Legolas Greenleaf could not believe that Galadriel had left him and Ciendriel alone together in her chamber. She had sanctioned the union of Ciendriel and Haldir, yet she had still, after he had dared so much, allowed this. He could not believe it. He was not going to waste this opportunity. They had waited too long for this.

Ciendriel sat on Galadriel's bed wrapped in a blanket. She was looking up at him with shining eyes, her wet hair tousled, her pointed ears poking up through it. There was only a hint of a smile on her face, but Legolas could feel her joy. It mirrored his own. He wanted to speak words of love, but he also did not wish to break the silence.

She stood up, the blanket falling away, leaving her nude. His heart pounded in his chest like a war-drum. She was so beautiful, the most beautiful female he had ever seen. He adored her with his eyes. She took on a rosy sheen, a blush.

"That robe does not fit you," she said finally, sounding shy. When had he ever known her to be shy?

"It is Celeborn's. It…it was dry," he said sheepishly.

She laughed. "Well, come. Let me help you out of it."

Quickly she stripped him of the robe, her hands wandering over his chest, his ribs, his hips, his thighs. She seemed to be touching him a great deal more than necessary to remove the robe, and he was responding. He tossed the robe down on the floor and drew her against him. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. Her mouth tasted sweet, like honey. She sighed against him.

Legolas pulled her down onto the gauzy white bed, which was filled with soft down pillows and hung with sheer curtains. His hands roamed over her body, worshipping her with his fingers. Her body was familiar to him, but ever a mystery. He tried not to think about the fact that Haldir had known this mystery before him.

A shadow must have crossed his face, because suddenly sadness filled her gaze.

"I give myself willingly to you, only to you," she said softly. "What Haldir took was by force, this is yours by my will."

"It is a tremendous gift," he said, smiling at her. He was gratified to see that sadness melt away. She kissed him again.

Their mouths danced together, lips and tongues sliding, seeking, searching. She seized his hair and pulled his head sharply to the right, the licked his ear. She bit the sensitive tip, and Legolas moaned. His ears were the most sensitive part of his body… well, almost.

Ciendriel moved her legs to accommodate his presence between them, and Legolas felt the root of him touching her intimate core. It was too much like a dream, he thought, as finally, after so many weeks of waiting and of wanting, he filled her. She gasped, whispered his name.

They moved together smoothly, both working towards the pinnacle of this expression of their feelings for one another. Legolas was wild with it. He felt himself grow more demanding, rougher, and she responded just as passionately. On and on the feeling flowed, warm and delicious. He felt her climb and crest over wave after wave of pleasure. Finally he spent himself, unable to hold back any longer.

"I never dreamed it could be like this," she said afterward.

"It will always be like this," Legolas promised her.

"Do not speak in haste," she whispered.

"I will let nothing tear us apart," he swore.

"I truly hope that is so," she replied. "But if it is not, I will never forget this moment. I will never forget this feeling, of loving and being loved in return. I have never felt in my whole life the way I do when I am with you."

Legolas nodded in agreement. "This is exactly how I feel! Exactly!"

"We still have time before dawn," she said softly, and kissed his mouth slowly, catching his lower lip between her teeth and dragging them over it. "Love me again, Legolas Greenleaf. Love me again!"

***

Peregrin Took awoke to the smell of bacon frying, which to him was the most lovely smell in the world to wake up to. He sat up and ran a hand through his curly hair, squinting as he remembered last night. Haldir's jovial brothers had brought them some Elvish wine. It was not as tasty nor as plentiful as the wine they had had in Rivendell, but it had washed dinner down effectively, and then Merry had tackled him on top of a pillow.

All in all it was a fun night, except that he had had the thought that he rather wished it was Angelica tackling him on top of the pillow, or better yet, him tackling her. Or best of all, Merry and Angelica together. Yes, that was best of all, wasn't it?

He had to admit how special he had felt when he and Angelica had been alone together in the woods during the journey to Lothlorien. She made him feel like he was one of a kind.

Where was she? No one was left inside the tented sleeping area. Pippin got up, pulled on his clothing, which was rather rumpled, and followed his nose in the direction of the bacon. Angelica was tending the small fire, cooking the breakfast. Pippin's mouth watered. Sam was hovering nearby, trying to help.

