Angelica did not have to understand Elvish to know what was going on. Haldir was both taunting and attempting to seduce Legolas. She caught both Ciendriel and Galadriel's names more than once, and she wondered exactly what Haldir was implying. Legolas was attempting to keep a stony face but to Angelica he seemed sad, and irritated. The promised healing tea from Galadriel had never arrived, either, so he looked tired as well.

She sat there debating marching back up to Galadriel's chambers and demanding that something be done to aid Legolas, but not only was the thought of all those stairs quite daunting, she was a little bit fearful of the lady, herself. The other option involved telling Haldir where to stick his arrows, but she wasn't in the mood to hear his taunting laughter directed at her.

Angelica glanced over at the other Hobbits. Merry and Pippin were wrestling on top of a pillow, over ownership of said. Pippin was losing spectacularly. Gimli and Frodo appeared to be taking bets.

"My money is on Merry," Gimli said, walking around the pair to examine the scuffle from all sides.

"I am betting that the pillow explodes and neither one of them gets it," Frodo said, laughing.

Angelica got to her feet. "I need some air," she said.

"How can you need air? We're outside!" Merry pointed out, giving Pippin the opportunity to gain control of the skirmish. He rolled over on top of Merry shouting hysterically.

"I win!"

"No you don't."

Angelica slipped out from the resting place, taking a deep breath. She gazed at the staircase that led up to Galadriel's chambers. Sam stepped up beside her a moment later. From behind, she could still hear Merry and Pippin shrieking.

"Care for some company?"

"Thank you, Sam," Angelica said. She felt shy around him, even though he had been kind to her for some time now. They had rarely spoken alone, however.

"I've been to Lothlorien before, and thought you might like a tour guide. There's a lovely crystal pool, and a waterfall… May I show it to you?"

A cloud of feathers exploded from the sleeping area, followed by laughter and arguing. Angelica imagined Haldir would emerge next, not being one to stay in a room full of feathers, so she hastily took the arm Sam offered her.

"I'd love to see the waterfall. Please, let's go."

Sam laughed, and his face lit up, making him extremely handsome in the lights beneath the trees. Angelica felt a curl of warmth inside her. She wanted to kiss him, but she didn't. She clung to his arm and let him steer her off into the trees.

***

A fine layer of feathers from the pillow which had burst settled over Haldir's long golden hair, causing Legolas to smile for the first time in many hours. He had been hoping that Haldir would take himself off, but he had been standing there yammering on and on for a solid quarter of an hour.

"You remind me of Gimli, with all these many words," Legolas had said moments before.

"Come with me for a while then, and I shall not speak at all," Haldir had said in a slightly irritated tone.

Legolas did not want to go anywhere with the Marchwarden, knowing that he would only wind up having to fight off Haldir's advances. He also didn't like what Haldir was insinuating that Ciendriel might be doing with Galadriel right now. Although come to think of it, if Haldir was right, he might enjoy watching...

No. Ciendriel had told him she loved him, and he believed her.

Well. He thought he believed her, anyway. He still was not entirely sure she wasn't harboring some feelings for Haldir. He did not go out of his way to point this out to Haldir, however. Legolas leaned against the wall. He still felt sick. Had not Galadriel promised him something to soothe the illness?

"You are covered in feathers, Haldir.”

Haldir ran a hand through his hair, then frowned. “Hobbits...”

Legolas grabbed Haldir’s tunic at the throat and twisted it in his fist. “They are my friends, and you will not speak ill of them.”

Haldir raised both his hands, palms out. “I was not speaking ill of them. Legolas, relax. You are too tense. Too jumpy, too suspicious.”

“I have every reason to be suspicious of you, Haldir, and you know it.”

Haldir nodded slowly and Legolas withdrew his hand. “I am going to the pool to wash these feathers from my hair and the dust of the road from my body. I ask you for one last time to come with me.”

A bath sounded tempting. No, he must be mad to even consider bathing with Haldir. He opened his mouth to refuse again, but Haldir placed a finger over his lips.

“Why deny yourself?”

Why deny you, you mean, Legolas thought. Sometimes fighting Haldir was too difficult. “I will come to the pool, but do not take this for anything which it is not meant to be,” he said.

Haldir smiled wolfishly and Legolas wondered if he had not already made a mistake. He followed Haldir out of the sleeping area down the familiar path to the pool and waterfall. Before they rounded the bend they heard small voices on the wind. Was the pool already occupied?

Haldir cursed as they saw Angelica and Samwise sitting at the edge of the water, dangling their large Hobbit feet into the pool. Sam reached out and took Angelica’s hand in his own. Legolas wondered what Pippin would think of this. Or Merry. Or Frodo. Or even Gimli... He paused in his thoughts. The Hobbit girl was a free spirit and this seemed to bother no one. Elves were certainly less prudish than Hobbits, so it followed that he should not mind if Ciendriel was up there in Galadriel’s arms.

And what if she were in Haldir’s arms? That thought set less well with him.

And...what if he were in Haldir’s arms? That thought made him queasy. He tried to decide if it was queasy in a good or bad way. If he gave in to Haldir’s advances, Haldir probably wouldn’t bruise him up and use him roughly the way he had in Rivendell. After all, Legolas knew that Haldir could be tender in his lovemaking if he chose to be.

And yet Legolas suspected that Haldir’s desires were born more out of creating a rift between himself and Ciendriel than any genuine love or desire for either one of them. Should that not matter?

Legolas suspected he was doing too much thinking, because his head was starting to hurt.

“Just sit down on the ground and I’ll pick the feathers out of your hair,” he mumbled.

Haldir looked up at him and smiled mildly. “All right.”

