c Chapter 7

Part 2 of Dark Tidings

THE SEARCH /c

Legolas settled in to sleep as Silivrinath had asked. After one last check, she left, intending to go to Elrond and tell him of Legolas' progress, then to her own room for a rest.

Silivrinath was smiling as she moved through the halls. At the end of one long hall, she saw Elrond's sons Elladan and Elrohir. They were obviously in a hurry and their faces were anxious. She overheard Elladan tell his brother, "We must make haste, brother. I would not have Sili's hopes raised then dashed again!"

Somewhat unsettled now, Silivrinath hurried on to speak to Elrond She found him also looking, if possible, even more serious than usual.

"Father!" she called. "Legolas is beginning to remember. I mentioned Estel to him and he remembered his real name and appearance!'

Elrond smiled at the tiny elf maiden. "That is good news, daughter," he replied, but it was obvious his mind was elsewhere.

"Father? Why were Elladan and Elrohir leaving in such haste?" Silivrinath asked.

Elrond sighed, "There has been a rumor about Uireb and Meriad, daughter," he told her. "They are going to investigate..."

"Mother and Father?!" Silivrinath exclaimed.

"Yes," Elrond replied slowly. "We had no wish to speak of it to you until we knew its truth. I would ask a favor of you--wait to act until they return. Will you do that for me?"

"But..."

"Legolas has need of you now, Sili--more than ever," Elrond told her. "Wait at least that short time." Knowing his chosen daughter's impetuous nature, Elrond was uncertain as to how she would answer.

Silivrinath sighed, "Very well, Father. I will wait for a time."

Silivrinath left Elrond and returned to her room. Try as she might, sleep eluded her. She returned to Legolas, finding him sleeping peacefully. She smiled as she watched her friend, then thought, "Yes, Father, I will wait--but only for a time."

Silivrinath rose and stood gazing out the window in the direction of Fangorn Forest. Legolas stirred, feeling the rays of the sun touching his face and waking him with the light. He blinked, his eyes focusing as he immediately noticed Silivrinath at the window, looking like she was lost in thought, a sad expression on her face. He knew she was worried about him, but he had remembered Aragorn, surely it would all be well, Nay, there had to be something else.

"Silivrinath? Is everything well?"

She would probably answer with it is all fine, but he hoped she would not, Talking might relieve her pain. Silivrinath turned at the sound of Legolas' voice. A smile lit her face briefly as she regarded her friend, knowing that he was beginning to remember. She considered the gentle lie she had been using--all was well--but this was Legolas, after all, and he would see that things were other than what she said. She decided on a slight blurring of the truth instead.

"I do not know, Legolas," she told him "I hope it will turn out to be so, but at this moment there is just a faint hope"

Again she looked out of the window as she continued, "There has been a rumor going around about two elves named Meriad and Uireb--they may have been seen near Fangorn Forest---" she sighed. "Why do they not come home, if it is them?"

"So, Legolas, I am not sure if all is well, or not. It is with you, for which I am so grateful, but with me--I do not know yet."

It was not clear to Legolas what this all had meant. Those two Elves
probably meant something to Silivrinath or else she would not have
mentioned them

"Who are they? Do I know them?"

Silivrinath replied slowly, reluctant to inflict her pain on Legolas at this point.

"Yes Legolas, you knew them," she said. "They were--or perhaps it is still are--my parents." Noticing the puzzled look on her friend's face she continued, "They disappeared some years ago. Lord Elrond took me in into his house and heart, and I have been treated as his daughter ever since."

She smiled at him, "You and your brothers were the leaders in the search for them..." and she smiled suddenly, "When my hands could be pried loose from your tunic! I did not want to be alone and you stayed by my side and made me feel safe."

Legolas frowned, not understanding it at all. Why would they leave her like that? Parents should take care of their children.

"Why did they leave you?"

And why were they here after all that time? It was clear it was painful for
Silivrinath

Silivrinath managed a smile for Legolas, "They did not leave me willingly, Legolas. We were traveling and were attacked by a band of Orcs. You and your brothers arrived in time to drive them off, but by that time I was the only one left alive--"she paused for a moment, then continued slowly, "There was no trace of my parents. It was as if they had disappeared from the earth."

Silivrinath moved away from the window and seated herself beside her friend. "That is why this rumor has puzzled me. If my parents truly are near Fangorn Forest, why do they not return here? Are they hurt in some way? Have they lost their memories as you have? I must know!" Her shoulders sagged as she continued, "I made a promise to Father--Lord Elrond--to wait, and I will, for now."

"But enough of that," she told him, trying to hide her pain and confusion, "Since you have wakened, what would you like to do?"

He had no idea of what he wanted to do. After all, how could he know what they could do around here. Maybe walking around would help him remember in some way.

"I would like to walk around a bit, I only saw this room."

