Pink bunny: I do think he feels strong emotions like everyone else. He's just very good at hiding those emotions from the rest of the world.
Disclaimer: I do not own "The Hobbit."
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Chapter 7: Cousins or Sisters?
Sarah slept for the rest of the day and all through the night, her mind and body exhausted from the events of that day. She woke up just as the door opened. Edana walked in carrying a covered tray.
"Hey, Sarah," her cousin said, setting down the tray and coming over to sit on her own bed next to Sarah's. "I heard about what happened."
"How?"
"I forced it out of Legolas."
"And how did he find out?"
"No clue. How are you feeling?"
"You mean how do I feel about finding out Thranduil's my father and I have a kind of magic that I've only read about?" Sarah retorted.
"Yeah, that."
"Like a book that thought it was written in English only to find out that it's actually written in Chinese," Sarah said.
"Books can't think," Edana stated.
"How would you know?" Sarah asked. "Have you ever been a book?"
"You're changing the subject," Edana said. "Seriously, though. Are you alright?"
"No."
Sarah didn't even have to think about her answer. Only a truly crazy person would be fine after learning what Sarah had. She knew she wouldn't be fine for quite a while.
"Then it's a good thing I'm here," Edana said cheerfully. "I went down to the kitchens yesterday afternoon and asked for that favor from the cook I saved."
One day, while working in the kitchens, Edana had been glancing at a cute elf named Calanon who was fully focused on the fruit tarts he had been made in charge of, completely oblivious to the attention he was getting. In fact, he was so focused that he failed to notice his apron catching fire from the oven he was using, which should have been closed but instead was wide open. Thinking quickly, Edana used the knife she had been using to dice vegetables to cut the apron away from Calanon before the fire burned him. Another elf, who was passing by and saw what happened, quickly held out the bucket of water he was carrying to Edana, who submerged the burning apron and doused the flames.
All this happened before Calanon was even aware that his apron had caught fire. The head cook told Edana not to worry when she expressed her concern for the elf. He told her that while Calanon may have been a one-track-minded idiot, no one could make pastries like he could. Calanon thanked Edana many times and told her that he owed her a favor.
Edana walked back to pick up her tray and bring it over to Sarah, setting it down on the desk between their beds. She pulled off the cloth cover and revealed what was underneath. Sarah gasped.
On the tray were apple tartlets, strawberry and peach cakes, and a batch of Edana's herb biscuits that she was very proud of. This was a typical breakfast for when either of them was feeling sad. They never had sweet things for breakfast otherwise, not even leftover birthday cake, and Edana usually only made her biscuits on holidays and birthdays.
"When I told Calanon who all this was for," Edana said, "he was more than happy to help. He also says to come to him anytime this happens in the future."
"Remind me to thank him later," Sarah said before picking up a fork and taking a bite out of an apple tartlet. She moaned with pleasure. "These are so good. I think they're the best apple tartlets I've ever had, and we've tried quite a few different recipes."
"The head cook was right," Edana stated after trying an apple tartlet herself. "No one can make pastries like Calanon can."
After the tartlets, the girls started on the cakes: small and round, with the center hollowed out for the strawberries and peaches, topped off with a gelatin glaze. When the cakes were gone, the girls reached for the biscuits. Normally when they had biscuits they would slather them in butter. That was not necessary for Edana's biscuits. The herbs gave them plenty of flavor; butter would have only ruined them. The entire meal was washed down with berry juice.
When the tray was empty, the girls reclined on their beds, eyes closed with smiles on their faces.
"We haven't had a breakfast like that in so long," Edana said.
"I know," Sarah replied. "When was the last time we did this?"
"I think it was right before your sister got married and she was criticizing your collection of books," Edana answered, "as it was pretty much all fantasy and she hates stuff like that."
"She did say some pretty nasty things." Sarah frowned for a minute before smiling again. "I don't have to worry about that anymore."
"Worry about what?" Edana asked. "That you have someone as horrible as her for a sister or her criticisms?"
"Both. She can't reach me here, and she's not my sister. I don't have a sister."
"You've got me."
Sarah opened her eyes and looked over at Edana, who was looking back at her.
"That's right," Sarah said. "I've got you. I always wished that you were actually my sister, but I guess you always were. I know Miss Sourface wouldn't have done something like this if I was feeling down." She gestured to the empty tray and the girls laughed.
The door opened and Sarah's heart stopped, thinking that it was Thranduil coming to talk to her. She relaxed when she saw it was only Legolas. Her relief didn't last long, however.
"Father has asked to see you, sister."
"He can't give me some time to absorb all of this first?" Sarah asked. "And how did you find out anyway?"
"Gandalf has practically ordered him to talk to you," Legolas answered. "I was eavesdropping when he told your story. I wanted to make sure Father did not frighten you like he did when you first met."
"Well," Sarah began, "if Gandalf's the one orchestrating this, it would be wise to go along."
She stood up and prepared to follow Legolas, but when her bare feet touched the floor she realized that she was still wearing yesterday's dress. Legolas stepped aside as Adlanniel walked in with a fancy gown in her arms.
"Once your audience with the king has ended, princess, come to the tailor's," she said. "You may choose the fabrics and styles for your wardrobe."
When the girls had first arrived, the tailor had taken their measurements. As they had not found their place in the halls of the Elvenking, or had even decided whether or not they would be staying, she had held off making a personal wardrobe for the girls, who had been taking their outfits from a collection of spares the tailor kept for such reasons. Now that Sarah's position had been (somewhat) determined, she could make her an appropriate wardrobe.
Sarah thanked Adlanniel as she took the dress. The maid and Legolas left the room while Sarah changed. Edana stayed and watched her. When Sarah was finished, Edana made her sit down and did up her hair.
"Will you be alright?" she asked when she was done.
"I've faced worse," Sarah answered, thinking back to the many times her dad had called her into his study to talk to her. More like yell at me for whatever reason Sarah thought.
Edana squeezed her hand before walking out, knowing full well what Sarah meant. She walked away with Adlanniel while Sarah once again followed Legolas.
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