Chapter 25

She rushed into the normally peaceful rooms belonging to the healers. It was busy and noisy with people crying for help from every bed, "Where is Legolas?" she asked a passing nurse,

"In the room at the end, my lady." And Tally was there before the woman had a chance to finish. She pushed her way into the room and knelt beside his bed.

"Legolas? Are you alright? Talk to me. Tell me you're ok." But she received no reply. "What's wrong with him?" she turned to the people about the room,

"Calm down my lady. He is alright. We have given him a sedative to allow him to sleep while his body heals. The arrow wounded his arm deeply, but everything will heal in time. He will not be awake for some hours."

"Can I help you with anything? I can clean wounds and dress them if you want."

"My lady, you should get some rest, and get your own cuts seen to, some look quite deep."

"No, please, let me help. I won't rest anyway until I have spoken to him. Let me stay and be of some use."

"Very well. There are a group of people queued up outside on room. Here is a pile of bandages and cloth. Use this to clean the wound and put this on it before you bind it. If anything looks too deep to heal, bear in mind that elf skin will heal even if the cut is quite large, then send them to me or another healer. Come."

And Tally was confronted by a line of wounded soldiers with cuts and grazes. She did as she was told, carefully cleaning the wound and then binding it. Many of them were shocked to see her helping when she should be resting. Once in a while, between patients, Tally ran to check on Legolas. He was still sleeping, a calm look on his face. She kissed him and went back to her work. Gandalf came to look for her,

"Natalia, please, you should get some rest. Elrond orders it. You have been through much tonight, and seen a lot of tragedy.."

"Which is why I am here helping. I have to put some good back. Let me stay. I want to be here when Legolas wakes up anyway." Tally didn't look up, she just continued cleaning the cuts of the Man in front of her who winced at her touch, "Oh don't be a baby, it's not that sore," she teased,

"Very well Natalia, I will tell Elrond you are resolved to stay." Gandalf left and Tally continued helping the people around her. She had seen maybe a twenty or thirty people over a few hours, when a nurse bustled in,

"My lady, he is awake. I am to take over from you." Tally thanked her and ran to Legolas who was sitting up in bed, his arm now in a sling,

"Legolas, I was so worried."

"Tally, you're ok?" and they smothered each other in kisses until both were satisfied the other was there and it wasn't a dream, "What happened?"

"It's over Legolas, the Enemy has been destroyed. It's all over. We are free. The Sanctuary is no longer under threat. It's going to be alright."

"But how?"

"I don't know. I shot the wizard and then Gandalf did some spell.."

"What Wizard? How did you shoot him?"

"He was one of the Istari. Alatar was his name. And I shot him with my bow, just like you showed me, but without the distractions of normal," and she kissed his nose. "I'm not sure why it worked, I'm sure Gandalf will explain in the near future. I'm just so glad you are safe. Talin said you were hurt and I. I thought you were dead when I saw you sleeping and all the blood.." And Tally finally burst into the tears she'd been holding back for hours. Legolas reached out his good arm and patted her head, rubbing the tangled hair.

"What happened Tally?" Legolas commanded her to tell him. She sat back still holding his hand and said,

"He was there. He was everywhere."

"Who was?"

"The one who raped me. He was everywhere."

"Tally he's dead, I killed him when we got back to your flat."

"I know, but he was the only one I saw. And I wanted to kill him, to make him feel the pain I felt."

"Tally, it's ok. Your anger made you fight and that's what kept you alive."

"I've never killed anyone before. I didn't know if I could. It felt good Legolas. Like a relief." He was silent not knowing what to say. Then it came to him,

"Tally it was kill or be killed. I am glad you chose the first. I love you. I would not have let you go out there if I didn't think you would have been able to handle yourself. It is alright. You fought to protect your friends and the people you rule. Don't forget that. It is your responsibility to lead them and to set an example. Would you let them just walk in here and destroy everything?"

"No."

"Then you did what is right. You may not like it, but that is war Tally. It is brutal, but it is that or die yourself. Do you understand me?"

"Yes. It's just different. I feel different."

"It always does the first time. Don't think about it. Think how safe we are now. Think what you did to keep everyone safe. You did this. You saved us. Come here." And he hugged her the best he could given his injuries, trying to keep her weight off his arm. Tally lay her head down on his blanket and promptly fell fast asleep, still dressed in some of her battle clothes. Legolas didn't wake her, knowing she'd be too exhausted to move if she woke up.