"Merry, what are you doing?" Sam had cried. Gimli had pulled Sam back with one hand.

"Let the lad take care of it," the Dwarf had insisted.

Frodo himself had just stood there alongside Pippin, staring in disbelief as Merry turned the unprotesting Angelica over his knee and smacked her behind.

"I told you to run," Pippin said, but he watched with wide eyes. Frodo saw Angelica wink at him.

"Merry, far be it for me to correct your technique, but when a Dwarf gives a spanking, he holds his hand in a far different position," Gimli said, moving closer to the two of them.

Merry sighed. "I'm sorry, Angelica. I don't appear to be spanking you correctly."

"I thought you were doing quite well," Angelica said, standing up and pouting at Merry.

"Gimli is going to have to take over."

Merry pushed Angelica towards the Dwarf. She tripped over Pippin’s foot and went flying into Gimli’s arms. Gimli fell backwards onto a pile of pillows, thankfully none of which burst. Angelica was sprawled over his lap. Frodo saw his hand squeeze her rear end, no doubt still tingling from Merry’s work.

“Frodo--” Sam said.

“Shh!” Frodo grabbed Sam’s arm. “We’re having a lesson.”

He was sure that Sam didn’t understand that Angelica was enjoying this. He also didn’t want to try to explain it to him. It was clear to Frodo that Sam adored Angelica, but he just didn’t have that wild streak she did, the streak that resided in Merry and Pippin, especially Pip. Sam would never be able to keep up with her.

Frodo wondered if he, himself, could keep up with her. It would be an adventure trying. Yet it wasn’t in his heart to pursue her the way the others did simply because he could not bear the thought of hurting one of them, Sam most especially. Angelica was taking her spanking very well, gasping as Gimli paddled her enthusiastically.

“Gimli!”

“Yes, my dear?”

“Surely Pippin has learned something from your excellent technique--”

“You make me blush, lassie.”

“--and well, maybe you could let him have a turn?” she asked meekly.

Frodo exchanged a cheeky glance with Merry, whose mouth was open in delight. Sam put his hand over his face, but Frodo saw that his fingers were spread so he could easily see through them. Gimli set Angelica back on her feet and bowed to Pippin. Frodo watched her sashay towards him, and a big grin split Pippin’s face. Angelica pushed him down onto a pile of pillows with one hand then laid herself across his lap, arching her back.

Pippin’s eager spanks echoed through the roots of the giant tree. “No wonder Merry always does this to me. It’s great fun,” he said.

“What’s going on in here?” Legolas said, stepping into the area.

Frodo, Merry and Sam immediately stepped in front of Pippin and Angelica to shade her from view. Sam smiled with embarrassment.

“Where’s Haldir?” Frodo asked, trying to sound innocent as he tried to distract Legolas.

Legolas glanced at the line of Hobbits, then back at Frodo, amusement flitting through his dark eyes. Frodo squinted at him. Didn’t Legolas have blue eyes? They seemed quite black now. Frodo shook his head and blinked. No, they were blue.

“He was summoned by Galadriel,” Legolas said. “I imagine we will not be enjoying his company for several hours. Have you seen Ciendriel? I was just chasing-- ah, I saw her come this way.”

“No, we haven’t seen her,” Frodo replied. Another smack resounded throughout the sleeping chamber, followed by a giggle. He wasn’t sure if the giggler had been Pippin or Angelica. Legolas looked past Frodo and it occurred to Frodo that the tall Elf could certainly see over their heads to what was going on behind them, but Legolas said nothing about it.

“Thank you,” he finally added, then turned and departed.

Frodo, Sam, and Merry turned back around.

***

Ciendriel was running fleetly beneath the trees of Lothlorien, hoping that Legolas was right behind her. She wondered if he would stop to pick up his clothing. If so, maybe she had better slow down... She turned her head to look over her shoulder to see if he was in pursuit. This turned out to be a mistake, as she ran smack into someone else hard enough to knock them over. She fell down as well, landing with a grunt on top of... oh no.

Haldir grinned up at her, putting his arms around her to keep her from getting back up. “Hello, Princess.”

“I have to go!”

“Where to, in such a hurry?”

“Ah...” She certainly was not going to tell him that Legolas was chasing her. In fact, she wasn’t entirely certain that he was.

“I have just come from speaking with Galadriel,” Haldir said, positively smirking.

Ciendriel’s eyes widened. She had forgotten that, and she had a good idea what Galadriel had told him. “Ah...” she repeated.

“When we are wed, will I become King of Ingra? Lord Haldir... I rather like the sound of that.”

“Oh, you are exasperating! Let me up.”

“But you have not answered my--”

“My mother is Queen of Ingra, and there will never be a King. If we were wed, you would be my consort. I suppose you would be known as Prince...I know not, nor do I care, as I do not intend to wed you at all,” she said with frustration.

“And I thought you were such an obedient daughter.” Haldir stroked her hair and it felt good. She wished it didn’t. She pushed at his chest.

“I am, Haldir,” she said bitterly, “But certainly even you can see that this is a poor idea.”

