Finduilas dove into the beautiful crystal clear water of the Memphian Falls letting her body recover from the past few days. Returning to the surface, she throw back her head allowing her hair to fall back in place as her smooth skinned body shimmered with the beautiful water.

Sighing happily she looked around at the lovely sceen that surronded the falls. Smiling she looked around some more but to her disapoint ment she did not see anyone around to spend this relaxing swim with.

A loud squawk broke the peaceful rumble of the constant crash of water over the falls and into the water river below. It sounded loudly and for a few seconds, then ceased, only to be repeated quieter and more quickly once. A loud snap followed these noises as a heavy creature stepped on and broke a fallen branch within the treeline. Its course went unchanged as it moved toward the waters edge, its golden feathers beautiful as they absorbed the sunlight. Its large beak clapped a few times while it leaned down to dip its tongue into the cool streaming waters, taking in the liquid with apparent pleasure.

"Juine, you impatient buzzard, wait next time! I do not want to lose track of you yet again this trip!"

Jarreth followed Juine's entrance, his hands wrapped around leather reigns, useless having been detached from the bird earlier. He wore a tunic and pants, out for a walk rather than expecting trouble. He had left his heavy armor at a camp about half an hour away. Unaware of the presence of Finduilas, he began to tend to Juine's equipment, his back to the woman.

Finduilas saw the big bird and the man walk out of the woods and she regonized the man to be a member of the same guild as she. Gasping in horror for he knew of her curse, she ducked under the water.

Swiming towards the other shores of the falls she returned to the sueface and scrambled onto the shore dashing towards her clothes. To her dismay how ever her clothes were on teh same side as the man and bird. To make matters worse as well, the large bird had started to make a nest from her clothes. Crying out in dismay she jumped back into the water to conceal herself.

Jarreth patted Juine on the back of the birds neck after attaching the reigns back on the metal loops that protruded from Juine's harness. He looked over the bird's back and stared out into the wilderness, his eyes following the flow of water down to the horizon before scanning side to side. A lone buck stood at the shore far downstream, large antlers visible even at that distance, drinking from the clear Memphian River. At this time Jarreth noticed something awkward with Juine's movements and he looked down to see what trouble the chocobo was getting into this time. He was not entirely sure what he was looking at until Juine clipped a corner with his beak and lifted the dress off the ground. Jarreth was confused for a moment as he stared at the golden bird holding a woman's dress, but then he heard a loud splash.

Spinning on his heel, he looked at the source of the commotion. A figure was beneath the water's surface, and it emerged quickly. Almost too late, he realized the long hair and thin face belonged to a woman. Spinning back around just as quickly as he had just a moment ago, he stared at his feet in embarresement.

"M'lady!" he called, "I apologize for walking in whilst you were bathing! Please, I mean no harm and I shall leave you to your solitude immediately."

Jarreth had not had time to recognize who the woman was; it was entirely innapropriate for him to spend even another instant pondering what he saw. With a quick movement, he took the dress from Juine before the bird could do any damage. Juine clapped his beak in protest but soon lost interest. Still speaking behind his own head, he called out again.

"Your dress and my apologies again."

He kneeled and rested the dress in a folded pile on the ground where Juine had found it initially. With a heavy tug of the reigns, he started the stubborn bird and began to walk back into the forest, his head faced entirely away from the bare woman during the entirety of the process.

"Its okay Jarreth." Finduilas shouted, "I'm not leaving the water yet... you wont be seeing anything." Shes waited for him to return as she stayed in the depths of the water. "But if you would perfear I will place my gown back on." She added as she slowly began to swim towards the shore.

Slowly she climbed out and placed her dress back on and headed towards the woods then stopped. "What I am I doing?" She asked herself allowed. "This man knows my secert... he has power over... Who knows what he could do?" She whispered to herself.

"Does my mind deceive or are you Lady Finduilas?" came a questioning voice from the treeline in response to her initial call.

He returned into view after she had made her comments to herself, oblivious to what was said. Jarreth stared into the forest while he backed out of the foliage to stand on the shore again. Juine was not in sight and might have been left pecking at the forest floor a few steps deeper. Still embarrased, the man would not dare turn around. He did not know if she remained unclothed and bathing or otherwise.

