She was half in love with both of them already. They had told her all about the Shire, their friends, Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas the Elf, and the mysterious female Elf called Ciendriel who had found Angelica lying in the road. Angelica wished furiously that she knew how she had gotten into the road, but she honestly could not remember that or anything else.

Part of her wished she could begin her life again, right here, right now. That she could just stay always with Merry and Pippin. That she could just not worry about who she might have been before. But another part of her whispered that she must do whatever it took to regain her memories.

Slowly the door to the bedroom opened. Angelica looked up, at first expecting Merry and Pippin, though the way they opened the door had not yet been what she would consider slow. Into the room stepped an Elf, whom she knew at once must be Ciendriel. She was very tall and very fair, but of a grave expression, as if life rode her too seriously.

"I came to see if you were feeling better," the Elf said in a cool, melodic voice.

"You are the one who saved my life," Angelica said, filled with warmth and an immediate rush of affection for the reserved creature who stood uneasily by her beside. "I am very grateful. Will you not sit down?"

Ciendriel perched lightly on the side of the bed. She pushed her heavy blond hair back behind her pointed ears. "Thank you."

"What makes you frown so, fair Ciendriel?" Angelica asked gently.

"You are not dressed," Ciendriel said bluntly, though Angelica was fully covered by the blankets of the bed. She felt her skin glow pink.

"And you are dressed like a man," she said, teasing the Elf. "But never fear, I think it must be more convenient, for travel. Are such things important, states of dress?"

"It is more comfortable indeed," Ciendriel said with apparent relief. "But-- well, I feared that the Hobbits had taken advantage of your state of unconsciousness. I did not wish to leave a woman alone among males."

Angelica thought about Merry and Pippin's unconventional way of awakening her, and blushed even further. But the truth was, she didn't mind. Had they taken advantage? She couldn't see it that, way, and couldn't believe that they had been anything more than playful and innocent in their actions.

"Merry and Pippin have treated me well," she said softly.

"I am glad."

"Are you so afraid of males, Elf who dresses as one?" Angelica teased.

"I fear we have few of them in my land. I do not know what to expect of them, I suppose. But Merry and Pippin seemed… That is… Hobbits are good folk."

"I am glad you think so. And so are Elves."

She smiled. The smile really changed her appearance, Angelica thought, turned the Elfin fairness into glorious beauty. She wanted to reach out and touch the Elf's face, but she didn't dare. Ciendriel had large, expressive brown eyes, and Angelica looked into them deeply, wanting to understand her.

"Is it true, that you are without memories?"

"Yes…I have only my name, and some vague knowledge of the Middle Earth. But as to where I come from or how I came to be where you found me, I know not."

"Tomorrow I depart with the Elf Legolas Greenleaf for Mirkwood. If you are well enough to travel, we may take you with us in search of the elfinwort plant, which will restore your memories. Merry and Pippin have agreed to join us, for your sake. There will be two other Hobbits to the party as well, Frodo and Samwise. And…a Dwarf, called Gimli."

A Dwarf. Ciendriel looked put out over this. Angelica knew that Elves and Dwarves held each other as enemies, and wondered how one came to be part of this band, but she did not ask, thinking the subject distasteful to her companion. Wait, had Merry and Pippin not mentioned this Gimli and his unusual friendship with Legolas Greenleaf? Yes, it must be that.

"I believe I am well enough to travel. And I am greatly in your debt."

"It is nothing, no more than any woman should do for another woman in need."

Ciendriel bent down and placed a cool kiss on Angelica's forehead. But this seemed to be not enough to the Hobbit. She flung her arms around the Elf's neck and pressed her mouth against Ciendriel's. Ciendriel melted instantly, returning the kiss with fervor. Her lips parted and her tongue pressed forward, seeking that of Angelica. Angelica sighed with pleasure. She lost herself in the kiss.

"Merry! Will you look at that?"

"Ah, hush, Pippin."

"Kissing an Elf!"

"Have you never wanted to kiss an Elf?"

"Not so much, Merry."

"Not even Legolas?"

"I've only ever wanted to kiss you, until Angelica."

At the sound of the two male Hobbits arriving in the doorway, Ciendriel pulled back. A flash of embarrassment crossed her features, but then she got up slowly from the bed. She walked out of the room with poise, without another word, only acknowledging Merry and Pippin with a nod, disappearing down the stairs.

