Angelica Headstrong sat on the edge of the raft, dangling her feet in the water. They had set sail several hours ago, with Haldir captaining the raft and the rest of the boys poling it along the river. After going around in a circle several times, Pippin, Merry, and Frodo had been dismissed from poling, leaving the majority of the work to Sam, Gimli and Haldir's brothers. Gimli seemed to have fully recovered from his own incident with the spiders, which made Angelica feel better.

Angelica had offered to help with the poling as well, but Haldir had not even acknowledged her offer. It had been Frodo who gently told her she could just sit down and relax. Yet who could relax with Ciendriel and Legolas lying side by side on the center of the raft as still as corpses? Angelica would have certainly believed them to be dead if not assured by the others that this was how the poison of the spiders worked. And still, it was ironic that no one would get in a boat with Legolas unless he was helpless to sink it, she thought.

Haldir had told them that they would arrive in Mirkwood by sunset. Angelica hoped that didn't mean she would have to choose her life mate today! She felt desperate for more time. She looked over at Gimli, wondering what life would be like if she did choose the Dwarf. She knew he was a leader among his people, and that he would treat her like a queen. Nearly losing him had reminded her of how much she had come to care for the Dwarf.

She watched him easily facilitate the passage of the boat, noting his occasional glances towards Legolas. He was trying to keep a brave face, she knew. No Dwarf had ever loved an Elf as much as Gimli loved Legolas.

If she did have to choose tonight, who would it be? She looked around at the five suitors. Pippin and Merry were sitting on either side of her, also trailing their feet in the water, and having an animated discussion about how they might catch a fish, and how they could cook it on the boat. Frodo was sitting on the other side of the raft, near where Sam was busy with the raft pole, staring dreamily out over the water.

She loved them all, she thought. She always would.

Suddenly Angelica remembered something. It was something so important that she could not believe that she had forgotten it. Pippin didn't know about Galadriel's command! He also didn't know that she had gotten her memories back. Angelica bit her lip and groaned silently. She wasn't going to tell him here on the boat. Not in front of the others who already knew. It wouldn't be fair.

Yet she had to do it before she made her ultimate decision. Pippin needed to be informed. After all, what if the Hobbit she chose turned her down? Could they turn her down? Would the King permit it?

Angelica knew little of this Aragorn, except that he had known most of the party during the adventure of the Ring, and had become King after that. Everyone seemed to like him, so he must be wise and fair. Maybe she could discuss the whole situation with him and get an opinion from someone who was outside of it.

She shivered. She was scared to death. Maybe the right decision would be to leave them all. Ciendriel had promised her that she might have a home in Ingra if she desired… She glanced over at the unconscious Elven Princess. Then again, what if Ciendriel gave up her home in Ingra? She had as many possibilities before her as Angelica did. If Legolas died, certainly she would marry Haldir. Or would she? Angelica would rather have married an orc than Haldir, but the Princess seemed to like him for some strange reason, even when she was claiming to find him odious.

If Legolas lived, Ciendriel might forsake her homeland to be with him. Or if he lived and they were wed with their parents' blessing, might she not stay in Legolas' homeland of Mirkwood? No, it did not seem that going to Ingra would be an option for Angelica. She also could not go back to Hob's Corners. And… well, she could be happy with any of the boys. If she chose Gimli, he would take her to his homeland and then her presence would not become a sore spot between the four Hobbits.

Maybe that was the right choice. She looked over at Gimli, who was staring at Legolas again. His eyes were still red and puffy. He caught her eye and smiled at her from beneath his thick, bushy beard.

Angelica smiled back.

***

They landed the boat a few miles from Mirkwood at the nearest river landing and finished the journey on foot. It was after dark when they reached the Elven city, but it was ablaze with light. Torches lined the road to the House of Thranduil which the sad party traversed, bearing the bodies of the Prince and Princess.

Frodo Baggins led the way, followed by Haldir carrying Ciendriel, Rúmil and Orophin carrying Legolas, the other four Hobbits, and Gimli. He felt only the slightest shimmer of nerves as they were met by a party of Elven guards at the border, then escorted forward to meet with the king of this realm, Legolas' father.

Thranduil came forward onto the steps of his woodland palace, escorted by a small retinue of Elves. He was almost as fair of face as Legolas, looking only slightly older, his smooth face unlined and ethereal. His expression was grave, and deeply sad.

