Later that evening, Enedeth awoke to hear Arwen singing the "Moon
Sails over the Sea." She saw that her friend was singing to their dollies
who were once again ensconced in the window seat.
Twirling around as she sang, Arwen noticed Enedeth was awake. She rushed over and jumped on the bed, holding up her hand. "Look! Ada took off the bandage!! Now my hand isn't broken anymore!!" She wiggled her fingers in front of Enedeth's face.
Enedeth grasped her hand and looked at it closely. There was only a thin red line down the middle of her palm.
Letting the hand drop she looked at her arm. "Do you think your Ada would take this off so I can play? It doesn't feel broken anymore either." She held up her splint. Enedeth was really getting used to the dull ache.
Arwen looked at the arm carefully and touched it gently. "I do not know. You have lots more bandages there than I had on my hand. And you had to sleep a lot. I will have to ask Ada. Are you hungry? Dinner is coming soon and we get a special dessert!! Cake!!"
"I have not had cake since, well, since Mama made one last Mid Winter's Feast." Enedeth awkwardly sat up. She actually did feel better, so she climbed out of bed and went over to the dollies and picked up Polly and hugged her. Polly looked more happy right now than she had since coming to the valley of Imladris. Enedeth watched as Arwen worked on the puzzle she had pulled out earlier. Enedeth was happier too.
Climbing up into the chair opposite Arwen, Enedeth looked at the puzzle and the pieces left and triumphantly pounced on one and added it to the picture. "Look, there's the dragon's other horn!"
"Enedeth! I have been searching for that!" Arwen grabbed another piece and tried to make it fit with no success. Enedeth took it and seeing the pattern, popped it into the dragon's left wing.
"You are better at this puzzle than I am! You had better finish it." Arwen pushed the puzzle towards her friend and sat back on her heels in the chair, folding her arms a bit crossly.
Enedeth, about to place another piece, bit her lip as she looked at her friend. Maybe Arwen did not like how she played with the puzzle. She dropped the piece in the wooden tray and said sadly, "I cannot find where this one goes."
Arwen grabbed it quickly and with a satisfied grin, put it where it needed to go, in the dragons thrashing tail.
"See Arwen, you are better at puzzles than I am. I have not played puzzles before."
"That's all right Enedeth. I can show you how. I have done them lots of times."
She picked up a piece and looked at it hard and then handed it to her friend. "Go ahead and put this one in. It is an easy one."
Enedeth grinned and making a great show of trying several places for the piece, finally found the right niche. She looked up at Arwen who had been watching her carefully. "That one was hard Arwen! You had better do the next one!"
And so the time passed comfortably for the two girls, until with a quick knock, dinner came in carried by Elrond, who was followed by Celebrian.
"Arwen dear, let us clean up the table so your dinner can be served," her mother asked, as she gathered up some of the few puzzle pieces left.
Arwen picked up the puzzle board and Enedeth carefully got out of her chair, mindful of her arm.
Elrond, having placed the tray temporarily in the window seat, came over to Enedeth, knelt before her and gently felt the hand peeking out of the splint to make sure there was no swelling and lay a hand briefly on her forehead. Enedeth held Polly and bit her lip while the elf lord assessed her condition. Straightening with a smile, Elrond said, "Enedeth you are on the mend. One more glass of medicine before you go to bed tonight should do it." He placed a fond hand on her dark wavy hair and then turned to help his wife lay out the meal.
Once all was done, the two girls sat across from each other and Enedeth realized how very hungry she was, but she waited for Arwen to start before she picked up her fork and pulled the flaky trout apart.
The two parents smiled at the hungry children and Celebrian spoke softly, "No cake until your dinner is finished ladies. We will come back after our meal and see how you are doing."
Celebrian bent and kissed an oblivious Arwen on the head and Enedeth with a mouthful of salad, smiled at her Lord and Lady, who smiled back.
Soon the girls were once again on their own and beyond the sounds of eating, all was silent.
