The next afternoon, Kari walked around the grounds of Rivendell to see where the fully healed hobbits were. She found them in a grassy area lounging while eating some fruit.
"Hello," she greeted as she took a seat beside Pippin.
Although Merry, Pippin, and Sam did not know how Kari had healed Frodo, when they found out that she had been the Healer to save their friend's life, they were grateful and treated her with the utmost respect. Also, Merry and Pippin thought she was the most beautiful creature their eyes had ever come across. Although Legolas constantly told her that she was beautiful, Kari had a very hard time believing him, especially when she had been surrounded by ethereal elves for her whole life. And when Lord Elrond, Arwen, Aragorn, or Bilbo said something about her appearance, she graciously took the compliments, but never thought seriously about their words since they were her family and were obligated to say such things to her.
"Lady Kari! How nice of you to join us!" Merry said happily.
"I was just wondering if there was anything you gentlemen needed," Kari said, unable to contain her smile. The hobbits' colorful spirits brightened her day.
"Gentlemen, eh? Did ya hear that Sam? We're gentlemen!" Pippin said, nudging Sam playfully in the ribs.
Sam grunted slightly before asking, "How is Mr. Frodo, Lady Kari?"
Kari gave Frodo's loyal friend a small smile. "He is doing well but continues to rest. I am afraid that his wound will never fully heal, I just could not seem to accomplish this," Kari admitted sadly.
"You saved his life, and that's no small order," Pippin said, trying to make Kari happier.
Kari shrugged, "It is my duty." She looked down at her hand grazing over the blades of green grass absently. "Gandalf is with him right now, Sam, if you would like to join them in the Healer's Hall," Kari added.
Sam nodded, "I think I will." He clumsily got up off the ground and walked in the direction Kari and appeared to them from.
Merry shook his head, feigning sadness, "That hobbit is too serious."
"Aye, going to get some worry wrinkles," Pippin added.
Kari laughed but came to Sam's defense. "He is a loyal friend."
"Not saying anything on the contrary. We just like giving Sam a hard time. He's the best of us, he is," Merry said.
"And which of you is the most mischievous?" Kari asked, smiling.
Merry and Pippin looked at each other, thoroughly amused. They immediately launched into a story about their antics at the Green Dragon. After an hour with the hobbits in which Merry and Pippin entertained Kari with stories of their tomfoolery in the Shire, Kari returned to the Healer's Hall.
Heavy footsteps entering the hall made Kari leave her medicine-making to see who had come in. A man stood in front of the hallway, looking weary but overall healthy.
"May I help you, My Lord?" Kari asked. She figured he must be one of the arrivals for the Council.
The man's eyes turned to Kari, and he smiled. "I was hoping I may have this tended," he said, pointing to his left upper arm where his travel clothes were ripped and there was a gash open.
"Certainly," Kari replied. She turned to another healer and asked her, "Can you help him?" She wanted to get the medicines prepared quickly.
Before the other healer could respond, the man cut in, "With all due respect, My Lady, could you help me?"
She exchanged a quizzical look with the other healer, who simply shrugged and proceeded to prepare the medicines that Kari had been making in order to free Kari to help the man.
The man looked pleasant as she walked over to assist him. She directed him to a bed, where he sat dutifully and watched her get out the materials to bandage his wound.
"I am Boromir of Gondor," he introduced.
Kari's eyebrow quirked up with interest. Gondor was where Aragorn was from.
"You have heard of Gondor?" Boromir asked, noticing her reaction.
"Yes, I have," Kari replied as she unbuttoned Boromir's shirt to access the wound.
"My father is the Steward there," he revealed, not bothering to hide the pride in his voice.
Kari nodded politely. Her brother-in-spirit was the rightful King, but she did not feel the need to boast.
"And who are you, My Lady?"
"I am Kari. Please call me by my name. 'My Lady' sounds too proper," Kari said.
"And you are not proper?" Boromir replied, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Kari felt slightly on edge now. Was this man flirting with her? She decided to take the safe road. "I am quite proper, but I prefer not to sound proper," Kari replied.
Boromir laughed heartily. "Indeed, indeed."
When Kari gently pulled Boromir's shirt away from his arm and looked at the horizontal wound, she saw that it was a deep gash on one side and on the other it was quite shallow. "My Lord, how did you get this wound?" she asked curiously.
Boromir's cheeks colored. "It was quite foolish. I was urging my horse on through the woods because he enjoys galloping quickly. We came too close to a tree that had a sturdy branch sticking out, and my arm hit the branch as we rode on by."
Kari nodded in understanding. She dressed the wound quickly, noting how Boromir did not even flinch once. His bicep flexed at the contact to the wound, but that was all. She figured he much be accustomed to pain, which meant he was probably a soldier.
"How long have you been a Healer? You look quite young," Bormir said.
"I've been a Healer for nearly eleven months. I am twenty years of age," Kari said.
"You are quite skilled."
"Thank you," she said simply as she finished tucking the bandage around his arm. She absently noted that his arm bicep was quite large – strong. She draped Boromir's shirt back over his shoulder.
