Chapter 26
Tally slept through the night and woke up the next morning in a bed which had been made up on the floor of Legolas' room, "Urg where am I?" she groaned, "What's happening? I smell disgusting."
"Oh my love, mornings are your most attractive time of day," said Legolas brightly from the bed,
"Be quiet. You are not the one who slept on the floor. How did I get on the floor by the way?"
"I made them move you once you were off in a deep sleep so you wouldn't get all stiff lying on the bed. Go and have a bath. Your cuts need cleaning or they will get infected."
Tally did as she was told and wondered back to her room. There was much crying around her as women mourned their dead husbands, brothers, cousins and sons. Tally was glad to shut herself in her room and call for Malia. The elf came running, she was happy to see Tally and practically threw herself at her,
"Oh my lady, I heard you had gone to fight. I was so scared. Women shouldn't go to war. You are lucky. You are not experienced enough."
"My dear Malia, you should give Natalia more credit. She won us the war. She destroyed the Enemy," Elrond had entered the room having heard their voices, "Lady Natalia, you must get some rest."
"Elrond I got some sleep last night in a bed on the floor of Legolas' room. I am feeling much more refreshed this morning, but I need a bath. I can still smell the battle on me."
"Very good. The Healers are releasing Legolas for lunch. Bring him to my study as soon as you have eaten, we must discuss the outcomes of the last few days."
"Elrond, I must ask. Is Ghilad alive? I didn't see him come to the Healers, but I didn't see his horse in the stables last night."
"Yes Tally. He is fine. He volunteered to join the scouting groups killing as many of the scattered orcs as possible."
"Does Kaelira know?"
"No, why should she?"
"Please, just make sure someone tells her that he is alive."
"Very well. I will see you later." And he left.
Malia had run her bath and Tally stepped in. She sunk down so the water came right up to her neck and lay there relaxing all her tight muscles. She carefully washed her cuts in the water and then washed her hair. Tally stepped out and dried herself. Once she was dressed Malia, put a bandage on a couple of large cuts and Tally went to Legolas' room to find him some clothes to change in to for lunch.
Tally went to the Healers and found Legolas talking with Ghilad who had recently returned from his mission, "We found many clustered together over in the woods, sheltering in one of the dark openings. They didn't get very far."
"Very good Ghilad. Have you been summoned to see Elrond as well."
"Yes I have. After lunch."
"Very well. You'd better go and change and see Kaelira." Ghilad started at the mention of her name, "I'm not blind Ghilad," Legolas teased, "She is very pretty and I'm sure a very sweet elf. I am happy for you." Ghilad bowed to Legolas and then to Tally on his way out.
"You shouldn't teas him like that Legolas, it's not fair. I brought you some clothes to wear. You cannot go to lunch in that. I hope they are to your satisfaction your highness." Legolas looked at them,
"I suppose they will have to do. Why do you have those bandages on? Are you hurt?"
"Malia was fussing. I would just have left them open, but she doesn't trust the healing powers of my body and so she bandaged them. I'm fine, really." She persuaded him, "Let me help you change."
"No Tally, I can manage."
"Legolas, you have one arm in a sling, let me help. I'll be gentle," and she looked at him with lustful eyes,
"Go on then," he laughed at her face.
Tally removed his hospital gown and helped him on with his under garments. He helped pull on his breeches and did them up for him. Tally helped him poke his arm through his sleeve and then let him put the other arm and head through. He managed the buttons himself.
"There, you look quite handsome, even if I do say so myself having chosen your clothes,"
"Are you saying I am not normally handsome?"
"Well." she said and twisted a strand of hair between her fingers smiling,
"No, I didn't think so," he smiled, "Come on I'm thirsty. Ask the healer to come and see me to let me go." Tally went to find a Healer to come and look at Legolas. She found the one she had helped the night before who was grateful to get rid of Legolas who wasn't exactly the ideal patient.
Legolas was cleared and he leant heavily on Tally as they made their way to eat lunch in the Hall. It was quiet. No music, no laughing. Tally got Legolas some food and then went for some herself. She had to cut much of his lunch for him and Legolas began to get frustrated, "I am a King, not an invalid," he muttered under his breath,
"Well if you'd like to die of starvation then so be it, otherwise, let me cut up your food." And he was quietened. They ate in silence, mirroring the mood of the people about them. Naela and Talin walked in and hurried to them. There were hugs all round as they were all pleased to see the other still alive. Naela kissed Tally on the cheek, in human style and whispered,
"I'm glad you are safe. I heard you fought very well and led many fighters. I am proud of you Tally." Naela glanced at her King who was talking to her husband, "You must look after Legolas, he is in great pain even though he does not show it. It is the way of the male elves. They are too proud." Tally only nodded in reply. She could sense Legolas' pain and was well aware of it, feeling it so severely herself.
