Chapter Six: Worries and Cares
Arwen was getting quite used to her life at Emerald Springs.
"Here you are, my dear. Drink it all, that's a good girl. The perfect way to start the day!" Helga said the same thing every morning.
"Mm." Arwen sat up in bed, and drank deeply from the golden goblet. The rich, sweet, steaming concoction quickly cleared the cobwebs from her brain. "What time is the council meeting?" the elf-maid asked. Queen Carola and Queen Claudia met every morning to discuss matters of state within their little kingdom.
"Oh, our wise old queens will be busy with the council for hours," Helga replied, rummaging in the huge clothes closet by the bed. "Why don't you put on one of your new gowns and take a walk in the park? But mind you don't get into mischief with the other girls."
"Don't worry, I won't." Arwen rolled out of bed and stood up, allowing the flimsy white sleeping robe she'd been wearing to slip from her shoulders and fall to the floor. Inspecting her naked form in the full-length mirror, the elf-maid frowned at the flabby parts. Here at Emerald Springs she did nothing but eat and drink!
"You'll feel ever so much better after some fresh air and exercise," Helga said. The hefty housekeeper was buttoning Arwen into a brilliant blue gown that emphasized the dark blue color of her eyes. She looked stunning, but it felt rather tight here and there.
Outside, the sun was high overhead, making Arwen grateful for the shade of the enormous trees. The elf-maid picked her way slowly down the gravel path, wishing that the tight black shoes Helga had picked out for her hadn't come with such high heels. Arwen felt as though her feet were killing her before she'd walked a hundred paces from the luxurious seclusion of her new home.
Fortunately the park was full of benches, set in the cool shade. Arwen sat down at once, reflecting ruefully that her soft life had gotten her out of shape in a great hurry! She really needed to get back to the simple life of the elves, lots of exercise in the fresh air.
As if to prove her point, just then a cluster of young girls went running by. Arwen noted that they were all humans, not elves, like her lively friend Cara. The elf-maid smiled and waved, hoping to catch her friend's face among the crowd. But Cara was not there.
Arwen was not worried. She knew that clever Cara sometimes slipped away from the rigorous daily routine and went off on her own, to seek out boys or merely to feast on sweet ripe stolen fruit. Helga always said silly Cara would come to a bad end, but whenever she was around serious Arwen couldn't help listening to her stories and laughing at her jokes.
"Oh, don't be scared of big fat Helga! What would she do with a man anyway? She'd probably squeeze him half to death!"
The memory of Cara whispering in her ear at night was so real! Dignified, dark-haired Arwen was actually laughing her head off when a stranger came and sat down on the bench beside her.
"It's nice to know someone's happy." The man talking was young, but his face was lined with worry and care and his strong body looked as though it had been battered by wind and rain. Immediately Arwen thought of Aragorn, yet this man was rougher and not as thoughtful. He looked angry and yet strangely lost.
"Laughter is not forbidden here at Emerald Springs," Arwen said, rather defensively. "I was thinking about a friend and her memory eased my worries and cares for a moment."
"That sounds like my friend," the stranger said. "I came to find her, but they said she left early this morning. Perhaps you know her? Here name was Cara, Princess Cara-Cara of Claudaraclara."
"I know her!" Arwen exclaimed. "We're actually very good friends. Is she gone? Cara often complains of being bored, but she didn't say anything about leaving Emerald Springs!"
"That sounds like her," the rugged male grumbled. "Bored, looking for excitement, and always getting into trouble. My name is Count Rika Mandalu, by the way. I'm from Claudaraclara too."
"Arwen of Rivendell," the elf-maid said, instantly offering her hand. "Meeting Cara has made my stay here more enjoyable than I expected. If there's anything I can do to help you find her, please let me know!"
"I'm going to search the grounds, but on foot it will take hours. Even in proper clothes." Rika Mandalu looked her up and down in a way that made Arwen very aware of her new, tight-fitting dress.
"Well, good luck!" Arwen's cheeks were burning. She felt like a fool as she watched the tall, broad-shouldered young man walk away. She should have gone with him! She should have told him about her own search for the missing Jewels of Mira-Mira. She should have . . . she should have . . .
"Ah, there you are!" Helga the housekeeper was huffing and puffing as she came down the path in her big and heavy shoes. "The two queens have finished their council meeting, but they would very much like for you to join them in the mineral baths."
"Oh! You mean right now?" Arwen didn't want to leave the park. But Helga was in a hurry, quite determined to drag her indoors. It was all very annoying, yet Arwen had so many worries and cares that she almost longed to sink into the soothing waters and relax.