The Teacher

Chap 31

As they rode into the main courtyard, Penda saw fifteen to twenty elves awaiting their arrival. Word of Amros’s death had been sent ahead, as four of the elves stepped forward with a litter to carry his body on. Gently they lowered him onto it, covering him with his cloak, placing his weapons on top.

Elrond climbed down from Celahir, then walked over and said something to the four elves. As he returned to where Penda sat waiting, she decided to dismount. He watched as she swung her leg over Celahir’s back, sliding to the ground.

As soon as her foot hit the ground, she knew she had made a mistake. Her leg felt like jelly. Clinging to the saddle, she pulled her other foot out of the stirrup and eased it to the ground.

“I have you ,” she heard Elrond say as he stepped up behind her, taking her by the waist. After waiting a few moments for the circulation in her legs to come back, she turned in his arms.

“Thank you, milord” she said quietly as she looked up at him, starring into his deep grey eyes.

Hearing someone clearing their throat behind him, Elrond turned to see who it was. There, at the steps leading into the house stood Erestor. Dropping his hands from her waist, he took one of her hands in his, leading her to where his friend stood. Glorfindel followed behind them.

**~~~**

As soon as he dropped his hands, Penda missed them. She longed for the comfort that their warmth and weight brought her. She had become accustomed to the way his hands felt on her when he held her in the saddle as they rode together and wondered if she would ever feel his hands on her again. She hoped so.

**~~**

“Penda,” he said, breaking into her thoughts, “I want you to meet another close friend and advisor, Erestor.” Turning to his friend he said, “Erestor, this is Penda. She will be living here, and will also be under my tutelage.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, milord,” Penda said. “Elrond has told me much about you.”

“The pleasure is mine,” Erestor said as he stepped forward. Bowing his head, he took her hand and brought it to his lips, brushing her hand softly, before going on. “Please, call me Erestor.”

“Mellon,” Elrond said to Erestor, as he watched the exchange between his friend and Penda, “would you and Glorfindel please see to her needs until I return?”

“Do not worry,” Glorfindel said as he took her by the elbow and guided her up the steps, “we will see to all of her needs.”

“My horse,” Penda said as she looked back at Elrond.

“He will be seen to, Penda; do not worry,” Elrond replied before he turned and walked away.

Stopping at the top of the steps, she watched as he walked down a path, followed by the litter that carried Amros, and then his sons and Aerandir.

As they entered the house, she looked around. To her right two large sets of double doors stood open. Peering into the room, she saw a number of tapestries hanging from the walls. At the end of the room was a massive fireplace, a fire burning in it.

“The Hall of Fire,” Glorfindel said from behind. Penda jumped. She had not heard him approach.

“I am sorry, Penda; I did not mean to startle you,” Glorfindel said as he took her hand, leading her away from the room.

“It’s all right, Glorfindel,” she replied as they rejoined Erestor.

“You will have time for exploring tomorrow,” Erestor said as he took her other hand and wrapped it around his arm. Looking down at her, he said “Come, we shall get something for the two of you to eat. I am sure you are hungry.”

They continued further down the hall. After several turns, she was led into a small library.

“This is Elrond’s personal library, Penda,” Erestor said as he walked over to a small table and poured them each a goblet of wine. Handing her one, he motioned for her to sit.

The chair she chose warge rge and overstuffed. The kind that you could curl up into with a good book, she thought to herself as she sipped her wine.

A short time later, an elleth walked in, carrying a large tray with several plates of food.

“Ahh, thank you, Merenwen,”Glorfindel said as he took the heavy tray from her. Setting it down, he followed her back to the door. “Have our packs been brought up from the stable?” he asked.

“Yes, milord, they have. The lady’s pack is in the hall. I was not sure which room Lord Elrond would like her in.”

“The family wing will be fine,” Glorfindel replied. “The large room that faces the gardens to the east, next to Lord Elrond’s rooms, is it still empty?”

“Yes, milord, it is.”

“Put her pack there; I am sure that’s where he would want her,” Glorfindel replied.

“Yes, milord,” she replied, then left to take care of Penda’s pack.

Happy with his decision regarding Penda’s accommodations, he rejoined Penda and Erestor. Taking a plate of food that had been brought, he setteled down to eat. Penda sat quietly eating her food, listenin Glo Glorfindel and Erestor talked of the attack that took Amros’s life.

“How was it that he was not armed?” Erestor asked when Glorfindel stopped speaking.

Penda stopped chewing her food and looked up at Glorfindel, waiting to see what his response would be.

“It is a long story, Erestor,” he replied, “one that I will leave for Elrond to tell.”

Standing he whe walked over to Penda. “If you are finished, I will take your plate.”

“Thank you,” Penda said as she handed it to him.

“Would you care for more wine, Penda?” Erestor asked, “Or perhaps some dessert?”

“Just more wine, please,” she replied as she stood up. Walking over to where Erestor stood, she held her goblet while he filled it.

“Penda,” Glorfindel said from where he stood by the table holding the tray of food, “You must try these rolls?”

“Perhaps tomorrow,” she replied as she turned and walked out onto a balcony. Looking out, she saw several elves walking along the path that Elrond had walked down. She wondered if she would see him again that night. Walking back inside, she tried to stifle a yawn, but couldn’t.

“Finish your wine, Penda,” Glorfindel said with a wink as he walked up to her, his back to Erestor “and I will take you on to bed.”

Erestor, who was just taking a drink of his wine, began to choke. “What…” he sputtered out, “what did you say?”

Penda quickly finished her wine. Taking her by the hand, Glorfindel led her past a gapping Erestor “I “I said, I am taking her on to bed,” he replied as they walked out the door.

“That was horrible,” Penda said once they were out of earshot. “What is he going to think of me now?”

“He will think that I am a very lucky elf,” Glorfindel replied, “to be spending the evening with a beautiful lady.”

Penda blushed. No one had ever told her she was beautiful.

“You should not tease me so, Glorfindel,” she replied as they made their way up a flight of stairs to two halls, going in opposite directions. Leading her down the shorter of the two, he stopped in front of a door near the end.

“I am not teasing now, milady,” he said, becoming more serious as he turned her to face him. “You are a beautiful lady, Penda, and any one would be honored to have you on their arm beside them.

Opening the door he led her in. “This is your room,” he said as he walked over and stoked the fire in the fireplace. “I can have Merenwen come in and heou pou pre fre for bed if you would like.”

“No, that won’t be necessary,” Penda replied as she looked around.

“Then I will leave you. Sleep late tomorrow, if you would like. No one will say anything,” he said as he went back to the door. “I shall go back and see how Erestor is. He was rather shocked when we left him.”

”Yes he was, milord. You will tell him that nothing…”

“I will not have to Penda,” he replied with a chuckle, “my coming back so soon will be indication enough that nothing happened. Now get some sleep, and we will see you tomorrow.” With that he closed the door and was gone.