Chapter 28: Thermal baths
Chronologically speaking, this episode takes place between "Prison Break" and "Acculturation".
Several months before these events, it had taken Ecthelion some time to teach his human squire the basics of elven hygiene and cosmetics.
After showing him how to use his personal steam room, and getting him used to it, he took him to the new baths, which had recently been inaugurated.
It was a huge building, topped by a dome, and covered with paintings and sculptures.
"These new baths are larger than the old ones, which I didn't like very much," Ecthelion explained, "and they were built by the king himself, in the likeness of those at Tirion."
Belin looked stunned.
"Sur'ly the king is a great magician to build these by himself!"
Ecthelion did not have the courage to start an explanation. They entered.
After a quick passage to the cloakroom, the elf announced to his squire : "This is the First Bath."
There were several very small pools, the water of which was drained after each passage.
"In this bath, we begin by washing ourselves. ...Why?"
They were both naked, like the other bathers, but the young human walked with his hands on his crotch.
"Oh, you're modest..."
He went back into the previous room and returned with a white towel.
"Put this around your hips, if you feel uncomfortable."
He slipped into the first free pool and told Belin to join him.
"How do they get the water so hot, my lord?"
"There are boilers underneath. You didn't think such comforts could exist, did you ? You see, the bathhouse is a fundamental part of Noldorin civilisation. It's a place where you maintain your body, where you come to relax after the hard work of the day - whether you're a soldier, a scribe, a craftsman or whatever... A place of conviviality and sociability where people talk about each other and politics. As for me, I prefer to wash at home, I don't really like talking to people. But if I can go there with you, it's not the same. And these baths are much more practical and aesthetic than the old ones.
"But why would we want to wash ourselves in dialogue, Milord?"
"Don't try to understand. Now take your soap."
"I have it not, Milord. I left it in the steam room at your place, but for a week I can't find it."
"It's true, I had forgotten... Was it the big cube with cracks and mould?"
Belin nodded.
"I threw it away," Ecthelion admitted. "But that's okay, we'll use mine."
He pulled a beautiful rose-shaped soap from his towel.
"You see? This is a basic elven soap. It contains oils to soften the skin, relief and salt to loosen the dirt. You take it in your hand and rub it in a circular motion. I'll show you. Turn around."
Belin complied. Ecthelion came up behind him and began to scrub his upper back with the soap.
"You don't scrub any harder, sir?"
"No, or I'll damage your skin. Turn around again."
He began to rub his chest.
"Milord, there is an elf who has winked at you."
"Never mind, I'm used to it."
Once they had washed, they headed into the Second Bath, the communal bath, which consisted of a large pool filled with hot water.
"Here the heat will open your pores," Ecthelion explained. "But it's mostly a time for relaxation and discussion. Then we finish with the Ice Bath, in the cold rooms, to close the pores and stimulate blood circulation."
They sat down in a corner of the large pool. On the vault of the huge room, a fresco representing the sky of Valinor overhung them.
Belin's wet hair covered his ears, and he looked at the scenery and the elves around him with curiosity.
"Try to relax," said Ecthelion.
But ten minutes later, the elf who had winked at him was swimming towards them.
"Hello handsome lord," he said to Ecthelion. "This is your companion ?"
He pointed to Belin.
"Yes," Ecthelion replied, misunderstanding the meaning of the question.
"I suspected that when I saw the way you were rubbing his back earlier."
The Lord of the Fountain frowned.
"It shows that you are very much in love. It's so comforting to see that the new generation dares to come out into the open. If only we all had your courage. But alas, Valinor was not a paradise for all..."
"What are you talking about?" asked Ecthelion. "And I'm not in love with anyone."
The other elf looked disappointed.
"No... Nothing."
He patted him on the shoulder and turned back.
"What a curious person," said Ecthelion.
Belin sighed with relief. He had feared that his master would grab the other elf by the hair and cut it off.
They emerged from the pool when the skin on their fingers was wrinkled.
"Isn't that Ecthelion of the Fountain?" an elf asked his comrades as he made his way to the back of the room.
The knight and his squire were following the same route as them, but in the opposite direction.
"I think so... And isn't that his squire, with him ?"
"It seems to me that it is. But why is he wearing a towel around his hips ?"
"Who knows... Probably a barbarian garment... A sort of loincloth, or something like that..."
"Still, I don't know if we should allow Humans to bathe in the same pools as us..."
"Keep your voice down... He saw us..."
Belin stared at them with his blue eyes.
"He's looking at us..."
"No... He's not looking at us. He's looking at our..."
"Why is he looking at our...?"
The human was reassured by what he saw.
"Finally, we are made the same," he thought.
To be continued
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