I noticed that some readers are from Germany, and might have read the original text, so I should probably point out that I made some author-approved changes to the text in this translation. Quite noticeable changes in this chapter.
When the song had ended, Lalaithlanthir put his arms around her again. "Now, is there another reason why we cannot lie with each other, Glosswen nîn?" he asked gently.
"It could...hurt me", she answered hesitantly. It had often hurt, long after she had lost her maidenhead, even. "I am dry, like a brittle old leaf. "
"So you have become fragile with age, Snowmaiden mine – should I better call you Glassmaiden? But do not fear, I shall handle you like the finest crystal, if you honour me with your consent."
"I do", she whispered shyly, for she was not used to being asked in so frank a manner, and not used, in truth, to being asked at all.
Lalaithlanthir was true to his word. Although his straightforward questions made her blush more than once, and his nimble fingers strayed to where she would have hesitated even to touch herself, all his caresses were enjoyable.
When she lay in his arms, exhausted and satisfied, she finally understood why her husbands had always fallen asleep so soon after it. She had often watched the first one sleep, in the first days of their marriage, when she had still been in love with him. "That was strange...I don't think I have ever experienced something quite like this", she whispered.
But Lalaithlanthir had not fallen asleep. "Oh, I know, Glosswen nîn, I know, and still, I wonder how it can be, when it is true that you have given birth to a child."
"Oh – no – I did not mean to say...I have lain with my two husbands, of course, but...but...they did not have such nimble fingers." And she blushed like a maiden.
"That cannot be the only reason..." he murmured, looking at her with sadness in his eyes. "I have suspected as much, and am happy for it, but still, it does cause me sorrow...they did not really care for you, did they?"
"No", she replied bitterly. "Not in any manner of speaking."
"I am sorry", he stated gently, "And yet, I am happy, for you remained a maiden and are now my wife."
"Your wife?" She was startled. They had had a "roll in the hay" as people called it – or at least she had thought that. Had it meant more to him?
"My wife" he affirmed. "And I your husband. Now, and forever."
"Till death do us apart", she murmured.
A hint of sorrow passed his face, like the shade of a cloud. "As is custom with mortals, I suppose?"
"Is it not so for elves? Would you have been considered an adulterer amongst your people, for being with me?"
"A what?"
"A man who lies with another man's wife."
"No, for amongst my people you would not haven been considered married until today. There is now", he continued softly "A gleam in your eyes and a grace upon your pace, which will tell every elf that you are married. It is beautiful, and it is a pity you, being mortal, are not able to see it in my eyes."
"So...so what we have done equals marriage among elves? And the gleam in my eyes - it will not fade with your death?" Of course, the very thought was ridiculous, that he should die before her.
"It will not. Although; I suppose, that does not matter, since mortal men cannot see it." Sudden alarm dawned on his face. "You would not wish to marry again, should I die before you, would you, Glosswen nîn? Did you even want to marry me? I thought you knew...I thought..."
"Be still, stupid elf", she chided affectionately. "I, marry again! Who should want an old crone like me?"
"So it was not in jest when you said...oh, Glosswen nîn, do you really think so badly of yourself? Do you really think no one could want to marry you?"
"It is the truth."
"It is not."
"I don't know about elves, but human man don't like white hair. And wrinkles. And crooked noses. I have never been beautiful. I have often wondered how you can consider me beautiful."
"Strange it is", he reflected, "That they should think so. I do admit that I was discouraged by your wrinkles at first, and that I wished my heart had chosen differently, for sad it is to love an autumn leaf that is golden and soon to fall. But how can it matter to a mortal, that his loved one will die soon? It is only a few years that he has to live without her."
"And this is why I would not have agreed to marry you if I had known...I thought you would be free to marry an elven maid after I die."
"What, pray, should I want with an elven maid?"
"So it was only my hair that you were in love with, after all?"
"It was only in jest that I said that, and I thought you had long known...I did not dare to explain to you what I really loved about you – that I love how you walk, love how you defend what is yours, love that you are brave enough to spit in the face of someone who insulted you...you would not have understood."
"You're right, I wouldn't have. You were making fun of me walking so slowly, after all."
"And I have long since been regretting that. Snowmaiden mine, I did not dare admit even to myself why I longed to follow you everywhere, and foolishly I wasted the time in which I could have been with you, tormenting you instead. Glosswen nîn, I cannot say how deeply I regret that – I saw that you were strong, and could not imagine anything I said could ever hurt you."
"Well, it did hurt me, but let's not talk of it anymore. You apologised, and now we are together."
"And still, I am sorry, and wish I had known you many years before, when you were young..."
"If you had, you couldn't have called me Snowmaiden, my hair was black, back then."
"Oh, it must have been lovely", he sighed. "You must have been lovely, like fair Luthien herself."
"She was an elf."
"And yet, she can not have been more beautiful than you are. Not", he said softly "To me, at least."