Angelica Headstrong felt sick about the whole thing, just sick about it. If she had loathed Haldir before, now she hated him with every ounce of her being. After Morgone's speech at the Council Meeting, everyone had burst out in a cacophony of disagreement, shouting at the Elf Queen until Elrond had gotten up and with his commanding voice hollered at everyone to sit down and be quiet.

Thranduil insisted that everyone be allowed their turn to speak, which seemed fair enough to Angelica, so they had gone around the circle, each one giving his opinion as to why Legolas and Ciendriel should be allowed to be together and why she should not be forced into marriage with the wicked Marchwarden. Morgone listened to them all, or so it seemed, but at the end she was still left shaking her head.

"Do you not understand that I have given my word already?" she said grievously. "Ciendriel will wed with Haldir so long as he will have her, or not at all. The engagement banquet will take place tonight."

Before everyone could get stirred up again, Elrond had rushed to escort the Queen of Ingra out, leaving them all frustrated. As everyone began to disperse, Pippin got up and took Angelica's hand, his expression somber.

"Are you all right, Diamond?" he asked her with concern in his voice. "I hate to see you so upset like this."

"This is unfair," Angelica said, lifting her chin, but deep inside a little bit of her was pleased with the nickname Pippin had bestowed her with. "I know how she must feel, for I was treated badly by my father -- forced to leave Hob's Corners when I did not want to go. Now Ciendriel is forced by her mother to marry that slimy, contemptible--"

Pippin laughed. "True, slimy is the just word for Haldir. But riddle me this, Angelica. Did not obeying your father turn out for the best?"

"Well, yes…"

"Perhaps this will work out best for Ciendriel."

"But what about Legolas?"

"Yes, what about Legolas?" said Gimli, joining them. He put his arm around Angelica and squeezed her. "He's going to be devastated! Heartbroken! He's-- he's going to need me! I think I'll go and see him."

"I wish I could talk to Ciendriel," Angelica said softly. She still felt she owed something to the Elf Princess, and on top of that, she was genuinely fond of her.

"I'm sure they're together at the moment," Pippin said.

"I know where Legolas' room is," Merry said, popping up next to Pippin and throwing an arm around them.

"Well, enough chit-chat, let's be off, then!" said Gimli. "Lead the way, Meriadoc."

The four of them hurried through the stone passageways of the palace, following Merry down the twisting passageways until he pointed out the door to Legolas' room. Gimli pounded on the door with his big fist.

"Legolas, you decent, laddie?" Gimli sounded rather like he hoped otherwise, and he pushed at the door without waiting for a reply. "Locked! Legolas! Open up!"

Angelica could not help bursting into a fit of giggles at Gimli's consternation. The Dwarf continued to bang on the door for several minutes until finally it was opened by Ciendriel, dressed in a robe that was poorly tied and looked as though it might be inside out. Her hair was slightly disheveled and one of her small Elven braids was half-undone.

"What do you want, Gimli?" she hissed. Then she looked past him and saw Merry, Pippin, and Angelica, to whom she offered half a smile.

"I want to see Legolas," Gimli said sourly. "I am his best friend, after all."

Ciendriel turned around and called out in Elvish, presumably to Legolas behind her. "He says to come in," she told the Dwarf, stepping aside. "All of you," she added, smiling at the three Hobbits.

Merry and Pippin piled into the room after Gimli, but Angelica stopped in the doorway next to Ciendriel. She looked past the Princess to the sparsely furnished room. Legolas was sitting up in his bed, bare-chested, the blanket pooling around his waist. He looked so much better that Angelica felt great relief. In fact, he looked fine, and happy to see his friends, who were all climbing up onto the bed to talk to him.

Angelica looked up at the tall Princess, who was waiting for her to enter the room. Ciendriel smiled at her, and Angelica felt a wave of sadness crest through her.

"I came to see you, Ciendriel," she said.

"Oh," said the Princess, sounding surprised. "I am glad."

Ciendriel stepped out into the hallway and closed the door to the bedroom, so they had a small degree of privacy.

"I wanted to tell you about the Council Meeting. It was held this morning. To decide--"

"About Legolas and I? My mother was there? You were there?"

"Well, yes. In fact, everyone was there--"

"Haldir?" Ciendriel sounded worried, now.

"No, not Haldir. But Elrond and Thranduil and Gandalf and Bilbo and--"

"Why not us? Why not those of us who are involved?" Ciendriel whispered. "We are the only ones who ought to be making this decision."

"I agree with you, but I'm afraid your mother doesn't," Angelica said, biting her lip.

"She chose in favor of Haldir," Ciendriel said. It was not a question. Angelica nodded. "Tell me, what did she say, exactly?"

Angelica thought hard about what Morgone's exact words had been. "She said… Ciendriel will wed with Haldir so long as he will have her, or not at all. The engagement banquet will take place tonight."

Ciendriel nodded. "Thank you for telling me this, Angelica. You are a true friend."

"I'm sorry," Angelica said genuinely. "What will you do?"

"First I will tell Legolas. And then… I know not." She opened the door and motioned Angelica to follow her into the room. "Legolas--"

In the bed, Legolas looked grim and sad. "I have heard," he said.

"What shall we do?" Ciendriel asked, and Angelica could see that the female Elf was fighting to keep her composure. She went to the crowded bed, and Legolas gave her his hand.

"No matter what happens, remember this. You will always be mine."

"You are just like your father, too bold, Legolas Greenleaf," said Morgone coldly from the doorway. Thranduil, Elrond, and Haldir stood behind her.

Thranduil chuckled. "I am not offended, Morgone."

"I am not surprised, Thranduil. Ciendriel, you will come with me now to be outfitted for tonight."

