Three nights later Bra-Neche reported to the Temple of the Moon.  He had been requested to come by the Maiden, who had studied the portents and decided that two bloodlines should join.   He would be providing one of them. 

The Temple of the Moon glowed brightly as if the stone was lit from within, but Bra-Neche knew it always looked thus on the nights of a full moon.  The stairs leading up to the great hall seemed to be streaked in blood and darkness, although during they day they looked a non-descript gray.  At the top of the stairs, a slender, dark-haired girl waited.

 “Greetings Bra-Neche, I am Arabeth.”

“Greetings Arabeth,” Bra-Neche smiled at her and took her offered hand.

“This is your first visit to the Temple?”

“No…” Bra-Neche said a bit confused, like all boys born to the Priestesses he had spent most of his youth coming and going from the temple.

“You’ve made an offering to the Maiden before then?”

Bra-Neche blushed, “Oh, no, um…” he shook his head as he felt the color rise on his face, “no.”

“So it is your first visit to the Temple,” Arabeth smiled and led him deeper inside, through a set of doors, and down a hallway.

“Um, yes, I’ve not been to this side before,” Bra-Neche admitted.

She laughed softly as she opened a door and led him inside.  “It’s all right, you don’t have to be embarrassed.  I’m sure you have a general idea of how things work or you wouldn’t be here,” she leaned against him, her hand trailing down his torso and below.

Bra-Neche said nothing.  He was too shocked by her forward nature. 

“Shy are you?” Arabeth closed the door behind them.  The room was dimly lit with candles along the walls.  In the center of the room was a large, lightly curtained bed on a raised platform.  “The Maiden chose me accept your offering to her.  There is nothing to be shy about, young Costan.”  Her lips met his and he took a step back, his heel hit the edge of the stool used to climb into the bed, and he fell slightly backwards, only the bed stopped his fall as he caught himself with his elbows.

“Do you not want to make an offering to the Maiden?” Arabeth asked as she disrobed, her shift falling in a heap at her feet with the flick of her fingers at the shoulders.

“M-my father said it is an honor.  He said I must do as the Maiden asked.” Bra-Neche told her as he straightened himself.  “H-he never said I had to…” Bra-Neche blushed again.

She regarded him for a few moments, “They told me you were blooded and bonded…”

Bra-Neche nodded.         

“Recently?”

He nodded again.

She smiled and became very aggressive, causing his pants to pool around his ankles and his tunic to lay across the bed.  “Just close your eyes and imagine I am him,” she said as she planted soft kisses on his pectorals.

Bra-Neche closed his eyes and imagined Tine in his arms under the open sky.  He felt himself respond to her kisses then they made good use of that big bed.