"Limerence."

My head snaps up in surprise as my sister suddenly claps her hands together before pointing at me with a wide grin and eyes shining with delight.

"Um... what?" I ask her, my mouth filled with pie.

"Limerence!" she exclaims, staring at me with sudden realization.

"What does limerence even mean?" I question, slightly alarmed at her behavior, "And what does that have to do with... me?"

She looks up at the ceiling, laughing and placing her fingers on her temples as if internally thanking Eru for giving her a mind to think with. "Limerence is another word for infatuation," she says, and I feel my face pale at her words, "It all makes sense now! Your sudden detachment, your far away expression. I finally understand!"

She walks around the breakfast table toward me. "Is it Ruvyn? Have you been seeing him secretly?" she asks in excitement.

I choke on my pie. I start coughing really hard, my eyes watering, and Gweyr pats my back. Her laugh rings about the room as she rubs my back soothingly. "Are you alright?"

I quickly drink water to chase down the last bits of pie lodged in my throat before looking down at my lap, my face burning in embarrassment. What do I say to her? Do I lie? Do I confess? "I-I... you are right," I admit shyly, "Limerence."

She grins, and she places her hand on my shoulder, pulling out the seat beside me and sitting down. "It is Ruvyn, is it not?" she questions with a smile, "The two of you make a beautiful match."

I shake my head quickly. "No," I reply quietly, scared of her reaction.

Her eyes widen in surprise. "Oh," she says, falling silent for a moment, "Then... who?"

I sigh, closing my eyes tightly. I did not wish for her to know, but I could not bring myself to lie to her. "His name is 'Dan. I met him in the forest last week, and I have been meeting him in the clearing everyday since."

She stares at me for a moment before her lips turn up into a slight smirk. "So this is why you were so against Ruvyn," she says and shakes her head, a laugh escaping her lips, "You could have just told me the truth."

"I thought it would make you upset," I say, still marveling at her acceptance.

She rolls her eyes, and then she leans forward and tucks a stray curl behind my ear in a very motherly way. "Why would your happiness upset me, Taenya?" she questions, "Of course I am not angry! Ruvyn is very kind and handsome, but you very obviously had no feelings for him. I would never force you to be with anyone, for that is not true happiness. Finding your soulmate is blissful, dear sister, and I would not want you to miss out on that feeling for anything."

I nod. "Okay," I respond awkwardly. We have never really had this conversation before, and I find myself at a loss for words. Honestly, Gweyr has never really spoken about males... ever. She only teases me if she sees someone she thinks would make a good match for me, but other than that, there is nothing to discuss. She never went into a full depth conversation about soulmates and such since I hit womanhood, when a mother usually speaks with her daughter about the expectations of marriage. That conversation is something I would never wish to repeat, but now, sitting here with her and telling her of my new, foreign and strange feelings for 'Dan is almost just as awkward for me. She seems perfectly at ease, though.

"Well," my sister says, drawing out the word in a sing-song voice, "Tell me of him."

I stare at her cluelessly, and she sighs and rolls her eyes again. "Taenya, what does he look like? What are his interests? His character: how is it?"

"Oh," I say quietly, "'Dan is so very kind, and he is every bit of a gentleman, just as he should be. He is very tall and lean- much like Falenas in that aspect- but he has a certain masculinity to his physique that shows he is a master swordsman, not just an archer. He even told me that he trains with both! His skin is the perfect balance between pale and browned, and his eyes-."

I blink. My voice trails off as I realize how ridiculous I must sound, and I blush. Gweyr giggles at me and squeezes my hand. "Oh, Taenya, never change. Your innocence is so adorable."

I frown at her words. She always speaks of me as if I am a child, and it annoys me.

"Well, he certainly sounds charming," she says with a smile, "Tell me a bit more, if you do not mind. What about his eyes?"

I look down in thought. "They are beautiful," I tell her softly, feeling embarrassed, "I do not know what exactly it is about them-or about him for that matter- that enraptures me so. His eyes are a lovely silver color that I have never seen before, and he always looks so deeply into my eyes that sometimes I wonder if he can read my mind. His expression is usually solemn, but I can always see the laughter and emotions swimming in his eyes. But I have noticed that the more time I spend with him, the more he smiles. I cannot help but hope it is because he enjoys my company as much as I enjoy his."

My sister smiles brilliantly. "An ellon will not seek out your company so ardently if he does not fancy you," she replies, and I feel a smile pull at my lips.

"He lives in Rivendell," I say to her, "His father is a healer. I wonder if father might have known him."

