Aegnor leaned against the ropes that circled the ring that he and Carnistir had sparred in, rubbing at his shoulder as he moved his arm around in large slow circles. Carnistir had gotten a solid hit in that last time. But at least he did not gloat, which was always refreshing.

He was not really surprised at how much came back to him. It had always been a trait of their kind to excel in whatever they chose to set their mind too, and Aegnor had never really wanted to let that part of him go. When they had picked up the bamboo practice swords, he had been pleased to see that he could keep pace with Carnistir in the sparring ring. He had taken a few hits, that was certain, but he had managed to land a few of his own too.

Carnistir, for his part, was a surprisingly gracious sparring partner. While he happily pointed out Aegnor's missteps, he also complimented his skill. For a short time, Hayley had stood off to the side and watched after letting them in. Even giving the occasional constructive criticism. Aegnor had to admit that he was taken aback at how his cousin would listen and heed her advice. It was something he rarely remembered Carnistir doing when they were young. Of course, there were times when he was not that receptive. Something Hayley would always acknowledge as well.

"You keep exposing your side like that and he's going to nail you every time," she shouted at the ring.

"I have this woman," Carnistir snapped back.

If she was bothered by his response it, she did not show it. Instead, she looked at him and smiled as she turned around to head up the stairs. "You're so cute when you're pissy. Good thing you're always pissy," she called over her shoulder.

Carnistir would shoot her a look of disapproval but his heart was never in it. He worshiped her.

He did not expose his side for Aegnor to tag again.

The gym was not large, a small building where Midtown meets Hell's Kitchen, with the gym taking up the second and third floors. It had tall brick walls painted white and covered in posters and adverts and bags hanging throughout. The ring took up the front part of the floor while mats covered the rest. They had come to the gym after hours and so the second floor was currently empty. Hayley had headed up to the third to teach her self-defense class. A sort of krav maga/muay thai mix of fighting. There was a ring upstairs that they could have used on the third floor but Hayley had thought it would be best for them to practice down here alone. She had the owners trust and was therefore allowed to come in during the hours when the small gym was closed if she wished. And so it was here she suggested they stay, away from curious eyes. The Eldar in their wrath had always been a sight to behold.

"And I'm not sure my girls can handle this much pretty in one place," she had added.

They had spent the entire day in the sparring ring. With the gym closed it gave them ample time and Aegnor found himself actually enjoying the experience. He had to admit it felt good to hold a sword, even if only a practice one.

Carnistir and his brothers had always been quite exceptional when it came to swordplay. While the Valar had always strictly forbade the creation of weapons before the darkness, it had long been rumored that his uncle, Carnistir's father, had forged them in defiance and schooled all of his sons thoroughly in all forms of combat. Perhaps that is why it had come as no surprise to Aegnor when the eldest of Carnistir's brothers had little difficulty learning to hold the sword with his left hand after losing the right.

"You are not nearly as bad as I thought you would be, which is a pleasant surprise," Carnistir call from across the ring as he began to pull the tape off of his hands. "We may be able to leave on schedule after all."

Aegnor did not respond to his cousin's jibe in the slightest, refusing to give him the satisfaction. Besides, Aegnor had held his own and Carnistir knew it. Even if Carnistir would never admit it, the long angry welt on his side said enough. "I am so relieved you are pleased," he answered.

"Sulk all you want. You will thank me in the end. I am only looking out for you and dear Andrea."

Aegnor glanced at his cousin with narrow eyes as he bent down to step between the ropes. Three days had passed since he had unknowingly pulled Andrea to him and still he had said nothing. It was not that he did not want to, it was just not as easy a subject to broach. How does one tell another that you have bound yourself to them and them to you for all of eternity and beyond? Oh and by the way, if one thinks of the other a little too intently, you may unconsciously control their actions. And you can hear their thoughts … and emotions … and dreams and anything else you may believe is completely unknown. Dealing with that was a tangled mess that Aegnor ran from like a coward. Justifying it by saying he will address it in the morning. And he certainly did not want to address it now. "Your concern is touching," he said as he straightened, "but unnecessary." Aegnor hopped down from the ring and onto the floor. He picked up the t-shirt he had discarded earlier and draped it over one shoulder. "How about you turn your attentions to telling just what we are going after."

