She fell asleep almost immediately, taking off her gown and shift but leaving on a thin silken undergarment. This was more than Celebrían generally wore while sleeping. She snuggled under the thick down comforter and smiled to herself as she replayed the events of the evening in her mind, waiting for Maegwen, though she fell into her dreams before her best friend arrived.

The morning sun falling across her face awakened her. Celebrían stretched, feeling innately happy though at first she could not recall why she felt so much joy in her heart. She frowned as she realized that Maegwen was not beside her in the bed. Before she could reflect much on it, the door to the room opened quietly and her friend appeared, still in the green gown she had worn the night before. Immediately Celebrían noticed her swollen lips and mussed hair. Grinning mischievously, she bounced out of the bed.

"Tell me everything," she purred, grabbing Maegwen's hands.

"I was with Thranduil in the garden," Maegwen said, yawning. "I just left him now with your mother. She wanted to speak with him…"

"I wonder why," Celebrían mused. "But never mind! What happened?"

"We talked all night."

"Just talk?"

"Well. He did kiss me a little."

"And how was it?"

"It was like… like something there is no word for. It was like a star melting on my tongue and sliding deep inside me. It was like waking up and falling into a dream at once," Maegwen sighed.

"They say an elf knows his life-mate on a first meeting. I knew it the moment that I saw Lord Elrond…"

"I knew it the moment I met Thranduil, too," Maegwen admitted.

Celebrían drew her over to the bed and the two maids sat together, their fingers still entwined. "I kissed Lord Elrond."

"That's wonderful!"

"He is still hesitant… but he will be mine."

"I admire your determination," Maegwen said, smiling slightly. "Celebrían, there is something I must ask you…"

Celebrían saw a sadness shadowed in her friend's eyes and it made her heart cool just a bit. "What is it, my love?"

"Thranduil asked me to marry him."

"Yes, at dinner," Celebrían teased.

"At dinner he asked you to marry him."

"Only because he thought I was you. Or you were me?" Celebrían laughed. "Come now, we both know it was you he desires."

"I suppose. But I did not mean at dinner!"

"Did he ask you again after? In the garden?"

"Actually… ask is not the right word. He demanded that I come to Mirkwood and be his queen."

"Did you say you would?"

"I told him that I was bound to you, and that I would only be going to Mirkwood if you were. He said then that he would marry you in order to have me near."

"How generous of him," Celebrían said, her mouth twisting. "Is this what you wish to ask me? To marry Thranduil so he may have the both of us?"

Maegwen frowned. "Of course not!"

"If I was not so enamored of Elrond, I would do it," Celebrían said wistfully. She meant it. "You mean that much to me."

Sadness touched Maegwen's eyes even more deeply. "No, I wish you to be with Elrond. I know you have the will to capture his heart. I never doubted that. And no queen more lovely could ever reign at Imladris."

"He has not proposed yet," Celebrían said wryly. "Now what is it that you wished to ask me?"

"I had best not."

"Maegwen! Ask! Am I not your best friend?"

"Of course you are."

"Do we not share everything?"

"Yes, we do… but I would not have you share a husband with me."

"You may keep Thranduil for yourself."

Maegwen looked up, her cheeks pink. "I swore I would spend all my life at your side. If you are to live in Imladris, I will as well."

Suddenly Celebrían understood. "Thranduil wants to take you to Mirkwood."

"Yes. That, ah, is where he lives, you see," Maegwen said nervously.

Heaviness filled Celebrían's heart. She lifted her chin. Maegwen had been there for her all of her life. She bit her lower lip. She did not want to say yes.

"I do not want you to leave."

Maegwen nodded. "I know. And I will not."

She got up from the bed and began to unlace her gown, but Celebrían saw her fingers tremble. She could not undo the laces. Finally Maegwen stopped, hanging her head. She did not ask for help, but Celebrían got up and went to her. She untied the back of the dress and helped Maegwen off with it.

"Maegwen—"

"I am tired, Celebrían. I need to rest."

"I will see to it that Thranduil comes often to Rivendell," she promised, already knowing that it was not enough.

"Thank you," Maegwen said. "Although I pray you will not invite him back once Elrond finds him another queen. I will not be able to bear it."

