E/N: The first half of the chapter is really just a bit of comic relief.
Something to lighten the situation up a bit. Hope I provided you with a
good giggle.
Luvs Elfie xXxXx
Chapter 21
"My lord, I have a message from Arianrhod," said a messenger.
"Who?" asked Thranduil.
"Arianrhod," repeated the messenger.
"Who?" asked Thranduil again.
"She's staying with Lord Elrond in Rivendell."
"Ohhhhhhhh, Silva's sister." The messenger nodded. "Ok, continue."
"I'm afraid there is bad news concerning Lady Silvawen, sir." Thranduil's face darkened.
"What sort of bad news?"
"She has gone missing." The King's eyes widened.
"What?"
"She's gone missing, sir." Thranduil paused for a moment.
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure, sir." Thranduil whimpered.
"For how long has she been missing?"
"Almost a month, sir."
"And she went missing from Rivendell?"
"Yes, sir. Your son was the last person to see her before she disappeared."
"So, it's his fault."
"Well, no, not real, sir. He's just as shocked and upset as you and her sisters are."
"But he was the last to see her, so he must have said something to her to make her leave."
"Well, maybe." Thranduil's lower lip trembled and then he burst out crying. The messenger looked shocked, worried and very scared.
"Uh...... bye, sir." And he ran from the Throne Room.
A week later, Legolas arrived back in Mirkwood. He was rather scared of what his father's reaction was going to be, since he would blame him for 'losing her'. He went to the Throne Room immediately, however, because the sooner he did, the sooner it was over with. When he got there, there was a very exasperated looking Royal Guard standing outside.
"At last, Prince Legolas," he sighed. "Your father is being....... well...... unbearable. He won't eat, he won't sleep, he just cries all the time. Perhaps you could talk to him."
"Are you having a laugh?!" cried Legolas. "He'll kill me!!!"
"Oh, I don't think he's that angry," said the guard. "Well, amidst the crying and wailing I did make out what sounded like threats to you of slow and painful torture, And I think I might have heard him swear he's going to tie you upside down to a tree by your *ahem*. But, I don't think he's that angry." Legolas gave a barely audible "MEEP!" in response. "I'll leave you to it," added the guard and he walked away.
Legolas pushed the door open, ever so slightly, and poked his head round it. He scanned the room for his father, but all he saw was a blubbering mess on the Throne. Oh, wait, that was his father.
"Hi dad," he said, tentatively. The Blubbering Mess looked up with red, puffy eyes and dishevelled hair.
"YOU!" it cried angrily. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!?!?!" It threw an empty goblet at Legolas, he ducked just in time to avoid being hit.
"It wasn't me!" said Legolas, defensively.
"I've been informed that you were the last person to see her," it said. "So you obviously said something to upset her. And now she's been missing for over a month!"
"Rath and I have sent messages to every Kingdom. She has personally delivered some herself. Everyone is on standby and has promised to tell us as soon as they hear anything."
"YOU LOST HER!!!" it screamed, throwing a book that had randomly materialised for to throw, at him. Legolas used the door as a shield.
"I didn't lose her, she ran away, and I don't even know why." Legolas looked down to the ground. "I thought she loved me. She told me she did, but I don't know any more. The case is either that she doesn't love me or I have done something terrible to her that she couldn't face me. I don't know which would hurt me more." The Blubbering Mess listened silently. 'Ok, so maybe its not entirely his fault,' it thought. They looked one another in the eyes and then it started crying again.
By the end of the day, Thranduil was so hysterical, the Healer had to give him two tranquilisers to make him sleep. Legolas sighed as his father eventually drifted off to sleep, he hadn't had a single moment to himself since he'd arrived back home. Now he had plenty. He ordered to be left alone and not disturbed for any reason other than something to do with Silvawen. He needed some time alone. He refused to let anyone see him weep.
*****
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" said Nilia. Rath was preparing to leave. She was going to deliver messages to Rohan and Gondor, whilst looking for the lost sister.
"I'll be fine. I'm not new to this remember," replied Rath.
"And if you find anything, anything at all, you must notify us immediately," said Riel.
"You know I will."
"Riel is going to ask Gwaihir the Winglord for his aid in our search," Arian informed her. "His gaze is great and cannot miss a thing in open space. His help is greatly needed."
"You must also attempt to find me if she returns or if Legolas sends word," said Rath.
"We will," promised Nilia. With one last hug for each sister, Rath set off hurriedly.
"She really does care, doesn't she?" said Riel, absently.
"She rarely shows it, but yes, she does," said Arian.
It was true, Rath did put up a cold barrier around herself. It was her way of protecting herself from emotional damage, but the moment one of her sisters was endangered, the barrier was torn down. She was the strongest, physically and mentally, of all sisters and a born leader. She took command of almost every situation that they came across. This was her way of getting though life. It was tough, but she managed it.