"I--"

"This is not a request. Do not disobey me in this."

Ciendriel looked at Legolas. He looked back at her, and the sight of the two lovers being torn apart nearly broke Angelica's heart. In fact, she let out a sob, and Pippin hopped off the bed and came over to fling his arms around her, quieting her. Merry and Gimli also slid off of the bed and went to stand beside them, looking over at the Elves with solemn expressions.

"Go," Legolas said softly. "I will come to the banquet."

There seemed to be a promise in his eyes. Ciendriel let go of his hand. She kept her head held high as she departed the chamber with Morgone. She did not look at Haldir as she passed him. The Marchwarden's expression was blank, and Angelica wondered at the fact that he was not smirking.

Elrond and Thranduil stepped further into the chamber while Haldir stood uncomfortably in the doorway. Elrond went to the bed and feathered his long fingers over Legolas' forehead.

"You are looking much better," he said. "How do you feel?"

"My body is well enough."

"I see that last night you found the proper cure for it," Elrond said, his lips curving upward. He turned to Thranduil. "Your son is cured. He has nothing to keep him in bed."

"Not now he doesn't," said Gimli, frowning. He glared at Haldir. "Her mother's taken her away."

"Dress, and come to the banquet tonight," Thranduil told his son.

"I will," Legolas said, sounding determined.

"Good. Come, Elrond. You can help me plan it," Thranduil said, leading off the other Elven king.

"I enjoy planning banquets nearly as much as I enjoy planning Council Meetings," Elrond said in a long-suffering tone, but he left with Thranduil.

"Why are you still standing here?" Angelica said to Haldir.

"Certainly not on your account," Haldir said arrogantly. "I came to see Legolas."

"Come to gloat?" Gimli asked fiercely.

"Let him come in," said Legolas. "I wish to speak with him."

"Are you sure, laddie?" Gimli asked. Angelica was just as dumbfounded as the Dwarf sounded.

"Yes," said Legolas. "Will you leave us, please?"

"Well," said Merry slowly. "I suppose it is time for lunch."

"And we missed second breakfast," added Pippin.

Angelica had not been hungry, but at their words, her stomach growled. Lunch did seem like a good idea, and Legolas could certainly handle Haldir. With a heavy heart she allowed them to lead her and Gimli away.

***

Legolas sat up straighter in the bed as Haldir came into his bedroom and shut the door behind him. He was fighting despair with every ounce of his being. He did not know what he would do if Ciendriel were truly wed to the Elf who stood before him, an Elf whom he had once loved so deeply that his heart had broken when Haldir had left to return to Lothlorien, so many centuries ago.

"It has been many years since you have invited me into this room, Legolas," Haldir said, as if he too were remembering.

"We have both changed," Legolas said.

"Would you sit down?"

"Are you naked beneath that blanket?" Haldir asked casually as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Legolas felt his cheeks heat up as Haldir discerned his state of undress. He did not reply and Haldir smiled wickedly. "Haldir, let us speak of Ciendriel."

"I do want you to come to the wedding, Legolas."

Legolas twisted the edge of the blanket around his fist. "Will you not consider refusing?"

"I told you once, Legolas, that it is no small task to refuse Galadriel. Would you ask such a thing of me, especially when I want this girl? I will treat her well, you need not fear for that."

"I have no doubt that you would treat her well," Legolas said softly, suddenly feeling sympathy for his long-time friend. For the first time he could almost see Haldir's point of view -- but he did not want to. Not at all. "Morgone said that she would wed Ciendriel to you as long as you would have her. That implies a choice. Say no, Haldir. Please. You denied me love once before -- your own love. Do not deny me Ciendriel's now. You cannot be so selfish!"

Haldir was silent for a long moment, clearly thinking about what Legolas had said. "I can easily be so selfish," he said shortly. "This is not like what passed between us. It is a different matter entirely. She will make either one of us happy. Why should I choose your happiness over my own?"

Legolas felt a lump in his throat as for the first time it became clear to him how miserable Haldir really was. Despite his tough demeanor and arrogant manner, the Elf that Legolas had loved in his youth still lived deep inside of him. Part of him wondered if Haldir was not right? Why should Legolas take away someone who certainly had the power to please him, to make him happy, and possibly even to love him. Ciendriel must not be entirely without feeling for Haldir or else she would not have reached for him in the night for comfort when she had thought that Legolas was dead.

"Think of her happiness," he said at last. "Think about what Ciendriel wants."

"Do you not recall also that if she weds not me, she weds no one? Do you think not of her happiness either, Legolas?"

"I would be with her wed or no."

"I made the offer once that she would not have to lose you after we were wed. It was you who refused. You are selfish, Legolas."

Was he? "I can not see it that way, Haldir," he said sadly. He looked into the cold blue eyes of the Marchwarden, searching for any hint of compassion, but Haldir had masked his face once more. "Please."

"Do you really think pretty begging will get you what you want? You should know me better than that," Haldir said, his lips curving coldly.

"I know not how else to get what I want but to ask for it," Legolas said with bewilderment.

"No, you never were the type to be coy, to slyly seduce and charm what you wanted when surely you could have done so easily," Haldir said, leaning forward.

"Is that what you want of me, Haldir?"

"I miss what lay between us once, Legolas."

Legolas felt a shiver, for he missed it, too, but unlike Haldir, he knew now that the past could never be recaptured. And still so easily he slipped into Haldir's embrace when the other Elf put his arms around him, drew him close, and took his mouth feverishly. He kissed Haldir back eagerly, but the honesty of what they had once shared was gone. The kiss tasted bitter to Legolas.

"You had better go and get ready for your betrothal dinner," he said softly.

Haldir withdrew from him, stood up, and left the room without another word.