Broken Hearts

Broken Hearts

Chapter 9
Author: Frosty the Kingpin
Codes: Legolas, Haldir, Elrond, Thranduil, OC, AU, N/C, INC
Rated: NC-17
Summary: During talks of combining Mirkwood and Imladris into one force, a relationship takes a downward spiral.

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*

Tári's sleep had been fitful at best. She awoke early to the sounds of birds singing. Usually bright days like these would have brought her joy, but today she felt nothing but burden. Her heart was heavy with the knowledge that things would not go well today. Legolas would make sure of that.

Haldir had met her as she left her room. He looked tired as well, having been up most of the night speaking with the guards that had gone to Imladris with King Thranduil. The Marchwarden made a vague inquisition into why Legolas had not been at the debriefing, but did not push when Tári appeared uncomfortable. She noticed that he seemed to be more aware of her feelings of late. It troubled her some.

"How did your talk with Elrond go last night?" he asked, changing the subject as they headed to breakfast.

She smiled softly. "It went well, actually. Surprisingly well."

"Really?" He returned her smile, seeming genuinely pleased. "I am glad to hear that. My mind was great with worry last night when I thought about what you might be going through."

"I, too, had thought my future was dismal. Lord Elrond was unexpectedly pleasant, though. I don't dislike him."

Haldir's expression turned amused. "Why Tári, I had no idea you would ever admit such things. Indeed he must be a great man if you do not dislike him."

She laughed despite herself, and felt herself blush. "I am still not pleased by this marriage, mind you. I have a long way to go before I will be comfortable with this."

"Understandable." He looked down at her, smiling. She could tell he was relieved that she was not upset with Elrond. "The first while will be hard, but it will get easier. Perhaps you will even grow to care for him."

Tári widened her eyes. "Well, I hope for the best, but I do not expect such a thing. How many arranged marriages ever grow into more than just tolerance?"

"I think you'd be surprised. Keep an open mind."

She nodded silently, doubting Haldir's words. She didn't think, in a situation like this, she could ever grow to love a person she was forced into marrying. It would be like giving in to the enemy. Frowning to herself, she sighed and crossed her arms, feeling conflicted. Elrond wasn't an offensive sort. She could see herself becoming friends with him. But more? She just wasn't sure.

As they entered the Banquet Hall, Tári's thoughts turned back to her brother. The room was nearly full and quite noisy, and she couldn't identify Legolas anywhere within the crowd. She couldn't help but concentrate on him, though. Things would come to a head soon enough.

Breakfast was pleasant, but quiet. Haldir seemed to notice her distraction, but he didn't comment on it, instead regaling her with tales that had been told to him by the Mirkwood guards who had visited Imladris. From how he described it, Tári didn't think it sounded too bad.

She and the Marchwarden parted after they ate. Standing at the doors to the Hall, she watched as Haldir made his way to a meeting her father had called. She had not told him that Elrond was allowing her to bring friends to Imladris with her. For some reason, she had not been able to bring herself to speak of something cheerful. Perhaps she feared Haldir would refuse her offer.

Tári sighed. It didn't matter. Legolas was too much of a concern right now to think about anything else, including her marriage. Pushing away from the wall, she started down a path and briefly considered visiting Elrond. She worried about what he would do with the information she had given him last night. She wondered if he had gone to her father.

By now, Legolas' footsteps were familiar to her. Taking a deep breath, thankful she was not far from a crowd, she turned and watched as her brother approached. He appeared more relaxed than he had last night.

"Good morning," he said, smiling, "I have been looking for you."

"What a surprise," she replied quietly, looking towards the hall she had just left. It occured to her that even if her brother did attack her, the crowd would be too noisy and too distracted to hear her cries.

He followed her gaze and smirked. "So predictable. Always looking for an escape. When will you learn that no matter who knows or sees, I will never leave you?"

Her eyes moved from the hall and down the path to where Elrond's and her father's rooms lied. If Legolas was serious, eventually all would know of their relationship. "I can't allow this to continue."

Her voice was soft, gentle, as if speaking to herself. Legolas frowned and narrowed his eyes. "Look at me." She did so, reluctantly. "What makes you think you have a choice?"

"I always had a choice. It was shame that kept me from speaking."

A smile creased her brother's face. "You will not speak. If not for shame, then for fear. I would not stop at Haldir and Elrond, you realize. If anyone gets in my way, anyone, I will destroy them."

Her heart sank. "Even our father?"

"Even our father." His voice was tight, and she knew he spoke the truth. It occured to her then; the brother she had known was gone, and he would never return.

Anger grew within her. "You may be able to overtake me alone, but you won't be able to fight all of Mirkwood. They will not allow you to continue, once they find out."

He grabbed her arm roughly, all traces of mirth erased from his face. "Then they will not find out."

Tári jerked herself back. With a heated glare, she set off for where she knew Haldir and her father were meeting with others. Her intentions were set; Legolas' actions would be revealed, no matter how humiliated she would feel. It was time. This could go on no longer.

A hand, not surprisingly, grabbed her forearm and yanked her around. She made to speak, but was stopped as a fist impacted with her face, sending her to the earthen floor.

