'Why is it that my grandmother refuses to see me until I am married?' Calatalai wondered.

'I have not an answer!' Andraste answered sharply. 'Perhaps we can if we can ever enter!'

'Captain!' an archer suddenly said. A graceful Elf walked toward the travellers.

Andraste eyed Haldir with sudden admiration. He was a handsome Elf, wiser than all the other archers.

'Who was it that called upon the help of my archers?' he asked calmly.

'I did,' Andraste immediately said, 'but the others seek refuge.'

'We shall need the Lady of the Wood to grant permission then,' Haldir replied. 'Come.'

As they headed towards a grand house upon a silver tree, a she-Elf was running down the steps, tear-stained. It was Celandiel.

'You!' Calatalai shrieked. 'This is all your fault!'

But Celandiel hurried away, still crying.

'Do not bother her!' Haldir scolded. 'She is still in great shock and in pain. Let her be.' At the foot of the grand tree, Haldir called, 'Galadriel! The Elves have come!'

The Lady of Light stepped out. 'My people have already prepared homes for you all,' she announced calmly. 'Celeborn shall lead you all there, but now I require the presence of Haldir, Andraste, and Calatalai.'

When everyone had gone, she approached the trio. 'Andraste,' she began. 'It has come to my attention that your home is waged for war and your father would like you to ask for the help of my archers. Is it true?'

Andraste nodded silently.

'I then shall release my archers to your grandfather's command, but their captain will be coming with them.' The Lady nodded towards Haldir.

'Of course, hiril nin,' Andraste, replied.

'Then you must leave now. Shall I give you a horse or - '

'There is no need,' Haldir spoke up. 'She can ride with me on Elen.'

'Andraste would most appreciate it,' Galadriel smiled warmly, for she knew what was in the young Elf's heart. 'But come, her father would very much like my archers as soon as possible. You two must go now. Aa menealle nauva calen ar' malta (May your ways be green and golden).'

'Namarië,' both Elves replied, and left.

'My deepest apologies, Calatalai,' Galadriel said, turning to her great- granddaughter, 'but with war, these matters must be settled first. Now, I would like you to see someone.' She led Calatalai into her house where Legolas lay, gazing at the ceiling, and twirling his pendant.

'Legolas!' Calatalai cried. 'Are you all right? What has Celandiel done to you?'

Legolas gazed at her with a defiant look. 'Celandiel has done nothing to me.'

'Then why are you in this state?' Calatalai said wistfully. 'Oh, my love!'

'I am most certainly not in love with you!' the Prince snapped. 'Go away, my heart only desires Celandiel.'

'She's an Elf-witch, can't you see?' Calatalai fought. 'She has bewitched you to love her, when really you should be loving me!'

'Both of you are acting childish, stop it,' Galadriel said coldly. 'I would like an explanation of why this relationship is not well.'

'I never loved her since she stepped into our realm,' Legolas quickly replied. 'It was Celandiel, whom my heart found first.'

'See? Since the arrival of Celandiel she's bewitched my intended so that he would only have eyes for her!' Calatalai complained.

'That will be enough of Celandiel's being an Elf-witch,' Galadriel interrupted. 'What nonsense would have gotten you to think that, child?'

Instantly, Calatalai went quiet.

'I suppose that you would rather love Celandiel than keep your promise of your father's to have peace among the Elves, my Prince?' Galadriel asked.

Legolas nodded. 'Please, I would love it very much if I could look upon her beautiful face again.'

Calatalai looked away, disgusted.

'Calatalai, for you could not fulfill my desire, which was for you to make interest for Legolas, I have no choice but to confine you in your room until I have dealt with you personally,' Galadriel said, looking at Calatalai's turned face.

'Hiril nin, that is not fair, I did not - ' Calatalai started.

'Until I have dealt with you personally,' Galadriel repeated. 'Celandiel, come.'

'She can't hear you if you speak softly!' retorted Calatalai.

