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Love's Redemption	By : mthorsta Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 7108 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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CHAPTER 3 � F�AVERYALA (BINDING OF THE SOULS)

Minas Tirith

Late September, year four of the Fourth Age
   The celebration of Cormar�, the three-day-long holiday commemorating the heroism of Frodo Baggins, had come upon Minas Tirith at last and the entire city was alight with excitement and rejoicing. There were festivities happening in all parts of the city�storytelling, games, dancing, music, battle reenactments, even skill-at-arms competitions. People from all around poured into the city, filling the streets. The courtyard was packed with pavilions and merchant�s tents and in the midst of it all, was a large open-air kitchen. The aroma of food and pungent wood-smoke it put forth permeated the air, enticing the senses�and stomachs�of hungry festivalgoers everywhere making it quite a popular attraction. The sun shone brightly and everywhere music, laughter, and lively conversation echoed off the walls becoming a boisterous roar that rose into the clear sky.
   Jordan and Legolas had spent the entire day taking in the sights and sounds of the celebration, perusing the merchant�s tents, enjoying the company of friends, and having their fill to eat. Legolas did his best to hide the fact that his heart was no longer in the celebration for Jordan�s sake. She seemed to be enjoying herself and he did not want to spoil it for her. He tucked his pain away, relieved that she was too distracted to ask what had been the matter the previous night.
   It was well into evening by the time they returned to her quarters. It had most certainly been a long day and Jordan was exhausted. She expected to come back to a cold and dark room, as was often the fact lately with the change of the season. She did not relish the thought but to her surprise, the servants had prepared the room, starting a fire in the hearth and turning down the bed. The room was now warm and bathed in the soft glow of the firelight.

   �Oh my feet!� Jordan groaned as she plopped down in the chair and kicked off her shoes. �Ugh. You people have no idea of what makes a comfortable shoe!�

   �My boots are fine. They do not pain my feet.�

   �Well, that�s because you don�t know any different.� Then Jordan grinned. �Maybe I should become a shoemaker. Whatd�ya think?�

   Legolas knelt down and took her hands, kissing each of her fingertips in turn. �I think you should stick to healing, love. I would hate to see these pretty hands become calloused and stained.�

   �Yeah, well, I think I would prefer that over sore feet.�

   �We should limit our festival activities tomorrow so your feet are not sore come evening time.�

   �Why? What is tomorrow evening?�

   �The culmination of the celebration�music and dancing in the Hall of Kings. I want you to dance with me and you cannot do that on hurting feet.�

   Jordan threw her head back and laughed. �Dancing? Oh, no! I don�t dance. I�m probably the last person you�d want as a dance partner. I�m about as graceful as a toad. Besides, the style of dancing in my world compared to yours, I�m sure, is completely different. I don�t want to embarrass myself...or you.�

   She imagined herself standing in a long line of women facing Legolas in a line of men across from her, like the ballroom dances of seventeenth and eighteenth century Europe � graceful, precise movements almost more like a procession than a dance, with a lot of bowing and curtsying � the steps of which everyone had learned years before as part of their social education. She imagined herself trying to follow the steps and failing miserably. She cringed.

   �I am sure your dancing skills are satisfactory.�

   �No, Legolas, seriously. I don�t dance.�

   Legolas held out his hands. �Give me your foot.�

   �Why? What are you going to d...?� Before she could finish the last word, he started to massage her foot, working the strained muscles of her arch with his thumbs.

   �Ooh. Oh my.� She groaned, lurching forward as the pressure of his touch sent a jolt through her foot.

   �Just sit back, close your eyes, and relax.� Legolas scolded.

   By the time he had finished with her other foot, she had been reduced to a pile of quivering mush.

   �Oh my gosh! Where did you learn to do that?�

   �I have seen Elven healers use the technique on muscle injuries to increase movement and decrease pain. I thought it would help.�

   �Oh, it did!�

   �So you will be able to dance with me, then?�

   �Oh, I see!� She laughed. �You didn�t rub my feet out of the kindness of your heart, you wanted something in return. Legolas, no, seriously! I�m a terrible dancer.� She winced at the though of it. �I would probably step on your foot or something.�

   Legolas put his hands on the arms of her chair and leaned into her, his face hovering dangerously close to hers. �What would it take to change your mind?�

   She honestly gave it some thought...for a few seconds anyway. However, he had that gleam in his crystal blue eyes again; playful but with an edge of seduction and lust that was nearly her undoing every time and all thought scattered. Her lips parted slightly in anticipation.

   �Kiss me.� She said breathlessly.