He led Legolas a little ways down the path, where they could no longer see the pool, and sat down on the ground with his legs folded, and Legolas began slowly to remove the small pillow feathers from his long golden hair. He worked slowly and patiently, careful not to pull Haldir’s hair. He combed his fingers gently through the soft locks and thought about Ciendriel, wishing he was burying his hands in her hair. After a while his hands moved automatically, and he almost forgot that it was Haldir there until the Marchwarden spoke.

“Mmm, Legolas, that does feel nice. Are you certain you have not found all of those feathers yet?”

Legolas jumped, startled. He smoothed back Haldir’s hair, which was certainly free of feathers. “Let me go see if they’re gone yet...”

He ran down the path to the pool, needing to get away from Haldir for a moment. He stopped, leaning against a tree, and took a deep breath. Legolas glanced at the water, but not only were Sam and Angelica still at the pool, they were...they were... Oh, he shouldn’t be watching this.

Ten minutes later Haldir came up the path. He clapped a hand on Legolas’ shoulder and chuckled. “Having fun?”

Legolas grinned. “Maybe not quite as much as they are.”

“You could be, you know,” Haldir said. He stroked Legolas’ hair and put a hand on his shoulder. When Legolas turned to face him, Haldir leaned in and kissed him almost tenderly.

Legolas kissed him back.

***

Ciendriel lay, exhausted, in Galadriel’s arms. Her whole body felt relaxed. In fact, she had not felt this physically well since the morning after she had lain, against her will, with Haldir. The Lady of Light was skilled in her love making, and being with her felt so natural. Still, deep in her heart, Ciendriel was longing to be with Legolas. She wondered where he was right now, and if he was resting.

It was no good thinking about it. She knew that Galadriel meant for her to remain here until morning. She smiled at the beautiful Elf queen and was rewarded with a smile of her own. It was hard to remember that Galadriel was even older than her mother. Her body was so lithe and soft. Ciendriel had melted beneath her.

But more was to come of this night than pleasure. Galadriel had news to share with her, and the commands of her mother, commands Morgone feared she would not obey. She could for the life of her imagine what that might be.

“You are restless, sweet one,” Galadriel said perceptively.

“Forgive me.”

“I do. I suppose it is time that you learned this. It may be hard for you to accept, but I know you will look deep inside your heart and follow the correct path.”

“I do not understand.”

“You will.”

Galadriel got up from the bed, her long hair falling in a cloak around her slender body. She picked up the silver pitcher of water with which she had prepared the healing tea for Ciendriel so long ago, and poured it into the large basin that sat on her table. Slowly she stirred the waters with her hand and gazed into it for a long moment.

“You mother has been watching over you during your journey, and based on what she has seen, she has come to the decision that you should wed the Marchwarden.”

Ciendriel sat up too quickly and rolled off of the bed, landing on the floor hard enough to bruise her hip. She scarcely noticed the pain as shock flooded her. “Haldir?”

“Yes.”

“Marry Haldir?”

“I don’t want to--”

“Yes, I know, child. I think Morgone knows this as well.”

“Then why would she desire such a thing?”

“You are a princess. You have lain with Haldir, have you not?”

Ciendriel blushed. “It was by his will and not my own.”

“And yet, he is not a bad match for you, in truth.”

“Of that I am not certain.” Ciendriel sighed. “There have been times when I thought I might actually be able to like him if he were not behaving like such an arrogant bastard.”

“And you have entertained desire for him. Yet something stands in the way...” Galadriel said knowingly. Nothing could be hidden from her, Ciendriel knew.

“My heart belongs to Legolas.”

Galadriel looked sad. “Come here, Ciendriel. I want you to gaze into this mirror. Tell me what you see.”

Ciendriel got up from the bed and went to Galadriel’s side. She looked into the water in the basin. A cool mist seemed to rise from it. It grew hazy, then clear as glass. She saw herself within the glass, with Haldir standing beside her. There was something odd about him, and it took her several moments to realize what it was. He was smiling, without a hint of coldness in his eyes. A true smile. Surrounding them were half a dozen blond Elf children. Ciendriel gasped.

“Is this the future, Lady?” she asked, almost not wanting her fears confirmed.

“No one truly may see the future. This is but one path which has been foretold. There are others upon which you may choose to travel, of course,” Galadriel said gently. “This is what your mother wishes for you.”

“Show me my heart’s desire,” Ciendriel whispered into the basin. Immediately the picture swirled and changed. There she stood, hand in hand with Legolas. Her heart leapt at the sight... but they were not looking as idyllically happy as she had with Haldir. In fact, there seemed to be a cloud of darkness surrounding them. As she watched, she and Legolas ran, as if pursued, but she could not see by what.

“Danger will ever follow you if you give yourself to the Prince of Mirkwood,” Galadriel said in a warning tone.

“Why?” Ciendriel cried bitterly. She splashed her hands in the water, shattering the image. “I do not wish to wed Haldir. I choose Legolas!”

“Will you defy Morgone, then?”

Ciendriel’s heart was heavy in her chest. She staggered backwards and sat down on the bed. She had never disobeyed her mother. Well. That was an outright lie, but she was obedient in general, especially in matters of import...but this... this was unthinkable. Give up Legolas and wed Haldir simply because they had lain together? Well, to her the solution seemed obvious. She would just have to make love with Legolas as soon as possible, then perhaps Morgone would let her marry him instead.

Galadriel nodded, as if she had heard Ciendriel’s thoughts, and perhaps she had. “That will not change fate. Your mother wishes only the safe path for you, the easy path. Haldir possesses inside him the ability to please you and be the husband you desire in Legolas. Do not make a hasty decision. Consider him.”

Ciendriel nodded, but inside she felt numb.