The Teacher

Chap 28

As they approached the campsite, Elrond felt Penda begin to shake. He stopped and turned her to face him.

“He cannot hurt you, Penda,” he said quietly.

“But, if he gets loose, he’ll…” she replied, her voice trembling.

“He will not get loose Penda. Elrohir has assured me that he is bound and gagged. He will not be able to break his ties.”

Taking her hands in his, he pulled her close. “We will go on when you are ready,” he said as he held her in his arms until she stopped shaking. He wished that he could take away the fear that she felt.

Slowly she stepped away. Looking up at him she said, “I am ready.”

As they stepped into the light from the campfire, they both glanced around. Seeing Elladan resting against a log, Penda headed towards him, followedElroElrond.

“Elladan,” she said as she knelt down next to him, “are you alright?”

“I am fine, Penda,” he replied.

Elrond moved behind Elladan and sat down on the log. “Elrohir, bring a torch and some water in a mug,” he said as he took the bandage off Elladan’s head.

“Penda,” Elladan said as Elrond checked his head, “I’m sorry I couldn’t…”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Penda replied softly. “If not for you, who knows what he would have done.”

By this time, Elrohir had returned with a torch and some water. Holding the torch up, he watched as his father inspected Elladan’s head closer. Satisfied that it was clean, he mixed some herbs in the water and gave it to his son, telling him to drink it.

Elladan did, and a short time later he was asleep.

“Now I can heal his head,” Elrond remarked. Laying his hand on Elladan’s injury, he closed his eyes and became very still.

“What is he doing?” Penda asked Glorfindel, who had just joined them.

“He is healing him, just as he did with your hands,” Glorfindel replied.

“I thought elves could heal on their own?”

“They do, Penda, but it helps the healing process if one who has powers such as Elrond’s, can start the process.”

Penda watched for a few more minutes. Excusing herself, she went over to where her pack lay and pulled out her blankets. After spreading one out, she found Elladan’s pack and pulled his blanket out. She spread it next to hers. Seeing that Elrond was done, she walked bacer ter to him.

“Milord,” she said as Elrond stood, “I’ve spread his blanket next to mine. I can watch him tonight while he sleeps.”

“Are you sure?” Elrond asked, looking at her, “one of us could…”

“I am sure,” she replied, “I want to help. With Elladan hurt and Amros…” She became quiet for a moment. “I can’t help stand guard, so I will take care of him.”

”If you are sure, Penda. You don’t…”

“I am sure, Elrond. I don’t believe he will wake during the night, but if he does, I will tend to him. I’ll wake you if I need any help.”

Knowing it would help her feel useful, not to mention keep her mind off the attack, Elrond picked his son up and moved him to the blanket that Penda had spread out.

“Ada, Penda,” Elrohir said as he sat by the fire, “come, sit, have some tea.”

After making sure Elladan was setteled, and covering him with another blanket, they walked over and sat down with the rest of the group.

“Glorfindel,” Elrond said as he sipped his tea, “I will help with the watch tonight.”

“Mellon, you don’t…”

Elrond put his hand up, silencing Glorfindel. “Yes, I do,” he said in a tone that was meant to discourage any further argument.

“You will take the first watch then, milord” Glorfindel replied. Turning to the others he said, “Aerandir, you will go after Elrond, then me, and then Elrohir. Elrohir and Aerandir nodded their heads, acknowledging when they would stand watch. As the four elves continued talking, none of them saw Penda turn and look towards Amros.

“Excuse me,” she said, not waiting to see if anyone heard her. Standing, she walked over to where the extra blankets were stacked with the food packs. Taking one, she cautiously walked over to where Amros sat, still bound and gagged. Without saying a word, she coved his legs with the blanket, to keep out the cool, night air.

Elrohir was the first to see what she was doing. After getting everyone’s attention, they watched as she walked up to Amros and covered him.

“Amazing,” Elrond said quietly.

“After what he did to her…” added Glorfindel.

As Penda turned to walk away, they turned their heads, not wanting her to see them watching her.

No one saw the single tear roll down Amros’ cheek.

Once the tea was finished off, Elrond took his sword and headed for the woods. Extra wood was added to the fire, and everyone setteled down and went to sleep. A few hours later, Elrond woke Aerandir, and after making sure the elf was up an alert, he spread his blanket out on the other side of Elladan. It took several minutes for him to get setteled, but once he did, he drifted into a light reverie.

Elrond had been resting for only a short time when he was wakened by the sounds of someone moaning in distress. Sitting up, he looked over Elladans’ sleeping form, towards Penda. She was moving around, her arms thrashing, as if to ward off an attacker.

“No, no,” she moaned in her sleep, “please, stop.”

Getting up, he quickly moved to her side. As he knelt down beside her, her thrashing intensified, her moans became loader.

“Penda,” he said quietly as he grasped her shoulder and shook it, trying to wake her up.

“No,” she moaned again, kicking her feet out, “no, no, Amros, please,” she pleaded again as her arms swung madly about.

Elrond grabbed her wrists.

“Noo…” she screamed.

“Penda, wake up, it’s Elrond,” he shouted as he grabbed her shoulders again and shook her harder.

