Before her stood a vision of absolute beauty, a veritable princess of a bride. The woman in the mirror was tall and slender, yet full above and full below, and her thinly veiled face was lovely. It couldn't possibly be her!

"Yes, I think it will do," Godiva said. "Now we must hide this until the occasion, and see what Naldo has devised."

Electra was sorry to return to her old, grimy clothes, but she realized that this was best. It had been a wonderful vision, but that was all it was.

Soon she was her normal shabby self, with a package under her arm. She had never felt as negative about herself as she did now. That was the trouble with a vision: it made the reality seem so much worse.

At the surface, Naldo was ready. "I believe I have found the way," he said. "Prince Dolph must marry Electra—" Electra's heart jumped foolishly. "The day before she is eighteen, and divorce her the next day so he can marry Nada," he concluded. "That will save her life without depriving Dolph of his desire."

Electra couldn't bring herself to comment. He had indeed found a technicality that should save her life—but what was the point? Without Dolph she didn't want to live. Nada looked no more pleased.

"You do want Dolph to be happy?" Naldo asked Electra.

"Yes, of course," Electra said immediately, realizing how selfish she was being. Dolph would not be happy if she died because of him or if he did not marry Nada.

"You can take a potion to nullify your love for him, after your life has been saved," Naldo said.

Electra nodded. She could hardly imagine not being in love with Dolph, but of course that would ease her own pain.

"And you do want not to void the alliance between our kind and the human folk?" Naldo prodded Nada.

"Yes, of course," Nada agreed, her voice the echo of Electra's.

"And you can take a love potion with him," Naldo said. "Then when you marry him, you will love him."

Nada was silent in the same way as Electra. Naldo had indeed come up with an answer, and the fact that neither of them liked it was irrelevant. The fact that it was as cunningly sinister a device as anyone could imagine was also irrelevant. It would work.

"So let's tell Prince Dolph," Naldo said, setting off at a brisk slither. Nada followed less briskly.

Electra started to walk, but Godiva held her back. "If you have to, you can ask the Good Magician," she reminded her. "He may have a better Answer."

"I hope so!" Electra said.

"But Naldo is cunning enough to make a good goblin leader," Godiva continued. "I don't think we appreciate the ramifications of his ploy. I think you should play it through."

Electra sighed. "If it makes Dolph happy," she said.