalf, fully healed, looked at Kari slightly surprised.

Her body relaxed and her eyes fluttered open. "Gandalf," she whispered.

"I am fine, Kari, though I fear you did something to yourself on my behalf," Gandalf replied, still exhausted but no longer in pain. He and Lord Elrond helped her to her feet.

She smiled at hearing his voice. "Who did that to you, Gandalf?" she asked.

"Saruman. And I was attacked at Weathertop."

"What?" she asked, breathless. Saruman was a White Wizard, he could never…

"I must know what you did, Kari," he demanded softly.

"I healed you. Gave you my energy and took you injuries. I can heal them quickly on my own body," she replied.

"Amazing, though I am not surprised."

"What do you mean?" she asked, still supported by Lord Elrond. Every time she healed someone, she noticed that she gained endurance. She suspected that if this had been the first time to heal someone, she would not be conscious at the moment.

"Your aura is as stunning as you are, my dear," he replied with a twinkle in his eyes.

She smiled. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"I apologize if I seem ungrateful because that is not the case, but I must speak with Lord Elrond about matters that cannot wait until morning. Aragorn has not returned, I suspect?" he asked Lord Elrond.

"No, Glorfindel rode out to try and find them. He has been gone nine days," Lord Elrond replied. "You must rest now," he added to Kari.

"Yes, you are right," she said.

Lord Elrond and Gandalf guided her to her room. She was able to walk on her own, but she was a bit shaky, remnants of the pain she had been feeling from Gandalf still pulsating through her body. Lord Elrond helped her into bed and kissed her forehead lightly.

"You must be careful, Kari. I do not like to see you hurt," her guardian said.

"I am careful," she replied adamantly though tiredly.

Lord Elrond and Gandalf smiled amusedly at her, but she did not see. She had already fallen asleep.

Kari made a full recovery by the next morning. She felt tired, but it was nothing like how she felt after healing Aragorn. Perhaps Gandalf's injuries were not as serious as she had suspected, but she did not like taking chances nor hesitating. She spent the day in the Healer's Hall and on the practice field.

"Come now, Kari, let us have a friendly battle," Estorel said, approaching Kari on the field with a long word hanging from his hip.

Kari smiled at seeing him. They had been polite acquaintances these past two years, but nothing more after their kisses at that one festival. "Friendly battle? No battle is ever friendly."

"Well, perhaps not. Let us then have an unfriendly battle but be friends afterward," he said good-naturedly.

She laughed and was grateful he was finally talking to her. It felt inappropriate for her to talk to him after he knew that her heart could not belong to him. Perhaps they could be friends. "I would like that very much, though after I beat you I am not sure you would like to be my friend."

Estorel chuckled. "Such confidence! Did Legolas not teach you that it is folly to be too sure of yourself?"

"He mentioned it, but it always takes me a few times to truly learn something," Kari bantered.

"Well then, I must teach you again," he said as he unsheathed his sword and smiled.

"I shall appreciate your effort," she replied jokingly as she took out her short swords.

"Tis no joke," he said as he lunged toward her, trying to catch her off guard.

She evaded it easily and attacked him. He was a skilled fighter, wielding one sword gracefully and swiftly. His strikes were forceful, and occasionally got Kari off balance. But Kari quickly saw that Estorel had the same weakness Kari once had. He kept his back open. After dodging several swift strokes, Kari spun behind Estorel, slicing through the back of his shirt but not cutting his skin.

"Dead," she said.

Estorel smiled ruefully. "So it seems."

"You fight well."

"You fight better."

"I shall sew your shirt for you," Kari offered.

Estorel chuckled. "No, it shall be a good reminder that I must protect my back."

Kari wiped the sweat from her brow and smiled. Estorel, like Legolas, did not look like he exerted himself at all.

"Come, let us have dinner together," Kari offered.

Estorel looked at Kari questioningly. "Would Legolas be pleased?"

Kari furrowed her eyebrows, not understanding what Estorel was implying.

"An offer to dinner could be construed in many ways. Would he enjoy the idea of his love having dinner with another male?" Estorel explained with a knowing look.

Kari did not bother trying to guess how Estorel knew that she and Legolas were now together. She knew he was quite perceptive. "I offer because you are my friend," Kari replied.

Estorel nodded. "Alright then."

The spent the evening in friendly conversation intermingled with witty bantering. Kari appreciated someone to talk to, and Estorel seemed to enjoy her company as well. Perhaps they truly could become friends.

The next day, when Kari was the Healer on duty, Glorfindel barged into the Hall with a small person in his arms.

"Glorfindel!" Kari exclaimed.

"Kari, help! Frodo, he was struck by a blade of the Nazgul," he said, laying Frodo down on a bed. Frodo was a small looking person, pale and heaving labored breaths. His eyes were unfocused and bloodshot. Kari tried to remember what she had learned about injuries inflicted by the Nazgul, but they were so rare that not much was written about treatment.

Lord Elrond rushed in to assist as did Gandalf.

"The blade of the Nazgul is a penetrating wound that infects and lingers. And that is only if it can be treated," Lord Elrond said.

