The Teacher

The next morning Penda woke up just as the morning sun started to shine its light into her room. Quietly, so as not to wake her uncle, she stood up and tried to slip on her leggings, but she had trouble keeping her balance. Peering out the door she checked to see if anyone else was up. Seeing no one, she somehow managed to pick up her clothes and went out to sit by the fireplace. She dropped her boots and tunic on the floor next to one of the chairs. Then she sat down and pulled her leggings on. It took a few minutes and a bit of a struggle, but she managed to get them on without making a lot of noise. Picking up one of her boots, she leaned over to slip it on. Suddenly, she heard someone clear their throat.

Looking up, she saw Elrond standing just behind the other chair, his hands on his hips. Glorfindel was standing behind him, staring at her with a lecherous grin on his face. She looked down to see what he was looking at and gasped. The undershirt she had put on the night before was hanging open, exposing a portion of her breast. Her face turned red. “Can it get any worse?” she thought to herself.

Slowly she straightened up and looked at Elrond. “Good morning, Penda,” he said.

“Good morning, milord,” she replied as she looked around him towards Glorfindel. Glorfindel though had already gone back into the bedroom.

“Tell me, Penda,” he said as he walked over to her and knelt down in front of her, picking up one of her boots. “When we return to Imis, is, is it your intention to do this every morning?”

“No, milord, I don’t. I was afraid I would wake Uncle Will. Since he hasn’t been feeling well lately I wanted to let him sleep; that is why I came out here. I didn’t think anyone else was up,” she replied.

“I see,” he said as he took the boot and slipped it on her foot; then did the same with the other. “Now, let me see your hands.” Penda put her hands out. Slowly Elrond started to unwrap them. “We’ll go ahead and change the bandages now,” he told her. Turning, he saw that Glorfindel had come back out of the room. “Go outside; make sure everyone else is up. Have one of them gather the eggs; the other three can feed the horses and get them ready.”

“Yes, milord,” Glorfindel said, and then he turned and went outside, leaving Elrond and Penda alone.

“Milord, what about my tunic?” Penda asked

“You can put that on after I have looked at your hands,” Elrond replied as he went about gathering the items he would need to change her bandages.

“But, milord…” Penda started to say.

“Don’t worry, Glorfindel will keep everyone out,” he said as he knelt down in front of her. “Now, let’s take care of your hands; then we will wake you uncle,” he said as he set a bowl of warm water on her lap to soak her hands in. A short time later he had her hands wrapped up again. “You will have to ride double with one of us until your better able to control your horse on your own,” Elrond said as he moved around the house taking care of the things he had used. He went into the bedroom that he had been sharing with Glorfindel. Penda thought it would be a good time to put on her tunic.

When he came out a few minutes later with his pack, he found her with her back to him, the tunic down over her head, trying to slip her arms into it. “Let me help you with that,” he said as he walked up behind her.

“I can do it, milord,” she replied.

“I’ll have no arguing, now be still,” he told her as he turned her to face him. He helped her ease her hands into the arms of the sleeves, then grasping the hem of the tunic he tugged it down over her breasts. As he did, his knuckles accidentally brushed across her nipples, causing her to gasp.

Elrond stopped, releasing the tunic, “I’m sorry, Penda; I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he said as he stepped away from her.

“I know you didn’t, and your apology is accepted,” Penda told him, “but you are right. I do need help, if you would, please.” Stepping up to her he grasped the hem again and slowly pulled it down the rest of the way, looking into her eyes as he did.

Penda held her breath as he pulled the tunic down. That warm feeling she had been getting when he was near came back again. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

“Is something wrong?” Elrond asked, almost whispering.

“N-no, milord,” Penda answered, barely audible. Shaking her head again, she stepped away from Elrond, “I think I’ll go wake Uncle Will; he doesn’t usually sleep this late, even when he is not feeling well,” she said as she went to her room.

