Chapter eleven

The wizened being looked up at Silivrinath and smiled, "Do not worry for me, Tithenel," The being, they now noticed, was female. "It is what must happen to free me."

As they watched, she began to shimmer and the wizened being transformed into an elf woman with silver-blonde hair like Silivrinath's. Her deep blue eyes regarded the two before her.

"Tithenel, your friend needs your help," she said softly

Silivrinath sank beside the elf woman, "Mother?!" She began to shake, "But that Orc--he has killed you!"

"No, child," Meriad whispered, "He has freed me. Tend to your friend and then I will explain."

Legolas had watched quietly, as the scene unfolded before his very eyes. He would have never believed it if he had not seen it. The woman, the mother of Sili, she had to be one of the Istari, if she was capable of such magic. He had not known any Elf he could do that.

"No, please, I am well. You need to talk first, I can wait."

He did not want to intrude in the conversation, even if it was because he was only mentioned. He felt like they should talk, A lot of questions were
probably filling his friend's head. After all, he was only suffering from a broken wrist, it could be looked after later as well.

Silivrinath was regaining a measure of composure. "We can do both," she said, beckoning to Legolas. "I will tend to your wrist while Mother tells me what happened."

Meriad smiled," You always could think of a way to do things more quickly, Tithenel." She smiled weakly. "Very well, I will tell you as you work.

Meriad watched as Silivrinath began to splint Legolas' wrist, then slowly began to speak, "Remember when we were attacked Tithenel? Remember there was no trace of us? That was because they used some strange sorcery to change us--your father and me--into creatures like I first appeared to you. They needed slaves, you see, and they knew that we would not submit in our true forms. In that form we were imprisoned in, we had no choice. It was just by good fortune that I overheard the master of the Orcs you just killed tell them not to touch me with a sword--it would undo what had been done." Meriad drew a deep breath, "That is what they wanted the two of you for--they were planning on doing the same thing to the two of you--otherwise they could have killed you easily with their bows."

"But, Mother, you took a mortal blow!" Silivrinath exclaimed, her eyes full of tears

"I know--but it may be that it 'killed' only the sorcery and only hurt me. But even if it does prove to be the end of me, at least I die as an elf--and free--not as a slave for all time!"

Legolas stayed quiet, during this, though listening intensely to what she
was telling them. It sounded unreal to him, Orcs were not capable of sorcery. And where was the father? She did know the name Sili's parents had called her so affectionately, it did not prove anything though. He did not comment though, and let his friend do her work, wincing when the splint was applied. He knew he would heal fast, but it would take weeks
before the broken bone would be completely healed, and he could use it like before. Finally he did ask something,

"Where is your betrothed?"

Silivrinath had managed a slight smile when Legolas winced. "I am sorry, Legolas, "she said. "It has to be tight so that it will heal properly.

She had listened to her mothers words, but something did not ring true--much as she wished for it to. Her head snapped around at Legolas's question. "Trust him to go right to the heart of the matter," she thought. "Just like a well aimed arrow!"

Aloud she asked, "Yes, Mother, where is Father? Does he yet live?" She hoped her voice betrayed none of the suspicions now flaring in her mind.

Legolas understood Sili knew what he was getting at, and he was glad for it, One could not be too careful these days, with danger lurking around every possible corner. He cradled his now splinted hand to his chest when she was finished, knowing the intense pain would fade in a few hours. He was actually curious to know what the strange Elf was going to answer.

Meriad paused just a little too long before answering. "I do not know Tithenel. They separated us. I have not seen him in a long time."

Silivrinath watched the face of the stranger before her. She was convinced now that, in spite of appearances, this was not her mother.

"Why would they do that?" she asked in what she hoped was an innocent voice, "If this--type of captivity is so perfect, why must they separate you?"

Meriad sighed, "There are times, Tithenel, when you are too curious for your own good" and she suddenly lashed out, her slender elf hands suddenly claw like. "Now I will take you to my master! I wanted you to come willingly, but if not, so be it!"

Silivrinath leaped back, reaching for her knives as she did so.

"Mebo orch!" she snarled, the knife glinting in the sunlight.
(Translation: Go kiss an Orc!)

Legolas did not pause, but made sure he would not kill the creature with
them, not knowing whether is was indeed Meriad or some foul creature sent by whatever master it had. Someone powerful indeed, if it was capable of sorcery. With his good hand he gripped a heavy branch from the ground, slamming it into the stomach of the creature.

