Elanor had started packing-or at least folding a dozen dresses and stacking them neatly on top of one another. It was getting late though, and she was tired. She wondered where Béomir was. He had rode out to Edoras in the morning to consult with her father and her brothers over one thing or another, but he did that often now and was usually home by sunset. Elanor sighed and gave up on her packing-she was just too tired. She would check in on her children, then go to sleep. Tomorrow was another day.
Elanor slipped quietly out of her room and down the hall. The house was really beautiful-it was large and wooden and during the daytime, wonderfully light from the many windows that graced the walls. The room that she shared with Béomir was at the back of the house- giving them as much privacy as possible when having eight young children. Elanor padded lightly on the wooden floor, past a small library and a sitting room. The children's rooms were all grouped together off on a branch of the main hallway.
Elanor eased open the first door on her right. Inside, in three small beds placed against the walls, were Aurwyn, Théomod and Eoran. They were all sleeping soundly as they had since infancy. In fact, one stormy night a few weeks back, there had been a horrible storm-thunder, lightening, the whole works. The three of them had slept right through it! The sun was out in the morning and they had had no idea that the storm had even happened. Elanor laughed silently to herself at the memory. She stepped into the room for a moment and watched them sleep. Their small chests rose and fell under their blankets. Well the boys' did. Aurwyn had somehow managed to kick off her quilt so that it was lying half on the bed, half on the floor. Without making a single noise, Elanor picked up the blanket and tucked back in her youngest daughter, smoothing away a dark golden lock that had fallen awkwardly across her forehead.
"Goodnight my children," she whispered silently as she left the room, closing the door behind her.
The next room belonged to her younger set of twins. She opened the door and looked in briefly-both were sleeping soundly in their small beds right next to one another. Even in sleep... thought Elanor, but she brushed it away quickly. The older twins' room was much the same- Béowyn and Béodan were deep in sleep-actually not feigning, as they were prone to do. Must be tired from all their yelling today, Elanor thought to herself. Her eyes scanned the room—books and parchment were scattered all about including one roll that was lying on Béowyn's pillow. Elanor stealthily entered the room (for they were not as heavy sleepers as the little ones) and shifted the paper to her daughter's night table, noting the odd symbols and such: another one of the codes that her and her brother made up weekly.
Leaving the room, Elanor made a mental note to ask Béowyn whether she would like to move into Mothwyn's room-for the twins were growing to an age where it would soon become inappropriate for boys and girls to share the same room-even twins such as themselves.
As Elanor moved back out into the hall, she paused for a minute to give a big yawn. Boy, was she really tired or what? At the end of the corridor lay Mothwyn's room. Elanor opened the door a crack to peek in and smiled at what she saw.
Apparently Mothwyn had wasted no time since she left Elanor and Korynne. A neat pile of dresses was sitting on a chair waiting to be packed. Next to it on the floor was a loaded satchel. From the shape of it (and the quill that was falling out of it) Elanor could see that it was Mothwyn's books and lessons. So she actually had been listening, Elanor thought. Mothwyn herself was lying in bed, her long braid resting on the pillow beside her. The floorboard Elanor was standing on creaked as she shifted her weight and Mothwyn stirred. Not wanting to wake her daughter, Elanor closed the door quietly and made her way back to her room silent as a hobbit.
She was surprised then as she entered to find Béomir sitting on the bed, apparently waiting up for her. "I didn't hear you come in, she said simply as she moved forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Béomir kissed her back, but on the lips and moved as if to slip her dress from her shoulders. Elanor shrugged away though and moved back.
"Not tonight, my love," she said quietly. "I'm very tired from taking care of the children all day", she added, slightly accusingly but Béomir either missed it or ignored it.
"Fine then," he said, a bit disappointed but what was he to do about it? He got up and went about changing for sleep as Elanor did the same. She was getting into bed when Béomir's eyes fell on her pile of dresses. Elanor saw this and braced herself as she waited for his question-which didn't take very long.
