Haldir knew that many considered the fabled Mirkwood Bathing Chamber to be a folly of Thranduil's. After all, why would an Elf want to bathe indoors if he did not have to? If it was truly necessary, a portable tub would suffice -- but a whole room devoted to washing?

Because of this widely held point of view, and because of the fact that there was a very lovely waterfall commonly used for bathing nearby, the bathing chamber was used little by anyone but guests and Thranduil himself, though it was staffed by a very bored-looking pair of bathing attendants at all times. Haldir, on the other hand, held many fond memories of the odd room. He had Legolas had trysted there many times during his stay in Mirkwood so many centuries ago. He recalled that the Elves forced to the post of bathing attendant in that day had been exceedingly easy to dismiss, and as he led Ciendriel to the room he hoped that would still be the case.

To his delight, the room was empty. He let go of Ciendriel's arm and watched as she looked around the room. A miniature waterfall burst forth out of one stone wall into a large rectangular pond. Stone benches ran in steps around the pond, so that bathers might sit and relax as they made their ablutions. Thranduil kept it well stocked with crocks of soap and jars of scented bathing ointments, as well as piles of soft towels.

Ciendriel's delight registered in her eyes, but her expression was still tainted with sadness. He guessed that she had told Legolas about what had passed between them the night before and that he was not pleased. Good. It would make it easier to sway her into obeying her mother and wedding him.

Haldir wanted her almost desperately after last night. It had seemed a dream when she reached for him so eagerly, so hungrily. It reminded him of the way Legolas had once desired him. He wanted to feel that way again. He wanted it always. He had done his best to present himself as a suitable husband to her mother, and Morgone had seemed to like him. This was good. If only Ciendriel felt the same way. Yet, if she did not now, she would later, when they were wed and sent to the Undying lands, far away from Legolas Greenleaf.

That night in the woods Haldir had felt a glimmer of hope that the three of them might form some sort of trio, regardless of which of them actually married her, but Legolas had turned him aside. Legolas had made an end to it… to even the possibility of it. He wished that the two of them had memory of the night that they had been affected by the green pipe weed. How open and eager had they both been for him, then. How there had been not one shred of jealousy to taint it.

It was not meant to be.

And so Haldir would fight to keep the Princess for himself. He was fighting for a life he had long ago given up dreaming that he might possess for himself. He knew now that it was within his grasp, and he had no intention of letting it slip away.

Ciendriel took off the robe she was wearing without hesitation or shyness and stepped into the water. He could not suppress the thrill that went through his body, heating him, at the sight of her beautiful nude form. He wanted to cast aside his own clothing and plunge into the water after her, but he feared losing the advantage he currently held.

"You are beautiful, Princess," he said appreciatively.

"Yes, you have told me so before, Haldir," she said wearily. She sat down upon one of the benches, leaning back against it. "This is a strange room. I have never seen the likes of it before."

"Thranduil is known to be slightly eccentric."

"I am glad that he is. Perhaps, then, he will give his blessing on my love of his son."

"Perhaps he will see the wisdom of not defying the will of Ingra and Lothlorien," Haldir challenged. "In any event, it seemed that Legolas was not so pleased with you earlier."

"He…he will forgive me." She said, sticking out her chin, but her voice trembled.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"He has only to keep his foolish pride until dinnertime tomorrow, and then you will be irrevocably mine."

"Why do you want me so badly, Haldir?"

"Shall I show you?" He made as if to remove his tunic.

"Is this all about lovemaking? Sure you can find more willing bedpartners."

"You were perfectly willing last night."

"Because you lied to me!"

"You may think that is the reason, Princess, but there is more to it than that."

"You are certainly self-assured."

"With good reason. I know it, and you know it, too. See how quick Legolas was to anger with you, to send you away? I assure you, I would never send you away. I would keep you by my side always. I would listen…"

"Haldir, your promises are quite lovely, indeed, but you are the one who got me into trouble in the first place, which negates them completely as far as I am concerned," Ciendriel sighed.

