Sigilion's Story

I returned to our room after a day on the training grounds, covered in mud. My steps were heavy with the knowledge that this could well be the last night I would hold my beloved. The heaviness growing in my heart fed my fear for the morrow. Opening the door, my heart lightened to see both of my beloveds cuddling together. Faerfaen was speaking of her fears for her ada and begging him to come on our picnic with us, instead of staying with Lord Elrond. Fighting back grief, I addressed her fears, trying to cheer her with the thought that Lord Elrond was going to heal her ada and that he would soon be able to do many more things with her. While this seemed to lift her heart somewhat, I could see the pleading in Carth's gaze for me to do more.

Grinning at our little one, I said the magic words. "Faerfaen, I have a surprise for you tomorrow." Suddenly, her mind was no longer on the surgery and what was to come, but on questioning me until I felt my head would explode. I finally had to put a halt to her questions saying that if I told her what the surprise was, it would no longer be one. I had to chuckle as she flopped back on the bed with a pout, then proceeded to giggle madly as Carth tickled her. I would have loved to join them, but in my muddied state dared not.

Finally, Faerfaen kissed her ada sweetly and hugged him tightly, telling him she would see him tomorrow when he was all better. I could only pray that she would be able to do so, for I knew not how she would handle it otherwise. Then she came to give me a hug, but stopped, wrinkling her perfect little nose at me, her green eyes twinkling with happiness. She informed me with all seriousness that I needed as bath and that she loved me anyways, before skipping out of our room and heading back to her aunts.

Carth and I were both still chuckling minutes later, when I could wait no longer. "When?" It was all I needed to ask, for my beloved knew exactly what I needed to know. He informed me that he was to report to Lord Elrond within the hour and a hand squeezed my heart. I wanted badly to hold him in my arms one last time, yet knew that it was wishful thinking at this moment. I asked him to bathe with me and grinned playfully when he accepted.

Hurrying in to start the bathwater, I reflected on our time together so far, a gentle smile on my lips. However, this changed to a frown as my fears surrounding the surgery came to the fore and a great foreboding filled me. Steeling my nerve, I vowed to let none of my insecurities show this eve and to try to soothe my lover to the best of my ability.

I underdressed and caught sight of myself in the mirror, laughing at the painted elf that laughed back at me. It was as if I was a brown elf with flesh colored clothing painted on, the mud caked to every exposed bit of skin and hair. Asking him if he needed any help and receiving a negative response, I lowered myself into the water and immediately ducked my head, then, surfacing washed the mud from my body and began to wash my hair. When Carth lowered himself into the water and shooed my hands away, I sighed in bliss to feel his fingers massaging my scalp. Ever playful, my beloved dunked me, laughing as I came up sputtering, yet with hair rinsed clean. I stole a quick kiss, before snuggling with him until the water began to cool.

We still made no move to leave the water until finally, I forced myself to rise and leave the water. Rapidly toweling myself, I handed him his crutch and a fresh towel. Guiding him into the bedroom, I had him sit while I fetched us both clothing and watched him dress, memorizing his form and burning into my memory just in case. His teasing gaze jolted me from my musings and I rapidly dressed and closed the distance between us to kiss him reverently. We held each other as long as we dare, before I allowed him to finish packing. I carried his bag and wrapped my arm around his waist as we made our way to the halls of healing, and each step felt like we were walking closer to our doom.

Lord Elrond allowed me to stay the night with my beloved; I think he felt that I would calm Carth's fears. I had not the heart to admit that Carth would be calming my fears. I held Carth tightly that night, my head upon his chest. I needed that comfort of his heartbeat thudding in my ear, his chest rising and falling with every breath. My fear grew with each passing moment, that I would never again know his warm embrace, his love, his gentle caress. I did not find refuge in sleep that night, refusing to lose one moment of his closeness.