"Why are your dresses out, Elanor?" he asked calmly. Elanor bit her lip. "I-I'm going to Dol Amroth to visit my cousins..." Béomir raised his eyebrows and looked as if he was about to object to her leaving. Elanor didn't know what she would do if that happened so...
"My cousin Amriel isn't feeling well... she is with child and it is being difficult for her-and you know how she came when I was with Aurwyn..." Elanor spoke quickly, hoping that Béomir did not realize her anxiety... or the lack of truth to her words. Really, Amriel was with child, but she was far from having a difficult pregnancy. She was, if possible, more fertile than Elanor herself was. Her cousin was carrying her ninth child and not planning on stopping. Elanor knew though that this explanation would stop Béomir's questions-he always became uncomfortable when she spoke of "womanly" things. Though why she had felt the need to lie to him, Elanor did not know. The knowledge of it sunk to the pit of her stomach where it rested heavy and unmoving.
"Oh," was all Béomir said. "And when are you leaving?" "Day after 'morrow", Elanor answered. "And your escourt?" "Korynne will be going with me... and Hildamir and some of his men." Béomir nodded approvingly. "When will you be back?" he asked as he got into bed next to her. "Um, I'm not sure-I don't want to leave Amriel until I'm sure she no longer needs me."
Béomir muttered something that Elanor assumed was his agreement as he slid his arms around her and closed his eyes. Elanor remained awake until she felt his breathing become that of sleep-slow and steady. A few moments late and he was fast asleep. Only then did she let down her guard and close her eyes. She would tackle telling him that Mothwyn was going with her in the morning. Until then, it was time to sleep...
"Elanor! Elanor, my love!" called a young blond Hildamir. "What do you want now?" called down a thirteen-year-old Elanor from her room in Meduseld. She was sitting perched on her window in a blue knee length skirt, her back leaning against one of the posts. Her feet and lower legs were bare and were lodged against the other post to keep her balance. Long golden locks of hair tumbled past her waist and onto the sill.
"She must really love you, Hildamir," joked a skimpy sandy-haired boy. "Oh shush-up Karn," Hildamir retorted back. "You only wish you had as much nerve as I do!" The other boys laughed, but it was not mean laughter. A dozen or so young boys, from around thirteen to sixteen were gathered around to call on the Lady Elanor from her window-for that was as close as they could get to her now. A campaign had just ended and King Eomer had recently returned from Harad—and he would be most angry if he found his daughter running around with a pack of boys.
Hildamir was around fifteen, and hopelessly in love with Elanor-even though she was two years younger. "Oh my love, your hair is like the honey bee, your lips like ripened strawberries, your eyes as deep as the southern sea, your smile as the sun's golden rays", he proclaimed dramatically, amidst laughter from his friends. Elanor, greatly amused, just smiled sweetly down at him and blew a kiss. Hildamir's face was then graced by a broad grin as he pretended to catch it. The other boys stopping mocking him- after all, even if he had made a fool out of himself, earning such a favor from the young princess was not to be made little of.
The young Rohirrim had been entertaining Elanor for over an hour now and even though she wished she could stay and speak to them longer, she still had lessons to do and selections from "Translations from the Elvish" to read-and her father was home, which meant he would be checking in on her soon.
"Well now, my fine gentlemen," Elanor called down, charmingly. "I would love to stay and talk more, but I have work to do..." "You don't need no learning!" shouted Karn from below. Another boy nudged him saying, "Well you sure do Karn!" Elanor just laughed. "Well I agree, but unfortunately my father doesn't... actually I think I hear him coming..."
Elanor laughed even louder to see them scattering at the mention of her father. Only Hildamir hesitated before running, hoping to get a secret word or two with her while the others weren't around.
