Chapter 37

Fili pulled me off to the side.

"You love someone cousin!"

I sighed. I was never able to keep anything from Fili or Kili. They always knew.

"Yes Fili I do."

"Well tell me who!" He said eagerly.

I looked at him sadly. His eyes went wide with realization.

"The elf prince?" he asked quietly.

I nodded. He sighed and put his hand on my shoulder. I hugged him not knowing what else to do.

"Oh Fili what am I to do? I love him I know that, but we could never be together!"

"Calm down! Everything will work out! I promise I will help you in any way that I can."

I nodded and tried not to cry.

"Come now cousin, no tears and no worries. Now lets get you back to your room."

I nodded and Fili walked back with me to my room.

The same dream came to me again. I was in the cell, thrashing away at the bars.

"HELP!" I screamed.

I heard the footsteps again and waited. It was Legolas who came into view.

"Silanna! I am so sorry!"

"Why did they do this?"

"I know not! I promise I will get you out!"

"YOU!"

My eyes flew open and I sat straight up. I was safe in the room I had been given. I ran my hand over my face and sighed.

"What sorcery sends these dreams I wonder." I said.

I stood and got dressed, for I knew I would find no sleep this night. I wandered through the halls and found Boromir's old room. I slowly opened it and walked inside. I smiled seeing a banner of Gondor hanging over his bed, a desk and some swords and daggers upon the wall. It was just like Boromir. I smiled and then left the room. I made my way to the houses of healing. I had heard that Faramir was up. When I found him I smiled.

"Faramir!"

He smiled back at me and approached me.

"Silanna, at last I can properly thank you." I raised my eyebrow. "I heard that it was you who rode out onto the field and brought me back, at the risk of your own life. I am forever in you debt."

He bowed and I shook my head and smiled.

"No Faramir. You are a dear friend. I promised your brother I would look out for you. Not directly, but I told him after he had died."

He nodded, then something else caught his attention. I looked over and saw Eowyn. I smiled and looked back to Faramir

"She is the niece of Théoden King of Rohan. He fell in battle and she saved him from the Witch King. She is also the one who ended him." I said.

His eyes widened.

"Go to her." I whispered.

He looked at me and then smiled back at her. I left the houses of healing and ran into Gandalf.

"Ah Silanna it is fortunate I have found you. I am holding a council in an hour or so."

I nodded and promised to be there. As I walked off towards the throne room someone grabbed me roughly and kissed me. I need not wonder who. I knew it was Legolas. Though I knew I should not I kissed him back. I wound my arms around him and pulled him closer. His tongue slid through my lips and danced with mine. I moaned into his mouth and kissed him harder.

"S-S-Silanna?!"

Legolas and I broke apart and I saw Dwalin standing there.

OH NO!

"Dwalin listen to me…."

He turned and stalked off. I tore after him and grabbed his arm.

"Dwalin hear what I say!"

He stopped and glared at me.

"It had better be a good explanation Princess!"

I took a deep breath.

"Dwalin….I care about him." His eyes went wide. "He has protected me and he cares about me as well. Please Dwalin, you are one of my closest friends and my mentor. You cannot tell my father! Or my mother. Please promise me!" I begged.

Dwalin sighed.

"You know it is forbidden."

"What?"

Dwalin pulled me aside.

"It is forbidden for a dwarf and an elf to be together. Decided by both your father and the Elvenking."

This was the first I had heard this. And it was true that before I never would have believed I would fall for an elf, and least of all Legolas! But it happened that I did. Tears welled in my eyes but I would not allow them to fall.

"I will not speak of what I have seen….I do not wish to see you hurt lass."

I put my hands on his shoulders.

"I know."

He nodded and then I walked back to where I had left Legolas.

"~Did you know of this? That it is forbidden for elf and dwarf to be together?~" I asked.

He looked away.

"~Yes I did.~"

"~And yet you still…~"

"~I only wished to protect you Silanna!~"

"Protect me?"

He looked at me and then grabbed me and pushed me against the wall.

"~Do you not understand?! If your father ever knew of any of this….if my father ever knew of this…~" He put his hand on my face. "I would never see you again." he whispered.

I closed my eyes and leaned into his hand. I kissed his palm and he rested his forehead against mine.

"~I could not live without being able to see you. Your kind and beautiful face. I would die Silanna. I would die.~"

"I would die." I whispered.

"Which is why I never told you. If harm ever came to you because of me…..because of what I have done….."

I pressed my fingers to his lips.

"Because of what we have done. It was not only you. I kissed you, I chose to be near to you. We made this choice." I said.

I could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke.

"Silanna….you were right. We cannot be together. Too much is at risk. But I want you to know I will always love you."

I kissed his lips. This would be the last kiss we would share. When we separated we made our way to the throne room for Gandalf's council.