The two walked slowly and solemnly through the trees. Never before had Árelotë felt such hesitance and dread. She knew that it would not be easy to convince the Valier that she was capable of such feelings as she possessed. She went over in her mind what she should say to make them believe she was truly in love. A sigh escaped her lips, and Frodo squeezed her hand.
“No matter what happens, I will always love you, Árelotë,” Frodo reassured her. She gave him a half-hearted smile.

Fëabragol was furious that Árelotë had not come to dance at sunset. ‘This has gone far enough,’ she thought. ‘I must tell Vána and Nessa of this. No nymph has ever missed a dance, and certainly not intentionally.’ She set out in search of the Valier, but she did not have to go far. Fëabragol was not the only one who had noticed Árelotë’s absence. Both Nessa and Vána were standing at the top of the hill as if searching for someone. They were beautiful and majestic, standing in the twilight, their faces reflecting the light of the moon that had risen in the sun’s place. They spotted Fëabragol and beckoned to her. She plucked up her courage and went to them.
“Fëabragol, where is Árelotë? She has not danced this night,” Vána asked, her voice like a new spring rain.
“Forgive her, my lady, she is with Frodo, the mortal from Outer Lands. I am afraid that she no longer wishes to come to dance because of her love for him. I have spoken to both of them, but I am unable to sway them from their decision. I fear you shall lose her forever if something is not done,” she reported carefully but boldly. All she wanted was her friend back. She did not wish to grow and mature as Árelotë did, and she did not want change.
“For a nymph of Vána and Nessa not to dance at the appointed time is a great offense to us and to all the Valar. She must explain her actions before us at Máhanaxar in Valimar. Frodo must come also, for it is he who has drawn her astray,” Nessa replied, all laughter and merriment gone from her usually happy face.
Just then Árelotë and Frodo appeared and ascended the hill. When they reached them Árelotë bowed, “I have not danced this evening, and I ask your pardon, Nessa and Vána of the Valier, for not coming to you sooner and informing you of my intentions.”
“Your intentions are known to us,” Nessa answered looking sternly at the fairy. She cowered in the light of her eyes.
“My lady, do not be angry with her. It is I who have asked her to do this,” Frodo stepped in, though he also was terrified of her wrath.
“The consequences for your actions will be decided in Valimar at Máhanaxar. All three of you are summoned to come as quickly as you will. You should begin your journey after you dance at sunrise,” Vána commanded. They all bowed and the Valar left the dancing field. Árelotë was crying silently.
“I will meet you here after the dance, Árelotë,” Frodo said as he stroked her cheek.
“I will not dance. My mind has not changed,” she answered.
Fëabragol was dumbfounded. Even after a direct order from the Valar she would not dance. She looked at her with a new wonder. ‘It seems she has already started to change,’ she thought. ‘What if I am wrong?’ The doubt hit her like a wave of cold water. Could these two really be in love?
“I am ready to face them and tell them of my decision,” she said, more to herself than her or Frodo.
“Do what you must, Árelotë. I love you,” Frodo smiled and whispered and kissed her gently. Then he slowly walked down the path towards the city.
As Fëabragol watched them, her mind changed. “I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “I have been selfish. I’m so sorry, Árelotë!”
Árelotë turned to her friend. “No, it’s not your fault. I should have been more sympathetic towards you when you tried to tell me how you felt, and then maybe it wouldn’t have happened like this.” she said and hugged her tight as her shimmering tears fell softly onto her shoulder. “I never want to fight like this again,” she cried and held her until they were both in tears.
“Never, I missed you too much,” Fëabragol laughed, relieved.

Frodo walked slowly down towards the city. He sighed and wondered what the next day would bring. He didn’t know what to expect or how to address such beings as the Valar. ‘I don’t know what to say to convince them that our love is not a passing thing, that it is real and true and not a blind infatuation!’ he thought. Frustrated, he clenched his fists. ‘Why does this have to be such a problem? Why must it be such an ordeal?’ he wondered as he reached his room he shared with Bilbo. He unlatched the door and tumbled inside, promptly throwing himself dejectedly onto his bed.
“Well, it’s about time you turn up, my boy!” Bilbo said, startled out of a peaceful nap in front of the fire. “It’s not like you to miss a meal.”
“I haven’t been thinking about food much lately, Bilbo,” Frodo replied staring up at the ceiling.
“Well, I saved you some rolls and cheese if your stomach starts to get the best of that worried little head of yours,” Bilbo clucked. Frodo, laid there for a moment thinking, then rose and made his way to the table where the leftovers were set. Bilbo chuckled, “So what is it, Frodo, that has kept you so busy that I hardly see you this past month? Have you been spending all your time with that pretty little lass, or have you been up to other mischief?”
“Surely you know that I am not the mischievous one of the family, and that I would never be involved in any type of trouble unless Merry or Pippin were right there with me,” Frodo smiled with half a roll in his mouth.
“Then you have been spending all your time with Árelotë,” Bilbo grinned. “I never thought I would see the day when my Frodo would find a girl.”
Frodo blushed. “She’s amazing, Bilbo! She’s beautiful and funny and insightful and wonderful!” he said, the food driving away his troubles for a moment.
“And you love her,” Bilbo finished. He could tell by the look in his bright blue eyes that he did very much.
“More than anything in the world!” Frodo replied enthusiastically, but then his face fell and his worries returned to him. “I love her more than anything,” he said quietly.
Bilbo frowned. “What’s wrong? What happened today that has made you so anxious and unhappy?”
“I don’t even really see the problem, Bilbo!” Frodo said angrily. “We love each other, don’t we? Why is it so wrong for us to be together? I don’t understand why she can’t keep dancing and still be with me, too. I don’t care if she dances, I love it when she dances. But she seems to think that she cannot both love me and be a dancer at the same time, and that’s what the Valar will think too, and that’s what will happen!” His voice kept rising and rising until he was shouting at a bewildered Bilbo.
“What will happen? I don’t understand. Frodo, stop shouting!” Bilbo interrupted.
Frodo took a deep breath and said more calmly, “They will take her from me. They will not let her change or grow, just because she was not ‘meant’ to mature or get married. They don’t understand that she already is changed; she already has grown.” He looked away from his uncle’s piercing gaze a brushed a tear out of his eye.
Bilbo examined his nephew and wondered aloud, “And are you so sure that you are you ready to be married, so soon after arriving here?” Frodo stared back at him in confusion. Bilbo continued, “You’ve only been here a month or so, and you cannot possibly think of marrying a girl you’ve only known for a month.”
“I don’t want to marry her yet! Why does everyone think I want to run off this instant and get married? I just want to be able to spend time with her, to talk with her, and walk through the woods holding her hand,” Frodo sighed, “but I am afraid that they won’t even let us do that.”
Bilbo sat beside Frodo on the bed and stroked his curls as he had done many times when he was a lad. “My dear boy,” he whispered. Frodo turned to him and looked into his old, father-like face.
“Oh, Bilbo,” he cried and buried his face in his chest.