so a lovely little review reminded me that i have been neglecting these two babies. my apologies for being easily distracted. real life has been a consistant pain in my ass lately. i hope this makes up for it. feel free to review and enjoy.

~oOo~

He stood outside and looked to the night sky. Much time had passed since he had last seen so many stars. He likened it to diamonds strewn across a dark blanket. Something stirred deep from within him, something he has not felt since, well, since …

He laughed softly and shook his head. He had no memory of the last time he had felt this, but to be fair he had no memory of the last time he had felt anything. But now, as he stood outside beneath the brilliance of the canopy above him, something gnawed from within. A longing. A pull on his fëa.

He closed his eyes.

He wore only denim jeans. No shirt or shoes. The air was crisp and the grass damp beneath his feet, but he did not feel it. Not in the way Men do.

For brief moment he could see his brothers' faces. He could hear his sister's laughter. He could feel the loving touch of his mother and the strong embrace of his father. The wind gently brushed at his hair and carried their voices in the air. Horses whinnied and nickered from somewhere behind him as images of his many cousins came to the fore. Images of riding through the wild or of laying upon white sand after swimming along the coast. Images of happier times before the bitterness and resentment took hold, before the darkness came.

A swell of emotion came upon him. Joy tinged with sadness and laughter mixed with tears.

He wasfelt homesick.

He eyes flicked open.

The sky was still dark but for the tiniest hint of light that began to turn the dark blue of night into the cool slate grey of morning. Aegnor frowned. Time is so fleeting. He had spent the entire night out here, standing alone in the dark. The strange sensations from the flood of feelings that coursed through him made him easily distracted, careless.

He turned and looked back at the dark cabin. He could understand why she came here. He could see how one could find peace here. It had been an age since Aegnor had come into the more wild places of the world. Mainly because there were so few left. But also due to the feelings that were dredged up when he did. The memories and need for home. It would be easy to lose oneself to the past here. Something he could not allow.

If he listened hard enough he could hear her breathing. The soft intake of breath followed by a slow exhale. If he listened hard enough he could hear the soft rustle of covers as she readjusted herself in her sleep, a small and slender arm stretching out as she unconsciously curls herself around a pillow.

His hands tightened into fists as his muscles tensed and he resisted every urge within him to go to her. And he longed to go to her. But in the end he did not go. He would not go even though she was softening to him again, her initial anger almost spent. If he pursued she would give herself to him which was why he did not pursue. There was too much that had to be told, too much that had to be brought forth out in the open before he could ever allow such a thing to happen. His cousin's voice drawled through his head.

"Do you enjoy making yourself miserable?"

Aegnor smiled to himself and released the tension with a long slow exhale of the breath he had been holding. He could just imagine Carnistir's glee as he pointed out Aegnor's misery. It irritated Aegnor to no end at just how easy it was to give Carnistir what he wanted as well. With a shake of his head he began to walk slowly around to the back of the cabin.

It was a strange fate that he should find his cousin after all this time. And not just any cousin, but this cousin. Carnistir Moryofinwë Fëanorion. The one, no, the only cousin he had everdespised most despised.. The irony was not lost to him.

Aegnor had never felt disagreeable to any of his other cousins, even though Carnistir's father had been quite the bone of contention for many in his extended family, his uncle had always had always been tolerable when around Aegnor's father, one might say his uncle was almost accepting of Aegnor's father at times. But accepting might be a bit of a stretch as Aegnor could never remember his uncle not addressing his father as his half-brother. And yet, despite the ever flowing under current of animosity of his elders, he had been quite close to two of Carnistir's brothers whom he often spent time hunting or traveling with, and had great respect for the eldest of Carnistir's brothers, finding them to be fair and far more reasonable than their father.

