Chapter Seven-Pain By Any Other Name…
I was abruptly awoken by Melima throwing the shutters open and bright morning light blinding me. I groaned and turned over, sliding a little too far and promptly rolled off the bed.
"Aiya!" I choked out a garbled scream. My butt hit the floor with a hard thud.
Melima gasped and ran over to my side, speaking in elvish quickly. She helped me up and dusted me off. Swatting at my bum to get some dust off, I flinched a bit and grabbed her hand.
"I'm good, fine, nifty-poo. Thanks, don't worry about it." My tush was still a little worse for wear after my session with the twins. I'd ask for a massage, but I didn't want anyone getting any ideas.
Melima smiled at me and handed me a cloth package, motioning for me to open it. She stood expectantly as I undid the twine tie. Unfolding the cloth, I saw moss green fabric underneath. I pulled the packaging away and out dropped a dress. I held it up and sure enough, it looked like it might fit me. I looked at Melima questioningly. She pointed from it to me and nodded, saying something else in elvish.
"For me?" I pointed from the dress to myself. "This is for me?"
Melima nodded and started to undo the ties that I had haphazardly managed to tie last night when I escaped from the twins' bed. She pulled the dress off my shoulders and slid it down my body. I stepped out of the dress and she put it on my now rumpled bed. She helped me step into the new dress and she pulled it up. Oh, I think I loved this dress. It was front lacing. Now this was a garment I could get behind! Pulling up the sleeves, I noticed the neckline wasn't as low as the blue dress. Still loads of cleavage, but my boobs weren't going to get goosebumps in a cool breeze. I swear I was going to kiss those seamstresses senseless when I saw them next.
Melima looked at me shyly. She straightened the ties and brushed the cloth down smooth. All of a sudden it hit me. The seamstresses hadn't made this dress, Melima had! So that's where she was all day yesterday! I didn't remember seeing her at dinner either. My eyes welled up as I realized the gift she was giving me. I grabbed her up in a tight hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I whispered reverently, "I love it." I kissed her cheek and an errant tear dropped down my face. This may be a hallucination, but man, it sure as hell didn't mean I couldn't be touched by the generosity of others. I rocked her back and forth in a hug as I cried. What a selfless and loving gesture this girl, who was by all intent a stranger, did for me. It gave me hope. I pulled away, sniffling and saw tears rolling down her cheeks too. I grasped her hand and smiled.
"C'mon. Let's go to breakfast." Melima smiled back at me and let me lead her through the door and down to the dining hall.
I walked through the door, proudly ushering Melima to the table where Elrond sat. I pulled her to my side and cleared my throat, getting the attention of everyone sitting at the table.
"Pardon me for interrupting your meal, but I just wanted you to know that Melima here has given me an extraordinary gift. She sewed this dress of her own accord, all day yesterday. It was a selfless, loving gesture, and I am humbled to have received it and consider her a true friend." Tears started to well up in my eyes again. "I just thought you should know." I sniffled and wiped away the tears that dropped down my face and hugged Melima again. I pulled her down to sit beside me and started filling her plate with fruits and bread.
Elrond looked over at me and took a moment to collect his thoughts. "That was very generous of Melima, and I thank her for that effort." He spoke elvish to Melima, who just blushed and stared down at her plate. "I believe that Melima has taken a liking to you and you do her an honour to call her a friend. However, I find it curious that you would be so overcome by emotion from this simple gift."
Ah, the 'emotional much?' observation. I thought about how others might perceive my emotional outburst.
"Lord Elrond, forgive me, but I feel emotion quite deeply. Especially if originates from another person. When it mixes with my own emotions it can be quite overwhelming and come across as excessive. Being an empath is a bit tricky because you always have these emotions coming at you like you're under heavy artillery fire and you've got no defences to rebuff everything thing that's coming at you. Sometimes it gets hard to figure out what it is you're actually feeling and other people's stuff." I hoped he understood what I was getting at.
Elrond nodded and smiled, "Yes, that can be quite confusing. Do not worry though. I believe you feel truly, and can understand that which belongs to you and that which belongs to others."
I smiled in relief. "Yes. I've gotten good at that over the years." I thought this might be a god time to ask about elvish lessons, seeing as how I now had a friend who didn't speak my own language. "Umm, sorry to bother you again, Lord Elrond, but I was wondering if I could possibly get some elvish tutoring, especially if I'm going to be hanging around here for a while?"
Elrond smiled at me again and before he could speak up one of the twins, who had seated themselves at one end of the table after I arrived, piped up. "Ada, we can tutor Lady Karyn. We don't mind a bit." I looked at the hand he had plopped on the table. It was Elrohir.
"Uh-huh. I'm sure you're just jonzing to spend time tutoring me. Yeah, we'll get loads done." I deadpanned.
Elrohir grinned cheekily, "We can show you words you really need to survive around here."
"Yeeaah." I drawled, "I'm sure you can. However, I'm looking for serious tutoring. Not the 'wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am' tutoring I think you may employ."
