The Lay of Ithrien is perhaps the longest epic poem second only to the Lay of Ur in existence. The Lay of Ur being a song of everything in Creation. Both lays are only fully told in the Elven realms. We only have in possession of the summarized versions. Here is the story of Ithrien:

The following events are supposed to have happened in the days "when the Sun shines only in the East, and the Stars in the West." Ithrien is the heir apparent of his father's starlit woodland realm. Silverglass is a prince of no less degree but comes from a far eastern region where the people are more cat than man, and is the last of his kind. Silverglass only came upon Ithrien when the Elven prince delivered him from a pack of red-eared wolves. They became fast friends, and during the course of their friendship and company, Ithrien taught the Rau prince Elven lore and Love, so that the pupil fell in love with the master.

But the master has no love-lust for his pupil, and told him to stay his passion. It comes to past that Ithrien's king-father is wearied of life, and desired the peace of the Ancestral Halls. So Ithrien must collect three blossoms from the highest peak, deepest abyss and guarded garden. It is a quest he must accomplished alone as the Elven customs demand. But Silverglass is want to follow. Ithrien has no choice then to lay a spell of slumber upon his friend, and he disappeared.

Comes then the main portion of the Lay of Ithrien, wherein is told the wonderful and dangerous places Ithrien visited, but all he overcomes with his Elven beauty and charm and was showered with admiration, generosity and love. Silverglass woke up three days behind and followed Ithrien's scent, but all he encounters are unwelcome, violence and cruelty, for the Rau was "... of strange, demonic shape of a cat-man." Silverglass was scorned and abused behind Ithrien's shadow, because he only wants to see his master's face again.

Alas, Silverglass met Ithrien at the end of the quest, but lost his life protecting Ithrien from the Dragon of the Garden. Ithrien held Silverglass's bloodied head and the mouth of it said, "You taught me Love, and I looked for it. Did I look wrongly?" He gurgled spit and blood and died, before he was answered. The Elven prince carried the body of his friend all the way back to the Twilight, and all those who had judged these friends by their appearances according to "their ancient covenants, tomes and sabbath teachings" cursed themselves and tore their own eyes out out of remorse and grief.

Ithrien was a mighty singer, whose voice is said to overwhelm the heavenly choirs even. Ithrien became mute with the death of Silverglass. He built a mound for his friend in the place they first met, and never left it. He forsook his father's kingdom by burying the rare blossoms in that mound. And he became wearied, withered and died of silent remorse. The only longeval Elf to have done so. Ithrien's people built a mound next to his friend's. A black and white thorn-trees grew from the mounds entwined, giving blossoms to three colored flowers only when the Moon shines on the mounds with especial tenderness.

++++

I've meant to write and visualize this story for a long time. I created this 5-6 years ago ... But the picture I've only drawn today.