*~*Hag: A hideous succubus who sat on a man in his sleep, squeezing his
stomach and causing horrible dreams. ~ Katherine Briggs "An Encyclopedia of
Faeries" *~*
THE FAERIE GOBLET
Chapter 17 ~ "The Hag"
Gimli tossed and turned in the huge bed. He hated inactivity. He hated magic. He hated being afraid.
There was very little that frightened the Dwarf. His courage was as strong as a mountain and he'd face any number of enemies without feeling fear. But magic . . . magic was a whole different kind of enemy. He couldn't see it, couldn't cleave it with his axe and he couldn't understand it. It was subtle where he was direct and that disconcerted him. That this magic had managed to do away with two wizards and however many Elves, including the warrior Elrohir, made him uneasy.
More than uneasy. It terrified him.
Alede's quiet sobs in the room next door did not help matters much either. If she, a wizardess, did not know what to do, then they were lost.
Rolling over on his side, Gimli recalled the look on Legolas' face as he'd caught Alede when she fainted. The Elf was in love with her, of that Gimli was certain. And Aulë only knew what sorts of foolishness Legolas would get into because of his feelings for her. The Dwarf would have to watch him especially closely now. It might even be best if the flighty Elf were to leave Rivendell. Gimli could stay behind and help with the search for the missing Elves and wizards. But how to get Legolas to leave, especially now that he was besotted with Alede?
*Cursed woman!*
*Cursed magic!*
With those thoughts tumbling about in his head, it should have been several hours before the Dwarf fell asleep, but oddly enough he dozed off almost immediately and began to snore loudly.
His dreams were fitful, full of darting visions and strange laughter. He found himself wandering down dark corridors, the smell of earth strong in his nostrils. Instead of the comforting closeness that he always felt underground, Gimli felt trapped. Whispers of peculiar beings echoed around him and movement hovered at the edge of his vision. In his dream he searched desperately for something but without avail. He woke up with a strangled gasp just as his dream-self seemed about to reach its goal.
But waking brought problems of its own. A weight pressed down on him and he was desperate for air. In his sleep befuddled state he thought that he'd fallen in water and could not breathe. His lungs burned with the need to draw air into them. Panicking, Gimli desperately tried to swim to the surface, but soft linens met his flailing limbs instead of water. The Dwarf's eyes popped open and for a moment he did not believe what he saw.
A woman; a hideous wrinkled old crone, straddled his chest, bearing down upon his lungs with all her weight. Gimli struggled and tried to move out from under her, but the horrible old hag just cackled and bore down harder, pressing sharp-clawed hands against his chest and driving out what little air had been left in his lungs. Bright little lights sparked in his vision as his oxygen-deprived brain tried to function.
Truly desperate now, Gimli gasped uselessly and heaved himself from side to side. The bedclothes hampered his movements but he finally was able to distract an arm. With the last of his fading strength he pulled back his fist and let it fly into the woman's face. The hag tumbled off of him, cackling with laughter as she rolled to the edge of the bed and disappeared.
Gimli sucked in several desperate lungfuls of air and then let out a roar. He leaped from the bed and snatched up his axe. A shape to his right caught his attention in the dim light and he swung at it, realizing too late that it had only been the bedside table. With another roar, he raced around the room trying to locate the old woman, but she seemed to have vanished.
Gimli was on his knees with his posterior in the air, looking under the bed when the door burst open. The Dwarf leaped to his feet, banging his head as he did so, and whirled to face this new attack. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw it was only Legolas. Alede hurried in behind him carrying a candle and Gimli suddenly became aware of the rather precarious condition of his nightshirt and yanked it down.
"Gimli! What happened?" Legolas cried looking wildly about.
"An old woman . . ." Gimli began. "Or at least it seemed like an old woman. I woke up and she was sitting on my chest . . ." He stumbled to a stop, knowing that Legolas would start laughing. The Elf would find this highly amusing and accuse him of dreaming.
Oddly enough, Legolas was not the least bit amused. "Describe her."
Gimli did so and as he spoke, Legolas prowled the room looking in all the corners.
"But who was she?" Alede asked in alarm. "What could she be doing here? Surely an old woman could not have caused everyone's disappearance. She could not have overcome Elvin warriors. Oh . . ." she suddenly seemed to realize what she was saying and turned toward Gimli guiltily.