"I apologize if my ears deceive me, but if you are Finduilas, I request an audience with you when you are finished. I need to apologize for our last conversation," he added, hoping he was not offending her by being near, even though he was doing all in his power to respect her state of dress.

She giggled gently and walked over to him dripping wet but fully dressed. Gently she whispered into his ear in a teasing manner, "What do you have to be sorry about Sir Jarreth? It is me who should be saying sorry. As it was my falt for your pain." Kissing him genlty on the cheek like she hd done at their last incounter she moved before him.

"I am very sorry Jarreth." She whispered looking into his deep brown eyes with her own sparkling green ones. "I did not mean to cause you pain or suffering. I hope you can forgive a werewolf from the bottom of her heart and more." She said continuing to whisper in her calm and gently voice.

Finduilas was so embarressed about their last meeting at the guild that she prayed he would forgive her. Then again how could anyone forgive a werewolf. She might has welled have not asked him for forgiveness but offer him a silver tipped arrow. It would have done just about the same about of good if not more by ridding the world of yet another creature of the cure of the werewolf.

While he was unfamiliar with the surtitle of "sir," he knew the voice belonged to Finduilas. This was only verified when, without warning, he felt a familiar sensation on his weather toughened cheek. His head shifted to catch her in his view and followed her until she was standing directly in front of him. He watched her face for a moment and then let his eyes wander to her shoulders, showing the damp condition of her attire. He felt terrible that she had not had a chance to dry and now had to suffer in the wet clothing. At least it was warm out. He was about to reply to her and ask how it was her fault when she continued to speak.

She apologized against his desire, she could not control his sudden blackout. He really did not know what she was talking about: all he could remember was staring at the ceiling until the world was covered in shadow and he fell to unconcious darkness. Confused, he did not even realize that it might have been the protection given to her by himself. Then she said that word: werewolf.

"Finduilas," he said slowly, watching her eyes, "what is a werewolf?"

"What is a werewolf? I am a werewolf Jarreth... I turn into a wolf every full moon... that is the pain you felt when you put the spell us... you felt the pain of me transforming." She whispered looking down at her hands that she held together.

"I was bitten by a werewolf as a child and have been cursed with transforming once a month for an entire night. " Finduilas looked up at Jarreth as she said this to him. "And you didn't know what a werewolf was?" She adds surprised. Finduilas had never heard of someone not knowing what a werewolf was and what they meant. They meant the spread of the curse or disease as some called it. "I've never met someone before that did not know what a werewolf. " She whispered blushing.

"And I have never met someone who was a werewolf," came a quiet reply as Jarreth showed absolutely no emotion or reaction on his face. He had no idea what to think or believe and was absolutely torn. His expression, or lack of one, was not a lack of interest, but rather a middle ground between all of his possible reactions. "So I suppose that makes it a first for both of us."

His hand moved forward without his consent to brush across Finduilas's arm. It felt normal, natural, like any other person. His hand continued to her shoulder, up her neck, and to her cheek. All normal. He almost did not believe her, but it could explain what had happened in the guild all those nights ago. A wolf.

Finally, there was some motion on his face. His brow folded in with confusion and his head tipped slightly to the side. His lips parted slowly, as if he was trying to speak but had yet to form the words. With obvious thought, he asked his questions.

"If it is a disease, can it be cured? Do you enjoy your time as a wolf, Findiulas?"

His hand dropped back down from her cheek to rest on his hilt. He hated magic. The only thing that stayed his hand was his knowledge that the woman before him was pure and good. He waited for her reply as thoughts of obscure medicines that he had heard about during his travels raced through his mind.

((OOC: I apologize for the long awaited reply. It was a mixture of being busy and not being able to decide how Jarreth would react to this situation :)))

She stood there her eyes falling lightly shut as he touched her so gently. His hand was rough from his use of the sword but in their own way very soft to her touch. Opening her eyes very slowly as he asked her about a cure she looke down at her bare feet and whispered, "The cure is to recieve silver directly to the heart ending in me returning to the human form as I die never to arise again."

Looking up at him from looking down at her feet she blushed and whispered in even a quieter voice, "Strangly enough yes I do like being in wolf form but I do like being in my human form much more.... I just enjoy the freedom of being a wolf... at the same time though Jarreth this freedom comes at a terrible price... I am always being chased for the places or even away from the people I love just because I am what I am. I can't help what I am... I was bitten at the age of a year..." She told him this and as she finished her eyes dropped down to the ground once again as tears spilled from them.

