The Teacher

Chap 37

Penda was kept busy the next morning. Shortly after dressing,
Merenwen came in with a tray of tea, fruit and rolls. After a quick
meal she was rushed off to the seamstress for final alterations.

"You will have the eyes of all of our eligible elves following you
tonight," Lessian said as Penda slipped on her gown. It took several
minutes for the seamstress to check the fit of the gown and to make a
few adjustments. When she was done, she asked Penda to wait a few
more minutes while they finished with another gown and gave her some
leggings and a tunic.

When they were finished Penda and Merenwen returned to Penda's room,
both of them marveling over the gown that had been made. After laying
the gown out on the massive bed, Merenwen took the other clothes and
proceeded to put them away.


"What will you be doing this afternoon, milady?" she asked as she
crossed the room back to where Penda sat.

"I have to go see Lord Elrond after the noon meal," she replied; "we
are going to go over my lesson plans."

"When you are done with him, meet me here," the maiden said, "and I
will take you down to the sauna baths. There are elleths there that
will pamper you, give you a massage, and fix your hair for you in
ways you never dreamed of."

"It sounds wonderful," Penda replied, "you will join me, won't you?"

"Oh yes, milady. I would not miss a visit to the sauna for anything,"
Merenwen replied.

They lost track of time as they continued talking about the sauna
baths and the feast later that night.

"Merenwen, may I ask you something?" Penda said when they had both
become quiet.

"Yes, milady. What is it?"

"Do you have someone special that you will be attending the feast
with?"

"Do you mean a life mate, perhaps?" Merenwen asked.

"Yes, that is what I mean."

"I have someone. After I attend to you tonight, I will meet him."

"Oh," Penda replied, a little down-hearted.

"Why do you ask, milady?"

"Well, I was hoping we could sit together. I don't know many people
here and…"

"Oh, do not worry, Penda. You will be sitting at the head table, as
Lord Elrond's personal guest…" Merenwen replied.

Suddenly Penda's stomach began to make strange noises. Merenwen
stopped talking and listened. "Did you hear the bells?" she asked.

"What bells?" Penda replied.

"The noon meal bells. They ring them at meal time," Merenwen replied.

"Oh, those. Yes I heard them some time ago, but I did not know what
they were for," Penda said. "But don't worry," Penda replied as she
tossed an apple to the maiden, "we can have some fruit. Right now,
though, I need to go to Elrond's private study. I was there two
nights ago, but I don't remember the way. Can you show me?"

Taking an apple and some grapes, they headed out the door. A few
minutes later they arrived at Elrond's study. Tapping on the door,
Penda heard a deep, muffled voice bid her to enter. Going in, Penda
looked around. She had been half asleep when Glorfindel had brought
her here the night they arrived, and could not remember many details
about the room. Looking about now, she saw that it reflected on who
Elrond was. Books concerning the different races of people of Middle-
earth lined the various shelves, along with numerous scrolls.

Elrond was sitting at his desk, writing something in a book. Not
wanting to interrupt him, Penda sat down in the large chair she had
used her first night there. Closing the book when he was done, he
stood and walked over to where Penda sat.

"We missed you at dinner," he commented.

"Yes, milord," Penda replied. "I was in my room. Merenwen and I were
discussing a visit to the sauna."

"Ahh," Elrond replied. "You must try them. Perhaps when you are done
here, if time permits. They can be very relaxing."

"That is our intention, milord," she said.

Turning his attention to Merenwen, Elrond said, "You will both need
to eat before the feast tonight. Have something light sent from the
kitchens for Penda, and get something for yourself."

"Yes milord," Merenwen replied, and then turned and left.

Moving back to his desk, Elrond motioned for Penda to follow. "Your
lessons," he said as they both sat down at his desk, "will begin
three days from now. I have spoken to Glorfindel and he has agreed to
teach you to use the sword."

"Thank you, milord," Penda replied, glad that the schooling would
finally begin.

Elrond continued, "Will wanted you to learn of our history. I have
chosen several books that we will read and discuss. You will also
learn to speak and write in the Elven language."

Elrond flipped through one of the books on the table, turning to a
page containing several letters in a script Penda had never seen
before. He told her of Rúmil the Sage, who invented the rune
alphabet, and of many of the great Elves who had written songs and
stories using those letters since his day.

After some time he heard someone tapping on the door. He stood and
moved to the door. Opening it, he found one of the kitchen servants
holding a tray of food. Taking it from her he dismissed the young
elleth, and then returned to his desk, setting the tray down in front
of Penda. Moving to stand at the windows, he stared out of them, not
speaking, deep in thought. Turning once again to face Penda he
watched as she nibbled on a piece of cheese.

"Would you care for some wine?" he asked as he moved to a small
table holding several crystal decanters of sweet wine.

"Yes, please," Penda replied.

Once Elrond had poured the wine and given Penda her glass, he sat
back down.