But Carnistir, Carnistir he had never liked. Always aloof and haughty and prone to outbursts and temper tantrums that could rival that of the most rotten child. He was vain and selfish and after the death of his father and the return and abdication of his brother, somethingan action that Aegnor had felt was a rightous action to take, Carnistir had seemed to become even colder and self-serving. Something Aegnor did not think could be possible. The final straw for Aegnor had been Carnistir's insolent display of contempt towards Thingol and his people after they had welcomed them. No, they had never gotten along and Aegnor had never been of a mind to try.

But now, there seemed to be some sort of bizarre camaraderie that was forming between them. The fact that Aegnor would even seek solace from Carnistir, and that Carnistir would even be willing to give it, would have seemed an impossibility in another age.

But then, finding Andreth again would have been thought to be impossible as well.

The light in the east began to illuminate the cabin and surrounding woods in the cool damp colors of morning.

A noise pulled Aegnor's attention and he turned to see two large dark eyes staring at him from the shadows. Lost in his thoughts he had walked passed the house and now stood next to the small penned in shelter where the horses were stabled. He walked to the fence and smiled.

"Coiva tambë mai?" he said as he leaned against the fence and held out a hand to the tall bay.

The bay for his part simply gave a little huff and sauntered over, leaning his head over the fence to rest it on Aegnor's shoulder.

"Victor savin?" he said with a soft laugh as he scratched the bay under the chin. "Inyë Aikanáro."

A tug at his shoulder turned him slightly to see Andrea's grey mare sticking her nose out for attention. Aegnor laughed.

"Yes, yes, nícenlyë."

The horses watched Aegnor with large bright eyes as he spoke, each giving a little huff with a shake of their head. Aegnor could not be certain as to whether or not his words were understood. But it seemed to him that there was some sort of recognition there.

He had often wondered just how much from the old world remained. While Men had claimed dominion and watered down the events of ages with myths and legends of their own, there were times when Aegnor thought he could catch remnants of the past. Usually in the most isolated areas of the world. There were tribes in the mountains of Mongolia and Siberia that still hunted with eagles. A thing that many of the tribes of Men from the North and the Far East had learned during Aegnor's time in the first age. There were tribes of Men in the Middle East in the mountains of Musandam that carried long handled axes called a jerz. A thing another tribe of Men in Aegnor's time carried, although they were scattered and leaderless when he last walked the land. The tradition of exchanging rings when promised or married was also continued from his peoples. The tradition of Walpurgis Night was an early celebration of Men as well. A ritual to ward off the servants of the dark. Carnistir had mentioned that Balrogs and other fell beasts still roam the land so why not some of the more noble. It could be that the eagles of the Far East were descendants of the Thornhoth, it could also be that there were descendants of Nahar or Rochallor in some of the bloodlines of horses today.

"Mana equeldë meldenya," he said as he patted the great horse's neck, "cenasit caringwë omentië epë?"

The bay said nothing and gave Aegnor a slow blink. Aegnor laughed.

"Ui, citanlá," he chuckled. The horse's ears suddenly flicked up and to the right, brown eyes moving over and past Aegnor's shoulder. Aegnor followed the horse's gaze to see Andrea who suddenly let out a yelp as she turned and bolted through the back door of the cabin.

Andrea awoke to the quiet crackle of the clock radio on the table next to her bed. With a slow stretch she reached over and slapped the snooze button on the top. She lay there, half on her side, half on her stomach, arm hanging over the side of the bed, staring at the window. It was still dark. She rolled back over with another stretch till her arm flopped down on the other side of the bed and she lay on her back staring at the ceiling. She held still and listened for any sound from inside the house and heard nothing.

He must still be sleeping, she thought. Good.

She kicked off the covers and went into the small attached bathroom for a quick shower.

After leaving Agner on the porch, Andrea had gone into the kitchen briefly to gather what they would need and then made her way to her room. She had already set aside most of the supplies and knew she would wake up a little earlier in the morning for the rest.

Being here with him was not what she had expected. She had thought that by bringing him here and getting out of the city, she could gain some footing again and get him out of his element at the same time.

