One Flesh, One Soul. Part 2 by FellFireFan  

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Uncertain Waters

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The New World
Date Unknown.

 

Aegnor and Andreth drifted along the expanse of the shore. They talked for what seemed like an eternity. Aegnor eagerly explained why he did not return, why he could not keep all he had promised, and Andreth patiently listened to every word and, with understanding in her heart, she readily forgave her beloved elf. Friendship renewed, they laughed and embraced as the waves rolled at their feet and the warm sun of the day shrouded them in new life, never leaving one anothers side and as the dusk settled beyond the horizon, painting the sky in a beautiful crimson orange, they found a comfortable spot by the long reeds. They embraced one another. Aegnor clung to Andreths body, pulling her close as though she could never leave. She stroked his hair as his face lay upon her chest, listening to her heart beating. He clung to consciousness for as long as he could until the throws of sleep eventually caught his tired eyes and he slipped away in her arms to the world of slumber, where time or pain had no hold on him.

As the stars ascended above, she gently lay his limp body down upon the soft, warm sand. Though his eyes did not close, Andreth could tell he was deep in the throws of a beautiful dream. No longer held back by the fear that plagued her as a child, she plucked a lock of his long hair and stroked down its coiled length. It shimmered like golden silk in her fingers. A treasure she had long desired to possess. Her eyes then captured the exposed flesh of his back and in a temptation she could not resist, began to trace her hand up along its surface. Beneath the gentle touch of naked fingers, warm, elven skin yielded like soft velvet. Her body quivered with desire. How he stole her breath.

She then rose from her place beside him and headed toward the flowing water. The stars above shined their light upon her as the cold water kissed her feet. Staring down into the glassy surface of each wave, she saw her reflection. A shimmering star from the night sky caught in her hair, and she watched it sparkle. She had never looked so beautiful. As her mind drifted in her reflection at her feet, she saw Aegnor's head appearing behind her shoulder in the glassy surface,

"You have awakened so soon, Aegnor?" She whispered dreamily.

Then she felt hands encircling around her slender waist from behind. She felt his solid body press into her back and the sensation of warm lips folding into her ear. She breathed heavily as his hand encircled her throat, commanding her head to yield.

"Aegn...." she whispered breathlessly into the air, her entire body surrendering to his firm and possessive hold. Deep breaths of pleasure ghosted from her mouth as he whispered elven words of raw desire. She felt the rush of warm breath in her blushing ear, the heat from his body upon her back. His hold on her, undeniable. This was real. She spun around to claim his lips, yet as she did, she was met with the sight of Aegnor laying in the exact same spot she left him. She stood alone upon the shore. All the sensations she felt, gone like the passing wind. Afraid and confused, she shivered, for she had not known who had touched her, someone with the appearance of Aegnor, yet it was not.

She lay next to Aegnor for the remainder of that night, though no sleep came to her.

●●●

The sound of gulls mixed with the ocean's soft rhythmic song. Glittering water from the late morning sun greeted Aegnor as he finally stirred from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes, the brightness of the day seemed potent. From the shore, he heard laughter. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw a delicate figure dancing between the swells. Her long unbound sleek hair billowed and her broad grin of sheer delight welcomed his gaze. Her white dress removed, she was clad in only her thin shift. She held it high, her shapely legs whirling and splashing between the waves. Aegnor could not look away.

She noticed him staring at her from the sandy reeds and waving her hand, Andreth beckoned him to join her. Aegnor, like a parched puppy to a bowl of water, could not resist such an invitation. He slowly rose, his bones protesting every movement. He dusted the sand granules from his black leggings and bare chest. He slowly waded toward the water, toward Andreth. She waited, her hands still clutching the hem of her wet shift, her bare thighs withstanding every swell of cold wave. She tempted him deeper, till the water soaked his leggings at his muscular thighs. She placed her hand on his bare chest and he stopped, understanding her command. With a coy smile, she circled behind him, her hand sliding delicately around his arched shoulder and down the biceps of his robust arm. Suddenly without warning, Andreth placed two flat hands on his back and playfully pushed him into the oncoming wave. He tumbled into it and the water enveloped him. His form disappearing completely. Andreth's broad, playful grin soon died as he did not resurface.

"Aegnor?" She called, her face filling with concern.

There was no answer, just as panic seized her, Aegnor burst from the surface behind her and grabbed her. She screamed in surprise and excitement. Laughing heartfully, she tried to wriggle free, but his grib was absolute as he dragged her toward the waves. She resorted to begging for mercy before she was hurled into the cold splash of the ocean followed by Aegnor sardonic roars of melodic laughter rang out as she ran out toward the sand, drenched and chilled to the bone. She lifted up her soaked shift high and rang it out just as Aegnor joined her on the sand. His eyes were drawn to her beautiful, shapely legs as he approached her, a gaze she acknowledged with a coy smile.

