Chapter 15
Silva had the soundest night's sleep she could ever remember. It felt nice to have Legolas' arms wrapped protectively round her as she drifted off to sleep. And to wake not held quite as close, but still close enough to hear the gentle sigh of his breath as he slept and to feel the rise and fall of his chest. She planted a gentle kiss on his cheek and then lay contentedly in his arms until her woke up.
"Good morning," she said peacefully when he eventually stirred. A sleepy, almost foolish looking grin swept across his face at the sound of her voice. He turned to look at her.
"Good morning," he replied. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well," she said. "For some reason, I was extremely tired. I can't for the life of me think why."
"Me neither," he said. He bent his head to claim her lips, but they were interrupted at the crucial moment. There was a knock at the door and a male voice called through. The person was also laughing.
"Prince Legolas? Your father wishes to see you and Lady Silvawen in the Throne Room as soon as you are *ahem* ready." Legolas looked at Silva.
"Lady Silvawen?" he said, confusedly. "Since when have you been Lady Silvawen?" Silva shrugged. "Tell him we shall be there shortly," he called to the messenger. There was the sound of light-hearted laughter and then the person trying to calm himself.
"Very well, sire. Your father also said..... take your time!" The last part was lost in laughter. They heard the laugh ring off down the corridor and gradually get further and further away. Silva sighed heavily.
"Today will be fun," she said with a roll of her eyes.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it," said Legolas, kissing her forehead and then climbing out of bed. "It'll be ok." She stared at him, dead pan.
"Don't patronise me," she said, monotonously.
"Er, yes, sorry," he said. "Anyway, just to prove him wrong, maybe we should get dressed and go to see my father quickly." He crossed the room to get his clothes.
"Alright," she said. "If we must." She dragged herself out of bed and unenthusiastically started looking for her hastily strewn clothes. Legolas turned and watched her naked form scouting the room in a manner that screamed 'I'm only doing this because I have to'. Legolas smiled.
"Father can wait," he said as he practically ran at her.
**************
They left Legolas' chamber and were about to set off down the corridor when Silva grabbed Legolas' arm to stop him.
"Wait, should we walk separately or something?" she said "People think we hate each other- well, that you hate me at least."
"I think my father has sufficiently killed off that idea," said Legolas.
"But people will gossip if they see us together," she said.
"Silva, believe me, people are going to gossip anyway," he said. "After that message this morning, I am almost certain he has announced it to the whole of Mirkwood."
"Don't exaggerate, Legolas," she said in a motherly tone.
"I'm not," he said. "Look, just forget about rumours and gossip. We've nothing to be ashamed. Just don't make eye contact with anyone." Silva was slightly confused.
"Why?" she asked.
"They'll start laughing." They set off down the corridor. Sure enough, with every person they past (which wasn't as many as usual, they noted) there was a small burst of laughter that was quickly covered, followed by a curtsey or a bow. As soon as they turned the corner, however, the laughter soon started again.
"I'm going to kill my father," muttered Legolas.
"I doubt that very much," murmured Silva. "Neither of us are going to be able to look him in the eye, let alone anything else." The Throne Room came into sight. The two guards that stood outside it began to snigger as everyone else had.
"Good morning, your highness," laughed the first guard.
"Good morning, Lady Silvawen," giggled the second. Silva looked at Legolas.
"There it is again," she whispered. He nodded in acknowledgement and wrinkled his nose in a sort of confused look. (A/N: Awww! That'd be soooo cute!) They stood waiting for the doors to be opened, which was taking considerably longer than usual.
The doors opened and every head to look at them. The Throne Room was completely full with a very pleased looking King sitting in the throne.
"And here they are now," exclaimed Thranduil. "The lovely couple!" Legolas and Silva blushed from head to toe as the walked up to the throne. Silva curtseyed before the King and kept her eyes fixed on the ground.
"Good morning, my lord," she said, shyly.
"Silva, I forbid you to curtsey or call me my lord from now on," said Thranduil suddenly. "I've always thought upon you as the daughter I was never graced with, but now this is even closer to the truth. Now you practically are my daughter. I insist that you call me by my name."
"Oh" was all she could say.
"And my dear son," continued Thranduil. "How long have I attempted to find you a partner? How many fair maidens have run from this room in floods of tears because you rejected them?"
"Well, I wouldn't say floods," began Legolas.
"Do not deny it, my son," said the King. "Until the coming of Silvawen, you were the fairest being in all of Mirkwood, desired by many." Silva started to giggle. That was good. She couldn't imagine how embarrassed he must be feeling. She let her hair fall over her face so no one saw her. Legolas scowled as he saw he shoulders shaking slightly from her soundless laughing fit.
"And now, after a year of tip-toeing and pretence, you two have been discovered," Thranduil proceeded to declare. "All this time I thought you hated our darling Silvawen."
"Oh, I did," said Legolas. It was Silva's turn to scowl.
"Way to go on making a girl feel good about herself," she hissed.
"I already did that," he whispered so that only she could hear. She grinned like a maniac and lowered her head again. She couldn't help but smile at his next sentence either. "But Silva and I are very much in love, now that I have seen the real her." Her smile, however, was wiped off completely away Thranduil's reply.