"And you have gentle hands." He glanced briefly at Kari and smiled slightly.
Kari did not know too much about men and their wooing techniques, but she truly thought this man was flirting with her. Commenting on the gentleness of her hands was not something her patients usually did. But she was not sure if she was reading too much into his words, and so decided not to do anything about it. She did not want to appear arrogantly presumptuous.
"I am done," she said professionally.
Boromir got off from the bed and turned to face Kari. He was a large man, larger than Aragorn. His light brown hair fell to his shoulders and his blue eyes were quite light and alert.
Kari did not feel intimidated by his close presence, but she was wary.
"Thank you, Kari," he said, reaching for her hand and kissing the top gently.
Now this was quite odd for a patient to do to her. She looked pleasantly at him, but did not smile. "You are welcome," she said as she pulled her hand away from him.
Boromir gave her an amused look that Kari could not interpret. "I look forward to our next meeting," he said before leaving the Healer's Hall.
Kari frowned. She was not sure she would look forward to it.
Kari read a book restlessly in her room as she waited for the Council of Elrond to end. It had been hours since Legolas had joined the others in the Council, and as much as Kari tried to busy herself with preparing herbs and doing other chores, she could not keep her mind from dissecting the various outcomes such a meeting could have. Yesterday had been a whirlwind of people entering Rivendell. Along with her encounter with Boromir, Kari had her first encounter with dwarves. Although she had heard stories of disdain from elves regarding dwarves, she could not understand why when the dwarf she had met, Gimli, had been quite respectful. Then again, he was but one dwarf out of thousands.
"Excuse me, Lassie, could you tell me where I may find something to eat?" the red-haired dwarf had asked Kari as she walked down one of the corridors. It had been just a couple of hours after lunchtime but clearly the dwarf was hungry if he was wandering through hallways for food.
"Of course Master Dwarf, you can follow me to the kitchen," Kari replied.
"Much obliged, Lassie. I am Gimli, son of Gloin. May I ask who you are?"
"My name is Kari, I am a healer of Rivendell," Kari replied.
"Ah, important work. Very important work. Tell me, how did you come to this place?" Gimli asked casually as they walked.
Kari turned a corner of a corridor to finally reach the kitchen. "My mother died giving birth to me. Lord Elrond has been my guardian," she explained. Usually she would have misgivings about divulging so much of her history to a relative stranger, but something about Gimli's warm eyes made her want to trust him.
"A fine one, that elf," Gimli conceded though he usually disliked elves. "Ah, well, it seems you have led me to the kitchen. Thank you, lassie."
"Certainly, Master Gimli. There is a large selection of foods, so I am sure you will find something to your liking," Kari replied.
"Oh, I'm quite sure of it. Thank you, Kari. I am sure I will run into you again before my visit here in Rivendell is over," Gimli said courteously as he bowed.
Kari nodded her head respectfully. "I look forward to it. Until then, Master Gimli." She had waited until she saw him enter the kitchen before leaving him to enjoy his snack.
As she reflected on this meeting with Gimli, she hoped that he was able to find his way out of the kitchen and to wherever he needed to go. Kari got out of her chair and paced around the room, desperately trying to think of something she could do to keep herself preoccupied. But she had done everything she wanted to do.
The council was simply taking a long time. She wanted to sneak in and find out what was happening, but that would be disrespectful towards Lord Elrond. If Lord Elrond wanted her to be there, she would have been there. But since she was not, she was obviously unwanted at the meeting. But how could she expect to be needed or wanted in a council of the leaders of Middle Earth? She was an orphan who was able to make a small name for herself in Rivendell as an excellent healer and fighter.
A few more hours went by when finally Legolas entered her room looking weary and forlorn.
"What happened?" Kari asked eagerly as she rushed over to him and held his hands.
Legolas smiled slightly, but it was not a genuine smile. "Many people talked for too long of a time," he commented.
Kari chuckled lightly. "I am not surprised, but what did the council decide?"
"There is to be a fellowship of the races that will guide Frodo, the Ringbearer, to Mount Doom where he will have to destroy The One Ring," Legolas replied. He was clearly troubled and saddened when he told her this. He would not look her in the eye.
"Take the Ring into the heart of Mordor? Who allowed such a thing?" Kari asked, outraged. This was surely a suicide mission for whoever went on the journey. And poor Frodo, after having to endure so much already, would have to go through so much more.
"It was the only way that the different races would allow the Ring to be escorted. The elves, men, and dwarves do not trust each other. Lord Elrond devised the fellowship," Legolas explained, his voice very quiet.
"Does he not realize how ridiculous this plan is? He must!" Kari exclaimed, pacing the room once more, but now for a much different reason.
"Kari, do not say such a thing about your guardian. Lord Elrond is a wise person and understands fully what he is asking of Frodo and others. And throwing the Ring back from whence it came is the only way to destroy it. To destroy the evil forever," Legolas said sternly. He sat down on her bed, clearly drained and sad.
"It is suicide," she whispered.
"Some things are more important than a life," Legolas replied in a tone he had rarely if ever used before. It was as though he was giving up or accepting a fate or something that Kari could not quite identify.
