They had an appointment to keep.
All three were silent as they neared their destination, each lost within their own speculations as to what the evening would bring.
They found the door to Erestor's chambers wide open. Inside, several members of the serving staff were busy setting a table ladden with the choicest fare offered by Imladris' renowned kitchens. A feast, one of the elleths informed the surprised elves, prepared for the ' Lady Lyon' by the head cook herself, as a token of gratitude.
Glorfindel grinned as Elrond arched an eyebrow, while Melpomaen looked about the spacious chamber with wide eyes, noticing that the curtains of the massive four-poster bed had been discreetly drawn to shield the occupant from view.
At that moment, a vision glided into the room from the adjacent bath. The three had to blink their eyes, for at first glance it seemed that Lady Arwen, the Evenstar of the elves, had somehow returned home without their knowledge.
Dark, beautifully coifed hair, topped an exquisite lavender gown delicately embroidered with shimmering silver thread around the edges of the scooped neck, flowing sleeves and hem. But then the vision turned towards the bed and the three elves found their eyes riveted to the long, smooth tail with it's tuffed end, hanging through a recently made opening that had been skillfully embroidered to match the existing design.
The Lady Ja-zel slightly parted the curtains surrounding the bed, taking a quick peek inside to ensure all was well before coming towards the table. One of the serving elleths curtsied before her.
" Do you require anything else, my lady?." She asked, shyly.
" Nay, young one. Please convey my deep gratitude to the head cook and tell her I am humbled and most pleased by this wonderful offering. And my thanks to you all as well, for this exquisitely set table."
Ja-zel smiled gently at the still-somewhat awestruck young elleth, whose delicate face lit up with a brilliant smile at the kind words.
" I will most certainly do so, my lady." The elleth said, before continuing quietly. " Thank you for bringing them home..."
The elleth them bowed respectfully to the Lords, before gathering her companions and closing the door behind them. Leaving Elrond, Glorfindel and Melpomaen in private with the transformed Lady.
The four stared across at each other for a long moment. Then Ja-zel inclined her head in respectful greeting.
" Those who serve here do your house proud." She smiled. " The kindness of your race is overwhelming."
The sincerety in her voice broke the awkwardness and all three elves found themselves smiling, with true pleasure, at her compliment.
" I must say Lady Ja-zel, that you look lovely. Elven clothing suits you well." Elrond complimented in return.
" In that case, I shall have to make a concerted effort to walk about..clothed..more often."
She laughed as their cheeks reddened slightly over the reminder of the day's first meeting between them, then extended her arm gracefully towards the table.
" I would be honored to have you join me in repast. Such delightful fare should not go to waste."
Glorfindel, who was never one to turn down culinary temptation, began to walk to the table with a quiet Melpomaen by his side. Elrond, however, paused.
" Lady Ja-zel. I would first like to check on Erestor. The sedative I gave him should be wearing off by now and I fear for his state when he awakens."
That stopped the other two elves in their tracks, as the thought that the advisor might come-to in the same frightful state they had encountered the previous morning, creased their faces with deep concern.
" Off course, Lord." She said. " Although I must tell you that he has not been under the influence of your medicine since before the dawning of this day. He is under a different kind of sleep now, one from which he cannot yet be roused."
The three elves looked at her, intently.
" What kind of sleep is that, my Lady?." Elrond asked, though Ja-zel could see he had guessed the answer.
" The sleep of change." She said, simply.
Glorfindel stood by the table, stunned. While Melpomaen sank bonelessly into one of the chairs, as the implications of her statement set in...
TBC...