elves of arda ◆ misc. noldor ◆ headcanon disclaimer
Poldo was an elf of the Tatyar who awoke upon the shores of Cuiviénen. He was remarkably strong, and much like Mahtan he was drawn to the secrets of earth and flame. Poldo and Rōka were among the first of Mahtan’s students, but though they were friends, the two elves did not always work together in harmony. Indeed, when the Tatyar set out to make the Great Journey under the guidance of Finwë, Poldo scorned Rōka’s reluctance to leave Cuiviénen, and their friendship ended in bitterness when Rōka refused to follow. Early in the Journey, Poldo took a new name and asserted herself as a nís rather than the nér her companions had first assumed her to be. Now called Poldamaitë, she was harsh in her words to any who expressed doubt about the nature of her fëa. Though this was her right, it won her little friendship among her kin, and even when they reached Aman, Poldamaitë preferred to work alone rather than in the great forges of Tirion. Yet there was one to whom Poldamaitë opened her heart. This was the huntress Cútasar, a daughter of Unbegotten parents and another elf who found the city stifling. Cútasar preferred to hunt alone, shying away from the great company of Oromë, and her lone wanderings led her to Poldamaitë’s secluded forge. The two níssi fell in love and were wed in a private ceremony, and vowed to one another that they would never stand in the way of one another’s craft. Indeed, Cútasar and Poldamaitë spent less time together than other married couples, preferring their solitary pursuits. Still their love was deep, and in time Cútasar bore her wife a daughter: Ezellë Tecnyarindë. Ezellë was a writer and a poet, and though she was raised far from the bustle of Tirion, when she was grown she was eager to fling herself into city life. The wonders of Tirion’s artistic community enlivened her, especially the music of Kánafinwë Makalaurë, a supremely talented minstrel and a prince of Finwë’s line. Makalaurë’s songs inspired Ezellë to write grand poems, and she was astonished when her work caught his eye. He complimented her skills, and the two swiftly became friends, then sweethearts, and in no time at all they were betrothed. Makalaurë was the first of Finwë’s grandchildren to marry, and thus his wedding was a spectacular affair. Poldamaitë and Cútasar were glad their daughter had found love, but they did not appreciate Ezellë’s law-father Fëanáro, who was obsessive over every small detail and refused to refer to Cútasar by her proper name, instead calling her Cútaþar. Ever after there was unfriendship between them, and though Fëanáro adored his first law-daughter, Ezellë always carried a slight resentment toward him for his mistreatment of her mother. Ezellë and Makalaurë had a happy marriage in the Days of Bliss, collaborating together on many stunning compositions. But Ezellë never wished for offspring of her own, and so they remained childless, to Makalaurë’s quiet sorrow. Still, he loved his wife dearly and never asked more of her than she was willing to give, and thus they were glad together. When Makalaurë followed his father into exile at Formenos, Ezellë did not accompany him, but they remained on good terms and corresponded frequently. She spent much of her time in Tirion writing in support of Fëanáro, building his following in his absence and ensuring that he was not forgotten in his exile. When the Darkening fell upon Valinórë and Fëanáro’s wild fervor was cast to the forefront of everyone’s lives, Ezellë realized—too late—that she was in part responsible for the discontent of the Noldor. She spoke out against Fëanáro in vain, and when Makalaurë confronted her, she spurned her husband and refused to follow him to Endórë. Yet her mothers were swayed by Fëanáro’s rhetoric despite the animosity between them, and so Poldamaitë and Cútasar joined the host of Arafinwë in the eastward march while their daughter remained behind. But Ezellë still held love for Makalaurë in her heart, and it did not take much time for her mind to change. She rushed after her husband, but before reaching the shores of the sea she heard news of the Kinslaying at Alqualondë and was so horrified that she turned back and fled to Tirion once more. She repudiated her husband’s deeds and dedicate her writing to righting her wrongs and speaking bitterly against the Fëanárions, including and especially Makalaurë. Cútasar and Poldamaitë pressed on to Endórë, joining the host of Ñolofinwë when Arafinwë turned back. While crossing the Helcaraxë, Cútasar befriended another hunter, Tuilindo, and in Middle-earth she followed him to Ondolindë and joined his House of the Swallow. For her wife’s sake, Poldamaitë tagged along, but she never fit in to this house of archers and hunters and was uncomfortable confined within such a large city. Over the years, conflict grew between them, eventually resulting in their separation and Poldamaitë’s defection to the the House of the Mole when King Turukáno granted a lordship to his nephew Maeglin. Poldamaitë was much better suited to the solitary smithwork in the Mole’s forges, and respected her young lord for his understanding of her boundaries. She followed him to the Fifth Battle and survived, quietly glad to know that Cútasar also returned home, but she and her estranged wife did not speak to one another until the Fall of Gondolin. There they joined in battle, Cútasar assuming Poldamaitë had betrayed the city along with her lord, but in truth Poldamaitë was among those who rebuked the traitor and fought to save Gondolin. They clashed together with blades as they had with words for so many years, but through the din of battle Poldamaitë managed to communicate that she still fought for Gondolin and the King. At long last they put their feud aside, fighting back to back against a common enemy up until the moment of their deaths when Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, broke into the Square of the King and consumed them both in a blaze of fire. Poldamaitë and Cútasar spent many years in the Halls of Mandos, but eventually they were reborn in Aman and fully reconciled with one another. Tuilindo and Ezellë were both present for the rededication of their vows, and all was glad and joyful among their family. Yet Ezellë’s own marriage would remain broken for many Ages. Following the Darkening, she had comforted her law-sister Quildalótië, wife of Curufinwë Atarinkë, but though Quildalótië’s anger with her husband never waned, Ezellë’s own heart softened toward Makalaurë. Still, when he at last arrived upon the shores of Aman, she did not meet his ship, and for years she avoided him while he sought healing and penance, for she had learned of Elrond Peredhel that her husband had married another in Middle-earth. When at last Makalaurë, now known as Maglor, sought her ought, Ezellë searched her heart and found forgiveness for her husband. Remembering the kind words Elrond had spoken of his foster-father, she chose to give Maglor another chance, and over time they slowly rebuilt their marriage. Ezellë even grew fond of Daeron, Maglor’s husband, and let him into her heart as well, and the three found peace and happiness together at long last.