Where Art Thou?
"Tis cold tonight."
"I believe it will be just as cold tomorrow night."
"We should gather more wood for ourselves in case it becomes colder than expected."
"With all the liquor that will be consumed for the Gathering I do not think they will need it as much as we would in the quarters. I also doubt they would even notice or care if it started snowing."
"You may be right."
"I do not understand why we have to be out in the dark looking for firewood?" Velhar interrupted Le'ariel and Sirawen's conversation. The two female elves rolled their eyes at their whining friend.
"Velhar, you act as if this is the first year you have had to do this." Sirawen placed her hands on her hips. "Tis not like we want to be out here in dark. The sun sets earlier this time of year."
"If we have to do it…so do you," added Le'ariel. "Honestly, Minar should be out here helping us look, not sitting inside the warm confines of her quarters."
"True. But, of course, that is what servants are for…blah…blah…blah…" Velhar rolled his eyes.
"And is she not also a servant?" Sirawen replied bitterly. "What a tedious task this is."
"Hush over there!" A servant said in the distance. "If Lady Minar hears word of someone complaining she may add extra work for all of us! You know she has done it before."
The other servants agreed.
"Fine, fine, we will be quiet!" hissed Sirawen.
Velhar looked over at Le'ariel who continued to pick up broken pieces of bark. "And what do you have to say about the matter?"
The chambermaid looked up and shrugged. "Nothing."
"Nothing?" he repeated. "No witty reply or your opinion about it?"
"No."
"No?"
She stopped what she was doing and looked straight at Velhar. "What is so difficult to understand about the word? They are right. Do you honestly want more work on top of what you already have to do on a daily basis because I, for one, do not…"
"They do speak the truth, Velhar," Sirawen agreed.
"Minar herself is a foul, lazy pig and because she has a higher position than us, she believes she can tell us what to do, whenever she wants, and we have to obey. Unfortunately, if we want to continue to have a roof over our heads we have to do it…at least until she is replaced," the chambermaid explained. "Although tis fitting for her to be out here scrounging around for firewood we cannot tell her to do it simply because we wish it so, as much as she cannot tell the king and queen to trade rooms with her. There. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Why not replace her and be the head-servant then? You clearly know every duty there is it to be done in the palace. Just give her a good kick in the rump and tell her you are taking charge!" Velhar put down the firewood in his hands and gave Le'ariel an example of what she could to do Minar with his imaginary figure of her. He received hidden laughs from both friends.
"Shhh over there!" Another elf said.
Sirawen stuck her tongue out at the others walking behind them. "I think you would make a great head-servant, Le'ariel."
"Thank you both but Minar's position is not open. I cannot tell her to simply resign. She would probably take it as some jest and laugh at me for it."
"Well, you never know…" Velhar shrugged.
I I I
"I must say, your pastries get more delicious every time I taste one! Tis worth the long journey here to have a bite of your fabulous baking, Lady Dalorien."
"You sound just like your cousin." Dalorien raised her eyebrow.
"Well, charm does run in the family," Adanion grinned widely.
"And just like your cousin…flattery will get you nowhere." She poked playfully him in the arm.
Adanion started laughing. "You cannot blame me for trying."
"Maybe if you were a few centuries older I would fall for such words, my dear boy," she said from across the away.
"Mother, I have—" Le'ariel walked into the kitchen and stopped mid-sentence when she saw Legolas's cousin.
He stopped laughing and bowed politely. "Good evening, milady."
"Good evening, sir…"
"Ah, Le'ariel, there you are." Her mother returned from the pantry area with fresh dough in her hands. "You remember Adanion? He is Legolas's cousin from Rivendell."
"Yes, somewhat…" she forced a smile and a small bow of her head at him. His staring was beginning to make her feel uneasy. "Tis been many centuries since your last visit and during your stay here we hardly conversed." None at all, actually.
Finally looking away, Adanion cleared his throat when he realized what he was doing. "Ah, yes. I do apologize for that. Hopefully this time we could get better acquainted. Your mother makes terrific pies," he turned toward the cook. Le'ariel showed him a quick smile while Dalorien gave him an odd look for his behavior.
"Umm…Le'ariel dear, would you help me knead the dough for tomorrow?" She motioned for her to join her by the table.
"Of course, mother…"
"Well then, I suppose I should get going as I have disturbed you plenty already. Thank you for your pasties, Lady Dalorien. Lady Le'ariel, tis nice to see you again." Adanion bowed politely once more and left the Western Kitchen.
"Lady? What an odd elf that one is," Le'ariel said once he stepped out of the kitchen doors. Her mother said nothing, merely smiling.
I I I
"Bring that over there to be seasoned and the pot there so that the water can be boiled for the vegetables." Dalorien gave orders right and left to her cooks and kitchen help first thing in the following morning.
"Here is the soup, Lady Dalorien."
"Let me taste it…it needs more salt. Go see Brelas and ask him to get more salt for you."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Dalorien?" Legolas poked his head inside the kitchen.
"Not now, Legolas. As you can see I am very busy today preparing the meal for the Gathering that is to commence in a few hours' time. If you are looking for a free sample, you have come to the wrong place!" She walked past him and tasted another dish that got her approval to be served.
"No, no…that was not my reason for coming here, although I would not mind a sample," he smiled. "I was wondering if you have seen my cousin, Adanion? He was supposed to meet with Keldir and I this morning for a ride out in forest but he never showed."
"Adanion, you say?"
"Yes. Blonde hair and blue eyes, very much similar to another handsome elf you know. You remember him?"
"Oh, hush! Your cousin, prince, has been here my kitchens helping with the cooking," she told him.
Legolas looked surprised. "He is here? In the kitchens helping?"
"Is that not what I said?"
"Well, yes…but…I would never imagine him…well, you letting him…"
"Oh, do not feel disappointed or surprised for me letting him stay here to assist in things. He is quite helpful and most of all, careful with the food. You know I would very much like it if you helped in here as well but given your past history, well…"
"Yes, of course, I understand…I just find it surprising that he would give up a day of riding to cook. I have not known him to spend much time in the kitchen unless it involves eating," Legolas chuckled.
The head cook walked over to him and squeezed his hand. "Maybe your cousin wanted to try new things while he was here…and meet new people perhaps?"
"Meet new…people?" Legolas found her words strange. "Such as who? The other guests have not yet arrived. There is no one to meet."
Dalorien shook her head with a sigh. "Open your eyes, dear boy. Meeting new faces or getting reacquainted with someone does not mean it cannot happen right here in your very own palace. You and Keldir always kept Adanion occupied so not many had the chance to really know him. Give him the opportunity to familiarize himself with your people. You three will have plenty of time for your merriment."
Legolas pondered on her words and agreed to let his cousin experience other things in Mirkwood aside from what he and Keldir planned out for him. Adanion never said anything about feeling bored about things they did in the past. He also seemed to enjoy whatever they did. However, there was the possibility he was merely doing those activities to avoid hurting their feelings?
The prince left and decided he would meet with him during the Gathering instead. Maybe then they could catch up with stories of things they did to pass the time and perhaps learn some new things such as…his cousin's intrigue with Dalorien's daughter.