Translations:
Ada = father
Coiva, meleth-nin = wake up, my love
Chapter 51
Almost 2500 years passed. Silva and Legolas lived in relative peace, visiting Lórien regularly. When Arwen moved to Rivendell again to live with her father once more, Kemen moved to Mirkwood, for Arwen became one of his best friends and he was saddened greatly when she left. He knew, however, he would be happy with his parents.
He shared his time between the two forests in the end, spending 7-8 months in one place at a time. This made him happiest, for Lórien was his first home and always would be his true home, but Mirkwood was the home of his blood family.
Silva was never happier than when Kemen was in Mirkwood. As far as she was concerned, it was where he belonged, but she understood his need to go between the two. Concerning matters with her son, there were no worries. There were just one or two other things that needed to be sorted……….
**
Silva paced the small study nervously. She'd had to escape, she knew no one would expect her to be indoors. She was shaking and her breath was coming in short, sharp gasps. She had to sit down before she fell down. He'd never felt anything like this before. This sort of fear and anxiety and wonder.
"Look, just calm yourself down, woman," she told herself sternly. "There's nothing to be worried about. You're being stupid." She took several deep breaths to calm herself down. When her breathing leveled once more, she stood and left the room.
The person she met was Thranduil. She nearly leapt 10 feet in the air when she walked straight into him. She'd been in a world of her own, oblivious to everything.
"Silva? Are you alright?" he asked as he picked himself up off the floor.
"What?Yes.Fine.Why?What'swrong?What'shappened?!" she said quickly.
"Nothing has happened. Are you sure you're well, Silva? You're very panicky. You have been since your return from Lórien."
"I'm fine. I'm just……… I'm fine. Good day, ada." She scurried away quickly. Thranduil watched in bewilderment.
"No you're not," he laughed gently, shook his head and carried on where he was going.
Silva made her way to the kitchens. She needed a cup of tea to calm herself properly. Walking into Thranduil had only shook her up again. But she got another panic attack when she entered the kitchens to see her lover already there.
"Oh, Silva, there you-" She squeaked loudly and ran. Her feet lead her to the stables, where she hid herself with Midnight.
"Stupid girl," she cursed herself. "Because that isn't going to make anyone suspicious or worried. Why are you behaving like such a child? People will know something's wrong if you keep this up. Legolas will suspect something. Or worse, worry. He's unbearable when he's worried." She sighed with annoyance and petted Midnight's mane. "Oh, Midnight, what am I to do?" He whinnied at his mistress. "I'm a fool, aren't I?" It appeared to her that the gigantic horse nodded. "Gee, thanks." She sighed again and took up a brush, starting to work on her horse. "I just have to go back up to the castle, apologise for freaking out and pretend everything is normal. It's not so hard." When she finished brushing Midnight down, she fed him - knowing full well he had already been fed that day, but she didn't care - and made her way back up to the castle. 'You'd better have a good alibi, Silvawen,' she warned herself.
The first person she met along her way this time was Legolas. He eyed her warily before approaching her properly.
"I won't bite," she said.
"No, but you might squeak at me again," he replied. "What was all that about?"
"Oh, er, I suddenly remembered something I hadn't done that needed to be done about hours ago." She knew he as waiting for further explanation. He wasn't going to get one. She hadn't thought that far ahead.
"I take it that it's done now then?"
"Yes. Done and dusted. Er, Legolas, I need to tell you something. It's quite important." He raised an eyebrow curiously. "But right here isn't exactly the most ideal of places. It's sort of about when Kemen and I were in Lórien."
"Ok. Well, um, let's go in here then." He indicated a small sitting room to his left, but as they were about to enter, a servant approached them.
"Your highness," she said. "Your father requests your presence in his study."
"Right this second?" Legolas replied.
"Yes, sire." He looked at his lover.
"Can it wait, Silva?"
"Well………" she sighed. "I guess so."
"I'll see you later, sweetheart." He kissed her cheek and followed the Elven maid. She sighed again quietly.
"Well, I tried once," she said aloud, "I'll just have to try again later."
Later was an understatement. It was two days before Legolas next had the time to sit and talk to her, and by then, she'd almost lost her bottle.
"I'm so tired," he yawned as he slumped into in a large chair in front of the fire in their chamber. She looked over the top of the book, she was reading, at him and smiled faintly. He did look absolutely shattered. She put the book down and climbed off the bed, humming and harring about whether or not to talk to him now. She sat on his lap and snuggled close to him.
"I've missed you today," she said gently. "You were gone when I woke up and I haven't seen you all day."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't be. It's not your fault, I was just saying. I've got you back now, so that's alright."
"Ok then." There was a pause.
"………Legolas?"
"Mmmm?"
"You know when Kemen and I were in Lórien?"
"Yeah………"
"Well, I did something that I should probably talk to you about……… you see, the thing……… is……… Legolas?" She looked up; he'd fallen asleep. She chuckled lovingly. "Coiva, meleth-nin," she whispered, stirring him.
"What? Oh. I'm sorry. What were you saying, Sil?"
"Never mind, I'll tell you in the morning. Come to bed now, you can't sleep in the chair." He nodded and dragged himself into bed.
"Night, love."
"Goodnight."
**
"How do I tell him? We keep getting interrupted all the time!" Silva ranted to her son. "I should probably just forget it."