Carnistir had walked to the edge of the ring closest to where Aegnor stood and leaned against the rope, resting on his elbows as he began to pull tape from his other hand. He said nothing at first. He simply gave Aegnor a droll little smile in acknowledgement of what was not being said. Or at least what Aegnor refused to talk about with him.

"I am not entirely certain," he sighed as he pulled the last of the tape from his hand. "As I said before it is old. Not as old as you or I but old enough. She is powerful but –"

"She?" Aegnor interrupted.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

"I am not entirely certain," Aegnor replied, mimicking Carnistir's earlier tone. "What exactly has she done?"

"The list of her evils is long and often involves young men and children. If my assumptions are correct I have faced and dispatched this particular foe twice now and both times she has retreated only to return again just as strong."

"How do you know she is so old?"

"Because when I first came across her, where was it," Carnistir tapped his fingers on the rope absently, "the Philippines perhaps? Well anyway, she knew what me for what I am. She asked me how is it I was so far from Oiolossë and called me first born and favored pet of Eru … in Quenya … and then she called me a little shit."

Aegnor stood stunned at the name. Oiolossë. Another lesser known name in Quenya for Taniquetil where sat the thrones of Manwë and Varda. How could this creature have such knowledge unless …"Is she some sort of corrupted Maiar?"

"I do not believe so. As far as I can tell she is of Men, although how she has lived this long is beyond me. She has many forms, many names. Gryla, Harionago, Aswang, Baba-Yaga, it all depends on her location, and this bitch gets around. She is a dark force, a force for evil if there ever was one. Oh, and she has a thing for cats."

"Cats?

"Yes," Carnistir's brow furrowed in consternation, "she uses them somehow, controls them. They do her biding. She has about a hundred … or maybe ten, I can't be certain.

Aegnor shook his head. "The list of uncertainties seems to be growing."

"I know," Carnistir agreed as he leaned back, pulling on the ropes of the ring, "which is why we will need to make a little stop before we face her. I need to get more information."

"Information? From where?"

"Not where. Who. And that will be an entirely different challenge, albeit not as dangerous."

Aegnor threw his hands in the air in exasperation. "Oh well, that sounds very reassuring."

Carnistir simply shrugged. "It is what it is." In one fluid motion, Carnistir pulled himself swiftly forward and vaulted over the ropes and out of the ring, landing lightly on the ground. "Did you bring it?"

Aegnor looked at his cousin and shook his head once more before turning towards where his bag lay. "Yes."

"And the armor?"

"It is at my apartment," Aegnor called over his shoulder.

"You didn't bring it?"

"No Carnistir," Aegnor's voice was thick with mock remorse as he turned, now walking backwards so he could see his cousin, his arms extended out in a contrite manner, "I did not bring the full breastplate, pauldron and helm through Midtown. I was uncomfortable enough simply bringing this. Please forgive me."

"I was just asking," Carnistir muttered as leaned against the ring to wait.

Aegnor retrieved the bundle from his bag and carried it gingerly to where Carnistir waited. He set it down gently on the mat and knelt down to unwrap it. At first glance, it looked to be nothing more than a dusty old sword. And ancient heirloom of a time long gone. But upon closer inspection one would find that the sheath that housed the blade did not fit properly nor did it match the hilt. It was tattered and worn and barely held together. Even the hilt belied its appearance as it was wrapped in rotting leather strips that had been worn down and then hastily replaced throughout the years.

But the careful observer would take notice of the pommel for it was crafted from a dark lustrous metal that did not glint in the light. And if one were to go as far as to unsheathe they would find a blade as black and cold as any moonless midwinter night. There was an overall feeling of power that teemed and swirled from within that blade. An ancient power that crooned like a lover, but was tinged with madness, a slick, oily layer of filth that left the wielder feeling nauseous. It could feel you when you touched it and it begged to be touched. Carnistir knelt down next to Aegnor as he pulled away the last of the wrappings. The blade within seemed to breathe a sigh.

Aegnor grimaced while Carnistir made a hissing noise through his teeth.

"How did you find it?"