She looks at me in confusion. "His father? Why, last time I visited Rivendell, there were only a few healers and they were all very young, just apprentices. There was only one older elleth and Lord Elrond... did 'Dan and his family only just move to Imladris?"

My eyebrows furrow. "No, I do not think so. He has never spoken of living anywhere else."

All looks of suspicion vanish from her expression, and she shrugs. "Well, I have not visited in several weeks. His father might not work on the days I have visited."

I nod, but that tiny sliver of suspicion never leaves my heart. He would not lie... would he? No. 'Dan would never lie to me, especially over something as silly as his father's occupation. Nevertheless, I remain slightly unconvinced.

"You are probably right," I say.

"Anyway, you should bring him here one day. I will cook supper again. I think you will enjoy this one much more than last week," she says with an amused smile.

I smile and nod. "Do not get me wrong, I appreciate that you and Falenas cared so much to bring Ruvyn here. I am sure that maybe if my head had not been turned by 'Dan, I might could have fallen in love with him. But now, I cannot picture feeling this way about anyone but 'Dan. Oh, Gweyr, you will love him," I tell her.

She smiles brightly. "I will love anyone that managed to capture your attention. He must be very special to have enchanted such a pure soul as yours," she says.

We both fall silent when we hear the front door open and close, and Gweyr's eyes light up as soft footsteps approach the dining room. I look to the door and Faenas enters, a suspicious look on his face. He raises his eyebrows at us. "Are the two of you gossiping? Should I leave?" he asks amusedly.

Gweyr shoots up from her seat, and Falenas meets her halfway, pulling her to him

tightly. I stand and quietly begin to leave the room to give them privacy as they speak of how much they missed one another. I get to the door and am almost free, but Gweyr's voice stops me dead in my tracks.

"Taenya?" she questions, and I turn to look at her. She is still wrapped up in Falenas's arms, and he looks between Gweyr and me in confusion. "Do you not have something to say to Falenas?"

I look at her in dread. Surely she does not expect me to pour my heart out to Falenas about 'Dan. I inhale slowly. "You must get cleaned up and dressed," I say quietly, and I turn and walk through the door, calling out, "We are going to have company for supper."

_______

"Taenya!" 'Dan calls out merrily when I walk into the clearing late that afternoon. He is perched on a thick tree branch like a bird, and I laugh when I see him.

"'Dan, please, do be careful," I say to him, still laughing, "You may be a healer, but, unfortunately, I am not." I walk closer to him, and I stand under the branch he is sitting on.

He chuckles, and he reaches down to me. "Well, are you coming up or not?" he asks with a handsome grin when I hesitate to take his hand.

I smile at him, the right corner of my mouth twitching up amusedly, and I take his hand. My heart picks up speed in my chest as he helps me climb up into the tree. I step on the branch underneath the one he is sitting on, but my foot slips and I wobble unsteadily for a moment. 'Dan catches me by the waist, and pulls me toward him, his warm hands wrapped around my waist. My heart soars in fear still, afraid that I could have fallen, but it beats for an entirely different reason when I look up and meet 'Dan's gaze.

His face is only a few inches from mine, and his silver eyes are smoldering. I freeze under his gaze having no idea what to do or what to say. His breath caresses my skin, and I exhale shakily, suddenly extremely nervous. My cheeks burn as I become overly aware of his hands on my ribs, the warmth and strength of them sending my mind into a flurry of brief panic. As he is holding me, I become aware of the musky scent of his skin, and I wonder whether it is a bad thing that I like it very much. His scent is comforting, like a thick blanket in the winter, and I am sure that my confusion about my emotions shows clearly on my face.

My hands are rested on his chest, and I can feel his heart beating rapidly underneath my hand. His chest is warm and muscular, and I blush harder, wanting to take my hands away. 'Dan surprises me when he moves forward slowly, his face coming closer to mine. Am I supposed to let him kiss? Do I want him to kiss me?

Making up my mind, I look away from his eyes, breaking the moment, and he releases me from his hold as I climb up to sit next to him. I do want to kiss him, but I know that it should not happen so early on. I do not even know how I feel about him exactly, so doing such a thing is not wise, even if my heart longs for it. I glance over to see that he seems to be lost in thought, his gaze looking ahead of us into the air. He has one leg dangling from the limb with the other propped up, his arm resting on his knee.

His hair falls down his shoulders unbound, like it usually does, and a silvery, silken tunic clings to his muscular body in a way that makes me flush all over again at the thought. He wears black pants and leather boots, and I notice a silver chain around his neck, the end hidden underneath his tunic. His gaze is serious as he looks off into the air in thought, and I cannot help but wish to see him smile again.

