Legolas Greenleaf galloped down the stairs from Galadriel's chambers two at a time, in a rush to see Ciendriel. He was bound and determined to make the princess his this time, Haldir be damned. He was going to stake his claim, make his mark, and defend his territory. He had found something too beautiful to let go of. He had not felt like this in centuries, if ever. Whatever it took, however they must live, whatever he must give up, he would do it.

He jumped the last few stairs as he flew towards the bottom, but he did not anticipate Gimli waiting there, holding two cups of wine, no less. There was no chance for warning the Dwarf or changing his course, and Legolas smashed straight into Gimli, knocking him down, spilling the wine, and landing on top of him with a thud that knocked the wind out of both of them.

"I'm sorry, Gimli," Legolas gasped after a moment. He drew in a ragged breath.

"Mithril of Moria, Elf! You've flattened me."

Legolas rolled off of Gimli onto his back, then slowly drew himself up to his feet. He picked up Gimli and set him to rights, brushing him off a little bit.

"I'm sorry," Legolas repeated himself. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Wait! I thought we'd have a drink, though the drink seems to have been spilled all over the ground. Not to worry, there's plenty more..." said Gimli, retrieving the cups.

"Where did you get that?"

"Orophin and Rúmil brought it by the sleeping area. Quite nice chaps, for Elves...and for brothers of that Haldir...and for people who can't be bothered to speak a language I can understand...quite nice, though. Had some with our dinner. Frodo made eggs. Don't know where he got them. Didn't ask. Sam came back but Frodo and Angelica wandered off, and the boys were so frisky I couldn't catch a wink of sleep, so I came looking for you."

"Perhaps we can have that drink later," Legolas said, trying not to sound impatient. "I was just going--"

"Thought we'd celebrate!"

"Celebrate what?"

"Why, Ciendriel's engagement, of course!" Gimli leered at him. "I suppose she'll be staying here with her intended, as we travel on to Mirkwood. They're a lovely couple, well suited for each other."

"I thought you didn't like Haldir."

"I don't!"

Legolas shook his head. He put a hand on Gimli's shoulder and looked straight down into his eyes. "Gimli, you know, do you not, that you are my closest friend?"

Gimli's cheeks turned rosy, but he was smiling beneath his beard. "As you are mine, laddie. A rarer and truer friendship never existed, I dare say."

"Rare indeed. I know that Elves and Dwarves seldom get along, and that it was some time before we got to like each other--"

"It's true! I hated you when I first met you at that council meeting of Elrond's! Do you remember what you were wearing? I never saw such an ugly robe. It looked like a horse blanket. And the color--"

"That is my best robe," Legolas sighed. "My mother sewed it for me."

Gimli started laughing, a great belly-laugh, until tears flowed from his eyes. "Oh, you poor thing!"

"Gimli, please," Legolas said, fighting to maintain his poise. "We are getting off of the subject."

"Were we now? What was the subject?"

"Our friendship."

"Ah yes, our friendship. It does mean everything to me, m'boy. I have seen more Elven cities than most Dwarves do in a lifetime."

"I cannot expect that you will like every Elf you ever meet," Legolas said, hoping that Gimli was listening at last, "But I want you to know something."

"Yes?"

"I am in love with Ciendriel."

Gimli just stared at him.

"Did you hear me?"

Gimli nodded. "Yes. Yes, I suppose I did. I suppose I knew it all along."

Legolas looked down at the ground. He wished Gimli didn't look so sad about the news. Could no one, no one at all be happy for them? "This does not change our friendship, Gimli."

"Of course not," Gimli said fiercely. "But Legolas-- the girl is to wed Haldir!"

"She has refused him, even at her mother's command. I will have her, Gimli."

"I hope you know what you are doing, my boy," Gimli sighed. "But let it be known that Gimli, Son of Gloin, will stand by your side and support your decision."

"Thank you." Legolas smiled at Gimli, truly grateful. "This is important to me.”

“I know, Legolas. I know. Now what are you standing here jabbering to me for? Go find the girl!”

***

Angelica Headstrong lay tangled with Frodo in the brush on the forest floor. Frodo was still panting a little bit from their exertions, his blue eyes wide and round. Angelica was already starting to feel a wee bit guilty as she had not so long ago promised Galadriel that she would choose one Hobbit (or Dwarf) and stick to him, and here she was offering Frodo consolation in a very physical way.

Did this mean Frodo was the one for her? She wasn’t entirely sure. She could certainly imagine a life with him. He was so easy to be with. He would never hold her back. He was beautiful, and he was tender, yet enthusiastic in his love-making. She could talk to him -- he made her feel safe. After all, he was the only one of the Hobbits that she had revealed her secret to in Rivendell.

Yet there seemed also to be a place inside Frodo that he kept to himself. Angelica knew he had been through a great ordeal in the destruction of the One Ring. She had heard some parts of the story from the others, though little from Frodo himself. Sam certainly always made him out to be a big hero, but Frodo was unassuming. There was something inside of him that no one would ever be able to touch, and Angelica wondered that if eventually that wouldn’t come to frustrate her.