Once dinner was done, the girls settled down and when the parents came in to check on them, Enedeth sat leaning against Arwen who was reading the "The Princess and the Dairy Maid" again to her. Celebrian tidied up the dishes and noticed with a smile that the children had only eaten about half each of their cake. She then went over, picked up her daughter and swung her around once and went into the bathroom with her to get her ready for bed. Listening for a moment with a smile to their giggles, Elrond bent over Enedeth and picked her up. Laying her back in bed, he helped her drink the medicine he had prepared and lay her back. "Tomorrow after breakfast, we shall return you to your grandmother, all right?"
Enedeth nodded, sleepily. She held out her hand to the elf lord who took it and squeezed it gently. "Thank you for letting me stay and taking care of me and Polly."
"Certainly Enedeth." He turned and brought the child the doll, which was on the floor. Tucking it in next to her, he looked up as Arwen came in rubbing her eyes, dressed in her night shift, her hair braided back. Kissing her as she went pass, Arwen crawled into bed next to Enedeth, Celebrian pulling the blanket up around both children. Celebrian bent and kissed Arwen and Elrond smiling at his little patient, bent and kissed her softly as well.
Blowing out the candles, and taking the tray of dishes, the parents left. And soon, both children were asleep.
The next morning, both girls got up excited because Enedeth was going back to her home and Arwen could not wait to go play the agreed upon castles and dragons in the nearby apple trees.
After breakfast, Celebrian came in and helped the two children get dressed. Finished with Arwen, who scampered out of the bedroom, she was just brushing Enedeth's hair, when she was asked shyly, "My Lady, do you think the splint can come off today so I can play castles and dragons with Arwen?"
Celebrian, finishing up the braid, came around and knelt in front of Enedeth who sat in the chair, kicking her feet back and forth. The child looked at the lovely Lady of the High House with such hope, that Celebrian hugged her impulsively. "I think you should hear the answer to that question from my husband little one." She stood and beckoned to the girl. "Come let us find both Arwen and her father. I suspect they are together and you may talk to him about your arm."
Nodding happily, Enedeth took Celebrian's hand and the two went down the brightly sunlit corridor to the family garden outside of Elrond's main study.
Arwen and the Lord of Imladris were quietly feeding a group of intrepid sparrows braving Arwen's outstretched fingers and half-smothered giggles for bread crumbs.
Both looked up at the entrance of Celebrian and Enedeth and Arwen, scaring the birds off ran to Enedeth and hugged her. "I can't wait to play castles and dragons today!! You are all better and everything! Right Ada?"
"Yes, Enedeth is well enough to go home today." He smiled at the little girl and then looked at her questioningly as she held up her arm. "Can you take the bandages off now my lord? Like you did for Arwen?"
" A scratch is different than a broken arm Enedeth. It takes a lot longer to heal. It will be a couple of weeks before I can safely remove your splint."
Enedeth let her arm drop and turned away, her lower lip quivering. She couldn't get the bandages off? Now what were they going to do? She couldn't climb a tree with her arm splinted. Enedeth ran to the corner of the garden and stood under a dwarf weeping willow, tears running down her face. Arwen wouldn't play with her now!
Arwen ran after her friend and put her arms around her. Elrond slowly walked over to the two girls and with a soft squeeze around Arwen's neck, she moved away and ran to her mother. The elf lord took Enedeth in his arms and just held her while she cried. It had been a hard few days for this little girl. He rubbed her back soothingly until her tears tapered off. Rubbing her eyes she looked at Elrond and tried hard to keep from crying again. "But no-now I cannot play and Arwen will not want to see me, and-and- "
"No, that is not true. Arwen wants to play with you no matter if your arm is in a splint or not. There are many things you two can do, that do not involve climbing trees. I would think you could play castles and dragons in your room just as easily as in a tree. We will go to your grandmother's house and see what can be devised."
Nodding slowly, Enedeth came back over to Celebrian and Arwen. Arwen took Enedeth's hand and said, "Mama says you will be better once you get back home."
"Your Ada says we can play castles and dragons, just not in a tree. Maybe in my room."
