Of Dreams and Memories...

Tirion, city of the Noldor in Valinor, the home of Glorion and Estelien

Tirion, the center of the majority of the Noldor population in Valinor. It was a large city made of white stone and marble. The steps leading to the city held a faint glittering sheen, the result of diamond dust that had fallen from Eärendil's remnants when he had traversed them years before. One could see the gleaming pillars reflecting the sunlight or moonlight from far out into the Sea. It was the home of a large number of the Noldor, and some of the Vanyar, and Finarfin ruled them. The city was pure, untainted by anything other than peace, happiness and joy. Like all of Valinor, it was a place of wonder to those who had never seen it, and even to those who dwelled there. There was never an equivalent like Tirion in Middle-earth, though many elven havens had come close.

It had been long since the passing of a large host of the Noldor from Valinor. Led by Fëanor and his seven sons, now long gone from the world, Tirion said farewell to many of its children who would never return. Some who left still lived; most did not. The city had not forgotten the Oath of Fëanor, but it did not hold him and his sons in contempt for their rash actions. Rather, those who perished under the Shadow of the Noldor were mourned, and prayers were sent to Mandos for their eventual return. There were some who did see Tirion again though most waited within the silence halls of the Vala, the time for their return not yet come.

Ecthelion held vague memories of this city from his early youth. It reminded him much of Gondolin...or had it been that Gondolin reminded him of Tirion? He was unsure as he stood in his window and gazed out at the white city before him, the gleaming buildings reflecting the setting sun. By his count, it had been five hundred years since he left Valinor until the time of his death in Gondolin; now, it had been just over a thousand years since his rebirth from Mandos' Halls. Not much had changed in Tirion; it was still a beautiful as it had been the day it was erected. Though it was his home, it did not feel like such. Ecthelion's true home had left Valinor, and would not return for some time.

The memories of his previous life were still with Ecthelion, haunting him each day and invading his dreams each night. Some nights he would wake suddenly to find Estelien bending over him in worry, awakened by his voice murmuring in sleep. He told no one of his dreams save for Tuor and Idril, who lived together in Tirion. The parents of Eärendil would sit quietly, listening to all their friend would tell him. At times, Eärendil would join them when he returned from his nightly voyages in the sky aboard Vingilot. The three would comfort Ecthelion and offer their sympathies, but sometimes that wasn't enough. What Ecthelion craved the most was what he could not have at the moment.

"Glorfindel..." he whispered into the closing night. His gaze shifted from the horizon to the ring upon his finger. It still surprised Ecthelion that Mandos had allowed him to keep the token of affection Glorfindel had given to him in Gondolin, but he was glad for it. The ring, with its golden flower and silver leaves, gave the raven-haired elf a measure of comfort words and touches could not bring. It made him feel connected to Glorfindel, who was so far away over the Sea.

Sighing softly, Ecthelion turned from the window and reclaimed his seat at his desk. Lighting a candle to illuminate the simple room Glorion and Estelien had given to him, he picked up a long, white feathered quill he had abandoned earlier. Before him sat a leather bound book, half of its pages blank whilst the other half was filled with Ecthelion's careful and delicate Tengwar script. Scanning the half-finished page before him, he dipped the quill into a bottle of ink and resumed his writing.

Notes:
1) Glorion and Estelien are the parents of Glorfindel who, at the time of the Flight of the Noldor, remained in Valinor. Glorion is of the Vanyar and who Glorfindel receives his golden hair. They become the foster parents of Ecthelion upon his rebirth. These characters are the product of my imagination and, therefore, I lay claim to them.
2) Tuor is said to have been granted the favor of the Valar and was allowed to journey to Valinor, a feat no other Man has performed. Thus, I portray him as residing with Idril in Tirion and as he was when he lived in Gondolin.
3) In The Silmarillion in the chapter entitled "Of the Voyage of Eärendil," it is stated that while he may never set foot on the earth again, Eärendil journeys at night but returns to Valinor each morning where Elwing awaits him; he is said to have chosen to be accounted among the Firstborn though his heart was with that of Men.

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