The Teacher

Chap 43

The next morning Penda woke to the sound of someone knocking on her
door.

"Milady, wake up" she heard her friend Merenwen say, "wake up."

As she opened her eyes the doors to the balconies were thrown open,
allowing the morning sun to shine in on her face.

"Merenwen," she moaned, "please, shut the doors."

"But Penda," the elleth replied, "it is a beautiful day out. You must
get up soon, today is the last day of the festival. Do you not want
to go?"

"No, Merenwen," Penda moaned, "I do not. Now please, shut the doors.
The sunlight is causing my head to hurt."

Upon hearing this, Merenwen stopped her fluttering about. After
closing the doors, she went to stand by the bed.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked, concern in her voice.

"I just need a few hours of rest, with no noise," Penda replied.

Deciding to bring her friend some tea, Merenwen excused herself and
left the room; Penda promptly fell asleep. As she headed to the
kitchen for the tea, Merenwen ran into Elrond. After she explained to
him what the problem was, he went back to his room and retrieved his
bag of herbs.

Quietly entering Penda's room, he strode over to the balcony and
opened the drapes a bit, allowing a small amount of sunlight in.
Moving over to the bed, he sat down and leaning forward, placed his
hand on Penda's forehead; checking for a fever. Merenwen, who had
just returned with the tea, looked at him questioningly.

"She has no fever," Elrond said quietly as be sat up. "With her
human blood it is possible for her to become ill, but not likely."

"I am not sick," they heard a voice whisper, "I am tired and my head
hurts." With that she rolled over onto her side, her back to them.

Taking the tray from Merenwen, Elrond set it down on the bed stand
and with a slight jerk of his head, gave Merenwen permission to
leave. Waiting until she was gone, he reached over and gently taking
Penda by the shoulder rolled her over onto her back. As he did, her
gown slipped down, exposing her shoulder and the swell of one
breast. With his hand resting lightly on her skin, he moved it down
to the top of the gown. Penda slowly opened her eyes, watching him.
Taking the material between his thumb and forefinger, he gently
pulled the gown back up.

"Thank you, milord," she said quietly, her cheeks blushing at his
touch.

"Merenwen told me you are not feeling well this morning," he said,
concern in his voice.

"Nay, Elrond, I am not," Penda replied, sitting up as she did.

"Penda, if I am to help you with my herbs, you need to tell me what
is wrong."

"It is my head," she replied, "it is pounding; the sunlight and loud
noises only make it worse."

"What did you do last evening, after your friends left?" he asked,
beginning to understand what the problem was.

Penda sighed; "After I came inside, as I was going to the library; I
met Elrohir."

"And what did you do with my son?"

"We went out to one of the terraces, where Elladan and several of
their friends were waiting; we sat up for several hours, talking and
drinking wine."

"I see, and how many glasses did you have?" he asked as he took some
herbs and mixed them with her tea.

Penda mumbled something unintelligible.

"I did not understand you Penda, please speak up."

"I said milord, I don't remember. Four glasses, possibly more."

Elrond looked at her, his eyes growing bigger. It was no wonder she
felt this way. The wine made in Imladris was very potent, something
she was not used to.

"Drink this," he said, giving her that tea, "it will make you feel
better."

Penda sipped at the tea. "It tastes awful," she stated, setting the
cup down.

"It is not meant to taste good, it is meant to make you feel better,
now, drink it." With that he handed the cup back to her and watched
as she finished it off.

"I will leave you now," he said as he gathered his hers, "so that you
may rest. You should feel better in an hour or so."

Before Penda could respond, he turned and left the room. His sons
knew better he thought to himself, than to let her drink that much.
He would have to speak with them about it. After putting his herbs
away, he went in search of them.

Several hours later Penda woke hungry. After dressing, she made her
way down to the kitchen, hoping to at least get some tea and rolls.

"Lord Elrond said you may be down later," the head cook explained as
she motioned for Penda to sit, "he asked that I leave a plate for
you."

