Vani- hey! Thanks again, couldn't have done it without you.
Wandering Prophet- I'll keep that in mind. ;) Hopefully it will pick up soon, but I appreciate the review. thanks a bunch for it.
Chapter Four- Acting One's Age
I sighed in relief as I returned home to find it empty. "Mother must be at the market," I mumbled to myself as I mucked out Alatriel's stall and proceeded on to the others as fast as possible. This chore would have usually taken all morning, but that included daydreaming. Getting all my chores finished before my parents returned home would lessen the severity of my punishment for running off. "It's amazing how much you manage to dirty this stall," I said to Alatriel, leaning on my shovel for a brief rest. There were only four stalls, and one was empty, but the task still seemed endless.
When I had finished laying the hay in the last stall I hurried into the house, picking up the broom and sweeping the kitchen floor absentmindedly. Hearing footsteps coming up the flagstone steps I swept the remaining dust under the rug, leaning the broom up in the corner. Just as I laid my hand on the handle I heard the door open and my mother's voice.
"Tari?" she called. I rested my had against the door in a silent prayer to the Valar that I had simply forgotten something. So I didn't answer. "Your father and I need to talk to you," she went on to say. I turned around with an exasperated sigh. My mother was setting a bundle of vegetables on the table and father was hanging his cloak on a peg.
"Come and sit," my father said, beckoning me over to the table of dark polished wood. Our house was not particularly large, but it was adorned lavishly. It sat perched on the outer wall of the sixth level not far from the houses of healing, so that my father could have easy accesses.
I sat down opposite my parents. I knew what was coming; a lecture that I had heard nearly a hundred times before. My father took a deep breath, clasping his hands on the table in front of him.
"You know what this is about," he inquired quietly. I nodded my head in consent. "Tari, we have told you time and time again we do not want you leaving the city," he said shaking his head to emphasize his point. "There are things that need to be done here and the woods are no place for a young woman." I could tell his temper was rising by the way his knuckles turned white and I had not even a chance to talk back yet. "It's time you start acting your age," he said firmly, hitting a nerve.
In truth I was nearly thirty-two, but my grandmother's elvish blood delayed the aging process. To a mortals eyes I would appear no older than seventeen, and felt the same too. My mother was the only one in our family of three that showed her age. "It's getting ridiculous," he went on to say, picking up speed. "You don't see any woman your age gallivanting off every morning." I narrowed my eyes.
"That is because all of them are married and have children," I shot back defiantly. He knew I had a hard time fitting in. It was awkward talking to girls, who though they looked the same, were nearly fifteen years younger, and talking to them was almost unbearable. All of the friends I had grown up with now had graying hairs and children. None but a few now talked to me, whether from jealousy, or they thought that they were too mature for it. It was hard to find where exactly I belonged.
"I'm glad you agree," he said calmly. I raised my eyebrows. "We have tried countless punishments. There is nothing more your mother and I can think of to do. You have brought this upon yourself, so thus, you must choose yourself. One; your mother and I can arrange suitors for you-"
"What?" I cried, pushing back my chair and rising from the table. "I would never," I said in a disgusted tone.
"Then sit and let me finish," my father commanded sharply. I obeyed grudgingly with clenched teeth. His voice softened. "We already have a few people in mind that we think may interest you." I rolled my eyes, and he took the hint that I didn't care to hear anymore. "Your second choice is to go to Lothlorien, and live with your grandmother for a time." This did not even seem nearly as bad. I had always wanted to visit the rest of my kin anyway. "There you will be her pupil and she will teach you the ways of healing until you are ready to practice it here. "I cringed at his words. The two things I hated most, marriage, and healing.
"Why do you give me such choices?" I asked with pleading eye. My breath grew shaky as I saw the seriousness in his eyes, and a lump began to grow in my throat.
"Because it is time you grow up," my mother replied, stepping in for the first time. I looked from one parent to the other. The hopelessness of the situation beginning to sink in. I could see the edges of my vision going blurry each time I blinked. Pushing my chair back I left the room before they could see my cry. I slammed my door shut behind me, leaning my back against it. I sank to the floor, feeling the first of the sobs rising in my throat. I pulled my knees up to my chin, as tears flooded my eyes, and sobs shook my body.