Under normal circumstances, Rath would have been ecstatic that Silva had gone. Ecstatic, that is, if someone knew where the girl was, only nobody did know where she was. No one even had a clue whether she was dead or alive. But Rath refused to believe that she was dead. Silva was a fighter, just as much as she was. She wouldn't give up until she found Silva, no matter how long it took. 'Where the hell are you, Silva?!'
*****
'Where the hell are you, Silva?!' Silva heard Rath's voice echo around her mind. She was trying to contact her, but Silva couldn't reply. If anyone knew where she was, it would get back to them and either Legolas or Rath (or possibly both) would come to get her. That could NOT happen.
She was heading for Lothlórien. Galadriel was the only person who she knew definitely would not tell a soul. She could be hidden properly in the Golden Wood, she wasn't sure how, but there had to be a way. She would be lonely, of course, but that was the price she had to pay. The problem she faced now was getting into the forest without being seen. Once more, she'd need Galadriel's help.
It was just after dawn when she approached the borders of the forest and Silva reached out with her mind to the Lady of the Wood.
'Galadriel, I need your help,' she pleaded.
'What can I do for you, Silvawen?'
'I need you to shelter me. But I can't be seen by anyone. No one must find me.'
'I have been awaiting you for a while now. I received a message from your soulmate nearly a week ago, informing me of your disappearance. He is most distressed. As are your sisters.'
'Please, can you help me? I mustn't be seen.'
'You can enter now and you won't be seen.'
'But your sentinels....'
'...Will see only a rustle in the grass. Trust me, Silvawen, you will be quite safe. Make your way to the Falls of Nimrodel. I will meet you there.'
'Thank you, Galadriel.'
'But, Silvawen, I expect a full explanation when we meet. And also, my granddaughter is staying with us at the moment and will be for some time. I'm afraid she is the one person who can see through my magic. She will see you, eventually.'
'Then perhaps she should come with you and I can explain to you both why I left. Will she tell anyone?'
'No, she is most reliable. She will also be good company for you, I think. You and she are very alike.' Silva smiled.
'Very well. I shall see you both at Nimrodel's Falls as soon as you can make it there.' And so she headed off in the direction of the falls.
She knew Galadriel and her granddaughter wouldn't be arriving for some time, so she wandered slowly though the wood, at her leisure. 'The people may not be pleasant,' she thought, 'but their kingdom certainly is.' She ran her fingers over the soft Mallorn bark. She still wasn't completely satisfied with the thought that she wouldn't be seen whilst walking openly, so she kept just off the path, within the first line of trees. She was comforted, however, when she walked right up to two wild rabbits and they didn't so much as flinch. She smiled to herself. It was quite cool being invisible. There were so many possibilities, but now wasn't the time to be thinking of practical jokes.
She reached the Falls of Nimrodel, mid morning, and she sighed. She could hear the soft voice of the fabled Elf maiden blending with the sounds of nature. She slipped her feet into the babbling brook, it was cold, but very refreshing and she soon felt her wearies of travel wash away. She then went back and sat leaning against a tree, listening to the song of the stream. Soon, she was fast asleep.
She was awoken by the sound of two voices talking animatedly. It was her instinctive reaction to hide, but before she could do so, she recognised one voice as being Galadriel's. She looked to her left and saw the Lady of the Golden Wood awaiting her with another dark-haired Elf.
"Mae govannen, Galadriel1," said Silva, approaching the two Elves.
"Ah, Silvawen, we wondered when you would wake," said Galadriel.
"I hope I haven't kept you long."
"Not at all. You obviously needed the rest after all your running around.'
"You could say that."
"This is my granddaughter, Arwen."
"I'm pleased to meet you, Arwen." The dark-haired Elf smiled graciously.
"As am I to meet you," she replied. "My grandmother has told me much about you."
"I wish I could say the same for you, but I'm afraid I didn't even know Galadriel had a son or daughter, let alone a granddaughter." The three of them laughed.
"She actually has three grandchildren. I am the youngest, my brothers are Elladan and Elrohir. You may have met them."
"I have indeed. And fine young men they are too. Now you mention it, I can see a large resemblance between you and your brothers. Tell me, how is it I have never chanced to meet you? I have resided in both Rivendell and fair Lórien."
"I have lived in Lórien for nearly a century, but my grandfather likes to keep me locked away so that I do not fall in love with 'some young goodfornothing who wants me only for my title'. I rarely walk among the 'lowly ones'." They laughed again.
"I didn't realise I had failed to mention so much," said Galadriel. "But that is not why we have met. Tell us, Silvawen, why have you decided to cause such complete and utter uproar amongst those that love you?"