"Don't be silly," said Kemen. "You've go to tell him."
"I need to get him somewhere where we won't be interrupted."
"There's plenty of places."
"No, there isn't, believe me. I know this from past experiences and recent would-be conversations with my beloved."
"Well, there must be somewhere………" They both fell silent. "……… hmmm, you know, you're right. You really can be found anywhere in this castle." Silva's eyes lit up.
"Kemen, you are a genius! Thank you!" She kissed him. "I'll see you later!" She ran off in search of 'her beloved'.
"Er……… it's……… ok?" he said confusedly t himself. He sighed. "What a strange mother I have."
When she found the Mirkwood Prince, she eventually managed to convince him to leave what he was doing.
"Only for a little while, I promise," she pleaded.
"I'm very busy, Silva," he replied.
"Pleeeeeeeeease?"
"Oh, alright."
"Good boy, you know it makes sense."
"I've learnt the hard way not to refuse anything of you." 'Let's hope so,' she thought.
"Come on."
"She led him outside to the place where they had shame-facedly been 'caught in the act' by the Elvenking.
"Why have you brought me here, Sil?" Legolas asked confusedly.
"Do you know where we are?" she inquired.
"No……… should I?"
"This is were we first made love."
"Right……… well, this is really very nice, but I do have a lot of work to-"
"Let me finish. You want to know why I brought you out here? I came here because 1) we won't be interrupted and 2) I think it's sort of significant."
"What is?"
"When I was in Lórien with Kemen, I made some arrangements with Galadriel. Legolas, will you marry me?" He stared mutely for a few seconds. Then he blinked a couple of times.
"………What? Sorry, can you repeat that? I think I misheard you."
"Will you marry me?"
"………oh, I did hear you right………… er………… what?" She had to stop herself giggling. This was a serious situation, but he looked so confused, bless him.
"I want to marry you, Legolas. We've been together for 2481 years, I think it's about time."
"……… but it's illegal!"
"Thanks for stating the obvious. And anyway, we already broke one law, hell, why not make it two?"
"……… what do you mean, 'arrangements'?"
"Well, after A LOT of persuasion from me and Kemen - i.e. constant nagging - she agreed to perform the ceremony for us if you say yes. She's awaiting my reply. So, what do you say? Do you think you could marry me? Do you want to marry me?"
"Are you kidding?!" He cupped her face with his hands and kissed her passionately. "Nothing would make me happier! I love you, Silva!" He kissed her again.
"Is that a yes then?"
"Yes, Silvawen, I want to marry you!" She wrapped her arms around him and started laughing. "Did you honestly think I would say no?"
"I didn't know what you would say. I didn't think you'd want to break another law and I wasn't sure……… well………"
"How much I loved you?" She blushed.
"Sort of."
"You are silly. But I love you, no matter what, just so you know. Come rain or shine."
"Good."
**
"OF COURSE I WILL!!" Kemen shouted joyfully.
"Shhh! Keep it down!" Legolas laughed. "No one's to know, remember. Not even my father, as much as it pains me to keep it from him."
"You can rely on me. I won't breathe a word of it." Kemen giggled happily. "Yay! My mother and father are finally getting married! And I get to go watch!"
"But only you and Galadriel know, and it has to stay that way. Not ada, not Arwen, not Estel, and especially Silva's sisters."
"I know. So, when are we going back to Lórien?"
"As soon as I can get away. As I didn't go with you last time, it should be quite soon. And Silva can talk ada into anything. There shouldn't be a time delay problem."
"Wow! This is so good! I'm so excited!"
"I'm thankful you're so happy. We need support. I think Silva might crack under the strain if you weren't glad."
"Pah! I don't care about stupid laws. If you love each other, you should be allowed to marry." Legolas smiled.
"It's a shame not everyone sees it the way you do."
"I'm sure they will one day."
"What are you two whispering about?" Silva said over Legolas' shoulder, resting her chin on it, making both men jump. "As if I didn't know already."
"Don't do that!" Legolas said. "I thought someone was listening."
"Then you shouldn't talk so openly about it, sweetheart." She kissed her fiancés cheek then sat on his lap.
"I was just asking Kemen to be there."
"Like you'd be able to stop me," said Kemen.
"We'll be a proper family at last," sad Silva.
"With a mother like you, are you sure we could ever be normal?" Kemen said cheekily.
"That's enough lip from you, young man," Legolas chuckled in a mock stern voice, "else I may reconsider my request for you to join us on our happy day."
"I'm sorry! I was joking!" They all started laughing again.
"Anyway," sad Silva, "the reason I snuck up behind you is because I've spoken to ada and I've convinced him to let us go tomorrow. I told him Arwen has written to me saying she is returning to Lórien for a time and wishes to see me, since it has been so long. And I insisted upon the fact that you two simply have to come with me. So if he mentions anything, that's the story." She grinned.
"You may not be normal," said Kemen, "but it's damn useful you being so persuasive. Well, I'd better go and pack." Kemen got up and walked off, his happiness radiating from him.
"Bless him," Silva gushed. "Thank Eru he's so happy for us."
"As if he'd be anything but."
"Still, I was unsure."
"You're unsure about most things. But you'd better not get any second thoughts about this."
"Well, if you're so doubting of me, how about we go back to our chamber and I show you exactly how sure I am?" Legolas didn't need asking twice.