"Did you sleep well?" I ask him, searching for a topic to discuss.

He looks over at me, his smile coming back, and I feel relieved knowing that I did not hurt his feelings by pulling away from him. "I did, thank you," he says, "Did you?"

My nose scrunches as I remember tossing and turning last night, thoughts of his silver eyes and the feelings he gives me whirling around in my mind. "Not really," I reply honestly, and I give him a small smile, "But I feel fine."

His eyebrows pull together. "Well, if you start to feel tired, tell me, and I will escort you home."

"About that," I say hesitantly, "Would you... would you maybe like to come over for dinner tonight?" I can tell I am blushing, but I continue to look at him as his eyes search over my face.

"Really? I thought Gweyr and Falenas did not know of me," he says, and I feel my cheeks burn hotter in embarrassment. If only he knew that I confessed my feelings for him to Gweyr. Oh, I hope this ends well.

I finally look away, sure that my face must be the color of a tomato. "I told them about you this morning, and my sister told me to invite you."

He chuckles. "Then I accept," he replies, and I turn to look at him in surprise, "I have been wanting to meet them for a while now."

A grin spreads across my lips, and I breathe deeply as a soft breeze floats up to us, the leaves dancing around us beautifully. I fidget with the material of my dress, running it through my fingers. "I think you will like them," I tell him, "And I know that they will love you."

He raises his eyebrow at me with a handsome smirk. "What makes you say that?"

I shrug awkwardly. "They like most anyone," I say, quickly climbing out of the tree in order to avoid further questioning, "Well, I think we should be on our way. The sun is starting to sink, and Gweyr will be expecting us."

He follows me, a broad grin adorning his face, and I try to figure out why he seems so happy. Maybe it is because he is finally allowed to walk me home. We walk in silence for a while, and I notice that Elladan's gaze is intently observing our surroundings, as if he is trying to memorize the way to my house. I look away, wondering how Falenas and Gweyr will act. Hopefully, they will not be embarrassing, but, from the way I spoke of him to my sister today, I would not be surprised if they did embarrass me. Surely, my sister will not be prepared for just how gorgeous he is. I mean, sometimes I am afraid I might pass out when I am around him because I forget to breathe. It is strange to have someone affect me so. Strange, but pleasing.

I glance over at him when I feel him staring at me, and I quickly avert my gaze. As we are walking, his silver eyes are intent on me now instead of the scenery around us. He analyzes me carefully, and his gaze is as heavy as a touch. My heart beats loudly in my chest as my house comes into view, and I pray to Eru that things will go well.

"This is your house?" 'Dan questions me, and I nod, embarrassed. Surely, he must be used to fine and expensive things since he is from Rivendell. My small cottage must be an eyesore since my family is so poor.

"Yes," I say quietly, not wanting to see his reaction.

He is quiet for several moments as we near it, and my heart sinks. I do not want him to think badly of me for my poor fortune.

"'Tis beautiful," he breathes, and I look at him, astonished. Surely I misheard him? But no, his eyes are bright with interest and honesty, and he looks at me with a handsome grin. "It seems that I say that to you a lot. I cannot help it, though. Everything about you is beautiful: your past, your interests, your clearing in the forest... you."

I blush seemingly right down to my toes. "Nothing about me is beautiful. My house is small and leaks when it rains. My past is tragic, and my interests are odd. The clearing is just a clearing, 'Dan. There is nothing special about it. And I am most certainly not beautiful. I may be poor, but I can afford a mirror or two. When you see my sister, you will understand that I am plain."

He shakes his head and chuckles. "You are looking on the wrong side of things, Taenya," he says, and my breath catches in my throat as he says my name, "Your house was built by your parents, and it holds their memory within. Just looking at it I can see the hardwork that went into building it and the laughter and sweet memories that were surely made within. Your parents live on. Their souls are painted on the walls, and their hearts beat warmth and happiness into it."

I stop a few yards away from the porch, and he does, too, but he continues to speak. "Your past was tragic, but it is beautiful because of the way you speak of it. You speak of your parents as if they are here everyday, waiting for you to come home. As for your interests, they are most certainly odd, and that is what makes them so beautiful. You are not like the others, Taenya. You see things in a different way than everyone else. You care not for wealth or status. You believe strongly in kindness and love. Whilst other ellith are worrying over expensive ball gowns, jewelry, and titles, you are here in this humble cottage. You are out in the forest, not caring about dirtying your gown. You accepted my friendship without question, not knowing a single thing about me," he stops, breathless, and he stares deeply into my eyes as if he is trying to somehow make me understand the secret feelings swirling in his eyes like a silver thunderstorm, "And I never wish to hear you call yourself plain ever again. Taenya, you are the most beautiful elleth I have ever laid eyes upon. Not just because of all the beautiful things about you like your past, your house, your personality. No, you are simply beautiful, from your forest green eyes to your crimson hair. I would be lying if I told you that you have not been on my mind every moment since I first met you."

