Summary of last chapter: Kari bonds with the hobbits Pippin and Merry. She has an uncomfortable meeting with Boromir in the Healer's Hall. Kari realizes that not all dwarves are terrible after her encounter with Gimli. Legolas reveals to Kari that he will be part of the fellowship, much to Kari's heartache.
"No, Kari," Lord Elrond said firmly the next day as they spoke in his private chambers.
"But I would be an asset to the fellowship," Kari explained.
"You are not experienced enough in fighting," Lord Elrond replied.
"Did I not help take down fifty orcs with Legolas on my birthday?"
"True, but that is the only real combat you have faced."
"And tell me what real combat the hobbits have faced. Besides Weathertop, where Aragorn protected them, I doubt they have had any fighting experience. And yet they are going as part of the fellowship," Kari argued.
"They go to support Frodo. He will need his friends," Lord Elrond explained.
"And I go to support…"
"Legolas," Lord Elrond finished for her. He gave her a shrewd glance but Kari did not falter.
"Is that so wrong?"
"No, but it is not wise. Have you thought about the possibility that your presence would put his life in more jeopardy? Cause him to make irrational choices?"
"I have. That has been my one misgiving about asking you to let me go. But I think the benefits of my presence in the fellowship will outweigh the costs. I am a skilled fighter, I have some heightened senses like Legolas, I have some Ranger skills that Aragorn taught me, and I am a Healer." She added with a small smile, "And Legolas doing something rash can be avoided."
Lord Elrond gave her an amused smirk. "From your tone you seem to think this situation is not very serious."
Kari frowned. "I may make lighthearted comments, but I know full well how dire this situation is. Not just for the people involved, but for the future of Middle Earth. And I ask you to let me go because I need to go. I cannot just pace aimlessly around Rivendell while people I love are risking their lives to save mine. I will not do nothing. Legolas and Aragorn are my family. I must help."
Lord Elrond said nothing. The two stood there in silence for quite a while.
"Do you not have the gift of foresight, My Lord? Can you not see where my path lies as clearly as I can?" Kari whispered gently but urgently.
Lord Elrond turned to face the window, looking out to the trees that still had some of the golden leaves on them. "Nothing is certain," Lord Elrond said. "I had hoped you would not choose this path," he admitted.
"I do, My Lord. With the understanding the journey ahead will be demanding and dangerous."
Lord Elrond was silent once again.
"I do not want you to go," he said, his tone changing from one of stateliness to warmth.
"My Lord…"
"You have grown up to be a wonderful woman, Kari. I am honored to have been there too see it," he said softly to her, his eyes warm with fatherly affection.
Kari smiled gratefully. "You gave me good guidance."
"You make me so proud," he said softly.
Her heart swelled with pride. She had always wanted to hear those words from him. "Thank you."
There was another long silence before Lord Elrond said knowingly, "I cannot deny you, Kari. Because I know you would find a way to go regardless."
Kari smiled, knowing she had thought that if Lord Elrond disallowed her from being part of the fellowship, she would find a way to follow them using the skills Aragorn had taught her. Tracking nine people would be rather easy.
"You are right, My Lord."
"You will need to have the approval of the other members of the fellowship. Especially Gandalf."
"Yes, My Lord."
"And I do not want them to know of your healing gift. I do not want any of them to exploit it."
"I may need to use it…"
"With high discretion, if ever. Your skill with traditional Elven healing is excellent, use that," Lord Elrond instructed.
"But My Lord, there may be a time when I must use my gift," Kari said.
"You will be no use to the fellowship if you are weak or dead," Lord Elrond said firmly.
Kari's protests quieted. "Yes, My Lord."
Kari knew she would have to tell Legolas about her participation in the fellowship soon, but she knew he would be angry with her for putting her life in danger. He would call her foolish and reckless. She would fire back that he was doing the same thing. And thus a passionate argument would erupt.
She was not looking forward to this event.
The fellowship would be leaving in seven weeks and she was mentally preparing herself for the right time to tell Legolas. His eyes now had a haunting look to them that he tried to hide, but Kari knew him well enough. He did not think he would survive this journey. When they made love, Kari felt a sense of urgency that was not there before, and afterwards Legolas would hold her tighter than he had before. But she said nothing about it to him, knowing that he would turn her concern for him around on her and ask instead if she was alright. So instead, they continued as they always did. Kari worked in the Healer's Hall, they trained at the practice field, they dined together, and then settled in for the night.
