Chapter Four: Morning Chat

"Good morning, Lady Galadriel!" Queen Carola's wrinkled face lit up with pleasure as the blonde elf-queen drew near. "I am so glad to see you again, my dear. And how is your young companion?"

"Arwen is well, Carola. She's still resting in her chamber."

"Yes, of course. The poor child must be very tired after her long journey." Queen Carola raised her hand for food and drink.

"But we'll see her soon, Lady Galadriel?" Queen Claudia was just as old and wise as her sister, but much more nervous and timid. Her wrinkled face looked very anxious, and her hands shook a little as she poured herself a cup of tea.

"Lady Arwen Evenstar will join us as soon as she awakes." Galadriel's serene smile soothed the two elderly ladies. "Knowing Arwen, I'm sure she's consumed with curiosity about you both!"

Meanwhile, in the secluded chamber of Lady Arwen . . .

"Mm." Arwen turned over in bed, frowning as she hugged the pillow. She was dreaming about Aragorn and she didn't want to wake up. But someone was shaking her gently by the shoulder, and she could smell something that made her stomach growl.

"My lady, it's time for breakfast! And you have a visitor."

"A visitor?" Arwen rolled over on her back, rubbing her eyes and wondering how she could have slept so long. The steaming breakfast tray was loaded with human food. Still yawning, the sleepy elf-maid was grateful for the extra pillow the cheerful, smiling housekeeper used to prop her up in bed.

"Do I look all right?" Arwen glanced up at the bright-eyed housekeeper, a brisk, motherly figure in a frilly white cap and a ruffled apron. The slim, raven-haired elf-maid was eating greedily, and talking with her mouth full. Arwen was anxious to make a good impression, but she was also very hungry.

"Why, my lady, you look as pretty as a picture!" The housekeeper brushed back a thick lock of lustrous black hair from Arwen's cheek. "The only trouble is that you're so pale, and a bit on the skinny side. We can't have that now, can we?" Before Arwen could think of a reply, the housekeeper was gone. A hearty gust of laughter seemed to follow her down the hall.

"Don't worry, she says that to everyone. Helga thinks we're all a bunch of prize pigs! Hey, do you have time for a morning chat?"

"Huh?" Since she was still busy wolfing down her morning meal like a famished farmhand, Arwen didn't notice her visitor's arrival. When she looked up a blue-eyed girl with golden curls and impish features was studying her with a crooked smile.

"You're one of the elves, aren't you? I see those pointed ears. They stick out even under all that long black hair! Do you ever cut it? Or do you let it grow till it reaches down to your feet? I guess if you live forever your hair must grow till its miles and miles long!"

"Of course I cut my hair – but only a little trim, at the proper time. An elf-maid does everything at the proper time!" Arwen couldn't help laughing at the way her visitor made herself right at home, strolling across the carpet and sitting beside her on the big bed.

"You don't wake up at the proper time," the saucy girl chirped, helping herself to one of the honeyed raisin cakes on Arwen's tray. "The rest of us were dragged out of bed before sunrise, and forced to run to the sacred springs and bathe in ice-cold water! That's to keep our complexions fresh and rosy, so we can find a husband and escape all the cold baths and mineral cures with sleepy old ladies in this stuffy old tomb. I don't know about you, but I've got to get out of here before I turn into an old lady myself! Only how can we snare a good-looking young prince when we never even meet any attractive men?"

"Wait a minute! When do you . . . how do you . . . what's your name, anyway?" Arwen was laughing so hard she could hardly get the words out. She couldn't do anything but punch the other girl in the arm. It seemed to be the only way to get her attention!

"My name is Princess Cara-Cara Claudaraclara, but everyone calls me Cara for short. I'm a princess but I have six older sisters, so I don't have any treasure or priceless jewels except for this." The saucy princess clutched the gaudy heart-shaped pendant that dangled from her neck. "So what's your name, elf-girl?"

"My name is Arwen. And I like your jewel, I think it's lovely." Arwen couldn't help smiling at how Princess Cara clutched her gaudy and flashy jewel. It was too showy to be worth much, the elf-maid thought. But she already liked silly and chatty Cara. "So would you mind showing a stranger around this stuffy old tomb?"

Cara made a funny face as she hopped off the bed, crossing her eyes and sticking out her tongue. "I wouldn't mind taking you around to meet the girls, but right now you're running behind schedule. You're expected in the mineral baths, and that means old ladies and a lot of boring talk. I'll see you later, beautiful!" Like a spring breeze, Cara blew her a kiss and vanished down the hall.

"See you later!" Arwen smiled at how easy it was to make friends at Emerald Springs. Then she frowned, remembering that she was already late for a mineral bath with the elderly ladies.

She hoped they wouldn't try to find her a husband!