Elladan laughed uproariously at my assessment of their tutoring skills, even though I knew he probably didn't have the foggiest clue about what I meant. Elrond looked displeased and leaned into Erestor, speaking quietly to him in elvish. Erestor looked at me and nodded. The twins having heard the exchange, quieted down and bit their lips.
"Lady Karyn, I believe that you would be best served by having Lord Erestor tutor you. Less distraction, I would think." He smiled benignly at me.
Crap. I hope that didn't mean he had heard about my nocturnal wanderings and with the twins behaving abominably, put two and two together.
"Thank you very much Lords Elrond and Erestor. That is very kind and generous of you. I appreciate it a good deal." I smiled politely at both elves.
Erestor said, "Perhaps we should schedule lessons for after breakfast every day?"
"Sounds great. I'm all done here, how about you? Then we can get this show on the road." I hopped up from the table and squeezed Melima's hand in goodbye.
Erestor dabbed his mouth with a napkin and got up from the table. "Of course Lady Karyn. Let us proceed." He guided me out of the hall to his study. The twins waved goodbye as I left, looking none the worse for wear.
When we arrived at his study, he showed me to a chair opposite his desk. Sitting down on the other side, he looked at me appraisingly, "The twins seemed to have taken a liking to you, haven't they?"
I chewed the inside of my cheek, crap, crap, crappity crap. He'd figured it out. Blast linear logic. "Ah, yeah. But you know we're just hanging out. No big. Not like it's all whoo-hoo or anything." I was grasping at some very thin straws.
Erestor looked confused at my verbal barrage, "You should remember you are a guest here and it would not be seemly to appear overly familiar with members of the opposite sex."
Ah, there we go. The 'do-not-screw-the-twins' speech. He'd definitely hit the bulls eye.
"Not familiar. Got it. I am the soul of discretion. Thanks for ratting me out fly-boy." I was a wee bit annoyed.
Erestor looked amused, "I am sorry if you are upset with me Lady Karyn. I merely thought to remind you of our customs. If you meant, did I mention seeing you in the hall this morning to Lord Elrond, I did not. Lord Elrond knows his sons well and as you are new to Imladris, he could put the pieces together. The twins are well known for their conquests. I also wanted to protect your reputation."
"Oh. Okay. Thank you Lord Erestor. I understand. I'm not cheesed at you. Just harshin' my buzz, no big. So, new topic. Elvish. Need to know it and you're the dude to teach it. Yeah?" This hallucination was getting old if I had to put up with my mother in dude form.
"Indeed. Let us begin with the lesson, as you wish." Erestor pulled a book off the shelf behind him and began the lesson.
I spent the next hour and a half with him, learning basic rules of grammar and got started on a vocabulary list. At the end of the lesson, I was putting the book Erestor had lent me back on the shelf and I decided to ask him where Glorfindel had gone in such a hurry yesterday and why he wasn't back this morning.
"Umm, scuze me Lord Erestor, but Lord Glorfindel left in a rather big hurry yesterday, and I haven't seen him around since. I was wondering what was so pressing?"
Erestor looked me over a moment before he said, "Lord Glorfindel had urgent business to attend to elsewhere. He will return when it is concluded."
Ah, the old 'loose lips, sink ships' crapola. I was a former Officer of the Federal Government and had strategized many a strike action. I kept secrets as a part of my daily life. Whatever. My hallucination was sooo screwy.
"Uh-huh. Top secret. Got it. Cuz, I've never kept state secrets before." I didn't think sarcasm translated very well because he just smiled benignly at me, (annoying bloody habit) and showed me out his door.
I wandered the halls, looking at the various tapestries on the walls and artistic pieces, when I was dragged into an alcove by a pair of hands. Startled, I had swallowed a gasp, when I looked up to see the twins smiling down at me.
"Hey, I was warned to stay away from you guys. I can't be seen with you! Whattya trying to do? Get me busted?" I peeked around the edge of the little recess to see if anyone else was in the hall. The shadows pretty much ensured we wouldn't be found unless they heard us.
"No. We just wanted to see you again," said Elrohir.
"Especially since you wouldn't agree to have us tutor you at breakfast," said Elladan.
"Yes, we thought we could give you some more lessons," leered Elrohir as he started to pull up the hem of my dress.
"No, no! I can't! We can't. I was just given a very clear directive by Lord Erestor and I know your father knows about our activities. I don't want to get kicked out on my ass, thankyouverymuch! Stop it!" I pulled my dress down.
"Oh, don't worry Lady Karyn." Elladan kissed my throat, "We have ways around Erestor and Ada will leave you alone."
"I seriously doubt that Elladan. I need to lay low, cuz I don't want to get busted again." I fought the wonderful feelings Elladan and Elrohir were eliciting from me.
"You smell like sex," Elrohir said dreamily.
"See? See? That's why I can't be around you guys. I'm sure Lord Erestor got a long whiff of that during our lesson this morning." I squirmed as Elrohir fondled my breast.