Maegwen threw herself onto the bed, crawling under the comforter and closing her eyes. Celebrían saw her body hitch and knew that Maegwen was trying to hold back her tears. Guilt flooded her. She took a deep breath. She had to do it, now, even if it mean losing what was most dear to her.

"I would not lose you," she said, "But you must marry him anyway. Go to Mirkwood. I will not hold you back."

"Celebrían—" Maegwen sat up.

"I mean it!" Celebrían flung herself on the bed and threw her arms around Maegwen. "Marry him, and be happy! And I will visit you often in Mirkwood, and you will come to Imladris. Or Lórien, if Elrond will not have me."

"I cannot imagine that he will not have you," Maegwen said. The tears came now, flooding her pink cheeks, but the torrent was joyful.

"You deserve to be a queen far more than I do," Celebrían said. "And you will make Thranduil very happy. I only hope that he does the same for you."

"I know that he can," Maegwen said. "Celebrían, I promise you that if ever you have need of me, I will come to you as fast as I may."

"I know you will."

"I swear. If you need me, you have but to ask."

"I know."

A knock came at the door, making both girls jump. Celebrían went and opened it despite the fact that she was clad so scantily. Haldir stood in the doorway. He looked well rested and freshly bathed, clad in white leggings and a silver tunic which accented the muscular lines of his youthful figure. His silvery hair was braided back behind his ears and fell over his shoulders in a shiny curtain.

Haldir's eyes dropped from Celebrían's face and traveled slowly down her body. Celebrían felt her nipples harden as he stared at him, which made him grin and her furious with herself.

"What is it that you want, Haldir?" she snapped.

"I've been sent to…" he trailed off, frowning.

"Would it help you to remember if I put on a robe?"

"It might. Ah, forgive me, my lady," he tore his eyes away from her chest and looked into hers. "I have been sent to fetch you regarding the wedding arrangements."

A shiver of fear went through Celebrían. Maegwen had said her mother had gone to speak with Thranduil this morning! She glanced over at her friend in fear, wondering if she were thinking the same thing, but Maegwen appeared to be sound asleep.

"Are you certain?" she asked Haldir.

"Fairly so," he drawled sarcastically. She wanted to smack him. She fought off the urge and fetched a robe which she could latch over her undergarment, not bothering with the usual array of petticoats that went with it. "Very well, you may escort me, Haldir."

She closed the door quietly, leaving Maegwen to her rest and took Haldir's arm. He led her down the marble corridor, but she was too lost in her own thoughts to pay attention to where they were going.

"How did you fare last night?"

"What do you mean, my lady?"

"You know what I mean. Did you manage to get away from my father?"

Haldir's cheeks and ears turned pink. "Yes."

"I am glad."

"I probably should have given myself over to him. It would have caused less trouble," Haldir said slowly.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, here we are," he said, not answering the question as he pushed the door open. In a small, sunny alcove Celebrían saw a table set with fruit and pastries and tall silver pitchers of water. Gathered around the table were Lord Elrond, her mother Galadriel, Lord Erestor, and Lord Glorfindel. Although they were sitting side by side, Erestor and Glorfindel appeared to be turned away from each other and each was obviously in a sour mood.

"Haldir," said Glorfindel in a syrupy voice, "Come sit next to me."

"I think he should stand by the door," Erestor snapped. "Or better yet, dismiss him!"

Elrond sighed. "Haldir, you may come sit next to me, and please help yourself to something to eat. Lady Celebrían…" Elrond smiled at her, and the smile was so generous and patient that it melted her heart. She did not care what little drama was playing out between the two advisors and Haldir. Nothing mattered but the fact that he was looking at her. "Please, be seated as well."

"Where is King Thranduil?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

"Sleeping, most likely," said Galadriel, smiling gently at Celebrían, "But he need not be present. Is it not your wish to become betrothed to Lord Elrond, my dear?"

"Yes!" Celebrían cried at once, "Oh, yes! And he has agreed to it?"

"I have," said Elrond.

"That is too bad," said a sour voice from the doorway. Celebrían turned to see her father standing there.

"Lord Celeborn—" Elrond began, but Celeborn cut him off.

"Because I have not agreed to it."