"Yes!! Ada is so smart!! We can! We just need to get that chair and blanket and cover it up and.."
The two walked out of the garden chattering excitedly, the bemused adults following with a smile.
As the day was nice, the four walked down the road to Mallinfar's home, the two girls talking all the while and clutching their dolls, the two adults walking slowly arm in arm enjoying the weather and the children.
When Mallinfar's home was reached, Enedeth and Arwen raced for the kitchen door, Arwen only winning by a hair.
"Grandmamma! Grandmamma!! I am back! I am back!! And I have brought Arwen and the Lord and Lady with me!! Can we go up to my room?"
Mallinfar came to the kitchen door and bowed slightly to Elrond and Celebrian as she wiped flour from her morning baking off her hands with a small towel. "Please! Come in! I am in the middle of bread making."
The adults came in and Elrond said smiling, "We will not stay long Mallinfar. I just wanted to bring Enedeth back and give you this cordial. If she complains of any pain, give her a few drops in a glass of water or juice. If the pain does not go away, then bring her to me. In three weeks, if there are no problems, I would like to see her again to check on her progress."
Mallinfar nodded and took the delicate bottle in her hand and then set it carefully amongst her spices. "I will do it my lord. And thank you again for taking good care of Enedeth. I am sure I will hear about nothing but her stay with you for days!"
"Undoubtedly." Celebrian went to the foot of the stairs and called up to the youngsters. "Girls, we are leaving! Arwen come give us a kiss and we will see you by supper."
Arwen raced down, Enedeth right behind and kissed both parents exuberantly. "I will mamma. I remember about sunset."
"See that you do princess." Elrond put his hand fondly on his daughter's head and briefly touched Enedeth's as well. As the two elves turned to leave, Enedeth threw her good arm around Elrond's hip and said, "Thank you my lord!" and then ran to Celebrian and said
"Thank you my lady! I-I..Thank you!"
"You are very welcome my dear!" Celebrian kissed the girl on the forehead and then the two girls ran back up stairs. Smiling fondly the parents nodded to Mallinfar and left.
An hour and a half later, Arwen flopped on Enedeth's bed. "Oh, I am so glad to be back here! I have wanted to play castles and dragons for SO long."
Enedeth flopped back next to her. "Me too. I never had anyone to play it with before." She rolled over and looked at her friend. "Maybe we should practice our song?? I sang it a little while you were with your mother yesterday."
"Yes, yes, of course!" Arwen sprang up again. She started to sing the song and Enedeth listened closely, following her. She smiled when the she- elf finished because she had not been far off the melody at all.
"But don't we have to sing in different parts? To make it sound really pretty?" Enedeth asked as she sat cross-legged on the floor. "I have not done that before."
Arwen sat next to her, and patted her on the shoulder. "That's okay, I have heard Mama and Ada do it lots of times. I can sing high and you can sing low and everybody says what beautiful hargo-harnomy we have!"
Enedeth grinned. "Oh, this will be so much fun! And the festival sounds like fun too. Do we get to play, or is it all about singing and telling stories?"
"Oh no, it is a little of everything. And it will be so much better now that I have you!!"
Enedeth hugged Arwen with her good arm.
Just then Mallinfar called up the stairs, "Girls! Time for luncheon!"
They tore down the stairs like two wild ponies and jumped on the bench at the kitchen table, sitting close to each other and looking at Mallinfar expectantly.
Smiling, Mallinfar set bread and cheese and cut up fruit, and two warm tarts filled with cherry preserves.
The girls hungry from playing ate everything. When they finished with the tarts, their faces were slightly smeared with jam. Mallinfar dipped a cloth into the warm water for washing and wiped both their faces.
"Thank you Lady Mallinfar for lunch," Arwen said carefully, getting up and bowing slightly.
Mallinfar inclined her head.
"Thank you Grandmamma!! I hope I can have a tart for dinner too!"
"Perhaps! It is a lovely afternoon, why not go out side and play with Carach awhile. I think he has missed you little bee!"