But instead he seemed to become … intense? No, at peace? Bright maybe? One with the universe? Whatever the hell it was, he was definitely not off balance.

She, on the other hand, seemed to struggle even more. She did not want to be nice to him. Not yet anyway.

She decided to focus instead on the tasks at hand.

After getting out of the shower she slipped on the clothes she had set out the night before. Jeans with a t-shirt and a flannel over shirt. While the temperature was still warm in the afternoon, it could get a little chilly in the early hours of the morning and at night. She would layer accordingly. She pulled her hair back in a loose braid and slipped on her wool socks before heading downstairs. As she exited the room she looked over at Agner's door. It was closed and there was no light from beneath. He was still sleeping. She crept softly past his door and down the stairs. She did not want to wake him just yet. She wanted to get some breakfast started first and then load up the packs while he ate. It was a childish thing to do but she did not feel like being an adult just yet.

She walked into the kitchen and began to pull out a few items from the fridge. Eggs, bacon, butter and bread, the usual breakfast fare. She set the burner on low so it could warm up and began to prepare the eggs. She was not sure of how he preferred his eggs or if he even liked them. She had decided to go with over easy but when she cracked the egg a small piece of shell fell in them and after taking what felt like an eternity to fish it out she ended up with scrambled. With a sigh she moved on to the bacon, laying a few strips carefully down. As they began to sizzle she grabbed the coffee maker and began to prepare a pot when she remembered that she needed to feed the horses as well. She went to the door and slipped on a pair of rubber boots and pulled on a knit hat as she walked outside. It would only take five minutes. She would have them fed and be back in the kitchen in time to finish breakfast.

Andrea walked outside. The sun had not yet peeked over the horizon but she could hear the sharp chirps of thrush and warblers in the trees and knew it would not be long. She walked out to the trailer and grabbed a bucket from the back and walked quickly to around to the back of the cabin.

Only to come to a slow stop.

At first it was the surprise of seeing him. A shadowy figure next to the stables, singing softly. She had been sure he was still sleeping. He stood there, no shirt, no shoes, just a pair of jeans, leaning up against the horse pen as he scratched Vic under the chin. And he was singing to him? No wait, not singing. He was speaking, but not English. Something else, something … she did not quite recognize and yet seemed so familiar. The words, his voice seemed to float on the air and wrap around her. Something seemed to flutter around in the back of her mind. Something just out of sight and hiding in the peripheral. A memory? She grasped at it, but it remained just out of reach. Random thoughts suddenly came to her mind. Thoughts of her father, brother and sister. A vague memory of staring at the night sky with her mother. Memories of pouring over old manuscripts, and of campfires in the woods. She could almost smell the fire burning. No, she did smell the fire burning. Something is burning.

Breakfast!

Andrea spat out a curse as she spun around and ran through the backdoor and into the kitchen. Black smoke billowed from the room as she ran to the stove. She grabbed a dishtowel and quickly picked up the pan with the eggs and tossed it into the sink and turned on the water. It hissed angrily at Andrea as she turned around and grabbed the other pan with the black charred remains of the bacon and tossed that in the sink as well. Smoke and steam spewed forth from the sink as Andrea fanned the dishrag back and forth. She said a few more choice words under her breath as she began opening windows. A soft clearing of the throat came from the doorway behind her.

"Is there anything …"

His sentence trailed off into silence as he gave her a cautiously questioning look. He stood there, no shirt, no shoes, pants hanging loosely from his waist, his hair a tousled mess atop his head. Andrea thought she could see just a hint of those strange ears of his peeking out of the blonde waves. It was as if Michelangelo's David had decided to hop down from his pedestal and slip on some Levis. Maybe Michelangelo was not the artist to liken him to at the moment though, because when Andrea looked at him her mind went to something more on the Mapplethorpe level. She wanted to punch him in his perfect face and yet jump him all at the same time.

"No," she said, smiling through gritted teeth, "I am fine. I got this."

