Chapter 8-
I opened my eyes to the warm feel of sunlight glinting off my back, and the sound of water running. Suddenly I remembered what happened the night before and I nearly jumped out of my own skin. I dashed towards Gliren and Silinde, seeing them both asleep. I was relieved that she was still alive as I watched the rise and fall of her chest to make sure she still breathed.
I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and I turned to see Nunilwen, "Where is Erualarion?" I asked.
"He has gone out to gather food," she said, "and Gliren will be fine." she continued as she saw the expression of worry across my face.
"So we go to Mirkwood?" I asked. Fear suddenly grasped me, and I was afraid to be somewhere new to me. Arwen's words came back to me "Cursed with the mark of violet." and I shivered.
I heard something softly meet the ground, and then lips nuzzle against my neck.
"You have impeccable timing Lord Erualarion." Nunilwen said as Erualarion enfolded me in his arms.
"I tried to come back as quickly as I could." Erualarion replied. I was just grateful he was there. He glanced over at Silinde and Gliren and smiled.
Silinde opened his eyes as Erualarion began to cook our breakfast, and he stroked Gliren's hair. He looked over and saw eggs cooking on a small slab of slate, and realized that he was very hungry, "It is also a joy to see Erualarion preparing breakfast for us all!" he said, making us all laugh. In fact... we all were hungry. He slowly sat up and pulled the blanket over Gliren more.
'Who said I was ever making any breakfast for you?" Erualarion said, grinning wickedly, making us all laugh again, Gliren had begun to wake and the morning was joyous.
"Ahh, well then I will only have one resort left... cannibalism!" Silinde giggles, gently gnawing at Gliren's ear. We all exploded into laughter at Silinde's mucking about. Nunilwen wandered over, "You gave us all a dreadful fright! Why, I thought when we found you, you were dead!" she exclaimed.
I stood in silence, still fearing rejection in Mirkwood. Silinde noticed, and he assured me that everything would be alright. I would have a home in Mirkwood if I wished it. I smiled, although I was still unsure of my situation. My thoughts were broken as Erualarion announced that breakfast was ready, and we all sat down to eat, although I knew I was very hungry, I did not feel like eating. Eventually I did eat, hunger overpowering me.
I removed my cloak, the sun now hovering above us, I was beginning to get dreadfully hot. I stared up into the breaks into the tops of the trees, watching a few birds fly together.
"We should start out journey today, I know not how long our supplies will last." Erualarion said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"The horses are rested and we can begin today." Silinde said, and we all heard Gliren let out a groan. "I will take her in my horse, she is still too weak to stay on a horse alone." he whispered to Erualarion.
I began to pack up the blankets, while Erualarion and Silinde cleaned up the slate and other things we had used in the morning.
"Where am I going to go now?" Gliren finally asked, "I cannot go back to Imladris." those words and thoughts pained her.
Erualarion smiled at her, "Do not worry Gliren, we have already planned a journey back to Mirkwood." he finished, still smiling at Gliren.
Gliren feared rejection to, and she stared into Silinde's eyes, but as if he read her mind he said, "Friends of the Princes Silinde and Legolas will be most welcome in Mirkwood. Do not fear hostility from the Silvan elves."
I became somewhat intimidated once again, but realized suddenly that I still had on my ball clothes, now partially stained at the bottom. Groaning I became aware that we had quite a way to go before we reached Mirkwood, and I had no clothes suited for travel with me. I cursed and everyone looked at me, and I sank to my knees, "Silinde, I hope your father does not mind my greeting him as a torn and rugged mess. I have no clothes suited for traveling, and I am sure all of mine will be ruined by the time we reach Mirkwood." I said worriedly.
He knelt down in front of me and looked me straight in the eyes, "Oriavanim, he would welcome you if you were the poorest beggar or wearing the shabbiest of all rags." his words were very comforting, and I felt relieved, and it showed. He smiled and assured me again not to worry, and so we mounted our horses, Silinde taking Gliren securely in his arms and holding her on his horse. We were on our way, on our way to the great kingdom of Mirkwood.

"We must finish crossing the Misty Mountains before we can reach Mirkwood, it's a two day's journey over the mountians, and another day until we reach the outskirts of the forest." Silinde said, grinning wildly. He was joyous, not only because his love was okay, but because he was going home. Slowly he began to hum a song, and before long his hum and transformed into full fledged words and wonderful song. I listened, in wonder and in awe as he sang a song, it was in a strange form of elvish that I had never heard before, I assumed it was Silvan, but the others understood it enough. Even though I did not understand the words, I understood well them meaning, it was a song about coming home to joy and family and friends.
I let myself relax and take in the beauty of the mountains around me. Mountains, I had never seen mountains until then, the stunning grey-blue color of them, with white snowcapped peaks. Snow, that was another thing that I had seen for the first time.
"Beautiful is it not?" Gliren asked, her eyes gleaming as she looked around in wonder as well.
"Such things I have never seen before, this is all so new to me, I know not which I should let sink in first!" I exclaimed, wonder and awe filling me to the very core.
Nunilwen smile at me, remembering the first time she had seen the mountains, and knowing that shortly, as we grew higher up the peaks , it would begin to get cold. "You may want to put your cloak on, soon it will start to be very cold, and in those clothes you will nigh freeze to death." she said.
I pulled my cloak out of my pack and quickly wrapped it around me, still taking in my surroundings. Erualarion looked at my back just before I put the cloak on, taking in the design of the ancient rose. "Silinde! Do you think it is possible that when we reach the palace that we could find a marquist?" he asked.
"I am sure we can find one somewhere," he said, "I will have it arranged as soon as we reach the palace." he finished, looking back at me with a grin as he turned to look at Erualarion.
Instinctively my hand reached behind my back, feeling my marque and getting into a panic as I felt the bottom of it. Some of the ink had been scratched off when I had been hurt. Erualarion giggled, "It is really not that bad! I have just been staring at it for hours!" he said, grinning wickedly. I could feel passion building up inside him again, it emanated from his very being. Knowing this sent thoughts racing through my head, thought that send pleasurable cold chills up my spine. A slow smile crept across my face.
As the day grew on it got dreadfully cold like Nunliwen had said it would, despite the sun beating down on us, I shivered until Erualarion convinced me to climb onto his horse with him, wrapping his cloak around me also. I do not know how long I had been there, letting him hold me and smiling the whole time, but I was at peace, and soon I fell asleep.