Enedeth hugged Mallinfar and the two girls ran out calling for the dog.
Carach came bounding up, almost knocking down Enedeth who was held up by a laughing Arwen. The girls spent most of the afternoon taking turns on the swing and practicing their singing.
As the trees shadows grew long, Arwen, mindful of the time, but her lip. The sun was getting very close to the western edge of the gorge. She would have to go home soon!!
Enedeth was singing to the evening sky, so very glad to be home. She smiled at Arwen. It was so wonderful to have a friend too!! She whirled her gown twisting it around her legs.
Laughing happily she sat on the grass suddenly and Carach, seeing his chance bowled her over with wet doggy kisses.
Arwen ran up to her and plopped in the grass next to her and Carach scrambled over Enedeth and gave Arwen wet kisses too.
When the girls sat up and Carach settled down some, Arwen looked at Enedeth and said, "I have to go home Enedeth. It is almost time for supper."
Enedeth nodded slowly and then looked at her friend, eyes wide. "Maybe, maybe your Ada and Mama would let you spend the night?"
Arwen glanced at the setting sun and knew with a sigh, it was too late to make such arrangements now. Adults always needed more time to do things! She smiled at her friend. It was not going to take either of them long to get their song done for the festival next week.
"Enedeth, I know Ada and Mama want me home for supper." She smiled at the grass. "They probably want to see if I come home tonight in time. And NOT run through the rose garden first!"
Enedeth nodded in agreement. "You are right. Well, maybe tomorrow and then we can practice singing all night long!"
Mallinfar came to the kitchen door and called out softly, "Arwen, it is time for you to be leaving and Enedeth, come inside little bee, your supper is almost ready!"
Both girls scrambled to their feet and Arwen threw her arms around her friend and kissed her, and Enedeth kissed her back, holding her broken arm.
"Bye! Until tomorrow!!"
"Yes as soon as I am finished with breakfast and lessons!!"
Enedeth nodded. Maybe she could have lessons too. She did not yet know how to read much and had only practiced her name in letters.
Watching until the she elf disappeared down the road, Enedeth turned and went inside.
Twirling around as she sang, Arwen noticed Enedeth was awake. She rushed over and jumped on the bed, holding up her hand. "Look! Ada took off the bandage!! Now my hand isn't broken anymore!!" She wiggled her fingers in front of Enedeth's face.
Enedeth grasped her hand and looked at it closely. There was only a thin red line down the middle of her palm.
Letting the hand drop she looked at her arm. "Do you think your Ada would take this off so I can play? It doesn't feel broken anymore either." She held up her splint. Enedeth was really getting used to the dull ache.
Arwen looked at the arm carefully and touched it gently. "I do not know. You have lots more bandages there than I had on my hand. And you had to sleep a lot. I will have to ask Ada. Are you hungry? Dinner is coming soon and we get a special dessert!! Cake!!"
"I have not had cake since, well, since Mama made one last Mid Winter's Feast." Enedeth awkwardly sat up. She actually did feel better, so she climbed out of bed and went over to the dollies and picked up Polly and hugged her. Polly looked more happy right now than she had since coming to the valley of Imladris. Enedeth watched as Arwen worked on the puzzle she had pulled out earlier. Enedeth was happier too.
Climbing up into the chair opposite Arwen, Enedeth looked at the puzzle and the pieces left and triumphantly pounced on one and added it to the picture. "Look, there's the dragon's other horn!"
"Enedeth! I have been searching for that!" Arwen grabbed another piece and tried to make it fit with no success. Enedeth took it and seeing the pattern, popped it into the dragon's left wing.
"You are better at this puzzle than I am! You had better finish it." Arwen pushed the puzzle towards her friend and sat back on her heels in the chair, folding her arms a bit crossly.
Enedeth, about to place another piece, bit her lip as she looked at her friend. Maybe Arwen did not like how she played with the puzzle. She dropped the piece in the wooden tray and said sadly, "I cannot find where this one goes."