"Nay, only weakling Dwarves!" Gimli rumbled sarcastically at her unintended insult.
"Gimli, I did not mean . . ."
"Silence, both of you!" Legolas interrupted. He hastened to the balcony listening intensely.
Both Alede and Gimli froze but the Elf turned back to them.
"Did either of you hear it?"
Gimli and Alede glanced at each other. "What?" they asked at the same time.
"Bells," Legolas said thoughtfully. "I thought I heard the tinkling of bells."
"Bells?" Gimli asked puzzled.
"Hmm." Legolas turned away from the balcony and took Alede's candle from her, lighting a lamp. The room glowed softly with its light, looking perfectly normal other than the night table laying in pieces.
Gimli suddenly noticed Legolas' clothing, or rather the lack of it. He wore only his breaches and his boots. The leather of his breeches was crushed and wrinkled, the lacings hastily done, as if . . .
The dwarf narrowed his eyes. Alede seemed to be clutching rather uncomfortably at her nightdress.
*So that's why they came in at the same time. Blasted Elf!*
". . . seems to be gone now," Legolas was saying as Gimli realized that the Elf was speaking. "I think we'd best spend the rest of the night together," Legolas continued. "I will take a look around then keep watch over both of you."
"There's a couch in my room," Alede suggested. "I can make it up with blankets. I'd like to take a look at Gimli's chest too, in case he was injured . . ."
"Tis nothing!" Gimli stated irritably. He wasn't about to have Alede pawing at his chest. The small scratches were not enough to worry about.
Legolas and Alede exchanged a look and she hurried out of the room.
"So that's why you didn't sense the old woman's presence," Gimli accused as he gathered up his clothing. He wasn't about to sleep in Alede's room in his nightshirt. "Typical Elf! Rivendell is deserted, our friends are in danger and you're off wenching . . ."
Legolas rounded on him so quickly that Gimli took an involuntary step back.
"You will not use that term about Alede!"
"So it has begun!" Gimli shouted angrily. "Despite your pretty words, the woman has already come between us!"
"Nothing has come between us," Legolas replied equally angry. "I admit that I was distracted when I should not have been. But you have no right to blame Alede. The fault is mine."
Gimli stood his ground. "But it is she who has tempted you . . ."
"Gimli," Legolas said in a soft, cold voice. "Do not seek to blame Alede. The only thing that will come between us will be your jealousy if you let it. Believe it or not, my friend, but my heart is large enough and strong enough to love two people now."
"But . . ." Gimli began, but then he noticed a difference in the Elf. Legolas stood straighter than he had in a long time. The burden that bowed his fair shoulders had lifted completely and there was the light of hope in his brilliant eyes. Recognition flared in Gimli's heart. This was the Elf he'd known on the Quest.
"Has she . . ?"
A smile touched the corners of Legolas' mouth. "Alede has healed me, just as I will heal her. For fourteen years I have been blind, but I am no longer. Now gather your things, my friend so that you may catch a little sleep. Tomorrow we will find our friends!"
~ ~ ~
Sunlight streamed in from the open balcony illuminating the haphazard pile of books, parchment and quills that littered Elrond's former desk. A fine haze of herbal dust floated lazily in the morning air and slowly settled to coat books, desk and the wizardess who scribbled urgently, in equal amounts. Alede ignored the dust with the ease of long practice.
A sneeze announced Legolas' arrival and Alede quickly looked up.
"Anything?" they both asked at the same time.
There was a flicker of a smile between them before each acknowledged that so far they'd found nothing.
Legolas walked forward and placed a small bowl on the desk.
Alede peeked inside, discovering a single yellow rose. She looked up quizzically at Legolas.
He shrugged. "I found it on one of the paths. The stem had been broken and I hated for it to go to waste."
"Thank you." Alede leaned forward inhaling the sweet scent. Looking back up again, she held Legolas' eyes for a moment. Beneath the fear and worry that colored both their songs she heard the deep resonate tones of an emotion as old as Iluvatar. Smiling softly, Alede got up and walked around the desk. Legolas met her half way and opened his arms to her. They stood sharing each other's warmth and comfort for many minutes.
"Any regrets?" Alede whispered softly.
"None, Melui. I should have seen this long ago. When I think of all that I have put you through . . ."
Alede reached up and placed a tender finger over his lips. "Hush. It matters not. You were not ready."
