Chapter 14

One touch sparks you the bond. Two,your love you will miss.

Three, your hearts will grow fond. Four, fire bonds with a kiss.

(an Elvish poem, poorly translated to the Common tongue.)

Elei woke to a knock on her door. "Elei," called a voice. She struggled to open her eyes. Her head felt heavy. The door opened and her aunt's voice came again. "Eleirien? Are you here, dear?" Elei sat up, head aching, and called "Yes, Aunt." Meril came into the room and looked her over. Elei had one hand on her aching head as she squinted at her aunt. "Oh, dear, are you feeling poorly? I do hope you haven't caught Alagos's fever." she said.

Elei thought groggily about what she had done before her nap. Tea? Was it the tea? "Aunt, may I have some tea?" she asked, "The same kind Mari brought me earlier?"

Meril gave her a puzzled look. "Why, yes, dear." She bustled out, saying to herself "The same kind? We don't have but one kind of tea..." as she went out.

"If the tea made me sleepy, it will happen again." Elei said to herself. "Best to find out. Alagos got sleepy, too!" She shook her foggy head and went to the washstand to bathe her face. She looked out the window, again admiring the remaining red oak leaves. Her mind wandered, wondering what the Wood Elves were doing since they left Combe.

Meril came back in with the tea and some snacks. She looked Elei over where she sat at the table, placing her hand on Elei's forehead. "No fever." she announced. "That's a relief. Well, see if tea helps, dear. My boys are asking after you. Do ring if you feel up to visiting." Elei sipped at her tea for a few minutes. Noticing no returning grogginess, she rang the bell. To her surprise, Alagos came in accompanied by Talagand. Tal looked concerned at how groggy Alagos seemed, as he helped him into his chair.

Tal sat, too, asking "Is there enough tea for us to join you?"

Elei waved her hand at the heaped pile of fruit, bread, cheese and pastries on the table. "I think there might be." she laughed. "Aunt Meril must have asked Mari to bring me up a little snack."

Alagos smiled, "Looks like lunch, or maybe Mother said we were coming." He elbowed Tal, whose mouth was already stuffed with bread and cheese.

"I was so sleepy, I wondered if 'twas from the tea," said Elei, "So I had some more, but so far 'tis waking me up as it should."

"I will have some, then." said Alagos. He reached towards the teapot, but his hand shook.

Elei quickly said "I will pour." and picked it up for him. She poured his cupful then searched his face, seeing a strained look around his eyes and mouth. "Are you feeling well, Alagos?" she asked.

He carefully raised his cup with both hands and sipped before he answered. "I am feeling a bit uneasy again, today." he said. "'Tis a sense of something threatening again. I know not what, but it feels like the last time the Black Riders were in the area...only not as strong, this time."

"Maybe they are not as close to us," said Talagand, before taking another bite.

Elei stood hands on hips, and said "Set your leg up on the chair next to you." Alagos raised his eyebrows but did as she asked. "Does it pain you?" she asked as she carefully pushed up the leg of his braes to expose the scar.

He grimaced. "Yes, it does, right at the deep spot." Elei laid her fingertips over the red area and closed her eyes, reaching out mentally. She concentrated, frowning for a moment, then her expression cleared. Alagos sighed as she lifted her hand. She braced herself on the table and chair as she sat heavily. Alagos bent to cover his leg, then said "Thank you, Elei. That feels better again."

Tal watched them closely, saying "Have some tea, Elei." as he poured her another cupful. "What did you sense?' asked Tal, as Elei drank deeply.

"A threatening feeling," she said, "but less this time, the icy chill is barely present, as if far away."

Alagos nodded his agreement, then said "Oh, Elei, I recalled that bit about elves... 'Twas a little poem the Rangers told me as a child, when we went to Dale: 'One: Touch sparks you the bond. Two: Your love you will miss. Three: Your hearts will grow fond. Four: Fire bonds with a kiss.' Sounds silly in Common speech...I'd bet it sounds impressive in Elvish."

