Chapter 9

Elrond came immediately when he was called, and found his daughter with Legolas on the floor. He knelt by he fallen prince, checking him over while glancing to Arwen.

"What happened?"

Arwen answered slowly, "Legolas told me that he had encouraged Sili to go to Fangorn. I explained to him why we did not want her to go and he seemed upset. I tried to reassure him--the last two words I said to him were heb amdir. He clutched his head and fell" Arwen looked up at Elrond, "Father what did I do?"

Elrond lifted Legolas slowly, looking at his daughter with a gentle and loving smile.

"There are two ways to regain your memory, slow and in time, or fast, like with Legolas, paining him because all the memories came too fast. Your words probably triggered it. Do not worry, all he needs is sleep and he will be well in the morning, though he will have a headache."

Arwen sighed with relief. "I'm so thankful for that! It was so sudden--and after all he and Sili had been through in that horrid camp--" she shuddered.

Rising to walk beside Elrond, Arwen asked, "Have you any news of Sili? I realize it is early to ask, but I am very worried about her"

- - - - - - -

Silivrinath quietly drew her sword, ready to fight if necessary. The slender elven blade glowed a brilliant blue in the dark thicket. She waited tensely, knowing that if she were discovered, it was her end.

After what seemed like an eternity, the Orcs passed her by. Silivrinath heaved a sigh of relief, sheathed her sword and urged her horse onward, keeping to the thick cover of the underbrush as much as possible

"So far my luck is holding," she thought. "If only Legolas were well and could have come with me!"

Silivrinath continued on her way, even more cautiously than before

- - - - - -

Elrond's face saddened for a moment, stepping into Legolas' room, and laid the Prince on the bed gently, covering him with a blanket.

"Nay, I have not. I have sent a messenger to Elladan and Elrohir, as well as some skilful guards. I am hoping they will find her."

He was worried as well, for Sili and his family, this threatened to destroy it all, She could not find out if it had all been a hoax, she would be so disappointed. Arwen tried to lighten her father's mood, having seen the sad expression.

"Perhaps they will find her. Their woodland skills are great. And Sili would have gone in any event--you know how stubborn she can be!"

Arwen looked down at Legolas "I wonder what he will do when he wakes," she said, almost to herself.

Elrond smiled "He will go after Sili, without a doubt. Though he cannot go until his headache is over."

If that was going to stop him. Legolas was stubborn, always had been.
Especially concerning Sili. Arwen returned the smile, glad that her father's gloom seemed to have lifted, if only for a moment

"You're right, father. We will be lucky to keep him here until the headache stops, I think"

Elrond rummaged through a cabinet, looking for something in particular and a loud "aha" followed when he finally found it. He turned to look at his daughter, a loving smile upon his wise and fair face.

"You think well, though try to stall him."

He handed her a small brown jar, a honey like smell coming from it.

"This will ease his headache as well help him sleep some more." A knowing smile played upon his lips. "Try to give him that, though perhaps he will wake soon now."

He gave her kiss on her forehead and turned at the door before leaving.
"I will be back soon."

"I will do my best, Father," Arwen said, returning her father's smile, "But you know how headstrong Legolas can be." She looked at the jar her father had given her, misgivings in her heart, but knowing that her father only wanted the Prince well, she resolved to make sure that Legolas took the medicine. Arwen looked up at her father, asking, "Will you be long?"

"Nay, I will be back within the hour."

With that he left, leaving Arwen alone with an unconscious prince, and a
silent room. Only the soft breathing of Legolas was heard, though undoubtedly he was going to wake soon. Arwen sat by Legolas, watching over him as he slept. More than once during her vigil, her thoughts strayed to Silivrinath and worry insinuated itself into her mind.

"Legolas," she thought, "I hope you will be able to go searching for her soon." Looking wistfully out the window she continued with her thought, "For some reason you understand her better than any of us."

As Arwen turned back toward him, she saw the Prince's eyes begin to flutter as wakefulness began to return. Legolas became aware of lying in a bed, and the fact his head was pounding. It was a strange feeling of deja vu only now he only did not remember what had happened after he was injured at the slave camp. Those memories would probably not come back to him either. It was a strange sensation of having to open his eyes, probably due to the head injury, as he saw Arwen sitting close by.

"Arwen?" he said a bit confused, he had not expected that, but at least they made it out of the slave camp.

"Where is SIli?"

Arwen took a deep breath This was going to be difficult. "Sili brought you to us," she said carefully. "You had been badly hurt and when you woke, you had no memory of yourself, us, or what had happened to you." She proffered the bottle her father had given her, saying, "Father wants you to drink this."

Legolas' gaze was intense, and Arwen could not bear to keep the knowledge from him. She looked down for a moment, then back to the Mirkwood Prince, saying, "There was a rumor that Sili's parents were seen near Fangorn Forest. Father sent Elladan and Elrohir to investigate, but Sili found out." Arwen bit her lip, then continued, "She left last night."

