As soon as we emerged from the tent there was loud cheering coming from a large crowd of elves that were gathered there. Chataya held up his hands for silence.

"I'm afraid there has been no bonding as of yet. But we shall all be patient, and accept into our clan Claresa of Splethantown when she is ready. I am sure that she thanks you for the welcome she has already received. It will be announced when the bonding is to be performed."

I expected some disappointed sounds to come from the assembled elves, but none of them said a word. Some turned to go, while others came forward and touched the hand that wasn't trapped in Lorien's, just like before. We waited until they'd finished, then Chataya turned to me, his blue eyes kind.

"I hope you will think about all we've told you. If you have more questions that either Lorien or Varen cannot answer for you, you are always welcome to come here."

"Thank you, Chataya."

"You're most welcome. And now I must bid you good day." He squeezed my hand, and did the same with Lorien and Varen. Maybe it was some sort of elven greeting and farewell custom. I supposed I would have to get used to it.

Chataya went back into the giant tent, and Varen led us back the way we'd come. She walked a few yards ahead of us, and I wondered why when Lorien spoke from his place beside me.

"I knew Varen would make a good shapar. She has a way of knowing when people need some space and a little time to talk. You don't mind, do you? Usually we would pick the shapar together, someone we both knew, but, obviously, we didn't know any of the same people. And then when I told everyone what happened, well... there was a lot of confusion, and then the rituals, which kept me from seeing you, and by that time it was certain about the Alushaliel, so I had to choose before I could go find you, because, you know, we couldn't be alone together, so-"

"Lorien, could you please just... slow down a little?" He blinked at me, then looked at the ground sheepishly.

"Forgive me, I... I'm just excited, I suppose."

"My human brain is just a bit too slow for you, that's all," I said, only half joking. I was feeling immensely inferior and out of my depth next to this flawlessly gorgeous elf, who by some strange magic wanted me to marry him.

He stopped abruptly, pulling me to a halt as well. I wondered what I had said wrong. I had to tilt my head back all the way so I could see his eyes, which were staring intensely back at me.

"Don't sell yourself short like that," he said softly. "I can see that you're intelligent, anyone can see that. I just need to learn to explain myself better." He looked into my eyes for a moment more, then we continued walking. We were silent for a while, then Lorien spoke again.

"So... do you mind if Varen is our shapar?"

"Oh, no, no, I don't mind... What exactly does a shapar do?"

"Well, their main duty is to make sure that Aliels do not have... inappropriate relations before the bonding."

"And bonding is like marriage?"

"Yes, exactly." I thought back to how all of the elves were waiting for us to emerge from the tent.

"It seemed that everyone was waiting just to hear about it. Is that normal?"

"A bonding is a very special event in every elf's life. Many try to be at any bonding they can. Also, there is the fact that you're human... and my position might have contributed to so many wanting to witness it."

"Your position?"

"Uh... my father is sort of the, uh... ruler of our clan. We call it Vale-zrah, but I believe your word for it is king." Now it was my turn to halt our walk.

"You're a prince!?!"

"I suppose you could say that. I will take over the leadership of our clan when my father has lived out all his days. But I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Elves live very long lives, and it is unlikely that it should happen at a time to affect you at all." He paused. "I'm so sorry, that sounded completely wrong coming out of my mouth. My goodness, I keep saying all the wrong things, please forgive me..."

"It's alright. I have a feeling it's going to take a while before we both stop saying the wrong things."

"I think you're right. But please, do tell me when I have said the wrong thing, so I know, and I won't ever do it again."

"Only if you do the same for me." He smirked.

"It's a deal." We lapsed into silence for a bit, but I had so many questions, I couldn't keep quiet for long.

"Lorien? When we came out of the tent, Chataya said something about welcoming me into the clan. What does that mean?"

"Usually, though there have been a few times when this hasn't been the case, the female would leave her clan and join her Aliel's clan, but she is always welcome in both."

"So it just means that I'll be going with you, after we're married?"

"Yes. But... I understand that you have a life here as well, and... that you may not want to leave it."

"I don't know yet... there is so much to think about..."

"Of course. I know that this must be a lot to take in." He paused. "Claresa, there is something I must ask you." He paused again, looking at me, and I looked back expectantly. "Did you... was there... how do I say this... Varen told me that she asked you if you were already married..."

"Yes, she did, and no, I'm not."

"That's what she said, but... I guess I'm trying to ask you if there is someone else, not someone you're married to, but someone you... care about, in that way. Does that make any sense?"

"Yes, it makes sense. And no, there's no one. You don't need to worry on that account. Could I ask you the same question?" I asked tentatively.

"Me? No, of course not! No, for an elf the Alushaliel is everything. It's just not possible for us to form other attachments like that. It's not in our nature."

"I wanted to ask as well... how did you know that the Alushaliel... claimed us, is that right?" Lorien sighed and squeezed the hand he had held since we'd left the tent.

"I knew the moment I first saw you. You were watching me, but not seeing me at the same time, as if you were distracted by your thoughts. Then you did see me, and our eyes locked, and it was like... ah, I can't explain it. A feeling of... warmth, of a fire, burning in my chest. It enveloped my very being. I had heard others explain the feeling, and I knew it was the Alushaliel." 

That was quite different from my experience.

"Is it the same for everyone?"

"Yes, as far as I know. Everyone I've ever heard tell of it used the same description, more or less."

"... Can humans not feel it?" His expression changed to puzzlement.

"Did you not feel anything when you first saw me?" I tried to think about it, but all I remembered was being trapped in his gaze, which still happened frequently. I had felt that confusing mess of... something, when he had touched my hand that first time, but that wasn't when I first saw him. And it didn't feel at all like a fire in my chest... And, who knows, maybe in was all in my imagination anyway.

"No..."

"Well, humans are so far removed from magic, that's not very surprising... I'm sorry, was that another, what do you say, foot-in-the-mouth moment?"

"No," I laughed. "I don't know a thing about magic, and I have to accept that."

"Ah, I've been claimed to a humble Aliel! How did I get so lucky?" I blushed furiously at his praise. "Did I say something wrong?" Now his face showed worry.

"No, not at all. Why would you think that?"

"Your face, it's... changed color..." I looked at him with disbelief.

"You don't know about blushing?"

"Blushing? What's that?"

"It happens when someone is embarrassed, or flattered, I guess. Their face turns red and gets warm. They blush." Lorien lifted his hand and brushed it against my cheek, making me blush even more.

"You are warm. But what did I say to make you blush? I only said you were humble."

"Well, no one ever says things like that to me."

"And that embarrassed you?"

"No, I'm flattered. It was a very nice thing to say."

"Oh. In that case, you're very humble, very humble indeed!" He grinned widely at me, and I let out a laugh, still blushing slightly. I looked ahead and saw that Varen had stopped and was waiting for us at the entrance into Splethantown.

"I can't seem to remember the way back to your home, Claresa," Varen said when Lorien and I reached her.

"It's no wonder," Lorien said. "We must have knocked on a hundred doors before we found the right one."

"You exaggerate, Lorien," Varen said matter-of-factly. "It was no more than forty."

"Just follow me, then," I said, taking the lead. I was amazed that they'd gone through all that trouble just to find me. But I think I was beginning to see how seriously they took this. In no time we came back to the bakery and we said our goodbyes, both of the elves grasping my hand before turning to go.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Lorien asked. I nodded, and he smiled. Then they left, strolling back down the street.