The Teacher

As she neared the bottom of the stairs that led to the rooms, she
could hear Amros and Aerandir teasing Elladan and Elrohir about the
events of the night before. It sounded as though Elladan was getting
the worst of it.

"So, Elladan," she heard Amros say as she went to the front door of
the tavern, leaving her pack with the rest, "do you think you left a
good enough impression on Iris, or will Aerandir and I have to do
it?" Elladan said something to Amros under his breath that caused
Aerandir to laugh.

Walking up behind Elladan, Penda leaned over and asked "What is this
I hear? Was Iris too much for you last night?"

Elladan turned and, giving her a scowling look, said, "I don't want
to talk about it." He turned and looked down at the mug that sat in
front of him. It held some concoction called coffee. He had asked
Millie for some hot tea, but she had brought this out instead, saying
it would help him a lot more that the tea could. It was black and
tasted biter.

"I suppose I should have warned you about Iris last night," Penda
said as she sat down between Elladan and Glorfindel.

"You knew what she is like?" Elladan said, looking at Penda.

"I have heard rumors in the past," she replied.

"You could have said something," he moaned.

"Would you have listened to me, Elladan? Besides, as I said, I have
only heard rumors."

Just then Millie came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of eggs and
bacon and a mug of hot tea. Putting them down innt ont of Penda, she
turned to Elladan and asked, "Well, Master Elladan, have you finished
your coffee?"

Penda, who had just started to drink her tea, began to
sputter. "Millie," she said as she wiped her face clean, "you aren't
making him drink your coffee, are you?"

"Yes, she is," piped in Elladan. "I think she is trying to poison me."

"No, I am not trying to poison you," Millie replied, "I am trying to
help you. You imbibed last night on the wine and with Iris. She is
losing a day's work because of it. Why, the poor girl can hardly walk
this morning."

"Ada," Elladan said looking at his father, "please, tell her to bring
me some tea."

Elrond looked at his son, then at Millie, a suppressed smile gracing
his elegant face. "No, Elladan," he replied, "Millie rules here, not
I, and she is correct. I warned you yester night, but you did not
heed me. Today, for the time being at least, you must suffer the
consequencesyouryour actions." He deferred to Millie, and she nodded
her head in appreciation, then turned and headed back to the kitchen.

Then Elrond turned his attention to Penda. "Penda," he said as he
stood and walked around to where she sat, "I will need to put some
bandages on your hand."

"Milord," said Penda as she turned from the table to face him, "my
hand is feeling much better this morning, perhaps I could ride alone
today."

"I'd like to see your hand first." Penda held her hand up. Kneeling
down beside her, he gently took her hand in his. Turning it in his
hands he saw several small blisters in the area where her fingers
joined her hand. "I don't think it is wise Penda; perhaps in another
day or two."

"Please, Elrond," she said, "I will be careful. Celahir will not give
me any problems. I can ride him without reins if I need to."

He looked at her skeptically. He would prefer having her on his
horse, in front of him, but he knew that once her hand was completely
healed he would not be able to justify her riding with him. "Very
well," he said as he stood, "we will see how it goes today. But if
there are any problems then you will ride with me tomorrow. Agreed?"

"Agreed," she replied.

Turning to Glorfindel he said, "Find Tom; ask where we can refill our
water skins. Take Elladan with you."

"Yes, milord," Glorfindel said as he stood up, "Come, Elladan, we
have work to do." Elladan moaned, his head still pounding from the
wine he had consumed.

Suddenly Elrond put his hand up, causing Glorfindel to stop. "On
second thought," he said, "Amros can help you."

"Yes, milord," replied Amros as he stood and joined Glorfindel.
Together they went in search of Tom.

"Thank you, Ada," Elladan said as he put his head back down on the
table, "I appreciate it."

"Don't be too appreciative son, I have another job for you. Elrohir.."

"Yes Ada?"

"Earlier, Tom told me that the horses had been fed and groomed, and
made ready. I want you, Aerandir and your brother to check the
horses. See that their tack is on properly, then bring them over.
Take our packs with you; put them on Fallon."

"Yes, Ada," Elrohir said, then taping his brothers shoulder, he
said. "Come brother, we have work to do this fine morning." He turned
and headed for the door, followed by Aerandir and a grumbling Elladan.

"Poor Elladan," Penda chuckled as she watched them leave, "he is not
going to have a very good morning, is he?"

"No, he is not," Elrond replied, "but he was warned last night. Don't
worry, I will give him something after we leave. I will need him to aleralert; in the meantime, this is a good lesson for him."

Millie came walking out of the kitchen, carrying two small
bundles. "Here you go, lass," she said as she handed them to
Penda, "some extra provisions and sweet rolls for later."

"Milord," she said, turning to Elrond, "thank you, for what you did
earlier in regards to your son. You will give him something after you
leave, won't you?"

"Yes, Millie, I will," Elrond replied. "As I was just telling Penda,
he will need to be alert for the journey home. Now Millie," he said
smiling down at her and offering her his arm, "would you do me the
honor of walking out with me?"

"Oh, Milord," she replied, blushing, "my aprons are full of flour. It
might rub off onto your fine clothes."

"You let me worry about that," he said as he took her hand and tucked
it under his arm. Together, they walked outside, Penda following
behind them. Stepping outside, they saw that the sun was just coming
up and some of the villagers were up and moving about. Penda saw that
one of the local farmers was there with a fresh load of crops.
Stepping around Elrond and Millie, she madr war way over to him.