   The corners of his mouth slowly curled up in a devious grin. �And here I though you would have given me a real challenge. You are far too easy to persuade.� He leaned into kiss her and she huffed and pushed him away, realizing she had played right into his hand. Legolas laughed and stood up. �I am going to fetch some water to make us some tea.�

   �I�m still not dancing!� She yelled to him as he walked out the door. Legolas grinned and closed the door.
   When he returned, he hung a small cauldron of water on a hook over the fire and then walked over to where Jordan sat frowning, her arms crossed in defiance.

   �I�m not dancing. I will look like a fool.� She said.

   He bent down and brushed his lips against hers but she held motionless. He pulled back and chuckled. �No you will not. I can teach you.� He said gently. He kissed her again and still she made no move to return his kiss. Legolas smirked. �You know you cannot resist me.� He whispered against her lips.

   She sighed resignedly and said, �I hate it when you�re right.�

   She attacked his mouth with her own and it was not a gentle kiss, it was fierce and forceful borne from inhibited desires. Legolas� kiss was equally as rough, his lips crushing hers, bruising them, his tongue demanding entrance into her warm mouth. Without breaking the kiss, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her to her feet. His strong hands grasped her hips with a vice-like hold and pulled her body tightly into his. She moaned and melted into him, letting her head drop back. He tipped his head to the side and trailed kisses along her jaw, down her throat, to the hollow of her neck. Jordan gasped in surprise when she felt the cold stone wall against her back. She was not aware that they had even moved. He leaned against her, pressing her into the wall, and slipped one arm around her waist. She hooked her leg around his and clung to him as he continued to kiss and suckle her neck. In the back of her mind, she knew they had to stop; she had to stop him. Any longer and they might not be able to, but his kisses, his touch were like a drug to her and her craving for them overpowered any will to resist. All she could do was plunge her hands into his hair and hold on. The air around them seemed to be charged with electricity that prickled her skin. Her senses were on overdrive. She was acutely aware of every place his body contacted hers, the pressure of his fingertips as they grazed over her hips and down her thigh, the texture of his lips, the hot wetness of his tongue on her skin, and now, his arousal pressing against her abdomen through the thin fabric of his leggings and tunic. She instinctively arched her lower back and rolled her hips forward, pressing into him.

   �I want you.� She said in a strained whisper, her warm breath lightly brushing past his ear. He had brought them to the brink, but it was she who pushed them over the edge.

   He groaned against the side of her neck, shuddering as her words echoed in his head, mirroring his own thoughts, but he dared not speak them and fuel the fire. His body was numb with the agony of desire and it was torture to pull them back to their senses but they were in danger of losing themselves to their need.

   �Jordan...� He whispered hoarsely in a cautioning tone, his breath coming quick and shallow. He slowly disentangled himself from her and took a step back.

   Jordan brought a hand to her chest trying to catch her breath. �I�m sorry. I don�t know what�s come over me.� She panted. �I just feel so...attracted to you right now. I mean, I�m always attracted to you, but I�ve never felt it so strong, almost like this primal need I can�t control.�

   His chest was still heaving as he took hold of her hands. �No, the fault is mine. I, too, was overtaken by it. I should have stopped us before it got too strong. What you feel is the pull of our f�ar yearning to complete the bond they have formed.�

   Suddenly, the euphoric wave she had been riding came crashing down and she stared at him, stunned.

   �Wait. Complete the bond? What bond? What is a f�ar?�

   �Come sit down, and I will explain.� He led her to the bed, motioned for her to sit, and sat down next to her. �I should have told you sooner but it did not seem to have much of an effect on us, that is until...� His voice trail off.
   He winced at the memory of letting his one weakness � her mortality � get the better of him. In front of her. That night, he had lost control of his fear, he let his guard slip, and in his moment of vulnerability, his need to keep her close became his only thought. That closeness caused the fledgling bond they shared to grow stronger...exponentially so. He had not anticipated that. Their desire for each other would be greater now. How would she react to the knowledge? A bond such as this was not known to the mortal world. And their love was still so new, so fragile. Was she ready for the level of intimacy that F�averyala brought?
   �Until what?�

   �Until we lay together last night.�

   �You said it was okay!�

   �It is...it was...but something happened that I did not expect. You need not worry, though, it is a good thing. In the Elven tongue, it is called F�averyala � f�a meaning soul or spirit and veryala meaning joining or a coming together. It is the binding of two people�s souls. Usually, this occurs during the Hr�averyala, the marriage rite of physical union, but for us, it has already begun.�

   �Our souls? Wha...I...I don�t understand. What does that mean?� She stammered.