"You are all welcome here in Mirkwood," he said gruffly. Frodo was surprised that he addressed them in the common tongue instead of Elvish, but also relieved. "Though I would you were arriving with joy and not in a time of such conflict. Let me see my son."

Frodo stepped aside as the Elven King approached. Thranduil looked at Legolas, bringing a tender hand to his pale cheek. "Bring him inside," he told Rúmil and Orophin, who hurried to comply, escorted by some of the Elves in the retinue. Thranduil turned to Haldir, who inclined his head in greeting. "Haldir of Lorien. You have ever been our friend and ally, Marchwarden. So this is the daughter of Morgone."

"Yes. She will awaken tomorrow, if I am not mistaken," Haldir said. His tone told Frodo that he did not think in the least that he might be mistaken.

Thranduil nodded. "I have prepared a chamber for her as well. Her mother is here, and will want to see to her, herself. She wishes also to speak to you."

"I understand."

"Go in, then, Haldir." Another party of Elves escorted Haldir. Thranduil at last turned his attention to the Hobbits and the Dwarf. He spoke to Gimli. "It has been many years since we held traffic with the Dwarves, and yet my son does not give his friendship in idleness. You are most welcome here, Master Gimli… and will be always, even if my son does not survive his misfortunes."

Gimli took off his helmet and inclined his head. "This is no small honor, and I accept it gratefully. I owe my life to Legolas. If he does not survive, it will be forfeit to you in his stead."

"He would not wish that, and I would not ask it. Go in and rest, Son of Gloin. The best of chambers has been prepared for you."

Gimli, too, was led away. Thranduil looked at Frodo. "I have heard much about you, Frodo Baggins, Hobbit of the Shire, and I confess I have much desired to sit and talk with you. Still, there is one here who you must see first. Come inside, all of you, for there is food and a resting place for you here."

"I hope they have sausages," Pippin whispered to Merry.

"Anything but lembas would serve me well," Merry whispered back.

Sam shushed them. Frodo suppressed a smile. He looked at Angelica, who looked scared to death. Frodo went to her and took her hand, and brought her towards Thranduil.

"This is Angelica Headstrong. She has traveled with us."

"Sent by Galadriel," said Thranduil, nodding. He looked at her. "Much energy surrounds you, the Diamond of Long Cleeve. You are a stunning example of the power of femininity. I daresay you know not the joy that you bring with you. You, above all, will always be welcome in Mirkwood."

Angelica looked shocked, and this made Frodo grin. "Thank you," she whispered. Thranduil summoned two of the other Elves from the retinue and bade them take Angelica inside. Thranduil led the rest of the Hobbits in, himself. He escorted Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin into a large hall where a table was laid out with food.

Someone was already at the table eating the food, however. Two someones, actually. Frodo could not believe his eyes.

“Bilbo! Gandalf!” he ran to the table, flinging himself first on his uncle, then on the tall wizard. “I can’t believe you’re here!”

“For an occasion as momentous as this? Of course we’re here,” Bilbo said.

“Decisions will be made here that will affect many lives,” Gandalf added. “Not simply the hearts of a few.”

Frodo nodded, understanding. He wondered if Ciendriel and Legolas fully understood the effects their passion could have on not one but three Elven villages if they were forbidden. He knew that wars happened over this sort of thing, and he sincerely hoped it would not come to that...but surely Legolas was far too noble to allow a war to be fought because of his actions.

Sam, Merry, and Pippin greeted Bilbo and Gandalf cheerfully and fell upon the food. With a nod to Gandalf, Thranduil excused himself and went to check on Legolas. Frodo sat down next to Bilbo to hear about his travels.

“I’m leaving Middle-earth soon, my boy,” Bilbo said wearily. “Gandalf and I are going with the Elves into the west.”

Frodo was shocked. “Leaving!”

“Not yet, but soon.” Bilbo paused, hesitating. “I wanted to ask you to come... but that was before I heard about this Miss Headstrong. Now I think that in fact, you ought to stay here -- with her. Settle down, raise a family. Try to find some peace.”

Frodo felt a lump forming in his throat. He nodded. He was torn. He wanted exactly what Bilbo had described, but... “I don’t want you to go.”

“Many things have passed which you did not want... that none of us wanted,” Gandalf commented. “And still it seems that the world follows the path which is best for all, and so shall we.”

“When will you go, then?” Frodo asked numbly.

“After the wedding,” said Gandalf, smiling slightly before he turned back to his plate.

