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Chapter 13

Elrond's Interference

Legolas entered Lord Elrond's study, his face a mask of staidness.

Elrond looked up from his parchment, a question in his gaze. "Suilas Thranduillion. What does though require of me at this early hour?" (Greetings, son of Thranduil)

Legolas walked closer, his stoic gaze faltering for a look of annoyance. "What did you do to Atalantawen?" he asked.

Elrond stared at the prince, his own face blank of any emotion. "I know not of what you speak."

Legolas stared harder. "Do not think that you can simply wave my question away at your word. She is changed. She does not show anger. Her personality does not reflect who she is! What did you do to her while we journeyed here?"

Elrond heaved a long sigh, before pushing his chair away from his desk, and standing up. His room in Rivendell had been the same as always. Save, for it held a few more possessions of Celebrian's here and there. A hair-brush on the bureau... Her nightgown hanging by the changing curtain... She too had changed. Upon seeing her sons, and being home again, had brought great happiness to Elrond's wife.

"I simply gave her a potion whilst she slept, that calmed her anger, and let her relax and open up to her feelings." he admitted, going to the balcony. Legolas followed, still angry.

"But you said we were not to interfere!"

"I know..." Elrond sighed, "I know, Legolas... But, just look at her down there." he said, gesturing to the garden's below where Tala was sitting with Estellia, telling her a story. Estellia's eyes were over-bright. And she had a smile upon her face that Legolas had never yet known to grace his daughter's lips. "She is happy here. Estellia is happy. She has a mother again - even if Tari has yet to show herself. Would you deny such joy from your only daughter?"

Legolas leaned against the railing of the balcony, staring down at them both. "No... I couldn't bring myself to do it." He stared at Tala a moment longer, before turning on Elrond. "But you know that this is wrong! In a matter of time, the potion will ware off and-"

"And by that time, Tala will have come to accept her place here. Deep down inside her, locked away, is a part of her that does not want to fight again. That want's to see Arya dead, and live the life she was deprived of since her birth. You Legolas," Elrond stared hard at the prince, "simply need to remind her of that side of her..."

Legolas walked silently down the stairs into the garden's where his reincarnate love and his daughter were sitting. Estellia looked up; her elven ears had faintly caught the sound of footsteps.

"Ada!" she called, "Come sit we me and nana!" (mommy)

Legolas smiled, and walked over. The two were sitting on a stone bench beneath the young boughs of a willow. Tala was dressed in the elven fashion, her dress in shades of olive-green and silver. Her hair was done up in an intricate bun, with a white rose in full bloom to extenuate her beauty.

She smiled shyly at him, setting Estellia on her lap to make room for him on the bench. Legolas knew that her shyness was another thing that Elrond's potions had brought out. Normally, around males, she would be the dominant. Her anger and hatred would drive them away. But, as Elrond said, deep down, she was actually shy and scared of them. Scared of what they might do to her. Tala didn't even sleep in the same bed as Legolas. She may have settled in a bit, but the prospect of sleeping in the same room and bed with another male, especially one who thought her his reincarnated love, made her very hesitant. Instead, she slept with Estellia in her spacious room. For, 'her daughter' did not want to be parted from her.

Legolas sat down next to her, placing a chaste kiss on her hand, and pinching Estellia's cheek playfully. She giggled, and pushed his hand away.

He smiled, and looked at Tala instead saying, "Estellia, would you mind if I stole your nana for a few hours? There are some things she and I need to discuss."

Estellia frowned and pursed her lips in a very child-like way, pouting. "Alright. If you insist adar. But only if you let me go camping with Uncles Elladan and Elrohir."

Legolas laughed. "If you insist, my daughter. But you shall have to rise early if you are to go."

"Adar, I already rise earlier than you." Estellia joked, her smile returning.

Tala smiled too, though not saying a word. Legolas took her hand in his, asking. "Would though consent to walk with me milady?"

Estellia giggled at the chivalry her parents shared as she hopped off her mother's lap. She was still blissfully oblivious to the fact that the personality and certain characteristics did not fit her real mother at all. That the figure before her may look some-what like Tari, but her spirit had yet to diminish and rekindle for Tari's.

Tala blushed. "I suppose it shant hurt. Though I shall warn thee; if though doth make me late for dinner again, I shall let Elrohir and Elladan use you for bait on the hunting trip."

He quietly laughed, drawing her closer. "Iest lin." (according to your wish; as you wish)