A/N: Apologies for the length of her explanation. I can't explain anything, let alone something like that, briefly. You've got to get all the details. Sorry.

Luvs Elfie xXxXx





Chapter 14

Silva closed her eyes and sighed as he circled his arms round her. They sat like that for a moment and she gradually opened her eyes, only to get the shock of her life.

"G-g-good evening, my lord," she stuttered. Legolas' eyes flew open and he turned his head slowly in the direction Silva's was facing. His father was standing there looking utterly stunned.

"Hello father," he said, feeling heat burst into his cheeks. He kept Silva pressed against him to keep both his and her modesty covered. "Er... I found her."

"So I see," said the bewildered King. "Um... take your time. I'll call off the searches. Um... good evening... to you both." With that, he quickly turned and almost ran away. When he was out of sight and hearing, Silva looked at Legolas. He looked absolutely horrified. She, on the other hand, burst out laughing.

"Well, that was an interesting turn of events," she giggled. Legolas had to laugh. It was quite funny when you thought about it.

"I don't know how I'm ever going to look my father in the eye again," he laughed.

"At least we don't have to actually tell him now," she said. He considered this and laughed again, nodding his head.

"That is true," he said. "But come now. I think, this time, we really should get back. And possibly sneak into a room, because I have no wish whatsoever to see my father again tonight." She cocked her head to the side and looked at him in curiosity.

"Just the one room?" she asked.

"Provided that is what you wish," he said. "I apologise for making assumptions."

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I don't mind at all. You just surprised me. I suppose I didn't really expect you to be as serious as I am about it all."

"Never think this again," he said. "I love you, Silva. And I am just as serious as you are about this."

"You have taken my virtue," she said. "I am yours for the keeping."

"I intend to keep you," he said. She stood up and held her hand out to help him up. He stood up and pulled her towards him, kissing her again. They embraced tightly and then began to sort their clothes out and put them on.

Silva stood with her back to Legolas, but he could still clearly see the four parallel scars. His eyes locked onto it once more. He needed to now how she had got it. What had marred her perfect skin?

"Silva, come here a moment," he said. She looked over her shoulder at him as she pulled her dress up and covered it. Leaving the lacing untied, she walked over to him. He pushed the dress off her left shoulder and ran his fingers over the scars.

"Who or what did this to you?" he asked, solemnly. She tensed up and lowered her gaze to the floor. He could tell this was a touchy subject.

"Rath," she said, quietly. Legolas looked horrified.

"What? Your sister did this?" he cried. "Why?"

"A long time ago, even by Elven reckoning, something happened to me that put her brother in a compromising position," she said. "He died because of it and she blamed me. She blames me still, but we do not speak of it. Once I was safe again, she lashed out in her anger. She said it would forever be a reminder of what I did." Tears began to pour down her cheeks. "But she's not the only one that was hurt," she sobbed. "She conveniently forgets that part." He wrapped his arms around her. Whatever had happened, she was obviously either very upset about it, sorry about it or both. Legolas had to know the whole truth.

"What happened to you?" he dared to ask.

"Are you sure you want me to tell you?" she said.

"Yes, I wish to know why your own sister would do such a thing over a situation you clearly had no control in," he said.

"Very well," she said. "I had another sister, her name was Gorothiel. She was the spirit of Twilight. She was kind and sweet. She and I got along very well, though she never got along with Rath at all, they constantly argued. So, when we were summoned to fight in the wars of Darkness, along with many others, and she was not, Rath was delighted to say the least. But Gorothiel wasn't happy and stowed aboard the ship. Before this, her mood had not been usual. She'd been quiet, brooding and ill humored. We found out why long after we reached Middle Earth. She was in the service of Melkor, who then had partial ruling over the north of Middle Earth." In remembrance of this, she started to cry again. She paused for a moment to compose herself before continuing. "She decided she was going to get her revenge on Rath through this new alliance. She was going to kidnap her and torture her and slowly kill her. But Rath was very well guarded, constantly with someone, usually us. So Gorothiel decided to go about getting Rath another way.

One day I was walking alone and she approached me and I was amazed and delighted to see her for I thought she was back in the Valinor. She told me she had eventually got permission to leave from Manwë and had come to aid us, but first I had to go with her somewhere. I had no reason to doubt her, as she was my sister and closest friend. She took me to Thangorodrim. She tricked me and was going to use me to get Rath to come to her.

I called out to Rath in desperation through the mind, for we heart-sisters have the power of telepathy in times of great need. Rath ignored my plea for help for she thought I was trying to fool her, as was my wont. It was her brother, Astald, who saved me in the end, not before I was mentally scarred though. Gorothiel bound herself to me through spell casting so that if she should die, I should die too or at least be seriously wounded and I can feel her presence when she is near also. As the spell was completed her brother entered and was able to get me out. Once I was out, he went back inside to kill Gorothiel and the Dark Lord Sauron was awaiting him. He was killed in seconds on the very brink of escape.

Arian and Riel finally found me outside the evil gates, where I had been left to die. They had begun a search for Astald and me. When I was nursed better, I spoke with, or rather argued with, Rath. I blamed her for the curse that had befallen me and she blamed me for her brother's death. In her rage, she lashed out at me. She went to for my face, but I dodged out of the way. She caught my shoulder and dragged her nails over it as hard as she could. As blood poured from the wound that I still couldn't believe she had inflicted, she told me that it would be a perpetual reminder of what I had done.

We did not utter a single word to one another for several years, so bitter were our hearts. But eventually, Arian, Riel and Nila made us apologise to one another for it was not good for us to be fighting for the same side and be at war with one another. Rath and I came to an agreement that we would never speak with one another of the incident again unless it was completely necessary. We agreed that should anything so serious happen again, I should call to her and she would be there. Since then we have treated one another as equals as best we can, though she still holds hatred in her heart for me as I do her. I have never fully forgiven her and she has never fully forgiven me." She could not stop the tears from flowing this time. Legolas held her close in a state of shock. He couldn't believe such evil could befall such unsuspecting victims as her and her sisters.

"Oh, Silva, I am so sorry," he whispered. He could feel her shaking.

"I've never told anybody that story before except for minimal details to my sisters," she whispered, whilst crying into his shoulder. "Most people know the story of it, but it has never been told properly by myself or Rath to anyone."

"I almost wish I hadn't asked," he said. "I feel awful to have made you relive all that."

"No, you shouldn't feel bad," she said. "I would have told you everything one day, only I didn't expect to so soon." Having heard all that, Legolas felt an over-whelming need to protect her. Even though he knew she was by far his superior and would hate to be 'protected', she now only seemed like a small child that had no defence against the world and its evils. He now felt as though he loved her even more to make up for all those years of languish. He looked down at the intruding marks on her shoulder and kissed them, as if to try and kiss them away.

"Legolas, please don't tell anyone of this," she said. "I don't wish to be hounded with questions about it and have to relive it a third time over."

"Of course not," he said. "I would never dream of putting you through something like that." He pulled the sleeve of her dress back into place to hide her 'perpetual reminder'. He laced up the back of the dress and then held her again.

"Thank you, Legolas," she murmured.

"What for?" he asked.

"Everything," she replied. "You have been so wonderfully understanding, this evening. I do not deserve you."

"That is a matter not to be debated now," he said. "We could, however, take it up in, say, my chamber?" She smiled and let out a small laugh.

"I'd certainly never refuse such a gentleman," she said. "Perhaps you can heal me of my sorrows, at least for this night."

"And for many nights to come, I hope," he said, and they set off back to the castle.