The First Morning
I awoke to find myself in a sunlit room. The first thought I had that morning was that it was quite lovely to sleep in a bed made for people of full heighth. This reminded me of my troubles from the day before and I nearly bounded from the bed. I was in a comfortable room. How I came to be there or when I could not say. It was all of stone, but carved in such a manner that it was not unpleasant. The bed was made up with bright colors and the walls were hung with sweet tapestries. What appealed to me most was that one wall was really only a row of columns, patterned after horse heads. Between the columns I could see a wide balcony. It was to this place I walked, for the night had shrouded the city when I had entered it and I was unable to discern many of its features. I looked at the fair morning for a scarce moment when a serving woman entered and told me that the king desired my presence when I had eaten. While I was still puzzling as to why the king should care to converse with a wayward traveler, another serving woman peeped in the door, then brought a full tray and bade me eat of the good things.
The two of them proceeded to work over my hair and garments so that in a short time I stood before the doors of the throne room garbed in the attire of that land. I wore a gown of pale blue, which fitted to the hips, then hung loosely to the floor. The sleeves were loose and flared, giving much freedom to my hands. The gown was embroidered all over in silver thread with small flowers and curving lines. Around my waist was clasped a silver belt. I found these garments more comfortable than the corset, hoops, and petticoats I had been wearing. Such a confession would shock the proper ladies of this time, but the gentle grace and dignity of these garments made my own seem coarse and foolish. I would do well to state that at this time my hair was the color of sunshine, for to look at me now, one would never guess that it had been so. It more closely resembles moonlight.
But raiment aside, I stood at the door preparing to meet this king. The doors opened. I walked into a columned hall, hung with bright draperies of green and white. Men stood around dressed in the same livery and bright armor. The figure of a white horse was seen in most of the tapestries and carvings. I began to understand why the Hobbits had been certain I was from this land, for these horsemen all had hair no darker then ripe wheat. Truly though, at this time, I saw very little of the hall or the men standing about. It would be several days before I took in these surroundings, but I write them now to save myself the trouble of doing it later.
I awoke to find myself in a sunlit room. The first thought I had that morning was that it was quite lovely to sleep in a bed made for people of full heighth. This reminded me of my troubles from the day before and I nearly bounded from the bed. I was in a comfortable room. How I came to be there or when I could not say. It was all of stone, but carved in such a manner that it was not unpleasant. The bed was made up with bright colors and the walls were hung with sweet tapestries. What appealed to me most was that one wall was really only a row of columns, patterned after horse heads. Between the columns I could see a wide balcony. It was to this place I walked, for the night had shrouded the city when I had entered it and I was unable to discern many of its features. I looked at the fair morning for a scarce moment when a serving woman entered and told me that the king desired my presence when I had eaten. While I was still puzzling as to why the king should care to converse with a wayward traveler, another serving woman peeped in the door, then brought a full tray and bade me eat of the good things.
The two of them proceeded to work over my hair and garments so that in a short time I stood before the doors of the throne room garbed in the attire of that land. I wore a gown of pale blue, which fitted to the hips, then hung loosely to the floor. The sleeves were loose and flared, giving much freedom to my hands. The gown was embroidered all over in silver thread with small flowers and curving lines. Around my waist was clasped a silver belt. I found these garments more comfortable than the corset, hoops, and petticoats I had been wearing. Such a confession would shock the proper ladies of this time, but the gentle grace and dignity of these garments made my own seem coarse and foolish. I would do well to state that at this time my hair was the color of sunshine, for to look at me now, one would never guess that it had been so. It more closely resembles moonlight.
But raiment aside, I stood at the door preparing to meet this king. The doors opened. I walked into a columned hall, hung with bright draperies of green and white. Men stood around dressed in the same livery and bright armor. The figure of a white horse was seen in most of the tapestries and carvings. I began to understand why the Hobbits had been certain I was from this land, for these horsemen all had hair no darker then ripe wheat. Truly though, at this time, I saw very little of the hall or the men standing about. It would be several days before I took in these surroundings, but I write them now to save myself the trouble of doing it later.