Geliriel
had only been vaguely aware of her surroundings for a few days. She
was in a large room, brightened by the morning sun. There was a fire
burning in a fireplace not far from her bed. Confusion set in. 'Where
am I?' was the first thought to enter her mind. She slowly sat up
and looked around the room, going over every detail.
On each
side of the bed were two large, but slender windows. They had the
curtains open enough to let in light. Looking to her right there was
a large chair and a table before it. The table bore only a single
candle within a silver holder. Her gaze went left and found a large,
wooden armoire. Beside that was a full-length mirror that had two end
tables along each side, each table had three slim drawers. Her gaze
went left again and she noticed a vanity table with another mirror.
'The lady of this house must be used to such comforts,' Geliriel
thought. Atop the vanity was a basin with a pitcher inside it. 'Of
course!' she thought again and smiled. 'This room is fit for a
Lady or even a princess!' She chuckled to herself. Not far from the
vanity was the door. It was open just a crack, but enough so that she
could make out what looked to be another room. She would make time to
investigate once she was out of bed.
Her examination of the
room left her with only the fireplace and the bed she was in. It was
also large, with white linen sheets and several blankets over all.
'The Lady must not want for comfort,' she thought. 'But why am
I in her room and bed?' This question was enough to rouse her into
movement, and she made the attempt to climb out of bed.
She
wasn't aware of how long she had been a-bed. She put her feet on
the small rug that was on the floor, and straightened up to stand.
She found herself just a bit wobbly, but paid it no mind. It was when
she took the first step toward the door that the room started
spinning and she found herself on the floor. The door was pushed open
and in rushed two sets of feet. Geliriel assumed that the owners of
the feet had been in the adjoining room. She felt herself being
lifted up into a sitting position.
She saw the woman first,
busily checking the state of the room and preparing some sort of
drink while admonishing her for attempting to walk. Looking around,
her eyes met those of the man who was just about to pick her up off
the floor and put her back into bed.
"Are you alright,
my lady?" the man asked, looking concerned. He had long blond
hair and grey-green eyes.
"I'm fine, really. The room
decided to take a turn without me, I suppose." Geliriel joked.
The fellow laughed and then picked her up.
"You mustn't
try walking just yet, my lady," the woman said as she brought
over a mug of whatever she had concocted. "You've been a-bed for
nearly two weeks."
"Two weeks?! Have I been asleep
all that time?"
"Off and on, ma'am. This is the
first we've seen you more alert to your surroundings. My name is
Glinneth and I'm your nurse and maidservant while you live here.
Berior is the one carrying you," the woman nodded in his
direction.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance. But tell
me, why am I in this room? Does the lady of this house not wish to
keep it herself?"
She noticed the look that passed
between Glinneth and Berior. Both had fallen silent, and it seemed
they didn't wish to speak of it. 'Perhaps the lady has gone to the
Halls of Mandos,' Geliriel thought as Berior placed her in the bed.
He tucked her in and Glinneth handed her the mug.
"Drink
this, dear. It will help set you to rights." she smiled at
Geliriel and went back to tidying up the room. Berior stood over her
a moment before he also withdrew. Wondering at the sudden quiet and
uneasiness, Geliriel drank down the contents of the mug. It was a
sweet tasting drink and soon enough, Geliriel was feeling sleepy. She
lay back on the pillows and closed her eyes. Thinking she was asleep,
Glinneth spoke to Berior in a quiet voice.
"Does Lord
Amrod wish her to know about her situation here?"
"He
hasn't said as much, but I'm sure he'll tell her himself once he
hears she's well enough."
"I hope for her sake he
does," she heard Glinneth say as they passed through the door.
"Her sake and the child's sake. She shouldn't be kept in the
dark much longer." Geliriel heard no more as sleep finally
overcame her mind. But she was left with confused dreams of dark
rooms, falling into a great rush of water, and child's hand within
hers.
Geliriel awoke to the sounds of
Glinneth humming softly to herself while neatening up the room. She
sat up in the bed and stretched, ready to ask the woman some
questions, and was determined to get answers. She also resolved not
to drink anything from Glinneth without first knowing what it was.
Before she could call out the maid's name, Glinneth had
turned around to face her. She looked a bit surprised, but she
recovered with a smile and curtsied.
"Good afternoon, my
lady. I hope you slept well."
"I did indeed,
Glinneth. I would think anyone would sleep well after the drink you
give them." She gave the woman a sly look and grinned when she
saw her blush.
"I was told to give you that, ma'am. I
wouldn't have normally, but Lord Amrod wants you to get well. He
seems to think sleep can cure anything." The last statement was
said with a bit of a chuckle. Geliriel laughed a little too, and knew
she had her opening to ask her first question.
"Who is
Lord Amrod, Glinneth? I heard you speak of him yesterday, but
couldn't ask."
"He is the Lord of this manor,
ma'am."
"I assumed as much," she paused before
asking another question, hoping to get more out of Glinneth.
"Glinneth, I asked yesterday but didn't get an answer
from you or Berior. Why am I set up in this room? It must belong to
Lord Amrod's wife, or sister, or mother. Do they not want to keep the
room for themselves?"
Glinneth looked uncomfortable and
began to fidget a little. 'Apparently, she is supposed to keep silent
about it,' Geliriel thought. She watched a little while longer,
hoping Glinneth would answer. When it seemed she wouldn't, Geliriel
waved off the question and sighed.
"Never mind. If you
are not permitted to speak of it, than I won't force you to. I am
just confused, is all." She looked at Glinneth and watched she
relaxed.
"Thank you, ma'am," she said. "I
would tell you, if I could."
"I understand."
An idea struck Geliriel then. 'If Glinneth can't tell me, then
perhaps I should talk to this Lord Amrod. Surely he'll tell me what I
want to know.' Leaning forward a little, she spoke to Glinneth again.
"Glinneth, I would like to speak to Lord Amrod. It seems
I must get my answers from him. When will he be able to see me?"
"Nearest time I can think of is this evening. He'll
probably come after dinner."
"Fine then,"
Geliriel said, quite pleased with the outcome. "I would ask you
one more thing, Glinneth. Is it possible for you to help me get
dressed in something presentable? I would not wish Lord Amrod to see
me in this state."
"I can certainly help you, my
lady! Let me call on Berior to help you out of that bed. You haven't
been on your feet for quite sometime, and we wouldn't want you to
fall again." Glinneth smiled, curtsied, and went out of the room
to get Berior and a few other things that weren't in the room.