'I have my ways child, and you shall not meddle with hem!' Galadriel replied coolly. 'Celandiel, do not be afraid, come.'

Celandiel walked in carefully as though an evil roamed the room, tears in her eyes. 'What is it, my Lady?'

'It is the Prince's desire to look upon your face, child,' Galadriel said gently. 'You need not to be afraid of him.'

'And what has this got to do with me?' Calatalai said dangerously.

'If you do not wish to remain here, you are more than welcome to stay in your chambers until I come,' the Lady of the Wood said.

As Celandiel inched closer towards Legolas's bed, his hand clasped hers. 'Legolas, I have already told you, your intended is Calatalai, not me.'

But at the same time, Legolas murmured, 'How beautiful you are.'

'Legolas, never see me again. You have defied your father and Galadriel's wishes.' Celandiel slipped her hand out of his.

'You don't understand, Celandiel,' Legolas replied quickly replied. 'I - '

'Say it to Calatalai.'

At this point, it was too much for Calatalai. When Celandiel was leaving Legolas's side, Calatalai struck her on the cheek with so much force Celandiel fell back onto his bed, in his open arms.

'You ignorant Elf! What has come over you to display such a disrespectful behaviour in front of the Prince?' Galadriel cried. 'Go to your chamber immediately!'

Calatalai left, but not before making a hatred look at Celandiel.

'Celandiel, are you all right?' Legolas asked quietly, stroking her hair.

'I really shouldn't be with you,' she whispered, her face buried in his chest.

'I am very sorry, Legolas,' Galadriel said. 'Perhaps it was a mistake to give you Calatalai in marriage. I never realized that she would be this way. I will need to talk to your father to break this agreement. I shall be back.' And she swept away.

'Celandiel, do you love me?' Legolas asked calmly.

'Yes,' she admitted. 'It was when I first saw you. But when I saw Calatalai come and you said that she was your intended, I saw no hope that you would ever love me.'

'That is not true,' Legolas replied quietly. 'Look how my love for you had gotten me! Perhaps it will end my marriage with Calatalai.'

'It is because of me that he Elves may not have peace anymore!' Celandiel cried.

'Do not worry about things like that. There never was a grudge against the other races of Elves. I was just forced into a marriage against my will, with someone that I was sure I would not love,' Legolas explained.

'But that is wrong!' she protested.

'Yet every Elf-maiden's parents insist upon it,' he said. 'Has your mother recently been acting mysterious?'

'No, but there seems to be no reason why we left to Mirkwood,' she replied thoughtfully.

'You see, no bachelor Elf from your former home could meet the standards of your mother, so you all moved.'

'She mean to give me away?' she said quietly.

'It seems that it may be so,' Legolas said sadly.

'I do not want to leave my family though,' Celandiel said softly. 'Especially.you.'

Legolas smiled. 'I will never leave you, my love.' He embraced the half- Elf, kissing her forehead.

At this moment, Galadriel returned, her eyes filled with sorrow. 'Legolas, your father has agreed to discharge your marriage with my great- granddaughter, but he wishes that you do not remain with Celandiel.'

'Why is that?' the Prince demanded.

'He - does not want you to meddle with half-Elves, your Highness.' Galadriel seemed saddened by this. 'And he loathes Celandiel much more because when she first stepped into Mirkwood he realized that she was beautiful and it would cause you to love he over Calatalai.

'Upon his wishes, Celandiel must go now; for even her mother no longer approves of her meddling with pure Elves. Unfortunately, she has a distaste for the bachelors here, and soon will be leaving west toward where the Halflings live.' Galadriel looked at Celandiel. 'I regret deeply telling you this, but to prevent harm from you, you must leave Legolas's side.'

'I understand,' Celandiel replied. 'Goodbye, Legolas Greenleaf, may we meet again.' She turned, and fled.

'Celandiel!' Legolas cried, overcome with grief. His life seemed empty now, as though there was no hope left for him in this world.