Chapter Fourteen

Renewed

I didn't even know I had been dreaming...or that I had even fallen asleep until Mirlaic had gently shaken me awake. "Time to get up iell, the sun had long since risen."

I opened my eyes, blinking the sleep from them and looking up at her. She was smiling gently at me, her hand caressed my brow.

"Is it so late?" I asked her, glancing at the window, sitting up, and noting the brightness outside with dismay.

"Yes my child, I let you sleep though. You've had quite the night."

I stared at her in confusion for a few moments before understanding (and recollection) slowly seeped back into my mind. "The festival..." I said, blinking again, I glance around the room. "How did I...?"

"You fell asleep, Faerlain brought you home." Wishing I had been awake when he had done so made me redden suddenly, so I instead occupied myself with stretching so Mirlaic could not see my crimson features. It was then also I noticed I was still wearing that beautiful dress he had given me.

"I made something for you to eat." Mirlaic said, walking to the door. "Get dressed and then come and get it." She said, then she walked out and softly closed the door. I pushed the blankets off my legs slowly and slid my legs of the bed onto the floor. Rising, I exchanged my dress for a simpler one and quickly braided my hair. I folded the blue/green dress up lovingly and placed it in my chest at the foot of my bed. I would treasure it always. But...where was the crown? I glanced around the room for signs of it and spied it on the night table nest to the bed. I walked over and picked it up carefully. It was then I noticed two things, a picture I had dreamily sketched of Fearlain and a note written in his hand. I picked up the note and put the crown atop the dress. Then stood still as I read,

Dearest Victoria,

I trust you slept well? You did not last past one in the morning so I took you home. I had a wonderful evening last night Victoria. Will you meet me today at our old meeting place by the sream?

Sincerely,

Faerlain

The note was written in Tenqwar which only made me more pleased upon reading it. I smiled and folded it up and slipped it into the right pocket of my apron. Of course I would go to him by the stream. How could I not? Ever since he had come back I never wanted to leave him. What this was love was like? I shook my head in reply to this question. No, it couldn't be. For one thing still plagued me always, how could Faerlain ever love me?

"I'm glad you came." He said, half running over to me from his former stance by the tree as I entered the clearing.

"Of course I came." I smiled up at him as he stood before me. "I wanted to thank you...for everything."

"Everything?"

"Yes, for the dress, the dances, the moon that shone so brightly, for the gentle breeze..."

"I didn't do all that surely." He said teasingly.

"Maybe not, be it seemed like it."

He grinned.

"It meant a lot to me Faerlain."

He took my hand, still smiling. "Come."

I didn't argue as he led me over to the tree. He stopped and turned so that we were facing each other. He took both my hands in his, "I need to say something Victoria. Something that had prodded my mind since the day I met you."

I smiled, but my heart had begun to race wildly. He was searching my eyes deeply, and I wanted to open my soul to him. I would have told him anything...anything he wanted to know. He had only to ask.

"You know...you know I would never...hurt you...?"

I blinked, what was he trying to tell me."Yes...I know that."

"You know that I would protect you always?"

"Yes Faerlain, I do."

He nodded, closed his eyes for a moment, sighing. "Then let me say this Victoria." He was now searching my eyes again, and I felt lost in them. He was so close to me, I could feel his warmth, his touch, his presence.

"I love you."

That's when I froze. I thought for a second I was going to pass out. I wanted to say, "What?" But nothing came out.

"I have loved you every moment of every day since I met you. Every hour, every second. Every day of every year. You haunt my thoughts and my dreams. I tried to ignore these feelings because I didn't want to hurt you. I never want to hurt you." He gently caressed my cheek. "I thought I would die when I was parted from you. When we fought, I could think only of you. You were everywhere." He was breathless, his eyes flaring with passion.

And well, I was dumbfounded. Stupid mouth, no words would come out! I stared with a blank expression on my face, blinking. He loved me. He loved me. He pulled me closer, slipping his arms around my waist, I did not resist him. I melted into him.