"Angelica, did you like kissing the Elf?" Pippin asked, his eyes round.

"I think she's lovely, Pip. But that doesn't mean I haven't got more kisses for you." She extended her arms to him and he flung himself into them. Merry quickly crawled up beside the two of them.

"What if we didn't go with them?" Merry whispered into her ear as she kissed his cousin. He licked her ear, then bit it, making her gasp. "What if we stayed here always, just the three of us? Sometimes a Hobbit's seen enough adventure."

"But Merry, her memories," Pippin protested as Angelica rolled over to take Merry's lips. "She's got to know where she came from, before we can keep her."

"Will you keep me, then?" Angelica breathed against Merry's mouth. "For that I might give up remembering entirely."

"I think I'd like nothing better, lass. But Pip's right. Fair is fair. We've got to take you to Mirkwood."

***

To Frodo Baggins, dinner that night seemed completely awkward. Tomorrow they were to depart for Mirkwood, this odd assortment of fellows, and so tonight Merry and Pippin had insisted on one last, great meal before being stuck with the provisions of travel, which never lived up to Hobbit standards. They had also insisted that Frodo prepare the meal, being the best cook among them, which he had done without complaint. The female Elf, Ciendriel, had come in at some point to help him. At first, this had seemed like a wonderful idea, but she really only knew how to prepare Elvish dishes which to Frodo all smelled and tasted like unseasoned spinach.

Legolas, however, was consuming a large amount of the stuff. He had complimented her on the dish only once, but from the look on his face, it apparently appealed to his Elvish tastebuds. Legolas had brought Ciendriel to Frodo's house in the morning, requesting that Frodo allow the girl use of his bed, since he had already vacated it. Frodo had gladly allowed this. He had been hoping Legolas would join her. Perhaps the presence of a female Elf would convince Gimli that Legolas was not for him and turn his eyes…elsewhere. However, Legolas had simply dropped her off and disappeared, not returning at all until dinner time.

Ciendriel was quiet, but so was Frodo, and so they had spoken little while cooking together. Still, he liked her. She was fair, and serious, and she had, after all, saved a Hobbit's life. He watched the interplay between her and Legolas so closely that Sam, sitting on his right, had had to repeat himself three or four times to get Frodo's attention at all. He turned his eyes to Gimli, and saw with disappointment that the Dwarf, too, was watching the two Elves, eating little, and drinking glass after glass of ale.

Frodo wavered between hating Legolas for not returning the Dwarf's obvious love for him and hating Gimli for not returning his own. In truth he hated neither, but this aching feeling confused him deeply.

Merry and Pippin were their usual boisterous selves, and the Hobbit girl Angelica seemed to fit right in with them, slipping easily in, not between them (though physically she sat between them at the table) but connecting them somehow, as if the three were pieces to the same puzzle. Frodo had liked Angelica instantly. She made Sam blush, but was unerringly kind to him, and to himself as well. She made efforts to include everyone in the conversation…even Gimli, whom she drew into a long, drunken discourse about the battle of Helm's Deep and who was quickly proclaiming her to be his sister. She tasted Ciendriel's cooking and professed to like it, though she ate only a small amount. The female Elf got an odd expression on her face every time she looked at Angelica (when she could tear her eyes away from Legolas) which Frodo could not fathom, but he took it to be a positive emotion and not one to fear.

What would this journey to Mirkwood be like? Frodo wondered. What havoc would these two females wreak on their little fellowship?

"Mr. Frodo? Are you well? You've hardly touched your food." Sam's voice filtered through his thoughts, filled with concern. To placate Sam, he lifted a piece of bread to his lips and chewed at it, but it tasted like ash in his mouth.

"I'm fine, Sam. Truly. And you are a good friend, for being so concerned."

"Frodo! Come sit closer and tell Miss Angelica how bravely I fought at Helm's Deep."

"You know I wasn't at Helm's Deep, Gimli," Frodo said, his voice sounding calm to himself, even though his heart had begun knocking in his chest the moment Gimli had shouted his name. He did get up and move closer to the Dwarf, pretending he didn't see Sam's look of disappointment. He moved Gimli's tankard of ale aside. "I think you've had enough for one night."