"I am now . . ." he whispered and bending his head he kissed her softly. Alede sighed, returning the kiss gently, letting fifteen years of emotion flow through her.
*If only Father were here. He'd be so happy for me . . .*
Alede broke the kiss and looked down at the rose floating in the bowl. Even now when she'd found her heart's desire, her mind was back at work on the puzzle before them.
"You say the stem was broken?" she asked sharply.
Legolas nodded and released her, sitting down on the edge of the desk. Obviously he'd been waiting for her to comment on it. They'd solved a mystery once before after all.
"The bud is very fresh, so it could not have been broken for very long." Alede pondered the rose. "I suppose it is too much to hope that it was broken by my father. Do you think the old woman broke it? Could she have brushed against the bush as she escaped?"
"It is likely. No animal would bend a stem like that, so I'm inclined . . ." He was interrupted by another sneeze. "Alede, what is that?" he asked waving a hand at the dust filled air.
"Oh," she said, "its Discerning Powder. I used it to discover which books my father had handled. If I know what he was reading it might lead me to what ever he thought he'd discovered."
Legolas leaned over to glance at the titles. Most of them appeared to be magic books.
"Where is Gimli?" he asked finally. "I asked him to keep an eye on you while I looked around."
"He's in the kitchen being boiled in blistering hot water," Alede said drolly. "At least that's what he said when I forced him in the tub."
Legolas' eyebrows shot up. "How did you manage that?"
"That old woman scratched him last night. I noticed him rubbing the wounds this morning and offered to prepare him a bath with marigold oil in it. I'm hoping it will stop them from festering. The water is hot enough that it will open the wounds again and allow the oil in to do its work. And I uhm . . ." Alede squirmed a little, "I'm afraid I stole his clothing as soon as he'd undressed. He leaped in the tub to cover himself and I told him to stay in there for a good half an hour. That's when he told me he was being boiled, but he was too embarrassed to get out."
Legolas laughed softly and Alede smiled before dropping her eyes again, her mind returning to her father.
"We'll find your father, Alede," Legolas said quietly, understanding her sudden change of mood. She nodded and went back to her books. Legolas got up and went to one of the shelves. He selected a book and walked out onto the balcony with it.
A few moments later Alede started when Legolas cursed and hurried back into the library. He wore an "aren't we all fools" expression on his face.
"Legolas, what is it?"
"The answer is right out there," he gestured to the balcony, "and none of us saw it. Its here as well," he dumped the book down on the desk. Alede picked it up as Legolas crossed over and fetched the silver goblet from the cabinet, breaking the confinement spell Alede had placed it under.
"Demons and Other Denizens of Darkness," Alede read from the books cover. "This is the book you gave me in Mirkwood. Is the hobgoblin you saw in here?" she asked puzzled.
"Very likely. But more importantly the creatures responsible for all of this are in there, including Gimli's old woman."
Alede glanced up from the book and realized that Legolas had sloshed water into the goblet and was removing his amulet.
"LEGOLAS! What are you doing?"
"I go to save our friends, Alede. I know where they are now and I even," he gave an ironic laugh, "remember all the rules."
"Save them?" Alede cried in alarm. She did not like the light of adventure that shown in his eyes. "Tell me what it is you have learned and put the goblet down, Legolas. We still don't know what it is."
"I do, Alede. The goblet is a port key and our friends are in grave danger. I have not a moment to lose."
"But wait! At least let Gimli and I come with you!"
"Nay! Gimli must not follow me! He is mortal and it would mean his death. You must protect him!"
"But . . ."
"I will bring your father home to you Alede," he said gravely, "I swear it."
Before she could reach him, Legolas raised the goblet to his lips, took one drink . . .
And vanished.
Alede screamed. And once she started screaming she found that she could not stop.
~ ~ ~
A/N: I know, you probably hate me by now. *evil grin* I'll try to update soon, but it may not help. The situation is just going to get worse. :D
Just so I don't confuse anyone, I have changed Legolas' 'talisman' to an 'amulet'. I have been using the improper term all along. A 'talisman' is an object which confers magical powers on the wearer. An 'amulet' is a charm for protection against magic. Sorry about the mistake and thanks to Ithilien for pointing it out. :D
And now, here is a little brain teaser for you: The "language" of flowers was a pastime of ladies in ancient times. Most of us know that the red rose is a symbol of love. But does anyone know what the yellow rose stood for? In this chapter it is a foreshadowing of what is to come. ;)
THE FAERIE GOBLET
Chapter 17 ~ "The Hag"
Gimli tossed and turned in the huge bed. He hated inactivity. He hated magic. He hated being afraid.