I stare at him, tears pooling in my eyes. My heart aches in my chest hearing him say such things. My life... beautiful? "'Dan," I breathe, "I do not know what to say. No one has ever told me such things."

He steps closer to me, gently brushing away a tear that escapes my eyes. His warmth radiates from his body, and his masculine scent clouds my mind. "You do not have to say anything," he replies, his voice low, "I just wanted you to know how I feel."

I meet his silver gaze, and my breath catches in my throat. His eyes: oh, how I love them. They are always so radiant, but now as he pours his heart out to me they seem to glow with beauty. There is something about him, the way he carries himself with such grace, yet also defiance, that would make anyone think he is royal. And the way he looks at me now makes me feel like a royal myself.

I hear my sister's voice floating from the house as she speaks to Falenas, and I look away from 'Dan. I swallow thickly. "Come," I say, and I walk up the steps of the porch and open the front door.

'Dan follows me, seeming perfectly at ease, yet I cannot get rid of the nerves that plague my body. I walk through the small cottage hallways until I come to the dining room, and I stop at the open door, waiting to get Falenas's and Gweyr's attention. They both are laughing. Falenas is seated at the dining table, and Gweyr is placing the food on the table. When they notice my presence, they both look up and smile, and I hold my breath as their eyes travel to 'Dan who is behind me. I watch in confusion as their smiles instantly vanish, and Falenas shoots up from his place at the table, almost knocking it over. He bows lowly, and Gweyr curtsies.

"My L-," Falenas starts to say, but 'Dan cuts him off, bowing to them.

"My name is 'Dan," he states firmly, a polite smile on his face, "Thank you both so much for your generous offer. I am very happy to be here."

I watch as Falenas and my sister both look at each other, seemingly lost. "U-um," Gweyr stammers, "Yes, well, you are welcome anytime... 'Dan. Please, take a seat."

He moves to sit down, pulling out my chair for me. I smile at him in thanks, sitting down, and he sits in the chair beside me. I look up and meet the gaze of Falenas, and he looks between 'Dan and me in utter confusion. I try not to feel badly about myself since they both are obviously wondering how I managed to get an ellon as handsome as 'Dan to be my friend.

Gweyr laughs awkwardly, and my eyebrows furrow in confusion. Why are they acting this way? They certainly did not act like this with Ruvyn. "I should have cooked a better meal," she says worriedly to 'Dan, "But this is all I had today."

'Dan shakes his head, smiling at her. "This is perfect," he says, and I laugh as he bites into a piece of pie. He gives me a secretive smirk.

"I see you love the pie," I say slyly, and he chuckles deeply.

"If I remember correctly, my lady, you have a certain fondness for pie, as well," he says teasingly, and he turns to look at Gweyr, "Tell me, do you have a secret recipe for this pie? I have never eaten anything quite this delicious before."

Gweyr blushes. She blushes. "Oh, it was a recipe of my mother's. She was a wonderful cook."

I try to hide my smile. I told her that he was handsome, but she did not believe me, apparently. "Ah," 'Dan replies, "I believe it."

Falenas, who has failed to speak this entire time, clears his throat and looks at 'Dan. "May I speak to you alone after we eat?" he asks, and I freeze.

'Dan nods calmly. "Of course. I would actually like to speak to you both," he replies.

Gweyr nods. "Yes, of course."

I stare at them all, feeling as if I am missing something. Why is everyone acting so strange?

"Taenya speaks 'oft of you both," 'Dan says after a few moments. The light in the dining room shines down upon him, casting a golden halo of light on his raven colored hair. In his silver tunic and black pants, he looks as if he does not belong in our tiny, rundown dining room. He looks regal, sitting tall and straight, the fabric of his tunic looking more expensive than that of the nicest dress I own.

Gweyr's eyes shift over to me, and she smiles happily, seeming to be more at ease than earlier. "Really? That is very sweet of her. I am always speaking of her to the villagers of Willowdale. I am sure they get very annoyed with me."

'Dan chuckles lowly. "You are a seamstress, correct?" he questions.

My sister nods. "Yes, I am," she replies, "I love my job very much, though, I wish it brought a better living to Taenya."