"It … called to me," Aegnor struggled for the proper words. "Well, perhaps not to me specifically, but it seemed as if it were calling. I suppose to anyone who could hear it."

"Or anything," Carnistir's lip curled slightly in disdain.

Aegnor nodded. "I thought it best that I take it. I recognized it for what it is, or what I believe it is. First age? Who made it? Who would be capable of forging such a blade besides …" Aegnor halted abruptly. He had been about to say Fëanor, Carnistir's father, but stopped himself. He did not wish to offend his cousin or open old wounds. Carnistir simply huffed a low laugh.

"It's alright," he chuckled as he stared at the sword, "It would be a logical assumption, given the circumstances when we first walked these lands. But my father's greatest crime was his pride. All of his creations carry it," Carnistir's lips curled into a sardonic smile, "even his children. But this … there is pride there yes, but also more. Something even harder, colder. It was cast in suspicion and anger, forged with malice and tempered with the creator's own blood."

"Who then?"

"A dark elf who hid in the woods of Nan Elmoth. Wed our cousin, or raped her, depending on who you were to talk to. Thingol's own dear brother."

Aegnor's eyes had gone wide with realization as Carnistir spoke. "Eöl?" he breathed.

Carnistir barked out a laugh. "That bastard's line did just as much, if not more damage to the great Houses of the Noldor than my own. Ah, poor proud Turgon, he trusted no one and yet could not see the danger at his own door simply because it was of his blood."

Aegnor's lips pursed in disapproval. While he may not have agreed with the choices their cousin had made, he did not blame him. He had been warned of the cost. "He paid his price, as have we all."

"Indeed." Carnistir knelt down next to Aegnor and carefully picked up the sword, one hand gripping the hilt. "There were two of these. One was gifted to Thingol and is destined for another purpose. But this one belonged to Eöl himself. It must have survived Gondolin somehow. One would reckon it was gifted with the dark one's own luck." In one smooth motion he unsheathed the sword. The light gleamed off of the black blade like oil that oozed its way down towards the hilt, drowning the light rather than reflecting it.

"Is it evil?" Aegnor's voice had dropped to a whisper without him realizing.

"Not innately," Carnistir replied just as softly, "at least I do not believe it is. If it is anything like its sister it will accept the will of the bearer."

"The things it says … the way it … it feels, or makes me feel …" Aegnor winced.

"I suppose it is different for everyone." By all appearances and tone of voice, one would not have thought Carnistir the least bit bothered by the sword. Be the subtle tightness around his eyes screamed at Aegnor. "Yes, you are a lustful bitch, aren't you," he mumbled, "well, that will soon be remedied."

He returned the blade swiftly to its sheath once more. Aegnor thought he heard the blade moan at the loss of its freedom.

The sound of laughter from the stairs prompted Carnistir to set down the sword as Aegnor hurriedly began to recover it. They had just placed the last of the coverings over it when a group of about five to six women entered the room led by Hayley. The laughter died almost immediately as Carnistir and Aegnor both stood up. For a moment Aegnor had almost panicked that they had somehow caught a glimpse of the sword and were stunned by it. But when he noticed the how the women's eyes ran up and down along his torso, he suddenly became aware that he and Carnistir were still shirtless from sparring.

Aegnor's face became warm and he immediately made for where his bag lay to put the sword away and then slip on his shirt. Carnistir however, drew himself up to his full height and flashed his most charming smile.

"Ladies," he cooed as he sauntered over, "what a pleasant surprise."

The group of ladies tittered and giggled as Carnistir preened before them. "I hope Hayley has not been too harsh a task master. She can be such a cruel mistress. Emma, my beauty, something is different about you … a new man perhaps?"

Aegnor listened to the continued sound of laughter and emphatic denials of new lovers as he adjusted his shirt and walked over to where Carnistir's audience stood. Appraising eyes looked him over as thoroughly as a butcher over a slab of beef. Aegnor smiled politely at the group of women.

"Cirian," a petite blonde with bright blue eyes and an inviting smile spoke, "who is your friend?"