Jarreth placed his hand on Finduilas's shoulder as she sank down to the ground in tears. He hated to see a woman cry, especially like this. She did not deserve these horrible feelings. With a gentle squeeze of reassurance on her shoulder, he comforted her with all the care he could find in his heart. That was a lot, especially for such a kind hearted woman like Finduilas was. For the moment, he assured himself that so long as he was near, the closest silver could get to her heart would be a decorative pendant.

"Please, dry your eyes. You should not have to cry for the darkness of other's hearts."

A white glow covered Jarreth's palm and sank into Finduilas's body. The potent magic of calm emotions seeped into the woman's mind and heart, lifting her spirits. Jarreth was thankful that his God granted the woman a reprieve from her pain.

Dropping to a knee himself, he watched Finduilas's head, awaiting the time that she would look up and see his face. His hand remained on her shoulder, at the base of her neck. His fingers gently massaged her skin as he tried to coax her to speak with him some more. A smile rested across his lips, prepared to show her that at least one person was not running.

"It is good to be free," came a comment in nearly a whisper.

Finduilas looked up at him slowly and whispered in return, "Its belong thought of how wonderful it feels to run free... I love running in the form of a wolf through the snow... Its like a cold paridise." She smiled at her friend genlty and was so happy that she had met him.

Blushing bright red in the face she slowly dried her tears and throw her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "Thank you for being so kind and understanding...." She whispered tears starting to stream down her young face once again. Without even thinking the young werewolf pressed her face into Jarreth's neck and kissed it lightly in thanks. "You are a wonderful friend." Finduilas whispered into his ear.

She had such strong feelings towards this man but she did not know what the feelings were of really. Were they friendship, a love for him as a brother or maybe... just maybe even more.

He could not help but be filled with a warm feeling inside as Finduilas wrapped her arms around him. She was so genuinely happy, which was only magnified by her innocence. He sank into the hug and returned it with a tight squeeze, reveling in the wondrous feeling of bringing the light to another soul. For once in a long time, the smile on his face was not forced and felt right. Usually he had no need to smile, just did so because it was good to show happiness so openly. This time, the smile was beyond his control and it would not be shaken. His face ran hot and his cheeks, those so incapable of blushing, turned red. He felt something soft brush his neck, and he was fairly certain they were the young woman's lips. Turning his mouth toward the young girl, he responded with a whisper into her ear as well.

"You deserve nothing else in this world, m'lady, except the most wonderful."

His breath came out light, soft, and warm as he felt the soft breeze coming from his mouth deflect partially off of her ear and neck. Pulling his head back slowly, he stared into her eyes, mouth still possessed by a smile. Resting his palm at the back of the girls head, he slowly urged it forward as he extended his neck, kissing her on her forehead.

"You do know that you can be free as a woman, not just as a wolf." It was more of a statement than a question.

Finduilas was in heaven as he was held in his arms. Sighing happily she smied at his kind words and whispered back, "You don't have to call me m'lady... Just Finduilas or even Duilas is fine." Smiling as she felt his breath on her neck she kissed his neck again sighing with happiness.

As he pulled her close smiling and kissing her forehead she looked up at Jarreth with genty bright green eyes. Smiling at him she softly stroked one of his cheek with the back of head right hand. "You are so sweet and gently, M'Lord" She whispered her own cheeks turning the darkest shade of blood red. Duilas could not believe how lucky she was to have met such a wonderful man who accepted her for just who she was without questions.

As he made the staatement about her being able to be free not only when she was a wolf, she cocked her head to the side still clinging to him. "But I am a perisoner of the full moon." She whispered questioning Jarreth's statement. Wondering if it really was possible to be free not only just as a wolf. "Is it really possible to be free while in human form?" She asked herself in the tiniest of whispers.

"Thank you, Finduilas, those words only sound sweet from honey-dipped lips. You flatter me," Jarreth replied to the girl as he tried to keep his composure from the second kiss. He was beside himself, it had been so long since he had felt such gentle physical contact. He fought speechlessness with all of his will, though the urge continually threatened to catch his tongue in mid word. Beyond his own control, his eyes closed to direct all of his senses to the touch of the girl's hand to his cheek.

