Kiera
The next few days fell into a common routine. Kiera went to her lesson, ate lunch with the boys, then spent the afternoon and evening reading to Ecthelion. Everything was starting to settle down, and she was enjoying living at the house. Her nights spent with Ecthelion were memories she would cherish forever. He loved the stories and after each one, he would exclaim it was his favorite. He cried at character deaths, and he hated other characters with a passion. They spent the evenings discussing the books, and it made Kiera feel at home. She was glad that even in a new world, there was someone who she could share her home and world with.
On the day that she was supposed to read the last book to him, Inthel showed up during lunch. The king had called an emergency meeting, and Ecthelion had to reschedule to the next day. Kiera was fine with that as she needed to do laundry and get everything prepared. Celebrimbor had gone with her to the market to pick up all the supplies, as they had nothing in the house except one small tub and a bar of soap.
Celebrimbor eagerly helped her get set up in the spare room, as they were all desperate for some clean clothes. While she was finishing setting up the clothes line, Celebrimbor returned with buckets of hot water. Then, all three of them came into the room carrying piles of dirty clothes in their arms.
Kiera laughed, as they dropped the piles on the table. She would need to buy some baskets to keep them all separate, but she got started right away. After sorting through the clothes, ones to soak and ones to wash, she went to work. It wasn't as bad as she initially thought, as the soap worked wonders along with the tools they purchased. She finished in less time than she thought it would take and grabbed her laundry as well.
After all the clothes were washed and rinsed, she started a fire and hung them up to dry. She huffed with pride at all of her hard work and decided to run to the market as it was only mid-afternoon. After grabbing a warm cloak from her room, she headed to the workshop to ask for some money to buy baskets.
Celebrimbor and Harmon were the only two working, but they shared a quick glance and then nodded. Harmon went to the back to grab some coins as Celebrimbor turned to her and smiled, "you have no idea how nice it will be to have clean clothes. We were almost going to pay a lady in Egalmoth's house to do it for us weekly. It would have been expensive, though, even if we split the cost."
"Well now you will have clean clothes weekly for no cost," Keira replied. "It honestly wasn't that bad. I'm really happy living with you all, and I don't mind doing the laundry one bit. I think it is a fair trade, as I can't cook to save my life."
That made Celebrimbor barked out a laugh, just as Harmon was returning. He surprised her by giving her more coins and a small list of other things to pick up in the market. Kiera took them happily, and left to do her shopping.
The great market was a long walk from the house, but she took her time and enjoyed herself as best as she could. Winter was on its way, and she bundled up in her cloak as the wind whipped across her face. Thankfully, the stalls in the market added a bit of protection from the wind, and she started to make her way down the list. After she finished, she found a stall that made woven baskets and purchased three large baskets in different colors. The woman running the stall seemed happy to make a purchase, but while she was giving her the change, she cried out, "oh, the princess is shopping today."
That made Kiera tense up as she spun around. Idril was walking towards her, but on the other side of the market. The elf walking with the princess looked like Tithessel, but it wasn't until she pointed and sneered at her that she knew for sure. Idril glanced over at her, but quickly stuck her nose in the air and pretended that she didn't exist. That made her breath out a sigh of relief. Better to be ignored than targeted. Tuor was with them as well, but her friend had his back to her as he was purchasing some supplies.
With the arrival of Idril, Kiera was glad her shopping was done. She picked up her supplies and left the market to head home. Harmon and Celebrimbor were in the dining room, so she dropped off the change and supplies, but took the basket upstairs. Most of the clothes were dry, so she started ironing and then folding them. There were only a few tunics left soaking and a handful hanging on the clothesline to dry for later. Kiera dropped off everyone's clean clothes and basket by the doors and then headed downstairs.
Once she was seated at the table, she turned to Celebrimbor as Harmon was in the kitchen cooking dinner. "I finished most of your laundry. There are a few pieces that need to soak and still dry. I left a pile of clean clothes by your doors. I will finish the rest tomorrow."
"Excellent," Celebrimbor cried. "Thank you very much. All of us appreciate it."
Kiera just smiled and shrugged, "I appreciate not having to cook and clean every day, so it works out for all of us."
