I do not own Erestor, Feonor, or Valinor, nor the different groups of elves likewise developed by Tolkien mentioned here. I also make no money from this though. So please just read and don't sue.

Mellolaes pursed her lips as she gazed up at Erestor. "How did it take you so long to know the one at the center of my story was your friend? You did not know until the last day I told it … did you?"

The ellon nodded. "You are correct, young one, but you must try to understand …" The folds of his face sagged and gaze softened. "Though all you told me now makes sense considering what befell my heart-brother …" Erestor's voice had grown soft. Mellolaes' eyes widened to see his glistening with the beginning of tears as he looked away from her to the coverlet covering his legs while he continued. "It was not the Narkal I knew for so long that I heard of in your tale. All the days I knew him, despite his heavy burdens and fears, 'I' was the grimmer of us even from the beginning."

. . .

I knocked on the door then took a step back. As it opened, I felt my eyebrows rise. Then I chided myself inwardly for letting them.

The smiling elleth framed in the doorway before me had not black, but silver-gold hair. She smiled warmly at me despite my obvious shock. "Welcome to my home. You are Curuteith?"

I schooled my features. Then I nodded. I had to look slightly up to meet the gaze or her grey eyes. I smothered a sigh at this.

Her smile grew wider as she stood aside to let me enter while explaining. "Yes. As your eyes perceive, I am a Vanya not a Noldo. Narkal's father met me at a celebration in Finwe's house, which many of Indis' relatives also attended. I was among them and fell in love with a true Noldo."

I nodded again with a bowed head studying the tiles I stepped over as I entered the Vanya elleth's house. Then I looked up from where I stood the way branched off into three. To my left was a large room with a fireplace and many chairs. Before and to my right were two hallways. I turned toward her and waited. She closed the door behind me and continued to speak much like my two eldest sisters would in similar circumstances. "Of all the sons I've borne only Rombar truly resembles me in appearance and temperament. Though Narkal and Ascarant both have my eyes."

I tilted my head in confusion as I stared at her. "The Noldor also have grey eyes. At least, they often do."

She laughed. There was an extra music in the sound that made me straighten as well and perhaps stare even harder. I had heard the Vanyar were more musical than the Noldor were but had had little experience with it. Her silver eyes shone as she replied, "Yes, but you haven't seen my husband's eyes. They are quite dark, almost black. The twins inherited them fully. Though my beloved's often glisten like polished jasper with his good humor and theirs often remain deep in their brooding. They take life far too seriously my twins."

I nodded again, privately wondering if I might get along with these dark eyed children of hers. I tried to remind my hostess of my true purpose here as I doubted she'd stop speaking to a near stranger of all there was to know of her family otherwise. "I am here to meet Narkal."

She returned my nod still smiling and standing in one place. "My son said you would be coming and seemed quite happy about it. I haven't seen him so driven to begin a project in a long time." She paused. Her gaze grew more intent upon me, which caused me to have the slight desire to back away, but her words made my form relax. "Thank you for that."

Finally, she turned and began walking down the hall before us. I almost sighed in relief as I followed. Then her voice carrying back to me caused me to pause. "I have been concerned for my eldest son of late. His spirits have seemed to have become low for him, or indeed lower than any elf's in Valinor should be."

Upon her last words I felt a little defensive for my new friend. If my own mother, who often seemed to see straight through my face and into my spirit shared what she found there so freely with one I'd just met days ago, I'd flee to my favorite tree.

The strange Vanya elleth turned her head to glance back over her shoulder. She smiled with a bit of laughter in her gaze. It was also plain in the curve of her pale pink lips as well. "This way."

I once again began following her feeling my cheeks heat up a bit. As he caught up to just a stride behind the train of her blue-green dress I glanced about. The ceilings were a little higher than that of my father's house. More wood and less stone seemed to have been used in this structure's construction. My father's own passion for stone was apparent in how he'd built our home. Even in Tirion, it had caused the house my family lived in to be unique in that aspect. I also noticed many of the vases, mirrors, and doorknobs we passed were made of gold, silver, or mithril.