There was very little that frightened the Dwarf. His courage was as strong as a mountain and he'd face any number of enemies without feeling fear. But magic . . . magic was a whole different kind of enemy. He couldn't see it, couldn't cleave it with his axe and he couldn't understand it. It was subtle where he was direct and that disconcerted him. That this magic had managed to do away with two wizards and however many Elves, including the warrior Elrohir, made him uneasy.
More than uneasy. It terrified him.
Alede's quiet sobs in the room next door did not help matters much either. If she, a wizardess, did not know what to do, then they were lost.
Rolling over on his side, Gimli recalled the look on Legolas' face as he'd caught Alede when she fainted. The Elf was in love with her, of that Gimli was certain. And Aulë only knew what sorts of foolishness Legolas would get into because of his feelings for her. The Dwarf would have to watch him especially closely now. It might even be best if the flighty Elf were to leave Rivendell. Gimli could stay behind and help with the search for the missing Elves and wizards. But how to get Legolas to leave, especially now that he was besotted with Alede?
*Cursed woman!*
*Cursed magic!*
With those thoughts tumbling about in his head, it should have been several hours before the Dwarf fell asleep, but oddly enough he dozed off almost immediately and began to snore loudly.
His dreams were fitful, full of darting visions and strange laughter. He found himself wandering down dark corridors, the smell of earth strong in his nostrils. Instead of the comforting closeness that he always felt underground, Gimli felt trapped. Whispers of peculiar beings echoed around him and movement hovered at the edge of his vision. In his dream he searched desperately for something but without avail. He woke up with a strangled gasp just as his dream-self seemed about to reach its goal.
But waking brought problems of its own. A weight pressed down on him and he was desperate for air. In his sleep befuddled state he thought that he'd fallen in water and could not breathe. His lungs burned with the need to draw air into them. Panicking, Gimli desperately tried to swim to the surface, but soft linens met his flailing limbs instead of water. The Dwarf's eyes popped open and for a moment he did not believe what he saw.
A woman; a hideous wrinkled old crone, straddled his chest, bearing down upon his lungs with all her weight. Gimli struggled and tried to move out from under her, but the horrible old hag just cackled and bore down harder, pressing sharp-clawed hands against his chest and driving out what little air had been left in his lungs. Bright little lights sparked in his vision as his oxygen-deprived brain tried to function.
Truly desperate now, Gimli gasped uselessly and heaved himself from side to side. The bedclothes hampered his movements but he finally was able to distract an arm. With the last of his fading strength he pulled back his fist and let it fly into the woman's face. The hag tumbled off of him, cackling with laughter as she rolled to the edge of the bed and disappeared.
Gimli sucked in several desperate lungfuls of air and then let out a roar. He leaped from the bed and snatched up his axe. A shape to his right caught his attention in the dim light and he swung at it, realizing too late that it had only been the bedside table. With another roar, he raced around the room trying to locate the old woman, but she seemed to have vanished.
Gimli was on his knees with his posterior in the air, looking under the bed when the door burst open. The Dwarf leaped to his feet, banging his head as he did so, and whirled to face this new attack. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw it was only Legolas. Alede hurried in behind him carrying a candle and Gimli suddenly became aware of the rather precarious condition of his nightshirt and yanked it down.
"Gimli! What happened?" Legolas cried looking wildly about.
"An old woman . . ." Gimli began. "Or at least it seemed like an old woman. I woke up and she was sitting on my chest . . ." He stumbled to a stop, knowing that Legolas would start laughing. The Elf would find this highly amusing and accuse him of dreaming.
Oddly enough, Legolas was not the least bit amused. "Describe her."
Gimli did so and as he spoke, Legolas prowled the room looking in all the corners.
"But who was she?" Alede asked in alarm. "What could she be doing here? Surely an old woman could not have caused everyone's disappearance. She could not have overcome Elvin warriors. Oh . . ." she suddenly seemed to realize what she was saying and turned toward Gimli guiltily.
"Nay, only weakling Dwarves!" Gimli rumbled sarcastically at her unintended insult.