"I think you rather got yourself into trouble, Princess. I offered you to keep the love of Legolas once -- he did not offer the same courtesy."

She was close to tears. "Haldir…please, stop," she whispered. "It was hard enough to lose him once. I can not bear the thought of losing him again… or of worse, knowing that I hurt him."

The tears began to fall, and suddenly Haldir could not bear them. He strode into the pool without stopping to remove his clothing and took her into his arms. She sobbed on his shoulder, not moving to push him away.

Haldir heard the door to the bathing room open and someone entered silently. He did not turn around to see who it was. Surely it could not be Legolas. He was too weak to rise from his bed, yet. He did not allow himself to feel any guilt for making her cry. It was a good sign that she melted so easily into his embrace. All Legolas had to do was remain stubborn until tomorrow night and--

"Ciendriel," said Aragorn softly from the edge of the pool. "Legolas has sent me for you."

"Truly?" Ciendriel whispered, looking up at the King of Men.

"Yes. You should go to him, now."

Haldir let go of her. What else could he do? Anger and frustration seethed inside of him. And there was something else as well. Disappointment. Her submission had seemed so close. He waited for her to run out of the bathing pool, away from him, but she paused and lifted a hand to his cheek. She gazed into his eyes for a moment before she stepped away to fetch her robe.

As she left with Aragorn, Haldir found that his heart was pounding heavily in his chest.

***

Lord Elrond of Rivendell hated Council Meetings. He despised everything about them -- arranging them, organizing them, leading them, attending them, and worse of all, hosting them. On the bright side, this particular Council Meeting he had not had to arrange, but he still had to be there, when quite honestly the wedding of Morgone's daughter had nothing to do with him.

It was true that he was excessively fond of Morgone. In fact, he had been hoping to spend some time alone with her, but between his care of Legolas and her attending on her daughter, he had not managed this. He wondered briefly if Haldir was trying to seduce her, but from all he could tell the Marchwarden truly had his heart set on Ciendriel.

The girl was clearly in love with Legolas. Last night when Elrond had gone back to check on her, he had met Aragorn outside of the boy's room. Aragorn had drawn Elrond away, explaining that Ciendriel was speaking with him, and when Elrond had finally shaken the King and returned on his own, the door was locked.

It was too late to seek out Morgone (though Elrond had checked some of the more highly trafficked areas of the palace -- the Hobbits had still been drinking and dancing in the dining hall,) so Elrond had gone to bed alone, an unusual occurrence for him. He had been taking a plate of fruit in the freshly scrubbed dining hall for breakfast when Thranduil had appeared and gravely summoned him to the meeting.

A verandah very like his own at Rivendell had been set with a circle of chairs for those who were forced to attend the meeting. Present were Thranduil, Morgone, Aragorn, Gandalf, Bilbo, and Frodo. Frodo looked slightly nervous, and Bilbo looked nearly as bored as Elrond felt.

"Should we not have Haldir, Ciendriel, and Legolas present?" Aragorn asked quietly, in a conversational tone.

"That is hardly necessary," said Morgone tartly. "In fact, this whole meeting is hardly necessary. The decision has been made. Galadriel gave her blessing. Ciendriel shall wed the Marchwarden, and they will go into the west."

"With all due respect, Morgone, I think that this meeting is quite necessary," said Thranduil. "I spoke to Legolas last night. He is willing to go to any length to have your daughter for his own. He has already claimed her."

"So," said Morgone, "Has Haldir."

"Do the wishes of your daughter mean so little to you, Morgone?" asked Gandalf in a pleasant tone. Elrond knew he was not trying to ruffle her feathers, but to make her think. Morgone's behavior surprised Elrond, for always had she held her daughter above all else.