Harmon poked his head into the dinning room and said, "thank you." His head disappeared as quickly as it came as he went back to cooking. While she was just starting to get to know them all better, she realized pretty early on that Harmon wasn't much of a talker. At least not when cooking. When they did speak, he was pretty funny, with a quick wit that rivaled Celebrimbor. She could see how they were such good friends.
Just as she was musing about her new housemates, the last returned, but he was not alone. Echadron strode into the house, followed by Voronwë and Rhuidhen. They all sat down at the table, and she looked at Voronwë with a raised eyebrow.
He grinned pleasantly at her, "Lord Egalmoth is holding a gathering at his house tonight. The others plan to go, but I do not believe you would be interested. It is to honor Tithessel's courtship as they are coming close to their one-year mark. I hoped that you would not mind if I kept you company tonight instead," smiled Voronwë.
Her heart warmed at his words, and she was eager to spend the evening with him. It had been a few days since they last saw each other, and she was missing her friend. "I would love that," Kiera replied. "I saw Tithessel with Idril today at the market. She sneered at me, so I don't want to go to her party anyway." She turned to the rest of them and grinned, "you all go and have fun. Make sure to drink a lot of their wine for me and enjoy yourself at her expense."
Echadron and Celebrimbor laughed together, as they shared a glance. Celebrimbor just shrugged, and then Echadron turned to her. He coughed awkwardly, and began in a hesitant tone. "As you live here now, we should probably discuss some things."
He paused and then waited for her to acknowledge him. Kiera couldn't imagine what would cause him to act this way, but she noticed Voronwë tense. This ought to be good, she thought as she nodded at him to continue.
Echadron spoke in a clear and even tone as he said, "sometimes, after parties and festivals, we like to extend the evening. We usually bring female company back to enjoy the rest of the evening in our private rooms. You should not be able to hear anything as the walls are solid stone. We are gentlemen and never kick a lady out, so they often stay till morning. They sometimes join us for our morning meal while others leave."
Kiera just stared blankly at him as he added, "we want to let you know that this will happen, but if it bothers you, we could work something out. We all have private baths, so you should not see or hear anything during the night. The only time would be during the morning or occasionally during the meal. We could work something out if this upsets you."
Voronwë's face had a red tinge, as the others all waited for her response. Even Harmon came in from the kitchen and watched her intently. Seeing their faces was enough to cause her to burst out laughing. Celebrimbor winked at, causing her to finally reply. "You can say it around me, I've heard it all and probably much worse. You want to bring home women to have sex. I don't care and it doesn't bother me. It's actually quite common in my world. As long as I can't hear it or have to see it, I don't care. I just need more sleep than elves do. I don't want to be woken up in the night due to the sounds."
Celebrimbor started laughing at Echadron, who released a loud breath. Celebrimbor said, "I told you she would not care. You have been all worked up about this all afternoon." He looked toward her then and said, "he was worried you would be upset about us bringing women home. I knew it would not bother you, and I have been laughing at him all day."
She shrugged at them all. "It is a normal part of life. Honestly, my world is much worse, so you're fine. I only ask that they treat me with respect in the morning. I don't want to eat my meal with a bunch of snotty and petty women. If I have to listen to snide comments, I will end up speaking my mind to them."
Celebrimbor added, "if they speak to you poorly, we will throw them out. Now that that is settled, what will you two do when we are gone?" He winked at her, causing her to blush. Voronwë had his face hidden by his hands, and his uncle also gave her a slight wink. These fuckers, she thought. "I want to show Voronwë my phone, and maybe we can watch a movie. I only have a few, but I think he would like it."
"What's a movie?" asked Celebrimbor.
That made her pause as she thought about the best way to describe a movie. While she was thinking, Celebrimbor interjected and asked seductively, "something thrilling and dirty?"
Kiera scoffed, "no."
He deflated, "oh, well, never mind then. We just wanted you to know that you will have the house to yourselves for the evening. Whatever you want to do is fine."
She glared at him, but he just grinned smugly back at her. Poor Voronwë had his head resting on the table in embarrassment as the tips of his ears were pink. That made her blush as well, until she calmed herself to reply. "A movie is like a play that is shown on a screen. Instead of watching people perform every time, they save one of the showings, so people can watch it later. It is hard to explain, but it is basically a story acted out."