"Leave!"

"Meriad" hunched over, wheezing, as the breath was forced from her body. She looked up at Legolas and Silivrinath, her eyes glittering balefully.

"If I leave, can you really be sure I will not return?" she asked, her voice grating, "I must bring others to my master--otherwise I will be punished. It
would be pleasant to die, to be free of fear of him." She straightened and faced the two young elves saying, "I will leave--for now. But you may regret your decision!"

Silivrinath had placed herself by Legolas, knowing that he could not use his favorite weapon--his bow--and fearing what this creature in the form of her mother would do.

"We have nothing to fear," she told "Meriad". "We came in search of someone. We found someone else. We will not harm you, but you in turn must not harm us."

Silivrinath shifted her stance again and the sun again glinted on the knife she still held at the ready. "We will not submit to slavery--if you learned anything from Mother, it should have been that!"

At that moment, Silivrinath's stomach again began to roll and rumble, and in spite of her desperate desire to see this creature gone, she had to clutch at her stomach, if only for a moment.

"Meriad" smiled then, a cruel smile. "It appears that I have only to wait," she said. "Some of my comrades have done my work for me." And she laughed, a cruel taunting laugh, before whirling and disappearing into the forest.

Legolas did not bother to follow her, instead he was at Sili's side immediately. Worry etched his face as he eased her to the ground.

"What is it? Where are you injured?"

At her stomach, obviously, but he had not seen a dangerous wound, how
could she suffer from pain all of a sudden like this? And what did the
creature mean, was Sili going to turn into something like that as well? Too many questions he had, and some not even his friend could answer.

Silivrinath clutched Legolas' good hand as he gently eased her to the ground. This pain was unpredictable, which frightened her.

"I do not understand this, Legolas," she told her friend. "I do not think I took any more hurt than a few scratches--" she swallowed hard, as the pain hit her again. "There may have been something on the blades." She took a deep quivering breath, then said, "That creature is not my mother, even though she looks like her. She believes that something will happen to me--but it must not! I would prefer death to being like her!"

Silivrinath looked up into her friend's worried eyes. She tried to smile, then asked, "Legolas, would you bring me my herb pouch? Then I must ask you to look for a deep wound--one deep enough to get poison into me. I do not know what else to do. If you find nothing, you must try to get me back to Imladris--to Father. He will know what to do."

Silivrinath closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke again, "There is one more thing I would ask of you, Legolas. If it becomes obvious that you will not be able to bring me safely to Imladris--if I am changing--then end my life. I do not wish to exist in that way."

"What?" Legolas looked at her with large eyes, knowing what she was
asking of him, but was he ever able to do it?
He walked over to her pack, taking the pouch of herbs from it swiftly. He was worried, to say the least. What if they did not make it back to Rivendell in time, what if he had to watch as she was changed into a creature as well?

He smiled though, handing her the pouch, while removing the cloth she
had used to cover herself.

Silivrinath smiled wanly at Legolas as he brought her the herbs. She searched the pouch, hoping...yes! She had just a few dried leaved of athelas. "This should help," she said softly "Now, Legolas, examine me--tell me if you see anything--anything at all."

Silivrinath lay her head back on the soft grass as Legolas bent to his task Judging by the soft mutterings of her friend, it was as she had thought--scratches only.

Legolas' muttering ceased and Silivrinath felt his fingertips trace a small wound on her stomach, very near her naval...

It was indeed a small wound, but large enough to be from a blade, to have her poisoned without them knowing it. It seemed to be clean, but that meant nothing, he knew from experience Locking eyes with her briefly, he reached with his good hand for his knife.

"This is going to hurt briefly, Sili."

He reopened the small wound swiftly, and not to deeply. Black blood seeped out of it, making him look up at her worriedly. By the Valar, please let her be well, he thought as he moved closer to the wound, his lips over it, and started sucking. His mouth would fill with the poison, and from time to time he spat, to make sure the poison would not get into his body. He continued until clear blood seeped out, but there was going to be poison in her blood already.

Silivrinath nodded and tried not to flinch as Legolas re-opened the wound and withdrew as much of the poison as he could. Strangely, she felt a little better. She handed Legolas two of the athelas leaves, telling him, "Moisten these and pack the wound with them. Use the water that you moisten them with to clear your mouth--I do not know what kind of poison this is, and I have no wish to lose you!"

