A/N: Thank you for the reviews!

The next day, Farador and Legolas accompanied me and Nyssia to the archery fields. After shooting a few arrows, Farador let out a cry of pain.

Nyssia dashed to him and asked, "Are you all right?"

Farador winced when Nyssia laid her hand on his. "Ah! I think I cut myself with an arrow. But I will be all right."

Nyssia frowned when she saw the deep cut the arrow had made. "No, you need medical attention immediately. Ena, where should we go? Should we go to the healing rooms?"

A plan formed in my mind. "No! That won't be necessary. It's not that deep anyway. Nyssia, take him up to your room and bandage him up."

"Oh, Ena. It's not that bad, is it?" Nyssia said, worried for Farador's safety.

"No, you need to stop the bleeding," I replied as I looked at her pointedly.

Nyssia got the message. "Okay, Ena," she said, a bit hesitantly.

Farador and Legolas looked puzzled at our behavior but nonetheless Farador followed Nyssia.

When they disappeared, Legolas looked at me incredulously. "What was all that about?" he asked me.

I looked coolly at him and replied, "Why, I was trying to get them alone. They can't know each other well if they are not alone."

Legolas stamped his foot. "Ena, this has gone too far. Farador does not love Nyssia! Why can't you let him be?"

I looked at him sternly and said in a menacing tone, "It is not your problem, Legolas. Why can't you let me be?"

Legolas paid no heed to my words as he went on. "And Nyssia! What made it your duty to find a mate for her. I dare say that she will do much better without you badgering her. Leave the poor woman alone!"

I felt my tears well up in my eyes. "Legolas, I believe in helping my friends. Your definition of helping is not the same as mine. And as far as I'm concerned, I am helping Nyssia plenty!" With that, I stormed away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After I spotted Farador leave Nyssia's room, I flew in. Nyssia squealed when she saw me and spoke of the wonderful things they talked about. Nyssia went on and on about the way Farador would look at her. In the end, Nyssia sighed. "Oh, Ena! I think I am in love! And all because of you! Oh thank you, Ena!" she cried.

She flew from her seat and gave me a tremendous hug. I laughed as I thought, 'Take that, Legolas.'

A week from my angry confrontation with Legolas, the king held another ball. I helped Nyssia find a nice dress for the occasion two days before. I reminded her how to act to attract Farador. "Now this is a great opportunity. You must not let it pass. Do not soil this dress. Do not muss up your hair," I told her.

She nodded her head vigorously. "Okay, I've got it."

On the night of the ball, I dressed myself in a light pink ball gown and piled my hair up on my head in a neat bun. I sighed. 'I hope Nyssia is ready.'

Ada did not want to go to this party so he called someone up at the palace to receive me. When the door knocked, I got up to answer it. I opened the door to find Farador standing at the door. "You called for a ride, milady?" he smiled when he saw my rather frustrated expression. I sighed. I did not intend this to happen. I wanted him to stay at the party and spend time with Nyssia.

I smiled and said, "Yes, I did."

He took my hand and led me to the carriage. He told the driver to take us to the palace. Our ride to the palace was a rather quiet one. He did not talk to me, nor I to him.

At the party, I glared at Legolas when I saw him approach to greet me. He immediately got the message and headed the other way. Leliath rushed toward me. "Ena, Nyssia told me to tell you that she was sorry. She couldn't make it tonight, for she has a very, very big headache. Apparently, she was very nervous about this ball, for some odd reason and probably got a bit nauseous."

I shook my head. 'Well, she blew it,' I thought sadly.

Throughout the entire ball, I danced with various elves. However, whenever Legolas started my direction I would either glare at him or walk the other way. I did not want to speak to him. I was not in the mood to receive yet another of his lectures. I knew what I was doing, and I did not want him scolding me like a child.

Farador offered to escort me back to my home. Since Nyssia wasn't there anyway, I agreed.

On the way, Farador said, "I am afraid I did not see Lady Nyssia this evening. Where is she?"

I looked at him, trying to determine his tone of voice, and replied, "Lady Nyssia did not feel too good this evening. I think it is something she ate."

"Oh."

An awkward silence filled the carriage.

Suddenly Farador reached across the carriage and took my hand in his. "Oh, Ena. Are you that oblivious? Can't you see that I love you? I have always loved you. I gaze into your lovely green eyes and, I look at your blonde hair. Please say you love me back, for I shall die if you should refuse me!" he cried.

I was rather taken back. Imagine, an elf acting in the manner of a Man! I was not ready for this. At first I thought that he had a bit too much to drink at the party. Then, I realized that he must be mistaking me for Nyssia.

As I released my hand from his grasp, I replied, "I am very much astonished, Lord Farador. This to me! you forget yourself-you take me for my friend-any message to Nyssia I shall be happy to deliver; but no more of this to me, if you please."

"Nyssia? Nyssia! What does she have anything to do with us?" he cried out in distress. He continued his pleadings. "Oh, Ena! Please, please say you'll marry me! I will not live if you shan't!"