"Gimli, I did not mean . . ."
"Silence, both of you!" Legolas interrupted. He hastened to the balcony listening intensely.
Both Alede and Gimli froze but the Elf turned back to them.
"Did either of you hear it?"
Gimli and Alede glanced at each other. "What?" they asked at the same time.
"Bells," Legolas said thoughtfully. "I thought I heard the tinkling of bells."
"Bells?" Gimli asked puzzled.
"Hmm." Legolas turned away from the balcony and took Alede's candle from her, lighting a lamp. The room glowed softly with its light, looking perfectly normal other than the night table laying in pieces.
Gimli suddenly noticed Legolas' clothing, or rather the lack of it. He wore only his breaches and his boots. The leather of his breeches was crushed and wrinkled, the lacings hastily done, as if . . .
The dwarf narrowed his eyes. Alede seemed to be clutching rather uncomfortably at her nightdress.
*So that's why they came in at the same time. Blasted Elf!*
". . . seems to be gone now," Legolas was saying as Gimli realized that the Elf was speaking. "I think we'd best spend the rest of the night together," Legolas continued. "I will take a look around then keep watch over both of you."
"There's a couch in my room," Alede suggested. "I can make it up with blankets. I'd like to take a look at Gimli's chest too, in case he was injured . . ."
"Tis nothing!" Gimli stated irritably. He wasn't about to have Alede pawing at his chest. The small scratches were not enough to worry about.
Legolas and Alede exchanged a look and she hurried out of the room.
"So that's why you didn't sense the old woman's presence," Gimli accused as he gathered up his clothing. He wasn't about to sleep in Alede's room in his nightshirt. "Typical Elf! Rivendell is deserted, our friends are in danger and you're off wenching . . ."
Legolas rounded on him so quickly that Gimli took an involuntary step back.
"You will not use that term about Alede!"
"So it has begun!" Gimli shouted angrily. "Despite your pretty words, the woman has already come between us!"
"Nothing has come between us," Legolas replied equally angry. "I admit that I was distracted when I should not have been. But you have no right to blame Alede. The fault is mine."
Gimli stood his ground. "But it is she who has tempted you . . ."
"Gimli," Legolas said in a soft, cold voice. "Do not seek to blame Alede. The only thing that will come between us will be your jealousy if you let it. Believe it or not, my friend, but my heart is large enough and strong enough to love two people now."
"But . . ." Gimli began, but then he noticed a difference in the Elf. Legolas stood straighter than he had in a long time. The burden that bowed his fair shoulders had lifted completely and there was the light of hope in his brilliant eyes. Recognition flared in Gimli's heart. This was the Elf he'd known on the Quest.
"Has she . . ?"
A smile touched the corners of Legolas' mouth. "Alede has healed me, just as I will heal her. For fourteen years I have been blind, but I am no longer. Now gather your things, my friend so that you may catch a little sleep. Tomorrow we will find our friends!"
~ ~ ~
Sunlight streamed in from the open balcony illuminating the haphazard pile of books, parchment and quills that littered Elrond's former desk. A fine haze of herbal dust floated lazily in the morning air and slowly settled to coat books, desk and the wizardess who scribbled urgently, in equal amounts. Alede ignored the dust with the ease of long practice.
A sneeze announced Legolas' arrival and Alede quickly looked up.
"Anything?" they both asked at the same time.
There was a flicker of a smile between them before each acknowledged that so far they'd found nothing.
Legolas walked forward and placed a small bowl on the desk.
Alede peeked inside, discovering a single yellow rose. She looked up quizzically at Legolas.
He shrugged. "I found it on one of the paths. The stem had been broken and I hated for it to go to waste."
"Thank you." Alede leaned forward inhaling the sweet scent. Looking back up again, she held Legolas' eyes for a moment. Beneath the fear and worry that colored both their songs she heard the deep resonate tones of an emotion as old as Iluvatar. Smiling softly, Alede got up and walked around the desk. Legolas met her half way and opened his arms to her. They stood sharing each other's warmth and comfort for many minutes.
"Any regrets?" Alede whispered softly.
"None, Melui. I should have seen this long ago. When I think of all that I have put you through . . ."
Alede reached up and placed a tender finger over his lips. "Hush. It matters not. You were not ready."
"I am now . . ." he whispered and bending his head he kissed her softly. Alede sighed, returning the kiss gently, letting fifteen years of emotion flow through her.