"How romantic," said Tal, grinning to see Elei squirming as they both stared at her, "But it has more to it." They both looked at him expectantly. He tapped his temple, thinking. "Seems I heard of it at an elven wedding ceremony. There were three ritualistic elements to it..." He scowled in concentration. "Let me think...Oh, yes, I thought 'twas strange." Elei tapped her hand impatiently on the table until he went on. "The couple did not touch at all. They held hands through some kind of cloth, and then at one point, they finally touched hands for a moment. They both had such heartbroken looks on their faces, after pulling their hands away, that I wondered what was wrong. Then later, they touched hands again for a second, and I saw their faces shining with love."

"And the third?" asked Alagos urgently.

Tal hesitated, glancing at Elei, before he said, "The third was at the end of the ceremony. We all escorted the couple to the open door of their bridal chamber. They stepped inside, and then everyone cheered as they kissed. Then the chamber doors were shut on them, and we all went back to the party." He took a deep breath, and looked up at them. " See, the second and third lines fit into the ritual, 'Your love you will miss', after their hands touched, and 'Your hearts will grow fond'. "

"I see." said Elei.

"And the final touch?" growled Alagos. Elei looked up at his tone, alarmed. Tal met his brother's gaze unflinchingly as he said, "The last, the kiss, they did not pull apart."

"Understandable," said Elei, puzzled at her cousins' concerned expressions, "they were just married."

"Yes," said Alagos, his voice still a low growl, "But I think 'twas more than just the hunger of newlyweds. I fear they could not break away."

Elei laughed. "Elves? With all their wisdom, and centuries of life?" But her smile faded at Alagos's scowl.

He said, "Yes, elves. 'Tis some kind of magic, perhaps, having to do with them. They have to be very careful, it seems they have no choice in the matter once they find their life-mate."

Tal broke in. "But evidently that applies only to that bond...Like the bond Elei's parents shared, where they could exchange thoughts."

"Yes," said Alagos, and his scowl faded. "If a couple were as well suited as they were, 'twould be no bad thing." He smiled at Elei.

Tal said, "But 'twould be difficult, not even to touch, until you knew you could be wed in time!"

"Yes," said Alagos, "If one is honorable enough to have such self-control."

"I wonder if elves have a lot of hasty weddings?" said Tal, grinning.

Alagos raised his eyebrows. "Maybe Wood Elves do." he said. "The older elves do nothing in haste, that they are not certain of."

"But after you live a few hundred years, you may be certain more easily." said Tal.

"I hope 'tis so." said Alagos. "Did you know that Caradorn's companions are very young, for elves?"

"No!" said Tal. "Do you mean Luinur?"

"Not he, the others," said Alagos. "Though he and Caradorn are not so old, either. But the others are apparently young hotheads, barely adults."

"That may explain it." said Elei.

"What?" asked Talagand.

"The older elves at Fornost seemed scornful or mistrustful of them." said Elei.

"Yes, and they look upon Wood Elves as being less wise, in any case." said Alagos. "Now, Elei, eat something. You still have not joined us in partaking of this excellent hobbit snack."

Elei laughed. "Very well, then, I shall have a snack for lunch!" She piled her plate with food and began eating. As she ate her cousins talked.

"Elei, we need to equip you better," said Tal, "in case you come out with us for a few days, or if anything comes up while you're on watch."

"Yes, I have been packing a kit with tea, lithuilenn, and bandages." said Elei.

"I was thinking more along the line of weapons," said Tal. Alagos nodded his agreement.

Elei said "I have my short sword and daggers."

"Good." said Alagos. "Do you have a shield here?" She shook her head. "Any armored clothing?"

"My leather jerkin." she said. "'Tis hard leather."

Her cousins exchanged a look. "Well," said Tal, "we shall have to see what we can find." Alagos nodded. Elei narrowed her eyes at their solemn expressions.

"I have sparred with my brothers, you know." she said. "And, I prefer to avoid combat if I can, but I can hold my own in a pinch. Even my father says so."

"Your courage and fighting skills we doubt not." said Alagos.

"But we would spare you the grief of a wound like Alagos's." said Tal.

"We expect more foes from the south." said Alagos. Elei nodded.

Tal said "Elei, we put you on early watch today. I will go with you."