"Who this?" Carnistir said as he wrapped an arm around Aegnor's shoulders. "Why this is my dear cousin, once lost but now found. We had been separated for seems like centuries, but now that we have found each other again it is like we were never apart." Carnistir looked at his captive audience and grinned. Aegnor looked at Carnistir like he had lost his mind. "You'll have to forgive him for being a bit quiet ladies. Agner here is a bit shy. He always seems to clam up whenever there are pretty girls around."

This brought a flurry of comments about how attractive shyness is and how that was not a bad trait to have and how he could come out with any one of them if he ever wanted to get out. The women began to move in to surround him and Aegnor suddenly felt like a very tiny worm at the end of a large hook. Aegnor looked over at Carnistir who had conveniently slipped out of the surrounding ring of women and smiled from behind them.

"Ok, that's enough," Hayley called out with a reproachful sideways glance at Carnistir, who had the nerve to looked surprised. "Come on everyone, it's getting late and I have to lock up. Let's go, let's go."

Hayley herded the group of women back towards the stairs. The women reluctantly moved towards the stairs as they called out farewells to Cirian and Agner. As the group made their way down the stairs after Hayley, Aegnor could hear them make comments about how lucky Hayley was to have Cirian and if his cousin was seeing anyone. Aegnor looked at Carnistir.

"You are an ass."

Carnistir just grinned.

Aegnor turned and walked back over to where his bag with his belongings were and sat down to put on his shoes.

"You're really not going to ask me, are you."

Aegnor looked at Carnistir. "What?"

"Do not play dumb Aegnor, it is unbecoming. About her. About the bond. You must have questions. I know you must have questions. Why must you insist on being so bloody stubborn? Just ask."

Aegnor did have questions. Several questions to be honest. But Aegnor did not believe his refusal to ask Carnistir was out of stubbornness. Carnistir folded his arms across his chest as he looked at Aegnor.

"Has she gotten into your head yet? Unintentionally of course, but still gotten in there. Suddenly acting on your random thoughts or feelings. Has she pulled at you yet? Or perhaps you to her? Finding yourself or her suddenly in the others presence without knowing how you got there? Or perhaps she has answered some questions you had asked yourself in your mind. The bond can be a torrent of emotions and information Aegnor. It will overtake you if you let it. You can't shut her thoughts out yet, can you? You know that you can't. Just admit it."

Aegnor looked down at the half laced shoe in his hand. Carnistir was right of course. Carnistir was infuriating, but he was right.

"I had been thinking of her," Aegnor began reluctantly, "just casually. Thinking about things from when we were at the cabin and how I wanted to see her, and when I looked up …"

"There she was," Carnistir finished for him.

"She did not even know how she got there. She had gotten on the train to go back to her apartment, or so she thought. She had gotten on a train alright, not to her apartment, but mine. She was so confused. I should have tried not to think of her after that but I can't help myself. I am so aware of everything about her. Her feelings can be overwhelming at times, even dizzying. I don't know how, I have no idea …" Aegnor's voice trailed off. He had no clue how to control it. All he could do was to bear it.

Carnistir had walked over to him as he spoke till he stood over Aegnor, his arms still folded across his chest. "It is like that in the beginning," he said thoughtfully, "the constant need for the other. Her fea is a part of yours now, you need her to be complete. And she needs you as well. You will never feel entirely whole again while the other is gone. You will continually pull at the other, needing the other. It has something to do with begetting a child as well, or so they say."

"Begetting a child?" Aegnor looked up surprised.

"Calm yourself, you have to choose to, both of you. It won't just happen unless you both wish it. There are ways to control the pull you know. Ways to shut her out, so to speak. Not in a negative way," Carnistir reassured when Aegnor looked concerned. "The two are one now and you will never be able to shut her out completely. But you can learn to control how much can come across. I can teach you this of course, but it will not be easy, not at first. And it will involve ósanwë."

Aegnor now gave Carnistir a guarded look. Studied him was perhaps the more appropriate term. What a strange turn of events that brings him here to this point. He did not relish the thought of opening his mind to Carnistir. The last person he wanted rooting around in his head was Carnistir. It was a precious and sacred thing, ósanwë. Considered a gift by many. Something that must be handled delicately or else you could drive another mad with the influx of information and images. To open himself willingly to Carnistir, to allow Carnistir to see his most intimate thoughts and feelings, was something he would have never have even considered. But then he had never thought he would find Andreth again either, much less bond her without her knowledge. As much as it pained him, he needed Carnistir's help. This was no time for unnecessary pride. And Carnistir would be have to open himself to Aegnor as well in order to help him. Something he had to know of when he offered. And that was no small thing. They would both be vulnerable. And still he offered.

