I own a few of the characters seen here, but not Legolas and Feonor (who are only talked about) or Erestor and Estel who are seen and talk. I also don't own the places/world and make no money off of this. So please just enjoy rather than sue. :)

Mellolaes stepped back into the room. She had spent more time with Estel who seemed as or more confused as her about the sudden change in the household and all the talk not of Erestor's accident or injury but plans to travel away to the Green Wood. "Does he want to see Legolas?"
Mellolaes gave her charge a small smile. "I think he wishes to meet a different friend there Estel."

"Queen Lathwinn?"

Mellolaes giggled. To young Estel the two must fun beings and thus the ones all people must want to see were Legolas and his famous mother, the latter though of higher station even more wild than her son. Indeed, Elrond had stopped leaving his young manling alone in her care on her rare visits when she'd jumped off a waterfall with him. Estel had been fine very happy in fact chattering about the thrill he'd gotten along with his chattering teeth over the cold of the water, but Elrond had wandered if the shock along with his mortal blood had turned a few hairs white. He'd checked after drying off his mortal adopted child warming him in his own lap before a fire and putting him to bed with a calming story.

Mellolaes turned her gaze and thoughts back to his charge as he tugged on her sleeve to get her attention. "Who is Erestor going to Green Wood to see Melly?"

She sighed and took a breath before saying "Sarnhael Celuant."

Estel furrowed his brow and puckered his mouth up at her. "Who's he?"

Mellolaes opened her mouth to reply and then stopped.

. . .

She entered the room quietly, but her movement caught the attention of his eyes. Erestor raised his gaze to meet her questioning one. "Mellolaes?"

She closed the door behind her, moved over to the side of the bed and knelt on the floor. She set her hands flat on the coverlet and her chin on her hands near his right hand before raising her gaze to meet his again. "Tell me about when you first met Narkal."

Erestor raised an eyebrow before intoning "Glorfindel told you?"

She nodded then shrugged. "I think I would have figured out 'something' even if he hadn't. But I want to know. What pleasant and unpleasant memories have I awoken?"

Erestor sighed and then looked up at the ceiling. "I think I will mainly tell you of the pleasant ones. Mind even Glorfindel does not know much of this. But …" He nodded to himself. "I think, I would like someone here to understand when I leave."

He turned his gaze back to her. "You are sure you wish to know such a simple, unimportant thing? When I first saw Narkal's face." He pursed his lips and stared off at the closed door. "Long before it was scarred."

Mellolaes nodded and though he hadn't looked back down at her he seemed to sense it and began.

. . .

I sat in his favorite tree sketching. There was a branch near its top that grew in such a way I could set my feet on it, so my bent legs made the perfect easel for my work. With a sketch pad, a straight-edged ruler, and a compass I could spend whole days if my parents and siblings let me working. Though, since even in Valinor there was real work to do I actually spent only as much time up there as they allowed me.

That day though, my elven ears picked up shouting. It was unusual enough to pull my attention away from the lines I was making on the already almost filled page. I recognized Feonor's voice. Everyone in Tirion knew Feonor's voice maybe everyone in Valinor. The other almost sounded familiar, but I wasn't sure.

After one last, great raising of Feonor's voice both fell silent. I did not immediately go back to sketching though. My hands were shaking slightly. Feonor's anger had that effect on many.

Then I realized some of my continued nervousness was due to a smoldering presence I felt below me. I looked down through a gap in the branches and leaves to see the top of a dark head. I thought the person below me must be tall for the crest of his skull and hair to seem so close. Though I am a Noldo born in the west, I have never been tall. My taller brothers and sisters often reminded me of that. I thought this ellon would think similar things if he could see me.

Then as if sensing my stare, the ellon looked up and did see me. I looked into grey eyes much like mine. I shrank back a little into the leaves before realizing it was far too late and slumped back into the position, I had been in staring down at him before. I expected sharp eyes and words since I'd technically been spying on him and he was likely the brave ellon who'd just been shouting at Feonor of all elves.

The eyes looking up into mine though remained relaxed and round rather than sharp and narrow. And he smiled at me, though I could see some lines around both eyes and mouth that spoke of sadness. Then he looked down and walked on. I continued with my drawing my hands no longer shaking.

. . .

Mellolaes raised her gaze and eyebrows to Erestor after he fell silent "That's it?"

The steward smiled and shrugged. "You asked about the first time I saw him. That is the true story of it as I recall."

Mellolaes frowned at him. "When did you first speak to each other then?"

Erestor nodded more solemnly and began again.