"You have won, Aegnor. I can not best you," she confessed with a coy smile as he came towards her.

"Let us lay in the sun for a while, it will dry our garments much quicker," he replied softly and led her back to the spot by the reeds.

Aegnor pulled an exquisite blanket of deep purple out of the wooden box and flattened it upon the sand and he reclined back openly in the centre, gazing up at Andreth. There was a tense pause and, slowly, he placed his hand down beside him, inviting her to take the space next to him. She hesitated, something Aegnor picked up on immediately.

"Are you afraid, Andreth?" He murmured.

The intensity in his gaze made her tremble.

"I am a little... but not of you, Aegnor. Something happened last night... something I feel I can not explain," His expression softened and his gaze cooled. She slowly came and nestled down beside him. "Once you had surrendered to your exhaustion, I waded alone into the water, for I have never seen the ocean before. I saw you reflected within the pool, behind me," she paused and blushed, rather shy to explain further, "I felt you touch me, it was so real, but when I turned around... there was not but the wind behind me, and there right where I left you, you lay still. Silent as a sleeping bird,"

As he listened carefully, understanding washed over him. A thin smile stretched on his lips, "I know of what you speak of, there is no need to fear, Andreth,"

Her eyes lifted to him to see his smile reassuring her, "from the moment an elf is conceived within the womb, their fëa is created from that union, seperated from the body. We learn to harness its power even before our birth, it is the most intimate gift we share. When our needs are strongest, it may even take form of its own in our likeness and act on our desires. What touched you was not me, but my fëa, desiring to be near you." He explained as best he could.

"Do you mean to tell me that what I saw reflected in the water... was a spirit? Your spirit!?" She gasped.

"If that is the term men have for them...yes," He shrugged

She thought about it for a minute, though it unnerved her. A wave trembled through her as she remembered that night. How it held her and the whispers of longings in her ear. So intense and filled with desire.

"Do all elves have this ability?" She asked curiously.

"Yes!" He laughed softly, "for it to take such a manifestation as the one you have described is rare, it is an aspect of elven love that is reserved only between spouses... once they are joined," he concluded.

Her curiosity fully sparked, she could not help her excitement to learn more.

"Do you mean through matrimony? Is that how elves wed one another?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with extreme wonder. Aegnor hesitated before answering, as if unsure of her question.

"It is the lifeblood of all elven marriages. A bond so intense and intimate, it can never be felt with another. Once joined, it binds them together for a lifetime. No other force in the world can rival its strength, nor sever its connection," he answered evenly.

"But how is it done, Aegnor?" She asked more impatiently than she realised, "what must be done to attain such a transient bonding? Is it by some ritual preformed during the marriage ceremony?"

Aegnor shifted slightly, leaning forward.

"An elven wedding ceremony is an important step in bringing two elves together, yes... but it is not the avenue that binds them, no. It is merely a formality, not governed by any law nor requirement. Elven mates can seek to bind themselves without ceremony, but doing so brings a degree of shame and disgrace to their kin."

Her smile slowly faded, as she grappled with the seriousness in his tone. Through controlled slow breaths, he steadied is voice and looked directly into her eyes, speaking softly "It is only through the shared embrace of our intimate bodies can our feäs bind to one another," 

Though still confused at his words, Andreth could not help but quiver at the proximity of their faces, and the deep, rich purrs of his tone. After a long, tense pause, he stroked her face, her breath stopped and he slowly continued, "the final act... losing ourselves completely to the bliss of shared pleasure between the sheets, binding us eternally as mates,"

A ghostly breath caught in her throat. Her lips relaxed as her intense eyes focused on him. Finally, she understood. She was suddenly aware of her blushing cheeks and turned shy, her body tensing.

"I see....," she stuttered, unsure of how to respond, she tucked her hair behind her ear, blushing profusely under his intense gaze, "For my people... marriage is a vital step before such things, it is what opens the doors to it. To forgo it is taboo, and judged accordingly... I always assumed it was the same for elves," she muttered.

A lingering pause followed, Andreths gaze followed the sparkle upon the vast blue ocean as Aegnor's lingered on her. The softness of her face, illuminated in the sun. The blush in her cheeks and the redness of her ears. Her shyness intrigued him. Her beauty hypnotised him. Finally, she spoke.

"It is a custom of the strictest expectations... never to indulge the pleasures of the body until marriage is first in place..." Finally her eyes dropped to her hands in her lap, a look of sincere uncertainty darkened her expression "I do not know if I can let go of such principles,"

The heavy silence lingered there between them, filled with the crashing of waves. Andreth, her shoulders tense, deep in her thoughts, felt a warm hand on hers. Aegnor slowly brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. A tender smile and warm gaze soothed her nerves and calmed her racing thoughts

"My lady," he whispered gently. His eyes filled with affection and tender love. She had almost forgotten he was her closest friend. One who would never compromise her. A short while later, they rose from the spot to set off on their journey to explore their new land together, leaving the beach behind. They walked a long distance through trees and forests. Neither complaining of the effort, for too in love were they to care.

