Arwen ran all the way back to the main house until she got a stitch in her
side. Pressing her hand to it, she walked slowly up the road as it turned
into the main courtyard of the house. Twilight had almost faded into night,
and she was dismayed to see all the torches lit and three elves on
horseback, equipped with bows and swords. Another horse stood rider-less.
Cowering by the stone archway, she looked carefully to see if Ada or the
twins were there. Taking a deep breath of relief when she did not see them,
she made her way along the edges of the courtyard, keeping to the shadows
between torches, until she was a few feet from the main stairs.
About to slip up the steps, she quailed and sank back in the shadow of a large lilac bush. Oh no! There was Ada! And he was dressed in his riding leathers and he did not look happy as he pulled on his gloves. The light caught in his eyes, making him look stern and serious. Oh no! What should she do? Feeling very guilty, Arwen decided to go back out of the courtyard and around through the rose garden and sneak into the house that way.
She could just say she got lost.
Moving as stealthily as only an elf-child who does not want to be seen can, Arwen went to the small iron work gate that lead to the garden, and slipped inside. And then, she ran like the wind through the winding paths and rich fragrance of the garden.
But Elrond had heard the slight creak of the metal. Curious, he swiftly went down along the courtyard wall and around the corner to the unlatched gate. The three elves behind him, about to ride off in search of his daughter, paused at his actions.
Arwen was halfway through the garden when she heard the gate open. Knowing for certain it was her father, she put on a burst of speed, just as she looked behind her to make sure. She missed a turning, and ran right into a rose bush, hanging over the path. Her hair immediately got tangled and as she jerked frantically to escape, she scratched her face and her hands trying to pull away.
As she gave one great yank to pull her hair free, grabbing a thorny branch in the process, she felt herself lifted up in Ada's strong arms, enveloped in the familiar fragrance of leather and sandalwood. Crying, she jerked her tangled hair again and wailed at the deep scratch from the thorns she received, pulling at her hair.
"Shh, sweetheart, let me do it."
In minutes, Elrond had unsnarled her hair and hugged his sobbing daughter close.
"Arwen, where have you been? We have been so worried!"
"Ada! I am sorry! I am sorry! I-I got lost! Well Cimbelin actually got lost and I could not find her and I went back searching all over the ground and the apple orchards. I-I did not know it was so late and---" Arwen got caught up in her tall tale and did not notice her father had carried her out to the courtyard to show the waiting elves she had been found and was now going up the front steps into the house.
Her story petered off, as she noticed her surroundings and the scratches began to be felt, especially the last one deep in her right hand. She hastily began sucking on it, whimpering.
Elrond, dismayed at Arwen's agitation, reached his study swiftly, where an anxious Celebrian waited. The twins had already gone off searching.
Elrond handed Arwen to his wife who hugged her close with tears in her eyes. Pulling her away to look at her carefully, she looked at her daughter's disheveled appearance and gave a questioning look to Elrond.
"I found her racing through the rose garden, where she fell into a bush. Arwen, why were you running? Was someone chasing you?"
Arwen cringed as she saw her father's eyes narrow. "No, no Ada. I was not playing chase with anyone. I was just-just scared because I was so late."
He ran his hand gently over her scratched face and then uncurled the hand that was bleeding. Shaking his head at the deep scratch, he went to his medical supply room behind his desk for salve and bandages.
"Arwen, where have you been?" Celebrian looked at her daughter.
"I was playing, with Cimbelin and I did not pay attention to the sun and I am sorry Mama!" Sensing her mother's anguish, she threw herself back in Celebrian's arms, sobbing in earnest.
In a few moments, Elrond came back out with what he needed. He dabbed some soothing salve on the worst of the scratches on her face, and then uncurled her hand one more time. Arwen's sobs had faded off into hiccups as she watched her father gently rub some cool ointment into her scratch and carefully wrap a thin strip of linen around it.
Finishing, he bent and kissed her palm and then kissed her on the forehead, brushing aside her tangled hair.
