Chapter 14

She looked at Legolas, who had started smiling,

"Happy Birthday Natalia," he kissed her on the cheek he pulled her along until she reached her seat next to Elrond on the high table. She was in complete shock,

"You did all this?" he nodded and was knocked backwards as she launched herself at him hugging him tight and thanking him over and over again. Tally felt him laugh against her and his warm hands on her bare back. She kissed him on the cheek and then hugged him again. The Elves around were laughing at the scene still cheering Tally. Eventually she sat down and Elrond stood up. The Hall went silent. Elrond said,

"Tonight we put our cares aside and celebrate the birthday of Natalia Greyson as is according to the customs of her society. A big party." Lots of cheering at this, "Tonight we make merry and give thanks for her coming to us. She is Queen of the Lost Realm Of Gondor. A true descendant of Aragorn and Arwen. She is immortal and has many gifts as was foretold to us many years ago. Please, raise your glasses and let us toast Lady Natalia, Queen of Gondor." The entire Hall rose and muttered those words. Tally just sat there and blushed a very bright shade of pink. Legolas leant over,

"You're clashing with your dress, my lady, which is very beautiful. You are beautiful." He held her gaze for a moment before putting some vegetables on her plate. She stared at him. He looked up and winked before serving himself.

Tally woke up and began to pile her plate with food. Everyone was chatting with everyone else. It felt fantastic. Tally was having a conversation with the elf on her right about riding who was trying to persuade her ride elf fashion, although Tally was very reluctant, she agreed to give it a try. Once everyone had eaten and the plates cleared away, dessert was brought out for all the other tables but theirs. The High Table retired to a small, more private side room. In the centre of the room was a cake. Tally squealed and ran to it. She smelt it, "Legolas, you didn't. This is chocolate cake isn't it? How did you do this? I can't believe it. This is the best birthday I've ever had thank you so so much." She counted the people in the room and cut the cake into the right number of pieces and then handed one on a plate to everyone before finally taking one herself. She tasted it. It was gorgeous. Tally looked around to find Naela who seemed to be enjoying it very much,

"Oh Tally. This is wonderful. Much better than you ever described. I can how it is a substitute for various things!" she said quietly arching her eyebrows and gazing pointedly at her husband. Tally just laughed and savoured another bite of her cake. She looked for Legolas, but he had disappeared again. Tally was accosted by more women, singing the praises of the cake, giggling profusely as Tally described it as orgasmic. Even Elrond and Gandalf seemed to be enjoying themselves. She went over to them,

"Elrond, Gandalf, I presume you were in on this plan. Frankly I am surprised at you." She said with a serious tone, "You managed to get me to the Great Hall without laughing a loud. How did you manage it?" They all laughed,

"It was a hard task, but Legolas would not have been pleased if we had given it away. This has all been his idea. He has spent the last week organising it. But now it seems he has disappeared at the crucial minute. Ah well, I will have his cake."

"Oh don't Gandalf, let me take it for Malia. She has been so good to me."

"Oh very well," Gandalf waved her away. Tally picked up the cake and wrapped it up. She found some paper and slowly wrote Malia's name in Elf runes as she'd been learning from Elrond. She ran to Malia's chambers. She was not there so she left the cake on the table next to the door. She and Timmas shared three rooms in total because they had raised children in there. As Tally was returning to the part she met Malia coming the other way and told her to look on the table by her door. Malia bustled down the corridor and Tally heard her delight as she tasted the cake!

Legolas still hadn't returned to the party. Everyone was dancing to the music. She was quickly asked to dance by Ghilad. They danced about laughing because Tally still had no idea what she was doing when she danced. No one seemed to mind as she bumped into them. She trod on the toes of practically everyone she danced with and even managed it if they weren't her partner. She danced and laughed for many hours. She took a break to get a drink. She was smiling to herself and sipping some water as she watched to others. She felt to hands slip round her waist and kiss the back of her neck. Whoever it was smelt of lavender. Legolas.

"And where have you been?" she asked him, "You've missed the party. Do you mind, I gave your cake to Malia?"

"Not at all, I tasted plenty in it's preparation, we had to make it a few times to get it right. And as for the party, I've been organising the last part."

"There's more? What are we all doing?"

"Oh this bit's just for you Natalia. Come."