On the eighth day after her conversation with Lord Elrond, while Kari and Legolas were having an archery competition, Aragorn came striding onto the practice field furiously. When Kari saw him, she knew he knew, and she knew she should have told Legolas first.
"You foolish little girl!" Aragorn snarled, angrily as he grabbed Kari's shoulders roughly.
"Aragorn!" Legolas exclaimed, placing his hand on Aragorn's arm in an attempt to remove Aragorn's hand from Kari's shoulder.
"And you! How can you let her do this?" Aragorn said, turning his head to look at a puzzled and shocked Legolas.
"Do what?" Legolas asked, trying to understand.
Aragorn faced Kari once again. "You did not even have the decency to tell him? Were you just going to wait the remaining seven weeks until the departure and then surprise him with the news?" he asked her, the grip on her shoulders unrelenting.
Kari never saw Aragorn so angry. It frightened her to the core. Although she could easily remove herself from his grasp, she did not. She lowered her head in shame, her eyes slowly beginning to fill with tears at hearing such harsh words come from his mouth.
"What are you saying?" Legolas asked, looking from Aragorn to Kari. Kari would not look at him.
"Tell him," Aragorn said sternly, removing his grasp on her shoulder and pushing her forward to face Legolas.
Legolas looked at her worriedly, a dozen possible things she could say running through his mind. What had she done that could possibly get Aragorn so upset?
Kari swallowed hard and continued to look down at the ground. This was not the way she wanted to tell him. But this was the way she would. She raised her head, her eyes still a bit watery though no tears fell.
"I am joining the fellowship," she said, her voice sounding more powerful than she felt.
Legolas was speechless. Of all the things he thought of, this never occurred to him. He stared at Kari for a long moment, and finally looked at Aragorn.
Aragorn nodded. "Lord Elrond gives his permission," he said gravely.
Legolas felt like part of himself died. He still had not fully dealt with the idea his own death, and now he would have to deal with the idea of Kari's? No.
"Legolas…" Kari began as she stepped towards him.
He stepped back, keeping the distance between them.
"Please, let me explain…"
He turned around and walked away from Kari. She quickly caught up and grabbed his arm, but he wrenched it away from her.
"I am sorry you had to find out this way," she said, her heart hurting from Legolas' rejection.
Legolas' eyes darkened and turned cold, as though the light in his eyes was gone. Kari had never seen him look like that.
"Do not speak to me," he said, his voice bitter. He walked away from her without a second glance back.
Kari swallowed hard and tried not to cry as she sat on ground and focused on her breathing. She did not want him to find out this way. She felt strong resentment towards Aragorn for making her expose the news in such an indelicate fashion, and she hated herself for not telling Legolas sooner to avoid such a situation.
"The fellowship is no place for you," Aragorn said sternly, kneeling in front of Kari.
"That is untrue. You know I would be a strong addition. What would you have me do? Fret here impatiently until I hear any little snippet of news about you all? Resign myself to the same fate as Arwen must?" Kari spat back.
Aragorn's eyes became dark. "Arwen knows her place. You must learn yours," he said coldly. He stood up and walked away from her as well.
Author's Note: This chapter is shorter, but I wanted to put it up before Christmas. Also, that way the next chapter is only one scene (a long, big one) that can stand alone. I hope the summary at the beginning of the chapter is what people wanted, it is a smart thing to do. Some of the reviews made me think about my portrayal of Boromir. I did not mean for him to be viewed as a "pervert" or "scum." The entire encounter with Boromir was told through the POV of Kari, which is not omniscient. Kari has misgivings about Boromir but that does not mean Boromir is a true threat. Boromir comes from another land, with completely different societal and cultural background and perhaps different ways of acting. He is a confident person and a capable fighter. And also, he just spent a lot of time traveling with just his horse and now comes into contact with a pretty female who looks like a woman in a land of ethereal elves. He can relate to her on some deeper level simply because she is a mortal in an immortal world like himself. So, the encounter was supposed to represent a combination of all that background stuff. I am sorry if it didn't get across clearly, that is a weakness in my writing that I will need to work on. But in any case, I hope you enjoy this chapter and there will be more from the other fellowship members shortly.