***

Angelica had been given a bath and a room in which to rest, and more Elf maidens than she knew what to do with to assist her. This might have been nice, except none of them spoke the common tongue, and all the Elvish Angelica knew she had picked up from Merry and Pippin and she didn’t dare repeat any of it to these gently-bred females.

They offered her food, and wine, which made her drowsy, so she went straight to bed after her bath. When she awoke in the morning, they had brought her several new dresses, which they had apparently been feverishly tailoring to fit her small stature. Angelica nearly wept with the kindness they showed her, and finally came up with what she thought was the Elvish word for ‘thanks’ but might not have been, based on the fit of giggles they had when she said it. Maybe it was her pronunciation.

She made a note to herself to ask Frodo to help her with the language as the Elf ladies fitted her into one of the thin, ethereal gowns. They brushed her hair and tied ribbons in it, cooing over her and petting her like the little doll she must seem to them. They brought her a looking glass and Angelica could hardly believe that she was seeing herself in it. The dress was green (of course) but hung with thousands of tiny glass beads, which clinked musically together when she turned slowly around.

It was so good to be clean, spotlessly clean, in clean clothing, and not hungry, she thought. Traveling had wearied her. She was ready to put an end to it. Perhaps the kind Thranduil would allow her to stay on in Mirkwood.

But Angelica didn’t really want that. She wanted to be loved. She wanted to spend her life pleasing one of the boys... and after her relaxing morning, she thought she knew which one. She simply had to make certain that she was absolutely sure, and that he would accept her, and she was not going to give her choice until absolutely the last minute.

She stayed in the room all day, thinking. All too soon night was beginning to fall once more, and Angelica was anxious to know how Ciendriel and Legolas were doing. She couldn’t ask any of the Elves that were waiting on her, so she waited for them to leave and then decided to explore the palace for herself. King Thranduil had a very nice home, with far less stairs than they had in Lothlorien, and not nearly as ostentatious as Elrond’s palace, she thought as she wandered down one of the hallways, listening for the sound of Hobbit voices. Hearing someone speaking in the common tongue, she paused outside of one doorway to listen.

“Of course I do not wish for the death of your son, Thranduil,” said a voice similar to Ciendriel’s but higher in timber.

“Certainly you should know better.” That was Lord Elrond, if Angelica was not mistaken.

“I did not mean to imply that you did, Morgone,” Thranduil replied heatedly. “I just wonder what the devil you and Galadriel are plotting, teaming up this way, first sending me messages that she was coming as a bride for Legolas, who I told you had not been home in years, then showing up here yourself to tell me you have promised her to the Marchwarden of Lothlorien instead!”

“I am trying to do what is best for the Elves of Ingra, of course-- and for my daughter,” Ciendriel’s mother replied coolly. “I need to forge an allegiance.”

“The time of the Elves is passing,” Elrond said sadly. “Marry your daughter to Haldir and send her to the Undying lands with the rest of our people.”

“Or marry her to my son and send them both to the Undying lands!” Thranduil snapped.

“Legolas will not go,” Elrond cautioned. “He is not ready to leave Middle-earth.”

“He will do what I tell him!”

“Will he? And, Morgone, will your daughter do as you tell her? You know what passed between her and Legolas and Haldir in Rivendell.”

“Yes, I do, Elrond,” Morgone said icily, “And I blame you entirely.”

“Is not their happiness what is important?” Thranduil asked, sounding tired.

“Galadriel assures me that Haldir has the ability to make my daughter happy.”

Elrond and Thranduil both laughed, then Elrond spoke. “Have you never met Haldir, Morgone?”

“No, I have not, but--”

The Elf Queen’s words were cut off by more laughter. Angelica was tempted to go in and tell Morgone all about the wicked Marchwarden, but that would involve explaining why she had been dropping eaves outside their meeting, so instead she decided she ought to keep on moving down the hallway.

She heard no more voices, so once she was several rooms away, she started randomly opening doors to peek through them, hoping to find her companions. After accidentally intruding on a tryst, and discovering an indoor bathing-room the size of a large pond, she found the entrance to Thranduil’s library. It appeared to have several large windows which allowed the balmy sunset to flood the room in hues of orange and yellow, so she went in, deciding that maybe having a look out could help her get her bearings.

She was half-way to the window when she stopped dead in her tracks. Sitting by one of those windows, reading by the light of a small lantern, was a rather scruffy looking Man. He was holding a book, but he was looking straight at her. He smiled pleasantly.

“Good evening, Miss-- ?”

“Angelica.”

“Angelica. May I help you with something?”