   �It means that we have made a connection that goes deeper than just the love we share. We are a part of each other now and will always be even if we do not seal the bond.�

   �So right now, the bond is incomplete?�

   Legolas studied her reaction. There was no fear, only curiosity and, understandably, confusion. He let out a breath he didn�t realize he was holding. �Yes. The more time we spend together, the stronger it will become, but so will our need for each other.�

   Jordan groaned and flopped backwards onto her back on the bed, covering her face with her hands. �So what? Every time we are together we�ll have this insane urge to mate like wild animals?�

   Legolas laughed. �Not quite like that, but we may have to limit our physical contact from now on. The pull of our f�ar will always be noticeable but it is when we touch that our need for each other intensifies. Part of the reason for this is: through the bond comes the ability to sense each other�s emotions.�

   Jordan flipped over onto her side and scrambled up to a sitting position. �Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. Sense each other�s emotions?�

   �Yes. Usually it is nothing more than a simple awareness of what the other is feeling, but when we are together and experience the same emotions, they will combine becoming twice as powerful. This works well for feelings of happiness, love, even pleasure, but it is with negative emotions that we must exercise caution. They can feed off each other becoming overpowering. A good example of this is the night of the delegate�s dinner. We were both angry. It flowed between our bond, combining like oil and flame, but because we were not aware of the bond, it raged out of control. Had I known at the time, I would have been better able to control my emotions.�
   Could that be the reason for the strange feelings she had experienced, first at breakfast a few days ago, then in the courtyard last night? Was she picking up on Legolas� emotions? It all seemed so hard to believe. This was the stuff of science fiction books and movies. This just didn�t happen in her world.

   �Ai! I have forgotten the water!� Legolas suddenly exclaimed.

   He got up and rushed to the hearth, testing the water with his finger. She watched him while he prepared their tea, contemplating whether to say anything about her experiences. The more she thought about them, the more she doubted herself. She didn�t recall feeling any particular emotion at the time. She could�ve been tired or it could�ve been the wine. It could have even been some sort of anxiety episode. They were all reasonable explanations. Finally, she couldn�t stand it anymore. She had to know, even if it meant finding out she was wrong.

   �Legolas, last night while you were over talking to Gandalf, the strangest feeling came over me. It�s hard to explain but it was as if something exploded inside of me or like the wind had been knocked out of me. It was so startling that I almost fell out of my chair. The oddest thing was, it seemed like it had something to do with you, but I don�t know why. Is that what its like to sense your emotions?�

   Legolas raised an eyebrow in surprise as he handed her a steaming cup of tea. �Not exactly. You should have been able to tell what I was feeling and you did not?�

   �N-no.� She faltered. Of course not. What was she thinking? She was mortal. She couldn�t sense anyone�s emotions.

   �It happens sometimes that when one of us is overcome by a very strong emotion or emotions�for instance, if one of us was in danger�it can overwhelm the other. The underlying emotion could have gotten lost.�

Hearing this, she became hopeful again. �So you still think it was this, what did you call it, F�averyala?�

   �Oh, yes. Of that, I am certain.�

   Flashes from the previous night came back to her. As she watched Legolas and Gandalf from the shelter, their body language, their facial expressions had not suggested a friendly conversation.

   �Were you and Gandalf arguing?� She asked hesitantly.

   �Yes, we were.� Then he quickly added, �It was just a misunderstanding, though.� Legolas hoped she would leave it at that. It would hurt her if she knew Gandalf had demanded she leave Middle-earth.

   She thought back to her own conversation with Gandalf. Everything about it told Jordan Gandalf did not like the fact that she was here. Then when Legolas arrived, he wanted to talk to him alone.

   �It was about me, wasn�t it?�

   �How did you know?�

   �I thought it was kind of odd that he wanted to speak to you alone...especially after what he said to me.�

   �What did he say to you?�

   �He didn�t understand why I was here. He said he was told long ago that no one would use the link. He didn�t seem to like the fact that I was here. He was convinced others would follow even though I told him the link had been destroyed. He didn�t believe me.�

   She recalled the feeling that came over her while Legolas and Gandalf were arguing�startling, violent, like when someone explodes in anger. Is that what she had felt? Had Legolas been angry? And what would give him cause to become so? She had a good guess. Instantly, her own anger rose. �He wanted you to send me back home didn�t he! And you got angry.� Her hands clenched into fists. �Ooh, that...that meddlesome wizard!� She spat.

   �Yes, he did say that and actually, I was furious,� he admitted, �but you have nothing to worry about. You and I both know you can never return home and now Gandalf knows as well. Besides, I told him about the Valar�s involvement when you were going to leave and that seemed to satisfy him.�

   Jordan frowned �But he still does not like me.�

   �You must understand, he was charged to protect Middle-earth. He saw the linking book as a threat he could not ignore. Now that he has accepted the situation, I think you will see him come around.�

   She didn�t know why it was so important to her that the old wizard liked her, that he accepted her. Better to have him as an ally than an enemy she supposed.
   �Have you ever sensed my emotions? I mean besides at the Delegate�s dinner?�

   �That and more.� He said, particularly pleased with himself. �Not only did I feel what you felt, I heard you.�

   �Heard me?�

   �Out on the Anorien planes. I was on watch one night. It was quiet and still, the men were asleep, and with no one but the moon to keep me company, my thoughts turned to you as they often did in those times�wondering if you had really gone, if I would ever see you again. Then a vision appeared in my mind of you standing on the balcony, looking out into the darkness. You were worried and restless. I wanted so much to hold you and tell you I was all right, but there was no way to reach you, of course. You were gone and it was just a dream, so I thought. Then...you began to sing. The song, I had never heard before and how could I dream of that which I do not know? I could not explain it, but in there in the darkness, under the stars, your voice surrounded me, comforted me, gave me hope that you were still here. When you told me about how you stood on the balcony and called out to me, I asked you to sing the song to see if it was the same as the one I had heard out on the planes, and indeed it was. It was then that I realized F�averyala had begun.�

   A chill went through Jordan�s body and she shivered. �How is that possible? Even if we can sense each other�s emotions, how could you hear a song I sung from miles away?�

   �Well, what is a song but emotion put to music? You reached out to me across the miles, Jordan, and I to you and somehow our f�ar found each other. I do not know how it happened and it may never happen again, but it was just what I needed at the time. I clung to the memory of it, determined to get back to the city safely, in the hopes that I would find you there, waiting for me.�

   Jordan smiled but it didn�t quite reach her eyes. �And I was.� She said softly.
   She fell silent and stared into the flames of the dying fire as they danced on the charred wood. She wore a mask of calm, but inside she was mix of emotions. Jumbled thoughts raced by in succession, too quickly to focus on any one in particular. How was she supposed to feel about all this? They now shared a bond that went beyond the physical realm. She had no reason to doubt Legolas� claims, but her experiences were hardly comparable to what Legolas had described. There was no startling revelation, just some vague feelings. She didn�t feel particularly different other than her heightened desire for him. Did she really have the ability to sense his emotions or was it just intuition? And did she want to? One on hand, it gave her a strange sense of pride. To have the ability to sense Legolas� emotions, in her eyes, made her more like him, more elf-like and a little less...human. On the other hand, it brought a level of intensity to their relationship that made her fearful. There was now more at stake should something go wrong.
   �Jordan?� He asked.

   �Hmm.� She responded flatly, still staring at the fire.

   �I cannot tell what you are feeling. Are you alright?�

   �That�s probably because I don�t know what I�m feeling myself.�

   �What is troubling you, my love?� He asked gently. �Does it frighten you to learn of our bond?�

   �No,� came her immediate response, then she paused. �Well, yes. I don�t know. This sort of thing doesn�t exist in my world. Maybe you can sense my emotions, but how are you so sure I can sense yours?�

   �You have. You said so.�

   �No, it was just a guess.� She insisted.

   �It was more than that. Do not doubt yourself. Perhaps because this is the first time...�

   She cut him off. �No, this was the second time it happened, and the first time, I did not feel any emotion either...just uncomfortable.�

   �When was this?�

   �It was at breakfast a few days ago.�

   �And what was happening at the time?�

   �Eowyn was telling the story of how Eomer nearly drowned.�

   Legolas� face fell. �Oh, that.� He said quietly. His explanation came slowly, uneasily. �You did sense my emotions, Jordan, you just did not understand them. Emotions do not always have a name. Apprehension or uneasiness could easily be interpreted as a sensation of discomfort and that is a fairly accurate representation of what I was feeling.�

   She shook her head in confusion. �Why?�
   Legolas groaned inwardly. He looked down at the coverlet, picking at an invisible spot, reluctant to answer. Of all the times she could have been attuned to his emotions, he had hoped this was not one of them. It was difficult for mortals to comprehend and more difficult still to convince her that he would not someday leave her willingly or unwillingly because of it, but he had to tell her the truth.

   �To understand why I felt the way I did, you must first understand this: All Elves at some point will feel the pull of the sea calling them to the Undying Lands and within us lies an instinctual desire to heed the call. I have always dwelt inland and it was not until the war as I sailed down the Anduin that I heard the cry of the gulls and smelled the salt carried on the wind for the first time. It was then that I felt the desire to return to the place of my origins. However, many friendships were formed during that time, special bonds that could not be broken. I felt torn, conflicted. The pull was strong but the love for my friends was stronger. I vowed that I would never leave Middle-earth until every member of the Fellowship had passed on. The sea-longing will always be a part of me, within me, that I cannot help but it is something I have learned to suppress. However, it can become difficult to ignore when brought to the forefront of my attention.�

   �Wait a minute. Leave Middle-earth? What do you mean �leave Middle-earth�? Just where is this place?�

   �The Undying Lands are of this world but they are not in it. To get there, one must take a ship into the west, though only an Elven mariner can find the straight road to the Blessed Realm, whereas men would only find themselves in the far east.�

   �Legolas, I don�t care where we live. If that�s where you must to go...�

   �No, you do not understand. The Undying Lands are the realm of the Valar, where the Elves once dwelled and where the Elves dwell again. Mortals cannot pass through.�

   Even though Bilbo and Frodo were given a special accord, the only one who had it in his power to grant, as an emissary of the Valar, was Gandalf, and come spring, he would be gone. There would be no one left to intercede on Jordan�s behalf, if such a thing could be done.