*If only Father were here. He'd be so happy for me . . .*
Alede broke the kiss and looked down at the rose floating in the bowl. Even now when she'd found her heart's desire, her mind was back at work on the puzzle before them.
"You say the stem was broken?" she asked sharply.
Legolas nodded and released her, sitting down on the edge of the desk. Obviously he'd been waiting for her to comment on it. They'd solved a mystery once before after all.
"The bud is very fresh, so it could not have been broken for very long." Alede pondered the rose. "I suppose it is too much to hope that it was broken by my father. Do you think the old woman broke it? Could she have brushed against the bush as she escaped?"
"It is likely. No animal would bend a stem like that, so I'm inclined . . ." He was interrupted by another sneeze. "Alede, what is that?" he asked waving a hand at the dust filled air.
"Oh," she said, "its Discerning Powder. I used it to discover which books my father had handled. If I know what he was reading it might lead me to what ever he thought he'd discovered."
Legolas leaned over to glance at the titles. Most of them appeared to be magic books.
"Where is Gimli?" he asked finally. "I asked him to keep an eye on you while I looked around."
"He's in the kitchen being boiled in blistering hot water," Alede said drolly. "At least that's what he said when I forced him in the tub."
Legolas' eyebrows shot up. "How did you manage that?"
"That old woman scratched him last night. I noticed him rubbing the wounds this morning and offered to prepare him a bath with marigold oil in it. I'm hoping it will stop them from festering. The water is hot enough that it will open the wounds again and allow the oil in to do its work. And I uhm . . ." Alede squirmed a little, "I'm afraid I stole his clothing as soon as he'd undressed. He leaped in the tub to cover himself and I told him to stay in there for a good half an hour. That's when he told me he was being boiled, but he was too embarrassed to get out."
Legolas laughed softly and Alede smiled before dropping her eyes again, her mind returning to her father.
"We'll find your father, Alede," Legolas said quietly, understanding her sudden change of mood. She nodded and went back to her books. Legolas got up and went to one of the shelves. He selected a book and walked out onto the balcony with it.
A few moments later Alede started when Legolas cursed and hurried back into the library. He wore an "aren't we all fools" expression on his face.
"Legolas, what is it?"
"The answer is right out there," he gestured to the balcony, "and none of us saw it. Its here as well," he dumped the book down on the desk. Alede picked it up as Legolas crossed over and fetched the silver goblet from the cabinet, breaking the confinement spell Alede had placed it under.
"Demons and Other Denizens of Darkness," Alede read from the books cover. "This is the book you gave me in Mirkwood. Is the hobgoblin you saw in here?" she asked puzzled.
"Very likely. But more importantly the creatures responsible for all of this are in there, including Gimli's old woman."
Alede glanced up from the book and realized that Legolas had sloshed water into the goblet and was removing his amulet.
"LEGOLAS! What are you doing?"
"I go to save our friends, Alede. I know where they are now and I even," he gave an ironic laugh, "remember all the rules."
"Save them?" Alede cried in alarm. She did not like the light of adventure that shown in his eyes. "Tell me what it is you have learned and put the goblet down, Legolas. We still don't know what it is."
"I do, Alede. The goblet is a port key and our friends are in grave danger. I have not a moment to lose."
"But wait! At least let Gimli and I come with you!"
"Nay! Gimli must not follow me! He is mortal and it would mean his death. You must protect him!"
"But . . ."
"I will bring your father home to you Alede," he said gravely, "I swear it."
Before she could reach him, Legolas raised the goblet to his lips, took one drink . . .
And vanished.
Alede screamed. And once she started screaming she found that she could not stop.
~ ~ ~
A/N: I know, you probably hate me by now. *evil grin* I'll try to update soon, but it may not help. The situation is just going to get worse. :D
Just so I don't confuse anyone, I have changed Legolas' 'talisman' to an 'amulet'. I have been using the improper term all along. A 'talisman' is an object which confers magical powers on the wearer. An 'amulet' is a charm for protection against magic. Sorry about the mistake and thanks to Ithilien for pointing it out. :D
And now, here is a little brain teaser for you: The "language" of flowers was a pastime of ladies in ancient times. Most of us know that the red rose is a symbol of love. But does anyone know what the yellow rose stood for? In this chapter it is a foreshadowing of what is to come. ;)