Andrea made a slow and controlled turn and made to leave the kitchen before realizing that she needed to go the other way. So she stopped again and made a second controlled turn and went to the back door where Agner stood. She marched over, head held high and eyes strictly front. Agner for his part said nothing. He simply stepped to the side so Andrea could pass.

Andrea walked out the door to the back and released the breath she had been holding while simultaneously snatching up the bucket she had discarded earlier. She stomped over to the stables and scooped feed into the bucket that she then poured into Vic's bag.

What was he doing up, she thought angrily. The sun had not yet come up in the horizon and there he was, wide awake and talking to the horses. He probably doesn't even sleep, she thought bitterly. She pushed the thoughts from her mind with a shake of her head. Why was she so bothered by this? So he gets up early? What is the big deal? She scooped up another bucket full of feed and dropped it in to Evy's bag next. This should not bother her but it did.

A nudge and a warm huff of breath from her right snapped her from her sullen reprieve and looked over to see Evy nosing her way into her feed bag. Andrea pursed her lips as she reached up and scratched the grey between the ears.

"Traitor," she whispered with a smirk.

Andrea sighed and headed back towards the cabin. There was no point in standing out here sulking, there was still things that needed to be done. She had packed food up in the necessary containers last night and had prepared the packs and tent but the horses had to be led into the trailer and they still had to check in at the ranger station. The sky was getting lighter by the minute and she wanted to be on the road before the sun was completely up. Breakfast would just have to wait.

Or at least so she thought.

Andrea walked through the back door of the cabin and into the kitchen to find a still shirtless Agner preparing breakfast. The pots had been cleaned and were back on the stove with bacon and eggs sizzling away inside them. He glanced over his shoulder at her and smiled.

"It seemed a shame to let this go to waste," he said as looked back down at the stove top. "I thought I could finish this for you while gathered the rest of what you packed last night in the jeep."

Agner flipped an egg and looked back over at Andrea who stood at the door staring. Agner paused, his head tilting slightly as he gave her a curious and somewhat cautious look.

"Or you could finish and I could pack? Whichever you prefer of course …"

Andrea just stood there for a moment before breaking out into a fit of giggles. She rubbed at her eyes with the palm of her hands before running her fingers through her hair and bringing them to a rest on her shoulders. She shook her head as she looked at the floor and laughed again.

"No," she chuckled with a shake of her head as she walked through the kitchen. "No, it's fine. I just … I … you just … go … whatever. I'm good."

Agner continued to stand very still as he watched Andrea walk across the floor and into the front room as she spoke.

"So I should load the car or finish making breakfast?" he called out after her.

"Yes," was all she shouted back.

It did not take Andrea very long to load the jeep. She had already packed most of what they would need. The food was carefully packed and stored in air tight containers to keep the unwanted scavenger away. She did a quick mental check as she put the bags in. Water purifier and filter, iodine tablets, flashlight, jackknife, water proof matches, whistle and first aid kit, sleeping bags and tent and so on. Once she was satisfied she pulled the jeep around to the back and parked it next to the trailer. She did a quick brush down and checking of hooves before loading Victor and Evy.

When she finally returned to the cabin she found breakfast prepared and Agner dressed, something she was particularly grateful for. Andrea ate everything in front of her. Not just because they would be riding the rest of the day but also because everything was just that good. She decided that since he was such a good cook and since he had cleaned the kitchen not once but twice now, she would let all this perfection slide … this time.

It was a short drive to the DEC station to check in. They would take the horses down the trail to the lake where they would camp the night and then return the next day. The ranger said the weather could not be better for the weekend and that the trail looked good for the horses. They went over the usual rules and regulations for camping and hiking but as Andrea had been here several times in the past the ranger was familiar with her and he moved through things quickly. It was not long before they were back outside, unloading the horses from the trailer.