"Boring," laughed Celebrimbor. "I want to spend my evening flirting with pretty ladies and watch them blush."
The rest of them all agreed, except for Voronwë. Harmon finally brought out the dinner, and they all started to pass the plates around. Voronwë raised his head to load his plate, and Kiera spotted his rosy cheeks. She thought he looked adorable and smiled warmly at him. After the meal was finished, she told the rest of them that their laundry was done. Echadron washed the dishes at record speed, and then the three of them went upstairs to change. Rhuidhen wished them both goodnight and headed home to change as well.
Voronwë moved into the living room and sat down in one of the chairs as she went upstairs. As she was leaving her room, Celebrimbor surprised her with a hug.
"Thank you for doing the laundry. They smell wonderful and look very clean. I am sure it is going to impress the ladies. I also wanted to talk to you before I left."
They pulled away from each other, but his hands remained on her shoulders. The look in his eyes was intense as he said, "Voronwë has spoken to his uncle about spending a night with you. He is very inexperienced and curious." He squeezed her arms softly as he said, "I know I should not have to tell you, but please do not rush into anything. I know the two of you spoke, but please talk to him beforehand in depth before you decide anything. I just want you to be aware that he has never done anything, and he does not know a lot. Elves usually get an explanation from their parents, but with his parents gone, he only has his uncle. He knows the basics and understands everything, but he has a few questions he wishes to ask you."
Celebrimbor's eyes soften, "with his mother gone, you are the closest female he has. He might not spend a night with you in the future, but he will eventually spend one with someone else. I think it would be best if you just asked him and talked with him tonight to ease his mind."
"Of course," she replied easily. "Voronwë is a dear friend to me, and I would be happy to talk to him about anything. You don't have to worry about us. I'm not going to rush into anything, and I think we both need some time. I understand he is curious and will want to know more. Sometimes it is better to ask a woman these things. Now, why don't you head out and enjoy your night."
A goofy grin spread across his face and he laughed softly. He winked at her as he turned to head down the stairs, with her following behind. The rest of them were waiting in the entrance hall and thanked her again for the clean clothes before they left. Kiera moved into the living room and took a seat on the couch across from Voronwë. He looked tense and a little uncomfortable, so she reached out and took his hand in hers.
"Cele says that you have some questions. I want you to know you can ask me anything and I will answer the best that I can."
His face turned red, and he stammered, "I do have some questions. I have discussed these things with my uncle, and I trust his advice. I just wish my mother was still here, so I could talk with her about this also. I want a female's advice, as I have heard many of the craftsmen's talks."
Kiera nodded and smiled to ease his worries. He took a breath and said, "I am very inexperienced with women. You were my first kiss, and I have not done anything else. I am afraid I will be terrible at it and will not make a woman happy."
She squeezed his hand and replied softly, "everyone is terrible at first. Nobody is born knowing about love or relationships. It is completely normal to be afraid, but as long as your first time will be with someone that you trust, that is all that matters. Sometimes, and especially with elves, it will be a first for both of you. Just be open and honest and the rest will fall into place."
Voronwë nodded and relaxed a little at her words. "I know for the bonding that will be true, but what about other times. I am nervous that I do not know what I am doing and that it will not be good."
"That feeling is normal," she answered easily. "All of us have gone through that feeling.
Your first few times will be a learning experience, and you will improve with time. Each person is different, though; some women will like things that others will not. It's important to talk to them and make sure you have that open communication. If you do, it will not matter, as a woman knows. If she does not, and it is her first time as well, then just ask. Let her know that you wish to make her feel good, or just try things and see. There is no secret to love making, as everyone is different."
He breathed a sigh of relief. Kiera gave him a moment to relax and after a while, he seemed more comfortable asking questions.
Voronwë coughed, "Elemmakil suggested that I just find a woman that will show me everything. I do not know what the better option is. He said a few women in the city enjoy teaching the inexperienced. He said I would feel better after, and then I could focus more on finding a deeper connection."
Well, that sounded like something Elemmakil would say. It was a tricky question as both have merits. "Many men and women ask themselves the same question. Both have good and bad things, and you must decide what is best for you. Some people wait until they have that trust or are courting a person. One downfall of that is that the expectations are set too high. The first time will always be awkward, and it will not be this big romantic evening that some people expect. The good thing is that you will be with someone who cares about you."