. . .

I walked the silent hall stifling a sigh. My middle sister had grasped my arm as I carefully passed through the crowd invited by our father to our home. She'd then asked me to go to her room and bring back a certain necklace so she could prove how well it went with one of her friend's eyes and hair. I knew very well why she'd asked "me" and no one else.

My brothers would likely have said "no." If they actually had said "yes," they would likely not have remembered the exact detailed description she gave of one out of many necklaces in her jewelry box. Our other sisters were already talking to others. If I did not do this task for her, she would join with mother and our oldest sister in cornering me into as many conversations as possible during the party. My brothers didn't mind conversing with their friends, which satisfied everyone. Even father thought I should learn to enjoy myself more at these gatherings. The more I kept myself busy doing these tasks the less I had to talk that night. Though, this was one of the more annoying tasks I'd been asked to do during a party. I best do it though or suffer more consequences than this blow to my pride. I'd receive several if my usual lack of answers to questions elves when they tried to get me to say "something" in a circle of conversation. How did I end up in a family so good at things I lacked talent in?

Upon turning into the hall between my family members' rooms, I stopped. There was … an ellon here I was not related to. He did not belong here. Not only this, but he was staring through the open door of "my" room with rapt eyes. I slowed and lightened my steps as I approached him. "What are you doing here?"

He turned to me, and I recognized the one who had shouted at Feonor on a day I sketched in my favorite tree. Then, I recalled Feonor had come to the party tonight wearing his new jewels and all who could find a place to gaze upon them had gathered around him. Perhaps that was why this elf who had fled here.

The ellon smiled at me a bit sheepishly. "I meant only to walk in silence up here for a moment, when I spied the artwork within." He nodded toward the walls in my room I ad nearly covered with my sketches. "It is quite unique and shows an interest in geometry I've never seen an equal too."

I nodded. "Yes, I've never met another with an interest equal to that of the artist's in geometric art either."

The taller ellon raised his eyebrows as he bent his neck to meet my gaze. "Are they yours?"

I nodded.

"Amazing. Has anyone used them as a design for their own projects?"

"No."

"May I be the first to do so?"

I remained silent for what was probably too long before asking, "Why?"

He smiled down at me warmly. "It would be a challenge to cast even one of these simple designs perfectly in gold or silver, or … mithril …"

He looked back to my drawings. I looked down at my feet. "You are not … only teasing me, are you?"

He turned back to me his smile gone and brow furrowed. "Why would I?"

I shrugged. "No one has shown such interest in my designs before."

The furrows of his face fell into sagging lines. "I am sorry to hear that."

I began walking toward my sister's room again. I had already wasted too much time completing the tasks she'd given me. She would definitely navigate me into a conversation downstairs, maybe two. "Which of the designs would you like to make into an object of gold, silver or mithril?"

"How about the one of ovals and triangles intersecting?"

I nodded. "Yes, it is simpler, but I like it too."

He grinned at me as he walked by my side. "Indeed." He looked down the hall. "Where are you going?"

My shoulders and voice fell a little as I replied. "To fetch one of my sister's necklaces for her."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

The other ellon laughed. I looked up and scowled at him. He stopped. "I'm sorry. I supposed I do not know the duties of a brother to his sisters. I only have brothers myself."

I nodded. "The things I do for my sisters are different from what I do for my brothers."

"And you are the youngest are you not?"

I nodded again and growled a bit in my reply. "Yes."

He nodded. "I am the eldest of my brothers."

I sighed in longing. He grinned down at me though his brow had furrowed a bit. "Much responsibility comes with that."

I shrugged. "Does anyone ask you to fetch their jewelry for them?" I turned into my sister's room. He laughed stopping outside. "No. I suppose not."

I found the correct silver string from which tiny diamonds and larger blue sapphires hung and carried it out and down the hall. He fell into step beside me again saying. "I am Narkal by the way. Somehow, we have never been introduced before."

I nodded and looked up at him. "I am Curuteith."

Once I delivered the necklace to my sister, Narkal and I talked of how to turn my design into a silver pendant and whether or not to have an oval pearl or triangular gem at its center. My sisters, mother, and even father sent satisfied smiles our way, but I did not mind. It was the beginning of a friendship for me that pleased them greatly at first, but which I think they eventually lamented.

. . .

Mellolaes gazed up at the ellon only now allowed to sit up in bed after his accident. Her face was lax and eyes a little wet. "And that was how it started?"

Erestor nodded. "Indeed."

What do you think now?

God bless

ScribeofHeroes