"We'll leave the trailer and the jeep here," she called out as she urged Evy out of the trailer. "They'll be fine. I may need your help getting Vic out of the trailer. Just gimme a sec …"

Andrea took the lead rope from around Evy's neck and clipped it to the outside of the horse trailer. After she arranged the grey's bit and reigns she walked around to find Agner coming out of the back of the trailer, walking alongside Vic with nothing but his hand on the bay's haunches to guide him. Had it been anyone else Andrea would have stood there with her mouth agape, but it was not just anyone else.

"Let me guess, you are an experienced horseman too," she inquired without really asking.

"It has been some time," Agner replied, "not since my youth. But yes, I have had some experience with horses."

"Of course you have," she muttered.

She walked over and tied Victor to the trailer next to Evy with the lead rope and began checking the reigns and saddle. Agner looked at the bit in the bay's mouth with disdain.

"Is this," he said with a finger flicking at the straps to the bit, "really necessary?"

Andrea looked at him with curious amusement. "I suppose you have a better way? Vic is a good boy, you can tell him where to go with a nudge of your feet and not as much rein. But he has been known to get away from his rider from time to time so I would I think it might be advisable to keep it on."

It seemed to Andrea that Agner paused a moment and stared at Vic. Vic for his part simply nudged Agner and shook his head. This must have resolved whatever internal debate had been being waged in Agner's mind because he turned and began to set the saddle and blanket on Vic's back.

"Whatever you think is best, of course," was all he said.

They were able to saddle up and set supplies relatively quickly much to Andrea's pleasure, and after a quick once over of both horses they mounted up and head out. It seemed to Andrea that they could not have picked a better day. The sky was blue, the air was crisp and the sun was beginning to shine brighter by the minute. It was the type of beautiful day that could feed one's soul forever. The trail was wide and lined with ferns and the first of the falling leaves. The birch and maple trees were in abundance although there were quite a few pine and hemlock and the occasional spruce that dotted the trail as well. The trail widened enough at times for Agner to ride up alongside of her and it seemed to Andrea that he and Vic had become the best of friends. This did not irritate Andrea as his other accomplishments did though. She was too happy at the moment. She had been waiting for this weekend for what seemed like an eternity. Evy must have been able to pick up on her excitement because she would jump at the bit and try to break out into a run but Andrea kept a tight hold on the reins.

"She is ready to go," Agner commented with a smile. "You handle her well."

"She is just picking up on me," Andrea grinned back, "it's not her fault. She can read me too well."

"Yes, she can."

"You sound so certain," Andrea laughed and cocked an eyebrow. "I suppose she told you as much?"

"Actually Vic did," Agner replied with a pat to the bay's neck.

"Oh, well naturally."

Andrea gave Agner a little sideways smirk while simultaneously giving Evy a little kick and letting up on the rein. That was all the impetus the grey needed as she bounded to the lead. Andrea allowed her to go no more than a swift cantor, not wanting to break out into a full gallop for fear of the grey injuring herself with the amount of equipment they carried. She could hear Vic's gait behind her and grinned again.

It was not much longer before they reached the campsite. Andrea set about unloading the packs and setting a bear hang for the food while Agner busied himself with the tents and preparing the designated fire pit area. Andrea came here every year. It was a good size clearing that opened up to the lake where one could sit on a large rock face and look out onto the water. The small fire pit that she used was still there. There were good branches to hang supplies and food from to keep away from the random critter that would range through, but open enough so that no random widow makers could rain down on the tents.

Andrea finished with storing the food supplies she attached the lead ropes around Victor and Evy's necks so she could set out feed bags and begin to remove the saddles. Agner moved silently up beside her and began to remove Vic's harness with unmasked disdain. Andrea laughed.

"He was good for you today but you better be careful. You give him too much rein and he will run all over you."

Agner laughed as she spoke.

"Andrea you have no trust," he called over his shoulder as he removed the saddle from Vic's back and set it down.

"Oh you're going to speak to me about trust are you," she snorted. "I suppose you are right though," she sighed loudly. "I mean it's not like they ever blew me off or anything."