Arwen grabbed it quickly and with a satisfied grin, put it where it needed to go, in the dragons thrashing tail.
"See Arwen, you are better at puzzles than I am. I have not played puzzles before."
"That's all right Enedeth. I can show you how. I have done them lots of times."
She picked up a piece and looked at it hard and then handed it to her friend. "Go ahead and put this one in. It is an easy one."
Enedeth grinned and making a great show of trying several places for the piece, finally found the right niche. She looked up at Arwen who had been watching her carefully. "That one was hard Arwen! You had better do the next one!"
And so the time passed comfortably for the two girls, until with a quick knock, dinner came in carried by Elrond, who was followed by Celebrian.
"Arwen dear, let us clean up the table so your dinner can be served," her mother asked, as she gathered up some of the few puzzle pieces left.
Arwen picked up the puzzle board and Enedeth carefully got out of her chair, mindful of her arm.
Elrond, having placed the tray temporarily in the window seat, came over to Enedeth, knelt before her and gently felt the hand peeking out of the splint to make sure there was no swelling and lay a hand briefly on her forehead. Enedeth held Polly and bit her lip while the elf lord assessed her condition. Straightening with a smile, Elrond said, "Enedeth you are on the mend. One more glass of medicine before you go to bed tonight should do it." He placed a fond hand on her dark wavy hair and then turned to help his wife lay out the meal.
Once all was done, the two girls sat across from each other and Enedeth realized how very hungry she was, but she waited for Arwen to start before she picked up her fork and pulled the flaky trout apart.
The two parents smiled at the hungry children and Celebrian spoke softly, "No cake until your dinner is finished ladies. We will come back after our meal and see how you are doing."
Celebrian bent and kissed an oblivious Arwen on the head and Enedeth with a mouthful of salad, smiled at her Lord and Lady, who smiled back.
Soon the girls were once again on their own and beyond the sounds of eating, all was silent.
Once dinner was done, the girls settled down and when the parents came in to check on them, Enedeth sat leaning against Arwen who was reading the "The Princess and the Dairy Maid" again to her. Celebrian tidied up the dishes and noticed with a smile that the children had only eaten about half each of their cake. She then went over, picked up her daughter and swung her around once and went into the bathroom with her to get her ready for bed. Listening for a moment with a smile to their giggles, Elrond bent over Enedeth and picked her up. Laying her back in bed, he helped her drink the medicine he had prepared and lay her back. "Tomorrow after breakfast, we shall return you to your grandmother, all right?"
Enedeth nodded, sleepily. She held out her hand to the elf lord who took it and squeezed it gently. "Thank you for letting me stay and taking care of me and Polly."
"Certainly Enedeth." He turned and brought the child the doll, which was on the floor. Tucking it in next to her, he looked up as Arwen came in rubbing her eyes, dressed in her night shift, her hair braided back. Kissing her as she went pass, Arwen crawled into bed next to Enedeth, Celebrian pulling the blanket up around both children. Celebrian bent and kissed Arwen and Elrond smiling at his little patient, bent and kissed her softly as well.
Blowing out the candles, and taking the tray of dishes, the parents left. And soon, both children were asleep.
The next morning, both girls got up excited because Enedeth was going back to her home and Arwen could not wait to go play the agreed upon castles and dragons in the nearby apple trees.
After breakfast, Celebrian came in and helped the two children get dressed. Finished with Arwen, who scampered out of the bedroom, she was just brushing Enedeth's hair, when she was asked shyly, "My Lady, do you think the splint can come off today so I can play castles and dragons with Arwen?"
Celebrian, finishing up the braid, came around and knelt in front of Enedeth who sat in the chair, kicking her feet back and forth. The child looked at the lovely Lady of the High House with such hope, that Celebrian hugged her impulsively. "I think you should hear the answer to that question from my husband little one." She stood and beckoned to the girl. "Come let us find both Arwen and her father. I suspect they are together and you may talk to him about your arm."
Nodding happily, Enedeth took Celebrian's hand and the two went down the brightly sunlit corridor to the family garden outside of Elrond's main study.
