His Amorem

The Binding

ok, so i've based this on a pagan hand biding ceremony, loosely i may add

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Kili and Keerla snuck across the floor of sleeping bodies and the elleth covered Balin's mouth, while the dwarf gave him a good shake. He woke with a start, but calmed immediately on seeing the two of them. Keerla gestured for him to follow, and led the pair though the house to the back door. Across the small garden was an archway, leading into a border of trees behind which lay the pond she had spoken of with Beorn.

"Right you two, what's going on?" Balin asked when they stopped by the water.

"Can you bind us?" Kili asked immediately, not caring for wasting time. "Well, bind and marry us at the same time?"

"Bind?" Balin asked, "Why would ye – Oh!" he glanced between the two of them, Kili bouncing on his toes and Keerla blushing as she looked away. "Oh bless me, the two of ye?" they nodded, "When did ye find out?"

"When we left the Carrock to hunt," Keerla spoke up, "We um . . . may have jumped a few steps and accidentally began the binding process."

"You've been wandering around half bound for the last year?!" Balin exclaimed in shock, "Oh you stupid-" he cut himself off, "That explains why he looked at ye like he wanted to eat ye." At that, Kili blushed. "Alright, let's get this done then, and please, finish it quietly, i want to get back to sleep."

"Thanks," Keerla grimaced, "Now i'm going to know you know what's going on while it's going on."

"Am i – am i the only one who knows?"

"About the binding, yes," Kili nodded, "About us being together, no, Fili and Bofur and possibly Gandalf and Bilbo also know."

"Bilbo knows?" Keerla asked, surprised, "Wow, i did not see that coming."

"Let's get started," Balin said, pulling a small pouch from his inside pocket, and taking out a long silk blue ribbon and a white candle. "It's a good thing i always carry this with me for luck. Now, i suppose ye both've done yer braids?" when they nodded, he grinned, "Good, give me the beads, they'll work just as well as any ring or jewel for the wedding part of this ceremony."

"Have you ever done both in one?" Keerla asked, "I've never heard of it in my people, most would have to be married before they did the binding."

"Over the years I learned to mix the two together and have it sanctioned," Balin winked, taking both beads, "Now stand facing each other." They did as they were told, "Good, alright then, here we go." He took a breath, and lit the candle, "May the place of this rite, be consecrated for the fathers of our races, Eru and Aulë, For we gather here in a ritual of love, with two who would be both bound and wedded. Kili and Keerla please step closer and stand here before me, and before the lords of nature."

Kili and Keerla glanced nervously at each other, but stepped closer so that they were only a foot apart. The Elleth let out a shaky breath, giving a smile to Kili who beamed back, almost bouncing again in excitement.

"Be With us O Beings of the air, Fire, Water and Earth, with yer clever fingers," Balin said as he lifted her left hand and his right, binding them with the ribbon, "Tie closely the bonds between these two, give their love and passion your own all-consuming ardour, give them the deepest love and the riches of the body and the soul and the spirit. Let yer strength and constancy be theirs for the binding of their mated souls."

He paused and offered Kili the bead for Keerla's hair, then gave Keerla the one for Kili's, gesturing for them to put them back in place. It was awkward with only one hand but they managed.