   Her look of confusion faded into a blank stare of disbelief. �I see.� She whispered softly.

   He could feel her retreating within herself, putting up walls to protect her from the hurt she assumed was coming. He reached out and touched her arm. �I can feel your fear. Do not be afraid.�

   The full meaning of his words slowly registered in her brain. She squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears. �When?�

   �When what?�

   �When are you going to leave?� She said through clenched teeth, her voice tinged with anger. How had things gone so horribly wrong in only a matter of minutes? How could he have done this to her? To let her think they had a life together, when he was just going to leave! Then she groaned to herself. How could he, indeed? The bitter irony was that she had done the same thing to him and just as easily. Perhaps she deserved this. Love was fallible...people were fallible. It was easier to blame herself than to try to rationalize someone else�s actions.

   Calmly and quietly, she leaned over and set her cup of tea on the nightstand for fear her shaking hands would drop it. �I should have known,� she said softly, �it was too good to be true.�

   Legolas could feel her f�a pulling away from his. �Jordan, don�t do this!�

   She did not acknowledge him, so consumed was she in her own thoughts. She shook her head. �I should have seen it coming.� She said, her voice barely audible as if it were only meant for her to hear.

   He tightened his grip on her arm. �Jordan, look at me!� He commanded.

   Startled, she focused again on his liquid blue eyes, trembling slightly at the intensity of his gaze. He grasped her by the shoulders and held her at arms length. �I am not going to leave you! Not until they lay your body to rest would I leave you, and then only because I would have nothing left in this world to keep me here!�

   As he spoke, her eyes brimmed with tears about to spill over. Her pain was so acute it took his breath away. She didn�t believe him. He felt like his heart was being squeezed in his chest by an unseen fist.

   �Who did this to you?� He demanded. �Who hurt you so badly that you have lost all of your trust in love, that you think yourself unworthy of love? Was it that man, Christian?� He nearly spat the word �man�.

   She bit her lip, looked away, and nodded. Legolas� voice softened a bit, though retained an edge of bitterness. �And do you think so little of me as to liken my heart and mind with his?�

   She looked back at Legolas in shock. �No! I didn�t mean...� She stopped and sighed. Her shoulders slumped. There was no point in explaining. It would only make sense to her.

   �There comes a time when one must let go�let go of the past, let go of the pain. I am not him, Jordan. I would never hurt you.�

   �Maybe not willingly, but you said yourself it was instinctual. What if you just don�t have the strength left to resist its pull one day?�

   �I can resist it because of your love, because of our bond. There is nothing more powerful than the two combined.�

   The anguish she felt poured out in her voice and a single tear slid slowly down her cheek.

   �And what happens after I�m gone, after all the Elves are gone, and you are all that remains? What if in all that time you miss your chance? I know what will happen to you. Arwen told me...told me what it means when an Elf fades.�

   �The only way for you to live on is through me. If I die, all that remains of you here...� he tapped his head. �...and here...� he laid his hand over his heart. �...dies with me. I will not let that happen! If it comes to pass that every ship has since set sail, I will find another way.� He said, his jaw set in determination and his fists clenched. �I swear on all that is good, I will find a way! I will build my own ship if need be!�

   He spoke with such forcefulness it made her cringe. She stared at him with wild eyes. He stared back�his own eyes no longer bright blue but a muted stormy gray that shimmered with wetness. He took her hand and pressed it to his heart, holding it there with his own. He drew upon all that was in him: all his love, his joy, his strength and channeled it through their bond.

   �If I cannot make you believe with words, I will show you instead.�

   She felt the beating of his heart against her palm, the life of him, but there was something else there as well. Her eyes went wide and she sucked in her breath. �Oh God.� She said in a startled whisper. Her eyes kept darting from their hands to his face and back again. She knew this feeling! All that time she had tried to distance herself from Legolas, to fight her feelings for him�so resolute was she in her objective when they were apart, but when they were together, these emotions that seemed to come from nowhere would wash over her changing her ideals, dissolving her will, erasing her doubt until all she could think of was how happy she was to be near him. She often wondered if he held some sort of enchantment over her. Now she knew. Legolas had been right. She could sense his emotions. It had been there all along. She was sensing his emotions perhaps even as early as their first kiss. It was his love for her that she felt then, just as it was now. Only now, it was much stronger. She closed her eyes and let the sensation envelope her and fill her senses. The back of her eyelids swam with a dizzying array of color and light. Her body felt weightless, translucent. There were no words to describe it�unless one could describe �seeing� the emotion of love, not with their eyes, not with their mind, but with their heart. She visualized the power of her love joined with his as an orb of pure light at the center of her core, energy swirling on its surface, and projected it back towards Legolas through their bond.
   Slowly, she opened her eyes. Something tickled her cheek and she reached up to brush it away. She felt wetness and realized she had been crying. It was the single most powerful experience she had ever had in her life. Legolas was watching her with concern in his eyes.

