Ever since Angeli had uttered those words to Tilda, a brillient plan had entered her mind, though she wouldn't dare say it aloud. She didn't want to follow through with it, but in her mind, it was the last resort that she had come to. Bard seemed to know it, too. As the days passed, he became more and more distant, as though he knew something was up, but he didn't dare say it aloud for the children's sake. And the sad part about it was Angeli did nothing to stop it, though it hurt her not to.

0o0

This continued on for the rest of the week, until the day Galadriel came back for Angeli's decision.

"Well?" The Lady Of Light made no attempt to be polite as Bard opened the door. "Is she coming or not?"

Before Bard could respond, Angeli walked up carrying a small bag of her belongings.

"I have decided to return to Lothlorien," she annonced.

Bard closed his eyes in disappointment, but Galadriel just smiled.

"Excellent," Galadriel clapped her hands once. "Shall we go now?"

"May I have a moment alone?" Angeli asked politly. "To say my good-byes?"

Galadriel looked like she was about to say something that would most surtanly not be pleasent, but in the end she just nodded, and Angeli shut the door.

The whole household was staring at her wide-eyed.

"Kids, go to your rooms," Bard ordered, deathly quiet. "I need to talk to Angeli alone."

"Bye Angeli," Tilda whispered as her siblings pushed her into another room.

"Bard..." Angeli began as the children left.

"You said you would never leave me!" he interupted, his eyes blazing with fire that made Angeli flinch.

"I don't have a choice!" Angeli responded, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Yes, you do!" Bard snapped. "So stay!"

"I cannot."

"Why?"

"Because I love you!" Angeli finally shouted.

Bard's eyes softened for a second, then they turned hard.

"I love you...too much to let you get caught in the middle of all this," Angeli murmured, her voice breaking.

Bard narrowed his eyes. "If you really loved me," he whispered cooly. "You would have known that I love you, and we could have talked about this."

"Bard..."

"It's fine though," Bard turned his back on her. "I obviously do not love you too much, otherwise my heart would be breaking right now."

"I'm sorry," Angeli whispered.

"I am too," Bard's voice began breaking. "Now leave."

A single tear slid down Angeli's cheek as she left, leaving Bard, dispite his previous words, heart broken and sad.