“Is it?”

“You don’t want to wed me any more than I want to wed you.”

“How do you know that? I can see the many advantages. Besides, you have little idea how difficult it would be for me to disobey a request from Galadriel.”

“Probably equally as difficult as it would be for me to disobey a command from my mother,” she sighed. “But Haldir -- we do not love each other.”

“It has been my vast experience that love and marriage are not always bedpartners,” Haldir pointed out. “And speaking of such, it might be pleasant if you came to my bed again. Wedding you would provide this.”

His hands stroked her back and she shoved at his chest. She tried to roll off of him but he held her still.

“I do not wish to--”

“Ciendriel, you lie. You desire me.”

“I hate you.”

“That may be, but desire and hate are not always separate.” Haldir put his hand on the back of her head and kissed her. Heat oozed through her body as she struggled at first, but then gave in and kissed him back.

Finally, gasping, she pulled away. “I will not be wed without love, whether I desire you or not.”

“Foolish, romantic child. Someday you will be parted from these impractical notions. You remind me of Legolas. He too, suffers from delusions of love.”

“Why is love a delusion, Haldir?”

Haldir said nothing, but he let go of her. Slowly she got to her feet and he stood as well. She looked into his eyes, her chin lifted. Suddenly she felt pity for him.

“Do not look at me that way, Ciendriel.”

“Legolas told me once that you do not love. Why is that?”

“I suppose it is because I left him that he thinks that. I had to return to Lothlorien.”

“You were a fool not to give him your heart when he wanted it. I will not be as foolish.”

Haldir looked bitter and angry, and it nearly frightened her as his hand clenched into a fist. “You do not know anything of what passed between Legolas and myself, and why it could not have survived, whether I loved him or not. Your romantic delusions are only going to get all three of us into trouble. I suggest you obey your mother, madam, and put love aside.”

“And wed you?”

“Yes.”

Talking to him was like talking to a wall, Ciendriel decided. “Honestly, Haldir, you have no sense whatsoever! -- What would Legolas think?”

“What would I think of what?” Legolas said, stepping forward from behind the trees. He looked back and forth between them and Ciendriel blushed, as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

She looked at Haldir beseechingly. She didn’t want to tell Legolas, did not want him to know.

“Behold my new bride,” Haldir said, putting his arm around her almost casually. “Morgone, Queen of Ingra wishes to see her daughter united with the Marchwarden. Lady Galadriel has agreed to the union as well.”

“Haldir!” she pushed him away. “Legolas--”

Legolas looked horrified. His eyes were wide, his mouth set into a hard line. He shook his head, then looked at her as if begging her to tell him that this was not so.

“Haldir, you jest.”

“My friend, I should never jest about such a serious topic as marriage.”

“My mother has indeed requested that I marry Haldir, but I will not.”

“Don’t speak too hastily,” Haldir said.

“You agree to this, Haldir?” Legolas asked.

“Who am I to disobey the will of the Lady of Light?”

“That is the second time today I have heard this argument,” Legolas said mirthlessly.

“Haldir, leave us. I must speak to Legolas alone,” Ciendriel said, moving towards the Prince. She reached for his hand. Haldir frowned. Ciendriel turned and looked deeply into his eyes. “Please.”

Slowly Haldir nodded, and she felt her heart contract. The Marchwarden was not entirely unlovable, she thought. Again swam before her eyes the vision of Galadriel’s water mirror. What if, whispered the little voice in her head, she just gave in? What if she followed the path that everyone was pushing her towards?

She could give her heart to Haldir.

She watched him turn and walk away from them up the path. Very slowly she turned back to Legolas. Her heart jolted in her chest. It was like waking up. No, she could not love Haldir, not with this emotion brewing so strongly inside her for Legolas.

“Let us go. Let us leave for Mirkwood tonight. Let us fly this place.”

“We cannot! What are you saying?”

“I love you, Legolas Greenleaf. I will follow you to the ends of the earth if you will have me. I will never wed Haldir.”

“We cannot run away,” Legolas whispered.

“Do you want me to--”

“No!”

“Then--”

“Ciendriel. Shh.” Legolas kissed her tenderly, pulling her up against his long, lean body. “I love you, too. Perhaps I should speak with your mother. Mayhap I can change her mind. And tomorrow I will speak to Galadriel. For now...come and walk with me.”

Legolas took her hand and led her off.

***

Many hours later, Angelica Headstrong could scarcely stand up. Her sore behind burned with every step she took, and she couldn’t help but enjoy every single second of the pain...until she remembered that she was supposed to meet with the Lady Galadriel, which meant climbing all those stairs...

Somehow she did it. When she arrived at the top, Angelica was ready to cry with the pain. She wanted nothing more than to sit down, but that was out of the question.

“Shall I offer to salve your wounds, or are you still savoring them?” Galadriel asked with some amusement.

Angelica blushed to the roots of her red hair. “We were just--”

“You need not explain yourself to me, Angelica. Come, if you can manage a few more stairs up to my chamber, I will ease your suffering.”