After they had all left, Elanor sighed and turned away from the window to get to work. She flipped open her book dejectedly, wishing that Bilbo Baggins had never translated it. If he hadn't then she wouldn't have had to learn it... though her father might well have made her learn Elvish to read it. Ug... Elvish... Elanor shuddered. She didn't like elves... no she didn't like elves one bit...
Elanor slipped quietly out of her room and down the hall. The house was really beautiful-it was large and wooden and during the daytime, wonderfully light from the many windows that graced the walls. The room that she shared with Béomir was at the back of the house- giving them as much privacy as possible when having eight young children. Elanor padded lightly on the wooden floor, past a small library and a sitting room. The children's rooms were all grouped together off on a branch of the main hallway.
Elanor eased open the first door on her right. Inside, in three small beds placed against the walls, were Aurwyn, Théomod and Eoran. They were all sleeping soundly as they had since infancy. In fact, one stormy night a few weeks back, there had been a horrible storm-thunder, lightening, the whole works. The three of them had slept right through it! The sun was out in the morning and they had had no idea that the storm had even happened. Elanor laughed silently to herself at the memory. She stepped into the room for a moment and watched them sleep. Their small chests rose and fell under their blankets. Well the boys' did. Aurwyn had somehow managed to kick off her quilt so that it was lying half on the bed, half on the floor. Without making a single noise, Elanor picked up the blanket and tucked back in her youngest daughter, smoothing away a dark golden lock that had fallen awkwardly across her forehead.
"Goodnight my children," she whispered silently as she left the room, closing the door behind her.
The next room belonged to her younger set of twins. She opened the door and looked in briefly-both were sleeping soundly in their small beds right next to one another. Even in sleep... thought Elanor, but she brushed it away quickly. The older twins' room was much the same- Béowyn and Béodan were deep in sleep-actually not feigning, as they were prone to do. Must be tired from all their yelling today, Elanor thought to herself. Her eyes scanned the room—books and parchment were scattered all about including one roll that was lying on Béowyn's pillow. Elanor stealthily entered the room (for they were not as heavy sleepers as the little ones) and shifted the paper to her daughter's night table, noting the odd symbols and such: another one of the codes that her and her brother made up weekly.
Leaving the room, Elanor made a mental note to ask Béowyn whether she would like to move into Mothwyn's room-for the twins were growing to an age where it would soon become inappropriate for boys and girls to share the same room-even twins such as themselves.
As Elanor moved back out into the hall, she paused for a minute to give a big yawn. Boy, was she really tired or what? At the end of the corridor lay Mothwyn's room. Elanor opened the door a crack to peek in and smiled at what she saw.
Apparently Mothwyn had wasted no time since she left Elanor and Korynne. A neat pile of dresses was sitting on a chair waiting to be packed. Next to it on the floor was a loaded satchel. From the shape of it (and the quill that was falling out of it) Elanor could see that it was Mothwyn's books and lessons. So she actually had been listening, Elanor thought. Mothwyn herself was lying in bed, her long braid resting on the pillow beside her. The floorboard Elanor was standing on creaked as she shifted her weight and Mothwyn stirred. Not wanting to wake her daughter, Elanor closed the door quietly and made her way back to her room silent as a hobbit.
She was surprised then as she entered to find Béomir sitting on the bed, apparently waiting up for her. "I didn't hear you come in, she said simply as she moved forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Béomir kissed her back, but on the lips and moved as if to slip her dress from her shoulders. Elanor shrugged away though and moved back.
"Not tonight, my love," she said quietly. "I'm very tired from taking care of the children all day", she added, slightly accusingly but Béomir either missed it or ignored it.
"Fine then," he said, a bit disappointed but what was he to do about it? He got up and went about changing for sleep as Elanor did the same. She was getting into bed when Béomir's eyes fell on her pile of dresses. Elanor saw this and braced herself as she waited for his question-which didn't take very long.
"Why are your dresses out, Elanor?" he asked calmly. Elanor bit her lip. "I-I'm going to Dol Amroth to visit my cousins..." Béomir raised his eyebrows and looked as if he was about to object to her leaving. Elanor didn't know what she would do if that happened so...