It was her question that helped snap him out of his daze. He had already assumed the question would be asked; he would not have said anything if he could not answer to his reasoning without faltering. Pulling away from Finduilas, he held his hands on her shoulders and gave her a broad smile, followed by a wink. Urging her to turn around, he stepped closer so that he could press her shoulders, and hence, her back, to his chest. He spoke to her over her shoulder as his right hand pointed toward the crashing falls.

"Freedom is hard to lose. Look at those falls. If you wanted, you could bath underneath those crashing waters. You could bath here, in this part of the river, or ignore the water entirely and rest upon those large rocks. The trees over here," he said, shifting his hand to direct her to a loose patch of plantlife, "are perfect for climbing, and a worn path will let you run without being seen by human eyes for miles."

He returned his hand to Finduilas, this time wrapping his arms around her chest. Resting his head next to hers, he added, "You can push me away, or you can allow me to rest my tired neck on your shoulder. The choices are all yours, Finduilas, that is your freedom."

Finduilas followed with her eyes where ever Jarreth pointed out to her as she cuddled closer to him. Sighing happily as she rested his head on her shoulder she felt tears spill down her face, but this time not from fear but from pure happiness.

Sighing once again with happiness and this time a touch of longing, Finduilas moved her cheek closer to Jarreth until their cheeks were touching. Beaming with happiness as he held her close, Finduilas gently placed her arms on his. Closing her eyes she continued to let her cheek rest on his as he rested against her.

Finduilas could not remember ever in all her life being held like this, it was like being in a bit of heaven and she whispered it would never have to end. Smiling at his words about her freedom to let him rest against her or not she whispered in return, "You rest against me all you want Jarreth I would never want to mak you stop."

Keeping her eyes shut she gently pulled away but to the point that they weren't touching anymore but jus to she could turned around. Now facing him she rested her head on his shoulder while Jarreth continued to rest his on hers. Smiling with joy she wrapped her arms aorund his waist in return so that the two of them embraced each other. Sighing with unbelievable happiness Findulias had a sudden urge and want to kiss Jarreth fully upon the lips.

Jarreth gave Finduilas a final squeeze as they hugged before letting go and allowing his body to lean back. He always preferred to talk eye to eye with anyone worth having a conversation with. It allowed him insights into what intentions rested behind the words. While he would not necessarily need to know Finduilas' intentions, either good or bad, it was habit and he treated it as such. Watching her with gentle eyes and a slight smile, he could not help but ask a question.

"How have you lived being shackled by this secret, Finduilas? To exist without the hope of being accepted by those you care about, it is a life I could not imagine. You are very strong for someone so delicate."

The idle rustling of birds in the treetops and bushes around them interrupted his attention for only a moment, soon returning his mind to the matter at hand. To douse his slight, sudden discomfort, he kept his hand near his side, giving the illusion of preparedness should something jump out by surprise.

"My dear, your clothes are now soaking wet," Jarreth continued with an observation. "Do you have anything dry that you could change into?"

Finduilas held back a whimper of sadness as Jarreth pulled away from her releasing them from their embrace. She looked dwon at her hands as he pulled away from her trying to act as if it did not bother her that they no longer were holding each other safely in each other's arms.

Being snapped back into reality when Jarreth made his comment about her life of being the perisoner of her curse, Finduilas looked up at him. "I wouldn't know what to do not being the prisoner of the full moon and my secert.... I know different.... I wish I did but I do not... I have become use to the hatred and fear of those I would have loved to be close to....." She whispered in a sad filled voice that gave her bright green eyes the look of a pitifull puppy's orbs.

As he changed subjects to her wet clothing and calling her his dear, Finduilas just stood there for a moment staring at him bright red in the face. She had never in her entire life be called someone's dear and she felt tears begin to build up in her eyes once again. Taking in a deep breath she pushed away these feelings and wipped her eyes dry before replying to his question, "No Jarreth you see before you what little in clothing I own apart from my thin cloak....." "But do not worry about me wearing wet clothing its quite warm out here and I will dry out soon enough... and maybe I can even convince you into taking a friendly swim with me." She added as a second thought smiling at him.