Elrond just stood there, trying to regain control of his feelings. It had been a long time since anyone had stirred his emotions the way Penda did. Fresh air, that’s what he needed. Picking up his pack he headed for the door; suddenly he heard Penda scream.


~~~***~~~

She had left Elrond standing by the fire place. She knew she needed to calm herself down. No one had ever had this kind of effect on her. When his knuckles had brushed against her nipples, she had been surprised, but she wished he had done it again. The sensation she had felt was new and pleasing to her.

Pushing the door open a crack, she saw that her uncle was still sleeping, on his side, with his back to the door. “Time to get up sleepy head,” she said as she went into the room and sat down on the bed.

“Uncle Will,” she said, getting no response. “Uncle,” she said again as she stood up and reached across him, rolling him onto his back. The she screamed. His skin was ashen and cold, his eyes lifeless. Elrond ran into the room and found her lying across him, begging Will to wake up. “Please, uncle, please wake up. Don’t leave, not yet,” she said weeping.

Glorfindel and Elladan came running into the room. “What happened?” they asked in unison.

“It is Will; he is gone,” Elrond said as he put his arms around Pendas shoulders, pulling her away from Will. He walked her back out to the fireplace.

“Elladan,” he called to his son.

“Yes, Ada?” Elladan answered as he came out to join his father.

“Stay with her, Glorfindel and I will get him ready for burial.”

“Ada, is there anything I can do?” asked Elrohir, who had come into the house when he heard Penda screaming.

“Yes, son, I want you, Amros and Aerandir to prepare a grave.”

“Yes, Ada,” Elrohir said. Turning to go back out he stopped and asked “Where, Ada?”

Knelling down in front of Penda, Elrond took her hands in his. “Penda, I know this is difficult, but I must ask you. Did Will ever say where he would like to be laid. A special place perhaps?”

Penda looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks. “The top of the hill, overlooking the pond. Some mornings he would go up there and sit and watch the sun come up. He stopped going when it became difficult for him to walk. I know he missed it.”

“Then that is where we shall lay him. So that he may see the sunrise every morning.” Elrond told her as he stood and looked at Elrohir.

Elrohir nodded his head in understanding, then went to do his fathers bidding. Elladan assured him that he would not leave her side. Elrond went back into the bedroom and looked at his dear, old friend, lying peacefully on the bed. Glorfindel was already busy. Having washed Wills hair, he was cleansing Wills body when Elrond walked in. In silence they finished the job together, dressing Will in his btunitunic and leggings. When they finished, Elrond turned to Glorfindel and said, “Give me a few minutes alone, then bring Penda in so that she may say her goodbyes.”

“Yes, milord,” Glorfindel replied, closing the door as he left the room.

He found Penda and Elladan sitting at the table outside, Elladan’s arms wrapped around her as she wept softly. “Penda,” Glorfindel said, sitting down next to her, “Penda, Elrond is with your uncle now; when you are ready, I will take you in.” Penda looked up at Glorfindel. Gently he reached over wipewiped her tears away.

“If there is anything we can do for you, all you have to do is ask,” Elladan told her.

“Thank you, all of you, for what you have already done,” she replied. Then looking at Glorfindel she said, “I don’t suppose there is any reason for me to leave now. Uncle Will died thinking I was going to Imladris.” Glorfindel just looked at her. Elrond would need to know of this.

“But Penda,” Elladan said. “It’s so isolated out here, you would be alone.”

“Except for the years I spent here, Elladan, I have, in a sense, been alone for most of my life,” she told him.

“Yes, well, we can discuss this later, with Elrond,” Glorfindel told her.

“We all know what he will say about it ,Glorfindel,” Penda said, “but as you said, we can discuss it later. Right now, though, I should go inside.” Penda stood and headed for the e.
e.

“It looks as though Elrohir is ready,” Elladan said.

“Yes, it will be over soon,” Glorfindel replied before he turnnd fnd followed Penda inside.