*****
1Well met.
Chapter 21
"My lord, I have a message from Arianrhod," said a messenger.
"Who?" asked Thranduil.
"Arianrhod," repeated the messenger.
"Who?" asked Thranduil again.
"She's staying with Lord Elrond in Rivendell."
"Ohhhhhhhh, Silva's sister." The messenger nodded. "Ok, continue."
"I'm afraid there is bad news concerning Lady Silvawen, sir." Thranduil's face darkened.
"What sort of bad news?"
"She has gone missing." The King's eyes widened.
"What?"
"She's gone missing, sir." Thranduil paused for a moment.
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure, sir." Thranduil whimpered.
"For how long has she been missing?"
"Almost a month, sir."
"And she went missing from Rivendell?"
"Yes, sir. Your son was the last person to see her before she disappeared."
"So, it's his fault."
"Well, no, not real, sir. He's just as shocked and upset as you and her sisters are."
"But he was the last to see her, so he must have said something to her to make her leave."
"Well, maybe." Thranduil's lower lip trembled and then he burst out crying. The messenger looked shocked, worried and very scared.
"Uh...... bye, sir." And he ran from the Throne Room.
A week later, Legolas arrived back in Mirkwood. He was rather scared of what his father's reaction was going to be, since he would blame him for 'losing her'. He went to the Throne Room immediately, however, because the sooner he did, the sooner it was over with. When he got there, there was a very exasperated looking Royal Guard standing outside.
"At last, Prince Legolas," he sighed. "Your father is being....... well...... unbearable. He won't eat, he won't sleep, he just cries all the time. Perhaps you could talk to him."
"Are you having a laugh?!" cried Legolas. "He'll kill me!!!"
"Oh, I don't think he's that angry," said the guard. "Well, amidst the crying and wailing I did make out what sounded like threats to you of slow and painful torture, And I think I might have heard him swear he's going to tie you upside down to a tree by your *ahem*. But, I don't think he's that angry." Legolas gave a barely audible "MEEP!" in response. "I'll leave you to it," added the guard and he walked away.
Legolas pushed the door open, ever so slightly, and poked his head round it. He scanned the room for his father, but all he saw was a blubbering mess on the Throne. Oh, wait, that was his father.
"Hi dad," he said, tentatively. The Blubbering Mess looked up with red, puffy eyes and dishevelled hair.
"YOU!" it cried angrily. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!?!?!" It threw an empty goblet at Legolas, he ducked just in time to avoid being hit.
"It wasn't me!" said Legolas, defensively.
"I've been informed that you were the last person to see her," it said. "So you obviously said something to upset her. And now she's been missing for over a month!"
"Rath and I have sent messages to every Kingdom. She has personally delivered some herself. Everyone is on standby and has promised to tell us as soon as they hear anything."
"YOU LOST HER!!!" it screamed, throwing a book that had randomly materialised for to throw, at him. Legolas used the door as a shield.
"I didn't lose her, she ran away, and I don't even know why." Legolas looked down to the ground. "I thought she loved me. She told me she did, but I don't know any more. The case is either that she doesn't love me or I have done something terrible to her that she couldn't face me. I don't know which would hurt me more." The Blubbering Mess listened silently. 'Ok, so maybe its not entirely his fault,' it thought. They looked one another in the eyes and then it started crying again.
By the end of the day, Thranduil was so hysterical, the Healer had to give him two tranquilisers to make him sleep. Legolas sighed as his father eventually drifted off to sleep, he hadn't had a single moment to himself since he'd arrived back home. Now he had plenty. He ordered to be left alone and not disturbed for any reason other than something to do with Silvawen. He needed some time alone. He refused to let anyone see him weep.
*****
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" said Nilia. Rath was preparing to leave. She was going to deliver messages to Rohan and Gondor, whilst looking for the lost sister.
"I'll be fine. I'm not new to this remember," replied Rath.
"And if you find anything, anything at all, you must notify us immediately," said Riel.
"You know I will."
"Riel is going to ask Gwaihir the Winglord for his aid in our search," Arian informed her. "His gaze is great and cannot miss a thing in open space. His help is greatly needed."
"You must also attempt to find me if she returns or if Legolas sends word," said Rath.
"We will," promised Nilia. With one last hug for each sister, Rath set off hurriedly.
"She really does care, doesn't she?" said Riel, absently.
"She rarely shows it, but yes, she does," said Arian.
It was true, Rath did put up a cold barrier around herself. It was her way of protecting herself from emotional damage, but the moment one of her sisters was endangered, the barrier was torn down. She was the strongest, physically and mentally, of all sisters and a born leader. She took command of almost every situation that they came across. This was her way of getting though life. It was tough, but she managed it.
