Immortality, One-Shot
Algar and Gizzard retired to a small pavilion. Algar not only mentioned Elves herein Lorien had built the pavilion, but also gave the black cat a small amount of the history of Middle-earth, right up to the time of the tale of Beren and Luthien. It was this tale that Gizzard was intrigued. How did an Elf and a Man fall in love? And if so, was it possible for him to find an elvish mate? After the tale, Gizzard turned to the Abyssinian cat. Was that it?
Still Gizzard couldn't help but wonder when Mortar had chosen to leave him alone. It was uncalled for. And yet, Algar's story about his brother drew an interesting question.
"Algar," Gizzard spoke, "did your brother, Silvanus, leave you alone all the time, even when you didn't want him there to protect you?"
"My brother was not fond of protection, nor could he stand to protect me in the darkest hour. Then the Tonkinese brown cat came and everything changed. My brother and I were on separate terms after that, but I never gave up on him, not after he left and did not return. Now my home is in Lothlórien with the Elves," explained Algar, his voice trembling.
"Do you miss him?" asked Gizzard, concerned.
"Of course, only as a brother, Ester," admitted Algar, truthfully. "It was here inside this forest where I met my wife, Selene. She was a beautiful silver tabby cat, much like I am a silver Abyssinian cat."
"Do you know what happened to her?" asked Gizzard.
Algar chuckled guiltily. "She died shortly after giving birth to my only daughter, who gave birth to my granddaughter, Gwendolyn. I wish you could see her. She lives in Rivendell, even now, but she wouldn't dare leave the Elven city Imladris, no matter what anyone says or tells her to do."
"Algar," Gizzard said," I am sorry about what happened to your wife. I hope my wife, one day, is still alive when we grow old."
"You may find aging difficult for many cats that enter and leave Lothlórien, Ester. You will see by tomorrow morning. Farewell, and I'll see you here at dawn," said Algar, leaving the pavilion in a great hurry.
Alone to his thoughts, until Galadriel gave him a bowl of chicken meat, mixed with gizzards and chicken broth. Gizzard, not realizing how famished he was, wolfed down the chicken meat. He was treated to a second bowl, but only ate half of the dish. The stream was cool and fresh. He felt like he had reached heavy, but wondered if the elves would attempt to fatten him up. To his surprise, when he looked in the water, he hadn't gained weight. That was very odd… or maybe it was, as Algar said, the gift of the Valar.
As he drifted off to sleep, thoughts drew him towards Clockwise. Was the bird safe? Did he escape to Middle-earth, too? Then there was Algar's daughter, Selene. He wondered if Algar would be reunited with her. As to Algar's granddaughter, well that was tricky. Not every cat lived to see their grandchildren or great-grandchildren, but somehow Algar had lived to see his granddaughter.
Gizzard grunted in delight. Maybe one day he would meet Algar's granddaughter… or maybe he wouldn't. Either way, he would find out once he left Lothlórien.
o-o-o
DING! DONG! DING! DONG!
Gizzard awoke to the sound of a ringing bell. It wasn't in his ears, but this was more like a church bell, or so he thought at first. Stretching his back and his legs, the black cat wandered out of the pavilion. He was caught unawares by Algar, who led him down to a glen with a fountain. Standing on a stone pedestal, on the center of the glade, was a silver basin. Before the two cats was Lady Galadriel, carrying a silver vase. Gizzard watched her with caution. She looked elegant and beautiful, but Gizzard sensed something terrible with her.
At the same time, Gizzard felt eyes watching him, including from Algar. The black cat said nothing as they approached the Lady and her stone pedestal.
"Why bring me here?" Gizzard asked, cautious.
"You ask many questions, Ester, yet you seek out answers as well," said Galadriel.
"Meaning?" the black cat asked further.
"She means you are a very clever cat, Gizzard. I told you, you'll catch on to the Common Tongue and the Elvish Tongues with time," admitted Algar in a serious tone.
"Okay, so why did you bring me here?" Gizzard asked.
"To understand the truth, Ester, would you look into the Mirror as well as swim in Lorien's waters?" Galadriel asked him.
"And if I refuse?" The black cat asked, uncertain where the conversation was heading.
"If that is your choice, then so be it. I will not force you to do either," said Galadriel.
Gizzard paused. What would he do? Well, he remembered swimming in the water, the same water his parents forbade him to do. He could swim. And yet the thought of disobeying his father's last orders crept into his thoughts. He looked from Galadriel to Algar.
"Galadriel, I won't risk breaking my father's order."
"But your father is not here. Is he, Ester?" asked Algar, curious.
Gizzard sighed in regret. "No, he's not."
"Then what have you to be frightened?" asked Algar. "It's only a bath. Besides, you might feel more than renewed once you are clean."
"Fine, but the average cat does not like having a bath," admitted Gizzard, before looking back and seeing a spot where a pool of silvery water lurked nearby.
"Yet we are not average house cats, Ester," admitted Algar, smoothly.
"Leave him, Algar," said Galadriel. "When I return, we will let Ester peer into the Mirror." She said, gracefully leaving the hollow for the stairs. Gizzard followed her, watching the Lady as she whispered to the silvery waters in Elvish.
*.*.*
Gizzard spent the rest of the spring season in Lothlórien. The year was 2942, of the Third Age of Middle-earth. Ever since he dived into Lórien's waters, the black cat felt changed. The air smelled fresher and cleaner. So… well yes, his sense of smelling had improved, but then so did his other senses. This was a new change in his life, and he would cherish every moment he had in Lothlórien beauty.
The black cat soon learned from Algar, from Galadriel's Elvish tongue, that she and the elves had given Gizzard immortality. Gizzard very nearly fainted in the process of learning this new detail. And while he retired to the pavilion later that evening, Gizzard couldn't help but wonder if this new change would fade and he'd be mortal again, or something would turn up.
Gizzard pulled himself together by morning, but this did not leave him untarnished. Clockwise was out there, somewhere. And then there's Algar's granddaughter, named Gwendolyn. Would he meet her? Would he be reunited with Clockwise? There were so many unanswered questions. Gizzard hoped he wasn't too late to meet either animal.