I will be glad when all of this excitement is over. I do not understand why this whole town seems overjoyed about this wedding. I see it as a simple, private thing. Each being in this town seems to wish to take part in the now rushed preparations. My betrothed seems to take great pleasure in reminding me that this "was all your idea." The one who is the most excited for the bonding ceremony is my sister. It seems that each day she has found five gowns for me to try on, and another set of jewels. I do understand that this is a time of great joy for the people. For I have learned that Glorfindel and I shall be the first pair to bond in nearly three thousand years. All seem hopeful that children from our union shall be soon to follow. He and I have spoken of this, of children. He and I have chosen to ask for a child on the night of our bonding ceremony. I do hope that he and I are worthy of such a gift. I wish for a golden-haired son, while my betrothed wishes for a daughter. It does not truly matter to me, for together Glorfindel will rebuild the House of the Golden Flower. A task that I know is not to be taken lightly, and never spoken of outside of our own chambers.


Six more days. It is hard for me to believe that such a thing is to happen in only six more days. Only a year ago I was ready to find myself a horse and leave this town, never to return. But now, the thought of leaving him behind...I can hardly bear to think of it. I doubt that I shall ever leave this place. It no longer saddens me. If he and I are blessed with a child, this is the only place I would ever wish to raise him or her. This day, I have spent in the rooms of the jewel master. Together we selected two pieces that shall be worn by my betrothed. All that there is for me to do now is to select a gown. Time and time again I have asked my betrothed his opinion as I try on gowns in our rooms, and each time he tells me, "It does not matter to me what you wear." he says. "All that matters on that day is you and I."

I then took his hand and said, "Six more days. Can you believe it?"

"No."

"It seems as though only yesterday that I was speaking my first words." I say.

"Ah, I remember that day well. You came into my rooms and in the sweetest voice I ever heard said to me, 'Glorfindel, will you take me riding today?' Do you remember?"

I smiled over at him and leaned my head against his shoulder, "I do. You placed me atop your horse and led me through the trails." I said. "Thank you, for everything. For my life." We then shared a kiss, and as it grew deeper with love and desire, I pulled myself away from him. "Six days."

Resting his forehead against mine he repeated, "Six days."

For a few moments all is silent, "What is it duath?"

"Kalia...please listen to me, and try to contain your rage until after I have spoken." In this moment, I believe that he is to tell me that he has changed his mind, that he longer wishes to bond with me. "I have arranged for you to go to the land of your mother."

I felt joy mingled with relief. I smiled and kissed him just beneath his eye, "When do we leave?" I asked.

"You leave two days after we have wed." he said.

I gasped in shock, "No! I will not!"

"Kalia..."

"No. I cannot go alone. It is not safe."

"The mount I have selected for you will keep you safe. She knows the way."

"And what if I conceive o the night of our wedding? Shall I still be sent away? You know that it is not safe for mother and child to be parted from the father!"

"Kalia, do not fear being parted from my side. For I have spoken my heart to the creators, and by their will I shall be able to see you as you journey to the land of your mother. I will be with you." he says, taking my hands in his. "You must do this."

"I must?"

"Yes. For it will strengthen our bond." he said. He then placed a hand upon my stomach. "And should we create a child on the night of our bonding, I could think of no better gift for you, than allowing you to leave for the Greenwood."

"I am frightened." I say, looking up at him. "I do not wish to leave you."

"All will be well. Come, let us bathe together. It shall calm us both." he said, leading me towards our bathing chamber.

"No. It shall create too great a temptation for us, you know this."

Glorfindel sighed, "Very well. I suppose you are right." he said, "try on another dress, then."

I then push him playfully away and walked towards the bed. I drifted my hand over my bed, in search of a gown that I had yet to try on. "Oh. This one is different. It is a color that I do not know, and the fabric, I have never felt it before."

Glorfindel laughed, "It is a new fabric, the merchant told me that it was a softer type fo silk. He called the color of the fabric, 'coral'. "

"It feels beautiful. Could you help me?" I ask.
With the help of my betrothed, I eased the gown over my head. As I stood and grew accustomed to the feel of the fabric against my skin, I felt as though I were a beauty worthy of praise. "Does it look well?" I ask.

