For Love, Duty, and Honor

Thanx to my beta!

It had been almost three nights without her beloved, and Tàri began to lose the sense of Legolas's touch. She waved her hands through the air, as if painting an image with his lingering touch. Tàri stood at the base of a weeping willow, and began to sway. She raised her hands and began to twirl in a rotating motion faster and faster. Then, she stopped suddenly, realizing that she wouldn't be caught if she slipped and fell.

Tàri sighed deeply and placed a stray hair back from her porcelain-like face. She retreived her small dagger from a rock, and placed it into her sash. Then, her horse awoke from its slumber slightly and whinnied alertingly. Tàri's green eyes rose cautiously as the bush branches cracked, and the leaves rustled. Her heart beated more quickly with anticipation.

Abruptly, Tàri swung around, her dagger at hand, as orcs emerged from behind the bushes and trees. She cleared one off from the start, while another fell face first into her dagger. Tàri shreiked as an eyeless orc grabbed ahold of her. Thrustingly, she kicked him into the tree, and ran toward her horse. She grappled at her silver bow and arrows, and slapped the mare gently on the rear. As the horse retreated, Tàri rose her bow steadily. Simultaneously, she was struck from behind.

It was well into the night when Tàri finally awoke. She lay quietly upon her side as her eyes examined her surroundings. She was alone and alive, but just only. She turned slightly, and collapsed onto her back. Pain seered throughout her now fragile body. She held her hands to her chest and counted the pulses of her slowing heartbeat. Tears ran down her face as she cried for Legolas. She was losing her fight. Tàri was dying.



Legolas caressed his beloved bow, which was bestowed upon him by Lady Galadriel. He wrapped the string through its hoops and strung it to his liking, before setting the bow at his side. He glanced around the camp momentarily, where the rest of the fellowship had taken to bed, before standing and walking into the distance. Legolas hummed a tune almost silently to himself, as he gazed at the midnight moon that hung lowly above the lands. He stopped at took in a breath of the thinning fresh air and sighed.

The night seemed calm enough, but Legolas could not keep his mind off of Tàri, and his promise to Rùmil. He knew she would never give up hope, yet he smiled, for Legolas knew this was his beloved's strength. He knew his promise must be kept to his journey. It was his duty.

Then, Legolas quieted and stopped in his tread. He closed his crystal eyes as he fixed them on Tàri. He tried, yet he could not see anything but darkness. Suddenly, a sound echoed through the wood as a fair colored mare galloped to Legolas's side. Legolas grabbed ahold of the reins at stroked the horse's mane. It was Tàri's.

"Legolas, what is it?" Aragorn's voice called out from behind.

Legolas said nothing, but only looked back at him.

Aragorn nodded. "Go!"

Legolas grabbed his bow and arrows, lept onto the mare's back and raced into the night. He knew now that she was all that mattered to him, and love was reason enough.