The Teacher

Chap 33

As Elrond walked back to the main house, he thought of the day’s events. Amros’s mother took the news of her son’s death hard. It had been decided that his burial would take place the next morning. He had stayed with her for some time, helping with the arrangements. When he left Aerandir was still there, offering to stay with her through the night.

Entering the house, he quietly made his way to his private library, knowing his friends would be there.

“Ahh, there you are,” Glorfindel said as Elrond entered the room.

“Sit, have some wine,” Erestor added as he poured a goblet of wine for his friend.

Taking the goblet, Elrond sat down in his favorite chair, which happened to be the one that Penda had occupied a short time earlier. After taking a long drink, he put his head back and sighed. Glorfindel and Erestor watched their friend closely. They knew he was exhausted. A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and looked at his friends.

Erestor was the first to speak. “How is Amros’s mother?” he asked.

“As well as can be expected,” Elrond replied. “His burial will be in the morning. She has decided to sail west. Aerandir will accompany her to the Grey Havens.”

“When will she leave?” Glorfindel asked.

“Two, possibly three weeks,” Elrond replied as he stood and moved to look out over the balcony. After a few moments he turned back to face his friends.

“And the news of what he did, how did she take that?” Glorfindel asked, unaware of what Penda had asked of Elrond.

“Penda askedt sht she not be told. She wanted to spare his mother any further grief,” Elrond replied.

“Then she will not hear of it from me,” Glorfindel said. Standing, he walked over and placed his goblet on the table and, excusing himself, headed off to bed.

The room remained silent for a few moments after Glorfindel left. Elrond knew Erestor would want to know what happened, but he wanted to protect Penda as much as he could.
The fewer people who knew of the attack, the better.

“Tell me mellon, of this young beauty you brought back with you,” Erestor said, breaking the silence. Refilling his goblet, he joined Elrond on the balcony.

Taking a sip of his wine, Elrond looked at his friend and began to speak. He told Erestor of their first meeting with Penda, of Will and what he had asked of Elrond.

“She has no other family?” Erestor asked.

“No, she does not,” Elrond replied, adding, “at least none that I would send her to.”

Erestor was intrigued. “Why is that?” he asked.

“Her mother died when she was young. After that, her foster father, and the rest of her family for that matter, mistreated her,” he replied as he walked over and sat back down.

“The human race never ceases to amaze me,” Erestor replied, as he sipped his wine “the way they treat one another.” “And her Elven father, where is he?” he asked staring into the night.

“No one knows who he is,” Elrond replied. As Erestor listened, Elrond related the story of Penda’s father, as Millie had told it to him. Afterwards, Erestor turned and looked at Elrond.

“Does she have anything that would show who her father is? A piece of jewelry perhaps?”

“Nothing that she has spoken of,” Elrond replied. “I told her I would search for him, at least find out his name, but only if she wants it.”

”I do not envy you in that task, mellon.” Erestor replied. “Now tell me of Amros and what happened with him.”

Elrond spent the next half hour telling Erestor of Amros’s attack. When he was finished both Elves stood there quietly, staring out into the night.

“How could he do that?” Erestor asked softlyer aer a few moments.

“Perhaps a jilted love. His mother spoke of an elleth form Lothlórien who would take this news hard. But, we will never know for sure,” Elrond said. “As I said earlier, his mother was not told of the incident. Other than those of us who were there, you are the only one who knows of it. It does not go beyond this room.”

“I understand, mellon” Erestor replied, “I assure you, she will not hear of it from me.” Walking over to the table holding the wine, he set his goblet down. “Now, if you will excuse me, I believe I will retire for the evening.”

“Sleep well,” Elrond replied, “for tomorrow we will go over everything that happened here during my absence, as wel pre preparations that have been made for the festival.”

“As you wish, milord,” Erestor replied before he turned and left the room.

A short time later Elrond headed upstairs. Entering his room, he noticed that the doors to his balcony had been opened, a small fire was burning in the fireplace, and the bed was turned down. Going into his bathing room, he slowly undressed. He eased his body into the large tub and began to wash, making sure his hair was washed to. After bathing and washing in cold ponds and streams for the past few weeks, the warm water felt wonderful. When he was finished he wrapped a drying cloth around his waist and went back out to sit near the fireplace, allowing the heat from it to dry his hair as he ed ied it out.

When his hair was dry he took the drying cloth off, dropping it on the floor, and began to put the lights out. Foregoing the loose leggings he normally wore to bed, he slowly crawled in between the sheets, enjoying the coolness on his skin. Suddenly he stopped.


Climbing back out of bed, he pulled on a fresh pair of leggings and walked over to a door to the right of the fireplace. Unlocking it, he opened it and stepped through, stopping momentarily to allow his eyes to adjust to the low lighting.

Looking around the room he saw Penda, lying on the chaise lounge, sleeping. Going over to the balcony doors, he pulled them shut, but not tightly, leaving them ajar just enough for fresh air to make its way in. Taking a coverlet off the end of the bed, he quietly moved to stand next to the chaise. Leaning over Penda, he gently took the book she had been reading and placed it on a table next to the chaise.

The transparency of Penda’s gown was not lost to Elrond as he covered her with the coverlet. Looking down he could see two large dark nipples, hardened from the cool night air. He felt himself grown hard. Stifling a moan, he covered her before his eyes roved down any further.

Turning, he made his way back towards his room, putting out the lamps as he left. Stepping into his room, he quietly closed the door that connected the two rooms.

Tugging his leggings off, he crawled back into bed. “Look at me,” he chided himself,“I have been alive for millennia. I have seen the body of a female before, yet when I look at hers, I behave like a young Elfling, seeing one for the first time.” Slowly, he calmed his body and breathing, then drifted into a deep reverie.