Chapter 7

Five minutes later there was a knock at the door. It was Legolas. Tally opened the door and laughed as his jaw hit the floor. He took her hand and kissed it softly and gently, "It is good to hear you laugh Tally. I am here to escort you to the celebratory feast. It is in our honour after all."

"Oh it's our honour now is it. Are you trying to steal my glory?" she said giving him a playful tickle.

"I cannot help it if two members of royalty decide to turn up at the same time. We shall just have to share the fun. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

They stepped into a great hall, full of people and noise. Tally shrank back, trying to turn back to where she had come from.

"Natalia Greyson. I will not leave your side tonight. I promise. You are safe here. No one can hurt you. These people are all your friends. You have no reason to be afraid." Legolas took hold of her hand and walked with her up to the top table. The hall fell silent. People stood and bowed as they walked past. Legolas stopped in front of one elf who sat between Josiah and Gandalf, "Lord Elrond, may I present Natalia Greyson, last in the great line of Aragorn and your daughter, the Evenstar, of elf and human blood, the immortal whose birth was prophesised long ago."

Elrond nodded in response, "Welcome my child. Welcome to the Sanctuary. Tonight we feast in honour of your return." He smiled at the Elves present who took their seats and began to eat,

"See I told you it was my feast," she whispered to Legolas, "and what was that intro about? You make me sounds like some all conquering heroine."

Tally took her seat next to Gandalf and smiled at him, he did not smile back and he looked troubled, "Gandalf, what is wrong?"

"We do not talk of it here tonight, Natalia. Soon you will know. Enjoy the feast and forget your troubles. I must think."

He turned away to talk to Elrond. Tally turned to Legolas on her right, "Legolas, everyone is staring at me. Why do they do that?"

"The have never seen an immortal human and you are the returning Queen to some of them. And you look beautiful."

"Legolas, please, you don't have to say that," she blushed

"Now you've gone the same colour of your dress!" Tally looked at her plate. She could feel his gaze watching her. The server came to give her food,

"Oh no meat thank you. I don't eat it. No I'll be fine with just vegetables thank you." Legolas looked at her quizzically, "I don't like the taste of it. I do not like the thought of eating the flesh of another animal and I do not like the thought of it being killed to feed me when I can cultivate things that will serve me just as well."

"That is a strange notion."

"Many humans are vegetarian. For some it's part of their religion, for others it is just a moral choice."

"There are many religions? What is yours?"

"I do not have one." Tally said quietly, "I used to, but then thinks happened and I could never love a god who took all the things I held most dear away from me. He was meant to love and protect." Legolas questioned her no longer. They finished their meals in silence.

After dinner the tables were cleared away and the dancing began. Tally sat in her seat watching as Legolas and the other elves danced to songs she did not know and could not understand. Tally stood up and left the hall unnoticed. She found her way outside into the night and the cool fresh air. She needed to clear her head. It was full of jumbled thoughts which all needed her attention, but she didn't know where to start. She looked up at the stars and became lost in them like she used to do as a kid. She knew all their names and the names of the constellations they made too. Tally sat down on the steps down from the Great Hall and leant her head against the cool banister. She felt her eyes start to itch like they always did right before she cried. Suddenly there were steps behind her. She jumped up, wiping her eyes. It was Legolas.

"Tally come inside. It is cold and you are not well. I would like to dance with you, if you'll let me, that is."

"I don't know these dances, I don't even understand the words. How do you expect me to do this?"

"I will show you. It is not really that difficult. I'll lead."

He took her hand and practically dragged her back inside straight into a crowd of dancers. Taking her other hand, she was swung round in circles getting faster and faster. Legolas led her expertly, knowing exactly when she needed guiding and when to just let her go with the flow. He noticed how graceful she was, even as she stumbled a couple of times and trod on his foot. She apologised and then laughed at the situation. The light was back in her eyes. The light he'd noticed when he's first seen her. As the danced ended she laughed with her head back applauding the musicians. She smiled and looked into his eyes, "Thank you Legolas. That was just what I needed."

"Oh you don't get away with it that easily. This next one is one of my favourites. The song is sung by a male elf as a declaration of his love to a female wood elf and it tells of the story of how they met"

It was a slow number. Elf slow dancing seemed to be very much like the human version. Legolas held Tally close and sang in her ear. It was a beautiful melody. She didn't understand the words but somehow the picture in her head was enough. She breathed in Legolas' scent. He smelt of the outside. The smell of grass after the rain and a bit of lavender. She sighed into his neck and nestled her head further into his shoulder, Legolas responded by holding her tighter to him.

As the song ended, neither of them wanted to let go. Legolas pulled away first, "Come on, I will take you to your room. You need your rest. It has been a long day and there is much to come. There is much you must know."

He took her hand and led her away. They walked slowly along the long white corridors. Her bedroom wasn't that far away. They reached it quickly. Tally was reluctant to go in. She reached for Legolas' hand, "I can't go in there. I can't. The dark, Legolas. They came in the dark. I didn't hear them. What if they come again?" Her eyes, the light was gone and the fear had returned.

"Shhhh. Tally it's safe here, I told you. Would you like me to stay with you tonight? I can make a bed up on the floor or do you have a couch?" Tally nodded in reply. She called Malia and told her what was happening. She was a little shocked, but made up a bed on the couch in the corner of Tally's bedroom for Legolas who she seemed in awe of. She herded Legolas out of the room whilst Tally changed and got into bed. Only when Tally had pulled the sheets up to her chin would Malia allow Legolas to return. She made sure he was on the couch before bidding Tally good night and reminding her she was just down the hall should she need anything, glancing at Legolas pointedly as she said this.

Once she had gone, Legolas went and sat on the edge of the bed. He ran his fingers all over Tally's face avoiding the bruises he couldn't see in the dark but who's positions he had memorised. His thumb traced the lines of her lips. Tally went stiff, "No Legolas, stop it."

"Why Tally? I want to let you know you're safe. How can I do that?"

"Hold my hand, no more. Please Legolas."

"Why Tally?" he was more demanding now

"Because when they came before, the one. the one who raped me, he woke me up by running his fingers over my lips and I woke up to his horrible face. Then he took off the bed cover and touched me and tried to force my legs apart. It hurt like nothing I have ever felt. I tried to scream but I couldn't. When he'd done it, the others had all walked in wanting their turn but they weren't allowed. Instead they beat me. With everything. Against everything. They wanted to know about you, but I wouldn't tell them. I didn't know where you were. They were about to leave when you came back and the last thing I remember is you telling me I was safe. After that I blacked out. I had nightmares about what they would do to me when they find me again and I could feel it growing inside me."

Tally was silent. She had made Legolas uncomfortable, but she didn't mind. She'd said it now, there was no going back. She shifted onto her side, still holding his hand. He's squeezed it tightly and brushed her fingers against his lips. "Goodnight," he whispered," I'll be right here if you need anything."