Her head spun and her eyes were unfocused as she felt herself being pulled back up. "I am through with your disobedience!" growled Legolas as he shook her roughly then hit her again, allowing her to fall back to the ground.

Tári groaned as the taste of blood invaded her senses. He had hit her so hard she could barely register his words. "No," she breathed, vaguely aware that he had hauled her back up and was dragging her down the path.

"You will learn," he hissed, "I will fuck you and beat you senseless, and if you still don't understand that you are nothing but my whore, I will tear you to pieces! It will be this way, or I will kill you."

Trying desperately to fight him off, she only succeeded in winning another slap. By now her neck stung and her body was nauseous with pain, and when he tossed her to the forest floor she knew she would not be able to stop him from hurting her, this time probably worse than he had ever done before.

"Please don't," she cried weakly, raising her hands to block him when he crawled down on top of her. The weight of his body pressed hard against her.

"Shutup, whore!" he spat, slapping her hard. Her face stung as tears began to fill her eyes and slide down her face, moistening her burning cheeks. Blackness began to invade her senses as she fell in and out of consciousness. When Legolas' hands ripped at her clothes, she welcomed the darkness that took her over. The last thing she remembered was the sound of his voice in her ears, whispering promises of a painful encounter.

*

Waking up was painful. The light was dim, but that didn't stop her eyes from burning when she opened them. Her head pounded as she tried to remember what had happened. Legolas had attacked her. He was going to rape her. And now...

..Now she was here. Sitting up carefully and looking around, she recognized the room she in. in. It was a guest quarters, but familiar. She frowned as she realized she was in Elrond's rooms.

Tári brought a hand to her temple and massaged. Squinting so she could see out the curtains, she saw it was still day outside. Obviously she had been found after being attacked, and brought here. Her mind raced with questions, one of which was how many people knew now what had happened? A relief entered her, though - most likely if she was resting here, her father did not yet know.

She looked up as the door opened softly. When Elrond's eyes met hers they appeared sad. Embarrassed, she looked down at the covers.

"Could you not sleep?" he asked, approaching the bed and sitting on the edge of it.

Frowning and looking up, she asked, "How long have I been here?"

"Only a couple of hours. Are you thirsty?"

She shook her head and absently touched her face, wondering how badly she was bruised. "What happened?"

He sighed and looked down at her with a serious expression. "You were being attacked. I put a stop to it and brought you here."

"Put a...stop to it?" Tári bit her lip and shook her head again. "How? Why?"

"I removed the attacker from you and...pacified him. I think the why is apparent." His voice betrayed his slight anger.

She swallowed heavily, noticing how Legolas' name was absent from Elrond's explanation. "You stopped him, before he," she paused, "violated me?" When he nodded, she continued, "How did you find us?"

His eyes flickered downward. "I was following you." At her puzzled expression, he added, "I grew concered after our meeting last night. You seemed very worried. I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"So you followed me?" He nodded and she found herself both grateful and unnerved. If he had not done that, though, she knew she would be worse off right now. "Thank you. For saving me."

He touched her hand gently. "Why did you not tell me this last night? Why did you not tell anyone?"

A blush rose over her features. "I couldn't. I felt so ashamed. I didn't understand what was happening." Widening her eyes, she looked up. "Does my father know?"

"No. Not yet. I left your brother with several guards who I trust will keep your secret for now. Haldir is with them."

Tári's stomach droppsed. "Haldir knows?"

"He was there. I had to inform him." Squeezing her hand, he smiled gently. "He is concerned."

She could not bear to think of what Haldir thought. "What of my brother? Is Legolas alright?"

Elrond's smile faded and his eyes grew dark. "Why would you care of such a thing?"

Tears filled her eyes. "He's my brother."

Moving closer to her, Elrond wrapped an arm around Tári's shoulders and drew her near. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way."

She sniffed back her tears and accepted his comfort. "I know there's something wrong with him. I know I can never forgive him. But I can't help but worry."

His warm hand massaged her arm softly. "How long has this been going on?"

Tári closed her eyes and rested against his body. "Too long. I wish I had spoken up earlier."

"It's going to be alright now. It will be taken care of."

"Taken care of?" She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at Elrond, confused.

He smiled, but his eyes were shadowed. "We'll keep you s" "

She sighed and settled, feeling tired. "What's going to happen now?"

"For now, I want you to stay here and rest. I will speak with your brother. I might be able to find out what's wrong with him."

"I'm sorry," she breathed, "I'm sorry you had to be dragged into this."

He smiled and squeezed her a little tighter. "It is not your fault. Rest now. I will be back later."

The loss of his warmth was felt immediately as Elrond slid from the bed and stood. She smiled back at him, but felt uneasy at what was about to be done. Elrond was going to speak with Legolas, and she knew it would not be an easy thing. Her brother would say things, she knew, things that she had hoped no one would ever hear. As Elrond walked out the door, though, she knew there was no way around it. It would become common knowledge soon, whether she wanted it to or not.

Laying back, Tári brought the covers up over hnd cnd closed her eyes.

*

TBC