FicWad

*Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters; everything belongs to Tolkien the genius.

Chapter Two: Lindeva Cala

No more than a shadow in the darkness, the silhouette of an elf slid silently through the halls unnoticed and out into the open. Glorfindel found himself upon one of the high walls of Tirion that stood straight up from the edge of the hill of Túna. It was the resting hours for the city but Glorfindel always awakened refreshed quicker than most. He also wished to take a walk about the city on his own before the bustle of activity came about.

Making his way along the curving walkway, he viewed the valley spread out in front of him as it ran for a great distance before rising to come to the mountains. The glow of the Two Trees shone through the gaps and passes of the range and he smiled as he took in the sight. There was a calm breeze that drifted across his skin and he savored the refreshing scent of the sea that was carried upon it. He pulled back his gray cloak's hood from his head and let his golden hair flow freely about his shoulders. His keen eyes darted across the landscape as he saw the tall grasses bend in the wind. Glorfindel had seen many a lands like this in his travels but nothing could compare to the valley nestled in the Pelóri.

The sound of soft steps shuffling over stone caught his senses and he perked his ears to listen. He determined it was not one of the guards because they were small steps and lightly taken. Turning around, he glanced down into one of the courtyards below his wall where the White Tree of Tirion, a replica of sorts of Telperion, stood above the white stones. A green-cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows of one of the other towers opposite of Mindon and walked slowly toward the center of the courtyard where the tree stood. Glorfindel narrowed his eyes and peered at the hooded visitor and recognized the young maiden almost immediately as her profile became clear. He watched Elrilya for a moment as she walked up to the tree and delicately touched some of the outstretched branches of white bark.

Glorfindel thought the breeze had begun to speak to him when he realized the melody he heard being sung was drifting up from the courtyard. Her voice was high pitched but serene and unwavering as if it were a part of the light winds. As he listened to her words, he realized she was singing of the Two Trees of Valinor and the light they put forth into the world. She continued on through her song as she hailed to Yavanna and Manwë then praised their creations and endearing watch over the Eldar. She finished her song and the air was loud with the silence that followed as if everything nearby had stopped stirring to listen to her voice.

While she had sung her last verses, Glorfindel, having descended a nearby flight of stairs, approached as silently as he had been striding before and stepped up behind her where she now sat soundless on a wooden bench below the tree.

"Good morning, Elrilya," he greeted.

She turned quickly, her eyes wide with surprise at not having heard him approach but they softened just as fast as she recognized who had come up to her.

"Lord Glorfindel," Elrilya replied with a small smile as she pulled back her hood. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a tight intricate braid, revealing her point-tipped ears and slender neck. "You gave me quite a start coming so quietly."

"Please, just Glorfindel is fine. I was enjoying your song and I did not wish to disturb you," he explained as he swept his cloak about himself, sitting on the right of her on the bench.

"You were listening?" she asked, visibly embarrassed.

"Yes, it was quite lovely," he said, noticing her nervousness. "I did not recognize the tune, did you write it yourself?"

Elrilya simply nodded in response. She was not quite sure what to say about his compliments. She had never shared her songs with anyone, except Idril.

"Is something wrong?" he asked suddenly taken aback by her reserve.

"No," she answered, then hesitated a moment. He watched her carefully with a touch of wonder and his full attention on her. "I did not expect anyone to be out at this time."

Glorfindel chuckled. The deep rumbling from within his chest caught Elrilya by surprise. She noticed his green eyes sparkled like the stars when he smiled and laughed. Before being caught mesmerized by their depths, she averted her own gaze and turned back to the tree.

"I wanted to see the city during its slumber," he said finally, also turning his gaze to the white branches above. "A grand city such as Tirion has great aspects one may discover when this place is awake and also when it is quiet." He paused, and then smiled warmly as he watched her out of the corner of his eye. "It seems I found one unexpectedly myself."

"Thank you," she said softly, a touch of color on her cheeks.

