Chapter II: Moving out
Silwenn awoke to the sound and soft, soothing noises of the crickets chirping and the Galadhrim singing.She looked up. Night had fallen. She was still in the tree. Damn Melkor. She climbed down the tree slowly. The woods looked all the more enchanting in the glow of the moonshine. Silwenn brushed off her dress and made her way back to the hall.
Silwenn trod on the soft, dew-covered grass. She stopped as she passed a small stream. She caught sight of her reflection. Her raven hair was falling out of it's braid. Her face was dusty. She bent down and splashed the cool water onto her face, feeling it's cool touch on her cheeks. After rebraiding her hair, she continued on her way. All was silent, basking in the moon's glow.
Suddenly, a twig snapped somewhere. Silwenn looked up. A figure was moving towards her. She moved in closer.
"Amme? Ada? Ford?"
No answer. A growl. Just a growl.
Silwenn cursed.
" Grandma? Grandpa? Haldir?", she called for her best friend, one of the Elflings who'd joined her for Elf-Scouts. No answer. The growl was getting louder. Louder. The figure was now very close.
Silwenn began to back off. The growl was louder now. Silwenn could see the figure;s outline. It was irregular. Unlike the tall, slender frames of the Elven-kind. The figure now moved completely into view. Silwenn gasped, placing a hand over her mouth.
Goblin! How had it managed to enter the heavily-guarded Golden Wood? She didn't have time to think about it. Silwenn drew her dagger and backed off. The goblin was close, leering at her. Silwenn looked round in despair. No Elf would be out at night. She could yell for the guards, but they would be too far. The Golden Hall would be totally out of option. The goblin was now in front of her, cornering her into the forest. It's unmatched red eyes rolled round. It held and iron axe.
"Illuvatar help me…", she prayed. The goblin lunged. Silwenn stabbed with her dagger. It cut across the creature's arm. Warm blood splashed onto her pale white gown. The creature howled, knocking the dagger from Silwenn's grasp. Silwenn cursed silently, backing off even further. The goblin smirked, revealing it's crooked blood-stained teeth. Silwenn shuddered. She screamed in shock. The goblin was advancing closer and closer. She turned and ran. Suddenly, her feet got caught in a tree root. She fell, her face making contact with the ground. The goblin was upon her now. The axe was raisedm ready to strike…
Inside the hall, the banquet was proceeding. Celeborn was talking to Thranduil. Vywienn and Fordred were engaged in a conversation of white knives. Legolas was staring starry-eyed out of the windows. Galadriel peered out towards the door way. Two Elven- knights stood there, adorned in pale cloaks and white tunics. No one else there. Silwenn had not arrived yet. Galadriel was sure that she had informed the Elfling of the banquet. Silwenn's parents were in Imladris on a visit. She and Fordred were in Lothlorien.
" Alatriel?"
Celeborn's voice jerked her out of her thoughts and worries. She turned to face her husband.
" You all right?", he asked her. Galadriel nodded and got out of her chair. She moved gracefully out of the doorway and stood on the balcony, hoping to see the Elfling come running towards the hall. Nothing in sight. Galadriel sighed.
"Milady?" the Elven sorcerress turned round. Legolas stood behind her, a frown on his face. Galadriel forced a smile on her worried face. Legolas was not fooled. He could sense the worry in her clear pale-blue eyes.
"What is it my child?", Galadriel asked the child. Legolas smiled.
" Where is Silwenn?", he asked.
Galadriel turned worriedly back to the balcony.
"She is not back yet. I wonder where she is."
Legolas frowned again.
"Shall I go and look for her?"
Galadriel was surprised by the boy's concern for her grandaughter.
"Yes, my child, go and come back quickly," Galadriel agreed, patting him on the head.
The dappled beams from the lantern cast onto the grass, colouring the strands yellow. Legolas peered into the dark woods.
"Silwenn? Silwenn?"
He continued calling the Elfling's name as he wandered futher in. He turned his head, straining his ears for any sound of movement. Nothing.
Suddenly, a loud shriek pierced the air. It's air was of one in despair. The lantern fell, the flame extinguishing almost immeadialtly. He would be needing it no longer. Legolas fitted an arrow into his bow, moving quickly but cautiously towards the direction.
The noise came from a clearing within the trees. Legolas moved in futher. What he saw gave him the shock of his life. Something- or someone- was advancing on a small white figure on the ground with a large axe. The figure seemed to be too frightened to do a thing. The Elfling moved in futher. He recognized that long raven hair and the pair of slender almond-shaped green eyes. The Queen's grandaughter.
She was crouching with her back up a tree ,almost reclining. Her hair was out of it's neat braid. Her face was littered with cuts, and her dress was stained with blood: a mixture of her own and of her attacker. Legolas closed his eyes, grimacing from the sight. He opened them again, his senses telling him to hurry. He pulled back the bow string and fired. The arrow went whizzing. Into the attacker's back. The assailant fell back. But as it went, it's axe slashed across the figure's side. Silwenn's eyes closed. Her head fell onto her shoulders.