"My cousin Amriel isn't feeling well... she is with child and it is being difficult for her-and you know how she came when I was with Aurwyn..." Elanor spoke quickly, hoping that Béomir did not realize her anxiety... or the lack of truth to her words. Really, Amriel was with child, but she was far from having a difficult pregnancy. She was, if possible, more fertile than Elanor herself was. Her cousin was carrying her ninth child and not planning on stopping. Elanor knew though that this explanation would stop Béomir's questions-he always became uncomfortable when she spoke of "womanly" things. Though why she had felt the need to lie to him, Elanor did not know. The knowledge of it sunk to the pit of her stomach where it rested heavy and unmoving.
"Oh," was all Béomir said. "And when are you leaving?" "Day after 'morrow", Elanor answered. "And your escourt?" "Korynne will be going with me... and Hildamir and some of his men." Béomir nodded approvingly. "When will you be back?" he asked as he got into bed next to her. "Um, I'm not sure-I don't want to leave Amriel until I'm sure she no longer needs me."
Béomir muttered something that Elanor assumed was his agreement as he slid his arms around her and closed his eyes. Elanor remained awake until she felt his breathing become that of sleep-slow and steady. A few moments late and he was fast asleep. Only then did she let down her guard and close her eyes. She would tackle telling him that Mothwyn was going with her in the morning. Until then, it was time to sleep...
"Elanor! Elanor, my love!" called a young blond Hildamir. "What do you want now?" called down a thirteen-year-old Elanor from her room in Meduseld. She was sitting perched on her window in a blue knee length skirt, her back leaning against one of the posts. Her feet and lower legs were bare and were lodged against the other post to keep her balance. Long golden locks of hair tumbled past her waist and onto the sill.
"She must really love you, Hildamir," joked a skimpy sandy-haired boy. "Oh shush-up Karn," Hildamir retorted back. "You only wish you had as much nerve as I do!" The other boys laughed, but it was not mean laughter. A dozen or so young boys, from around thirteen to sixteen were gathered around to call on the Lady Elanor from her window-for that was as close as they could get to her now. A campaign had just ended and King Eomer had recently returned from Harad—and he would be most angry if he found his daughter running around with a pack of boys.
Hildamir was around fifteen, and hopelessly in love with Elanor-even though she was two years younger. "Oh my love, your hair is like the honey bee, your lips like ripened strawberries, your eyes as deep as the southern sea, your smile as the sun's golden rays", he proclaimed dramatically, amidst laughter from his friends. Elanor, greatly amused, just smiled sweetly down at him and blew a kiss. Hildamir's face was then graced by a broad grin as he pretended to catch it. The other boys stopping mocking him- after all, even if he had made a fool out of himself, earning such a favor from the young princess was not to be made little of.
The young Rohirrim had been entertaining Elanor for over an hour now and even though she wished she could stay and speak to them longer, she still had lessons to do and selections from "Translations from the Elvish" to read-and her father was home, which meant he would be checking in on her soon.
"Well now, my fine gentlemen," Elanor called down, charmingly. "I would love to stay and talk more, but I have work to do..." "You don't need no learning!" shouted Karn from below. Another boy nudged him saying, "Well you sure do Karn!" Elanor just laughed. "Well I agree, but unfortunately my father doesn't... actually I think I hear him coming..."
Elanor laughed even louder to see them scattering at the mention of her father. Only Hildamir hesitated before running, hoping to get a secret word or two with her while the others weren't around.
After they had all left, Elanor sighed and turned away from the window to get to work. She flipped open her book dejectedly, wishing that Bilbo Baggins had never translated it. If he hadn't then she wouldn't have had to learn it... though her father might well have made her learn Elvish to read it. Ug... Elvish... Elanor shuddered. She didn't like elves... no she didn't like elves one bit...