Chapter 9

Inside she saw a table which seated about ten. Elrond was at one end. He stood up and welcomed her in saying,

"Lady Natalia, please come and sit. There is one chair left and he pointed to one in the centre of the table." The entire room stood, turned and bowed as she walked in. She shuffled slightly, not knowing what to do. Slightly embarrassed she said,

"Please sit down, you don't have to do that for me. It's a little.." she picked her word carefully, "disconcerting. I'm sorry I hope I haven't offended you."

"Not at all Natalia. We understand this is a strange transition for you. It will take time before you understand all our ways," said Gandalf who was seated at the other end of the table from Elrond, "Come, I will introduce you."

Tally was introduced to three Men and three Elves. She already knew Legolas, Elrond and Gandalf and with her, that made ten. Tally did not speak or eat much over lunch. She felt she was being watched very closely by 9 other people and it made her very self conscious. The conversation was limited to light-hearted conversations and no one asked Tally about her life before, just her likes and dislikes. She only spoke when she had to. She listened to the Elves talk about archery and the Men talk about a sword fighting contest they were planning. Tally was suddenly roused by a question from Ghilad, one of the Elves,

"Lady Natalia?"

"Tally, please, call me Tally."

"Very well. Tally. What is it that you are passionate about? I am curious. We Elves have our archery whose practise absorbs us, and the Men have their sword fighting and they spar for many hours. We both have the lore which interests many of our Races."

"My people are interested by many things. People devote their lives to different things."

"And you?"

"I devoted my life to study. To Physics. The sciences of the way things work. I studied the stars. My research was into the evolution of the Universe. Where I came from. Why I am here. They were the questions that plagued me all my childhood and into adulthood. After I lost my family, I didn't know who I was anymore. I had no one to tell me where I came from, my history. No connections. If I could find out how things began then I could know how I began. My research was going well. We had computer modelling. My team, my friends, are announcing their results at a convention next week. It's a ground-breaking idea. It will need a lot of refining, but in a few years, I may actually have answers to my questions.

"They.. they can't present without me. The data was at my flat. Along with the rest of my life. My music. My music. My life was in there. I'd put my soul into decorating that place. Before I moved in, it was a tip. Three years to get it perfect. My piano, my trumpet, my music. Forgetting things. Getting lost in the music. Music is the perfect antidote to science. It doesn't obey any rules. Anything goes. You're free from constraints. There's nothing more exciting than finding a new piece of music which captures a new emotion. Music captures everything. It became a way of getting across a message which to speak would have condemned you to death. It's what keeps me sane. And now it's lost. Everything is lost."

Tally broke down in tears. She ran from the hall. She just ran she didn't know where she was going. She ended up outside. It was a chilly day, but she still kept on running. The grass was thick and still dewy. It wet her legs. She breathed in, but the air caught in her chest and she could run no more. She fell to the ground and curled up into a ball and wept. She hadn't cried this hard in years. She heard footsteps approaching. Let them see me cry, she thought. I'm not a queen. How could I be a queen? I'm just Tally, nothing more. The person sat down next to her and pulled her to them. They wrapped their arms around her and let her cry. They stroked their fingers through her hair and then rested their cheek against the top of her head, kissing before they did so. They smelt of lavender. Tally realised it was Legolas. She stopped crying. And pulled away.

"Stop Legolas. You don't have to do this. How can you stand to see me like this? I'm a queen. Queens don't cry. They are strong, they lead by example. I'm a wreck."

"Tally things take time. It's not easy for me either. A week ago I was in Lothlorien. Today I find out the place no longer exists and my entire family is dead. I can't cry Tally. I don't now how. My anger is inside. I will channel it into fighting whatever did this. It is the most constructive way. The Enemy wants us to be in disarray. They want us to be emotional because when we are emotional we don't think straight and then we slip us and they sneak in and take control. You have to fight them Tally, in the best way you know how. But fighting back and taking back control. Do you understand me?"

"Yes I do." Tally sniffed and wiped her nose, "Legolas, will you help me. I want to fight. I want to take my place against them alongside you and everyone else who goes into battle."

"I will do anything I can to help, Tally. I am here for you."

"Thank you." Tally sniffed again, and then without warning, kissed Legolas on the cheek, "You're a good elf Legolas. And you're one of the kindest people I've ever met." Legolas sat shocked for a minute, "Sorry, did I do something wrong?" Tally was worried she'd offended him. "For me, I kiss people hello, goodbye, thank you. It's a natural reflex thing, like bowing seems to be here. It's all about contact. It shows care."