"There is no hatred here, dear girl, no hatred and no prying eyes that would apprehend you for how you are! The chains that hold you to the dungeon walls of your own sadness do not reach this far! Look around you, not but fish, trees, bushes, water, and myself. None are judging. How do you feel? You are free," he revealed, urging her to see life for how it was, not how others wanted it to be. He, himself, had to find his own freedom, so he was very interested in sharing it with another. It was a wonderous feeling and he hoped showing the light to this girl would fill her spirit with joy.

He smiled at her while the explained the few items of clothing she owned. He was not surprised as he had seen her in the same dress from the first time he saw her. Several thoughts passed through his head about a few gifts that he could pick up in a nearby village, but they were shaken away for a moment as she mentioned swimming.

"Finduilas, I hate to dissapoint you and your sweet offer, but I cannot swim very well. It was never something I learned, since if the ice ever did break over the lakes by the fort, those who fell in the water froze to death before even getting a chance to call for help."

Smiling at him Finduilas took hold of both his hands in her and winked. "Well since you have taught me what it feels ot have freedom Jarreth I will teach you too swim." She told her beloved friend and started walking backwards while looking into his eyes towards the water.

"I promise you you'll do fine and I'll be here to help you the entire time." She promised him smiling with delight at the thought of sharing something with Jarreth. "Please trust me and let me teach you...." She pleeded. "Its the least I can do.... You've done so much for me today." Finduilas told him as her bright green eyes met his and her bare feet met the refreashing water.

Releasing one of his hands gently she turned around to face the water of the falls a smile of utter happiness painted upon her face. Turning back to face him for a moment she gently kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "Please trust me Jarreth."

"It is hardly a matter of trust, Finduilas, just something I never found time to learn. I do trust you, though, and I'm sure you are as good a teacher as any that I could find," Jarreth responded as Finduilas led him closer and closer to the water's edge. He was not afraid of the water, he had lived in the temperate southlands long enough to understand that the lakes and rivers were nowhere near as treacherous as those to the north, and this made the process much smoother overall. As his own feet approached the water, he let his hands slip out from Finduilas's grasp.

Gripping the opposite sides of his tunic with his hands, he lifted the shirt up and over his chest and head. The cloth remained inside out as he turned back and tossed it toward a nearby tree. It caught on a branch and was held away from the ground. His shoes were next so that he was wearing his pants. They would suffice for the swim, but he did not want to needlessly wet the rest of his clothing. The sun danced across the generally pale skin across his chest as he stepped back to the water's edge. Born in the north and generally well covered, either in clothing or armor, from that point forward, he did not have a noticeable tan. Only a hint of color was present from a few hours spent time to time toiling away in the sun without a shirt over the years. This did little to damage his overall appearance, though, because muscles grew solid with or without exposure to the naked air. The constant use of heavy plate mail and other bulky equipment had firmed and defined his arms and chest very well. He did not think much of it as he smiled at Finduilas, his form was a simple necessity for the tasks he chose to take on in his life.

"Where do we begin?"

Smiling happily at him trusting her enough to teach him how to swim and being willing to allow her to do so, without even thinking Finduilas throw her arms around his neck in a hug. Blushing slighly she continued to hug him for a moment allowing herself to feel his handsome body against her still covered one. "Thank you for trusting me even if this does not have to do with trust." She whispered into his ear before releasing him from her tight hold around his neck.

Still blushing Finduilas once again reached for Jarreth hand and said while walking with him, "We start by geting into a little deeper water and allowing me to remove my over dress." Having siad that she released his hand for a moment and removed her over dress and tossed into to the shore not wanting it to get any more wet. Now the young werewolf only wore her under dress as she turned to face her beloved friend once again blushing bright red in the face. She wasn't embaressed about how she looked or what she wore or didn't wear it was just the had never been near a man like this before in her life and it made her a little nervous.

Taking hold of his hand yet again for a third time she led him this time really into the water up to her waist and let go of his hand. "Do you feel okay in this deep of water?" She asks him giggling a little since it was up to only just past his knees. Finduilas hoped he would be fine in this depth of the water so she could teach him how to stroke with his arms as the first step.