"It is impossible for me to doubt any longer. You have made yourself too clear. Farador, my astonishment is much beyond any thing I can express. After such behavior, as I have witnessed during the last month, to Nyssia- such attentions as I have been in the daily habit of observing-to be addressing me in this manner-this is an unsteadiness of character, indeed, which I had not supposed possible! Believe me, sir, I am far, very far, from gratified in being the object of such professions," I said sternly.

"Oh, Eru!" cried Farador. "What can be the meaning of this?-Nyssia!-I never thought of Nyssia, never paid her any attentions, but as your friend: never cared whether she were dead or alive, but as your friend. If she has fancied otherwise, her own wishes have misled her, and I am very sorry, no, extremely sorry. Who can think of Nyssia, when Enawen is near! No, upon my honour, there is no unsteadiness of character. I have thought only of you. I protest against having paid the smallest attention to any one else. Every thing that I have said or done, for many weeks past, has been with the sole view of marking my adoration of yourself. You cannot really, seriously, doubt it. No!" he shouted.

I sat in silence. With a bit uneasiness in my voice, I whispered, "Am I to believe that you have never sought to recommend yourself particularly to Nyssia?That you have never thought seriously of her?"

"Never, milady," cried he, affronted, in his turn: "never, I assure you. I think seriously of Nyssia! Nyssia is a very good sort of girl; and I should be happy to see her respectably settled. I wish her extremely well in the future. But honestly, you thought that I would wish to be with her! Never! I pursued you only because of the encouragement I received!"

"Encouragement!" I cried when I found my voice. "Encouragement! What gave you the idea I would encourage you. I have seen you only as the admirer of my friend. I am exceedingly sorry: but it is well that the mistake ends where it does."

Farador's eyes looked sad. I almost felt sorry for him, but at the time, I was just infuriated. When the carriage stopped at my house, I turned to him. "I am sorry, Farador," I had to say one last time before turning around and entered the house.

I walked up to my room. I sighed as I replayed the events over again in my mind. "Nyssia must be told!" I resolved firmly. "I am her friend. I must tell her the truth no matter how difficult it is to accept. It is better coming from me than some one else. Yes, I should tell her tomorrow."

However, for the rest of the week, it poured. It was worst the pouring. The world was drenched. I sat by my window staring outside mournfully. It seemed as if the sky was crying for Nyssia. "Oh, I would never be able to tell her!" I exclaimed.

Finally, on the first day of cloudless skies, I left for the palace. I made my way through the mazes of halls to Nyssia's room. I knocked softly. A cheerful voice from behind called out, "Come in!"

I took a deep breath and entered. "Oh, Ena! Come in! Oh, the weather these past few days were just awful, wasn't it?"

I smiled and said, "Yes it was."

"Oh, and Farador left abruptly this morning. He didn't even bid goodbye. Legolas told me that he is leaving for Lórien to visit his cousin."

I must have looked pale, for Nyssia looked at my face and exclaimed. "Why, Ena! You look positively dreadful! What happened?" she stood up quickly.

I motioned for her to sit down. She hesitantly did so. I went swiftly to her. "Oh, Nyssia! I am so sorry. I have greatly wronged you!" I cried out as I gave her a hug.

She tensed and asked, "Oh, Eru. What happened, Ena?"

I bit my lip as tears came into my eyes. "Tell me, Ena!" she demanded.

I took a shuddering breath and whispered, "Farador does not love you. Nay, it was I who he loved the whole time."

She closed her eyes as I saw tears well up. "Oh, I'm sorry, Nyssia. Really, I had no intentions of hurting you. I misjudged Farador and, oh Nyssia! he's not right for you. There are plenty more that'll truly, truly love you."

Nyssia took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Ena," she smiled a bit through her tears.

I looked at her stunned. "Why not?" I asked curiously.

She smiled and continued, "Every time he was with me, he would urge me to speak of you. He would ask me what your favorite color was, what your favorite activity was, what your favorite book was. Of course, he would ask me the same sort of questions, but he seemed more interested in you than in me." She sighed. "But I was blind to all that. I did not see his real feelings, hidden beneath his mask."

I gave her hug. "Do you blame me?" I whispered into her ear as tears flowed down my cheeks.

She pulled away abruptly, looking at me shocked. "Why would I blame you?" she asked.

I looked away. "Because I stole the elf you loved," I whispered.

She sighed. "No, Ena. I do not blame you. I do not blame anyone. I was just blinded from the truth."

I smiled at her gratefully. "As we all were."

She nodded then wiped her tears from her eyes. "Well, I mustn't cry over him. I shall drive him from my mind and I shall be better in no time. My heart is not broken yet! Besides, there are many other male elves that would love me."

I smiled at her and hugged her happily. "Yes, there are. And with your permission, I will continue my work of finding you the perfect one."

She took my hand and said, "Of course! You must help me find the perfect someone!"