I do not own Erestor, Feonor, or Glorfindel. I also don't own Valinor or Middle Earth. The other named characters, except for the name I have given Erestor for his early days in Valinor, are mine. I make no money from this, so please don't sue and just enjoy.

Mellolaes tilted her head as she examined Erestor's face. "Glorfindel said you were angry when all others refused to let your friend back into the fortress. The tale I told says his brothers were there. That must have seemed a great betrayal to you if you knew his brothers as long as you knew your friend."

Erestor frowned and bowed his head looking away from the elleth.

. . .

Narkal and I had our eyes fixed upon my design as we discussed how mithril might be the best metal to realize it in, when a voice interrupted us from the doorway. "I know where to get the best mirthil in the city. The price will be high, but quality exquisite."

I snapped my head around and up. My eyes widened to see an ellon who appeared almost exactly like my companion, though when I examined the grinning face closely I saw brown eyes not grey. Narkal replied from beside me without bothering to look up at the newcomer. "Then go and buy it for us. You know where I keep my purse."

"Are you not going to at least introduce me to your guest before sending me off?"

Narkal smiled, but still without looking up replied in a feigned bored voice, "Curuteith son of Ondocar, that is my eldest brother Tarman. Tarman this is Curuteith son of Ondocar. I had told you he would be coming here with this design today, which I 'also' said I eagerly wanted to get started on."

Tarman laughed. "Indeed you did, but it is still only polite to introduce us to one another, toron nin, since we are both here and do not yet know each other."

I raised my chin to this brother of Narkal's. "Well met."

Tarman smiled down at me. "If you and my brother have made all the decisions needed for him to begin the labor alone here in our father's forge, why should we both not go to buy the supplies he still needs? It is your vision he is following after all."

I turned to Narkal. "Have we done so?"

Narkal's gaze met mine with what seemed his usual gentle smile. "We have. Tarman is the best at acquiring the greatest materials for creations such as these. I find, though, I have not the head or patience for making purchases at a good price. I give him my gold and let him work his craft, so I can work my own. If you wish to play a part in his part, though, I would say you are well within your rights to do so."

I contemplated before looking up at the brown-eyed ellon. "I should like to see the gems available and make the final choice. Metal's form can be changed, but it would be a waste to purchase an already cut and polished gem that is unsuitable."

Tarman nodded. "Then come with me and help pick out the gem I will purchase for your design with my brother's gold. In doing so, we will both help bring this future broach into being."

Narkal gave a slight smile and nod up to his brother finally meeting his gaze. "May you both have great success." He then met my gaze and gave a wider smile and deeper nod to me. "I hope you will come here often as I work over the following days and see if I am truly following the vision you have in mind."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "You may regret giving me such an invitation."

. . .

Narkal's brother and I went to many shops in the city that sold jewels. He pointed several out to me. I stood firm on a certain stone that matched exactly the dimensions specified in my design. Tarman suggested getting a gem greater in size at a surprisingly small price and simply scaling my design up to match. He also found himself gazing upon, fingering, and championing a sapphire of deeper color he said would contrast beautifully with the gleaming whiteness of the mithril we would use. I insisted on the gem that would fit the dimensions of my design as it already was perfectly.

In the end, Tarman sighed, and made the purchase of the gem I choose with his brother's gold. He said he would tell Narkal it had been my decision against his advice that he spent so much of his coin on so small and light-colored a Sapphire. I thought the one so enamored with my design would understand my insistence.

I gave the gem into the care of Tarman to in turn take back to Narkal. Since I no longer seemed to be needed, I began my journey home. My eyes were examining the houses on the streets thinking of the possible building needs of the family's within my father, brothers, and youngest sister could meet. One ellon newly married was thinking of adding a ballroom onto his manor for his bride. Another family wanted a room for their young child to have as his own since he was now walking about without their hands holding him up. Adar would want me to draw up the plans for both additions to these homes if they hired us.

Tarman's voice interrupted my thoughts. I glanced at him. I had not even realized he still walked with me after I'd placed the sapphire I insisted he buy into his hand. His eyes were fixed on the road before our feet as his voice deepened and softened." You seem quite passionately devoted to helping my brother finish this broach as you have perfectly imagined it."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "I am."

"Is it 'only' this particular design or yours you wish him to forge into existence?"

"No. He has expressed interest in using more of my drawings as designs to forge things of beauty. I admit I am most interested in seeing him so do."

Tarman's back bent, shoulders tensed, and brows furrowed. "I see."

I raised one eyebrows at him as I fixed a stare upon him. "Why do you question me so?"

Tarman straightened his back and continued in a slightly lighter voice. "Now that Feonor has finished the Silmarils, which he did not need my brother's help with, since my brother does not work much with gems, other than placing them in what he forges, the eldest son of our king will likely call Narkal back into his service." Tarman turned brown questioning eyes upon me.

I narrowed mine in return. "So, you think my designs will soon be abandoned?"

Tarman straighened his back even farther and his eyes widened in horror. He waved his hands before his chest in agitation. "No! My elder brother 'always' finishes what he promises another he will do. But ... soon, when Feonor calls him to his side, you may well see much less of him." Tarman lowered his hands and his gaze. "We all will, though my brothers and I spend much time in Feonor's house as we are often invited by he and his sons, and then we see Narkal when he emerges from Feonor's forge, but ..."

"But I am not ever invited to Feonor's house." Though my family was well known as the best stone-cutters and placers in Valinor we had not reached that social status yet. Perhaps we never would. Finwe himself sometimes invited us along with other families of our station and even lower in order to have all or nearly all his people celebrate something with their king, but his eldest son seemed pickier in his choice of guests. Some said it was my father's fondness, often shown, toward Fingolfin and Finarfin, Finwe's other two sons that made Feonor spurn us. Either way, Tarman's words cast a shadow over my spirit.

"I could see the spark of passion for the future broach, and perhaps more, lighting your face in my brother's forge. I did not want you to think less of Narkal if you cannot find him after he finishes the broach. He thinks his old teacher's love for him is still diminished, as much as when Feonor was fashioning the Silmarils in secret without his aid, but I cannot imagine it is so. Now those most wondrous of his works are finished I know my friend's father will think of something else he wants to make and will ask for my oldest brother's help again. Narkal will then go to him with great relief and joy."

I glanced, no, glared up into what I now saw were the sad eyes of the ellon looking down into mine. Then I turned my gaze forward. I pondered in silence for several moments. It was true. My designs as unique, intricate, and glorious as they were could not hope to compete with the vaguest dream of Feonor's mind, the son of our king, and perhaps most admired elf in all of Valinor. I felt my feet grow heavier on the road, but raised my head and voice as I turned down a street leading to my home and away from the one who had made me realize I'd be abandoned by the one with dreams like mine. "Be sure to deliver the gem that Narkal might use it quickly before he is called away by Feonor."

. . .

After reliving this memory, Erestor realized Mellolaes' gaze was still upon his face. "I was never very fond of any of my friend's brothers. Though they could be kind to me and often treated me like family, the most like Narkal and I was Tarman. And he was fond of Feonor and his family while I was not."

The door opened. Both the bed-ridden steward and spry nurse's heads spun to watch Glorfindel walk in. Blue eyes widened as they stared at them both. "I was to come at this time to help you plan our trip east together Erestor.

The Steward of Imladris nodded. "I remember."

Mellolaes rose and curtsied. "Perhaps I should leave, so you two can plan your journey?"

Glorfindel looked down to Erestor who nodded. The warrior looked back to the healer and nodded his golden head. "Perhaps that would be best."

What do you think?

God bless

ScribeofHeroes