"Thank you Tally. You didn't offend me. It seems there is much we have to learn from each other." He stood up and offered her a hand to help her stand, steadying her as she swayed slightly. She had exhausted herself, so he walked slowly and let her lean upon his arm. They made it back to the main building. The met Malia flapping on the steps,

"Oh Lady Natalia, I heard you'd run off. If was so worried. Now look what you've done. You have worn yourself out. You must rest. Straight to bed I think. You must lie down even if you don't sleep. Prince Legolas, carry her, don't let her walk. Look how her legs and arms shake. I wouldn't be surprised if you've caught a chill as well my Lady." Malia clucked over her until they reached her room. Legolas lay her on the bed. Malia insisted she changed and got under the covers with some hot water bottles. Legolas had disappeared during this. He came back and laid a book on the bed clothes.

"This is an old astronomy book. It is the same one I read from as a boy. I thought you might like it. It's written in Sindarin but I will help you if you wish." Tally patted the bed next to her and Legolas sat down. He ran his fingers along the words, translating for Tally as he went reading the Sindarin and then the English. Tally picked up the Elvish quickly. Soon she was translating along with Legolas, occasionally getting stuck on the odd words. He was impressed,

"You've picked up the language very quickly. It is very different from what you know. How can you do it so fast?"

"I learnt some at school. It's not that difficult to pick up another. It follows that same word order as Spanish except the possession bits. And it's a beautiful language. It seems to roll off your tongue. It's your natural language and you connect to it which makes it more beautiful." Tally stopped, she was embarrassing herself. She felt Legolas' gaze on her, "Stop looking at me, you're making me blush."

"You're going the same colour as the stone in your pendant. Timmas did a good job."

" How did you know Timmas did this for me? These two are the stones from the earrings my best friend gave me. Malia told me that it was not acceptable for me to wear them so I am letting the holes close, but I couldn't part with them. She took them to Timmas, who did them for me. I do not know where the other stone has come from or the leaf. He would not tell me this morning."

"Tally, you said that the way you said thank you was to give a kiss, well for elves, we give tokens of our appreciation. The leaf is the symbol of my family. All women in the family or close to it have a pendant of the silver leaf. The large pink stone, I believe has been passed down through the lines of the Kings and Queens of Numenor and then from Aragorn and Arwen. When the line died down, it was given to the elves to keep in trust until the heir worthy of wearing it was born. When Elrond heard that a pendant was being forged for you with my instruction, he ordered the jewel be removed from trust and set within it. The chain it lies on is also important. It belonged to my mother. It was found on her body I am told. I would be honoured if you wore it, as a symbol of the alliance between Elves and Men and as a symbol of my thanks for taking me in when you first saw me. I will never forget such kindness."

"Legolas, I can't take these. They are far too precious. Especially the chain. You should keep it, give it to someone more worthy." Tally moved her hands to the back of her neck to undo the clasp on the chain.

"Natalia, no. Please." He reached out both his hands and placed them over hers. He moved them onto her lap, but didn't take his hands off them. "Please?" he said, looking into her eyes. Legolas held her gaze. Tally turned her head to look away. Legolas moved one of his hands to her chin and pulled it back. His other hand moved across and held both her hands in her lap, easily covering them both.

"Don't Legolas, don't do this," Tally begged, closing her eyes. One tear fell from her right eye. He kissed it away when it reached her cheekbone. He didn't stop, he kept kissing in a line to her mouth. Tally's lips trembled as Legolas brushed his lips against hers, gently. He moved away and saw Tally's eyes were open again. His hand still on he chin, and her eyes still open, he kissed he again. Passionately. His tongue teasing her mouth open and then dancing with hers. His hands moved to behind her neck and around her waist and Tally's both went to his face, stroking his skin. It was soft and smooth. Tally moaned into his mouth, breathy moans of pleasure. Then she changed her mind, "No, no Legolas, this is wrong. We mustn't. It's not right, it's too soon, too fast," she said between his kissing her in an effort to silence her protestations, "Please." (kiss) "I'm" (kiss) "not ready." (kiss) "Legolas! Stop! You're just as bad as it was. It wouldn't take no for an answer either." She put her hands on his shoulder to push him away. Legolas stopped, shocked by the comparison.

"Oh Tally, I just couldn't stop myself. I've wanted to do that every since I saw you. I shouldn't take advantage."

"It's alright. I didn't mind it too much," she smirked and raised an eyebrow, "I'm just not ready to think this through. I don't want to make snap decision and hurt you, me or both of us." Silence. She saw how hurt he looked, it broke her heart, "Oh Legolas, please don't look at me like that. It's for the best. I'll make you a promise, ok? Ok?" He nodded, he looked like a lost little boy, "Legolas, so long as I wear this necklace, I care for you. It unites our peoples and it unites us. Do you understand that? I will never take it off or cast it aside unless I have no other choice. This is forever, is that ok by you?"

"I suppose so." He sulked.

"Oh so forever isn't good enough now is it?"

"I suppose it'll have to do." There was a pause, neither quite knew what to say or do. Legolas stood up, "I think I'll leave you now. I will come back later. I must practise some archery."