She was stunning. A description seldom used properly, perhaps at a vain attempt at flattery by a literate suitor, but one that fit this situation perfectly. It was once again his turn to feel uncomfortable as Finduilas shed her overdress before his eyes. Not having time to turn away between thoughts of what she whispered in his ear and her forewarning, he watched as the cloth was tossed back to dry ground. Stunning. He could only stand and watch as she returned to him and took his hand back in her own. His face was blank simply because he could not control any muscles to create the appearance of any other emotion. For a man with such willpower and stubborness, he could be rendered helpless with ease if the situation was right.

As far as he could remember, this was the most he had seen of a woman in a very long time. Underdress or not, it was if he was relearning all over again. Sometimes a little too much can be forgotten in the past, he thought. Jarreth had walked forward without feeling the water at his legs, but he knew it was there when Finduilas mentioned it to him.

"I have walked through haunted woods, chosen to sleep in bear dens rather than remain out in deadly blizzards, and faced battles that I should not have walked away from. The water is fine. I am only afraid that I have disturbed the fish."

Finduilas giggled happily and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "How could you ever scar the fish away or anyone else when you are so sweet." she whispered into his ear and kisses it gently.

Breaking away from him slowly she smiled at him and said, "So would you like to get use to the water by learning to float on your back first Jarreth sweetheart..." She froze as she called him sweetheart and turned bright red in the face. "SOrry" she whispered.

Slowly she started to head back to the shore barly able to believe she had justed called Jarreth sweetheart. "Yes I do have very very strong feelings towards him yes but does he have the same feelings to towards me?", she wondered. "If he doesn't she will just die of humiliation and a broken heart. Jarreth is the only one have ever felt this way towards", she thought to herself as tears began to build up in her eyes.

Strangely, Jarreth was not dumbfounded this time when Finduilas moved close to him and kissed him once more, this time on the ear. Perhaps it was just the wrong part of the ear to throw out his knees, or perhaps he had thought of a witty reply that was attracting most of his attention at that instant. Turning his head in so that he could whisper back into her ear, he allowed the words to slip out of his mouth and slowly dance across her skin.

"Then perhaps I should be less worried about scaring the fish and a little more worried about being eaten."

He was a fighter, not a poet. He had to be given some credit, it might have been more worth the effort if he did not spend his young life dedicated to battle. He learned to speak and write so that he could convey orders more effectively. At least he tried.

He was able to blissfully remain ignorant of the potentially stupid comment when he was forced to fetch Finduilas. Just getting used to her gentle smile that she always seemed to give him, he was upset to find it missing as she trailed away and took off toward the beach. He thought he had done something wrong, nothing else could really explain it. She had done no harm herself. Catching up to her at a jog, he wrapped an arm around her waist as he stood behind her. Leaning in with his head on her shoulder, he spoke words only loud enough for her to hear.

"I would much prefer my teacher remain at my side and in my sight rather than tell me to float down a river like a log while she runs off into the woods. I'm sorry if I did anything to upset you, but I pray you give me forgiveness and stay a little longer."

Finduilas leaned into his touch longing for it more then he could ever understand. Gently stroking his cheek with a hand while the other clung to his that he had upon her waist she whispered, "It was me who did the wrong doing Jarreth. I called you sweetheart... allowed my feels to be spoken of... I did not think before I spoke and now I can deny the feelings I have towards you m'lord."

Tears spilled down her face as whispered this still stroking his cheek softly with the palm of her hand. As the tears continued to spill she spoke again sill in only a whisper, "Please forgive this elf who carries the disease of the werewolf... I pray that you will sir... you make me feel so safe in your arms even now when I have done wrong but that might just be because you are blind to my strong feelings towards you and the wrong I have done."

Finduilas knew she should go now and leave Jarreth for she had now made herself so embarressed but could not force herself to move. She loved the feeling of being in Jarreth's tight embrace it made her truly feel safe for the first time in her tortured life of loneness.

He really wished she would stop crying. Hearing any woman in such pain, particularly someone as pure-hearted as Finduilas, managed to tear him up. He made sure to keep a good grip on her so that she would not suddenly run from him again, but that seemed less likely as her opposite hand came up to his cheek. So, she did care for him. He was not entirely surprised, but he had not truly thought about the possibility. There was a noticeable shift in her language and he felt it best to correct that change immediately. With a reassuring squeeze with the arm wrapped around her, he used his free hand to grab onto her palm that touched his face. Lowering it and placing it at her waist, draped over his own arm, he returned his free hand back up. His arm crossed her chest and his fingers touched her cheek. With a slight pressure to urge her to turn her head to the side, he had her turn her neck enough so that she could see his face out of the corner of her eye. They were still tear covered; he hoped that would change. Leaning forward, he touched his nose to her temple and spoke his mind.

