The next three days were a flurry of activity. I told the elves all about how a traditional human wedding would take place, and we sort of meshed together what I wanted with what was expected of an elven bonding. Normally everyone would just wear everyday clothing, but I wanted a dress and veil as a human bride would. Varen took care of that, and went out and brought back a beautiful white gown, made of lace and silk, and I thanked her profusely for it. 

I also wanted to keep the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride until the actual ceremony, and Lorien agreed reluctantly. Only the Aliels, shapar, and officiator were allowed at the bonding, but then we would go into the ballroom for the celebration.

The morning of, Varen helped me into my wedding gown. She'd helped me so much during all of what happened. I worried now that with her time as shapar ending, we would part ways. I didn't want that at all.

"Varen?" I was standing before the full-length mirror, and Varen was attaching my veil and making sure that my hair was arranged nicely.

"Yes, Claresa?"

"Now that you're not... or soon to be free from your duties as shapar, I probably won't be seeing much of you, will I?"

"I would disagree with that. Lorien and I have been close friends for nearly a hundred years. It is not likely that we should stop being so. And... I hope that we have also become friends, Claresa."

"Yes, we have." We smiled at each other's reflections in the mirror. I was relieved. We didn't exactly have the same personality, but somehow we got along, and I was grateful that she considered me a friend. But then something that she said impressed upon me. "A hundred years!?! Just how old are-" Stupid! "I'm sorry, that was completely rude, I apologize."

"Do not worry yourself. Elves are not as self-conscious about their age as humans are. I am one hundred and thirty years old, and Lorien is but seven years older than me."

"Lorien is one hundred and thirty-seven years old?"

"Yes. I actually thought it quite interesting that the Alushaliel should claim him at this time."

"Why?"

"Because, in another three years he would have been eligible to perform a search."

"And... what is that?"

"Ah, I keep forgetting all the things you do not know. A search is when an elf, who has reached the age of one hundred and forty without finding their Aliel, takes a journey, first within their own clan, and then in the three others, and meets all of the elves of the opposite sex who have also not been claimed. Usually the Alushaliel is left to its own timing, but if an elf reaches that age without experiencing it, it is then acceptable to help it along. This would have been especially so for Lorien. As Vale-heir, he is expected to carry on his family line, and that would be impossible without finding his Aliel."

"But then... you're a hundred and thirty. If the time comes, would you go and search for your Aliel?"

"... I do not know. It has always been a personal choice to conduct a search or not. I've always believed that it would happen when it was meant to... But I have been waiting for a long time. The majority of elves find their Aliel when they are still children. They would grow up together, knowing everything about each other. When they both reached the age of sixty then would begin the rituals, and directly after that would be the bonding. Lorien and I have been waiting a very long time to find our Aliels." She paused, thinking, then shook her head and returned to attaching my veil. "But you needn't worry about me. I am not jealous. It gives me pleasure to see Lorien so happy. My day will come." Varen finished with the veil and threw it over my head. "There. The picture of beauty."

"Please, Varen, don't try to flatter me. I know that I am not beautiful, I can barely pass as pretty."

"'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder', as you humans say. And the only beholder that really matters is Lorien, correct?" I nodded. "Then you shouldn't worry. He could care less if you came to the bonding in a burlap sack."

"That doesn't really make me feel any better."

"I just mean that he doesn't care what you look like. No, I mean that he does care but... what am I trying to say?" She paused again. "Elves do not put as much emphasis on physical appearances."

"That's easy for you to say, every last one of you is beyond attractive!"

"And that is exactly the point." Seeing that I still did not understand, she continued. "Since the beginning of our existence, we have always been beautiful. Your tales even call us 'the fair folk'. So, if for so long we've all had the same amount of beauty, and our mates are chosen for us by the Alushaliel, then what is the point of that beauty? There isn't. And if there is no point in our own beauty, then why should we care for the beauty of others? You might ask then, what does appeal to us? What is it that makes us form other relationships, such as friends, or at least comrades? It is what's on the inside. You saw the princess, Freya? Of course you did. Every human in that throne room was drawn to her because of her beauty. But did you notice that she didn't utter one word? Yes, she is beautiful. But underneath all that she could be the most loathsome creature in this world."

Varen had been standing in front of me while she spoke, and now she took both of my hands in her own, looking into my eyes intensely. "Do not sell yourself short, Claresa. There is much about you to admire, even when you choose not to see it." 

Just then there was a knock at the door. 

"Now perk up," she said, releasing my hands and going to answer the door. "Remember, this is to be one of the happiest days of your life." She gave me one of her rare smiles, and I was indeed glad that she was my friend. Then she opened the door, admitting our attendants, come to take us to the bonding.