Tally slept through the night and woke up the next morning in a bed which had been made up on the floor of Legolas' room, "Urg where am I?" she groaned, "What's happening? I smell disgusting."
"Oh my love, mornings are your most attractive time of day," said Legolas brightly from the bed,
"Be quiet. You are not the one who slept on the floor. How did I get on the floor by the way?"
"I made them move you once you were off in a deep sleep so you wouldn't get all stiff lying on the bed. Go and have a bath. Your cuts need cleaning or they will get infected."
Tally did as she was told and wondered back to her room. There was much crying around her as women mourned their dead husbands, brothers, cousins and sons. Tally was glad to shut herself in her room and call for Malia. The elf came running, she was happy to see Tally and practically threw herself at her,
"Oh my lady, I heard you had gone to fight. I was so scared. Women shouldn't go to war. You are lucky. You are not experienced enough."
"My dear Malia, you should give Natalia more credit. She won us the war. She destroyed the Enemy," Elrond had entered the room having heard their voices, "Lady Natalia, you must get some rest."
"Elrond I got some sleep last night in a bed on the floor of Legolas' room. I am feeling much more refreshed this morning, but I need a bath. I can still smell the battle on me."
"Very good. The Healers are releasing Legolas for lunch. Bring him to my study as soon as you have eaten, we must discuss the outcomes of the last few days."
"Elrond, I must ask. Is Ghilad alive? I didn't see him come to the Healers, but I didn't see his horse in the stables last night."
"Yes Tally. He is fine. He volunteered to join the scouting groups killing as many of the scattered orcs as possible."
"Does Kaelira know?"
"No, why should she?"
"Please, just make sure someone tells her that he is alive."
"Very well. I will see you later." And he left.
Malia had run her bath and Tally stepped in. She sunk down so the water came right up to her neck and lay there relaxing all her tight muscles. She carefully washed her cuts in the water and then washed her hair. Tally stepped out and dried herself. Once she was dressed Malia, put a bandage on a couple of large cuts and Tally went to Legolas' room to find him some clothes to change in to for lunch.
Tally went to the Healers and found Legolas talking with Ghilad who had recently returned from his mission, "We found many clustered together over in the woods, sheltering in one of the dark openings. They didn't get very far."
"Very good Ghilad. Have you been summoned to see Elrond as well."
"Yes I have. After lunch."
"Very well. You'd better go and change and see Kaelira." Ghilad started at the mention of her name, "I'm not blind Ghilad," Legolas teased, "She is very pretty and I'm sure a very sweet elf. I am happy for you." Ghilad bowed to Legolas and then to Tally on his way out.
"You shouldn't teas him like that Legolas, it's not fair. I brought you some clothes to wear. You cannot go to lunch in that. I hope they are to your satisfaction your highness." Legolas looked at them,
"I suppose they will have to do. Why do you have those bandages on? Are you hurt?"
"Malia was fussing. I would just have left them open, but she doesn't trust the healing powers of my body and so she bandaged them. I'm fine, really." She persuaded him, "Let me help you change."
"No Tally, I can manage."
"Legolas, you have one arm in a sling, let me help. I'll be gentle," and she looked at him with lustful eyes,
"Go on then," he laughed at her face.
Tally removed his hospital gown and helped him on with his under garments. He helped pull on his breeches and did them up for him. Tally helped him poke his arm through his sleeve and then let him put the other arm and head through. He managed the buttons himself.
"There, you look quite handsome, even if I do say so myself having chosen your clothes,"
"Are you saying I am not normally handsome?"
"Well." she said and twisted a strand of hair between her fingers smiling,
"No, I didn't think so," he smiled, "Come on I'm thirsty. Ask the healer to come and see me to let me go." Tally went to find a Healer to come and look at Legolas. She found the one she had helped the night before who was grateful to get rid of Legolas who wasn't exactly the ideal patient.
Legolas was cleared and he leant heavily on Tally as they made their way to eat lunch in the Hall. It was quiet. No music, no laughing. Tally got Legolas some food and then went for some herself. She had to cut much of his lunch for him and Legolas began to get frustrated, "I am a King, not an invalid," he muttered under his breath,
"Well if you'd like to die of starvation then so be it, otherwise, let me cut up your food." And he was quietened. They ate in silence, mirroring the mood of the people about them. Naela and Talin walked in and hurried to them. There were hugs all round as they were all pleased to see the other still alive. Naela kissed Tally on the cheek, in human style and whispered,
"I'm glad you are safe. I heard you fought very well and led many fighters. I am proud of you Tally." Naela glanced at her King who was talking to her husband, "You must look after Legolas, he is in great pain even though he does not show it. It is the way of the male elves. They are too proud." Tally only nodded in reply. She could sense Legolas' pain and was well aware of it, feeling it so severely herself.