Agner paused brushing Vic mid stroke and winced. "I promise you Andrea, I was not blowing you off. I become … distracted …"

"Distracted … for three days. One hell of a distraction," Andrea mused.

Agner resumed brushing. "It is the truth Andrea."

"It is still a shitty thing to do Agner," Andrea said, straightening up from where she stood hunched over as she scraped Evy's hooves clean. She tossed the hoof pick to Agner and walked over towards the fire pit. She had walked over intending to set up the small grate that was left here year round for cookouts, only to find that the fire pit had been set up. And it was set up in a far more sophisticated manner than she had ever done. Instead of the teepee style that Andrea was accustomed to, this one was flat and long, the kindling had been set to be higher on one end and was already burning. Andrea turned around to look at Agner, who had finished cleaning Vic's hooves and was now digging through his pack.

"Did you do this?"

Agner looked up from his pack. "Ah yes, I went ahead and got it burning. This way the kindling can become coals for cooking. That is why there is an incline," he said as he began to unwind a spool of fishing line and cutting it with a hunting knife from his pack, "this way I can cook at different levels of heat if need be."

Andrea watched as Agner pick up a long thin branch from the ground and tie the pieces of fishing line to it. He then pulled out a small box and carefully removed the hooks that he then placed at the end of the each line with a small piece of bait.

"Where did you get that?" she asked.

"At the last stop we made before the cabin I believe. They had a little bait shop in the gas station. I thought fish would be nice."

Agner walked to the edge of the rock face and secured the branch over the water.

"So what, you're some kind of survivalist or ex-marine right?"

Agner brushed his hands off on his pants as he stood up and walked over to where she stood. "More like the Foreign Legion actually."

Andrea laughed. "Where did you put the matches?"

"Matches?"

"Yes the matches you used to start the fire." When Agner did not answer Andrea shook her head. "You didn't use matches did you," she asked.

Agner grimaced and gave her a guilty look.

"Of course you didn't," she muttered with a sideways smile.

By the time they had camp set and in place and had settled down themselves the sun was low on the horizon. The fishing line that Aegnor had laid out bore fruit, catching a nice smallmouth bass that he happily prepared. It seemed to him that Andrea had enjoyed the meal wholeheartedly, which had pleased him to no end. He looked at her from across the fire. The anger she had felt towards him in the beginning seemed to have lessened significantly, something else that please him.

After they had finished eating and putting everything away again, they sat back next to the fire. The sun was dipping below the mountains and the lake had taken on the same golden hue as the sky, casting the light like jewels across the water. Andrea sat across the fire from him with her legs crossed beneath her as he leaned back against his saddle, legs stretched out before him and his fingers laced across his chest. It had been some time since he found himself in such surroundings. There was a sense of contentment, a sense of peace that seemed to come over his being. He could not put to memory the last time he had felt this way and he chided himself for not doing this sooner. While he did enjoy the life that bustled through the cities, the influx of thoughts and energies that seemed to ebb and flow like the tide, there was something almost mystical about the wilderness. There was a stillness that masked its own undercurrent of activity. He could feel himself becoming one with the land, something that was important for his kind to maintain if they wished to thrive.

He looked once more over at Andrea, who was now leaning back against her elbows, her legs stretched out with one foot crossed over the other as she looked at the fire. Her hair hung loose and fell about her shoulders in long dark waves onto the ground. How lovely she looked to him in this dimming light, the fire casting her in a soft golden glow. How beautiful she looked. How like Andreth she was.

Aegnor looked away. He had to stop thinking of her in this manner. Even if she were somehow Andreth reborn, he had to see her as she was now, not as who she was then.

Movement from across the fire caught his attention. He looked to see Andrea walking over to where he lay and sit down next to him.

"So," she said with a sweeping gesture towards the fire, "where did you learn to do all this?"

"I spent much of my youth with my brothers and cousins … camping," he said with a smile. "I suppose you could say we learned together."

"Was your whole family the outdoorsy type?"

