Chapter 10

Tally sat there, not moving. Her lips still tingled from his kiss. She'd never felt anything like it, it was as if their souls connected and the passion between them. It scared her slightly. She couldn't think about this now. Putting the book aside, she lay down and slept.

Malia woke her that evening. "Come, my lady, you must get ready for dinner. You have time for a bath and to wash your hair if you wish. I have had an idea for your hair. It is so beautiful, so elvish. It will go well with this dress. It is a present from Lord Elrond. It is slightly old-fashioned but I can see how it would suit you."

Tally struggled to get out of bed, it was so warm and safe. She felt for the chain around her neck, the silver cold against her hot skin. She didn't take it off as she got in the bath and she didn't take it off as she put on her dress. She would honour her promise.

Tonight's dinner was just a small informal one. There were several long benches laid out in a square. She sat down at one of the spare seats. The elves surrounding her introduced themselves and she smiled and said nice to meet you. Yet again there was surprise that Tally didn't eat meat, but once she had explained her reasoning they all accepted it. In the corner of the room were musicians playing songs she didn't know, but the tunes were easy to hear and she caught them quickly and began humming along. Dalilad, who was sitting next to her turned and said,

"You have a pretty voice my lady. Please, sing us something you know."

"Oh I couldn't. No please," she said turning red. Eventually she was persuaded though and she thought for moment, choosing her song. Tally stood up and pushed her chair back. The eyes of all the elves were on her. "This is a song I learnt as a child, from my mother. She loved to sing. It's a song about unrequited love" And with that Tally proceeded to sing. It was a short song, only two verses, but it captured the emotions really well. When she had sung, the elves were silent, Tally shifted uncomfortably and then sat down. She looked at her hands, worried she'd offended them all in some way. She could hear whispers around the table. Tally looked for Legolas, he was smiling at her dreamily. Then Dalilad said,

"Lady Natalia, that was beautiful. I have never heard a sweeter voice. You must help us learn it and write the harmonies to it so we may hear it again and again."

"Please, you don't have to flatter me, it wasn't that brilliant. It loses something without the piano accompaniment filling the gaps of the chords in."

"What is a piano?"

"It's an instrument. Each note has its own separate key and when the key is pressed, a tiny hammer hits the string and the note sounds. You can play as many notes at a time as you want and make chords. A lot of music has been written for piano, or piano and something else. I have been playing it for twenty years or so now."

"Lady Natalia, if I may ask, exactly how old are you? I myself am 15 648 years old."

"Oh right, well I'm 28 next week."

"28 000?"

"No, just 28."

"You are very young."

"I'm glad you think so," she smiled, "I was beginning to think I was getting past it."

"Past it?"

"Too old."

"My lady, how could you be too old?"

"It's just the way some things go that's all."

Dalilad we quiet then and attention was shifted as desserts were brought in. Fruits and sweet things aplenty. Tally had never tasted such good things,

"Do you guys eat chocolate?"

"What's chocolate?" said Naela, and elf woman on her right

"Oh you are missing out. It keeps all women sane. It's a substitute for most things. Chocolate is what you turn to when all else fails. Naela you would love it. I think the technical reason is that it releases chemicals in your brain which induce happiness. But there's nothing more therapeutic than sitting down with a big bar and scoffing the lot watching some chick flick on the TV."

Naela didn't understand most of this answer, but she smiled, "Here Natalia, sorry Tally, this is what elf women eat. It sounds much like what you use chocolate for."

It was a rich creamy mixture in a sugar casing. The sugar melted on your tongue releasing the sweet cream, "Mmmm these are delicious. Well if I can't have chocolate, then this is a very close second to it." Naela chuckled at her reaction.

Tally looked round the room as she took another one. Everyone was talking and laughing and punctuating that with eating. Tally's gaze caught Gandalf's, she hadn't noticed him there before. She smiled and he nodded back. He wasn't eating but blowing smoke rings in a thoughtful way. Tally's gaze then met Legolas'. He had been watching her throughout dinner, she'd felt his eyes on her as she'd spoken to Dalilad as if he was jealous. He was seated on the other side of the room so they could not talk but Tally raised an eyebrow and looked away.

After the meal had been finished and cleared away, the tables were split into smaller ones for people to sit and talk or play games. Tally took her chance to speak to Elrond, "Lord Elrond, thank you very much for this dress. It is very generous of you. And thank you for the stone in my pendant. I understand it has been in your care for a long time and I am grateful you remembered it." Elrond studied her face for a moment, looking into her eyes,

"Lady Natalia, it has been an honour to keep this stone in my care and it is an honour that you grace us with your presence and sing for us. Come, sit here and listen to the musicians. They are telling the story of Beren and Luthian. I am sure Legolas will translate the words, although I understand from Malia that you are trying to pick up some Sindarin so perhaps you will not need him." He finished with a twinkle in his eye. Tally only smiled back and sat down between Legolas and Ghilad. The latter turned to her and said,

"Lady Natalia, I am sorry if I upset you earlier. I did not mean to, please accept my most humble apologies." Tally put her hand on his arm and said,

"Ghilad, you did not upset me. I upset myself. Please, you have nothing to apologise for. Do not worry." He nodded and Tally patted his hand and turned to face the musicians.

She rested her hand on Legolas' shoulder and after a time whispered, "What are they singing? I do not understand." He turned to face her and moved his seat closer to hers and than began to sing along to the music, but with the words in English. It was a love story. The first union between Men and Elves. The music was fantastic, it sent shivers down her spine as Legolas sang in her ear, his breath tickling her. The melody just floated over her. Tally's eyes were transfixed on the musicians and their strange instruments. As the song ended, she sat there unable to say anything, thinking over the words and the melody. She finally blinked and looked at Legolas, "Thank you. It is a beautiful song." She stopped a second and thought. "I think I am going to go to bed now. It has been a tiring day and I am sure I will need my strength in times to come." She took her leave of Lord Elrond and Gandalf and left the room. She found Legolas waiting for her outside,

"I thought I could walk you to your room." He took her arm, "Tally, would you like me to stay tonight?" he said bluntly and quickly. Tally stopped, took Legolas' arm from out of hers, holding his hand said,

"I don't think that would be a good idea, do you?" she said thinking about before, "I will be alright. Malia is not far away if I need anything or if anything happens."

Gandalf came out of the hall where they had been and handed Tally a small bottle,

"Drink this all before you sleep. You will sleep the whole night with no dreams and no nightmares." And as quick as he appeared, he left again.

"Legolas do you discuss all my business with everyone? I do not need you watching over me like I'm a china doll about to break at anything and I do not need you running to Elrond or Gandalf when something in my life isn't the perfect way you want it to be. Things like that don't happen to me. My life isn't perfect. I've accepted it, why can't you?" Tally walked off leaving Legolas watching her. He turned on his heels and walked the other way to his room. That night, while Tally slept uninterrupted, Legolas was awake in constant thought, pacing his room. He wanted to find a way to make her happy and show her how much he cared for her.