"Thank you, ma'am," Penda replied as she sat down to eat the plate of
food that had been left for her.

When she was done eating, Penda cleaned her plate then went back to
her room to study until the next meal.

Later, after they had eaten the evening meal, most of the elves
headed down to the festival. This was the last night for it; by noon
the next day, most of the people who had attended would be gone.

Penda did not attend the festivities. There was only one person she
desired to go with, and she had not seen him since that morning.
Instead, she found herself wondering through the various gardens;
until she ended up in Elrond's.

Making her way to the far end of it where it was darker, she sat down
on a small bench; listening to the music as it made its way from the
festival grounds up to the main house.

She had been sitting there for several moments, her eyes closed, when
she heard someone approach from behind. Standing, she turned to see
Elrond.

"Good evening, Milord."

"Good evening, Penda" Elrond replied as he approached her. "I
thought you would be attending the festivities this evening."

"After last night, milord, I thought it best to stay away."

"I see." Elrond replied, "I have spoken to my sons, they knew better
than to allow you to drink as you did; it will not happen again. Is
that the only reason you did not attend."

"No, it is not. There is someone here, in Imladris that I had hoped
would attend. I had hoped that we would share a dance this evening."

"Ah, yes, your father mentioned that you have an interest in someone
here."

"He told you that?" Penda asked, turning to face Elrond.

"Yes, he did," Elrond replied as he moved to stand next to her,
looking out over the lands he ruled. "He was concerned, as any father
would be; he asked me for some advice. You have not told him who this
person is, have you?"

"No Elrond, I have not. In fact the person in question is not aware
of my feelings for him."

"You should tell him then. Perhaps he feels the same."

Penda chuckled at the thought. "I would not know how to do it,
milord. I would not know what to say."

"You should say what is in your heart, Penda." Turning, Elrond
walked over to the bench and sat down. "Now, I will help you; pretend
that I am he and tell me what it is that you would say."

Penda swallowed hard. How could she do this she asked herself? These
feelings she had were for Elrond.

"I don't know if I can do that."


"Penda," Elrond said, softly this time, "close your eyes. Imagine
that he is here with you, and think of what you would say."

Penda thought for a moment. "I would tell him, milord," she said as
she turned to look out towards the festival grounds, "that since I
met him, my life has been different. That he has made it better."
Turning, she looked at Elrond. "I would tell him that when I am in a
room where he is not, that the room seems empty, no matter how many
others there are. But that once he enters the room, it is as though
he and I are the only ones there. He is the first one I think of in
the morning when I awaken, and the last in my thoughts as I drift off
to sleep."

Elrond listened to her words, wondering who had such an effect on her.

"I am sure though," Penda continued, "that he would find me to young
and inexperienced for him."

"Most of the inhabitants of Imladris are a bit older than you Penda;
I doubt he would hold that against you. Is there anything else you
would say?"

Penda shook her head. "Only that, when I am near him, my heart
quickens," she continued, her voice barely audible. "I feel warm
inside from just being near him. I would offer myself to him. If
friendship is all he would want than I would understand, but I hope
that we could have more; and then, I would do this."

Kneeling down in front of where he sat, she placed one hand on his
thigh. Leaning forward she reached up behind him with her free hand,
pulling his head down to meet hers. Looking up into his eyes, she
pulled him closed until their lips met. Timidly, she pressed her lips
to his; relishing in the contact. Closing her eyes, she became
bolder. As she opened her mouth, allowing the tip of her tongue to
brush his lips; Elrond moaned softly. Not wanting to frighten her, he
wrapped his hands through her hair allowing her to remain in control.

As she deepened the kiss though, he found it harder to remain in
control of his own senses. Feeling her hand on his thigh move up, he
moaned louder; tightening his hold on her.

Suddenly, Penda stilled. Pulling her lips from his, she looked at
him, shocked. "Milord, Elrond," she stammered as she stood and
stepped back,"I am sorry. I did not mean…" Turning her back, she felt
herself blush, felt the heat rising from low in her body. "I don't
know what I was thinking, milord," she continued, "It was
inappropriate."