"Elladan and I promise to not get you in any trouble. We will be very careful. Just trust us and do not reject us. We promise you will enjoy yourself." Elrohir whispered in my ear, his warm breath brushing against the skin like a caress.
"I've gotta go. I have somewhere to be." I wriggled out of the twins grasp, "But maybe you can tell me where Lord Glorfindel went, hmm?"
Elladan leaned in and kissed me, "Say my name again. I like how you say it."
"Yeah, okay Elladan. Whatever. What about Lord Glorfindel?"
"He's out looking for Estel and his charges. The Black Riders are looking for them." Elrohir trailed kisses down my chest as he pinched one of my nipples, rolling it between his fingers, the fabric sliding over my skin.
"Thanks for the info. Gotta fly!" I slipped out of Elrohir's grip and rushed down the hall. I could hear the twins muffled laughter as I fled.
I got back to my room and figured I'd hide out there until the lunch bell rang. I totally didn't want to get busted by Erestor for canoodling with the twins. I didn't give a crap about my reputation; I just didn't want to get tossed out on my tush. Figuring I needed to get the sex smell off my body, I took a cloth and wet it in the wash basin and then rubbed it all over my body, to all the places I could reach without undressing. I wanted to get as much of that 'newly-fucked' smell offa me ASAP. Soon, I heard the bell for mid-day meal and I walked to the dining hall.
A lovely dark-haired elleth came up to me and took my hand, "You must be Lady Karyn. Ada told me Glorfindel found you by the Bruinen. You are fine now, yes?"
"Umm, yeah, I'm fine. And you are?" I didn't know who this woman was, but apparently she was related to Elrond.
"Ah, yes. I am Arwen, daughter of Elrond. My brothers you have met already, from what I have heard." She smiled conspiratorially. "Do not worry, my brothers told me. I will not say a word to anyone, especially not Ada."
"Oh God, and not Lord Erestor either! He's the one who busted me sneaking back to my room this morning!" I whispered, gripping her hand.
Arwen let out a light tinkly laugh, "No, I suppose that would also be a poor idea. Will you come and eat with me? I would like to discuss your relationship with my brothers. Perhaps we can come up with a way to get around Erestor's edict."
I was led to a private corner, with no other elves sitting at the table. Arwen sat down and motioned for me to do the same.
"So, Elladan and Elrohir have taken quite a fancy to you. That is not surprising, as you are an attractive mortal. They advised me that you were reticent to continue any relationship with them as Erestor had warned you away."
"Yeah," I nodded, "He was all about me not hanging around them. Said it was to 'protect my reputation'. I think it was a rank issue. They're the Lord of Imladris' sons, and I'm mortal and a non-royal too boot. No warm fuzzies there."
Arwen smiled, "The twins do not care that you are mortal. They think you are funny and brave to be on your own with no one to care for you. I know you arrived under odd circumstances, but I think you are very calm to be amongst elves and feel no fear. Most mortals either fear us or do not know what to make of us. They are not comfortable like you."
"Why?" I was curious, "You guys are pretty and have pointed ears and all, but I would think that your DNA isn't that much different. I mean, how many ways can you order a nucleotide sequence and still be a biped?"
"Pardon me? What is DNA and a nuc-leo-tide sequence?" Arwen looked confused.
"Oh, that's the building blocks of our bodies. Every living thing has DNA; don't ask me for the long name, I can't pronounce it. Nucleotides are proteins that make up DNA, and how they are ordered determines who, essentially, you are."
"How do you know these things? None of our scholars know of these terms."
"Oh, well where I come from we learn this stuff in school. I went to school for a long time, graduating from University. That is more than seventeen years of learning in a formal environment."
"Then you are an academic." Arwen thoughtfully twisted a piece of bread in her fingers.
"Yeah, sort of. I work at a job where I protect worker's rights and negotiate with the Employer to ensure fair and safe working conditions." I hoped she understood my roundabout explanation of Union Rep.
"Okay. Elves are different from mortals, as you know. We are also called the Firstborn. We came before mortals and have a deep connection to Arda and can commune with all life. The mortals living here are not comfortable with those facts."
Oh, well that explained a lot. "Ah, well, I'm used to different cultures and races. Seeing or being around something different isn't a big deal to me."
"Ah, I see." Arwen smiled, "So, that explains why my brothers like you. You are not afraid and have intelligence."
I bit my lip to hide my smile, "Oh, well…"
"No. They like beautiful things and since they go on patrol quite a bit, they do not make long-term attachments. You are unlike what they are used to, and they find it intoxicating," she said.
"Ah, well I'm not beautiful. Not really. I'm just regular." I was a bit embarrassed by the compliment.
Arwen gave me a knowing smile, "I will help you see my brothers without Ada or Erestor finding out. Take a bath an hour after lunch. You will be alone and have no interruptions." She squeezed my hand and got up from the table.
"Thank you Lady Arwen. I'll speak to you later." I waved to Arwen as she walked away. Now I knew what was going to happen with the rest of my day. Bathtime.