Chapter 2 A Rapid Recovery
Often times when I would be with my daughters, I would tell them of how I met their father. They would sit there, and listen to every word I told them, especially my eldest, Erulissë. I never tired of telling the story and they never tired of hearing it.
I soon enough recovered and found myself in my bed with two servants surrounding me. I had a bandage on my arm and my head. I thought Isildur was just a figure of my imagination and thought it a dream.
"What happened?" I demanded sitting up. The elder of the two servants glanced at me and replied, "You took a fall, miss."
"I did?" I responded as the younger of the two servants placed a tray on top of me with hot chowder and some mead.
"Yes, and when you took a fall, the prince helped you up. He is a handsome lad and he made sure that you were taken care of good." My mouth went dry and millions of questions plagued me. She continued, "The prince took quite a shine to you. I thought he would take a fancy to your elder sisters, but no, he seems to fancy you. He is to return later on this week." I immediately blushed and could not believe my ears, for this could not be real. I never met the prince and he never acknowledged my existence. I must still be dreaming. I thought taking a sip of the chowder.
"You can't be serious." Was all I could say. I did believe them and then I didn't. How could have my ears been deceiving me if I could still his hand supporting my head and his other supporting my back.
"But I am, for I saw him with mine own eyes." she retorted as she leaned against the banister of my canopy bed.
"Which prince?"
"Isildur, Elendilion." He was a favorite topic upon my sisters and they spoke often of Isildur and his brother Anárion. I cared not to talk about them as my sisters did. I cared to talk about real heroes such as the men that my father hired to build ships. I took a shine to one, Halbar, a man from the north who paid all his respects to Isilmewen. He even called her, "Galadrian," or Lady of Light. Whenever I spoke with him which was rarely, he spoke only of her, praising the way she did everything. Inside I felt torn apart and ignored and often times wept over him. In time my heart healed and I stayed away from the world of men, because I didn't want to get my heart broken.
Moments later, Silmevendë, Isilmewen, and Calimárë dashed into the room and smiled when they discovered that I was well.
"Oh dear Vorondomë, are you well?" Silmevendë inquired taking a seat on the chair beside my bed; my other sisters took a seat at the foot of my bed.
"Oh sister! Have I such news for you!" Isilmewen declared examining my head closely, "Halbar asked to court me and..."
"What said you?" I retorted immediately as my heart almost stopped.
"Of course I said yes. To a man such as that. He is perfect in everyway!" Isilmewen added thinking about him.
"Oh, Isilmewen, who cares of that? Vorondomë had an encounter with Prince Isildur, now that is a wonderful thing. Tell us of him." Silmevendë demanded grinning as if she had just got married.
"Was his skin soft as they say? And how did he smell? Did he smell of fresh water?" Calimárë interrogated with her eyes twinkling with excitement. My mind was plagued by enough questions and the questions they asked were even worse.
"I remember nothing of him. Not even the way he spoke." I simply responded.
"Oh that is a pity," Silmevendë proclaimed as a dull look stretched across her face then she beamed, "The prince took good care of you. He made sure that you were fit. He carried you in his arms and all three of us were still dumbstruck. He is to come by in a fortnight. To see if you are well. He fancies you I know."
"Silmevendë, he does not fancy me. There are many women at court who would easily beguile him. I bet you he cares nothing about me!" I exclaimed arising from bed. I slowly strode over to the window and gazed down at the sailors at port and the fashionable women. Osgiliath was a pleasant city but I wished to leave because the thought of a prince or even a noble taking an interest in me, frightened me.