They were both quiet for a moment as they stared up together into the twilight through the tree. Elrilya started when Glorfindel suddenly began singing a low note that escalated higher before flowing back down again. She turned to watch him as he began the words to the song he swept into. He had closed his eyes, feeling the song and letting it move him with it. The lyrics flowed off his tongue effortlessly and passed his lips that looked almost as if he were whispering.

Elrilya's eyes did not stray from his form as he went into several verses. His face was not creased with lines of concentration but was smooth in deep feeling within the continuing melody. His mane of gold almost seemed to glow in front of Elrilya's eyes as he came to a crescendo that then let his voice fall to the ending. Glorfindel opened his eyes after the last note; his eyes were dancing with merriment at the singing, which came from his heart. They both smiled at each other as the silence enveloped them once more.

"Is that song your favorite?" she asked him.

His eyes stirred with surprise for a moment, as he seemed to contemplate her.

"Is it that obvious?" he laughed. "Or perhaps you are very perceptive."

"You sang it with great feeling," she said, greatly touched by the song that had also been about the Blessed Realm. "You showed immense intensity when singing it."

"Thank you, Elrilya," he said sincerely. "Do you know any duets?"

"A duet?" she said in shock for a moment. "You wish to sing with me?"

"I would be honored," he said quickly, playing on her words differently than she had meant them; though, she could tell he had meant to do so only to tease.

She shook her head with an exasperated sigh and then laughed, "You are incorrigible, Glorfindel."

"I must try," he said. "Do you have any particular songs in mind? I now am in the mood for singing and considering you do not wish for an audience, we should find one before the entire population is bustling about."


Idril had barely awoken when she heard the traveling sounds of voices floating through the windows of her bedroom. Pulling a robe on over her sleepwear, she went to the nearest window in wonder at where the song was coming from. After checking a couple windows and not espying the source of the winding music, she went to the last window of her room that overlooked the main courtyard. Down below she saw the dark brown hair of her friend sitting below the White Tree.

I thought that sounded like her voice, Idril thought to herself but then cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at the owner of the other voice. This is an amusing surprise...

Quickly putting on a clean dress, Idril slipped from her room to make her way down to the courtyard. Upon reaching one of the doorways that led out to where her friend and relative were seated, she paused to observe them for a moment. Elrilya was wrapped up in the emphasis of singing, her eyes closed but her head held high with a smile lifting the edges of her lips. Glorfindel was watching his singing companion while he sang which was unlike his solo before. His eyes held an intensity of pleasure as well as a sense of respect for such a young elf maiden to have an accomplished voice. The pair quieted as they met the end of the song and Idril decided it time to let herself be known.

"That certainly was a wonderful thing to wake up to," she said as she approached.

Elrilya turned to face her friend with a look of surprise on her flushed face. She had not expected to wake anyone with her singing but she could not help being swept away by the melody. Glorfindel shot an amused grin toward Idril at her comment and stood as she came up next to them.

"Perhaps you should join us next time," he suggested. "A trio would sound outstanding."

"Not today," she said with a quirky smile. "Now that you will be staying for good, we have plenty of time for that."

"Actually," he said. "I was informed recently of a feast the Valar have planned for the festival time approaching. All Eldar are invited to come to Taniquetil. With the singing about the sights of the Blessed Realm, especially Telperion and Laurelin, I have felt the urge to visit them again and what a time to go!"

"Amil will never agree to that," Idril said disappointedly while shaking her head.

"She will, do not worry," Glorfindel said. "I have ways of convincing her as do the Valar."

He was gone in a flash as he rushed up the steps back to the halls in order to pull his plan into being before they could come up with any excuses their families would give. Idril and Elrilya watched him go with matched curiosity but a deep yearning hoping he would succeed in his persuasion.

"I have to see this in action," Idril said before turning and following Glorfindel.

Elrilya, without ever having said a word amidst the whole conversation, sighed happily and followed her friends.

Glossary
Laurelin: youngest of the Two Trees of Valinor
Lindeva Cala: songs of light
Telperion: oldest of the Two Trees of Valinor