"Arwen, sweetheart, look at me." Arwen peeped at her father from the safety of her mother's arms.
"Yes Ada?"
"You will not stay out late playing again will you?"
"No-no, it is too scary."
Celebrian hugged her. "We want you home by supper time, all right? Keep an eye on the sun love. When it touches the tips of the pine trees on the western wall of the valley, it is time to come home, all right?"
"Yes Mama."
Elrond stood with a sigh. "I shall reassure the others and let Cerwal know to tell the twins she is found." Celebrian nodded and stood, still holding her trembling daughter. "Are you hungry sweetheart?"
"A little Mama." She moved uncomfortably in her mother's arms, tired and aching.
"Well, let's get you to bed, and I'll bring you some warm milk, all right?"
Elrond kissed her on the head as she passed saying, "I will check on you when I get back."
Nodding, Arwen wanted to lay her face on her mother's shoulder, but the scratches hurt too much.
As her mother carried her down the hall to her room, Arwen sleepily thought of Cimbelin. She was missing. And Arwen was not exactly sure where she had dropped her, though she was certain she had had her when she left Enedeth's cottage. Poor Cimbelin, out in the night, all alone. She sniffed at her dolly' s sad fate, causing her mother to rub her back soothingly.
When they got to Arwen's room, Celebrian set her on her bed and then lit the bedside candle. Returning to her daughter, she knelt before her and pulled off her slippers and then carefully unlaced and pulled off her gown. Arwen's sleeping chemise lay folded neatly on the foot of her bed. Slipping that over her head, Celebrian got her under the covers and smoothed back her hair.
"I shall be right back with a little food darling."
"All right Mama."
Arwen moved uncomfortably. If she had only paid attention to where she had been going, she wouldn't be all scratched up like this.
When Celebrian returned with the food, her heart clenched as she saw Arwen, obviously miserable, lying in her bed, the candle at her bedside bringing out the scratches in high relief. Setting down the tray, she brought over the mug of warm milk and sat in the chair already at her bedside. Brushing her hair back again she said softly, "Your scratches hurt?"
"Yes Mama." Arwen whispered.
"Sit up sweetheart and drink your milk."
Arwen did as she was asked and took the mug of milk. As she drank it she realized that she would probably not be able to go visit Enedeth tomorrow to look for Cimbelin as Mama and Ada would probably make her stay in the house or the family's private garden beyond Ada's study window.
Handing her mother the empty mug, she lay back. She lifted her wounded hand and stared at it a moment while her mother went to the tray. She really was sorry to cause her parents, and the twins, so much anxiety. It was scary seeing her mother cry and her father so worried he would send out armed elves on horseback to look for her.
Biting her lip, she lay her aching hand down and turned towards the door as her father came in.
Elrond came up to his daughter's bed and smiled at her. He was so thankful she was safe! Looking at his wife who smiled ruefully back, he knelt down and kissed Arwen. She yawned, which turned into a grimace as she pulled the drying scratches.
"My little Evenstar. Do not do that again! Ada ages a century!" Warming her with the love in his eyes, she smiled and brought a hand up to her father's face.
"I love you Ada. I am sorry!'
"Shhh. Sleep my Undomiel." Laying a hand on her brow, Elrond eased her pain and sent her to sleep.
With a small sigh, her head slid sideways. Celebrian kissed her brow as Elrond lifted his hand and then blew out the candle. The two relieved adults left the room arm-in-arm.
The next morning Arwen woke up with her face and hand still hurting. Angry at herself, she slowly got up and got a gown out of the wardrobe. Putting it on was awkward with her bandaged hand and it took her several minutes.
Taking a peep in the looking glass on her bureau, she grimaced at her marred face, which of course, pulled at the drying cuts. She stuck her tongue out and then tried to brush her hair, but because she was right handed, she only made the cut bleed.
She threw her brush down and flung herself into the window seat. Well then, she just would stay in her room. She looked at her bandaged hand and slumped against the pillow. There was not much she could do anyway.
Staring out the window, she wondered where Cimbelin was.
