Chapter 23

It was a chilly evening outside and Legolas held Tally tight to keep her warm, not that either of them minded. They walked into a secluded garden, walled with tall hedges. Tally could smell the jasmine in the air as they say down on a stone bench and she leant into Legolas resting her head on his shoulder and together they watched the stars above them. He kissed the top of her head and Tally lifted her face to his. She ran her index finger down his face and across his lips. He caught her finger, sucking it into his mouth. Tally giggled as he tickles it with his tongue. Legolas began to kiss the top of her hand and then turned it over and kissed her palm, down to her wrist and to the crook of her elbow. He then jumped to her neck, planting a round of kisses there. Tally couldn't stand it any longer and she took his face in her hands and pulled his lips onto hers. It felt like he was reaching out to her soul as he kissed her, his tongue probing her mouth, tasting her. He nipped her lower lip with his teeth and she ran her fingers through the length of his hair,

"I love you. I love you so much," she whispered to him, "It feels like my heart would stop if you ever left me." Legolas stopped sucking on her ear. He took her shoulders in his hands and moved his face level with hers. Looking into her eyes he said,

"Tally you are my everything. I could never leave you. If I'm not in you company, even for five minutes, I start to ache for you, for your smile, for your touch," and he rubbed his thumb along her jawbone, "You make me feel happier than I could ever have imagined possible, joy which is unsurpassable. Why would I even contemplate leaving you?"

"Maybe you won't have a choice. Maybe I'll get you killed." Tally could no longer meet his eye.

"Tally have you been having those dreams again?" she shook her head, "Then why do you have to bring it up again? Tally my place is beside you. It's where I know I belong. I will live by you, fight by you, and, if must be, die by you. You know what that feels like don't you?"

"Yes. Yes I do."

"So you know what I mean when I say that for me to go anywhere without you would be like leaving part of myself behind."

"But it could be my fault you die."

"And if I'm not with you, I will die. That is a certainty, the other is only a possibility. Tally I have to be with you. Please don't do this," he begged her, "Please?" there was a desperate tone in his voice. He paused as she looked up "I love you Tally, more than life itself. I know you feel the same way." He lowered his voice now, "Just give in. Give in to it. Forget everything else. We are two people, madly in love and now we're going to get married. That's all that matters." Tears were rolling down Tally's cheeks. Legolas kissed each one away, then kissed her eyelids to stop anymore falling.

"I want to give in, I do, but I'm scared. I've seen you die, Legolas, and it was all my fault. I don't care if it's not true, but just the thought of what I could do to you frightens me. I want to be with you, with all my heart and soul.."

"Then do it Tally. Seize the moment and let everything else go, all your fears and anxiety, all those worries." She sat and thought for a moment. Her eyes finally met his again, there was a firm resolve in them,

"You know. You are right. They can throw what they like at me, poison my day with battles with foul creatures and spoil my night with dreams of death, but they cannot take you from me. I can truly say that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm not going to run scared and let you go. If you are prepared for this, then so am I. I love you and nothing including the four horsemen of the apocalypse will ever tear us apart."

"Four horsemen of the apocalypse?"

"Oh, they announce the beginning of the end of the world."

"So you're saying we're going to be together for eternity, in this world and in then next, whatever that may be."

"Pretty much," she smiled, "And anyone who tries to get in the way is in for trouble. A lot of trouble."

"Trouble yes." Legolas nodded smiling back,

"And a serious kicking." Tally's face was all seriousness, but Legolas began laughing, "What? Why are you laughing at me?"

"You are too beautiful and I love your fighting spirit. Soon we must start practising your swordplay so I can see what anyone is up against."

"Oh stop teasing me," Tally protested, "It's not fair."

"Tally, serious now. What are you saying? Are we getting married?"

"Of course we're getting married," she caressed his skin as she saw how upset he was getting, "I've just got to remember what I'd be losing if I let you go. The most important person in my life, in the whole world. Give me a kiss, just to remind me what I'm getting myself in for though, just on case I want to change my mind." She raised her eyebrow at him and smiled seductively.