Aegnor finished lacing up his shoe and stood up with a sigh.

"Fine. You're right. It must be done and it will much more difficult to do without your help. Thank you.

A slow smile crept across Carnistir's face as Aegnor spoke. "Oh, that looked painful. Do you need to sit back down a moment?"

"Please do not make me regret this," Aegnor growled.

"Never," Carnistir soothed. He suddenly clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Well then, since that is settled, shall we to your place? I do not think Hayley will appreciate seeing us staring into each other's eyes all night and my place is just a mess." Carnistir practically skipped across the floor to grab his things. "I'll go let Hayley know and we will meet downstairs, yes? Good!"

Aegnor watched Carnistir as he bounded up the stairs two at a time and wondered in disbelief to what he had just agreed to.

Andrea fumbled with her keys as she struggled through the doorway of her apartment. It was the first time she had been back since they had returned. She never intended to spend the last three nights at Agner's flat but somehow she kept finding herself on the train to Soho each time. She simply could not stop herself. She was starting to fear that Agner was going to get sick of her. But every time she walked up, there he would be, smiling as if he were waiting for her all along. And he never seemed to mind. And, to be honest, she wanted to be around him. It just felt … right. As if it was where they both belonged. Or maybe it felt that way because she thought about him all the time. At times she could see him so clearly in her mind that she felt like if she turned around there he would be, standing right next to her. And when they were together, it was as if he knew every part of her. He pulled her to him like he could not get enough and Andrea had to admit that she loved it. She loved feeling so wanted, so desired. It was like she had been waiting for this her whole life.

That was crazy of course. She was still in the honey moon phase of the relationship, so of course everything was perfect. Which was why she insisted on going to her apartment tonight. She had to assert some independence again. That and she had to get a change of clothes. She had been washing and wearing the same underwear for three days. And that is just not right.

She dropped her things on the floor and flopped down on the sofa to sit down. She was already exhausted and she still had to go back to the jeep and get more of her things out and bring them to the apartment. But before she did, she just wanted to sit, just for a second.

"Well, well, well," a familiar voice called from the narrow hallway that led to her and Kate's bedrooms. Andrea looked up to see her roommate leaning against the entrance to the hallway, a rather large shit eating grin across her face. "Look who managed to finally drag their ass home. I hope you have a good story to go with that tired look young lady."

Andrea tried to open her mouth to tell Kate to leave her alone. To tell her that she was just too tired to deal with her at the moment and to come back after she had some rest. But instead, all she could do was return Kate's shit eating grin with one of her own. That seemed to be to enough for Kate.

"Oh my Gooooood," Kate squealed as she leapt onto the sofa and on top of Andrea, "where have you been? You have been gone almost a week! It was just supposed to be for the weekend! What happened? Did it go well? You look like it went well! Did you kiss him? Huh? Huh! Did you? Did you? Did he kiss you? Did he? Did he kiss you all over? Did you kiss the naughty parts?"

Andrea laughed and swatted at Kate who was jumping up and down on the sofa all around her. "Omg Kate, really. I just got in the door, you know? Could you give me a second?"

Kate stopped jumping as sat with her knees pulled up against her chest as her chin rested on them and stared at Andrea with wide eyed expectation

"Yes, we kissed the naughty parts."

Kate began jumping up and down again as she screamed. "I knew it," she shouted, "I knew it! You had sex didn't you didn't you! You totally slept with him! Was it great? Was it all magical and stuff? Was it everything I imagined it to be?"

Andrea covered her face as she laughed, drumming her feet on the floor, caught up in Kate's excitement. "Kate, it was amazing. I mean, it was just … amazing. And I mean everything, not just the sex, you know? I mean I was all ready to spend that whole trip pissed at him. But then the cabin and the lake, oh my God the lake."

"You love him don't you!" Kate cried as she perched on the arm of the sofa. :You do! You totally do, I can tell. Your going to marry him and I am going to be your maid of honor and if he has a brother and makes him the best man I am going to make out with him."