"Watch her, milord," Millie said as she directed Elrond's attention
to where Penda stood. "When she comes back, she will have spent only
a few coins, but her arms will be full."

Elrond looked at Millie, "Why is that?" he asked.

"Because the farmer has a soft spot for her. All she has to do is
smile and he will give her what she wants, at the price that she
wants to pay; but she will pay him fairly." Elrond continued to
watch as Penda talked to the farmer. "She wasn't always this
trusting," Millie said, "when she first came to live with Will, she
was a quiet, timid thing, like a mouse."

"Oh, why was that?" asked Elrond, concern showing in his eyes.

"I probably shouldn't tell you, but you need to know and I know she
won't say anything, but, her family treated her shamelessly. You see,
her mother was a married woman, when she met Penda's father. Penda's
birth is a result of their indiscretions. As long as her mother was
alive, Penda was treated like any other child. But her mother passed
away when she was young; the human father blamed her death on Penda.
With the passing of her mother, she was relegated to doing the chores
around the house. At seven years of age she was learning to cook, not
outside playing like the other children"

Elrond could not believe what he was hearing. "Where was her Elven
father?" he asked.

"No one knew. The mother refused to reveal his name as long as she
was alive, out of fear that he would hear of Penda and come for her.
Even on her deathbed she refused. What few friends she had left
begged her for his name, they offered to find him and send Penda to
him. She finally agreed, but slipped into a deep sleep before she
could tell them. His name went to her grave with her."

"He d had have come, whoever he is, if he had known," Elrond said
quietly. "Was there no one who would help her?" he asked.

"She told me once that when she was in her thirtieth year, a man from
the village asked for her hand in marriage, but the father became
enraged, he refused the request, and forced her live outside, in the
barn with the animals, out of sight. When she tried to run, they
caught her and beat her. When the father was on his deathbed, she
thought she would finally be free. But, with his dying breath, he
decreed that she would be a servant to the oldest son of the family;
never allowed the freedom she yearned for, to love or be loved. Until
she came to Will. He gave her the freedom to grow. What you see is
the result of that freedom and the love he gave her. But, for all
that he did, one thing is still missing. Because of the beating and
other threats made to her, she is afraid to give her love to anyone.
Ill tll truly take a special elf or man, to break down that wall."

"It is a wonder that she did not fade," Glorfindel said, as he stood
behind Millie. She had not heard him approach.

"Would she have faded though?" Millie responded. "After all, she is
only half-elven. Perhaps the human in her kept her from fading."

"Yes Millie," Elrond replied, "you are correct. The Valar have truly
watched over her. Thank you Millie, for sharing this with us."

It wasn't long before he saw her shake the farmers hand, then give
him a few coins. As she turned to walk back where the group waited,
he saw that Millie had indeed been right. Penda was carrying a large
basket, loaded down with vegetables and fruit, a big smile on her
face. Millie squeezed his arm, "See, what did I tell you? Sometimes,
I think she could talk one of those ugly orc's into worshipping the
Valar." Elrond looked down at her, arching an eyebrow at her remark.
He liked this woman. It was a shame they could not linger in Bree
for a few more days. But he had affairs to attend to in Imladris and
could not stay away for to long.

He watched as Aerandir crossed the road; meeting her half way he took
the heavy basket from her. As they crossed together, Penda reached
into the basket and pulled a long bundle out. She stopped a few feet
from where Elrond and Millie stood. Turning her back to them she
unwrapped it, revealing a large bouquet of brighcolocolored flowers.
Turning to face them again, she hid the flowers behind her back.
Stepping up to them she gave Millie a kiss on the cheek, and
said, "These are for you," as she pulled the flowers from behind her
back and gave them to a very surprised Millie.

"Penda," she cried, taking the offered flowers, "What ever are these
for?"

"For the kindness you have shown us last night and this morning,"
Penda replied as she knelt down and started to look thru the basket
that Aerandir had put down next to her.

"Would you put these on Fallon for me, please?" she asked Aerandir as
she handed him several bundles that she pulled from the basket. "The
rest of this is for you Millie," she said as she stood up, handing
the basket to Millie.

"Penda, you don't need you do this," she replied as she shook her
head.

"Yes I do Millie," Penda responded, "We have eaten a lot of your food
and I know you did not charge full price, if you charged at all. It
is the least I can do."

Millie pulled Penda into her arms. "Oh, I don't know what we will do
without you." Releasing Penda, she wiped a few tears from her eyes,
then looked up at Elrond. "Please, take good care of her milord. You
can see why she means so much to us."

"I will, Millie," Elrond replied, "and thank you, once again, for
what you have done." Then turning to Penda he said, "it is time to
go."

Millie walked her to where Elladan stood holding Celahirs reins. Once
again she pulled Penda into her arms, "Don't forget us, child," she
said through her tears.

"I won't Millie, I promise," Penda replied, also in tears. Stepping
back from Millie she took the reins from Elladan then pulled herself
into the saddle.

Tom stepped out to say his goodbye's. "You take care, Penda, come
back and see us when you can."

By this time several other villagers had joined them, together,
To
Tom and Millie, they waved goodbye to the group as they rode out the
gate.