A noise behind her made her turn and she hunched down embarrassed at her half-dressed state when her mother entered her room.
"Oh Arwen we did you not come and ask for help? Here, let me do up your laces."
Arwen slowly went to her mother and turned. In a few minutes, her dress was laced up. Her mother took her hairbrush and softly brushed her hair, pulling the long bangs back in a braid to keep them off her face.
Finished, Celebrian went to take her hand to bring her to breakfast, when she noticed the blood seeping through the bandage. Shaking her head, she took the left hand and led an unhappy Arwen out in the hall and to the family dinning room in her suite.
Arwen slunk into her chair and stared at her bowl of hot porridge, too embarrassed to look up at her brothers, who were rather shocked at her scratches.
About to take her bowl of cereal, she noticed her hand was bleeding more and she hastily put it in her lap.
The surrounding silence made her feel worse, so she blurted out, "I am sorry! Stop staring at me!! I will not ever do it again! I promise!" Tears came to her eyes, as she dropped her face to stare at her hand curled in her lap. "I am sorry! Don't be mad." She almost blurted out about Enedeth, but bit her lip and remained silent
She heard a chair scrape on the tiles, and in moments, Ada had picked her up and hugged her close, whispering "Shh little one. Shhh, no one is mad. And look," he paused and she reluctantly lifted her head, "Look what Elladan found out by the gate---Cimbelin!"
Laying her face in her father's soft curtain of hair, she reached out to take the doll from her brother, who smiling at her fondly said, "Here pumpkin. We are just glad you were not hurt---worse!"
"Yes, Arwen! We are just glad you are home in one piece," added Elrohir.
Elrond, seeing the blood on the hand she automatically reached out to take the doll with, returned to his chair and put Arwen on his lap. "Here sweetheart, let me hold the bowl for you, while you eat your cereal."
Nodding, she let her father help her with breakfast. When they were finished and she was full, she leaned back against him, feeling much better. Her brothers and mother were talking about the upcoming festival and father was humming deep back in his throat.
Arwen felt her eyes start to drift close. She was comfortable, she was full and her scratches did not hurt much. And Ada's humming was soothing. But she did not really want to sleep any more so she stretched, yawning. That hurt, causing her to sit up straight.
Elrond had hoped to settle her so he could examine her hand more carefully than he had last night. It was possible it needed a stitch or two to keep the wound close. He looked down at Arwen, who returned his gaze with an uncertain smile.
"Ada, I almost fell asleep again, but yawning hurts."
"I know sweetheart. Let's go to my study and I'll re-bandage your hand, all right?" Arwen nodded and tiredly slipped off her father's lap. But he tickled her slightly, which got her giggling, andf Elrond picked her up and said to the table at large, "I shall be in my study."
Celebrian stood as well, putting down her napkin. Elladan and Elrohir, finished their tea quickly, standing when their mother did.
"All right, the twins and I shall be down in the cellars going over supplies."
Elrond carried his daughter into his study and put her in his chair behind the study table. Going into his medical supply room next to the stillroom, he got out some more salve and a bandage. After a closer look, he saw the wound would not need stitches. In a few minutes he was done.
Lifting his daughter up, he sat under the big mullioned window that faced north and held her for a moment, going over her actions of the night before. What had made her so frightened that she would try to hide herself from sight and enter the house unnoticed? Completely at a loss, the Lord of Imladris contemplated his daughter's peaceful preoccupied face. What was going on with his wayward eight-year-old?
Kissing her, Arwen looked at him smiling cheerfully.
"What are you thinking about pumpkin?"
Knowing she could not mention Enedeth, she shrugged and gave him half her thoughts. "Oh, what I am going to do for the festival." She glanced up at him. "It is going to be a big surprise!"
"Well, we are all curious my love." She wiggled and hopped down, straightening her dress. She looked at her hand.
"Thank you Ada. This doesn't hurt anymore."
"Good, but you must be careful how you use it, so it does not bleed again."