Arwen and the Lord of Imladris were quietly feeding a group of intrepid sparrows braving Arwen's outstretched fingers and half-smothered giggles for bread crumbs.
Both looked up at the entrance of Celebrian and Enedeth and Arwen, scaring the birds off ran to Enedeth and hugged her. "I can't wait to play castles and dragons today!! You are all better and everything! Right Ada?"
"Yes, Enedeth is well enough to go home today." He smiled at the little girl and then looked at her questioningly as she held up her arm. "Can you take the bandages off now my lord? Like you did for Arwen?"
" A scratch is different than a broken arm Enedeth. It takes a lot longer to heal. It will be a couple of weeks before I can safely remove your splint."
Enedeth let her arm drop and turned away, her lower lip quivering. She couldn't get the bandages off? Now what were they going to do? She couldn't climb a tree with her arm splinted. Enedeth ran to the corner of the garden and stood under a dwarf weeping willow, tears running down her face. Arwen wouldn't play with her now!
Arwen ran after her friend and put her arms around her. Elrond slowly walked over to the two girls and with a soft squeeze around Arwen's neck, she moved away and ran to her mother. The elf lord took Enedeth in his arms and just held her while she cried. It had been a hard few days for this little girl. He rubbed her back soothingly until her tears tapered off. Rubbing her eyes she looked at Elrond and tried hard to keep from crying again. "But no-now I cannot play and Arwen will not want to see me, and-and- "
"No, that is not true. Arwen wants to play with you no matter if your arm is in a splint or not. There are many things you two can do, that do not involve climbing trees. I would think you could play castles and dragons in your room just as easily as in a tree. We will go to your grandmother's house and see what can be devised."
Nodding slowly, Enedeth came back over to Celebrian and Arwen. Arwen took Enedeth's hand and said, "Mama says you will be better once you get back home."
"Your Ada says we can play castles and dragons, just not in a tree. Maybe in my room."
"Yes!! Ada is so smart!! We can! We just need to get that chair and blanket and cover it up and.."
The two walked out of the garden chattering excitedly, the bemused adults following with a smile.
As the day was nice, the four walked down the road to Mallinfar's home, the two girls talking all the while and clutching their dolls, the two adults walking slowly arm in arm enjoying the weather and the children.
When Mallinfar's home was reached, Enedeth and Arwen raced for the kitchen door, Arwen only winning by a hair.
"Grandmamma! Grandmamma!! I am back! I am back!! And I have brought Arwen and the Lord and Lady with me!! Can we go up to my room?"
Mallinfar came to the kitchen door and bowed slightly to Elrond and Celebrian as she wiped flour from her morning baking off her hands with a small towel. "Please! Come in! I am in the middle of bread making."
The adults came in and Elrond said smiling, "We will not stay long Mallinfar. I just wanted to bring Enedeth back and give you this cordial. If she complains of any pain, give her a few drops in a glass of water or juice. If the pain does not go away, then bring her to me. In three weeks, if there are no problems, I would like to see her again to check on her progress."
Mallinfar nodded and took the delicate bottle in her hand and then set it carefully amongst her spices. "I will do it my lord. And thank you again for taking good care of Enedeth. I am sure I will hear about nothing but her stay with you for days!"
"Undoubtedly." Celebrian went to the foot of the stairs and called up to the youngsters. "Girls, we are leaving! Arwen come give us a kiss and we will see you by supper."
Arwen raced down, Enedeth right behind and kissed both parents exuberantly. "I will mamma. I remember about sunset."
"See that you do princess." Elrond put his hand fondly on his daughter's head and briefly touched Enedeth's as well. As the two elves turned to leave, Enedeth threw her good arm around Elrond's hip and said, "Thank you my lord!" and then ran to Celebrian and said
"Thank you my lady! I-I..Thank you!"
"You are very welcome my dear!" Celebrian kissed the girl on the forehead and then the two girls ran back up stairs. Smiling fondly the parents nodded to Mallinfar and left.
