Chapter Fourteen-Surprises Come In Small Packages
It was several days before the young hobbit, which Glorfindel had brought to Imladris, began to improve from his wound. In the meantime several new arrivals not of an elvish variety entered Imladris. One was a human male, and when I asked around I was told that he was Elrond's foster son Estel. Three other little hobbits came with Estel, apparently friends with the wounded hobbit, whose name I learned was Frodo. These little folk were very friendly, and I was soon involved in toning down two of the young hobbits mischief. The one called Sam spent most of his days by Frodo's bedside and wasn't terribly talkative at mealtimes. The other two, Merry and Pip as they admonished me to call them, were trouble with a capital 'T'. I spent loads of time trying to coax them into a more sedate pace, which was not getting me very far. They snuck into the kitchen a couple of hours after breakfast to steal food for something they called 'elevensies', which turned out to be a second breakfast. I was amazed they could eat at all after stuffing themselves at the first meal.
Then after lunch, about 3ish, maybe closer to 4pm, they would insist on having tea. I mean 'Tea', as in the light repast we have in Canada and all throughout the Commonwealth. No watercress sandwiches, which I was forever grateful for, but cake and other sandwiches along with an odd type of tea, which was almost a cross between a Darjeeling and a Keemun. I am not an expert, but I remember the slight chocolatey taste of the Keemun and the fruity taste of the Darjeeling. I remember when I was a child, every day after school my brother and I would go to our friends' house and their mother would serve us 'Tea'; and that was where we learned to appreciate the concept and the beverage. It was during tea that I met a fifth hobbit, who had been apparently staying at Imladris for quite some time. His name was Bilbo and he loved to talk. Bilbo would tell tall tales of dragons and dwarves and elves. I didn't believe a word. He was helpful in helping me practice my Elvish and told me I was learning a dialect called Sindarin. I asked if it was a common dialect and he assured me it was.
I saw Glorfindel off and on, but after the time he spent with me, it seemed like he needed to be alone and process what happened. I gave him space and knew he'd come when he was ready. I kept to my previous schedule for the most part, except I had added tea to my afternoons. Spending time with the hobbits was fun and relaxing, when they weren't getting into trouble. I liked the fact that they were an easy laugh and even though they didn't understand my cultural references, they still sorta got the joke. After any time spent with the friendly and outgoing hobbits, I would retreat back into my work, trying to pass the time and not notice how far from home I was. I tried not to think about why I was here, as no easy answer had shown itself to me. I knew what my job was back on Earth, but even though Mithrandir told me I was being given a rest, I couldn't fathom why I would've been sent to a place with so much encroaching darkness. I had to have been sent to complete some work but I didn't know what. Patience was called for as I meditated on my purpose. The answer would come.
Finally, after days of recuperation and intensive work by Elrond and his staff of healers, Frodo awoke. Sam was the first to find out and then the alert was sounded. All the hobbits ran to Frodo's room to greet him and fuss over him. Mithrandir went to see him and apparently relief was felt from both sides. Frodo was terribly glad to see Mithrandir and vice versa. Glorfindel dropped by to see how the little hobbit was, and pronounced him profoundly lucky to have survived. Not in so many words, but you get the idea. Merry and Pip dragged me to Frodo's room to meet him. Frodo still looked a bit peaked but on the whole, a helluva lot better than he did when he first came in. After one more day of bed rest, Elrond pronounced Frodo fit for duty and let him attend meals and go for walks. He wasn't allowed to do anything strenuous, but he would watch me practice my yoga and kickboxing in the evening and I showed him how to meditate. Nice fellow, but felt really haunted, like he had a huge burden placed upon him. Never spoke about what was bothering him though. I never thought to ask. When people want to spill, they'll do it in their own time, I didn't believe in rushing the process.
We were all sitting to tea, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pip, Bilbo and I, when a surprise guest appeared at the door of the little sitting room we had appropriated. Glorfindel peeked in and looked at me.
"May I join you?" He asked, "I understand you are having some sort of repast?"
"Oh yes Lord Glorfindel," I replied, "We have just sat down."
"We're having our tea;" piped up Merry, "Do come join us!"
Glorfindel picked his way around the hobbits and sat down on the small couch beside me. He picked up the cup of tea Pip offered him and took a tentative sip.
"I understand this has become quite a habit with all of you." He remarked casually.
"Oh yes Lord Glorfindel," Bilbo said warmly, "Lady Karyn has been kind enough to procure the fine spread before us, and we have a lovely visit." He took my hand and squeezed it. "She makes a fine pot of tea, she does, and she makes up all these interesting little sandwiches. She says it's how it's done in Canada."
Glorfindel nodded his head and picked up a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich from the tray on the table before him. He bit into it and nodded his head.
"This is very good Lady Karyn. I have never had this type of creamy spread before, what is it?"
"That's cream cheese! Isn't it good?" Pip grabbed a couple off the tray and stuffed one in his mouth.
"Umm, yeah. It's cream cheese. I showed the kitchen staff how it's made. You have to use whole milk and cream and let it ripen for a few hours, and then you take the curd and salt it and then put it in muslin bags to press out more whey to get the cream cheese. You can flavour it, like I have with berries in this sandwich here. I was taught how to do it when I was a kid in school. They took us to this dairy farm out in the valley where they make all their own cheeses. I got to turn the bags and press out the whey." I explained.
Glorfindel raised one brow and took another bite of the sandwich. He patted my leg awkwardly and took another sip of his tea.