"Then we will go walking," Silivrinath said smiling. I will wait while you dress. There are clothes for you over there." And Silivrinath pointed to the left, then moved to the window, giving Legolas as much privacy as she could in order to dress himself. After a few moments she turned and approached him, "Are you ready? We will see what places we can discover--and perhaps we can talk a little bit. Who knows what might trigger another memory?"

Legolas dressed quickly, as he fumbled with the lacings of his tunic for a bit before he was done He smiled at Silivrinath and hoped she was right, maybe it would trigger some memories. Or perhaps seeing more of the building would help.

"Let us hope so, it would be nice to have a memory, to have my memory."

Silivrinath laughed in spite of her worry about the rumor. Legolas was as impatient as ever

"The memories will come, Legolas," She told him. "The fact that you remembered Estel is very encouraging." She paused a moment, thinking, then said, "Perhaps the blow you took was such a shock to your brain that it could not function properly for a time. And perhaps," she continued hopefully, "the healing has begun." She held out her hand to her friend, "Come. You have been alone in this room for too long. "

Silivrinath very carefully did not speak of the rumor to Legolas again. She knew that she had to act upon it, but she did not want to distress her friend at this critical stage of his recovery.

Legolas smiled, taking the offered hand. He hoped she was right, maybe indeed the blow had only been enough to keep his memory from him for a short period of time. He felt that Silivrinath was worried and yet also excited about the rumor that mayhap her parents were close by. He could understand her nervousness and anxiety at the same time, he just hoped it would not be another disappointment for her.

"Aye, perhaps in a short time I will remember it all."

"I hope so, Legolas," Silivrinath told her friend as she led him through the halls of Imladris "I know it must be very frustrating for you" She thought very privately, "and heartbreaking for me!"

Silivrinath fell silent as they walked. The more she thought about the rumor, the more she longed to go and investigate it herself. She hoped none of her turmoil showed on her face--Legolas was perceptive, and he would be able to see it and it would trouble him.

"I will take you to a place we always enjoyed," she said. forcing herself to continue as she had been, helping Legolas. "I'm curious to see if it wil trigger any memories"

Again she fell silent as a plan began to form in her mind. He walked along with her, eying the halls they passed, trying to see if it was familiar to him. It felt known, but he couldn't put his finger on it, not yet. Maybe it would indeed trigger some memories, but he was not counting on it, saving himself from disappointment.

He sensed Silivrinath's eagerness, knowing it had to do with the fact her
parent's could be close by. He could understand that, but not why she just didn't go.

"Why do you not go look for them?" he finally asked. "I can manage by myself."

Silivrinath, looked at Legolas in surprise. She thought she had hidden her longing well, but Legolas' perceptions--especially in regard to her--had not dimmed with his loss of memory.

"Am I that transparent?" she asked ruefully. Before Legolas could answer, she continued, "I am torn, Legolas. I want to go, but I want to help you as well. Father--Lord Elrond--would forbid it, I know, and I respect that He is trying to protect me." She sighed. "I just want to know WHY, if it is them, that they have not returned here! I want to know where they have been all this time while my hope for their survival became less and less." She shook her head, her silver-blond hair flying. "I do not want to leave you now, but..." and she sighed again and fell silent.

She thought fondly, "Legolas, you will be well--this has proved it to me. I must go!"

Legolas laughed at her sudden enthusiasm. He was glad she would go instead if staying here with him. He would only feel guilty for keeping her here if she was staying for him.

"If I am who you tell me that I am, then I am sure a warrior like me can manage on his own."

He was still unsure of it all, but he pulled Silivrinath in a hug "Be careful and good luck."

Silivrinath's breath caught in her throat as Legolas pulled her into a hug. She thought, "I will never have a truer friend! He understands me even though his memories are gone!"

She returned the hug, adding a bashful kiss on the cheek as she told him, "I will be careful, Legolas. And I will return soon. I must leave quietly, though, so I may not be able to tell you farewell later..."

Silivrinath thought about what she was planning to do. Elrond would be angry, but that had happened before. She thought ruefully, "I have never been as dutiful as Arwen--father will undoubtedly be expecting it. He will be angry---oh well"

To Legolas she said, "Let us explore a while more--time enough for other things later."

Late that night a small cloaked figure stole through the halls of Rivendell. The figure stopped before Legolas' room, looked furtively around, then entered quietly.

Once inside, Silivrinath pulled back her hood and moved noiselessly toward the bed where Legolas lay sleeping. She smiled tenderly at her friend, then whispered, "I wish I could speak to you again, Legolas, but if I do not go now, I will never have the courage to do so."

Reaching under her cloak, Silivrinath removed an envelope which she laid on Legolas' bedside table. After another long look at the sleeping Prince, Silivrinath stole out.

Moving with the ghost-like silence she had learned from Legolas, Silivrinath made her way to the stables. There she found the horse that had brought her and Legolas to Rivendell. He was much improved and nickered softly as he saw her. She smiled, rubbed his velvet nose, and mounted him, urging him away from The Last Homely House.