"Well, I'm sure you saw enough of her last night," he said as he watched his son's face drop to one of shock and shame. He couldn't see Silva's because she was hidden behind her hair. "It's not the sort of position you expect to find your son in, out in the middle of the forest, in the middle of the night, with a woman." Silva couldn't take the embarrassment so she bolted from the room. Legolas was paralysed with horror. He couldn't summon the will to move or speak.
"I'll speak with you later, father," he eventually said and left the room in pursue of his distressed lover. He figured she would be in his room since that was nearest place she could go for privacy and would be able to think of in her unsettled state. He made his way to his chamber.
Sure enough, she was there, curled on the bed, crying into the pillow. 'Uh oh,' he thought. 'I'm no good with crying people.' He crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed. He gently ran his hand over her arm.
"Erm....." he said. "Don't cry?"
"How am I meant to not?" she cried. "I'm never going to be able to show my face in civilised society again!"
"There's other civilized societies," he said. "Like Lothlórien."
"I HATE LOTHLÓRIEN!!!"
"Well, Rivendell then," he said. "I know you like Rivendell."
"You think we would get any privacy there?" she sobbed, the tears gradually slowing. "You think Arian would let me anywhere near you? She'd kill me if she knew about us!" He looked hurt and a little confused.
"Why?" he asked. "What's wrong with me?"
"I didn't mean you," she said, "although that would probably bother her too. I meant what we've been doing and would inevitably do whilst there. She'd kill me. And you." He was still stuck on the first bit.
"Why would I bother her?" he said. "I'm nice. What's wrong with me?"
"It's nothing," said Silva. "It's just that Arian is a bit weird like that."
"She has something against Elves?" he said. "She's in a funny place if that's the issue."
"No, she's just.... can we leave it now please?" she said, but Legolas was obstinate.
"What would her problem be?" he said. 'Dammit, how do you word something like this?' she thought.
"Well.... she'd think.... um, well.... basically, you're beneath me," she said. "She'll be all like 'You're his superior, it's wrong, why can't you get with someone back home, I know plenty of people interested in you'. She's very traditional. It's very annoying." Legolas stared at her, mutely. "I don't think like that though. It never even crosses my mind!" she added, quickly when she saw his face.
"No, you're right," he said. He stood up.
"Legolas, please!" she begged. She knelt up and grabbed his hand. "None of that matters to me! I love you, no matter what!" He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"I'll see you at dinner," he said sadly and walked out of the room.
Silva had the soundest night's sleep she could ever remember. It felt nice to have Legolas' arms wrapped protectively round her as she drifted off to sleep. And to wake not held quite as close, but still close enough to hear the gentle sigh of his breath as he slept and to feel the rise and fall of his chest. She planted a gentle kiss on his cheek and then lay contentedly in his arms until her woke up.
"Good morning," she said peacefully when he eventually stirred. A sleepy, almost foolish looking grin swept across his face at the sound of her voice. He turned to look at her.
"Good morning," he replied. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well," she said. "For some reason, I was extremely tired. I can't for the life of me think why."
"Me neither," he said. He bent his head to claim her lips, but they were interrupted at the crucial moment. There was a knock at the door and a male voice called through. The person was also laughing.
"Prince Legolas? Your father wishes to see you and Lady Silvawen in the Throne Room as soon as you are *ahem* ready." Legolas looked at Silva.
"Lady Silvawen?" he said, confusedly. "Since when have you been Lady Silvawen?" Silva shrugged. "Tell him we shall be there shortly," he called to the messenger. There was the sound of light-hearted laughter and then the person trying to calm himself.
"Very well, sire. Your father also said..... take your time!" The last part was lost in laughter. They heard the laugh ring off down the corridor and gradually get further and further away. Silva sighed heavily.
"Today will be fun," she said with a roll of her eyes.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it," said Legolas, kissing her forehead and then climbing out of bed. "It'll be ok." She stared at him, dead pan.
"Don't patronise me," she said, monotonously.
"Er, yes, sorry," he said. "Anyway, just to prove him wrong, maybe we should get dressed and go to see my father quickly." He crossed the room to get his clothes.
"Alright," she said. "If we must." She dragged herself out of bed and unenthusiastically started looking for her hastily strewn clothes. Legolas turned and watched her naked form scouting the room in a manner that screamed 'I'm only doing this because I have to'. Legolas smiled.
"Father can wait," he said as he practically ran at her.
**************
They left Legolas' chamber and were about to set off down the corridor when Silva grabbed Legolas' arm to stop him.
"Wait, should we walk separately or something?" she said "People think we hate each other- well, that you hate me at least."
"I think my father has sufficiently killed off that idea," said Legolas.
"But people will gossip if they see us together," she said.
"Silva, believe me, people are going to gossip anyway," he said. "After that message this morning, I am almost certain he has announced it to the whole of Mirkwood."
"Don't exaggerate, Legolas," she said in a motherly tone.
