Chapter 34

Earlier than normal, Malia called Tally for her bath. She paid more attention than normal to her hair and make-up and she made Tally wear the dress she had chosen that morning, even if Tally protested she had changed her mind about it, preferring a much more conservative ensemble. Tally again wore no jewellery, to make sure Legolas would notice the lack of her silver leaf. She was ready early so she idly picked up a book and began to read.

There was a knock on the door and Tally stood up, closing the book. She walked to the bookcase to put it away as Legolas walked in, "My lady, if you would be so kind as to accompany me to the Great Hall." Tally turned to a mirror to check herself one last time. She found a stray bit of hair dangling from plait on her head. Tally tried to tuck it in, but she found she couldn't quite see to put it back where it belonged. Legolas moved behind her, "Let me, my lady," and he pushed it back in firmly, "There. It is done. If it is possible, you look more beautiful than when I last saw you all those years ago." Tally stopped looking at her reflection and her face became cold. She turned,

"I think we must go now." She took the arm Legolas proffered and walked to the Hall. She kept as far away from his body as possible and did not look at him. Instead she walked straight with face set and head held high. They passed her Music Room. It had lain unopened for fifteen years. Legolas asked,

"How is your playing my lady? Will you play for us later?"

"I have not played now for many years. I find I cannot take pleasure in it anymore." Legolas thought back and realised that was his fault. They were both thinking about her birthday as they walked into the Great Hall. Tally took her arm from Legolas and moved to sit away from him. Legolas looked intently at the Elf sitting between Tally and Ghilad and eventually he got the message and moved seats. Tally inwardly groaned. To her right was Legolas and to her left was Kaelira. Tally resolved to talk about wedding dresses,

"Kaeli, did you decide a dress today with Naela? I am sorry I was not more help." Kaelira was not expecting Tally to be talking to her, and certainly not with such an earnest look on her face. Then Kaelira saw who she was sitting next to and got the message. They engaged each other in conversation all through the meal. Kaelira asked about the Garden and over Tally's head she saw Legolas' ears prick, she had not gardened before. Tally responded saying it was doing very well, but there was an area she would have to have the Gardeners tackle because she wasn't strong enough with the shears. She needed to cut it back a little to let the other plants grow through. Then Tally asked Kaelira whether she had chosen the food for her wedding feast. Kaelira wasn't sure yet. She wanted to leave at least that part to Ghilad. Tally wasn't sure if that was such a good idea, and they both laughed as they turned and watched Ghilad shovelling food in, barely tasting any of it.

After the meal was over, there was singing and dancing. Tally though about leaving, but they started playing one of her favourite songs, so she sat at the side singing to herself. They had just reached her favourite bit when Legolas came and sat by her. Tally stopped,

"Please, carry on. I haven't heard you sing in Sindarin before. It sounds amazing."

"I am not going to embarrass myself for your pleasure Legolas. Don't you think I've done enough of that already?" Tally left the feast and when back to her rooms. She began pouring over the legal books again.

Meanwhile in the Hall, Legolas found Naela, Talin, Kaelira and Ghilad together, "What is wrong with Tally? Why won't she speak to me?" he asked them. Kaelira jumped in before Naela could say anything again,

"When you left, she was in a great deal of pain. You can understand her not wanting to go through that again. Legolas, it virtually destroyed her and it's still there eating away at her insides. She no longer thinks she is good enough for anyone and tried to just cut us all off so she couldn't get hurt. She thinks everyone she cares about leaves her. Legolas, I thought you knew that. You knew more about Tally than anyone did. How could you hurt her like that? She's practically a baby in this world compared to us. She does not yet understand the power of her immortality. To her, any length of time seems like a long one. Why did you do it?" Naela then had to add her opinion,

"You broke her heart, and now each time you look at her, or talk to her, she can feel it breaking again. Can you imagine the pain she is feeling?"

"But I never stopped loving her," Legolas said in a small voice. Ghilad added,

"You were away seventeen years. You sent letters back to everyone but her. Legolas think about it. She thought you'd left her forever and sealed up her heart in the process. It took the ladies months before they could talk to her freely about it. Months." Legolas sat down and rested his elbows on his knees and head in his hands,

"What am I going to do? I still love her. I have to get her back." He looked up at four blank faces. Not finding the help he wanted, Legolas left and went to his rooms. He paced the floor all night racking his brains, but still he thought of nothing.