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.Gilthanas followed his huntsman's instinct, walking slowly, continuing to talk, holding herwith his steady voice and his eyes."You shouldn't be out here alone.I'll stay with you.I want to talk to you anyway.I want you to listen to me for a moment.I need to talk to you, Silvara.I don't want to be here alone, either.Don't leave me, Silvara.So much has left me in this world.Don't leave."Talking softly, continuously, Gilthanas moved with smooth, deliberate steps toward Silvara until hesaw her take a step backwards.Raising his hands, he sat down quickly on a boulder at the pool'sedge, keeping the water between them.Silvara stopped, watching him.She made no move to clotheherself, apparently deciding that defense was more important than modesty.She still held the knifepoised in her hand.Gilthanas admired her determination, although he was ashamed for her nakedness.Any well-bredelven woman would have fainted dead away by now.He knew he should avert his eyes, but he wastoo awed by her beauty.His blood burned.With an effort, he kept talking, not even knowing whathe was saying.Only gradually did he become aware that he was speaking the innermost thoughts ofhis heart."Silvara, what am I doing here? My father needs me, my people need me.Yet here I am, breakingthe law of my lord.My people are in exile.I find the one thing that might help them-a dragon orb-but now I risk my life taking it from my people to give to humans to aid them in their war! It's noteven my war, it's not my people's war." Gilthanas leaned toward her earnestly, noticing that she had not taken her eyes from him."Why, Silvara? Why have I brought this dishonor on myself? Whyhave I done this to my people?"He held his breath.Silvara glanced into the darkness and the safety of the woods, then looked backat him.She will flee, he thought, his heart pounding.Then, slowly, Silvara lowered her knife.Therewas such sadness and sorrow in her eyes that, finally, Gilthanas looked away, ashamed of himself."Silvara," he began, choking, "forgive me.I didn't mean to involve you in my trouble.I don't understand what it is that I must do.I only know."".that you must do it," Silvara finished for him.Gilthanas looked up.Silvara had covered herself with the frayed blanket.This modest effort servedonly to fan the flames of his desire.Her silver hair, hanging down past her waist, gleamed in themoonlight.The blanket eclipsed her silver skin.Gilthanas rose slowly and began to walk along the shore toward her.She still stood at the edge ofthe forest's safety.He could still sense her coiled fear.But she had dropped the knife."Silvara," he said, "what I have done is against all elven custom.When my sister told me of her plot to steal the orb, I should have gone directly to my father.I should have sounded the alarm.I shouldhave taken the orb myself-"Silvara took a step toward him, still clutching the blanket around her."Why didn't you?" she asked in a low voice.Gilthanas was nearing the rock steps at the north end of the pond.The water flowing over themmade a silver curtain in the moonlight."Because I know that my people are wrong.Laurana is right.Sturm is right.Taking the orb to the humans is right! We must fight this war.My people are wrong,their laws, their customs are wrong.I know this-in my heart! But I can't make my head believe it.Ittorments me-"Silvara walked slowly along the pool's edge.She, too, was nearing the silver curtain of water fromthe opposite side."I understand." she said softly."My own.people do not understand what I do or why I do it.But I understand.I know what is right and I believe in it.""I envy you, Silvara," Gilthanas whispered.Gilthanas stepped to the largest rock, a flat island in the glittering, cascading water.Silvara, her wet hair falling over her like a silver gown, stood but a few feet from him now."Silvara," Gilthanas said, his voice shaking, "there was another reason I left my people.You know what it is."He extended his hand, palm up, toward her.Silvara drew back, shaking her head.Her breath came faster.Gilthanas took another step nearer."Silvara, I love you," he said softly."You seem so alone, as alone as I am.Please, Silvara, you will never be alone again.I swear it."Hesitantly, Silvara lifted her hand toward his.With a sudden move, Gilthanas grabbed her arm andpulled her across the water.Catching her as she stumbled, he lifted her onto the rock beside him.Too late the wild doe realized she was trapped.Not by the man's arms-she could easily have brokenfree of his embrace.It was her own love for this man that had ensnared her.That his love for herwas deep and tender sealed their fate.He was trapped as well.Gilthanas could feel her body trembling, but he knew now as he looked into her eyes-that shetrembled with passion, not fear.Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her tenderly.Silvara stillheld the blanket clasped around her body with one hand, but he felt her other hand close around his.Her lips were soft and eager.Then, Gilthanas tasted a salty tear on his lips.He drew back, amazedto see her crying."Silvara, don't.I'm sorry-" He released her."No!" she whispered, her voice husky."My tears are not because I am frightened of your love.They are only for myself.You cannot understand."Reaching out, she shyly put one hand around his neck and drew him near.And then, as he kissedher, he felt her other hand-the hand that had been clasping the blanket around her body-move up tocaress his face.Silvara's blanket slipped unnoticed into the stream and was borne away by the silver water.Pursuit.A desperate plan.At noon the next day, thecompanions were forced to abandon the boats, having reached the river's headwaters, where itflowed down out of the mountains.Here the water was shallow and frothy white from the tumblingrapids ahead.Many Kaganesti boats were drawn up on the bank.Dragging their boats ashore, thecompanions were met by a group of Kaganesti elves coming out of the woods.They carried withthem the bodies of two young elven warriors.Some drew weapons and would have attacked had notTheros Ironfeld and Silvara hurried to talk with them.The two spoke long with the Kaganesti, while the companions kept an uneasy watch downriver.Though they had been awake before dawn, starting as early as the Kaganesti felt was safe to travelthrough the swift water, they had, more than once, caught glimpses of the black boats pursuingthem.When Theros returned, his dark face was somber.Silvara's was flushed with anger."My people will do nothing to help us." Silvara reported."They have been attacked by lizardmen twice in the last two days.They blame the coming of this new evil on humans who, they say,brought them here in a white-winged ship-""That's ridiculous!" Laurana snapped."Theros, didn't you tell them about these draconians?""I tried," the blacksmith stated."But I am afraid the evidence is against you.The Kaganesti saw the white dragon above the ship, but they did not, apparently, see you drive her off
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