'Dan glances at me for a moment before answering. "Taenya is very happy with her life, from what she has told me. I have found that the smallest things in life are the most important. I love this house and everything Taenya has told me of your lives. I wish that I could live such a life."

Gweyr looks shocked, her face paling. "Really?"

'Dan smiles amusedly. "Yes."

After that, the conversations die down, and we eat. 'Dan and I speak a lot, but my sister and her husband remain suspiciously quiet. When we finish eating, 'Dan, Falenas, and Gweyr leave the room, leaving me to sit and wonder what is going on. Do they suspect that my relationship with 'Dan is something very serious? If so, I am glad that I do not have to hear their conversation. All I am able to hear is mumbling from the other room, and I briefly consider eavesdropping before deciding against it.

_____

Elladan POV

"My lord," Falenas mutters the second the door shuts behind us, "What has happened? Has Taenya done something bad?"

I shake my head, chuckling lightly. "No, no. Taenya has done nothing to offend me."

"Then why are you here?" Gweyr inquires, "Not that we do not feel honored by your company. We are just confused."
"I am here because your sister invited me, and I wished to attend."

Falenas shakes his head. "How did you meet her? In the forest? That is what she told us."

"She has spoken the truth," I reply, "I was going for a ride in the forest last week, and that is where I stumbled upon her."

"You are... fond of her?" Gweyr whispers, her eyes and tone of voice filled with doubt and surprise.

I nod confidently. "I am. She is like no other I have ever met, and I wish to know her better. That is, if I have your permission," I say, looking between the two of them hopefully.

They glance at each other for a moment before Gweyr speaks up. "Of course. We want what is best for her, and if she wishes to be with you then we have no problem with it," she says lowly, "But what I do wish to know is why she calls you 'Dan. She acts as if she does not know who you are."

I look down, feeling guilty under their prying gazes. "I did not tell her of who I truly am. I-I do not wish for her to treat me differently. When we met, she was so different and treated me as her equal. I do not want to ruin that."

Falenas eyes me carefully. "You are telling me that Taenya has no idea who you are? Not in the slightest?"

I shake my head, and Gweyr sighs.

"I do not think it is wise, my Lord," she says softly, her eyebrows scrunched together, "Of course, you are entitled to making such decisions, but I know my sister. When she finds out, she will be hurt deeply."

I fall silent for a moment, wondering whether she is right or not. Am I truly only hurting her? I desire her happiness, and I thought that she would be happier if she was oblivious to it all. "She has lived in the forest her whole life," I begin, "She is innocent and naive. I do not want to expose her to the harsh realities of a life like mine. Those qualities are what I admire and adore most about her. I do not want to ruin them."

They are both quiet for a moment. Gweyr sighs and then she smiles and pats my shoulder softly. "Well, we are happy that she has found you," she says kindly, "And you are always welcome here. Now, let us go back in."

I follow them back into the dining room, and I watch as Taenya stands from her seat.

"Falenas and I are going to get ready for bed, alright?" Gweyr says to Taenya

before turning to me, "You can stay as long as you wish, 'Dan."

I bow to her in thanks, and I watch silently as they exit the room, leaving me alone with Taenya. The soft light coming from the candles in the corner of the room washes over her skin ethereally, and I find myself walking toward her. I stop only a foot away from her, and she looks up at me from beneath her thick eyelashes. Not knowing what to say, I only look at her, admiring her beauty.

She looks down, her eyes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly. "Thank you for coming. I had fun, and it seems as if my sister and Falenas like you very much," she says, speaking softly.

I take her hand in mine, bringing it to my lips. "Thank you for inviting me. I hope to come again sometime?" I say, phrasing the statement as a question.

She nods, smiling up at me. "I would like that very much."

I release her hand reluctantly, and I turn to leave.

"Wait," Taenya says, "Will you be able to find your way back alone?"

I smile at her over my shoulder. "Yes, you need not worry," I tell her, and I begin walking once again, "I will see you tomorrow."

As I walk through the dark forest, the crickets chirping around me in unison, I think of her. My heart is strangely pained as I journey further and further away from her home, but I smile to myself knowing that I will get to see her again tomorrow. My mother was right when she said that Elven souls are complicated. I know without a doubt that my own has reached out for Taenya's in a way that cannot be broken or severed. Taenya and I are connected, and being away from her feels horrible. But it is worth it. The pain is worth it because I care for her, more so than I ever have for anyone else. Taenya has woven her way into my heart, and I do not plan on ever letting her leave.

_____________

A/N: Sorry for the wait, but I hope the extremely long chapter makes up for it. :)

Love,

Josie <3