"Your feelings are your own freedom as well, and you should not apologize for what is heart-felt. Especially for something like bestowing the name sweetheart to me. It is my freedom to choose forgiveness for you or to hold you accountable, and I give you the forgiveness you seek without second thought. Sometimes it is good to finally feel safe in a world so full of danger. Furthermore, you scolded me for calling you m'lady, and I will not have you calling me sir or m'lord. I hold no rank over you."

Pressing forward, his lips met the skin below her temple and he gave her a kiss. He was unsure of his own feelings for her, having been put out of his head until that moment, but he was certain his decision would not force her to leave his sight. Pulling back so that he could continue speaking, he made another comment.

"Now, I cannot force you to stay here and help me, but I believe I will have a hard time learning to float and swim by myself. The choice is still your freedom, Finduilas."

Backing away without allowing her to respond, he pushed further back into the water so that the liquid rippled off of the lower portion of his stomach. He watched Finduilas, wondering if he would see her return or dissappear into the forest.

Finduilas turned to look at Jarreth and slowly wipped her tears away still not convinced though if he had any feelings towards her. Slowly she waded back into the water until she was about a foot away from Jarreth. Looking into his eyes she whispered, "Guess we are just friends."

She smiled slightly and gently took hold of his hand leading him towards a group of rocks a little further deep into the water. Reaching the rocks she pushed him foward towards the rocks. "Take hold of the rocks please and I show you how to kich correctly then we will work on your stroking after that." She said not very much into teaching him anymore.

She did the same herself, grabbing the rocks and letting her legs float out behind her. Turning her head slightly to look at Jarreth out of the courner of her eye she beagn to kick her legs without bending her knees. "Just copy me please but make sure you do not bend your knees as you do so." She said just loud enough for him to hear.

Or once Finduilas was glad about the splashing of the water and roar of the falls, for she hoped it wouldn't allow Jarreth to hear the hurt in her voice. She couldn't believe that she felt this way towards a man who seemed to have no true feelings towards her.

Perhaps it was magic that pulled away the feelings that were building up in his chest, a distant lord claiming his wandering power back for himself. Maybe it was chance, or fate, or circumstance. He would never be able to tell, but as he stared down at Finduilas considering the balloon of unfamiliar feelings welling up in his chest, her words deflated him and left him empty. As if what he wanted had been ripped from his fingers, her conclusion drove away those hard-fought emotions that had been working their way up to his heart. He had not considered love as something to be his for ten years, and when he was beginning to remember, to live again, destiny chose a different path. Jarreth was left confused and bewildered, still stunned by the sudden shift. He realized then that he was bare, wearing pants, but naked. His heart had begun to swell, bending and snapping the steel plates which were so securely fastened around it, and now he was vulnerable. At least for awhile before the damage was mended. His body felt awkward to him and he was less interested in learning to swim.

He watched her with a blank expression, paying attention but showing no reaction. To make matters worse, the young woman showed pain in her eyes. Reaching down into the water with his hand, he brought up a small pool within his cupped palm. Making a slow fist while watching every movement of his hand, the water was squeezed out to return to its home.

"I believe I have the general idea for now, m'lady," he stated, a hint of morose sadness in his voice. It was deeper, the words longer, as if each syllable was catching and tearing at his throat as they were released. "Maybe we could continue this another time."

"Please... Please do anything but call me M'Lady Jarreth... " she whispered looking at him gently and then away as she wipped her wet face with the back of her damp hand. "As for continueing you this later that is up to you M'Lord...." Finduilas whispered and looked back up at him once again willing her eyes to return to their normal shimmering.

Allowing her legs to become still once again she found her feet upon the sandy bottom of the pool once again and she looked up at Jarreth. "I am sorry that I have feelings for you Sir... I am sorry that you also place my feelings towards you before allowing yourself to have a friend or even a compaion." She said to Jarreth this time looking at him with pitty in her eyes.