Elrond sat there, momentarily stunned. The kiss, started by one so
innocent, had stirred up feelings he had long tried to deny.

"Penda," he said quietly as he stood, moving to stand behind
her. "Would you like to know what he would say?"

"What would he say, milord?" she whispered.

Placing his hands lightly on her shoulders, he pulled her back to
lean against him. "If I were he," he began, "I would tell that you
have brought much happiness into my life. Your laughter and smile can
brighten the darkest of days. I would tell you that you are always in
my thoughts. I would take you and make you mine. I would do all that
I could to make you happy, and then I would do this."

Pulling her hair to one side, he leaned over and softly kissed her,
first on the shoulder and then her neck; slowly working his way up to
the slight tip of her ear. Turning her to face him, he put his hands
on either side of her face; then lowered his lips to hers. Gently he
kissed her, allowing her to set the tempo.

Opening her mouth, Penda slipped her tongue out, touching his lips.
Elrond did the same, both of then moaning as the kiss was deepened.
Dropping his hands to her waist, he pulled her closer. As he did,
she grasped the front of his robes in her hands. Several moments
went by before either one tried to break the kiss.

Suddenly they heard someone clear their throat. Stepping back, Penda
looked around Elrond to see her father standing there.

"Ada," she said as she stepped around Elrond.

"Go to your room, Penda," Erestor said, not believing what he had
just seen.

"Ada, please," she said again, as she looked at her father and then
back at Elrond.

"Penda," Elrond said quietly, taking her hand in his and giving it a
gentle squeeze, "do as your Ada says."

With one last look at him, she pulled her hand from his, and,
stepping around him, headed for her room. As she passed her father,
Erestor put his hand out, stopping her momentarily. Leaning over he
quietly said, "It will be alright."

Releasing her, he turned his attention to his Lord, his friend.
Elrond turned; facing Erestor he could see Penda as she made her way
through the garden. They stood there staring at each other. Several
long minutes passed before either one spoke.

"Erestor," Elrond said, "I do not…"

"Please, Mellon," Erestor replied, "I knew of your interest in her
when she first arrived. I was not aware that the feelings were
mutual."

Sitting down, Elrond sighed. "I will not pursue this, mellon, if that
is your wish."

"My wish, Elrond," Erestor replied as he sat down next to his
friend, "is that she is not hurt. I must ask you, Mellon, do you care
for her?"

"How could you ask me such a thing," Elrond replied. "Yes, I care for
her, more than you will ever know. You know I would not dally with
someone's feelings."

"Yes, I know, Elrond, but I had to ask. Have you thought of what
will happen to her when it is time for us to sail west? You have
someone waiting there for you. Where will that leave Penda?"

"I do not know what will happen, but I do know one thing. I care for
her; she has brought me great happiness. The last thing I want to do
is to hurt her," Elrond replied. "As I said before, I will not allow
this to go any further."

"No, do not do that" Erestor replied. "I have seen a difference in
you since she arrived, and it is good. Your people have accepted her
and I believe they will accept her as a part of your life. All I ask
is that you talk to her see that she understands."

"You have my word," Elrond replied.

Slowly the two elves stood and made their way back to the main house,
discussing the festival. Later that evening, after telling his
friend goodnight; Elrond went up to his room. As he prepared for
bed, he heard a light tapping on the door connecting his and Penda's
rooms.

Opening the door he saw her standing there, in one of her sheer
gowns. "What did he say, milord" she asked.

Sighing, Elrond looked longingly at her. The talk would wait until
the next day. "We will discuss this tomorrow Penda," he
replied, "you should go to bed now."

"But Elrond, I thought…"

"Please Penda" he said again, "we will talk tomorrow." Looking at
her, he could see the questions in her eyes. Reaching up he ran his
thumb across her lips, still swollen from their earlier kiss, "all
will be well. Now, get some sleep."

"Yes, milord," she replied, then turned and went to bed, Elrond
closing the door behind her.