"Right you, I'll give you change your mind," and he went to tickle her. Tally dodged away and ran lightly through the garden, hitching her dress up so she didn't trip over. She still couldn't run very fast though and Legolas caught her up by a large stone arch in the garden. He pressed her against the cold stone with his body and tickled her sides. Tally squealed and tried to move away but she was trapped. Tally knew one way to stop him. She reached her hand inside Legolas' breeches and took hold of him, caressing him lightly with her fingers. Legolas moaned, stopped tickling her and wrapped his arms around her,

"Now Mr Greenleaf, what do we say?" Tally applied a bit more pressure to him,

"I'm sorry," he groaned as she rubbed harder, "I'll never do it again."

"Good boy." Tally pushed him round so his back was against the pillar. She undid his breeches fully so the cool night breeze blew over him. Tally knelt down and took him in her mouth. Legolas ran his fingers through her hair as she licked him up and down massaging him as well with her fingers. Legolas' moans increased as she started sucking him, deeper and deeper, harder and harder. He called her name and she felt his juices hit the roof of her mouth. Tally swallowed hard. She looked up and Legolas had his eyes closed, breathing heavily. Tally brushed her hand over his face and he opened his eyes, "We should go back inside. Everyone will be missing us." And they went back to join the party hand in hand, smiles on their faces.

The noise hit them as they walked through the doors. The party was still in full swing. Tally sat down on one side of the room while Legolas automatically went to fetch her a drink. She looked at the elf next to her, it was Naela. Tally leant forward so she wouldn't have to shout to be heard, "This is a good party. Are you having fun?" Naela jumped slightly, not expecting to be spoken to,

"Yes, I am. If you think this is a party, you will have to see what gets laid on for you wedding. It will be days of feasting and celebrations. Come, where is your fiancé? And come to think of it, where is my husband? He went for drinks."

"So did Legolas. They must have got distracted. If they are arguing about who is the better archer, I swear I will scream. Those two are acting like little boys." And indeed as predicted, Naela and Tally found the two fighting as two whether Legolas could pull of a shot Talin, Naela's husband, had earlier that day. Tally held up her hands, "Boy, boys boys, please, put your rivalry to one side for the night, especially when you are running errands for us." Legolas handed Tally a glass,

"Here, my love, drink this quickly, I want to dance. I like watching you make things up as we go and you're getting good at missing other people's feet when you do it." Tally sipped her glass slowly in reply, much to Legolas' frustration, he whined at her. Naela and Talin just laughed,

"You two are just like a married couple already, doing everything just to spite the other!" Naela pointed out.

"That's it Tally, we're dancing now." And he took her glass away and whisked her of to the dance floor joining the people partying away to their hearts content. Tally just let herself be caught up in the moment, moving where she felt, much to Legolas' amusement especially in the more formal dances when Tally completely disregarded what everyone else was doing and went off on her own wild tangent. They were in the middle of a fast number were Tally was getting more and more dizzy as Legolas turned her in wild circles, when the music stopped and Elrond stood up, a worried look on his face.

"They have found us, they have found the Sanctuary. We must prepare for war and put these celebration on hold until this is over. There are orcs circling us on the west front and on the north. The ways to the south and east are still clear and when day breaks the women and children will be led there to safety on the human shelter. The leaders of the human country we are in are well aware of our situation, and although they cannot help directly with military action, they will help us indirectly, looking after the women and children and treating the injured. Please, leave now. All men, prepare for war, collect your weapons and we shall form up outside. There will be a council for all leaders in fifteen minutes in my study." There was silence in the hall, nobody moved, "Go!" he commanded and the Hall was a buzz of panic. People rushed this way and that. Legolas kissed Tally on the nose,

"Go get ready, I will see you in council." She ran back to her room and pulled on the armour which had been made for her. It was light and she was still able to move fully. Tally picked up her sword and slung it round her waste. The also put a quiver of arrows and a bow on her back. Tally made sure her necklace was tucked under her armour against her skin and pulled her hair back into a pony tail. She headed off to council.