"Impetuous Hobbit!" said Gimli, glowering at him, but Frodo could see through the glower and was not afraid.

"Listen to him, Gimli," Legolas said blithely. "Frodo generally makes a great deal of sense."

"Are you saying that I do not, Elf?" Gimli slammed his fist against the table, making all the plates and glasses jump. Merry and Pippin grabbed at them, not wanting anything spilled or wasted. They were a non-stop conversation unto themselves.

"Careful, Gimli. I'm eating that!"

"Not any more!"

"Give it back, Pippin!"

"I'll give back only half, Merry."

"No, a third. Give some to Angelica."

"I've got plenty, Merry."

"Then give me some of yours…"

"I didn't say any such thing, Gimli," Legolas said calmly. Ciendriel said something to him in Elvish and he laughed. He was uncommonly fair, Frodo thought, but so was she. They were liked a matched set. He wondered if they knew this.

"She's making fun of me, she is!" Gimli snapped at Legolas.

"She's not," Legolas said calmly, reaching out and putting one hand on top of Gimli's. The Dwarf made a little mewling noise when he did, which made Frodo want to turn away in disgust…in sadness. Instead he picked up Gimli's tankard and drained it himself.

"If we're to leave at dawn, Samwise Gamgee had best find his bed," said Sam, standing up abruptly. He cast a forlorn glance at Frodo, then headed for the door. "Good night, all."

Frodo got up to see him out, hoping the others would soon follow. He wanted to keep Gimli here with him tonight more than anything. Maybe with all the ale he had consumed he would be more willing to accept Frodo's offer to share a bed. Last night the Dwarf had stayed with his head resting on the table after their false "planning" session. Frodo wondered vaguely if Legolas had ever enlightened him to the fact that there was no magic harp.

Frodo had been awakened at dawn by Gimli's holler and had run out to see what was wrong. Gimli had demanded to know where Legolas was, to the Hobbit's disappointment. When Frodo had told him the Elf had gone to seek a bed at Merry and Pippin's, the Dwarf had taken off at full tilt.

Sam stood in the doorway and smiled at Frodo as he followed, but the smile didn't last long. "Trouble," he said, shaking his head, twisting his cap in his hands. "That's what this whole journey is about. Trouble. You ought to stay home and rest, Mr. Frodo."

"You don't have to come, Sam," Frodo said as gently as he could, but Sam looked crestfallen so he quickly added, "But I do want you to. I am going to Mirkwood with them. I…I must."

"Then…I'll see you in the morning." Sam turned and walked away and Frodo had no choice but to return to the dinner table. A loud crash preceded him and speeded his entry into the dining room.

"Perfect," he heard Merry moan. "Right onto the last loaf of bread."

"Let it lie, Merry. I'm too sleepy for another bite," Pippin followed, with a yawn.

"Let's go home, to bed," said Angelica.

Gimli had apparently fallen unconscious onto his table yet another night in a row. However, this time it was due to the ale he had consumed above anything else. Ciendriel looked at the Dwarf a bit distastefully, and Legolas simply shook his head.

"I'll look after him," Frodo said.

"I know you will," Legolas replied, sighing. Ale had been splashed down the front of his tunic and he was looking at it with dismay. "I'm going to the stream, to wash this out."

"You shouldn't go alone," Ciendriel said quickly. "Let me come with you, to look out for danger."

"Oh, the spring at the Shire is perfectly safe," Pippin assured her.

"Couldn't be safer," Merry agreed.

"Yes, come with me," Legolas said.

Frodo was surprised. Legolas certainly didn't need any help protecting himself, and certainly not at the Shire spring…but then it dawned on him that he was doing this so that Gimli and Frodo could be alone. Without other discussion, the two Elves slipped out.

It took much fanfare, promises to cook during their travels, and packing up of leftovers (of which there were next to none) to get Merry, Pippin and Angelica on their way, and then all that remained was Gimli, snoring loudly and drooling on the table. Frodo crept close to him, intending to waken him just enough to guide him into the bedroom. To sleep with his body pressed against that of the Dwarf would almost be enough… Gently he shook Gimli, his fingers sliding over the Dwarf's soft bushy hair. The Dwarf let out a drunken, sleepy moan.

"Legolas…"