"Beautiful. You are a vision. " he said as she placed a loving hand upon my bare shoulder. "This fits you well."

I do not like to sound vain, but truly I feel as though I am truly perfect and beautiful in this garment. I think it must be the lack of sleeves that makes me feel so beautiful and free. The coral fabric begins two inches below my collarbone, the rest of the dress flowed freely down my body as water flows over rock. There is no weight to this gown, for the fabric was so very thin and light. "You drew the design, did you not?" I ask.

Glorfindel nodded, "I did." he said, "I designed it to suit the hairpiece that your father intends to give you."

"How is he, truly?" I ask. I have not seen or spoken to my father in many days. I believe that the thought of one he considers his "child" becoming a wife and mother has caused him to feel some form of pain. I hope that he shall come to me before the ceremony, for I do long to speak with him. "He is well. Busy with the preparations of course. I fear that he still sees you only as the child of a being that he once loved, he will understand soon that you are no longer a child."

In that moment, I understood all. 'The being that he once loved.'. This why I remained here, in his House for so long. My father had once had a love for my mother, Glineth. His love for her must fill him with shame, regret, and deep sadness, for he has a wife living in the Undying Lands. "He sees her in me."

Glorfindel nodded, "Yes. You embody one of the happiest times in his life, Kalia. You are a precious reminder of that love."

"Poor ada." I say.


I now sit in my chambers, waiting for the arrival of my father. He is to escort me to the hidden meadow, where I shall wed Glorfindel.

I do not know where I am to begin.

My father entered my rooms quietly and stood behind me. "Kalia." he said.

I stood and walked into his embrace. "Father!" I say, as tears formed in my eyes.

"Do not weep, this is the happiest of days." he says, kissing the top of my head.

"Are you happy for me, father?" I ask, "Truly?"

"I admit that I wish that you and your intended would have waited another fifty years to wed, but I can see now that this bond must be." he says. "Come, I have something for you."

"Father, you did not have to..." I say, as he removes a parcel from his robe-pocket. "Here."

"Oh, it is heavy." I say, as he places his gift in my hand. "It is beautiful!"

My father gifted to me a hair piece that was to be worn on this night. It is made of gold, and upon it rest two small roses, the color of my dress. "Will you put it in my hair for me?" I ask as I pull my hair into the messy pile that Glorfindel so adored.

"Of course. It goes on the side of your-you shall see." he said. "I had forgotten how beautiful the color of your hair is."

Once he has finished placing the hair piece in my hair, I run my fingers along its design. "Oh, this is perfect." I say, as my fingers trail over curled vine that rests upon my forehead. "Thank you."

"It is time, Kalia." my fathers says, holding out his arm to me. Arm in arm we walk the now familiar path to the Hidden Meadow.

As I hear the voices of my family, I can feel my heartbeat being to quicken. "How many are here, father?" I ask nervously.

"Only your family, my child." he answers.

"Thank you." I whisper as my grip on his arm tightens.

We then walked into the meadow, and as we neared the party I hear the gentle sound of a harp being played. I also heard Glorfindel rise, and as he stood before my father and I, I heard my father trying to hold back his tears. "My Lord Elrond." he said, bowing. My father then placed my hand in the hand of Glorfindel's, and together we sat upon the grass to begin the bonding feast. "I have a gift for you." Glorfindel said, "Harpist, come to us, please."

"My Lord." the harpist said. "My Lady." I then felt the harpist kneel beside me. "You look just like her."

"Reach out to him, Kalia, touch his face." Glorfindel said.

I trailed my fingers over the face of the harpist. The face, it is known to me. There is something familiar about him, but I could not place it. "I have heard tales of your beauty from my father, our father." he said.

Then, I knew. "You are...he is...brother!?" I say.

He took my hand, and placed upon it a kiss. "Yes, I am. Our mother, Glineth. I had no knowledge of your existence for many years...I wish that I had come here sooner."

"What is your name?" I ask, as my eyes fill with tears.

"Lindir, my sister." he said. "My wife Viola and I would like to continue playing music for you this night, if you wish it of course."

"Yes, of course. Please...I...will you stay here, in Rivendell?" I ask as he rises, his golden harp in hand.

