Long ago, before his uncle had made the shiny stones, he had been happy. Lovely Amarië of the Vanyar had finally responded to his eager courtship and admitted that yes, she did love him back. Not caring much neither for the Silmarils nor the issues between his uncles, he and Amarië had shared long seasons filled with playful fun, romantic interludes under shady trees and the joy of simply being together. That had been the best time of his life.

Filled with youthful eagerness and passion, Finrod had been eager to fulfill their bond in every way, but Amarië had hesitated, claiming they were still so young, and had their whole, eternal lives in front of them. She did not want to indulge in bodily pleasures until after their bonding ceremony. Finrod had obeyed her, but by then evil had come to Valinor and made its first kill - his grandfather Finwë. After that, everything happened so quickly. Oaths were taken and kin were slain - and suddenly his family were leaving for Middle Earth.

He had begged Amarië to come with him but to no avail; she was afraid of leaving her family, of leaving Valinor - and perhaps also afraid of a life with Finrod. His heart breaking, he had begged again - this time for the final gift from her, the proof of their bond - but again she refused him, and he had to set out on the long journey to Middle Earth without ever having felt the complete love of his beloved.

During all his long years in Middle Earth, he had remained true to her in his heart, and never took another spouse. When he finally died, killed by the wolf in the dungeons at Minas Tirith and awoke in the halls of Mandos, he knew that eventually he would meet Amarië again. For a long time he had lingered in those halls, until he grew impatient and approached Namo himself, asking for his release.

"I will do ANYTHING," he told Namo, "to meet Amarië again. To finally be with her and fulfill our union. I have waited for an age. No other elf has waited as long as I!"

"Are you absolutely certain you want that?" Namo had responded. "You never really bonded - never forged the final, physical bond. What if she does not see you as her mate?"

"But she must! I never took another spouse because I knew we would meet again. Certainly she must have felt the same way!" Finrod insisted.

Namo had shook his head in silence, but not been of much help. "Women are fickle," he finally said, "and you were apart for a very long while."

"Please, Lord Namo!" Finrod pleaded, not really listening to the Vala. "Just give me one night with her - one night in complete passion. Let me have everything I have forsaken for so long, and then be the judge in the morning. Certainly her heart will have turned to me by then. If not, you can hold me to my promise."

The Doomsman of the Valar had sat for a while, pondering this. Perhaps this improper eagerness could be turned into something useful. It had been far too long since he had been able to pull a prank on Manwë, but now he saw a chance.

"So you would do anything to have a night with Amarië?" he asked again, a tiny smile vibrating at the edge of his mouth. "ANYTHING?"

"Yes, yes, anything you ask. Absolutely anything. I have waited for an eternity, I CANNOT wait any longer! PLEASE!" Finrod was unrelenting.

Quietly chuckling to himself, Mandos had finally consented. Of course he knew that Amarië had found a Vanyar spouse only a year after Finrod's leave, but there was nothing that could not be circumvented with a little magic. A flicker of his hand, and Finrod had finally found himself in Amarië's embrace.

The golden-haired Noldo, famished for love and bursting with pent-up desire, had burst like a tidal wave on her gentle shores. Over and over again he had loved her, showered her with passion saved up during a whole lifetime of loss. The hours had fled but Finrod had been untiring, experiencing for the very first time how it was like to make love to a woman, and wanting to get as much as possible out of it. Finally, after many, many hours, both he and Amarië had fainted of fatigue. Content with the passion she had shown and the many sweet words of love she had whispered in his ear, Finrod slept in exhausted peace, certain that Namo would see that she still loved him, and let him stay with her.

Namo had watched the proceedings in his mirror, and looked smiling at the sleeping couple. Amarië had been passionate, no doubt about that, but what that annoying Noldo did not know, was that she had seen her own husband the entire night. In no way had she recognized Finrod - and she would never learn the truth of this night. Finrod had lost the bet, and now the Vala would have his fun. He flickered his hand again, and the sleeping Noldo disappeared from Valinor altogether. Mandos gave his mirror a wide grin. Now, let Manwë solve THIS puzzle!