"Sit down, Sam. Let me take care of you for a change," Angelica said.

"I could flip those eggs for you, if you like. And there's a sausage on the end there that looks done…"

Angelica turned and gave Sam a stern look, and he smiled weakly at her and sat down next to Merry, Frodo, and Gimli, who already had plates of food. Gimli's beard was full of crumbs. Pippin stared at him.

"Cooking is a skill one seeks in a wife, not in a husband, Sam," Gimli said with his mouthful, pointing his fork at Sam. "Our Angelica is clearly most talented."

"So is Sam," said Merry. "Maybe you should marry him, Gimli."

Frodo nearly choked on his eggs, and Gimli patted him on the back so hard that he nearly fell over. Pippin suspected that he was laughing, though he had no idea what they were all talking about.

"Good morning, Pippin," Angelica said. She started filling up a plate for him, and another for Sam, who took it silently, looking grateful. Sam glared at Merry and Gimli while he ate.

"Thanks, darling," Pippin said, and wondered why she blushed as he sat down on the ground and began to eat. "This is great!" He chewed his bacon, closing his eyes for a moment in bliss. "Where are the Elves?"

"They're all over the place," Gimli grumbled, wiping his hand on his mouth. "Can't you hear the blasted singing, day and night?"

"I think it's lovely," said Sam.

"You would!"

"Yes, but I meant Legolas and Ciendriel," Pippin said patiently. "Not all the others. I mean, of course there are Elves everywhere. It is an Elven city, after all."

"That it is, Pip," Merry said.

"I was rather wondering that, myself," said Haldir. Pippin nearly dropped his plate. The Marchwarden had a way of appearing almost as if by magic. "After all, we depart for Mirkwood this morning. I trust you are all ready to go."

"Of course we're ready," said Gimli, squinting at Haldir and drawing himself to his feet. "Certainly just as ready as you are, Elf, if not more ready."

"I'll be ready as soon as I finish my breakfast," said Merry.

"Would you like some eggs, Haldir?" Angelica said, standing up and peering up at the tall Elf. He looked down at her and wrinkled his nose.

"It is bad enough that I have to smell that awful Hobbit food when we are on the road, never mind when I am at home in Lothlorien. So thank you, no," Haldir said, sneering at her.

Angelica looked like she was about to cry. Pippin set down his plate and jumped to his feet. "Maybe if your nose wasn't so big, it wouldn't bother you so much! Angelica was just being kind to you, and in my opinion you don't deserve it."

Haldir smirked at Pippin. "You are absolutely right," he drawled. "I don't deserve it." He turned and sauntered off into the trees.

"I have half a mind to go after him!" Pippin said.

"And do what? Stab him in the behind with your fork?" Merry asked, laughing. "Sit down and finish your breakfast, Pippin."

"He is a rotten bastard," Sam growled.

"He is the reason that Elves have such a foul reputation among Dwarves," Gimli added.

"I've seen him eat Hobbit food," Frodo said calmly, still picking at his own breakfast. "Don't take it personally, Angelica."

"But…it is personal," Angelica whispered. A lump rose in Pippin throat. He grabbed her hands, looking into her eyes.

"Hey, I don't ever want you to let someone else make you feel bad," Pippin said. "And if they do, they'll have me to deal with."

"Oh, Pippin." Tears poured down her cheeks, and Pippin felt confused.

"I didn't mean to make you sad!"

Angelica threw her arms around him. "You didn't." She kissed his cheek, then let go of him. She wiped at her eyes. "Finish your breakfast, Pip. It'll get cold."

"I forgot all about it," Pippin said, gathering up his plate and turning back to it ravenously. From the corner of his eye, he saw Merry's jaw drop. "What?"

"You forgot about your breakfast?"

"That's a first," Frodo added.

"You know, sometimes I don't understand any of you," Pippin said, stuffing a piece of bacon into his mouth. He looked at Angelica. "Except maybe Angelica."

Angelica sniffled, then took Pippin's nearly empty plate and began filling it up again. Four other plates were slid hopefully forward, but Angelica didn't see them, despite Gimli clearing his throat, Merry's coughing fit, Sam's sneezing, and Frodo's whistling. Or maybe, Pippin thought, smiling to himself, she was ignoring them.

