Chapter 17

They were in battle many miles from the Sanctuary. Tally sat on Mahril a sword in her hand and a dagger nestled in her boot. She cut through the orcs who came to attack her and ducked the swarm of arrows that flew towards her. Mahril was pieced by three in the chest, he fell to the ground. Tally was thrown off and immediately surrounded by orcs who taunted her.

"You may have killed many of our fellows but now we kill you."

They all struck blows to different parts of her body. She fell to the floor as they continued to beat her. The continued taunting her about how they had killed her family, Callum and now they would finally kill her. No one came to help her, no one heard her. She tried to fight back telling them that she would kill them, but it didn't work. They just hit harder Now Tally was screaming and screaming and screaming...

"Natalia, stop screaming, you are safe here," Elrond shook her arm. She wasn't in her room, but in a room which belonged to the healers. "It is gone now."

"The pain. It was real." She looked at her arms and legs, but nothing was there

"See nothing, my lady," said the healer, "You are alright."

"You gave us quite a shock Natalia," said Elrond, "Awoke half the Sanctuary with your screaming. Didn't you drink your draught?"

"I.. I did. I don't understand it. Elrond it happened again. They killed me, they killed my family and Callum and now they're coming back for me. Please," she gripped his arm, "you have you have to help me."

"Tally they can't harm you here. They're trying to poison your mind, but you must be strong, you mustn't let them, you must fight back. They're your dreams. Turn them against the Enemy. Show them how strong you are and let them know what a strong girl they are up against." Elrond's voice dropped, "The kind of girl who would sacrifice her own happiness to save her friend."

"Legolas" she whispered,

"Yes, Tally. He was the first to your room. He carried you here while you kicked and screamed. You cannot make him stop caring. He's bound himself to you. He is incapable of loving another now. He will spend the ages till the end of this earth in love with you. And you will be in love with him too. Talk to him. He will understand. Administer her the strongest sedative we have. If she begins to dream again, put a cold compress on her forehead and speak this to her." Elrond handed the healer a piece of paper. The healer put in on the dresser at the side of the room. "Tally, someone will sit with you now. Do what the healer says."

Tally forced down a bitter liquid and her head fell immediately back onto the pillow. Legolas came in and sat beside the bed, holding her hand. He knew she wanted him, despite what she said, her eyes said different. He had sat there for an hour before Tally began to move about in her sleep restlessly. She began to talk, he didn't know who to. Half was in a voice Legolas knew didn't belong to her, and then the other half was Tally, scared and frightened,

"You know I kill everyone you love," said the harsh voice,

"You haven't killed him yet," the voice was full of bravado, but underneath it was scared

"No but I will. Make sure you say goodbye to your elf next time he leaves the Sanctuary because it will be his last journey," there was a mocking laugh

"I will protect him will my last dying breath. You will not touch him, you shall not kill him. I love him. Now leave me alone. Let me be in peace."

"My, my aren't we playing the little queen. Well tell your little prince to be careful. I may not be able to kill you, but I can kill everyone around you. You will be no use as a lonely and frightened little girl!"

"I love Legolas. I will never be lonely anymore because I know he loves me wherever he is. Now be gone!"

Tally sighed and rolled over. She did not seemed troubled too much by this dream. She seemed to be fighting whatever it was now. But what she had said played on his mind. His death? Her love? Legolas picked up Tally's hand and kissed it. A smile spread across her face, she muttered his name and fell back to sleep. This gave him hope. His other hand tightened its grip on her pendant in her pocket. He would get her back.

The next morning Tally woke alone in a strange room. She was hot and twisted up in the sheets. They night before came back to her and groaned inwardly. She was in the Sanctuary hospital or whatever the elves called it. Now everyone knew her business. Tally got up to go to her room and get dressed, she knew she would have to speak to Elrond again. Tally placed her feet on the floor, but she was weak from not eating or drinking the day before and her legs buckled from under her. She hit the floor with a bump and couldn't get up again. Someone had heard her and the door opened. It was Legolas. She really didn't want to see him, but he didn't say anything. He simply scooped her up and laid her back on the bed. He propped her up with a pillow and put a tray for breakfast in front of her. Before she could say thank you, he left.

Legolas went straight to Elrond. "Elrond, she is awake, but very weak. She cannot stand on her own. She had another dream last night. It didn't seem so terrible to her, she seemed to fight whoever she was talking to, told them to leave her alone."

"That is indeed good news. It means she is getting strong within herself, getting her spark back. Her weakness is to be expected though as she did not eat or drink anything yesterday and spend most of her day sobbing in that little piano room of hers."

"I knew she was upset, but I did not realise it was that severe. What is the problem? Why doesn't she tell me? I want to help her."

"Legolas I have a feeling you are the problem for her. She is torn between many things and does not fully understand anything so cannot make her decisions rationally. She will come to you in time. Of that I am sure."