"I'm not," he said. "Look, just forget about rumours and gossip. We've nothing to be ashamed. Just don't make eye contact with anyone." Silva was slightly confused.
"Why?" she asked.
"They'll start laughing." They set off down the corridor. Sure enough, with every person they past (which wasn't as many as usual, they noted) there was a small burst of laughter that was quickly covered, followed by a curtsey or a bow. As soon as they turned the corner, however, the laughter soon started again.
"I'm going to kill my father," muttered Legolas.
"I doubt that very much," murmured Silva. "Neither of us are going to be able to look him in the eye, let alone anything else." The Throne Room came into sight. The two guards that stood outside it began to snigger as everyone else had.
"Good morning, your highness," laughed the first guard.
"Good morning, Lady Silvawen," giggled the second. Silva looked at Legolas.
"There it is again," she whispered. He nodded in acknowledgement and wrinkled his nose in a sort of confused look. (A/N: Awww! That'd be soooo cute!) They stood waiting for the doors to be opened, which was taking considerably longer than usual.
The doors opened and every head to look at them. The Throne Room was completely full with a very pleased looking King sitting in the throne.
"And here they are now," exclaimed Thranduil. "The lovely couple!" Legolas and Silva blushed from head to toe as the walked up to the throne. Silva curtseyed before the King and kept her eyes fixed on the ground.
"Good morning, my lord," she said, shyly.
"Silva, I forbid you to curtsey or call me my lord from now on," said Thranduil suddenly. "I've always thought upon you as the daughter I was never graced with, but now this is even closer to the truth. Now you practically are my daughter. I insist that you call me by my name."
"Oh" was all she could say.
"And my dear son," continued Thranduil. "How long have I attempted to find you a partner? How many fair maidens have run from this room in floods of tears because you rejected them?"
"Well, I wouldn't say floods," began Legolas.
"Do not deny it, my son," said the King. "Until the coming of Silvawen, you were the fairest being in all of Mirkwood, desired by many." Silva started to giggle. That was good. She couldn't imagine how embarrassed he must be feeling. She let her hair fall over her face so no one saw her. Legolas scowled as he saw he shoulders shaking slightly from her soundless laughing fit.
"And now, after a year of tip-toeing and pretence, you two have been discovered," Thranduil proceeded to declare. "All this time I thought you hated our darling Silvawen."
"Oh, I did," said Legolas. It was Silva's turn to scowl.
"Way to go on making a girl feel good about herself," she hissed.
"I already did that," he whispered so that only she could hear. She grinned like a maniac and lowered her head again. She couldn't help but smile at his next sentence either. "But Silva and I are very much in love, now that I have seen the real her." Her smile, however, was wiped off completely away Thranduil's reply.
"Well, I'm sure you saw enough of her last night," he said as he watched his son's face drop to one of shock and shame. He couldn't see Silva's because she was hidden behind her hair. "It's not the sort of position you expect to find your son in, out in the middle of the forest, in the middle of the night, with a woman." Silva couldn't take the embarrassment so she bolted from the room. Legolas was paralysed with horror. He couldn't summon the will to move or speak.
"I'll speak with you later, father," he eventually said and left the room in pursue of his distressed lover. He figured she would be in his room since that was nearest place she could go for privacy and would be able to think of in her unsettled state. He made his way to his chamber.
Sure enough, she was there, curled on the bed, crying into the pillow. 'Uh oh,' he thought. 'I'm no good with crying people.' He crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed. He gently ran his hand over her arm.
"Erm....." he said. "Don't cry?"
"How am I meant to not?" she cried. "I'm never going to be able to show my face in civilised society again!"
"There's other civilized societies," he said. "Like Lothlórien."
"I HATE LOTHLÓRIEN!!!"
"Well, Rivendell then," he said. "I know you like Rivendell."
"You think we would get any privacy there?" she sobbed, the tears gradually slowing. "You think Arian would let me anywhere near you? She'd kill me if she knew about us!" He looked hurt and a little confused.
"Why?" he asked. "What's wrong with me?"
"I didn't mean you," she said, "although that would probably bother her too. I meant what we've been doing and would inevitably do whilst there. She'd kill me. And you." He was still stuck on the first bit.
"Why would I bother her?" he said. "I'm nice. What's wrong with me?"
"It's nothing," said Silva. "It's just that Arian is a bit weird like that."
"She has something against Elves?" he said. "She's in a funny place if that's the issue."
"No, she's just.... can we leave it now please?" she said, but Legolas was obstinate.
"What would her problem be?" he said. 'Dammit, how do you word something like this?' she thought.
"Well.... she'd think.... um, well.... basically, you're beneath me," she said. "She'll be all like 'You're his superior, it's wrong, why can't you get with someone back home, I know plenty of people interested in you'. She's very traditional. It's very annoying." Legolas stared at her, mutely. "I don't think like that though. It never even crosses my mind!" she added, quickly when she saw his face.
"No, you're right," he said. He stood up.
"Legolas, please!" she begged. She knelt up and grabbed his hand. "None of that matters to me! I love you, no matter what!" He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"I'll see you at dinner," he said sadly and walked out of the room.