Chapter 21
Later that evening, they both made their way to Elrond's private study next to the library. He was not there so they sat down nervously, wondering if they were in trouble. Elrond and Gandalf walked in and seeing the demeanours of the two said,
"Do not worry. I do not know of any trouble you have caused. I brought you here because I would like to discuss your respective coronations. They should take place as soon as possible, before we cannot manage to spare the time. You are both the rulers of people and therefore you should be crowned as such.
"Natalia, you are now as well versed in the history of your people as Gandalf or I and we think you are prepared. Legolas I need not tell you of the preparation and rituals you must go through before then. I give you both a week to be prepared. That should be long enough."
"Thank you Elrond, it is an honour and I am grateful you let the coronation of a Queen of men take place in your house." Said Tally in awe of what was going to happen
"It is quite alright my child. You are forgetting you are one of my descendants and I could not be happier that you are here in my house for the occasion. Legolas come with me, I will find you what is needed." Legolas stood and left with Elrond. Gandalf turned to Tally,
"There is much for you to learn for the coronation. We will begin in the morning. I suggest you go early to bed. You will not be seeing Legolas for tonight. He was many rituals to complete before ascending to the throne of Mirkwood." Tally nodded and went back to her room and dreamt of a big crown and a long dress.
The next week was fraught for Tally. She had to give Malia the task of choosing her dress because there simply wasn't the time with everything else going on. Tally barely saw Legolas. He spent many hours locked up in a small room reciting verses of Sindarin under his breath. Tally, meanwhile was learning verses of her own with Gandalf, luckily, they were in English so she didn't have too much of a problem. The thing which scared her the most was having to make a speak to her people afterwards. It was tradition apparently. She worked on it for long hours, giving drafts to Gandalf who always found amore complicated way of saying everything she wrote, so the final version was three times the length of the original.
The day dawned. Her coronation was not till the afternoon, but Legolas' was in a couple hours outside in the woods. Tally had time to get up leisurely and have some food before joining all the other elves outside. It was a cold morning so she wrapped the matching cloak around her dress for the occasion. The trees were decorated with garlands of flowers, the elves must have been working through the night on this, she thought. In a small clearing under some great oak trees was a small platform and there the ceremony was to take place. Tally was ushered to her seat near the front and she almost gasped aloud as Legolas arrived dressed in white robes that were dazzling to look at. He looked every part the king he was to become. The ceremony was performed by an old member of the Royal Family's household. This elf barely left his room now as he had been severely weakened in the orc attacks but his one wish was to crown the heir to the throne he had protected and no one was not going to grant such a hero that honour.
The service was long, involving many pledges by the new king, on his knees before the old hero. It was almost noon before the crown was placed on Legolas' head and he stood up and was proclaimed King Legolas of the Lost Kingdom of Mirkwood. There was much cheering and shouts for joy and he led everyone back into the Sanctuary for a celebratory lunch. Tally finally had a chance to catch him and speak to him. He looked at her and caught her eye. Tally curtseyed and said,
"Your Majesty, I crave a word, if you would spare your humble servant a minute of your time."
"My lady, there is always time for you in my court." He smiled at her. Tally went to him and kissed him slowly on the lips,
"Mmm I've always wondered what it was like to kiss a king. Now I know."
"And is it a life changing, earth-shattering experience to be touched by such greatness?"
"No," she said softly looking into his eyes, "because I'm not in love with the King, but the elf underneath and the ground always moves when he kisses me." And she kissed him again. "Legolas, I have to go. I'm too nervous to eat and I need to go and get ready for later, run through my words, you know. You were great today, and you look gorgeous." She gave him a fleeting kiss on the lips and then ran back to her room.
Later that evening, they both made their way to Elrond's private study next to the library. He was not there so they sat down nervously, wondering if they were in trouble. Elrond and Gandalf walked in and seeing the demeanours of the two said,
"Do not worry. I do not know of any trouble you have caused. I brought you here because I would like to discuss your respective coronations. They should take place as soon as possible, before we cannot manage to spare the time. You are both the rulers of people and therefore you should be crowned as such.
"Natalia, you are now as well versed in the history of your people as Gandalf or I and we think you are prepared. Legolas I need not tell you of the preparation and rituals you must go through before then. I give you both a week to be prepared. That should be long enough."
"Thank you Elrond, it is an honour and I am grateful you let the coronation of a Queen of men take place in your house." Said Tally in awe of what was going to happen
"It is quite alright my child. You are forgetting you are one of my descendants and I could not be happier that you are here in my house for the occasion. Legolas come with me, I will find you what is needed." Legolas stood and left with Elrond. Gandalf turned to Tally,
"There is much for you to learn for the coronation. We will begin in the morning. I suggest you go early to bed. You will not be seeing Legolas for tonight. He was many rituals to complete before ascending to the throne of Mirkwood." Tally nodded and went back to her room and dreamt of a big crown and a long dress.
The next week was fraught for Tally. She had to give Malia the task of choosing her dress because there simply wasn't the time with everything else going on. Tally barely saw Legolas. He spent many hours locked up in a small room reciting verses of Sindarin under his breath. Tally, meanwhile was learning verses of her own with Gandalf, luckily, they were in English so she didn't have too much of a problem. The thing which scared her the most was having to make a speak to her people afterwards. It was tradition apparently. She worked on it for long hours, giving drafts to Gandalf who always found amore complicated way of saying everything she wrote, so the final version was three times the length of the original.
The day dawned. Her coronation was not till the afternoon, but Legolas' was in a couple hours outside in the woods. Tally had time to get up leisurely and have some food before joining all the other elves outside. It was a cold morning so she wrapped the matching cloak around her dress for the occasion. The trees were decorated with garlands of flowers, the elves must have been working through the night on this, she thought. In a small clearing under some great oak trees was a small platform and there the ceremony was to take place. Tally was ushered to her seat near the front and she almost gasped aloud as Legolas arrived dressed in white robes that were dazzling to look at. He looked every part the king he was to become. The ceremony was performed by an old member of the Royal Family's household. This elf barely left his room now as he had been severely weakened in the orc attacks but his one wish was to crown the heir to the throne he had protected and no one was not going to grant such a hero that honour.
The service was long, involving many pledges by the new king, on his knees before the old hero. It was almost noon before the crown was placed on Legolas' head and he stood up and was proclaimed King Legolas of the Lost Kingdom of Mirkwood. There was much cheering and shouts for joy and he led everyone back into the Sanctuary for a celebratory lunch. Tally finally had a chance to catch him and speak to him. He looked at her and caught her eye. Tally curtseyed and said,
"Your Majesty, I crave a word, if you would spare your humble servant a minute of your time."
"My lady, there is always time for you in my court." He smiled at her. Tally went to him and kissed him slowly on the lips,
"Mmm I've always wondered what it was like to kiss a king. Now I know."
"And is it a life changing, earth-shattering experience to be touched by such greatness?"
"No," she said softly looking into his eyes, "because I'm not in love with the King, but the elf underneath and the ground always moves when he kisses me." And she kissed him again. "Legolas, I have to go. I'm too nervous to eat and I need to go and get ready for later, run through my words, you know. You were great today, and you look gorgeous." She gave him a fleeting kiss on the lips and then ran back to her room.