Legolas kicked the assailant aside and ran towards the girl. He pushed her hair out of her eyes and examined her cuts. Not very serious, except for the one in her side. Blood was pulsing out of the wound, colouring her dress red. Legolas cradled her body against his. It was turning cold rapidly. He stood up. Silwenn's body was like a feather in his arms. He began to trek back towards the castle.
Silwenn awoke. She looked round. She looked up into the ceiling, painted white and gold. She was tucked beneath soft, handwoven sheets. She was dressed in a simple white robe.Her head hurt.
"Silwenn! My dear child are you all right?", a familiar voice cried with relief. Hands reached up and helped her sit up against some propped pillows. Silwenn turned her head to face her tired and anxious grandmother.
"Grandamme… what happened?", Silwenn asked weakly, leaning heavily on the pillows. Galadriel stroked the Elfling's long raven hair.
Galadriel sighed, stroking Silwenn's hair.
" Where were you during the feast? Something- one of the goblins- attacked you. You took a pretty bad injury there near your waist.Thank goodness you are fine. If it weren't for Legolas, Illuvatar knows what would have happened…"
Legolas. Silwenn was shocked.
"Grandma… where is he?", Silwenn managed to ask softly.
"My girl, Legolas has left… the convoy left for Mirkwood earlier tjis morning. Legolas came to say goodbye. He wants to pass you this…"
Galadriel placed something on Silwenn's blankets. It was a small dagger. Similar to the one she's carried and lost. But it was not her dagger. She picked it up. It was surprisingly light in her hands. She examined the weapon. The hilt was painted green and silver. A mixture of Lothlorien and Mirkwood colours.
Suddenly, the door burst open. In burst her father, Fordred, her mother, Haldir, Rumil, Orophin and a very flustered Celeborn.Fordred and the three Elflings stayed by the foot of the bed. Silwenn's mother joined them. Her father ran towards the bedside and knelt down beside Galadriel.
" Your Amme and I rushed back from Imladris the moment we heard of your injury," the Elf-lord said, worry in his eyes.
"Ada… I am fine."
"I don't care… we can stay here no longer! I should have heeded Lord Thranduil's advice! I should have returned to Mirkwood! The Golden Wood is no longer safe!", Silwenn's father boomed angrily, standing up again.
"Hush, Neroth, the child needs to rest," Galadriel reprimanded gently. No effect on the guy.
"I DON'T CARE! LORIEN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST OF ALL THREE ELVEN KINGDOMS! AND MY DAUGHTER WALKS OUT JUST TO GET ATTACKED BY MORDOR'S FORCES!ILLUVATAR KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE STAY ANY LONGER!"
With that, he stormed out of the chamber, his pale gold hair swirling on his shoulders. Silwenn's mother walked to Galadriel.
"Amme, I will talk sense into him, don't worry," she whispered.Galadriel patted her daughter on the head, standing up.
" Do just that, Celevane," she shispered. The Elf-maiden nodded and left the chamber. Silwenn looked at her brother, her friends and finally her grandparents, fear in her eyes. Galadriel hugged her close. Silwenn snuggled up beneath the covers of her bed, still fingering the dagger.
A few days later, Silwenn was all right. She was back to normal, climbing trees and playing with freedom in the forest. One worry nagged at her mind constantly: Would they be leaving Lorien for Mirkwood? Her fears were answered a week later…..
"Pack your things, we're leaving tomorrow at sundown," Neroth told his family. He exited the chamber with Celevane. Fordred and Silwenn were left behind. Silwenn looked at the door. She hugged her brother, sobbing silently into his shoulder, as he patted her head and muttered comforting phrases into her hair. The door opened. Galadriel and Celeborn walked in, thoroughly downcast. Galadriel's face was contorted with worry and grief. Even Nenya was glowing less than usual.
"I'm sorry, my children, it has been decided," Celeborn spoke, in his normally stern voice, patting Fordred on the shoulder. Galadriel said nothing.
"Sister?"
Fordred poked his head into Silwenn's room.Silwenn placed her last gown into the pack and closed the fastener. She turned round.
"Yes?"
"Haldir wants to see you."
"Very well."
Fordred pushed someone in. It was Haldir. He held something behind his back.
"Sil… I want you to have this," he said, pushing something into Silwenn's hands.Silwenn looked at it. It was a brooch. Haldir's Scout Elite Archer brooch. She gasped. Haldir loved that brooch more than anything else.
"I'm not sure if they have Elfscouts in Mirkwood," he replied sheepishly. Silwenn threw her arms around his neck and hugged him for the last time.
"Namarie, may the blessings of the Valar be with you," Galadriel whispered to the family of four. She stroked Fordred's head, then Silwenn's.
"Listen to Ada and Amme," she told them. They nodded.
"Let us leave," Neroth said. He turned his horse. Celevane, Silwenn and Fordred did the same. Silwenn turned back and waved to Haldir, to where he stood behind the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn.
The Golden Wood was fadin behind her.
I will see it again soon, she told herself.