"You have led an interesting life it seems. I think I will try one of the berry flavoured ones, if you do not mind?" He swallowed the last bite of cucumber sandwich and reached for the tray.
"Please do," I picked up the tray to bring the sandwiches within his reach.
Bilbo looked over at Glorfindel and then at me, and smiled to himself. He took a piece of cake and ate it thoughtfully. I wondered what he was thinking, but I figured I should ask when Glorfindel left the room. It seemed to involve the both of us.
"Why do the sandwiches not have crusts?" Glorfindel asked.
"Oh, that's the way it's done in Canada. Well anywhere in the Commonwealth I guess. You have to make the sandwiches small in thin fingers or small triangles, and make sure the filling doesn't spill out. It's not meant to stuff you, just fill the gap until supper. Plus, with company, it's nice to be able to visit and talk without having a whole lotta food to swallow." I explained.
An awkward silence filled the space after my explanation, so Merry decided to pipe up.
"So Lord Glorfindel, we hear you're in charge of security around here." He talked around a large bite of egg salad sandwich.
I cringed as a bit of egg salad fell out of his mouth and onto his lap. Silently I handed Merry another napkin.
"Thanks Lady Karyn," he mumbled, "So what's that like? The security thingy, I mean."
Glorfindel smiled over his tea and said seriously, "I would give you information my young friend, however I do not think it wise to hand out the security details of Imladris to someone who could fall under the power of Sauron."
"Oh no. Of course we couldn't expect anything like that." Merry blushed and stuffed the rest of his egg salad into his mouth.
"I understand that both your peoples are quite the singers. Perhaps we should have a 'Sing Off' to compete in a friendly manner over song. I think it may raise spirits a wee bit," I remarked, trying to stir something up.
Glorfindel raised his eyebrow again, "That is an interesting idea. I shall raise it with Lord Elrond and see what may come of it. If the hobbits are interested, of course."
Bilbo just about fell out of his chair, "Interested! By Elbereth we are indeed interested!" His voice almost squeaked out the last bit of his sentence.
I grinned at Bilbo, "Interested just a wee smidge, right Bilbo?"
Bilbo caught my teasing tone and smiled sheepishly, "Yes, just a wee smidge." He patted my knee again. I saw Glorfindel watch the movement out of the corner of my eye.
"Thank you for bringing this to Lord Elrond's attention, Lord Glorfindel. That is very kind of you. I think it would be fun to see what both sides can bring to the table. And God knows, fun is an integral part of a healthy case of sanity." I looked around the sitting area and smiled.
Glorfindel nodded and started to get up, "I am sorry to leave your delightful company, but I really must check on a few issues I had left pending from this morning."
"Of course. It was nice having you here," I smiled up at Glorfindel.
"Yes, yes, Lord Glorfindel. It was very enjoyable to spend time with you." Bilbo bounced his head up and down in a frantic motion, while the other hobbits smiled and nodded in response.
Glorfindel gave an enigmatic smile and glided out of the sitting room. Oddly enough, the room dimmed slightly upon his exit.
Pip looked over at the tray of food, "Well I don't know about you, but there's still food here and we should eat it up before someone else does." He grabbed two more of the remaining sandwiches and started to refill his face.
The other hobbits, save for Frodo and Bilbo, all dove into the remnants left on the platter. Frodo sat back in his chair and smiled to himself as he watched his friends enjoy the rest of their tea. Bilbo leaned over to me and motioned me to come closer.
"That Glorfindel likes you," he said in a conspiratorial whisper. "I can tell. He's got a soft spot for you."
I was a bit confused. "What on earth are you talking about Bilbo? Lord Glorfindel doesn't think of me like that. I'm just friendly with him, that's all," I whispered back.
Bilbo smiled a little, "That's not what I'm getting. These elves are funny. You have to be around them for many years before you understand what they're really up to. Your Lord Glorfindel, he's a tricky one all right. He doesn't court any ellith, and keeps mostly to himself. This is an elf that doesn't pay attention to the interests of the ellith that pine for him. Except for you." He paused dramatically, "He looks up whenever you pass by, and goes out of his way to speak to you. I doubt he would've stopped in for tea had you not been present." He sat back, looking terribly pleased with his pronouncement.
I shook my head in disbelief, "Maybe he's gay." Bilbo looked at me in confusion. "Maybe he likes males as opposed to females," I explained, "I cannot seriously think that he'd even remotely feel that way about me. I mean good God! I'm a mortal human female. I'm not even from Arda! I could disappear at any time and go back to Earth. There is no miniscule possibility he would even entertain the idea of conceivably feeling anything about me other than friendship."
Bilbo shook his head, "No. I do not think you are correct. I know he likes females. He will occasionally take female companionship, but he feels nothing for them. He likes you. It's the way he acts and who he chooses to spend time with. Besides Lord Elrond and Lord Erestor, he doesn't spend time with too many others. He certainly doesn't seek their company out. Not like he does with you." He gave me a stern look, as though to say the conversation was over.
I looked around the room. No one had been paying attention to us, and the other hobbits were eating and talking about things that certainly didn't make me feel the way Bilbo's proclamation did. There was no way what Bilbo was saying could be true. I just couldn't believe it. Not only could I not afford to entertain the absurd idea, but I couldn't even conceive of its veracity. The food had been finished off and the tea pot drained dry, so I began to gather up the cups and plates and put them back on the tray I had brought them in on. Bilbo picked up the now empty food tray and followed me into the kitchen to help clean up. As I walked out of our cozy little sitting room, the hobbits bid me thanks and good day, but I scarcely heard them. I had more on my plate than I cared to admit.