"Please Victoria, tell me I am not alone."

I looked up at him, still staring. I could find no words, they all seemed jumbled into a blur of nothingness. All of them meaning the same thing. I love you too. I love you too. I love you too. I managed a smile and whispered, "I love you too."

The smile on his face grew until I was sure it was touching the tips of both his pointed ears. He hesitantly lowered his head, asking me wordlessly.

YES! YES! YES! No objection here!

I closed my eyes, I could feel his hands on my back, on my waist. Mine had reached up around his broad shoulders. Our lips met in a fury of passion. We were one together. I never wanted to let him go. That was the way I had always wanted to be kissed. And we kissed. Oh yes, we kissed.

"Your turn." Faerlain said softly to me.

"Well, I like the way you smile when your pleased with something."

"When I'm pleased with something?" He asked me, I tilted my head up to look at him. We were both leaning against the tree. Well... he was against the tree. I was against him. And how I loved it.

"Yes." I replied.

"Like this?" He gave me that smile I loved so much and I nodded.

"Yep. That's the one. You looked at me when I saw you at the festival."

"I know. I couldn't help it. You looked beautiful, the Star-Flowers of Gilloth pale in comparison."

I giggled that sissy girly giggle that always used to annoy me so much. And then I snuggled deeper into his chest as he tightened his arms around my body. How long had we been there? I didn't know, I wished we could go on living forever like that. Forever. I frowned, forever was an awfully long time.

"Faerlain?"

"Yes a'mealamin?" (my beloved)

"When you went away last time...you left me a letter." He waited silently for me to continue. "The Tale of Luthien and Beren... how does it end?"

He was silent after this question as well. Then he sighed, "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes, I do."

"After Beren was killed in his quest to save Thingol's kingdom. He was brought back in honor and died before Luthien Tinuviel could say good-bye. She traveled to the Halls of Mandos in deep sorrow. Mandos, Lord of the Dead and keeper of the gift to mortals saw her and wished to know why she had come. She requested to be allowed only to say good-bye to Beren, telling him of her woeful tale. Mandos said yes and asked her to sing for him in return. When she finished, Mandos was so enraptured by Luthien, that he told her she could choose one of two things. To live forever in the company of the Valar in paradise, or to have the chance at a second life with Beren. To become mortal and to die at the end of her long years."

Faerlain paused, and I looked up at him. His eyes were facing towards the woods with a faraway look in them.

"What did she choose?"

"Luthien sacrificed her immortality for Beren. She lived with him and died with him."

I was silent after this. She lived with him, and she died with him. "Faerlian...what about...us?"

He was silent for a moment more, then looked down at me sadly. "I love you Victoria. I wish to be always with you. I would too sacrifice my immortality to do this. I would do it Victoria, if only I know how."

He sounded heartbroken, and in an instant I had pushed off of him and kissed him before he could utter another syllable. I stopped, resting on his chest and looking into his face. "I know my years are short compared to yours." I said, "It is your decision in the end, but I love you more then anything in the world. Yes, even Talorta comes second to you. I know a trip to the Halls of Mandos is probably difficult to procure, but I am with you now. And now is all that matters." He avoided my gaze and I hovered above his lips, brushing them gently and luring him back to me. We kissed again, and I could feel his sorrow as he did so.

"I love you Victoria."

"I know." I said, I rested on him again and took his hand as I heard him sigh.

"We'll make this work."

"I know."

"How do you know?"

"Because I love you, and you love me."

He wrapped his arms around me and I closed my eyes. Please don't hurt him, whoever the heck created this Elf, never hurt him. I prayed silently. "Love is a powerful word Faerlian." I said softly. "And I love you."

So...did I get any smiles:) This was a HAPPY chapter. And all my readers know how rare those are. :) I will try to update again soon, but I'm not making any promises... reviews are helpful for my ego:)

Thanks to Kiann, my beta, and to all my reviewers!

Namarie,

Luthien Anaclime

TO BE CONTINUED...