Legolas had taken the bottle, yet had made no movement to drink it just yet, because he knew exactly what it was in there. True, he had a headache, but not severe enough for him to willingly wanted to sleep some more.
At the mention of Sili, he sat up straight, looking at Arwen with big blue
unbelieving eyes He had not expected differently from his friend, this was
Sili they were talking about, but he was surprised they had let her go. It
was dangerous, even if she was skilled. She had a good fighting arm, but she was not the warrior he was, and it was already dangerous enough for him to be traveling alone.

"She went alone?"

Arwen nodded slowly, "Yes. Father had asked her to wait until Elladan and Elrohir returned, but she left secretly late last night. Father was very upset when he discovered it." Arwen looked at Legolas, knowing that he would not rest until he knew all that she knew. "I think she may have left you a note. She left one for Father."

She watched Legolas, hoping he would drink the potion Elrond had given, but in her heart doubting that he would.
Legolas pushed aside the bottle, placing it on the nightstand next to the
bed, sitting up while doing so. She was out there alone, and he was here. It was fairly simple. He had to go after her.

"I am going after her."

Pushing away the blankets, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
Arwen knew in her heart that this was the response that Legolas would make, but she still felt the need to try to get him to honor her father's wishes and wait until he was stronger.

To that end she began, "Legolas, I know that you want to help Sili, and I know how protective you've always been of her, but you have only just recovered your memories and you are still weak. Please wait--just for a while. Father has sent word to Elladan and Elrohir to watch for Sili..."

Arwen's voice faded as she looked into Legolas' eyes. She knew then that her protests were useless

- - - - -

Silivrinath had been traveling slowly and cautiously. She was nervous traveling alone, but she had no choice.
Another band of Orcs appeared and Silivrinath disappeared into the
dense undergrowth of a nearby grove of trees.

"I've never seen Orcs move so boldly!" she thought as she watched
them pass.

One Orc was hanging back and held something in his hand. He seemed
to be watching the others, as if wanting to slip away.
Silivrinath withdrew her sling and put a stone in it. This little weapon was not as accurate as a bow, but it was silent and they wouldn't be able to tell what had happened--after all, it only used stones.

Silivrinath whirled the sling and let the stone fly. It struck the Orc at the base of the neck and he fell silently.

Silivrinath quickly dismounted and slunk up to the Orc, prying his fingers from the object he held and hurried back to the safety of the forest. Once there she looked at what she had taken and caught her breath.

It was an Elven pendant, almost identical to the one her mother had
given her so long ago.

- - - - -

Indeed her protests were useless as Legolas stood up, only swaying slightly before his step was more confident. There was an ugly looking bruise on the side of his head, his face pale but set confident with an undertone of anger. He looked beautiful like a dark angel, only slightly marred because of the bruise. There was no time to wait and they both knew it. His eyes darted around, looking for his weapons.

"Where are my bow and knives?"

Arwen told him seriously, "Neither you nor Sili had any weapons when you arrived. Both of you were injured--you the worst--because of the slavers who held you."

Arwen paused for a moment, thinking. She told Legolas, "I think I can find some weapons for you. It will only take a moment."

The Elven beauty hurried out without waiting for a reply. In the room that Legolas had used on other visits, Arwen found a bow and a set of knives. Whispering, she said, "Forgive me, Father, but he must go," she hurried back to the room in which Legolas waited.

She handed the weapons to Legolas, saying, "Have a care, Legolas. There are undoubtedly still slavers about, as well as many other evils and you--well, you are not fully healed---"

Legolas eyed the weapons in his hand, a slight expression of disappointment crossing his face as he knew they did not hold the beauty his former weapons had. The long knives had been a gift from his father, the bow he had crafted himself. But these just had to do for now, he would make another bow later.

"Thank you Arwen, for understanding."

He was quick in strapping the weapons to his back, his face set determined as he was planning on only returning with Sili.

"I need a horse and some supplies."

Arwen nodded slowly and told Legolas, "I will meet you near the stables. I will hurry."

As she left the room for the second time, Arwen thought "Father forgive me! But Legolas would go in any event. He is so protective of Sili!"

Arwen made her way into the kitchen and then the pantry. She got bread, meat, cheese, wine, and lembas. "If all else fails or spoils, they will have the lembas to use--I am so grateful that the Lady Galadriel permitted our cooks to learn how to make them."

Arwen, heavily laden now, hurried to meet Legolas. She found him waiting as she had asked him to.

Arwen gave him the supplies, then said to him, "Have a care, Legolas. You are only just recovered yourself." She paused for a moment then looked into the eyes of the Mirkwood Prince saying, "Find her, Legolas. Bring her home!"

Legolas had taken one of Sili's horses, knowing it would not be missed by other riders He did not hesitate, binding the pack on his back as well,
nodding once to Arwen before mounting.

"I will not fail Arwen, I will not return without Silivrinath by my side."

He did not look back as he urged his horse forward, into the direction to
where his friend had disappeared in as well.

Arwen nodded, watching as Legolas rode away. She stood motionless until he was out of sight.

"Keep safe, Legolas," she whispered to the retreating form. "I want my friend and my sister to return safely."

After Legolas disappeared from view, Arwen turned slowly and re-entered the house, already anticipating what her father would say.