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Napatlilta and Liltayё (NQ.)
While napatlilta directly translates as from Quenya* as ‘a pair or dancers’, the term refers to a relationship between two people that is beyond the usual bonds of kinship or friendship, but is not romantic in nature. The term originates with an ancestral Arnorin tradition of battle-partners also partnering for training and athletic dances, particularly the various dances that involve the use of blades**. The connotation therein, being that your liltayё, or ‘dance partner’ is the person that you most trust; to watch your back, to anticipate your actions, with your very life. Napatlilta act in sync and in tandem; what one has sworn, their liltayё is also beholden to.
Napatlilta rarely, if ever, marry one another. If a napatlilta couple do wed, then they are no longer considered to be such. That being said, there is no taboo against such an occurrence. Simply, if a napatlilta couple do wed, then they are no longer considered to be such. This comes from the culture of the Númenoreans regarding oaths, carried on to its descendant kingdoms. In contrast to marriage, napatlilta do not swear any oaths to each other, as this would undermine the nature and core of the relationship – mutual, unconditional trust. A liltayё is someone that you choose***, constantly and continuously, to partner with: without the oath-bonds**** of a marriage.
While there is no ceremony or oaths involved in the formation of a napatlilta bond, many liltayё in the latter part of the Third Age – that is, after the sundering of the three kingdoms*****- will choose to exchange rings of steel or iron. These were regarded as tokens of affection and remembrance when separated. The rings would be braided into the hair on the left side of the face (as opposed to betrothal and wedding rings, which were braided on the right).
A note on phrasing: napatlilta is the stand-alone noun of the relationship. Specifically, it refers to the relationship itself, or to the people within it – collectively. That is: one liltayё, two napatlilta. Or: Araphor and Calará are napatlilta. Saying “napatlilta pair” is therefore redundant, as “pair” is already implied by the term itself. The singular, liltayё, is often used by the napatlilta to address each other. Often the possessive is used: nin liltayё, or liltayёnya – both translate as ‘my partner’ or ‘partner-mine’.