It had been almost six weeks since she had returned from her hunting trip, and she had not been allowed out of the Girdle since then. Saeros had been crafty he had not breathed a word to King Thingol or Lady Melian; however he had told people in the courts vague rumours. Her mother had figured them out, and she was certain that most of the court had as well. Her mother had asked that she be kept inside the Girdle and she did not know if she would be allowed back in should she leave and she did not wish to find out once she was outside of it. Instead she was waiting inside; sewing a crude little pouch that she would use to keep berries or herbs in should she be out in the woods. Her simple project and the multiple curses that she had let loose for the multiple times she'd pricked her fingers with the needle did not impress her mother though. Her mother was of course looking at her with disdain as she worked on some fancy embroidered piece of cloth, "I do not know why you would have to go cavorting with a kin slaying Noldo!"
"I was not cavorting mother." Melviriel said setting down her almost finished pouch. "He was following me, and I was telling him to leave."
"The bruises then child!" Her mother said waving her hands at her daughter. "Are you telling me then that the Noldo is dangerous and that it I should make sure you do not go out there again without a proper guard?"
"No." Melviriel signed and looked to the window. She honestly did not know how long it was going to be before her father returned. He had been gone for many months already, so he should be returning soon, at least that was what she prayed to the Valar for. "I need to go start on dinner." With that she stood and headed for the small kitchen, her mother nodded her temper sated for the time being. Cooking was perhaps the only thing that she could do that her mother approved of, though she did not like making fancier meals that her mother preferred but her father enjoyed the food she made as did her mother.
She heard the door open and headed towards door to see her father, he looked a bit dirty from his travels but otherwise he was in good shape.
"Melviriel!" With that she took a few good fast steps forward, and gave her father a hug and he returned it fiercely.
"I missed you." She said softly, she had hoped it was soft enough that her mother had not heard however she heard the snort from her.
"She is angry with me; I do not want her going hunting again. She is dealing with a Noldo."
"A Noldo? Beleg was right?" Her father looked at her with a strange smirk as he pushed her away slightly so that he could look her in the face
"Beleg knows?" Her mother looked at her with utter rage in her face which Melviriel could just see over his shoulder, "what will we do?"
"While I am not impressed with fact she was seen by Saeros with a Noldo, I can think of worse things that could happen." With that her father craned his neck looking to see what it was that Melviriel was cooking for supper.
"She had bruises on her arms Melcirien! From the Noldo, she told me that herself." This brought his attention back to her immediately.
"He hurt you?" The look on her father's face told her she needed to tread about this subject very carefully.
"It was me, I went to do something foolish and he restrained me." This was a lie, but she feared what would happen as she knew he would follow her out for many days to come, and she did not want him to kill the other elf if he came across him. She did not want her father exiled because he too was a kin slayer. At this her father looked her over carefully but nodded, and she hugged him tightly again he gave her a gentle and comforting pat on the back.
"All right Melviriel. Do we have some of your wild hens for dinner? I know how well you can cook those little birds and we do not have time for hunting while doing patrols."
"I have not allowed her to go out hunting since she returned. It is too dangerous." At this her father let her go and turned to her mother.
"Too dangerous? Please she can shoot a ground hen through the neck and can handle a dagger as well as any of the new members of the patrols that join the ranks. What is so dangerous to her?"
"The Noldo, her reputation is at stake! If she is seen as cavorting with a kin slayer, and betraying the secrets of Doriath-"
At this her father held up his hand and gave her mother a sad look as he shook his head. "Our daughter is strong willed love, and she has no secrets of Doriath to give. She is not a member of the King's Council, or even the court." At this her mother looked defeated and headed back to her stitching while her father turned back to her shaking his head. He sat down at the table and put his head in his hands.
"When Beleg told me that there was a Noldo interested in you I have to admit that I was not thinking I would have this much of a headache to deal with when I got home." He said softly as she set a basin of water before him. Melviriel shrugged.
"I did not think it was so important either, but Saeros-"
"He is who got your mother in this state then?" Melcirien said washing his hands and splashing water onto his face.
"Partially, he spread it about the courts from what I can tell. I have to admit I did not help, I was," she paused stirring the pot that had the stew she was making in it, "unimpressed by the whole affair which agitated her even more I am afraid." At this her father nodded, he understood his daughters attitude towards the whole affair, it was similar to his. The Courts of Melian did not overly concern him, yes he did his part to serve the king, but Melviriel was no burden to Doriath. The only person that seemed to have issue with her was Saeros, and Melcirien had no use for him either, they were kinsmen but you would not tell it by how the King's Council man treated him or his family.
"I will do my best to make it so you can go out hunting after tomorrow; tonight I just wish to stay home and rest." To this Melviriel gave a smile and a nod. "You will need to come with me tomorrow though to the court to help me." This made Melviriel look at him strangely; he knew how much she disliked the Courts and those that were there. Her father patted his face dry and looked at her. "It is at least partially your problem; you can help me deal with it." With that he took the basin and set it aside so that they could eat their meal.