"All right." Her face fell. "Which means I cannot do anything fun today because I have no hand!" Elrond smiled. "Well, you can help me count candles and jars of oil in the cellar if you like. Resaldil, the twins, and your mother and I are going to go through supplies to see what we might need for the festival." "All right." He took her left hand they went down to the cool depths of the main cellar.
About to slip up the steps, she quailed and sank back in the shadow of a large lilac bush. Oh no! There was Ada! And he was dressed in his riding leathers and he did not look happy as he pulled on his gloves. The light caught in his eyes, making him look stern and serious. Oh no! What should she do? Feeling very guilty, Arwen decided to go back out of the courtyard and around through the rose garden and sneak into the house that way.
She could just say she got lost.
Moving as stealthily as only an elf-child who does not want to be seen can, Arwen went to the small iron work gate that lead to the garden, and slipped inside. And then, she ran like the wind through the winding paths and rich fragrance of the garden.
But Elrond had heard the slight creak of the metal. Curious, he swiftly went down along the courtyard wall and around the corner to the unlatched gate. The three elves behind him, about to ride off in search of his daughter, paused at his actions.
Arwen was halfway through the garden when she heard the gate open. Knowing for certain it was her father, she put on a burst of speed, just as she looked behind her to make sure. She missed a turning, and ran right into a rose bush, hanging over the path. Her hair immediately got tangled and as she jerked frantically to escape, she scratched her face and her hands trying to pull away.
As she gave one great yank to pull her hair free, grabbing a thorny branch in the process, she felt herself lifted up in Ada's strong arms, enveloped in the familiar fragrance of leather and sandalwood. Crying, she jerked her tangled hair again and wailed at the deep scratch from the thorns she received, pulling at her hair.
"Shh, sweetheart, let me do it."
In minutes, Elrond had unsnarled her hair and hugged his sobbing daughter close.
"Arwen, where have you been? We have been so worried!"
"Ada! I am sorry! I am sorry! I-I got lost! Well Cimbelin actually got lost and I could not find her and I went back searching all over the ground and the apple orchards. I-I did not know it was so late and---" Arwen got caught up in her tall tale and did not notice her father had carried her out to the courtyard to show the waiting elves she had been found and was now going up the front steps into the house.
Her story petered off, as she noticed her surroundings and the scratches began to be felt, especially the last one deep in her right hand. She hastily began sucking on it, whimpering.
Elrond, dismayed at Arwen's agitation, reached his study swiftly, where an anxious Celebrian waited. The twins had already gone off searching.
Elrond handed Arwen to his wife who hugged her close with tears in her eyes. Pulling her away to look at her carefully, she looked at her daughter's disheveled appearance and gave a questioning look to Elrond.
"I found her racing through the rose garden, where she fell into a bush. Arwen, why were you running? Was someone chasing you?"
Arwen cringed as she saw her father's eyes narrow. "No, no Ada. I was not playing chase with anyone. I was just-just scared because I was so late."
He ran his hand gently over her scratched face and then uncurled the hand that was bleeding. Shaking his head at the deep scratch, he went to his medical supply room behind his desk for salve and bandages.
"Arwen, where have you been?" Celebrian looked at her daughter.
"I was playing, with Cimbelin and I did not pay attention to the sun and I am sorry Mama!" Sensing her mother's anguish, she threw herself back in Celebrian's arms, sobbing in earnest.
In a few moments, Elrond came back out with what he needed. He dabbed some soothing salve on the worst of the scratches on her face, and then uncurled her hand one more time. Arwen's sobs had faded off into hiccups as she watched her father gently rub some cool ointment into her scratch and carefully wrap a thin strip of linen around it.
Finishing, he bent and kissed her palm and then kissed her on the forehead, brushing aside her tangled hair.
"Arwen, sweetheart, look at me." Arwen peeped at her father from the safety of her mother's arms.
"Yes Ada?"
"You will not stay out late playing again will you?"
"No-no, it is too scary."
Celebrian hugged her. "We want you home by supper time, all right? Keep an eye on the sun love. When it touches the tips of the pine trees on the western wall of the valley, it is time to come home, all right?"