"Stop, just stop," Andrea laughed as she tossed a pillow that Kate batted away effortlessly. "It's a bit early for that don't you think?"

"Um no," Kate replied matter-of-factly as she hugged the pillow Andrea threw at her, "love at first sight baby!"

Andrea laughed again. "Whatever. I am not getting married. Not anytime soon anyway and I seriously doubt he wants to either."

"Have you asked him?"

"As if!" This time Andrea grabbed a pillow and hit Kate with it. "Will you just let me enjoy this please, without getting caught up in delusions about a nonexistent future okay?"

"Oh it is going to be existent all right, it is totally going to be existent," Kate squealed once more, jumping on Andrea's lap. The roommates fell over each other in fits of laughter for a few more minutes before finally dying down to a low giggle. After a moment, Kate looked over at Andrea.

"Seriously though," she said, "you really like him don't you."

"Kate, I would run away with him tonight if he asked." Andrea her head in disbelief. Not so much at what she said, but at the fact that she meant every word. She would too. If Agner were to call her this very moment, she would drop everything and just go. It frightened her at just how certain she was of this. But then it was normal to feel this way, in the beginning anyway. Was it not? Everything is always great in the beginning. It was later when the trouble began. No, Andrea thought angrily, I am not going to try to jinx this. Not this time. Andre sighed. "I guess I better put this stuff away and then get the rest."

"Rest?"

"Yeah, I still have to get things from the jeep. I am just going to drive it around to the front of the building and then unload it and park again. I'm just putting it off because I'm lazy. If only I had some help," Andrea said as she rested her chin on Kate's shoulder and gazed up at her with big eyes.

"You do," Kate said incredulously, "that great strapping hunk of man that is your boyfriend. Call him to help you do it."

"No! I am trying to stay away for the night. I don't want him to get sick of me. It took forever for us to get to this point. I'm just trying to be careful you know?"

"Whatever. You two were meant for each other. What could possibly go wrong?"

Andrea stuck out her bottom lip as she looked up at Andrea. "Pleeeeease?"

"Oh alright," Kate groaned. "Let me get my shoes on."

"Thank you, I love you!"

"No you don't!" Kate called from her bedroom.

Andrea smiled as she sat up. Things were going really well. She was not sure why she always had to look for the negative in everything. Agner was not like the others. He was different. He was special. Besides, he said he loved her. Kate was right, what could go wrong? This time truly was going to be different, Andrea could feel it. She was not going to allow herself to break down with self-doubt. Not this time.

Andrea stood up from the sofa and stretched her arms over her head. With Kate to help her get her things, unpacking would go a lot faster. She turned to walk back towards the kitchen only to be startled as she passed by the window. She looked and saw sitting out on the window ledge was a scrawny black cat with great big yellow eyes and an ear that looked as if something had taken a bite out of it.

"What the hell?" Andrea walked over towards the window, the cat watching her the entire time.

"Okay so, we are going to bring the car around right? I mean, we aren't going to lug all the stuff from the car here are we? I'm not sure if I'm up for that. What?"

Andrea turned and gave Kate a questioning look as she pointed at the window. "What's this?"

"Oh him. Yeah he just showed up one day. Just hangs out looking in the window." Kate walked over and stood next to Andrea, looking at the cat. "I tried to get him to come in once but all he did was hiss at me. I put a little bowl of water out there for him though. He must belong to someone in the building, I guess."

"He just hangs out on the window ledge?" Andrea looked back at the cat. Yellow eyes blinked lazily.

"Yup. You ready?"

"Yeah, yeah. Let me get my keys."

Andrea grabbed her keys as Kate walked over to the door and waited. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. Once Kate was out, she turned to close the door and lock it and noticed that the cat was no longer in the window.

"You know, you really should look into getting a parking spot here near the building." Kate said as she slipped on her jacket. "It would make things so much easier."

"I told you it is too expensive here. I am thinking I might just take the jeep back to my dad's anyway and save some money. I always use the train anyway so what's the point right?"

The two girls continued to chat as they headed towards the elevator and all thoughts of the cat went out of Andrea's head.