The Teacher

Penda ran into the barn. After lighting two lanterns she picked up a brush and went into Celahir’s stall. Hanging one of the lanterns from a nail, she stood next to him and started to brush him. She had been busy grooming him for several minutes when she sensed a change in him. He became less relaxed and kept looking towards the barn door. She was not alone.

Turning, she saw Glorfindel leaning against the stall door, his arms folded across his chest. She ignored him. A few minutes later she heard him moving around, then watched as he picked up a brush and entered Celahirs stall, standing on the opposite side of him. Using long strokes he brushed the horse out. When he finished with the brushing he took a comb and started to work on the stallion’s mane and tail.

They worked in silence for a good thirty minutes before either one spoke. Glorfindel was the first to break the silence. Speaking in a low tone he started talking to Celahir in Elvish. After a few minutes Penda became curious.

“What are you saying to him?” she asked quietly.

“I am telling him that soon he will be leaving here to go on a great journey, to a new land and a new home. That like his mistress, he needs to get plenty of rest, for the way is long and dangerous,” Glorfindel said.

Penda went back to her work, wondering if she would be expected to learn the Elvish language. Deep in thought, she was not paying attention when Glorfindel put down the brush that he had been using, and walked over to stand beside her. He reached over and touched her arm; Penda jumped.

“Can we talk, Penda?” he asked her.

“What is it, Glorfindel?” she replied, walking out of the stall to put the brush’s and comb away.

“I want you to know that Elrond is serious. If you do not go willingly, he will tie you to your horse; and, if you run away he will come after you and he will find you. He is a seasoned warrior. He has knowledge of tracking. He could track you across any terrain. You do not want to make him come after you.”

“Why not, he has already spanked me once. I will know……..” she replied.

Glorfindel put his hand up, silencing her. “What you had tonight cannot be compared to what he would do, is capable of doing, if he had to come looking for you,” he said “Heed my words Penda. If not for your pretty little backside then do it for your uncle, he needs to know that you will be taken care of. Do you understand me?”

Penda blushed at the remark about her backside, remembering that he had seen her naked that morning.

“I do understand,” she said, “but no one knows what it has been like for me. No one asked me how I felt about this.”

“How has it been for you, Penda,” Glorfindel asked quietly.

“Never feeling as though I belonged. Always ing ing unwanted, as though I was in the way. Always being told where I could or could not go, where I would live, moving from place to place every few years. That’s how it was until I came here,” she said, “and now once again I am being forced to leave.

“I do not know how you were treated before you came here Penda,” Glorfindel replied; “perhaps one day you will tell us. What I do know is that your uncle loves you, very much. If he didn’t he would not have sent for Lord Elrond. You need to be brave for your uncle. This is not easy for him either. Now, do I have your assurance that there will be no more arguing, fighting and screaming?”

Penda looked at Glorfindel and smiled. “Only if I have your assurance that there will be no more spankings,” she said as she rubbed her backside.

Glorfindel laughed. “Come,” he said, changing the subject, “let us go back inside before they send someone out to look for us. We have a lot to do tomorrow.” They blew out the lanterns and headed back to the house.

“You did not give me your assurance Glorfindel” Penda pointed out to Glorfindel, laughing as she did.

“No, I didn’t,” he replied.

Neither one of the noticed the figure move away from the shadows of the barn has they closed the doors.

As they approached the house they were joined by the twins and Amros and Aerandir, who had been patrolling the area one last time before everyone turned in for the night.

“Penda,” said Elrohir, stopping her before she went ie, “e, “I just want you to know that we will do whatever we can to make this easier for you.”

“Thank you, Elrohir,” Penda replied “I do appreciate that.” With that he opened the door and they all went inside.

As she stepped inside, Penda saw her uncle sitting in a chair near the fireplace. “Uncle Will,” she quietly said as she walked up and knelt down in front of him.

“Penda,” he started, “I am sorry. I should have…”
o Uno Uncle, it is I that owe you an apology. You are only trying to look out for what’s best for me” Penda said.

“We should talk my dear.” Will said.

“We will, tomorrow. Right now though, you need to get some rest.” Penda replied.

“Yes, yes my dear,” he said, “you are right, but first we need to make some sleeping arrangements.” They spent the next few minutes discussing who would sleep where. Penda, being used to sleeping in the hay loft, said that she
would sleep there, but the Elves would not hear of that. It was finally decided
that Elrond and Glorfindel would sleep in Will’s room, Elladan, Elrohir, Amros and Aerandir would sleep in the hayloft and Will would sleep in Penda’s room with her.

After Will and Penda went to her room, Elrond made sure everyone knew when they would be standing watch. Each would take a turn, with Elrond going first.

“Milord,” said Glorfindel, “there are more than enough of us to do it. Why don’t you stay in bed? If anything happens we will wake you.” Elrond didn’t like it and said so. While they argued over Elrond helping with the watch, Will and Penda were busy arguing over who would sleep in the bed and who would use the pallet that Penda had put on the floor. In the end, Glorfindel and Penda won. Elrond would get a full nights sleep and Penda would sleep on the pallet.