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please review!! I'd appreciate it so much!
Wandering Prophet- I'll keep that in mind. ;) Hopefully it will pick up soon, but I appreciate the review. thanks a bunch for it.
Chapter Four- Acting One's Age
I sighed in relief as I returned home to find it empty. "Mother must be at the market," I mumbled to myself as I mucked out Alatriel's stall and proceeded on to the others as fast as possible. This chore would have usually taken all morning, but that included daydreaming. Getting all my chores finished before my parents returned home would lessen the severity of my punishment for running off. "It's amazing how much you manage to dirty this stall," I said to Alatriel, leaning on my shovel for a brief rest. There were only four stalls, and one was empty, but the task still seemed endless.
When I had finished laying the hay in the last stall I hurried into the house, picking up the broom and sweeping the kitchen floor absentmindedly. Hearing footsteps coming up the flagstone steps I swept the remaining dust under the rug, leaning the broom up in the corner. Just as I laid my hand on the handle I heard the door open and my mother's voice.
"Tari?" she called. I rested my had against the door in a silent prayer to the Valar that I had simply forgotten something. So I didn't answer. "Your father and I need to talk to you," she went on to say. I turned around with an exasperated sigh. My mother was setting a bundle of vegetables on the table and father was hanging his cloak on a peg.
"Come and sit," my father said, beckoning me over to the table of dark polished wood. Our house was not particularly large, but it was adorned lavishly. It sat perched on the outer wall of the sixth level not far from the houses of healing, so that my father could have easy accesses.
I sat down opposite my parents. I knew what was coming; a lecture that I had heard nearly a hundred times before. My father took a deep breath, clasping his hands on the table in front of him.
"You know what this is about," he inquired quietly. I nodded my head in consent. "Tari, we have told you time and time again we do not want you leaving the city," he said shaking his head to emphasize his point. "There are things that need to be done here and the woods are no place for a young woman." I could tell his temper was rising by the way his knuckles turned white and I had not even a chance to talk back yet. "It's time you start acting your age," he said firmly, hitting a nerve.
In truth I was nearly thirty-two, but my grandmother's elvish blood delayed the aging process. To a mortals eyes I would appear no older than seventeen, and felt the same too. My mother was the only one in our family of three that showed her age. "It's getting ridiculous," he went on to say, picking up speed. "You don't see any woman your age gallivanting off every morning." I narrowed my eyes.
"That is because all of them are married and have children," I shot back defiantly. He knew I had a hard time fitting in. It was awkward talking to girls, who though they looked the same, were nearly fifteen years younger, and talking to them was almost unbearable. All of the friends I had grown up with now had graying hairs and children. None but a few now talked to me, whether from jealousy, or they thought that they were too mature for it. It was hard to find where exactly I belonged.
"I'm glad you agree," he said calmly. I raised my eyebrows. "We have tried countless punishments. There is nothing more your mother and I can think of to do. You have brought this upon yourself, so thus, you must choose yourself. One; your mother and I can arrange suitors for you-"
"What?" I cried, pushing back my chair and rising from the table. "I would never," I said in a disgusted tone.
"Then sit and let me finish," my father commanded sharply. I obeyed grudgingly with clenched teeth. His voice softened. "We already have a few people in mind that we think may interest you." I rolled my eyes, and he took the hint that I didn't care to hear anymore. "Your second choice is to go to Lothlorien, and live with your grandmother for a time." This did not even seem nearly as bad. I had always wanted to visit the rest of my kin anyway. "There you will be her pupil and she will teach you the ways of healing until you are ready to practice it here. "I cringed at his words. The two things I hated most, marriage, and healing.
"Why do you give me such choices?" I asked with pleading eye. My breath grew shaky as I saw the seriousness in his eyes, and a lump began to grow in my throat.
"Because it is time you grow up," my mother replied, stepping in for the first time. I looked from one parent to the other. The hopelessness of the situation beginning to sink in. I could see the edges of my vision going blurry each time I blinked. Pushing my chair back I left the room before they could see my cry. I slammed my door shut behind me, leaning my back against it. I sank to the floor, feeling the first of the sobs rising in my throat. I pulled my knees up to my chin, as tears flooded my eyes, and sobs shook my body.
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please review!! I'd appreciate it so much!