Under normal circumstances, Rath would have been ecstatic that Silva had gone. Ecstatic, that is, if someone knew where the girl was, only nobody did know where she was. No one even had a clue whether she was dead or alive. But Rath refused to believe that she was dead. Silva was a fighter, just as much as she was. She wouldn't give up until she found Silva, no matter how long it took. 'Where the hell are you, Silva?!'
*****
'Where the hell are you, Silva?!' Silva heard Rath's voice echo around her mind. She was trying to contact her, but Silva couldn't reply. If anyone knew where she was, it would get back to them and either Legolas or Rath (or possibly both) would come to get her. That could NOT happen.
She was heading for Lothlórien. Galadriel was the only person who she knew definitely would not tell a soul. She could be hidden properly in the Golden Wood, she wasn't sure how, but there had to be a way. She would be lonely, of course, but that was the price she had to pay. The problem she faced now was getting into the forest without being seen. Once more, she'd need Galadriel's help.
It was just after dawn when she approached the borders of the forest and Silva reached out with her mind to the Lady of the Wood.
'Galadriel, I need your help,' she pleaded.
'What can I do for you, Silvawen?'
'I need you to shelter me. But I can't be seen by anyone. No one must find me.'
'I have been awaiting you for a while now. I received a message from your soulmate nearly a week ago, informing me of your disappearance. He is most distressed. As are your sisters.'
'Please, can you help me? I mustn't be seen.'
'You can enter now and you won't be seen.'
'But your sentinels....'
'...Will see only a rustle in the grass. Trust me, Silvawen, you will be quite safe. Make your way to the Falls of Nimrodel. I will meet you there.'
'Thank you, Galadriel.'
'But, Silvawen, I expect a full explanation when we meet. And also, my granddaughter is staying with us at the moment and will be for some time. I'm afraid she is the one person who can see through my magic. She will see you, eventually.'
'Then perhaps she should come with you and I can explain to you both why I left. Will she tell anyone?'
'No, she is most reliable. She will also be good company for you, I think. You and she are very alike.' Silva smiled.
'Very well. I shall see you both at Nimrodel's Falls as soon as you can make it there.' And so she headed off in the direction of the falls.
She knew Galadriel and her granddaughter wouldn't be arriving for some time, so she wandered slowly though the wood, at her leisure. 'The people may not be pleasant,' she thought, 'but their kingdom certainly is.' She ran her fingers over the soft Mallorn bark. She still wasn't completely satisfied with the thought that she wouldn't be seen whilst walking openly, so she kept just off the path, within the first line of trees. She was comforted, however, when she walked right up to two wild rabbits and they didn't so much as flinch. She smiled to herself. It was quite cool being invisible. There were so many possibilities, but now wasn't the time to be thinking of practical jokes.
She reached the Falls of Nimrodel, mid morning, and she sighed. She could hear the soft voice of the fabled Elf maiden blending with the sounds of nature. She slipped her feet into the babbling brook, it was cold, but very refreshing and she soon felt her wearies of travel wash away. She then went back and sat leaning against a tree, listening to the song of the stream. Soon, she was fast asleep.
She was awoken by the sound of two voices talking animatedly. It was her instinctive reaction to hide, but before she could do so, she recognised one voice as being Galadriel's. She looked to her left and saw the Lady of the Golden Wood awaiting her with another dark-haired Elf.
"Mae govannen, Galadriel1," said Silva, approaching the two Elves.
"Ah, Silvawen, we wondered when you would wake," said Galadriel.
"I hope I haven't kept you long."
"Not at all. You obviously needed the rest after all your running around.'
"You could say that."
"This is my granddaughter, Arwen."
"I'm pleased to meet you, Arwen." The dark-haired Elf smiled graciously.
"As am I to meet you," she replied. "My grandmother has told me much about you."
"I wish I could say the same for you, but I'm afraid I didn't even know Galadriel had a son or daughter, let alone a granddaughter." The three of them laughed.
"She actually has three grandchildren. I am the youngest, my brothers are Elladan and Elrohir. You may have met them."
"I have indeed. And fine young men they are too. Now you mention it, I can see a large resemblance between you and your brothers. Tell me, how is it I have never chanced to meet you? I have resided in both Rivendell and fair Lórien."
"I have lived in Lórien for nearly a century, but my grandfather likes to keep me locked away so that I do not fall in love with 'some young goodfornothing who wants me only for my title'. I rarely walk among the 'lowly ones'." They laughed again.
"I didn't realise I had failed to mention so much," said Galadriel. "But that is not why we have met. Tell us, Silvawen, why have you decided to cause such complete and utter uproar amongst those that love you?"
*****
1Well met.