Within a forest of tall trees and Andreth could not resist but initiate playful game of hide and seek with Aegnor. Laughing as though they were children playing together, they dived behind trees and evaded the other. As Andreth was hiding behind a very large oak tree, she poked her head out to check if he was looking for her. Suddenly, Aegnor appeared and seized her from behind a tree. She squealed and chortled and tried to untangle herself from his grasp. The symphony of their melded laughter harmonised in the sweet air. No longer held back by the walls that once stopped them. Finally, Aegnor pinned her laughing body to the tree, pressing against her and she surrendered, proclaiming him the victor.

In that moment, their gazes locked and the laughter died and the smiles faded. It no longer seemed a game to them. Aegnor's palms steadily melded with hers, and their breathing shifted. His eyes, intense and dark fixed upon her with almost predatory focus. Racing hearts leaped, the vibration from her chest, pressed against his. A deep sigh from Andreth betrayed her rising desire. Suddenly without a word, Aegnors grip on her arms loosened and he let go, stepping back. He then picked up their things, and threw them over his shoulder and walked on, leaving Andreth to follow.

Utterly torn between her head and her heart, a tormented Andreth slowly rose from the tree and followed a short distance. Aegnor looked up between the parting of tree branches overhead and saw a puffs of steam from behind the forests edge. He beckoned Andreth to come closer an showed her his findings. Weary from the long journey on foot, they were both intrigued by the steam. It took them half the day to reach the edge and there, secluded in a clearing surrounded by blossom trees, a hidden spring. Andreth gasped at the beauty before her. Pink blossom petals rained down upon them and the spring. Blanketing the surface in a thick coat of pink petals. Taking his hand, she pulled the limping Aegnor up so he may inspect the large, deep pool for himself.

"It is just as the healing springs in Tirion," he remarked, "we would bathe in them as children, my siblings and I," he added.

He dipped his hand in and pulled it out. Steam rolled off his fingers, curling into the air. The water was perfect. He removed his tunic, Andreth watched as the soft fabric slid off his skin and onto the stone lips of the spring. Every muscle and tendon bulged and strained beneath his skin. Scars from many battles long faught and won. His body told one of experience and endurance. He slowly descended into the pool. His leggings soaked up the steamy water. The petals rippling with every movement. Andreth watched him from the edge. Aegnor floated weightlessly into the centre, soaked in the steam. He unravelled completely in its melting embrace. He turned around to see her still form on the edge. Her thin white shift billowing gently. Smiling, he raised his hand to her. An invitation to share this experience with him.

Clutching her netted bag of small belongings, she hesitated. After what seemed like an eternity, she slowly removed her bag and placed it down. Carefully, she descended the lip and slipped one foot into the deep cerulean spring. She gasped as the water kissed her skin, it was divine. Tingles of delight rippled through her body, inviting her further into its well. Aegnor watched with devouring eyes as she lifted her shift higher, the steaming water traveling further up her thighs until the bottom half of her body was completely submerged as she drifted toward him. She was transfixed by Aegnor's hardened stare and intense smoulder as she approached. His wet skin and hair highlighting every angle in his face, as steam swirled between them. Feeling exposed in her wet thin shift clinging to her body, she pulled her arms into her chest as she stopped before him. Blushing heavily, she could not meet his gaze. She turned around, turning her back to him, her fear taking over her. He stood behind her, still as an unmoving statue. She felt his breath upon her neck. She trembled violently, panic and passion warring within her.

She wanted him, she wanted him for so long. They had been given a second chance. All she ever desired was in her grasp. Would she now let some miniscule ruling made by men stand in their way?

Slowly, her arms fell from her chest and hung at her sides. She had made her decision.

With careful measure, she turned around to face him again. Their gaze lingered, each searching the other. Then, pale trembling hands lifted from the water and onto Aegnor's bare chest. The solid curves of his muscular torso glided beneath her feather light hands and they drifted upwards and towards his neck and encircled it's thick column. Aegnor surrendered to her caress, closing his eyes, he slowly bent to her touch. Steam rolled from their skin as their faces inched closer. Beneath the rain of blossom petals, lips touched in a searing kiss. In the war of passion and panic, passion claimed its victory within her and she released the tension she had bottled in. She pulled Aegnor in, her breath rising with heat, she welcomed him to taste her deeper. Their bodies half submerged in the steaming water pressed together as each fell deeper into the other. Her heart pounded furiously as lips and tongues melded with fervour. Aegnor kissed Andreth with a consuming hunger, the like of which she had never known. A searing promise of pleasures soon to come.