"Your training with various weapons will occur in the mornings, when
it is cooler," he said as Penda ate. "In the afternoon, after dinner,
you will come here for your studies. Two hours in the morning and two
in the afternoon. If I see you struggling with your lessons, we can
lengthen the amount of time spent. I expect you to be prompt, Penda;
I do not tolerate tardiness. Do I make my self clear?"

"Yes, milord, you do."

"If I see that you are doing well, I may give you extra lessons to do
in the evenings. Our goal is for you to have enough knowledge of both
of your heritages, so that when the time comes for us to sail West,
you can make a wise decision as to whether you want to stay or go."

"I appreciate everything you have done for me, Elrond," Penda
said, "and for the time you are taking to do this. I will not let
you, or Will, down.

Taking two books from a stack on his desk, he handed them to her.

"Take these with you today. Read the first two chapters of each book.
We will discuss them both on the first day of your lessons."

"Yes, milord," Penda replied as she took the books.

For the next hour or so, they discussed various subjects. Things she
knew and what she should know but didn't. In doing so, they
discovered that they both shared in interest in the history of all of
Middle-earth.

As Penda stood to leave when they were done, Elrond said "There is
much to learn, Penda. We will work at your own pace. If you ever feel
that I have given you too much or not enough work to do, then please,
tell me."

"I will, Elrond," she replied, "and thank you again. I know how busy
you are, and for you to take this time every day…"

"I am never too busy for someone who wants to learn. Now, go meet
Merenwen before I give you more to read. Enjoy the saunas, and I will
see you this evening."

Taking the books he had given her, she thanked him again, and then
rushed out the door. She got back to her room just as Merenwen
arrived. Putting the books on a table by her bed, Penda followed
Merenwen towards the sauna, where they would spend the next few hours
being pampered.

A few hours later, as they made their way back to her room, Penda
thought of what they had done to her. After a steaming hot bath, she
had been given a complete body massage. The elleth giving the massage
had rubbed lightly fragranced oil into her skin, making it soft. When
she had tried to rub the oil into Penda's feet, Penda had begun to
giggle. The elleth could not understand the sensitivity of her feet.

After that she was shuffled off to another elleth to have her hair
fixed. After it had been washed, it took over an hour for two elleths
to comb the long tresses out until it was dry. As they combed it,
they rubbed oil through the hair to keep it shiny and healthy. Next,
they tried several different styles with braids before they found one
that complement her. While they were busy with her hair, another
elleth had come out and had trimmed her nails after soaking her hands
and her feet in bath salts.

When she was done, she began to look for Merenwen. Passing a looking
glass, she stopped and stared. She could not believe what they had
done.

"You look beautiful," Merenwen said as she walked up. She knew that
all eyes would be on her friend this evening; especially those of
Lord Elrond.

"Thank you, Merenwen," Penda replied, blushing. She was not used to
such compliments. "And you are beautiful as well," she said as the
elleth moved to stand beside her.

"Now let us head back to your room, and we shall get dressed,"
Merenwen said as she took Penda's hand and led her away. "We were
here longer than I anticipated, and the feast will start soon"


Arriving back at her room a few minutes later, Penda quickly took her
clothes off. "Let me help you with your gown," Merenwen said as she
approached Penda, "and then I will put on mine."

Taking Penda's gown, she slipped it over the Peredhil's head, and
allowed it to slip down Penda's body on its own. Moving to stand in
front of the looking glass, Penda could not believe it was her. The
gown was made of a deep burgundy, with gold threads running through
the low-cut bodice in an intricate design. Small caplet sleeves sat
on her shoulders, baring her arms. The elleths at the sauna had taken
thin strands of gold and woven them into two braids, one on either
side of her face, and then woven the braids together, to fall down
her back.

"Where is the gold band you spoke of?" Merenwen asked. Telling her
where she kept it, Penda watched as Merenwen took it from her box of
trinkets. Bringing it over to her Merenwen handed it to her, looking
at the band as she did.

"This is a beautiful band; where did you get it?" the elleth asked.

"It was given to my mother by my Elven father," Penda replied as she
slipped it onto her wrist.

"There is one more adjustment," Merenwen said as she looked at Penda.
Taking the caplet sleeves, she moved them down, off Penda's shoulders.

"This is how it should be worn," she said.

"But I like them on my shoulders," Penda replied as she moved them
back up. Once again, though, Merenwen moved them back down, and then
turned to put her own gown on. While she was busy with that, Penda
moved the sleeves back up.

A short time later they left the room, and quietly made their way to
the great hall where the feast would be held.

"There's so many here," Penda said as they stepped up to the door.

"Yes, and they will all be looking at you." Merenwen replied. "Now go
in, and have fun; I will see you later this evening." With that, she
gave Penda a little nudge through the door, but not before she moved
the sleeves back down off Penda's shoulders.