   �What is it? What did you see?� He asked gently.

   �Love.� She said simply.

   She understood now. They had always been meant for each other; their fates decided long ago. He could no sooner leave her than he could will himself to die, or she him. That was the power of their bond. Only one question remained.

   �Can this bond ever be broken?�

   �F�averyala is the strongest bond that can exist between two people. If we were to part from each other now, the bond would fade, although there would always be a piece of our hearts that remembered. But once the bond is sealed, it is eternal. It cannot be undone by either strength of will nor any spell. Only death can break the bond between two f�ar...and sometimes even that is questionable.�
   The magnitude of all that she had learned in the short amount of time and the emotion that it wrought overwhelmed her and tears welled up in her eyes again, spilling over, cascading down her cheeks. Legolas gathered her up in his arms and hugged her head to his chest. She slackened in his embrace, letting herself be supported by the solid strength of his arms as they cradled her. He held her for a while, lightly rubbing her back, listening to the soft roar and crackle of the fire.
   �I�m sorry, Legolas.� She cried. �I really thought you were going to leave and I was so scared, that�s all I could see. It�s just still so hard for me to trust...to trust in love, to trust myself, but I am trying.�

   �I know. I know you are, my love. I know that trust must be earned and every day I hope to gain a little more and then you will see there is nothing to fear.�

   �I just wish we didn�t have to worry about the future. It�s like there�s this black cloud hanging over us...following us...just waiting to spill out its doom.�

   He leaned back a bit, lifted her chin, and kissed away the salty drops. �Do not cry, my love.� He murmured softly. �I, too, have struggled with these thoughts and we will again at some point but it is all a matter of perspective. Our life together is just beginning. There are many adventures still to be had and many long years to come before we must face our fates. Why spend the time worrying about that which we cannot control?�

   The words were spoken for her benefit but he was surprised at the truth of them.

   �I know. You�re right. Sometimes I just love you so much that it hurts.�

   �And it is that kind of love that made it possible for our f�ar to bond before their time.�
   Jordan closed her eyes and sighed wearily, letting herself be pulled into Legolas� embrace, resting her head against his chest again. He looked down at her feeling a surge of relief and joy wash over him. He knew that mortals had a difficult time understanding the ways of the Eldar. He had been worried that the power of their bond would frighten her to the point that she would never come to understand or accept it. But how she had surprised him! How far she had come from the broken and hopeless creature he found in the woods. There was strength in her after all.
   He couldn�t imagine how hard it was to be completely removed from everything you�ve ever known, from everything that was familiar. Thrust into a world with beings you never knew existed and whose ways must seem foreign and strange. However, she had adjusted surprisingly well to life in his world. She knew as well as he that their story would not have a happy ending and yet she loved him more that he ever thought he could be loved.
   After a time, she pulled away from Legolas and sat up, sniffed, and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She was determined that if he could be positive about the situation when he was the one who was going to suffer the most, then so could she.

   �Okay, so tell me more about our bond. Why do your emotions come to me sometimes and not others? It seems so sporadic.�

   �I am not certain. F�averyala is a very complex phenomenon. All I can share with you is what I have learned, which is what every Elf is taught, and that is only a basic understanding of the process. Because the bond is unique to each individual, its complexities cannot really be taught, they must be experienced. With our bond being incomplete, perhaps only strong emotions are conveyed. Once the bond is sealed, however, we should be able to sense each other�s emotions at any time with little effort.�

   �Well, how do we seal the bond?� She asked, thinking it might be as simple as reciting some invocation or spell.

   �It can only be sealed through the Hr�averyala.�

   She wished she hadn�t taken a drink of her tea just then. She nearly choked on it. She remembered Legolas referring to the Hr�averyala as the �marriage rite of physical union�.

   �By making love?� She spat out.

