I found a silk nightgown in a drawer and undressed with difficulty. I had
some trouble unlacing my corset, but I didn't dare go and ask Alassé for
help. I seemed to have really offended her.
Idiot, I thought, hanging the dress up in my wardrobe. You never know when to shut your big mouth.
I hadn't meant to pry. I was just too curious for my own good.
After I had washed in the elaborate bathroom, I settled into the four-poster and shut my eyes. I didn't really want to go to sleep. What if I woke up back in my house, back with my annoying kid brother and constantly rowing parents? I much preferred it here, even if so far I had already really offended two elves and been made into a laughing stock by all the others.
And that's another thing, I lectured myself inwardly. You're going to look like such a lemon, wandering round Mirkwood all by yourself because nobody will speak to you.
But I was far too tired to worry, and sleep rolled over me and took me away.
When I awoke birds were chirruping outside and the sun cast golden lengths of light through the large east-facing windows. I lay for a few moments, still half-asleep, and then I remembered where I was and everything that had happened.
I dressed myself - or, at least, tried to, and left my room to see if I could find Alassé and apologise. No sooner had I even thought this, though, than she appeared from around a corner with a plaintive look on her face. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me and stared like a deer caught in headlights. I guessed she was still a little sensitive from last night, and who could blame her?
As soon as I saw her I stated apologising for my intrusive behaviour, but she just held up her hand, like to tell me it was OK, and we just stood there for a while looking at each other, and then she burst out laughing.
I couldn't get why she was laughing, but then she explained, "Oh, Einëssa, you look so funny standing there with your corset laces hanging out the back of your dress."
Then I started laughing at myself too, and Alassé helped me to lace up the corset properly, and we were all OK again. I waited for her to tell me what we were going to do that day but she said, "Einëssa, I have to attend my father's council this morning. Why don't you go and see my brother? He's probably practising archery by the river again."
I must have had a really weird look on my face because she laughed and said, "Don't worry, he won't yell at you or anything. It's me he's mad at."
But as I watched her swishy blonde hair retreating down the corridor, I felt like I couldn't be too sure about that.
Idiot, I thought, hanging the dress up in my wardrobe. You never know when to shut your big mouth.
I hadn't meant to pry. I was just too curious for my own good.
After I had washed in the elaborate bathroom, I settled into the four-poster and shut my eyes. I didn't really want to go to sleep. What if I woke up back in my house, back with my annoying kid brother and constantly rowing parents? I much preferred it here, even if so far I had already really offended two elves and been made into a laughing stock by all the others.
And that's another thing, I lectured myself inwardly. You're going to look like such a lemon, wandering round Mirkwood all by yourself because nobody will speak to you.
But I was far too tired to worry, and sleep rolled over me and took me away.
When I awoke birds were chirruping outside and the sun cast golden lengths of light through the large east-facing windows. I lay for a few moments, still half-asleep, and then I remembered where I was and everything that had happened.
I dressed myself - or, at least, tried to, and left my room to see if I could find Alassé and apologise. No sooner had I even thought this, though, than she appeared from around a corner with a plaintive look on her face. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me and stared like a deer caught in headlights. I guessed she was still a little sensitive from last night, and who could blame her?
As soon as I saw her I stated apologising for my intrusive behaviour, but she just held up her hand, like to tell me it was OK, and we just stood there for a while looking at each other, and then she burst out laughing.
I couldn't get why she was laughing, but then she explained, "Oh, Einëssa, you look so funny standing there with your corset laces hanging out the back of your dress."
Then I started laughing at myself too, and Alassé helped me to lace up the corset properly, and we were all OK again. I waited for her to tell me what we were going to do that day but she said, "Einëssa, I have to attend my father's council this morning. Why don't you go and see my brother? He's probably practising archery by the river again."
I must have had a really weird look on my face because she laughed and said, "Don't worry, he won't yell at you or anything. It's me he's mad at."
But as I watched her swishy blonde hair retreating down the corridor, I felt like I couldn't be too sure about that.