He was a great friend, and she enjoyed the sport they shared, but she didn’t know if he was The One. She sighed. She didn’t want to make this choice. She bent and kissed Frodo’s mouth softly. He made a small noise of pleasure against her lips.

“What are you thinking, Angelica?”

“That I care for you, very deeply.”

“I feel the same,” Frodo said. “Our friendship means a lot to me.”

“Promise me, Frodo, that we shall always be friends.”

Frodo smiled. “I don’t need to promise that. It is the truth. It cannot be altered.”

“I want to tell you what Galadriel said to me...”

“All right,” Frodo propped himself up on his elbow, looking attentive.

Angelica took a deep breath and told Frodo that Galadriel had told her that she must choose which Hobbit she wanted as her lover, her only lover, before they reached Mirkwood. Frodo nodded solemnly.

“She’s right, you know. I hate to say it.”

Angelica nodded. “I’m just afraid.”

“Don’t be. We will all still love you, no matter what you decide.”

“That is a comfort, Frodo.”

“I want you to know...you may always consider Bag-End your home. I’d be honored to have you make a life with me.”

Angelica felt tears well up in her eyes. She laid her small hand against Frodo’s face. He looked at her so earnestly that she wanted to accept right there, to tell him he was the one, the only one.

But she didn’t.

“Thank you, Frodo,” she said, her voice slightly hoarse. “But...what about Gimli?”

“I’m certain that he would accept you, if that is your choice--”

“No, silly! I thought you liked Gimli.”

Frodo’s face colored red. “Yes. I do. Well, that is, I did, but... well, things change, Angelica. I have come to realize that Gimli and I aren’t right for each other.”

“He never even knew that you cared for him.”

“I know.”

“It might have made a difference, Frodo, if you told him.”

Frodo fell silent and said nothing.

***

Ciendriel stood up as she heard someone coming towards the boat dock. Her feet were wet from trailing in the water, but the night was warm and she was not cold.

“Haldir, so help me, if that’s you again I’m going to push you into the river,” she called out.

Legolas emerged from the shadows, smiling, one eyebrow lifted. “Surely he could use the cooling off.”

“You have no idea how true that is,” Ciendriel said with relief. She held out her arms to him, and he stepped lightly towards her into them.

He kissed her cheek. “Was he here?”

She kissed his mouth. “Unfortunately. I sent him away.”

“Good.”

“He is completely insufferable,” she paused, debating telling Legolas what Haldir had suggested, but she could not possibly entertain the idea of marrying the Marchwarden and keeping the prince as a lover-- no, both of them sharing him as a lover -- so she said nothing. Instead she kissed him again. Legolas sighed against her mouth, and took possession of the kiss, sliding his tongue between her lips, demanding her very soul, which she gave up to him without hesitation.

He pulled her even closer to him, enfolding her against his body, his mouth going to her ear. He slid his tongue up and down it, nipping at the sensitive tip. Ciendriel cried out with the pleasure of it. She slipped her hand under his tunic, sliding up his bare flesh, touching the warm skin over his ribs, his chest. She found his pebbled nipple and dragged her fingernail over it. Legolas moaned into her ear.

“What did Galadriel say to you?” she whispered, as much as she hated to break the moment.

“She said that I must bring our wishes before the King, and your mother, and my father, and Elrond.”

“The King?”

Legolas hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “Aragorn. His face was shown to me in the mirror of Galadriel.”

“Aragorn. You have said this name to me before. He is King of Men, no?” Ciendriel frowned. The Elves of Ingra had little dealings with Men.

“He is also my friend.” Legolas looked past her, out at the water, and she searched his expression.

“More than a friend?”

“Yes. A lover to me, but also a lover to Haldir. I cannot say how he will view this.”

Ciendriel felt a surge of jealousy. A former lover... “Why should a Man decide the fate of Elves?”

“Not him alone. He will be but one amongst a council of Elven Elders.”

“I will not accept their decision if it is that I must wed Haldir.”

Legolas stroked her hair and smiled at her, but she could see him trying to cover the deep sadness in his eyes. “Let us speak upon it no more until we reach Mirkwood. Then, if they will not accept that we have come to love each other and prefer to keep each others’ company, we will decide upon which course of action to take.”

“I daresay Haldir will frequently bring up the topic.”

“You are right, of course. So let us speak upon it no more tonight, at the least. Let tonight be for us, Ciendriel.”

Her heart beat faster at his words. “For us,” she echoed.

“Let me love you tonight. Here, in Lothlorien. Now.”

“Yes, now, Legolas. Now!”

He let go of her, but took her hand tightly in his. “Let’s take one of the boats. The river is calm tonight. We’ll go out, just a little ways. That way no one can disturb us.”

Ciendriel looked at him skeptically. Make love in the boat? Not only was that going to be uncomfortable, but Legolas did not have a good track record where boats were concerned. “The last time I was in a boat with you, it sank.”

His cheeks turned pink, which in turn sent a flood of heat through her. He looked so beautiful when he blushed. “I promise it won’t this time. Besides, the alternative is wasting time finding some place that we will not be interrupted. After all, if Haldir knows we’re out here--”

“This one looks good,” Ciendriel cut him off, stepping into the nearest boat. “Let’s go!”