After a fortnight, Sevein had finally regained the ability to walk on her own. The exhaustion in her muscles from the long journey from Rohan had only worsened the effect the dreadful river had on her, and her recovery was slow and painful. She spent days with Legolas, exploring the halls and the forest slowly, stopping for him to pick her up and carry her on occasion. Her nights were more increasingly spent at the main gate of the city under watchful eye of the Mirkwood guards. She looked out at the forest and watched it nearly come alive with creatures, until it was too dark to see or too dangerous to stay; then the guards would call for Legolas, who usually stayed in a tree near to her, and he'd come to carry her to her quarters.

She decided that she would enjoy the company of the Elves if they had not been so cold to her. Legolas was warm and gentle, but the other inhabitants of Mirkwood barely gave her a glance, as if she were a burden.

One morning she awoke early to a silent room, and decided to take a walk about the halls, and stretch her legs. Legolas had offered to take her riding today, and she wanted to be ready. As she entered the throne room on her journey, she heard a voice behind her.

"Where are you going, maiden?"

She whirled around, facing in the direction from which the voice had come, but saw no one. Slowly, she answered, "I am just walking to stretch my legs." A silence passed.

"Your health has improved much, has it not?" Galeth appeared out of the shadows at the head of the Great Hall.

Sevein dropped into a deep curtsy, eyes on the ground, in reverence of the fair Elf. Galeth was the first elf to speak to her directly besides Legolas, and she wasn't quite sure how to react. "Yes, my lady. It has."

Another moment passed. Galeth watched Sevein sharply. "Legolas told you of his father's disapproval, I trust. If that has led you to believe that your presence here is undesirable." She narrowed her eyes. "Then you are correct in that belief."

Sevein blinked and looked up. "I'm sorry, m'lady, but."

"Has he also informed you that he is to be wed in a fortnight?" the Elf asked. "To a lady of the court."

Sevein's heart dropped into her stomach, and she felt a wave of inferiority wash over her. "That is wonderful, my lady."

"You will be gone by that time," said Galeth coldly. "Earlier if it can be done. And I daresay, you shall never return to Mirkwood."

Sevein stood, then, all respect lost. She could not find the words to defend, to protect, or to rectify herself, so she turned simply, and left the throne room, her legs regaining strength, as the tears began to stream down her face.