Nirael returned to the room to find Lunari once again in the room alone.  She gestured to the door and said,<strong>"I asked Mara to wait in the hall, but she urged that we hurry."</strong>The purple skinned elf closed to Nirael and took his hands, then rested her head on his chest before speaking.<strong>"I understand your protective nature, and I find it endearing.  But this is no simple choice, nor do we have the luxury of simply passing up on an opportunity out of jealousy.  I know it must be harder for a human man like you.  I've been told that your kind often only mates with one other person their whole short lives.  But my kind live for centuries, and it is very rare that we find a partner that lasts for more than a fraction of that time.  Even in a binding between two, like my mother and father had when I was very young, there is often..."</strong><br/><br/>She hesitated and stepped back, her eyes narrowing for a moment as she considered the words,<strong>"<em>Ea'niolaiss</em>...A shared bliss of passion between friends is I suppose a good way of putting it.  The act of sharing your body with a friend, a companion, a lover.  Even when one is inside a binding to a different person.  It is... uncommon... for an elven man or woman to be... I do not know the human word... only with one person.  Even the rare case where a pair of elves remain only with each other, it is often with the elders of our clan who have lost most of their interest in bliss."</strong><br/><br/>Lunari stepped back and set her jaw,<strong>"But I am not an old maid Nirael.  I am younger even then Mara, her first breath being drawn before mine.  I told you that I was young, but not how young.  In my culture, in my villiage, while I would be recognized as a full grown woman, most consider me still a child.  Moreso because I never participated in the rituals and sensual games of my peers.  They thought I was perhalps...<em>Fal'fa'nar</em>... one who lacks the desire.  But it is not so.  I simply waited for the right man to awaken that desire in me.  I waited for you."</strong><br/><br/>She moved close to him again and placed a kiss on his chest.<strong>"But I admit my promise to my father beats strong in my heart.  I would reunite the artifact and vanquish the demon that sent him into hiding for more than two decades.  I would protect the person the artifact chose, with my life."</strong>Looking up at him she asked,<strong> "If I am willing to throw myself in front of a sword for you, how can it be any worse to offer my body in other ways for you?  For my father?  For this quest?"</strong><br/><br/>Then sighing she looked down at the floor and added,<strong>"But I know in my heart that I must trust your judgement.  If you wish to keep me to yourself, I admit a little bit of pride in that, and will do as you say.  But it seems foolish to squander the chance and not at least hear the mage out before leaving town.  Maybe we could come to some agreement with him that you would be willing to bear?"</strong><br/><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">ooc</div><div class="spoiler_body">In my head I have Mara in her mid to late 20s, and Lunari in her very young 20s, maybe 21.  Lunari is an adult, but for a race that lives centuries, she is very young and inexperienced.</div></div>