Chapter 20

Tally decided to make an effort for dinner that evening, dress up and force Legolas to look at her, she knew he'd forgive the instant he looked into her eyes and saw how sorry she was. Tally picked her outfit carefully, she'd wear a dress from home, not very elfin, but very Tally. It showed off her curves in all their glory and she put on her heels which the elves just couldn't understand the point of. Malia, helped her pile her hair on top of her head, making sure she had plenty of neck on view, topping it with a small clip Legolas had given her. Tally looked at herself in the mirror, pleased with what she saw and knowing Legolas would be too. Applying a final coat of mascara, she left her room and sauntered down to the hall. The elves were used to seeing her in untraditional dress, but this was positively distracting. Tally smiled as the heads turned her way and she could practically hear their opinions on her!

Tally took her usual seat at the table and helped herself to some food, then she felt his presence near her. She looked up and saw Legolas walk into the hall. His eyes bulged as he saw Tally. Ignoring him, Tally continued eating her dinner. She heard the chair next to her scrape back and Legolas take his seat beside her. It wasn't long before he said,

"You've dressed up."

"Sometimes it's nice to get all pretty." Was all she said in reply, not looking at him,

"Tally?"

"Mmm huh," she had a mouthful of food,

"Did you dress up for me? Because it won't work, whatever you're trying."

"That's nice Legolas." Tally was trying hard not to look at him and appear aloof. There was silence for a minute before he spoke again,

"Would you like to come for a walk later?"

"Ah ha I knew it!" she laughed out loud, "This dress works every time. It's nice to be so irresistible!"

"Please, my love, do not flatter yourself, I am only doing this so you feel your effort is vindicated." But from the way he looked at her neither knew it was true. He felt for her hand under the table and dropped his voice so only she could hear, "I am sorry for before. Some times I just can't help myself. I want you so much."

"And I want you, but you never saw or felt what I did. Please, just give me time."

"You have all the time in the world Natalia. I love you and I will wait."

"Thank you Legolas, I love you too, but please, stop looking at me like that, you're making me blush!" In reply he leant forward and kissed her cheek just next to her ear, then the spot where her jaw bone joined her ear, and then finally down her neck. Tally had stopped eating and closed her eyes leaning into his movements. A voice behind them muttered,

"Can't you two leave each other alone for five minutes?" Tally opened her eyes as Legolas worked his way around her collar bone and said,

"Ghilad, for your information, Legolas and I spent a few hours apart this afternoon, we are not joined at the hip as everyone seems to think."

"Only because you had one of your regular and frankly quite predictable lover's tiffs. I'm thinking of petitioning Lord Elrond to let us set the clocks by them."

"Ghilad is only jealous, my love," said Legolas between kisses. Then he stopped and looked up, grinning at his friend, "He ought to find himself a companion. He cannot be alone for eternity." Tally noticed Ghilad's gaze shoot to one of the elves at another table. She was beautiful. Once Ghilad was out of ear shot Tally turned to Legolas and muttered,

"I think he's already chosen. Watch." And Ghilad went and sat down next to the elf who Tally thought was called Kaelira. Tally saw the same look is his eyes as Legolas had when he looked at her.

"We should help them along. A candlelit supper in my rooms perhaps?"

"No, let them do it themselves, it's quite sweet." They both dissolved into giggles and Ghilad looked up, seeing them both looking at him. He shot Tally and Legolas a look that would kill and turned his attention to Kaelira next to him. Tally and Legolas' laughing was interrupted by Elrond.

"I must speak with you both after dinner in my study. It is very important." And he walked off.