As she waited, Silivrinath thought longingly of Rivendell and all her friends--most especially the one who knelt by her side now. She looked up at him, telling him softly, "I am afraid, Legolas. We must try to get to Imadris as quickly as we can!" Another thought struck her, "Oh Elbereth! Legolas, have you seen any sign of Elladan and Elrohir? They left before I did--oh, I hope they are well..."

Silivrinath closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly. The sky was still clear, the horses nearby, and Legolas was with her...

"All will be well," she thought, "We survived that slave camp, after all--we will arrive at Imladris in time!"

Legolas nodded, taking the leaves, grabbing his pack and reached for
a bowl and his water skin. He moistened the leaves and started to push
it on the wound, gently. He wrapped a bandage around it, to keep it
from shifting and rinsed his mouth afterwards.

"I do not know, Elladan and Elrohir can take care of themselves. We
need to get back to Rivendell now."

Before it is too late, he thought to himself. He could fight, but not
as good as before, and Sili was injured as well, poisoned. If they ran into Uruk-hai's...

"I know," Silivrinath replied. "I just hope that they did not come upon that creature and be deceived."

She struggled to rise, saying, "You are right, Legolas, we must return to Imladris. I am feeling better since you removed the poison, but we must try to hurry."

Rising slowly, Silivrinath moved to where their clothing lay, now completely dry, and dressed herself as quickly as she could. Turning, she asked, "Have you need of help with your tunic, Legolas? It is awkward, I am sure, with your broken wrist..."

It was awkward indeed, he had managed to pull up his leggings, with a
bit of a struggle, but he had done it. His tunic was another story he
realized, needed two hands to even put it on without paining himself.

He shot her an apologetic look. "If you would, It seems far less difficult then it truly is."

They needed to reach Imladris soon, for he did not know what the
poison would do to her, and how long it would take to do anything If
she would truly turn, and she would attack him...He'd rather not think about it.

"Of course I will," Silivrinath replied, hiding a smile. She moved to Legolas, and very carefully eased the tunic over the broken wrist and across Legolas' shoulders. After the tunic was in place, she deftly laced it up and tied it.

"Now, we are ready, I think," she said. "We must hurry. I believe this is a slow acting poison or I would be very ill by now--I did not even feel that wound!" she said in wonder. "And Legolas, I believe you got most of it out. I do feel better but I do not know for how long"

Moving to the horses, Silivrinath mounted, careful of the poisoned wound. She swayed for a moment, then sat steadily.

"Legolas, I was wondering--almost every time I saw Uruk-Hai, they were in the grassy areas, so I assume that they do not like forests that well. If we were to travel just inside Fangorn for as long as we can, maybe that would keep us safe. The Onodrim do not like Orcs..." She smiled, somewhat sheepishly, "Perhaps it is a naive question, but do you think it might work?"

He glanced to the forest she was referring to, a worried frown upon
his youthful features She had made a good remark, but he was not
certain if it would be a good idea to go into Fangorn. Even Elves tried to avoid it as much as possible. It was an old forest, and the tree herders there hardly recognized Elf from Orc these days.
On the other hand there was no other route to avoid the high grass, and it would mean another battle, perhaps more, They would not survive it. Not with the both of them injured.

"I do not think we have much choice Sili, though it will not be an easy path for our horses."

It would take longer, which was dangerous, He did not know how much
time they had left

Silivinath nodded, looking to the forest, uncomfortable with the idea herself, but seeing no other alternative. She also knew that they had a desperate need for haste, but that another battle would probably finish both of them.

"Then that is what we must do," she said, hoping Legolas did not hear the slight tremor in her voice. "Perhaps if the Onodrim see us with no blades, they will let us pass--at least that is my hope."

Silently Silivrinath prayed that her strength would last and that she would not become a burden to her injured friend.

"If you are ready, Legolas, then so am I," she said, in what she hoped was a calm voice.

As Silivrinath urged Ninim toward Fangorn, she began to feel waves of dizziness sweeping over her. She clutched Ninim's mane, hoping that Legolas would not see.

"Oh Elbereth!" she silently prayed. "Please help me keep my strength!"

Resolutely Silivrinath straightened on Ninim's back, as the dizziness passed...for the moment.