"Yes Mama."
Elrond stood with a sigh. "I shall reassure the others and let Cerwal know to tell the twins she is found." Celebrian nodded and stood, still holding her trembling daughter. "Are you hungry sweetheart?"
"A little Mama." She moved uncomfortably in her mother's arms, tired and aching.
"Well, let's get you to bed, and I'll bring you some warm milk, all right?"
Elrond kissed her on the head as she passed saying, "I will check on you when I get back."
Nodding, Arwen wanted to lay her face on her mother's shoulder, but the scratches hurt too much.
As her mother carried her down the hall to her room, Arwen sleepily thought of Cimbelin. She was missing. And Arwen was not exactly sure where she had dropped her, though she was certain she had had her when she left Enedeth's cottage. Poor Cimbelin, out in the night, all alone. She sniffed at her dolly' s sad fate, causing her mother to rub her back soothingly.
When they got to Arwen's room, Celebrian set her on her bed and then lit the bedside candle. Returning to her daughter, she knelt before her and pulled off her slippers and then carefully unlaced and pulled off her gown. Arwen's sleeping chemise lay folded neatly on the foot of her bed. Slipping that over her head, Celebrian got her under the covers and smoothed back her hair.
"I shall be right back with a little food darling."
"All right Mama."
Arwen moved uncomfortably. If she had only paid attention to where she had been going, she wouldn't be all scratched up like this.
When Celebrian returned with the food, her heart clenched as she saw Arwen, obviously miserable, lying in her bed, the candle at her bedside bringing out the scratches in high relief. Setting down the tray, she brought over the mug of warm milk and sat in the chair already at her bedside. Brushing her hair back again she said softly, "Your scratches hurt?"
"Yes Mama." Arwen whispered.
"Sit up sweetheart and drink your milk."
Arwen did as she was asked and took the mug of milk. As she drank it she realized that she would probably not be able to go visit Enedeth tomorrow to look for Cimbelin as Mama and Ada would probably make her stay in the house or the family's private garden beyond Ada's study window.
Handing her mother the empty mug, she lay back. She lifted her wounded hand and stared at it a moment while her mother went to the tray. She really was sorry to cause her parents, and the twins, so much anxiety. It was scary seeing her mother cry and her father so worried he would send out armed elves on horseback to look for her.
Biting her lip, she lay her aching hand down and turned towards the door as her father came in.
Elrond came up to his daughter's bed and smiled at her. He was so thankful she was safe! Looking at his wife who smiled ruefully back, he knelt down and kissed Arwen. She yawned, which turned into a grimace as she pulled the drying scratches.
"My little Evenstar. Do not do that again! Ada ages a century!" Warming her with the love in his eyes, she smiled and brought a hand up to her father's face.
"I love you Ada. I am sorry!'
"Shhh. Sleep my Undomiel." Laying a hand on her brow, Elrond eased her pain and sent her to sleep.
With a small sigh, her head slid sideways. Celebrian kissed her brow as Elrond lifted his hand and then blew out the candle. The two relieved adults left the room arm-in-arm.
The next morning Arwen woke up with her face and hand still hurting. Angry at herself, she slowly got up and got a gown out of the wardrobe. Putting it on was awkward with her bandaged hand and it took her several minutes.
Taking a peep in the looking glass on her bureau, she grimaced at her marred face, which of course, pulled at the drying cuts. She stuck her tongue out and then tried to brush her hair, but because she was right handed, she only made the cut bleed.
She threw her brush down and flung herself into the window seat. Well then, she just would stay in her room. She looked at her bandaged hand and slumped against the pillow. There was not much she could do anyway.
Staring out the window, she wondered where Cimbelin was.
A noise behind her made her turn and she hunched down embarrassed at her half-dressed state when her mother entered her room.
"Oh Arwen we did you not come and ask for help? Here, let me do up your laces."