Kari easily sensed the dark and depressing feelings radiating off of Frodo. She couldn't clearly concentrate.

"Frodo," she said calmly, looking into his eyes.

Frodo looked at her, almost transfixed, while still heaving. Kari emitted a soothing glow that calmed him. She was warm and soft.

"Frodo, you must focus on me, please," she said, her voice like a soft melody.

Frodo obeyed, despite how hard the infected part of his body was trying to reject her softness.

"Kari, these are dark powers, we do not know what will happen. You should not try to heal him yourself," Lord Elrond cautioned.

"What else would you suggest?" she asked.

Lord Elrond knew that traditional medicines did have their limitations, and Frodo's life would be in jeopardy. But this way, Kari's life would be in danger. Part of him was disgusted with himself for allowing Kari to put her life in danger for someone so seemingly insignificant as a hobbit, but Lord Elrond had foreseen the hobbit's importance in the future. But he loved Kari and did not to risk endangering her life. Torn within, Lord Elrond said nothing.

"He will die otherwise," Kari said somberly to everyone. "Focus Frodo," she said, readdressing her attention to the hobbit.

Kari placed her hand over his shoulder and began taking the pain away from him, replacing it with her energy. She had never felt anything so painfully cold. It was like ice was stuck underneath her skin and could not get out. She screamed in agony but did not pull away from him. It was pure evil and hatred. She felt her happiness leaving her and suddenly everything went black.

Legolas inhaled deeply as he rode through the gates of Rivendell after nearly a month's departure. It had been too long away from this place. He had only stayed in Mirkwood two nights because he was so eager to return here. Mirkwood had been his home, and it would always have a strong place in his soul, but here…here was home now. She was home.

He got off his horse and the elves that were with him followed suit. He scanned the area, and did not see Kari anywhere. He knew his arrival had been announced a few minutes ago, giving her plenty of time to come out and greet him, but still she was not here. He felt a pang of disappointment at not seeing her, but he knew he was being foolish. It was not her job to be at his every beck and call and he did not want that either. Still, after a month of being away from her, he had to admit that he had expected her to come running toward him and leap into his awaiting arms.

Legolas saw Lord Elrond approach looking very grave. He courteously greeted the elves. and gave his sons instructions to escort the elves to their guest rooms as he spoke with Legolas.

"My Lord, it is good to see you," Legolas said, bowing his head slightly.

"It is good to see you too, Legolas. I only wish I had better news to report to you," Lord Elrond said, getting straight to the point.

"What has happened My Lord? Has the Ring been compromised?" Legolas asked.

Lord Elrond shook his head. "No, it does not concern the Ring, but rather Kari."

Legolas' stomach dropped. "What…what has happened? Is she alright? Where is she?" he asked frantically.

Lord Elrond raised him hand to try and stop Legolas' barrage of questions, but it only fueled Legolas' anger and fear.

"Yesterday she healed Frodo, the Ringbearer. He had been stabbed with the blade of the Nazgul. She is unconscious right now, there are no signs she will wake up soon," Lord Elrond said, trying to sound as unaffected as possible. It was not wise to fuel Legolas' anxiety by exposing his own fears for Kari's well-being.

Legolas could feel his blood drain from his face. "I need to see her," he said.

"Legolas, her condition…"

"I need to see her," he repeated.

"You will not be pleased…"

"I do not care. I need to see her."

"I do not think you are in good frame of mind," Lord Elrond managed to say before Legolas moved around him.

"You will not stop me from seeing her like you did the last time," Legolas said firmly as he strode quickly to the Healer's Hall.

She was alive, that was what mattered. She was too young and too strong to die. She would not die. Why did she have to heal the hobbit? Why did she always have to make such rash decisions for the sake of others? Because that was who she was, and what she did, and Legolas loved her for it and in spite of it.

But all those thoughts were pushed away by an undeniable dread – a fear that struck so deep inside of him because he did not know what to expect when he saw her. He barged into the Healer's Hall and demanded to know where she was. Some of the healers, who knew of Legolas' friendship with Kari, took him to a sectioned off part of the long hall. Behind the curtains she lay. They had kept her in the Healer's Hall instead of her own bed because they wanted to watch her progress. So far there hadn't been any.

Two elves pulled back the curtains to reveal a pale form resting in the bed. Her dark brown hair looked dull, her eyes had deep purple rings around them, and her lips were practically white. If it was not for a weak but steady rise and fall of her chest, Legolas would have thought she were dead.

He just stared as her, in utter shock. This could not be her. This person looked nothing like his Kari. His vibrant, smiling Kari. One of the Healers brought Legolas a chair to sit in, and he collapsed in the chair, his legs giving out due to the devastation he was feeling.

She had to recover, she must. She would be fine, and they would be happy. That was how life was supposed to be for them. Did they not deserve that?

Author's Note: Enter Frodo! I hope you like this chapter and thanks so much for the support. Some of you have been guessing at the future, and I'm so happy that you all are so interested in this story to try and do that. I'm not a fan of huge amounts of fluff, but I put it in to offset the drama/angst. Without the fluff, there is nothing to compare the grittier emotions to. Let me know what you think. Please review, I'd greatly appreciate it!