"We shall." Lindir says as he walked back towards his waiting wife.

"Thank you, thank you, oh Glorfindel, thank you." I say, kissing his cheek.

He said nothing, only took my hand and smiled. We feasted for an hour before I heard the sound of my brothers and sister begin to dance along to the merry tune that Viola and Lindir had written for this night, and as they returned to their seats my father tapped me gently on the arm and said, "It is time."

"Already?!" I exclaim. "I am still..."

"Do not be nervous, child." My father says, helping me rise on to my feet. "I shall stand as father to you both."

Glorfindel and I stood facing each other, our hands joined.

"Glorfindel, Lord of the House of the Golden Flower, I Elrond of Rivendell, father of Kalia present you with this gem." says my father, standing behind Glorfindel. He then placed around his neck a golden chain and from it hung a gem of yellow, that I hoped served as a representation of his crest. When I selected it, it to me shone like the sun, just as his hair. As my father swept around him, they each bowed once to each other. My father then stood behind me, and said: "Kalia Útíradien, my beloved daughter, I present you with this gem. My father then placed about my neck a long chain of mithril and from it hung a charm in the shape of a spider. I gently trailed my finger over its body, it too was made from mithril.
Glorfindel and I then stepped closer to each other, to receive the blessing of my father. "May Varda the Star-kindler hear Kalia and Glorfindel's prayers, and may Eru father of All bless them." It was then I heard my duath begin to cry, I longed to reach out and and wipe the tears from hs face, but it was then that my father spoke again. " May Manwë Lord of winter watch over Glorfindel and Kalia, and may Eru the father of all bless them."
It was then that Glorfindel and I each removed our rings of betrothal and placed them into the waiting hand of my father. I did not wish to remove the ring, but I was eager to hold to tradition, and please my father. "You may now exchange rings and speak your vows to each other." my father said.

Glorfindel was the first to speak, "Kalia, I believe that each being on this Earth has a purpose. My first life was given in defense of all that I held dear. I believe that I was sent back to this Earth for this, for you. With this ring," he says as he places a ring of silver upon my forefinger, "I bind myself to you."

In this moment, I do not know what to say. I stood in silence trying to quickly put all of what I felt into a few simple words. "My friend, my mentor, my duath...I know not the words to say, but know this I shall love you until the changing of the world, and always I will seek to prove myself worthy of your love." I say as I take his right in mine, I then place a ring of silver upon his forefinger and say, "With this ring, I bind myself to you."

"So, it is done." my father said.

Glorfindel and I then kissed each other to the cheering of my family. "My husband." I whisper as I rested my head upon his shoulder.

"My wife." he said, "Let us dance."

My husband, father, and three brothers each took turns awkwardly dancing with me upon the grass. It was truly a magical time for us all. Never have I felt such happiness. Another hour of feasting passed before my father stood and said, "Come my children, it is time for us to return to our homes."


"Walk with me." Glorfindel, with a note of nervousness in his voice. He and I then walked for a few moments, our hands joined together. "We're here." he says.

"We have not gone very far, have we?" I ask.

"No. We walked in a circle, dear wife." he said, "Here, sit yourself down upon the grass."
My husband then helped me as I eased myself down upon a bed of the softest grass and golden flowers. "I enjoy your hair this way." he said, as he brushed a stray lock from my face with his hand.

"I wore it this way for you." I say as he runs his fingers along my hairpiece.

"The roses suit you." he said.

I know that like me, he si thinking of what must be done this night to forever seal our bond. "This hair piece, it is a nightmare, could you remove it for me?"

With a trembling hand, he removed my hairpiece. "Oh, it is heavy." he said, watching my brown hair tumble down to my waist. "Would you like a glass of wine?"

I shook my head, "No. I had enough at the feast."

"Do you mind if I..."

"Of course not." I say, knowing that another glass of wine may perhaps calm his nerves. As he sips at his wine slowly, I can feel his eyes lingering on me.

"We are husband and wife." I say, as I wrap my robe tighter around myself.

"My Lady, are you cold?" he asks, moving closer to me.

"There is a chill in the air." I say. "But it is pleasant."

"There are many stars out this night." he said, "they shine bright, for us."

Another few moments of awkward silence passed between us, as I rested my head upon his shoulder. "Are you well?" ask.

