The war was over.

They had helped turn the tide and win the war.  Only a few small bands of orcs remained, and they were being dealt with by the elvish patrols.  Legolas had been reunited with Yona, aka Helmet man, and they would soon be wed.  His own angel was safe in his arms, curled against his side, her arm draped across his waist, and her head against his heart.  Everything was perfect.

 So why can't I sleep!  Zarbon thought, growing more frustrated as the hours ticked by. 

He had spent most of the day trying to meditate, but had gotten nowhere.  Concentration, the most important part of this exercise, was something he couldn't seem to do right now.  Tonya, knowing what he was attempting and that he needed not to be disturbed, had warned the entire servant staff to tell the others that he was unavailable.  He hadn't been bothered, but he just couldn't still the thoughts racing around his brain.

 Zarbon carefully extracted himself from the bed and began to dress.  He needed to walk, to think and order these scrambled thoughts, without the possibility of running into anyone.  It was so late that everyone but the guards should be asleep. Fastening the belt, he bent to put on his boots, and heard his lover stir.

 "Zarbon?" she mumbled, sitting up slightly, her voice thick with sleep. "What's wrong?"

 "Nothing koi," he answered and moved to gently push her back down.  "I can't sleep is all.  I'm just going to go for a walk and maybe get some warm milk.  You just go back to sleep, alright?"

 She frowned cutely, trying to decipher his words, and yawned.  "Mmmkay," she replied, giving up and closing her eyes.

 He tucked the blanket around her and brushed his lips against her forehead.  Moving so silently that an Elf would envy him, he quickly left the room.

 Zarbon wandered the palace silently, admiring the view from several of the windows, and then descended into the garden.  His mind was preoccupied with his thoughts, but his feet knew just where to go.  He heard the muted roar of the falls and looked around.  In front of him was one of the many bridges that crossed the river.  It was far enough from the falls that you could talk without shouting, while still offering a breathtaking view of the majestic water.  The railings and boards were wet with dew and condensation, but the footing was firm.

 He continued out to the middle and looked at the falls.  They appeared to be made of living silver, reflecting the half moon that glided across the heavens.  It was peaceful here.  He could feel his thoughts slowing, but they still refused to unravel so he could digest them.  Leaning against the rail, he sighed, studying the water as it jumped and danced down the rocks.

* * * * * * *

 King Elrond walked around his palace, smiling to himself, enjoying the silence that peace had brought.  Shani's friends had ended the war faster than he could have possibly dreamed and his favorite nephew was getting married.  He walked down to the gardens, pleased that he no longer had to have a phalanx of guards with him for safety's sake.  He had missed strolling through the garden when no one else was awake.  Standing on the bridge and listening to the falls was so relaxing.

 His keen eyes picked out a form on the bridge and he paused, trying to distinguish whom it was.  Walking with the silence of an Elf, he approached the man and quickly recognized Shani's friend Zarbon.  The blue skin and green hair were a dead give way, but the pale moon shaded everything differently, making even the most familiar colors unusual.  Elrond stopped, and studied the much younger man.  He could tell something was troubling him, but was unsure if it was his right to pry.  He walked out on to the bridge, but stopped five feet from Zarbon and faced the falls.  Now how to announce his was there without startling the other man.

 "Nice night isn't it?" Zarbon said without looking at Elrond.  He had scented the other man as soon as he stepped onto the bridge.

 "Yes, the stars are bright and the breeze is warm," Elrond answered.  He moved closer so that he could speak lower and their voices wouldn't carry as far.  "You seem troubled.  Can I help?"

 Zarbon sighed and dropped his gaze to the river below.  "I don't know," he replied after a moment.

 "That is a fair answer," Elrond said.  "Maybe if you try to explain, the answer will present itself in the water."

 Zarbon smiled wistfully.  "If only it could be that easy all the time," he said almost to himself. 

 "Don't we all," Elrond replied just as quietly, and waited for him to begin.

 "I guess what I'm trying to decide is what happens now," he finally said.  "I wasn't expecting to fight in a war when we came over here.  Truthfully, I didn't think that it would be possible for the girls to even fight on the battle field."

 "You thought that they would fail?" Elrond said and looked at Zarbon surprised.

 "No," Zarbon shook his head, the unconfined tresses waving with the movement.  "I just didn't think they could kill."  He paused and chewed his lip.  "On one hand, it proves they can take care of themselves, but on the other...  Bloodlust can be a powerful rush, as strong as any drug Man can come up with, but harder to remove from the system."

 Elrond nodded his head with understanding.  "You're worried that some of your group may take a liking to killing and cause chaos in your own world."

 "Yes," Zarbon said softly.  "Some of the people we deal with in the Human realm are just as evil as the orcs, if not worse.  Sometimes the laws and police can do nothing, and those people are released back onto the street.  Death would be a permanent solution."

 "I don't think any of your party found this form of justice to their liking," Elrond said.  He could feel the other man's distress and felt a stab of guilt.  "Especially you.  I am sorry that I asked you to fight."

 Zarbon turned to look at Elrond.  "Do not apologize," he said.  "Tis not your fault that you asked.  I could have turned the offer down, so do not feel guilty about my decision." He sighed.  "What you say is true; not one of them liked what they did.  But the taste of Death is always bitter at first.  For the fortunate, it stays that way.  Unfortunately, the more you experience it, the easier it is to take."

 "You speak from experience," Elrond said quietly.

 "Yes," Zarbon said, his cheeks darkening.  "For ten years, Death was my life."

 "And why did you give that life up?"

 Zarbon's face turned to the palace, looking for the room where the keeper of his heart slept.

 "I see." Elrond smiled.  "So Love is stronger than Death, hmmm?"  Zarbon blinked at him.  "Do not worry about your friends, Zarbon.  They will not turn to that road easily.  For though it may cross their thoughts, they have better paths to follow."  He looked up to the sky again.  "It will be dawn in a few hours," he said, watching the moon.  "Best try to get some sleep if you wish to keep up with that bundle of energy you call your lover."  Elrond winked, turned, and walked back to the palace.

 Casting a parting glance at the falls, Zarbon decided to follow the king's advice.  He slipped into the room silently, and began to strip off his outer garments.

 Tonya's voice startled him as he pulled off the tunic.  "Feeling better?" she asked sleepily.

 "Yes."  He slipped between the sheets and pulled her close.

 "I love you." She snuggled closer. "Even if you are wet from thefalls."

 Zarbon laughed and gave her a kiss.  "Ai shiteru."