The next day was Tolwyn's 14th birthday. There was no celebration, no presents; there hadn't been for the past few years, since Lothiriel died. Eomer and Elfwine had left with the Riders to go help Gondor pursue Orcs. So after she had woken, got dressed and eaten, Tolwyn went to the lessons-room as usual. She was yawning, still only half-awake, for she had stayed out very late last night. What had happened was Elfwine had taken a standard-issue sword from the armory. He had shown it to her, and asked her if she wanted to learn to use it. She eagerly said yes, and was taught the very basics of the sword- how to hold it, how to stand. Next, he had taken his own bow and quiver out and taught Tolwyn about archery for a short time. By the time all this was done, it was far past midnight. Elfwine promised Tolwyn more "lessons" if she would meet him at night. He even promised to teach her how to ride a Meara. (Elfwine himself was being taught, but being with the Riders since he was 8, knew a lot already.)
When Tolwyn reached the lessons-room and sat down, she was surprised to see that there were no books. The lessons-master wasn't even there. Instead, the minstrel's daughter (a girl a few years older than Tolwyn by the name of Reodwyn) came in. She explained to Tolwyn that the lessons she had been taking before were over, that Tolwyn had learned all there was to learn about the adding of numbers, the history of Middle-Earth and its inhabitants, how to read well and write with a neat hand. That now, Tolwyn was to learn how to draw, how to sing (hence the minstrel), how to sew, how to heal. Tolwyn was lead to the throne room and sat on the steps near the throne with the minstrel. The only other people there were a few guards at the other end of the room. Tolwyn was now in a good mood- no more stuffy, dark lessons-room for her! She doubted she could run away though, for this was not just sitting and listening- these lessons were ones where she had to do something, like sing or sew.
The minstrel pulled out a flute-like instrument and played a note, then asked Tolwyn to sing the note. Tolwyn, who had not sang all her life, failed miserably at this. So the minstrel started at the beginning, teaching Tolwyn about notes and chords, meter and time, sharps and flats. Then suddenly, when Tolwyn was eager to learn more, the minstrel announced the lesson was over.
The minstrel led Tolwyn to the healing room of the Golden Hall. It was fairly small, with cabinets full of herbs shoved against the walls and vials of medicine sitting on a table. There was one window, facing east; and opposite the window, with its headboard against the west wall, was a small bed. It was the same bed, the same room where her mother died.
Tolwyn still had her mother's necklace. She had found it around her neck the morning after Lothiriel died and hadn't taken it off since. No one knew about it, not even her father and brother. She took good care of it, cleaning it till the gold and emeralds and diamonds shined. For the necklace was a simple pendant on a gold chain- the pendant, a tiny diamond horse surrounded by emeralds. It was the banner of Rohan- yet she always wore it under her dress. It was the only reminder she had of her mother.
The healer that was going to teach her was a man in his late 50's, nearly bald and very slow. The lesson seemed to last forever. The old man reminded Tolwyn of her former lesson master, boring with a monotonous voice. But it wasn't so bad, for he showed Tolwyn a few leaves and herbs. He explained everything about them, where they grew, their names, and what they healed. By the time he had explained almost 3 herbs, the lesson was over.
After a small meal, the other lessons- sewing and drawing- began. They did not interest Tolwyn much. She was not that good at either of them, and didn't want to learn either. But these two lessons were the ones that she went outside for. In sewing, she was taken to the market to look at fabrics, and in drawing, she was taken to a garden and told to draw a flower.