But then, it all clicked.
"You…you are one of the fellowship," Kari stated, knowing before she even finished the sentence that it was true.
Legolas bowed his head and nodded. "I represent the elves," he said quietly.
"No!" Kari shouted. She didn't know what else she could do besides shout 'no'. Maybe if she shouted it enough times, Legolas would say that it was a bad joke on his part.
"Kari, please…"
"No!"
Legolas swiftly went over to her and held her tight. She struggled because the softness of his embrace made the harshness of the realization hurt even more.
"Melethril-nîn…" he whispered soothingly into her ear over and over again until she finally stopped struggling. He stroked her back until the muscles relaxed.
"No," she whispered as she rested her head on his chest. She breathed heavily even though she wasn't crying. She hated crying, showing weakness.
Legolas gripped her tightly and led her to the bed. He sat down at the edge of her bed with her on his lap and whispered comforting things to her in Elven. But it didn't help. It only made her use more energy to try and not cry. Her nose and eyes stung with suppressed tears, but she would not cry.
"Why you?" she finally managed to ask. She wiped the tears away quickly and tried to steady her breathing.
"I am the Prince of Mirkwood. I have a responsibility to my kingdom, my people. I am a skilled fighter," he said.
"Did Lord Elrond pick you?" she asked.
"Yes, but I readily agreed to serve," he said.
Her eyes flashed with surprise and newfound anger at his last words. She got off of his lap and crossed her arms. "Why would you do that?" she asked furiously. Was he insane? Did he want to die?
Legolas sighed, knowing that her reaction was the reaction he had been expecting. But how could he make her understand? How could he make her see what she had done to him?
"I do it because I must," he replied.
"So now you talk of duty? When I asked you if you would ever return to Mirkwood, you said you would not if I was not with you. You easily seemed to forsake your duty then. Why do you suddenly hold onto it so tightly?" she asked him, knowing that she was sounding selfish but not caring at the same time.
"I told you the title will always be with me. As much as I would prefer to be without responsibility, I am not so lucky."
Kari was silent, but her body was shaking. Legolas got up to hold her, but she recoiled from him. "Give me a better reason than that," she demanded, her voice dangerously low.
It stung deeply to see Kari react to him like this, like he was poison. He tried to get what he wanted to say into coherent sentences in his mind. "When I came to Rivendell, I was a jaded and angry person who did not care about anything anymore. I was ready to fade from the pain of my broken heart, but my father had insisted that I come to Rivendell and perhaps find hope. And I did. In you. I had not even realized how much easier and happier you made my life until I realized I was no longer wasting time being angry and sullen and bitter. You did that as a child I taught. And when you grew up into the woman you are now, you saved me in again…my heart. I go because I want the world to be as it should. I want to fight so that you and others like us have a future to look forward to. It is the least I can do."
Kari shook her head. "And what of our future? Did you give that any thought?" she asked angrily.
"I will return to you, and we…"
"No, do not be stupid, Legolas. All who go on this journey should not expect to survive," she said.
"There is always hope," Legolas whispered.
Hope. She hated that word. "It is unfair of you to ask me to live off of hope. Especially after I have had the real thing," she said bitterly.
She knew awful, stinging words were coming out of her mouth, but she was so angry and scared. She could not stop herself from saying the first things that came to her mind. She needed to get it out, even at the expense of hurting him. She hated herself even more than she hated him because she was causing him so much more pain.
"Kari…" Legolas began, extending his hand to her.
She did not want to accept this. Part of her still refused to. But as she looked at Legolas, his shoulders hunched and his hand reaching out for her almost desperately to have her close to him, she finally realized what was happening. Everything was out of their control, and now their lives were in the hands of fate. It was so unfair that this should happen now, now when they were together and happy.
Although she had been using so much energy to try and hold it in, she let out a sob as she rushed over to him. He held her tightly against his chest, rubbing her back as she cried. She cried hard, as though part of herself was leaving her body with each sob. He pulled her down on the bed and she sat on his lap once again. She rested her head in the crook of his neck as she sobbed, not caring as tears made Legolas' white tunic transparent.
If he were alone, Legolas knew he probably would have cried himself over these events. But he needed to be strong for Kari's sake, so he focused on not crying as he heard her heart-wrenching sobs. He let her cry for a long time.
"I am sorry. I am not making this easier. I just do not want to accept that this is happening," she said finally, once her ungraceful hiccupping had subsided.
Legolas nodded. "We cannot always decide what happens in our lives," he said gently.
Kari looked at him, her shoulders straightening. "Only now do I truly understand that," Kari said calmly.
Even though her eyes and nose were red, and her face was quite splotchy, she held a quite dignity within her that surprised Legolas. Legolas began, "If I should die, I want you to…"
Kari did not let him finished the thought. She kissed him passionately as though tonight would be the last night they would have, and Legolas did not have the heart to stop her when he so desperately wanted her right then.
Author's Note: So sorry for the delay in updating! I've had finals and it was a torturous couple of weeks where I needed the time to focus on studying. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think. I appreciate all the reviews, I get such a thrill reading them!