"Very. I have never felt happiness like this, Kalia." he said. "Do you want to rest?"

"You may if you'd like. I shall take no rest this night." I say, looking up at him.

He then removed my head from his shoulder, and could feel his eyes fixed upon my face. "Kalia." he said, as he brought his lips down upon mine. We each eased ourselves down on our backs, and we lay next to each other. Neither of us knew what we should be doing next. I had hoped that a being of his advanced age and wisdom would know more of such things.

"I think I shall go to my rest now, I...goodnight, ser." I say, disappointment clear in my voice.

"Kalia, don't...I am just as nervous and innocent as you." he says. "Has no one spoken you of this?"

"No. There are no bonded women that can speak to me of such things. I had hoped that love would be enough." I say, as I lay my head upon his chest.

"You love me? Truly?" he asks.

I had hoped that bonding this night with him would erase all of his doubt."Truly. I love you, you are my duath, my truest friend, my husband."

At last, I felt his hand moving with purpose down the length of my side, "Say it again, please."

"I love you." I say, my hand now resting upon the collar of his shirt. "I...may I?"

"Yes, please." he says, as with his help he and I removed his shirt. "Kalia."

"Be quiet." I laugh as with my hands on the back of his neck, I bring his lips to mine. With a sort of tender urgency, he parts my lips with his tongue. With my finger I began to touch the tip of his ear, and as we broke apart, I noticed that he held in his the skirt of my dress.

"I...turn, this needs to be removed." he says, as he tried to catch his breath.
Nervously, I turn on my side to allow him access to the laces that held my dress in place. In moments his skilled fingers loosened the ties. I then rose and stood before him. I pulled my dress down slowly, for I had hoped that seeing my body bare before him in the moonlight would make this more pleasurable for him. I do so long to please this great being. As my gown pooled in a silken pile at my feet, my husband rose, and with his strong arms, eased me back down on the bed of golden flowers. As he lay beside me, his lips find my neck, and my hands find his back. The familiar feeling of fire spread within me as his hand finds my thigh. "Kalia, this may pain you some," he whispers, as by his hand my trembling legs are opened. He then wove his ringed hand with mine, and positions himself above me. "I pray that by this act, we create new life." We then kissed once more, and it was a kiss like we have never shared before. It was full of fire, devotion, lust, and the deepest of loves. "Are you...?"

I nodded, and felt him at my entrance. "I love you." I whisper, as he gently eased himself inside of me. What I felt, I cannot explain. There was great pain, but I was able to instead focus on the love I felt for this being. As he moved within me, I felt our souls merge and become one. I know I must have cried out more than once for he stopped and asked me, "Are you well?" I nodded, and begged him to continue.

Then, the most glorious of things happened. As we each became consumed by pleasure and love, I felt as if a great white light surrounded my husband and I. As it grew brighter, I felt the light pierce through my eyes. I wish that I could see the face of my husband surrounded by this light, for he must have appeared as if he were not of this world. As our pleasure reached its climax, I could hear once more the music of the sunset, though I knew it to be night. I clung to my husbands back, and called out his name into the night.

He rested his weight upon me, and I soon felt his tears upon my skin. "Kalia." he whispered.

"My love." I say, stroking his hair of gold. "I..."

"I wish yu could have seen..."

I knew then that I had not imagined the light...I saw something, for the first time in my life. "The light, yes."

He eased himself from atop me, and lay himself by my side. "You saw?! Do you know what that was, Kalia?" he asked, "Our creators...they, our souls are now one. Our bond, they shall never allow it to be broken. We have been blessed this night."

He then gathers me into his arms, and I felt his hand upon my belly. As I drifted off to sleep, I heard him speaking in an ancient tongue.


I now sit at my writing desk, for tomorrow, I shall leave my home for the very time. I can sense my husband growing impatient, I have been at my desk for far too long.

"Come, bed wife. I wish to love you until the rising of the sun."


A/N:

Yes, this one was quite long. But I feel that it just had to be one longer chapter. I could not bear to break this up into two chapters. I do hope it was not too racy for anyone. Do you think that they created new life? If you were Kalia, would you leave for the Greenwood? As always, thanks for reading! -M