An hour and a half later, Arwen flopped on Enedeth's bed. "Oh, I am so glad to be back here! I have wanted to play castles and dragons for SO long."
Enedeth flopped back next to her. "Me too. I never had anyone to play it with before." She rolled over and looked at her friend. "Maybe we should practice our song?? I sang it a little while you were with your mother yesterday."
"Yes, yes, of course!" Arwen sprang up again. She started to sing the song and Enedeth listened closely, following her. She smiled when the she- elf finished because she had not been far off the melody at all.
"But don't we have to sing in different parts? To make it sound really pretty?" Enedeth asked as she sat cross-legged on the floor. "I have not done that before."
Arwen sat next to her, and patted her on the shoulder. "That's okay, I have heard Mama and Ada do it lots of times. I can sing high and you can sing low and everybody says what beautiful hargo-harnomy we have!"
Enedeth grinned. "Oh, this will be so much fun! And the festival sounds like fun too. Do we get to play, or is it all about singing and telling stories?"
"Oh no, it is a little of everything. And it will be so much better now that I have you!!"
Enedeth hugged Arwen with her good arm.
Just then Mallinfar called up the stairs, "Girls! Time for luncheon!"
They tore down the stairs like two wild ponies and jumped on the bench at the kitchen table, sitting close to each other and looking at Mallinfar expectantly.
Smiling, Mallinfar set bread and cheese and cut up fruit, and two warm tarts filled with cherry preserves.
The girls hungry from playing ate everything. When they finished with the tarts, their faces were slightly smeared with jam. Mallinfar dipped a cloth into the warm water for washing and wiped both their faces.
"Thank you Lady Mallinfar for lunch," Arwen said carefully, getting up and bowing slightly.
Mallinfar inclined her head.
"Thank you Grandmamma!! I hope I can have a tart for dinner too!"
"Perhaps! It is a lovely afternoon, why not go out side and play with Carach awhile. I think he has missed you little bee!"
Enedeth hugged Mallinfar and the two girls ran out calling for the dog.
Carach came bounding up, almost knocking down Enedeth who was held up by a laughing Arwen. The girls spent most of the afternoon taking turns on the swing and practicing their singing.
As the trees shadows grew long, Arwen, mindful of the time, but her lip. The sun was getting very close to the western edge of the gorge. She would have to go home soon!!
Enedeth was singing to the evening sky, so very glad to be home. She smiled at Arwen. It was so wonderful to have a friend too!! She whirled her gown twisting it around her legs.
Laughing happily she sat on the grass suddenly and Carach, seeing his chance bowled her over with wet doggy kisses.
Arwen ran up to her and plopped in the grass next to her and Carach scrambled over Enedeth and gave Arwen wet kisses too.
When the girls sat up and Carach settled down some, Arwen looked at Enedeth and said, "I have to go home Enedeth. It is almost time for supper."
Enedeth nodded slowly and then looked at her friend, eyes wide. "Maybe, maybe your Ada and Mama would let you spend the night?"
Arwen glanced at the setting sun and knew with a sigh, it was too late to make such arrangements now. Adults always needed more time to do things! She smiled at her friend. It was not going to take either of them long to get their song done for the festival next week.
"Enedeth, I know Ada and Mama want me home for supper." She smiled at the grass. "They probably want to see if I come home tonight in time. And NOT run through the rose garden first!"
Enedeth nodded in agreement. "You are right. Well, maybe tomorrow and then we can practice singing all night long!"
Mallinfar came to the kitchen door and called out softly, "Arwen, it is time for you to be leaving and Enedeth, come inside little bee, your supper is almost ready!"
Both girls scrambled to their feet and Arwen threw her arms around her friend and kissed her, and Enedeth kissed her back, holding her broken arm.
"Bye! Until tomorrow!!"
"Yes as soon as I am finished with breakfast and lessons!!"
Enedeth nodded. Maybe she could have lessons too. She did not yet know how to read much and had only practiced her name in letters.
Watching until the she elf disappeared down the road, Enedeth turned and went inside.