Suddenly, Penda opened her eyes and looked at Elrond.

“It’s me Penda,” Elrond said again softly, “he can not hurt you, remember?”

Sitting up, she turned to see Amros still tied, sitting against the tree, the blanket still across his legs where she had placed it. Looking back at Elrond, she whispered “I’m sorry Elrond, I …”

Pulling away from him, she put her head down, covered her face with her hands and began to cry. Moving closer to her, Elrond pulled her into his arms.

“Is she alright, mellon?” Glorfindel as he walked over.

“She will be,” Elrond replied, “not all tears are evil. You get some rest. I will stay up with her.”

Glorfindel went back and laid down. He watched as Elrond got into a more comfortable position, then pull Penda onto his lap. Wrapping his blanket around her, he held her until she cried herself to sleep. When he was sure that she was sleeping soundly, he gently laid her back down on her blanket, then stretched out next to her. Slowly he drifted off into a deep reverie.

When she woke the next morning, Penda was on her side, her back to where Elladan lay. She could feel someone lying behind her, their arm draped over her waist. Opening her eyes, she looked down and recognized Elrond’s’ tunic-covered arm. Trying not to wake him, she slowly rolled over onto her back. As she did, his arm and hand moved with her.

By the time she was on her back, her tunic had become twisted and pulled up. Elrond’s large, warm hand now rested on her stomach, his thumb grazing the bare skin. She closed her eye and tried to block out the sensations that his touch was causing.

Suddenly, she felt him move. As he began to stir, his hand moved slowly across her the bare skin of her stomach, down to her side, then back again, stopping once again on her flat stomach.

Penda moaned. As much as she tried not to, after yesterdays attack, she was enjoying his touch.

Elrond opened his eyes when he heard her moan. Realizing where his hand was, he pulled it away.

“Penda, I’m sorry…” he said as he sat up and looked down at her.

“It’s alright, Elrond, really,” Penda replied as she sat up also.

“We wondered if you two were going to sleep all morning,” Elladan said as he walked up to them, showing no concern over the way they had been sleeping. “Good morning Ada, Penda,” he added as he handed them each a mug of hot tea.

“Good morning, son,” Elrond replied, “I trust you are feeling better this morning?”

“Yes, I am, Ada,” Elladan replied. Turning to Penda, he asked, “How are you this morning?”

“I am well, Elladan; thank you for asking,” she replied quietly.

Just then Glorfindel walked up. “He wanted to wake you earlier, mellon, but I made him wait,” he said as he knelt down next to Elrond. “Everything is ready to go, we are just waiting for you two.”

Elrond looked beyond his friend and saw that indeed, everything was ready for their departure. The horses were saddled and the campfire had been put out. The only thing left to do was to put their packs on Fallon.

Finishing her tea, Penda handed her mug to Elladan. Standing up, she shook out her blankets, folded them, then stuffed them into her pack. Pulling her brush out, she excused herself and headed for the woods.

“I suppose I should do the same,” Elrond stated as he also handed his mug to Elladan.

“I’ll take your blanket, ada,” Elrohir said as he walked up. Thanking him, Elrond headed for the woods, entering them as Penda stepped out.

A short time later, Elrond came back. Looking around he saw Penda standing near the horses, Elrohir combing her hair. Taking his comb from his pack, he brushed and braided his own hair, all the while watching his son. Picking up his pack, he walked over to Fallon and secured it with the rest of the packs. Turning, he watched as Elrohir ran his hands through her hair.

“When you are done,” he said as he walked up to them, “we will leave.”

“Yes, Ada,” Elrohir replied as he prepared to braid the hair.

“Elrohir,” Penda sturnturning to face him, “there’s no need to braid it. I’ll just tie it back.” Taking a leather strap from the pocket of her tunic, she pulled her hair back and tied it into a long pony-tail. “There, that should hold for now,” she said, looking up at Elrond. Just then, her stomach began to rumble from hunger.

“Milord, Penda,” Aerandir said as he walked up, “I kept some cheese and fruit out for
you.”

“Thank you,” they both said in unison. “It would seem it is just in time,” Elrond said, referring to Penda’s rumbling stomach. Taking the offered food, which had been wrapped in small pieces of cloth, Penda walked over to where Celahir stood waiting. Putting the food in her pocket, she mounted the large stallion.

Elrond watched as she mounted then turned to the rest of the party, who had gathered around.

“Amros shall ride between two of us at all times,” he said as he looked around at each of them. “His hands shall remain tied. We will all take turns guarding him. Elrohir, Aerandir, bring him over, help him onto his horse, we will leave shortly.”

Having said that Elrond turned and walked over to where Lölinder stood waiting. Mounting the stallion, he moved to stand beside Penda; together they watched as Amros was put on his horse.

Glorfindel and Aerandir mounted then took their places on either side of Amros. “Ada,” Elrohir said as he and Elladan mounted their horse, “we will ride ahead and scout for trouble.” Without waiting for a response from their father, they turned their horses and headed out.

“Glorfindel,” Elrond said “Penda and I will ride behind you.”

“Yes milord,” replied Glorfindel, He took the reins of Amros’ horse, and the party headed out to the road.