   �The Hr�averyala in itself is more than just lovemaking. It is a process of becoming one with your mate in both body and mind, making a conscious effort to completely focus on only each other and the giving and receiving of pleasure, blocking out all else. A great amount of time is spent becoming familiar with each other�s bodies and discovering what sort of touch is most pleasurable to each person. Maintaining eye contact as well as honest and open communication is all very important to this process. Food and drink are usually kept on hand as well to provide strength and nourishment as the ritual usually lasts the entire night. When the two truly become one, their f�ar or souls will begin to bind creating a perfect balance of Hr�averyala and F�averyala. Then, with the culmination of the physical union, the bond is sealed.�
   Jordan was blushing furiously by the time he had finished his explanation. It�s not that she was na�ve in these matters, but she was very modest by nature and quite shy about voicing her desires and likewise, no man she had been with had ever taken the initiative. She supposed that for someone who had no experience, like Legolas, it was a better way to learn than awkward groping in the dark. Still, the idea of giving direction on how she liked to be touched and what she didn�t like seemed a bit embarrassing to her as well as somewhat intimidating.

   �You are blushing.� He observed. �Do your people not talk about these sorts of things?�

   �No, not really. Some do, I guess.� She said with an uneasy laugh.

   �Elves are very open on matters of love and intimacy. They are viewed as a natural part of life and nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.�

   �I�m not...I�m just...I mean it�s just a little awkward talking about it with you.� She blurted out.

   �Why?�

   �I don�t know, it just...is.� She quickly changed the subject so Legolas could not ask her to explain further. �So, we have to be married before we can seal the bond.� She restated just to be clear.

   �Before?� A look of confusion crossed Legolas� eyes.

   Jordan faltered. �I...I thought Elves had to get married before they had...before the Hr�averyala.�

   Legolas smiled endearingly at her. �I thought the connection would have been quite clear, but the Hr�averyala is the way in which Elves marry, my love.�

   Jordan�s eyes widened. �What? So there�s no ceremony? You just...� She let her voice trail off. There was no need to complete the sentence. Legolas understood her meaning.

   He nodded. �There can be a celebration if one wishes. Traditionally, in times of peace, a great feast was always held to celebrate the marriage. During the feast, the blessing of the marriage and the exchange of rings would take place. At the end of the feast, the couple would then be whisked away to a secluded place to initiate the Hr�averyala. However, in times of war, unrest, or any other situation where a celebration may not possible or desired, it is acceptable to forgo it. The feast and rituals therein are not what constitutes an Elven marriage. It is the �act� itself - the physical union - and the subsequent binding of the souls that unites two Elves in marriage.�

   New understanding dawned in her eyes. She knew now why Elves did not have sex before marriage. It would be a contradiction in terms. Sex was marriage to them. To lie with someone simply for pleasure with no intention of marriage was impossible, and for a society who held honor and respect in the highest regard, it was unconscionable.
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   Married. To Legolas. Did she dare believe it would someday happen? Of course it would, she suspected, and the thought both thrilled and terrified her at the same time. She had always outwardly maintained that she was perfectly all right being unmarried, that she was better off being single. She didn�t need that connection with someone to feel whole, to feel fulfilled. It was a lie to ease her conscious, but as well betrayed her heart. The truth was, she wanted it more than anything. She had waited for so long, cried out to the darkness, looked on in bitterness and longing at others who had what she desired. Was it finally her time? Although they spoke about their lives and of their fates as if it had already been arranged, it still seemed out of her reach, like a rare jewel she would never be able to afford. Then again, there was the bond they shared. How could either of them deny something their souls had already decided? Her thoughts raced, mixed and jumbled with excitement at the possibility. Her pulse quickened, pounding in her ears, joining in with the crackling and popping of the fire and she was suddenly aware of how hot it was in the room. She was becoming lightheaded. She fixed her gaze on Legolas. He was so achingly beautiful. She let her eyes wander to feast on his other features: the gold and silver tones in his long hair that shimmered in the firelight, the shape of his nose, the angle of his cheekbones, the line of his jaw, his leaf-shaped ears that fascinated her so much.

   �What are you thinking about?� Legolas asked softly, curiously.

   Jordan reached out and fingered one of the thin braids that framed his face. �You.�

   Legolas moved his face closer to hers, his gaze penetrating her, igniting a fire within. �What about me?� He asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

   She scooted closer to him. �How lucky I am to have you.�

   ��Twas not luck. We were fated...and I will love you every day of forever.� He said with a smile, stroking her jawline with his finger.

   Jordan rose to her knees above him and leaned in. Their faces were inches apart. He didn�t move; his steeled gaze never wavered. Slowly, deliberately, she brought her fingers to his lips and traced their shape. She watched as he drew one of her fingertips into his mouth, sucking on it gently, before releasing it. The warm wetness of his mouth sent shivers coursing through her. Her breathing quickened and a small sound escaped her lips. Her heart pounded in her chest. She ran her fingers down his chin, his neck, to his chest, lightly brushing over the hard muscles. Gently but firmly, she pushed him down on his back. He went easily, without protest. She leaned over him, her hand on his chest for support. Her long hair tumbled down around them, curtaining them off from the world. His chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing. Leaving one knee next to his hip, she put the other one between his legs, and looked down into his eyes. Lowering herself further, she brushed her lips against his, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. Legolas� hand came up to rest on the small of her back, stroking in little circles. Continuing to support herself with one hand on his chest, she brought her other hand to the side of his face, caressing it, and ran her fingers along the edge of his ear, rubbing the pointed tip between her thumb and forefinger. He sucked in his breath and she felt his muscles tense beneath her. Feeling strangely emboldened, she said breathlessly, �Do you like to be touched there?�

