Control. Secrecy. These became the words that defined the very core of his existence. He ruthlessly supressed all ' beastly' urges and with them, all feeling. He showed to the world only the facade of a cool, aloof elf of incredible intellect. An image that was further enhanced by his wearing naught but voluminous robes of deep black that matched his hair and eyes and miem to perfection.
His relantionship with all who dwelled in the House of Willows also became one of cool, aloof politeness and Erestor relocated his personal quarters to the most isolated wing of the residence. There was little surprise at the move, for Erestor had always been an introverted elf. Life in the house quickly settled back into familiar tranquility, marred only by the occasional report of a freshly-killed rabbit gone missing before it could be properly dressed...
All of Gondolin, too, had settled into life under a peaceful mantel and the black-robed advisor served a city that long thrived in prosperity.
Until that fateful day.
The end came in a whirlwind of terror and destruction, wrought by the power of Shadow and Flame. As smoke billowed all around them, the Lord of the House of Willows had entrusted his Lady into the arms of their son, charging Erestor with the task of bearing her to safety. The last glimpse Erestor had of the only home he had ever known was of his Ada, along with Lorantol and the rest of his warriors, drawing swords in the courtyard as they prepared to buy the Lady's escape with their lives.
And they did escape. Erestor, for once giving full vent to his emotions, hacked their way furiously through every foe, until they reached the relative calm of the snow-capped mountains. There, they joined a small band of survivors and bore horrified witness to the valiant battle between Glorfindel and the Balrog on the pass below. But they could not tarry, for the enemy was closing in and so followed their own path in frantic quest for safety.
Their journey was brutal.
But at last the wearied survivors arrived in Nan-tathren; the Land of Willows. And there, Erestor's Naneth finally fell to her grief. She faded in her son's arms as they lay beneath one of the very trees their house was named for. No funeral pyre could be built. Instead, the elves dug deep into the soft soil, laying her body to rest amidst the Willows that saw her passing. All wondered, as the sad task was done, how the dark elf's eyes could remain dry. But when the rays of Anor faded into twilight, they heard a lone voice lift in a raw song of lament, and wondered no more.
The survivors dwelt in Nan-tathren for many days, resting and preparing for the final leg of their desperate journey. As Anor rose on the day of their departure, they followed Erestor with hope kindling in their hearts. For they were going to join the new High-King of the Noldor. They were going to Lindon...
Here, Ja-zel stopped. For all the following events could be threaded into understanding by the elves themselves.
" Oh, Eru!..." Elrond murmured brokenly as he brought a hand up to his brow.
" All this time, we never knew..." Glorfindel wrapped his arm around Melpomaen, drawing the overcome young elf close.
" Why was Erestor's ' change' not completed, Lady?... And why was his Naneth born wholly elven, when her own brother was not?." Elrond asked, needing to confirm his budding suspicion.
" The essence of my kind, passed to his granddam in that fateful bite, had been somewhat diminished by a generation. There was not enough raw potency in it to advance my mate's change any further. That proved to be a blessing for otherwise he, too, would have met the same end at birth as that poor, doomed cub."
Ja-zel's face contorted in pain momentarily, before she continued.
" As to why Erestor's dam was born wholly elven in appearance... Our kind do not breed as others do. When one was chosen, and chose in return to become part of the ' Pride', the change required the bite of both a Lyon and a Lyoness to come to full completion. This I will explain fully when I tell my own tale. Suffice it to say, that only the male predominace of our race was passed on to Erestor's grandam through that bite. And thus, while Erestor's dam carried it in her blood, it only manifested itself physically in those of her family lineage who were born male."
As she finished speaking, Ja-zel's nose twiched delicately and her lips curved into a gentle smile.
" My Lords. I sense my mate is begining to wake and I would ask one last boon of you."
The elves all nodded their heads, though it was Elrond who spoke.
" Name it, my Lady."
" He will be confused when he first rises and will feel the need to run free. I will take him to the white-topped mountains to retrieve my pack of belongings. I would ask that you leave us now and go wait at the main entrance of this house, where we will join you shortly. Would you do this?."
The three elves rose from the table and she rose with them. Elrond came to stand before her, then grasped one deceptively feminine hand with his own, bringing it up to place a soft kiss upon it.
" Lady Ja-zel. You have saved two who are among the most beloved by my heart. I do not think there is anything I would deny you."
As he turned away, Glorfindel and Melpomaen came to take his place.
" Forgive me, Lady. I acted without giving understanding a chance."
This time, it was she who reached out, placing a hand upon the Balrog Slayer's shoulder.
" There is nothing to forgive, warrior. I am pleased beyond measure to know that Erestor has had such friends by his side."
She then took her hand and placed it gently against Melpomaen's cheek.
" I sense exceptional kindness in you, young one. You bring joy to all who know you. Especially to the one who stands beside you." Ja-zel smiled as he blushed. " I can tell by the smell, you know." she finished, with a wicked grin.
At those words, Glorfindel threw his head back and laughed, while Elrond arched an eyebrow from the doorway.
" I can see that you will be an..interesting..addition to this household." The sable-haired Lord said, dryly. " And now we will leave and meet you henceforth by the main entrance."
The three elves departed then, feeling lighter of heart in spite of all they had seen and heard.
Ithil bathed the courtyard by the main entrance with radiant light. The three elves waited at the top of the steps as they watched the two figures emerge from the house, hand in hand. Erestor glowed with a pale luminescence that perfectly complimented his mate's bronzed brilliance, making the sight of their nude bodies an enchanting thing to behold. As they neared, Ja-zel let go of her mate's hand with a soft smile and descended the steps down to the courtyard, leaving the four to their meeting.
For long moments, they all stared at each other. The three elves marvelled at the serene contentment softening the advisor's ebony eyes. Eyes, that until this night, had customarily shown only cool reserve.
" You seem to be at peace, mellon nin." The Peredhel Lord said.
" Aye, Elrond. For at last, I am whole."
Erestor moved closer, placing a hand on each shoulder of the only two elves in all of Arda he had ever called ' friends'. Elrond and Glorfindel extended their own arms to clasp his shoulders in return, giving physical form to the triad begun so many centuries ago. No further words were needed for in their touch, all the profound feelings they shared were conveyed. They stood thus, for a time, before letting their arms fall. Then Erestor turned his attention to Melpomaen, who had bowed his head, not wanting to intrude in such a sacred moment. The advisor gently tipped his chin back up, looking at him fondly.
" I have never told you pen-neth, but you were my most brilliant student and your sweet presence always brought comfort to my lonely existence."
" My Lord!.." The young elf choked, as tears began to fall down his cheeks.
Erestor leaned in and placed a tender kiss upon his assistant's brow.
" I am so very glad to see you have been granted your heart's desire." He whispered.
Then he turned and went down the steps to the courtyard, where the great Lyoness awaited. He came to a stop beside her, extending his arms as he leaned far forward, falling. And in the space of that action, his body rippled as it changed, almost too fast for even the elves' superior sight to follow. Huge paws with silvery claws touched upon the ground as Elrond, Glorfindel and Melpomaen stared in wonder.
A great Lyon, as tall as a full-grown horse and slightly larger than his mate, stood proudly before them. Its muscular body covered in a soft down of pale cream that seemed to shimmer under Ithil's light. A mane of deepest black fell wildly about its head, neck and back to the apex of its powerful shoulders, the dark color mirrored in the tuffed end of a long, smooth tail. The great beast turned its head, looking to the top of the stairs, and the three elves could clearly see the advisor's fea shining within the ebony eyes.
For one last moment, their gazes held. Then the Lyon and his mate bowed their heads, before bounding off into the night..
TBC...