Her almost child-like delight was infectious and the elves found themselves laughing out loud one morning, when they caught sight of the great Lyoness rolling around on the grass in the main courtyard while batting at a pile of fallen leaves with her huge paws, as if she were nothing more than a playful kitten.
But even such humorous antics, could not long dispel the underlying pall that had settled over the members of the innermost circle of Imladris.
For though Ja-zel had tried to reassure them as much as she could, Elrond, the twins, Arwen and Aragorn, Glorfindel and Melpomaen, even Erestor, all continued to experience an uncomfortable state of tension as they waited for whatever was to come.
And it did...
Visitors from the human settlement along the western border of Imladris finally arrived in answer to the invitation that Elrond had extended weeks earlier, so that the leaders could aquaint themselves with the Last Homely Houses' resident Lyons.
The Mayor, the head councillor and the captain in charge of the settlement's defenses, had ridden into the courtyard that afternoon, with their respective families in tow. The three men had bowed diffidently before the Lord of Imladris, their wives curtsying clumsily as their children looked about in open wonder.
Once those formalities had been seen to, the humans had been taken to the rooms set up for them in the guest wing, there to rest and refresh themselves before the evening meal.
After said meal, the guests were ushered into Lord Elrond's study, so that they may converse freely with Erestor and Ja-zel.
It was an awckward begining.
The adult humans and their eldest offspring, already intimidated by the opulent surroundings of the elven realm, could do naught but give stilted replies to their host's polite attempts at conversation as they tried, in vain, to not stare at the tuffed-ended appendages of the formidable couple seated across from them.
It was the mayor's five-year old daughter, who finally broke through the initial unease. With the utter disregard for decorum that only the very young possess, the little auburn-haired sprite darted out from her mother's arms to go stand before Ja-zel and Erestor. She looked at them for a moment.
" Are you married?." She asked.
Ja-zel leaned forward and smiled gently.
" Yes. We are mated, little one."
The girl absorbed that information, looking around at the elves gathered in the study, before bringing her eyes back to the couple.
" So...do all elves grow tails when they get married?."
" Myralin!." Her mother exclaimed, mortified.
Elrond arched an eyebrow, not quite able to completely conceal his twitching lips. Glorfindel and the twins exchanged wide grins as they caught Erestor's stunned expression. While Arwen, Aragorn and Melpomaen shared an amused look, as they marvelled at the tangents that a child's mind was capable of. Ja-zel's smile grew into a delighted laugh.
" No, young cub. Elves do not grow tails when they bond. Erestor and I are not elven-kind. We are Lyons."
A small brow wrinkled, as the sprite pondered that statement. Then, after apparently reaching a satisfactory concensus, little arms were lifted up to Ja-zel, who promptly gathered the child onto her lap. Hazel eyes then studied Erestor with disconcerting intensity.
" He is pretty."
Glorfindel snorted and Erestor threw him a thoroughly uncharasteristic smug look, as Ja-zel beamed a smile at the girl's parents, who could not help but return it.
The sprite's attention next riveted on the tail that lay curled on Erestor's lap and the advisor then did something even more uncharacteristic. With a playful grin, he brought the tuffed-end up, then tickled the child's nose with it, causing her to break out into a fit of giggles.
It was such an unexpected gesture, that all shared in the little girl's mirth and suddently, the acwkwardness in the room just disappeared. When the laughter died down, the child again looked up at Ja-zel.
" What is a ' Lyon'?." She asked.
And Ja-zel explained. Her words giving answer not only to the little one on her lap, but to the rest of the humans in the room as well.
The following day found Elrond and Glorfindel standing by the balcony doors of the Peredhel's study, as they watched the scene unfolding on the wide lawn below with indulgent smiles.
Arwen, Lindir and Melpomaen sat with the human wives upon soft blankets laid out on the grass while off to the side, the three human males and their eldest offspring engaged in an animated discussion on tactical defense with Elladan and Elrohir. At the center of the lush green expanse, the six remaining human children clamored and climbed all over two huge beasts that lay, with infinite patience, under the playful barrage.
The squealing laughter of the little ones was a welcomed sound in the Last Homely House, which had not heard the like in centuries. The smiles upon the faces of the two elves on the balcony turned wistful, as each became lost to cherished memories of three sable-haired elflings. A moment later, however, those smiles gave way to amused chortling as they caught the pleading look being directed up at them from the ebony eyes of the Lyon, who had three children kicking their heels into his flanks while another pulled at his tail with tenatious glee.
" Shall we go down and rescue him?." Elrond asked.
" Not on your life, meldir!." Glorfindel snickered. " The sight of our venerable Chief Advisor being used as a pony, is one to be savored..."
" Why, Glorfindel... I was not aware that you harbored such a mean-spirited streak. It is most unbecoming."
Just as he finished uttering that dry retort, Elrond suddently felt his body grow rigid and his eyes became unfocused, as if lost to some distant point in the sky. The Balrog Slayer watched him with some alarm, though he did not move to offer aid, knowing that the Lord was engaged in the silent communication of mind-speak.
The two stood suspended thus for some time. Then, just as suddently, Elrond staggered back as the contact was broken. Glorfindel was there to steady him and the Lord of Imladris clutched at him, grey eyes like shards of broken glass.
" They know about Elladan and Elrohir... Sweet Eru, Glorfindel... They all know!."
And with those words, Elrond collapsed into his friend's arms.
TBC...