   He nodded and whispered, �They are...� he searched for the word, �sensitive. It would be the same as if I touched you...here.� He cupped her breast and lightly rubbed the pad of his thumb back and forth over her nipple through the fabric of her dress. Her breath caught in her throat and she pressed herself into his hand. Bolder still, she bent down, leaning on one elbow and drew the tip of his ear into her mouth, dragging her tongue across it. Legolas slid his hands into her hair, tightening them into fists, and uttered a small, quiet moan. His chest heaved against her hand. He gently pulled her head up and brought her lips to his, kissing her deeply. All reason was leaving her. She was losing herself to him.

   �A warrior I may be but I am powerless under your touch.� He whispered against her lips. His words sent a bolt of white heat through her very core, melting her from the inside out. He kissed her again, long and lingering, tasting every part of her mouth with his tongue. Every nerve in her body was tingling, electrified, and the sensation was unmistakable this time. It was the magnetism of their f�ar drawing them together. Reluctantly, she slowed their kiss, pulling further and further away each time their lips touched. Then, with one last brush of her lips against his, she pushed herself away from him and sat down beside him on the bed. Trying to compose herself, she cleared her throat and ran a hand through her hair. �Um, I think I should probably get ready for bed.�

   Legolas sat up slowly, his eyes still a bit glazed over from the heat of their passion. His rapid breaths passed silently through his slightly parted lips.

   �Yes, it would be best if we both retired for the night.�
   Legolas waited for Jordan to change into her sleeping gown and tucked her into bed, giving her a chaste kiss on the forehead before returning to his room. He quickly undressed and as he sank into the soft comfort of the down-filled mattress, he smiled to himself in the knowledge that each new day would bring them closer together. Every day that passed, her trust in him would grow and the hurts of the past replaced with love. Soon, she would be ready. Soon, he would ask her to marry him.
   Jordan lay on her back looking around the room, peering into the inky darkness. Though she could barely discern any feature in the room, she did not need to. She knew it well. It had been her home for the last few months. It should seem strange. It was not textured and painted sheetrock with windows of glass; it was not concrete and steel. It was stone. A whole city built of stone, the likes of which she could never have envisioned in her wildest imaginings. It should seem strange, but it did not. If someone had told her that one day she would dine with kings and queens, drink wine with a wizard, and fall in love with a prince, as a doctor, it would have been her responsibility to have them committed, but yet here she was. It wasn�t some absurd notion, it was her life now and she found herself willing to embrace it, all of it. Yes, she lived in a world without modern comforts�electricity, running water, motorized transportation�a fate that would have seemed intolerable only a year ago�but to her surprise, those things didn�t seem so important anymore. She found someone who would love and cherish her, protect her, and above all remain true. How or where they lived seemed insignificant as long as they were together. To say that life was strange was an understatement. Life was strange, beautiful, exhilarating, terrifying all at the same time. Jordan curled up on her side bunching the blanket up in a ball underneath her chin. The large bed she lay in was empty and lonely and she missed the comfort of Legolas� arms around her. She was a little saddened that they could not continue to sleep in the same bed. It was just too difficult to control their desires,when the bond they shared intensified those desires, but their hearts belonged to each other and it was enough for now. As she drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts were of the future and of the day when they could finally be together and she smiled to herself in the dark.

   Elven translations:

      F�a: Soul/spirit

      F�ar: (pl) Souls/spirits

      Hr�a: Body (no known plural form)

      Veryala Joining

      F�averyala: Joining of the soul

      Hr�averyala: Joining of the body
A/N: A note on the origins of the Elvish phrases: F�averyala and Hr�averyala.
I am aware that Elves of the Second and Third Age (Legolas included) spoke Sindarin. Usually, I prefer to remain historically and canonically accurate whenever I can, however, in this case it was not possible. There are no terms in Sindarin or Quenya that wholly fit the definition, so it was necessary to create my own compound words. I experimented with a few combinations of Sindarin words but the results were less than appealing, so I chose to use Quenya partly because most readers are already familiar with the words f�a and hr�a and partly because the words I was able to create seemed a little more believable than their Sindarin equivalents.
�Verya� is a verb that means �to marry� or �to join�. I think it is more often used when talking about marriage, but it was the only word I could find that fit the definition of 'join' or 'joining� in regards to people. The suffix �la� is the equivalent of the English �ing�.
Source: Ardalambion
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Love's Redemption