"Thranduil, may I inquire why wizards and Hobbits and Men are party to a discussion that concerns only Elves? I confess it has been long since I left Ingra but I was not aware that the world had changed so much."

"I was not aware, Morgone, that you had changed so much," Elrond said softly. Shock flashed in Morgone's eyes, but she did not reply.

"I'll be glad to leave," Bilbo muttered.

"I think we have not enough members present at this Council Meeting," Elrond continued. "All of the Hobbits should be present, as should Rúmil and Orophin and the Dwarf. After all, they have been traveling together from the time they left Rivendell. They have watched the interplay between the three of them."

"Morgone?" asked Thranduil.

“A Dwarf?” Morgone looked taken aback.

“He is friend to Legolas, and welcome in my kingdom,” said Thranduil.

"Very well, send for them, but this will not sway me."

It pleased Elrond that Morgone cared enough for his opinion to listen to it. He wondered if he ought to advocate the union of Legolas and Ciendriel. After all, Haldir had won her by taking her by force, and in Elrond’s home, nonetheless. Perhaps he owed that to the pair of them. Then again, Ciendriel would be just the medicine that Haldir needed. Having a wife would soften Haldir, and if she was anything like her mother, he would be a new Elf indeed.

Elrond weighed both sides of the issue silently while the others were sent for. As it turned out, none of them were far away...eavesdropping as usual. Elrond rolled his eyes. It was worse around here than in...well, in Rivendell. More chairs were brought and everyone was seated once more, and Elrond thought to himself that the three parties involved really ought to be here. Surely Haldir and Legolas could behave themselves. It was not as if they were going to get into a fist fight.

“Thank you all for your attendance,” Thranduil addressed them all. “As friends of Legolas and Haldir--”

“Not Haldir,” said Angelica. “He is no friend to me.”

“He tried to shoot me in the head once,” said Gimli cheerfully.

“So did Ciendriel,” said Merry.

“There are probably more folks here who have tried to shoot you in the head than not, Gimli,” said Gandalf. “But the point is taken. Many of you here do not care for Haldir. On that same note, is there anyone here who feels this way about Legolas?”

Silence fell over the Council Meeting. Morgone looked around in disbelief. She translated Gandalf’s words into Elvish for the benefit of Rúmil and Orophin and repeated the question.

“We like Legolas,” said Orophin. “We always have.”

“We like Haldir, too,” said Rúmil. “After all, he is our brother.”

“He can be a bastard, though,” said Orophin.

“True,” said Rúmil.

“But we still like him.”

“Most of the time!”

“Do you think he would make a suitable husband for Ciendriel?” Morgone asked them with exasperation.

“Certainly.”

“As suitable as a husband as he would be for anyone.”

“I think he could use a wife, Rúmil.”

“It might make him less of a--”

“Thank you, gentlemen,” said Thranduil. He switched back to the common tongue. “Very well. It seems no one has a bad word to say about my son,” he said proudly. “And last night, he told me that he loves your daughter, Morgone.”

“And she loves him!” said Angelica.

A chorus of Hobbits chimed in to back her up. Morgone looked frustrated. Elrond saw a look of concern come into her eyes. She looked over at him for support and he sighed deeply. He could not deny her unspoken request.

“Morgone, why do you not tell us why you have chosen Haldir for your daughter? Perhaps that will make it easier for them to understand.”

Ciendriel’s mother rose gracefully to her feet so she could more easily face the council. “I love my daughter, above all else. Please know this, all of you. It is not in me to do anything that would bring her harm. I discussed this for many hours with the Lady Galadriel before I made my decision. Do any of you doubt her word? She would not have blessed this union if she foresaw that it would fail.”

Morgone paused for a moment and looked round, but no one else spoke, so she went on.

“It means much to me that as her friends you should all come forth to speak this way for her. And yes, I know she claims to love your son, Thranduil. Yet, what is done is done. Ciendriel is promised to the Marchwarden, and so long as he will have her, she will wed with him.”