The Teacher

Chap 32

As Glorfindel shut the door, Penda turned to look around her room. She could not get over the size of it. On the far side, opposite the door, sat a large bed. On either side of the bed were archways that led out to a balcony that stretched the length of the room. Long white, sheer curtains hung from the sides of the arch’s, fluttering in the slight breeze that made its warougrough the room.

Along the wall to her left was a door, and to her right was a fireplace with another door off to the side of it. Walking over to the door to her left, she tried to open it but couldn’t. Turning, she walked over to the door near the fireplace and opened it.

Stepping through the doorway, she found herself in a large bathing room. The tub was big enough for several people and was filled with steaming water. Benches sat on two sides of the tub, within arms reacne wne with a large assortment of drying sheets sitting on it. Through a set of double doors she could see another balcony, though much smaller then the one in the main room.

Deciding to take a bath, she went back into the room. Finding her pack, she set it on the bed and began to rummage through it, looking for her hairbrush. Hearing someone tapping lightly on the door she went over and opened it. The elleth, Merenwen, was standing there, several nightgowns draped over her arm.

“Milady,” she said as she walked in, “I have brought some clean gowns for you.”

“Thank you, Merenwen,” Penda replied as she followed her to the bed. “I asked Glorfindel not to wake you; I am sorry if he did.”

“Oh, he did not, milady,” the elleth replied. “I did not want to retire for the evening until I was sure you had something to wear to bed.” Turning to look at Penda she asked, “Is the room to your liking, milady?”

“Yes, it is,” replied Penda. “But please, callPendPenda,” she said as she looked through her pack again, finally finding her brush.

“I will, milady, I mean Penda, but only when we are alone,” Merenwen replied. “It would be improper for me to call you by your name in the presence of others.”

“I won’t mind it,” Penda said as she sat down on a chaise lounge near the fireplace and began to remove her boots.

“Maybe not, but Lord Elrond would,” Merenwen said as she took Penda’s hairbrush. Moving to stand behind her, pullpulled the tie from Penda’s hair and began to brush out the long tresses. “You have such beautiful hair, Penda, and the color is so unusual,” she remarked as she finished brushing the hair.

“Will you be taking a bath this evening?” she asked as she began to braid the hair into one long braid down her back, tying it off at the end.

“Yes, I believe I will,” Penda replied as she stood.

“Will you need any help?”

“No, you can go on to bed if you would like.”

“Then I will see you tomorrow, milady,” Merenwen said. Walking to the door, she stopped and looked at Penda. “If you need anything, tell the guard. He will come get me,” she said before she walked out, closing the door behind her.

As Penda walked back into the bathroom, she pinned her braid up to keep it from getting wet. On a small table near the tub, she found an assortment of fragranced oils, soaps, and shampoo. Choosing one of the oils she poured some into the water.

Wearily, she removed her clothes and stepped down into the tub, taking some of the soap with her. She sighed as she sat down on a small bench built into the tub. The warm water felt good on her tired and sore body. They had ridden hard to get here before Amros passed. Her legs had felt fine until she sat down in Elrond’s library. Now the muscles in her legs were becoming sore. She put her head back and closed her eyes, her body slowlyaxinaxing.


She must have dozed off, for when she woke the water was beginning to cool off. Quickly, she washed, using the soap she had found. When she finished she climbed out.
Wrapping one of the large drying sheets around herself, she walked back into her room. After drying off, she chose a lavender colored, translucent silk gown from the ones that Merenwen had brought. Picking it up, she looked carefully at it. She had never worn anything like this before. Slipping it over her head, she closed her eyes, luxuriating in the way it skimmed down her body on its own, enjoying the coolness and tingling that the soft material brought to her. Taking her hair down, she brushed it out again, allowing it to fall freely down her back.

Because of the short nap and bath she no longer felt tired. Pouring herself a goblet of wine she made her way out to the balcony. Looking out, she saw a small garden in front of her, boarded on three sides by a large hedge of bushes. To her right she could see several paths that led away from the main house to various buildings. In front of her, but in the distance was a waterfall, which fell in steps towards the house. To her left, on the other side of the hedge, was a large garden. Peering over the rail, she looked for a way to get to the garden, but couldn’t see one. Perhaps, she decided, she would ask Merenwen about it tomorrow.

Finishing her wine, she went back inside. Near the chaise lounge was a table with several books on it. Choosing one, she stretched out on the chaise and began to read. It wasn’t long before the wine took effect. Slowly she drifted off to sleep.