"Yes … and no. Some more so than others."

"Let me guess …," she paused, giving him a playful look, "big game hunters right?"

An image flashed through Aegnor's mind of he and his brothers tracking and riding down a pack of goblins, killing every one of them, the blood running thick and black upon the ground.

"More or less," he replied.

Andrea paused again, her playful look becoming thoughtful. "You don't like talking about them do you. About your family."

"What? No on the contrary I rather enjoy the memories. Especially the pleasant ones.

"And the unpleasant ones?"

"Two sides to every coin," he shrugged. "They have their purpose as well."

Aegnor watched as Andrea broke pieces off a twig she had picked up from the ground.

"Can I ask you something?" she finally said.

"Of course."

"It's kind of personal …"

"Ask."

"You told me once that you couldn't go home. Why not?"

"It is … complicated," he let out a weary sigh followed by a soft bitter little laugh. "My father … he tried to tell me. He knew, he understood what was at stake, what the cost would be. But I was young and foolish. I thought I knew better. By the time I had realized I was wrong it was too late. Tale as old as time. Wise, learned father. Stubborn, willful son." Aegnor brought his hands up to cradle the back of his head as he leaned back to look up at the sky. "Still, it is a harsh lesson, losing everything you love."

He listened as Andrea snapped more pieces off of the twig, tossing them into the fire.

"So … it was only family you left behind?"

Aegnor looked at her curiously.

"I mean, was there … anyone else that you wish you could see …"

Aegnor still looked at her.

"… other than family …"

Was she trying to get a something? His brow furrowed as he his head tilted to the side in confusion.

"A girl dummy! I am asking if you left behind a girl," she said exasperated.

Aegnor started in surprise. "Oh! Yes, of course! I mean no. I mean I understand the question and no there was, is no girl waiting. Not at home, no," he sputtered clumsily.

Andrea watched him as he stumbled through his response. "I'm sorry. I'm being nosey now. You don't have to talk about it."

"No, it is fine. I just … I am …" Aegnor laughed sadly in frustration. "There was a girl … once but that was a long time ago. It did not … it was not meant to be."

"What happened?"

Memories flooded Aegnor's mind. Long dark hair that fell about small delicate shoulders. Large, bright, inquisitive eyes that pierced his soul … no not his soul, his fëa. He could smell her skin, he could taste her tears. The old world seemed to be resurging. It seemed as if it moved dizzily around him. He struggled to pull his mind back to the present. It was dangerous to lose oneself in such a way. He looked over at Andrea as he focused.

"She died."

Andrea's eyes had gone wide and the look on her face was one of regret.

"Oh Agner, I am so sorry. I had no idea. I didn't mean to …"

Aegnor gave her his best attempt at a reassuring smile. He did not wish for her to feel pity for him. Not over this. Nor did he want her to regret her question. She had right to know.

"You could not know. It is fine, I am fine," he lied. "It was a long time ago Andrea."

She turned back to the fire and they sat in silence for a moment. The sky had gone dark by now and stars riddled the sky, covering every inch of the dark blanket of night above them.

"Have you ever seen so many," she asked, "so many stars in one place in the sky?"

Aegnor smiled. "It was been a long time. Too long to be honest."

"When I was a kid, my father would tell me that whenever someone died, another star would be added to the sky. I used to stay up all night trying to find my mother's. Stupid, I know."

"No, not at all."

They sat staring up at the sky for a moment longer before Andrea jumped up suddenly and began to rummage through her bag. After finding what she was looking for she walked back over to where he lay and held out her hand.

"Come on," she smiled, "I want to show you something."

Aegnor took her hand as he pulled himself up from the ground. Andrea clicked on the flashlight she had pulled from her bag and led him away from the fire, towards the rock face that sat out over the water. His eyes never left her as she took him to the edge and clicked off the flashlight. Inky, black darkness surrounded them.

"Just give your eyes a second to adjust," she said as she squeezed his hand.