"For once I can see I am not the victum here.... " Finduilas continued still looking him in the eyes, "You do not know how to love or have true feelings for another anymore. " Shaking her head in sadness at realizing this she reached out a gently hand gently stroked his weathered cheeks with the palm of her hand.

"Perhaps we should continue this lesson another time. I can see that neither of us are up to swimming at the moment." She stated before givving him a gently smilig and a touch of her bright eyes came back. Her hand still resting on his cheeks still she leaned forward and gently whispered into his ear in tiny voice, "You may not care right now but you will always have friend me, may I be in wolf form or elf."

It was awkward to feel her touch against his skin again, not embarrasement this time, but uncomfortable in the pit of his stomach. He was confused, rare to occur at this scale, and especially about this particular subject. Jarreth heard the title m'lord again and remembered not a few minutes earlier in the conversation when he had asked her to only call him Jarreth. Then again, he had unintentionally called Finduilas m'lady, just for the sake of placing some distance between their strange relationship. The rest of her analysis of him fell mainly on lost ears as he dug into his own thoughts and began to try and reconnect severed trains of thought. At least her eyes were hiding some of her pain, now, to make matters a little easier on him. He noticed that as she hurt, so he was held useless as well. The gentle sparkle of happiness allowed him to concentrate, even if it was not entirely on her, and he was grateful for the selfish notion.

Her palm was wet and cool on his skin as his eyes shifted to watch the arm that caused her fingers to brush against his cheek. She leaned in and whispered, no accompanied kiss this time. She seemed to have a knack of saying the wrong words when so close to him.

"I have always cared of friendship, even to you, Finduilas. I am grateful that you still offer that to me during this time of hardship. As you have granted me friendship, so I grant you in return. Freely, and of my own desire. I believe we should finish the lesson at a later date when my mind is more clear. Thank you for being patient."

Reaching to his cheek, he took her hand and kissed it on the back, behind her knuckles. With a smile, he nodded at her slowly. Uncontrollably, his smile could only get wider and larger.

Blushing slightly as he kissed her hand, Finduilas pulled it back and pushed her damp hair out of her face trying to think of something to say. Speaking at last she said, "Well I guess I will see you around the guild then Sir Jarreth." She said before adding, "Or at the Elven Song Tavern since I work there."

With that said and with a nod to her friend Finduilas made to depart. Reaching the bank of the water she looked up at the now fadding sun and smiled as the full moon began to rise in its place.

Slowly at first but gaining speed, the elven woman began to transform into her snow white form as she became one with the full moon in the form of a wolf. Letting out a joyfilled howl, she turned to look at Jarreth one last time before bowing her head ot him in respect as her bright green eyes met his perhaps for the last time.

Turning to face the forest once again, she let out another short howl that was replied to by a distent wolf pack before she escaped into the growing darkness of the night.

Jarreth stared in half wonder, half curiosity as the woman standing before him was diminished down into the form of a white wolf. He hated magic. For the sake of not becoming bogged down by a feeling all too known to him, he allowed himself to forgive, aknowledging that it was not her fault. Moreso, it was not harmful as far as he could tell. She was beautiful even as a wolf. As she seemed to bow to him, he returned a slight lean, habit and proper manner. His mind wandered to a question: in his time in the North, had he killed a werewolf by mistake during the countless hunts for food and pelts? Perhaps not, he never used silver, and she had made specific mention of the precious metal when she spoke of dying. More mixed feelings: bad because the disease could be spread to those like Finduilas, but good because those like Finduilas already enchanted would be at risk. He agreed with himself to stop thinking about the subject as his friend's white form dissapeared into the forest beyond, answering the calls of a distant wolf pack.

Slowly moving back to the shore, he bent down and picked up Finduilas' overdress that she had left on the bank. Brushing off some mud that had collected on the wet underside, he whistled. Juine, showing his typical dumb expression, trotted in from the treeline. Packing the clothing away in the saddlebag, he took one more look toward the now empty forest and back to the lake. Mounting Juine, he called out "yah" and sped back to camp. He felt it would be a good use of his time to patch the dress a little since he could not give it back to Finduilas yet. If time permitted, he might be able to use the size at one of the village tailors to purchase a gift.