The elleth looked back at him and smiled. "Yes, many of my husband and eldest son's creations decorate our home and indeed are useful parts of it as well. I would not be surprised if you keep designing things for Narkal if I or even your own mother become the recipients of some of your joint works."

I nodded. Perhaps it would be so. Mother and even my sisters would be pleased with such gifts. The elleth continued her chatter and I attempted to listen to every word in case they came up again when we inevitably met later. I had no wish to cause hurt feelings in the mother of the only ellon to enjoy my artwork besides myself. "My husband is off speaking to another ellon who has commissioned something from him. So Narkal is at the forge alone."

I glanced into each room we passed continuing to see the sheen of metal everywhere. I wondered if it was like this in Feonor's home. My family had only been invited there when almost all of Tirion seemed to be as well and the crowds made it hard to notice anything. I imagined there were likely far more gems.

Eventually, I felt an extra heat in the air and smelled a lingering smokiness as we came to a door at the end of a hallway. The elleth before and then opened it. "Narkal! Your guest is here!"

A jolly voice answered her. "Send him in Nanneth!"

The elleth stepped aside and smiled at me before gesturing inward with both her hands. I carefully smiled, nodded, and strode past her through the door. As I entered a vaster space than I'd imagined, I glanced around at the walls. They seemed to be smoothed flat slabs of marble interspersed with patterns of tile reminiscent of my own designs that left gaps into which pegs were inserted also in a pattern. Upon these always parallel pegs in pairs rested a variety of tools.

"Impressed?"

I turned to see the long well-muscled back or Narkal with his profile turned to me over one broad shoulder. The rest of him faced the forge before him. He smiled at me as he held a hammer in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other.

I nodded and approached in curiosity. I did not think he'd be working even before I showed him my sketch turned jewelry design. I tried to catch sight of what he was working on.

Narkal looked away from me and back to his work while explaining. "I am anxious to see how you've turned that drawing of yours into a true design for a broach, but I'm supposed to prepare a piece of metal here to make a poker to lean against the newest chimney of a new room one of our neighbors added to their home. Father is getting the decorative particulars from owner right now, but a fire-poker is a fire-poker in basic design. So, my adar asked me to make a start while he was away."

I grinned. "My father, brothers, and youngest sister built that chimney with their own hands. Father had me help with the design."

Narkal looked away from his work to smile at me again. "Truly?" My host and new friend looked back to do some hammering and I retreated a few steps to avoid some flying sparks. Narkal continued. "Yes, now I think about it, I had heard your father and his kin built that chimney. But I fear I did not recall hearing your name mentioned."

I shrugged. "Often it is not. My part usually happens early in the planning part of the process, and I do very little of the construction if any at all since my brothers and even middle sister excel far more than me at that."

Narkal glanced at me his smile gone, though, his face was not marred by a frown either. Then his gaze went back to his work. "Can you take your design over to my father's drawing table yonder and lay it out so I can study it once I am finished with this?" He jerked his head to gesture behind him and a bit to the right.

I nodded, turned, and walked that direction toward a large desk indeed. Then I reached into the breast pocket of his robe and pulled out the paper before carefully unfolding and smoothing it. However, my eyes scanned the design nervously. Perhaps it would not be what he wished for. Perhaps it would be less than he expected.

My form tensed further as the rings of metal upon metal ceased and I heard the hissing of heated metal meeting water and a cloth being rubbed over hands. Finally, I felt the much larger form of my new friend loom over me. I stepped aside so Narkal could like study my work. His broad face grinned after a moment. "Curuteith … this is wondrous."

I smiled.

. . .

Erestor continued to study the coverlet after reliving this memory. Mellolaes stared up at him frowning. "Why isn't a letter good enough for now at least to forewarn and prepare him for your coming Erestor?"

He sighed and shook his head. "I doubt one with as kind and pure a heart as your own could understand."

Mellolaes snorted causing him to turn his head and stare at her. She grinned. "You know not some of my dreams and wishes."

He gave a slight smile back. Then he looked away and frowned. "But you have not spoken them aloud as I have."

What do you think?

God bless

ScribeofHeroes