Part 2

In the library, Elrond seated himself in one of the many chairs by the fire while Erestor stretched out on a couch. The twins sat cross- legged on some rugs. Glorfindel paced by the window, looking out into the moonlit night. A lone wolf cry could be heard in the distance. Glorfindel finally spoke "Someone once told me that though the wolf is believed to be cunning and evil, he is much like us, in some ways better. They mate for life and sing for their mate until their time on Arda is done. The wolf song is the song of the hunt, but also of love."

"Of love?" Elladan questioned softly, "But ."

"Yes, love. And it was long ago, in the beginning of the First Age that I learned." He nodded to Erestor and Elrond to confirm their centuries old suspicion. "I was in love once and her name was Sivervel.. [AN: pronounced like Silverbell without the first l and the 'b' sounding like a 'v']

*********************************************************************** "Sivervel was of a people for the far eastern side of Gondolin. Simple, yet in touch with the earth as much as elves. I was hunting in the woods on day when I came upon a wolf den and heard the sound of pups. Laying down my weapons, I crept closer in hopes of catching a glimpse of one. As I neared the entrance, I heard a growl and saw a shadow out the corner of my eye springing to attack me. I went for my knife, but I realized that hands were restraining me. I was on my back and looked up to see a pair of amber eyes staring back at me.

'Who are you to trespass among these lands?' She searched my eyes and suddenly her gaze fell upon my ears. 'You are an elf! My lord, forgive me. I only meant to protect the cubs.' She said sliding to the ground eyes downcast and head bent.

'No harm done,' I replied sitting up. 'But how why were you lurking near this den? It is not safe for an unarmed maiden to recline in a place where a mother wolf is bound to return to.'

'Their mother was part dog from a line raised by my family. She died in my arms, a friend, protecting me from a lone warg. These are her pups.'

'Aye, it is said that your people walk with all manners of animals and can converse in their language. You will raise them?'

'Yes, but we do not converse, certainly not like you and I are doing at this moment; it is move of a connection. I must be going. There are deer to the southwest of here if you are also looking for food, my lord.'

'Glorfindel, my lady and do not say that your people do not converse with the animals. Some elves speak, commune rather with trees. Your people do the same.'

'That may be Glorfindel. But if I'm not to call you lord, you will not call me lady, only Sivervel.'

We hunted that night, the first of many. She showed me how to hunt in wolf fashion; she would drive the prey to me and I would make the kill. It soon became habit and without any signals, we could bring down food; a funny pair of wolves we made. The cubs grew up along side us; Sivervel and I were their pack. As the days grew shorter, her family left for the winter for warmer caves further from the city than their summer encampments and she followed, but always returned in early spring. The cubs followed her. This continued, but as the years passed the pups grew into adult wolves and were content to remain in their forest homeland. One year she came back early, snow was still falling quite regularly.

'Something is wrong?'

'Sivervel, how did you know? How did you find me here?' I had wondered in the woods seeking a quite place for my thoughts; my hideaway quite near to where the cubs' den once was.

'We first met here and the cubs still frequent it often.'

'Aye. I thought I felt their presence many a day.'

'They sense things, even before we can put a name to our feelings.' She paused. 'I've felt it too you know.' Her eyes glanced upward to mine and I knew. She was my mate, my chose one. Grinning coyly, she took off across the snow. I followed pursuing her through the forest. Finally, I caught her at a ledge over-looking a valley. Night had fallen; it was much like this one. We searched for a cave, made a fire and shared some lembas I had and winterberries that we'd found. For the first time, I knew what it was to love, truly and with your entire soul.

She stayed until the spring, in the forest with the wolves. I begged her to come to Gondolin, but she always said it made her feel caged. I worried for her, but she did not run into any trouble she could not handle. The pups, adult wolves now, still thought of her as pack and often shared kills with her. I would bring any other supplies that she needed. From that year forward, she remained in the forest of Gondolin for the majority of the winter. It was our season; no one to interrupt and little work for me, so we spent most of our time in the woods. But all good things must come to an end.

'Glorfindel!' She said appearing for the bushes in a wolf like manner, one spring day. Her smile faded as she saw my concern. 'What is wrong love?'

'I must go, Sivervel, to war. Evil is coming and I do not wish to see this land destroyed.'

'I understand love. You are the stallion of our band, seeking out danger before it attacks your herd.' She stepped into my arms and I rested my head and breathed in the smells of fresh earth, wind, and pine in her hair.

One of our pups had stolen into the clearing while we embraced. No longer a puppy, the grey female looked on and howled. Her mate answered. He bellied forward to place himself at our feet.

'He would go with you when I cannot'

In that moment I understood why she chose to stay in the woods; she was a creature of the wild as much as the wolf. I was like the dog that first took to the wilderness; one that first met with the wolf that produced our pups' line. I only nodded before we share a kiss, our last, and she rubbed her head under my chin in a wolfish goodbye.

That was the last I ever saw of my Sivervel. The night before I challenged the balrog, I had a vision of a girl child, blonde with amber eyes running through the forest at Sivervel's side. She was one with the wild, but never forgot her people." Glorfindel fell silent as the meaning of the story took hold of all five elves. They sat in silence until Elladan broke it.

"Do you know what happened to her people?"

The blonde only shook his head as he gazed out to the moonlit garden and looked across to the trees.
"I believe they migrated and settled near the lands near today's Rohan after Gondolin fell," Elrond answered for his advisor. "The Rhorrim's skill with animals, especially horses is unmatched. But it is late; I am tired Erestor," the Lord of Rivendell gave his dark haired advisor a knowing look and they left the room.

"Glorfindel, we are sorry." Elrohir said "We tell you our childish tales of lust for a passing maiden."

"Aye. I had no-"

"Nay, Elladan, Elrohir. For in matters of the heart, the emotions rule over the head. Do not grieve for me; I stopped long ago. I feel her whenever I hear the wolf cry; I know her spirit has gone to run free among her brethren."