Normally he would have had a little internal chuckle at that comment. His eyes had become sharper once more upon leaving the city. He could see for miles if he wished. There were no artificial lights here to confuse his depth perception or throw off his range. But he could not appreciate the irony of the comment at the moment. When Andrea had turned off her flashlight he had followed her gaze out over the water, and his breath had caught.

The water, which the setting sun had covered with blindingly bright reflection, gone still and now mirrored the night sky. Gone were the glaring jewels of sunset, instead replaced by the millions of tiny pure white diamonds that spread out over the water. The sliver of moon shone above the mountains in the water as clear as crystal. It was impossible to tell where the sky stopped and the water began. Tiny blinking lights dotted the shores and danced around where they stood. Somewhere in the back of Aegnor's mind he knew they were fireflies but could not shake the feeling that Varda herself were hallowing the very ground they stood on. He was spinning again. He had to find his footing. He heard Andrea's voice from somewhere beside him.

"When I was younger, my mother would tell me stories of an Indian princess who stole a brave's heart with her reflection in the water. I have always loved that story. I guess that some would think it was silly but when I come here, when I stand here and look out onto the water I would think it would be almost impossible not to fall in love with someone here."

Aegnor's heart drummed loudly in his chest. His mind teetered back and forth between the present and the past. He no longer had any sense of time. His gaze moved along the edge of the water.

"I would think it completely impossible not to …" His voice sounded heavy and thick to his ears.

"Do you?" Andrea said softly. "Do you truly believe it to be impossible?"

"Yes," he rasped as his gaze found hers in the reflection of the water, "yes, truly I do."

Aegnor would have no memory of who had moved toward whom first, although Andrea would often argue that he had taken her into his arms before she even had a chance to protest, not that she had planned too.

What he did remember was that somehow they had ended up on without a care upon the hard, cool ground with nothing but rapidly discarded clothes as a blanket. He could not think. He was driven purely by need.

This was her. This was his Andreth. She had come back to him, found him. She had saved him.

He would not lose her again. Not now, not ever.

Hands moved over bodies as his mouth greedily tasted every part of her. His lips pressed against her mouth, her neck, her chest, and down her stomach. He was drunk with her, and yet uncertain of what to do while wanting to do everything. She pulled him back up to her mouth as her hands guided his in pulling off her pants. And then deft little fingers wrested him out of his. His heart was pounding in his ears and his body ached as her hands slid down his back to guide him in.

Aegnor stopped, his heart that pounded so fiercely with desire now drummed in fear. She does not know. She does not understand. To take her this way, in this manner, without her knowledge would be the greatest of sins.

"Wait," he gasped, "wait! I must tell –"

Aegnor stopped speaking as his world quickly began to spin till he found himself on his back and Andrea stared down at him.

"No," she whispered as she kissed him gently, "no. Not this time. I won't let you push me away this time. I love you and I won't let you run away again."

Aegnor gasped again as he felt her come down atop him, her warmth enveloping him. He looked into her eyes and he could see it, a light that called to him, that pulled at his fëa.

He knew this was wrong. That he should stop, he could still save her. But as he looked at her atop him, the stars framing her face and in her hair, her soul crying out with such joy, engulfing him with so much love that he could not resist. And so he gave himself completely, and wrapped his fëa with hers till they were one.

After they had spent themselves, they remained upon the ground, naked beneath sky, an offering to the One. Aegnor held Andrea in his arms, looking down at her sleeping face.

Andreth, oh Andreth. With the One as my witness I will forever love you and no other.

Andrea stirred in her sleep and gave a soft smile as she nuzzled against him.

"I love you too Aegnor," she whispered.

~oOo~

Coiva tambë mai = Awake as well?

Victor savin = Victor I believe

Inyë Aikanáro = I am Aikanáro

Mana equeldë meldenya cenasit caringwë omentië epë = What say you my friend perhaps we have met before?

Ui, citanlá = No, maybe not.