He liked that idea.

Legolas and Ciendriel arrived just then, hand in hand. They looked even more ethereal than usual, Pippin thought. They had that pale Elven glow about them, but that aside, they looked happy. This was good, Pippin, thought. He had known Legolas for a long time, and rarely did he ever look happy.

"That smells wonderful," Ciendriel said.

"Angelica made it!" Pippin said proudly.

"Would you like some? The boys have just finished it, but I can fry up some more," Angelica said, smiling up at the tall Elves.

"Don't trouble yourself. We shared some lembas yesterday," Ciendriel said kindly.

"We will be leaving soon," Legolas added. "Just as soon as you can clean up the fire and gather your things. Today we set out for Mirkwood."

***

It was going to be a two week march through a dense forest to Mirkwood. They could have gotten there in three days had they taken boats and traveled down the river, but everyone had steadfastly refused to get in a boat with Legolas. Haldir supposed this was partially his fault, since he had been responsible for the last sinking, but Legolas and Ciendriel did not know that.

Legolas had asked him, while he and Celeborn were stripping him out of his wet leggings last night, but Haldir had distracted him by squeezing his behind. He had rather been hoping that Celeborn would assist him in seducing Legolas (or, to be honest, Haldir thought, forcing him) but instead Celeborn had let slip that Ciendriel had been taken to Galadriel's chamber, and after that they could scarcely get Legolas into a robe before he bolted.

Orophin and Rúmil were accompanying the party to Mirkwood. Haldir wanted his brothers with him if he wed the Princess. They were the only family he had left. Their parents had gone to the Undying Lands long ago. They were amiable and didn't mind leaving home again for another long journey. To them, it beat patrolling the forest of Lothlorien, which they had been doing almost without cease for nearly a thousand years now. It was nice to have a break.

Maybe he should not have spoken harshly to Angelica that morning, Haldir thought, after they were perhaps fours hours away from Lothlorien. He did not know why he felt compelled to antagonize her, but it had earned him the enmity of the Hobbits.

But what did Hobbits mean to him? Just because Frodo Baggins had saved all of Middle-earth from falling into the darkness did not mean they were any more special than the Elves.

Ciendriel and Legolas led the party. They were way out in front, scouting ahead. Haldir was next, staying close enough to the party that he could protect them if necessary, but he didn't think this trip would be very eventful, at least not until they got closer to Mirkwood. Haldir knew they had lain together at last. He could see it in their easy manner, their languidity, the glow they possessed. Why had Galadriel permitted this?

He felt wronged, cheated. Ciendriel had been promised to him, by both her mother, Morgone of Ingra, and the Lady of Light. Surely when this matter was brought before Thranduil, he would honor that promise and not give Ciendriel to his son. Celeborn had told him to expect the lady's mother and Elrond in Mirkwood as well. This boded well for him.

Maybe Legolas would be punished for overstepping his bounds, Haldir thought grimly. Then he smiled. Maybe his punishment would be that he would be given to Haldir. This was an amusing thought, and he used it to pass the time, and to help him ignore the fact that one of the Hobbits was, from time to time, pelting him in the back with various small rocks and twigs.

The Hobbits and Gimli followed Haldir, and his brothers were bringing up the rear of the party, leading the horses which carried their supplies. This was going to be a long and tedious journey, Haldir thought. Four hours from Lothlorien, and already he missed it. He wondered vaguely if he would ever see it again. It occurred to him that marrying the Princess might mean that he would never go home again. He only hoped that were he sent to live in Ingra, he would be allowed to take his brothers with him. Rúmil and Orophin were easy going. They could be happy anywhere.

Haldir wondered if he, himself, could be happy anywhere. He wondered if he could be happy at all. Happiness was something fleet and foreign to him. It was something he saw in his brothers, or in the Hobbits…and today, in Legolas and Ciendriel.

Once Legolas had looked upon Haldir the way he now looked at Ciendriel. Then, only then, had Haldir thought he might be happy.

And yet, that affair had been ended, and the feeling had passed.

Not meant for me, he thought, and bowed his head as he kept his pace through the darkening woods.