Arwen slowly went to her mother and turned. In a few minutes, her dress was laced up. Her mother took her hairbrush and softly brushed her hair, pulling the long bangs back in a braid to keep them off her face.
Finished, Celebrian went to take her hand to bring her to breakfast, when she noticed the blood seeping through the bandage. Shaking her head, she took the left hand and led an unhappy Arwen out in the hall and to the family dinning room in her suite.
Arwen slunk into her chair and stared at her bowl of hot porridge, too embarrassed to look up at her brothers, who were rather shocked at her scratches.
About to take her bowl of cereal, she noticed her hand was bleeding more and she hastily put it in her lap.
The surrounding silence made her feel worse, so she blurted out, "I am sorry! Stop staring at me!! I will not ever do it again! I promise!" Tears came to her eyes, as she dropped her face to stare at her hand curled in her lap. "I am sorry! Don't be mad." She almost blurted out about Enedeth, but bit her lip and remained silent
She heard a chair scrape on the tiles, and in moments, Ada had picked her up and hugged her close, whispering "Shh little one. Shhh, no one is mad. And look," he paused and she reluctantly lifted her head, "Look what Elladan found out by the gate---Cimbelin!"
Laying her face in her father's soft curtain of hair, she reached out to take the doll from her brother, who smiling at her fondly said, "Here pumpkin. We are just glad you were not hurt---worse!"
"Yes, Arwen! We are just glad you are home in one piece," added Elrohir.
Elrond, seeing the blood on the hand she automatically reached out to take the doll with, returned to his chair and put Arwen on his lap. "Here sweetheart, let me hold the bowl for you, while you eat your cereal."
Nodding, she let her father help her with breakfast. When they were finished and she was full, she leaned back against him, feeling much better. Her brothers and mother were talking about the upcoming festival and father was humming deep back in his throat.
Arwen felt her eyes start to drift close. She was comfortable, she was full and her scratches did not hurt much. And Ada's humming was soothing. But she did not really want to sleep any more so she stretched, yawning. That hurt, causing her to sit up straight.
Elrond had hoped to settle her so he could examine her hand more carefully than he had last night. It was possible it needed a stitch or two to keep the wound close. He looked down at Arwen, who returned his gaze with an uncertain smile.
"Ada, I almost fell asleep again, but yawning hurts."
"I know sweetheart. Let's go to my study and I'll re-bandage your hand, all right?" Arwen nodded and tiredly slipped off her father's lap. But he tickled her slightly, which got her giggling, andf Elrond picked her up and said to the table at large, "I shall be in my study."
Celebrian stood as well, putting down her napkin. Elladan and Elrohir, finished their tea quickly, standing when their mother did.
"All right, the twins and I shall be down in the cellars going over supplies."
Elrond carried his daughter into his study and put her in his chair behind the study table. Going into his medical supply room next to the stillroom, he got out some more salve and a bandage. After a closer look, he saw the wound would not need stitches. In a few minutes he was done.
Lifting his daughter up, he sat under the big mullioned window that faced north and held her for a moment, going over her actions of the night before. What had made her so frightened that she would try to hide herself from sight and enter the house unnoticed? Completely at a loss, the Lord of Imladris contemplated his daughter's peaceful preoccupied face. What was going on with his wayward eight-year-old?
Kissing her, Arwen looked at him smiling cheerfully.
"What are you thinking about pumpkin?"
Knowing she could not mention Enedeth, she shrugged and gave him half her thoughts. "Oh, what I am going to do for the festival." She glanced up at him. "It is going to be a big surprise!"
"Well, we are all curious my love." She wiggled and hopped down, straightening her dress. She looked at her hand.
"Thank you Ada. This doesn't hurt anymore."
"Good, but you must be careful how you use it, so it does not bleed again."
"All right." Her face fell. "Which means I cannot do anything fun today because I have no hand!" Elrond smiled. "Well, you can help me count candles and jars of oil in the cellar if you like. Resaldil, the twins, and your mother and I are going to go through supplies to see what we might need for the festival." "All right." He took her left hand they went down to the cool depths of the main cellar.