"Elemmakil's plan also has some good points. A few of my friends did that, and they told me that it was nice to be shown and taught things initially. There is no connection to that person, and once the night is over, that's it. They could move on without the fears hanging over their heads. It is not a decision I or anyone else can make for you. You need to figure out what is best for you."
He groaned now, pulled his hands away, and rubbed behind his neck. "I do not know," he said simply. "My uncle told me stories from when he and my father grew up in Valinor. He said many of the young elves would go off into the woods for a night of dancing and drinking. He said that many elves experienced their first times there. It was like a rite of passage and a place to find a spouse. Some of them entered courtships, while others just went their separate ways. There was no pressure, and many families encouraged their children to attend, as it was a good way to meet potential suitors."
He shook his head sadly, "we do not have that here in Gondolin. Almost all the lords of the houses came from prominent families in Valinor. Most of the royals never let their children attend those gatherings. I am told that Feanor's children were the exception. Lord Rog is distantly related to the Feanorians, and he has brought the tradition here. His house parties are for more adventurous elves, but they are all experienced. My uncle took me to one of his parties when I was younger, but it was not for me. None of the people at his parties are looking for courtships; they are just looking for a fun night."
Well, that sounded interesting, and something she would be interested in. "You don't have to decide today. You might decide to wait for someone you trust or go to a festival and meet a woman who changes your mind. You don't have to pick right now. You can just wait and see what happens in the future."
The idea seemed to take hold inside him, and his shoulders dropped in relief. "I think that is what I will do. I will not pick just yet, but will keep my options open. I have no more questions, and I would like to see this 'movie' you spoke of."
Happy that the conversation had ended, she grabbed her phone and patted the spot next to her on the couch. Voronwë sat next to her, but remained tense. She laughed softly as she picked up one of his arms and put it around her as she cuddled up next to him. Finally, after a deep breath, he relaxed. Kiera pulled her knees close to her and slid them under her, so she would be comfortable. Then, she pulled up the movies folder on her phone and selected Tangled.
As the movie played, she watched Voronwë's face as his expression changed to awe. They hadn't even gotten past the beginning logs, and he already watched the screen intently. "Incredible," he murmured.
Kiera didn't reply and just sank into him more as the movie officially began. It did not take long before he was completely relaxed and absorbed in the movie. He teared up and laughed throughout the film. When they reached the end, his shine shone with wonder as he exclaimed, "I want to see it again."
"Sure, we can watch it again. It is one of my favorite movies. It is called an animated movie. It is hard to explain, but it is popular in my world."
He smiled at her and said, "I would very much like to see it again, but I am a bit uncomfortable like this."
She nodded and rose from the couch. She pulled the coffee table closer to the couch and then pointed for Voronwë to lie down. Once he laid on his side, with his head resting on the pillow, she laid down in front of him with her back against his chest. She snuggled down a little more, so they could see the screen. He tensed at first, but eventually settled in as she placed her other arm under her head as a makeshift pillow. Voronwë rested his hand on her side, and she turned to give him a reassuring smile.
It felt nice to lay next to him, and she was happy that he could relax in her presence. After starting the movie again, she only made it about halfway through before she drifted off to sleep. Laughter woke her a little while later as a small crowd of people stood in the entrance hall. She was too tired to care, and she knew Voronwë was still asleep behind her. The group moved up the stairs, and she closed her eyes again. A little while later, she heard the soft pitter-patter of footsteps as someone approached them.
Once she cracked an eye open, she saw Celebrimbor smiling down at her as he threw a warm blanket over them both. He brought a finger to his lips, but she just wrapped the blanket around her and snuggled in closer to Voronwë. He didn't wake, but his arm curled around her back as I pressed her face against his chest. She fell back asleep quickly and didn't wake up again till morning.
Someone stirred next to her, and she instantly reached out to pull them closer. Kiera could feel them press back into her, while a soft breath tickled the top of her head. Distant noises drifted in, which sounded like plates as well as a chair scraping against the floor. Sighing at the noises, she opened her eyes to see Voronwë smiling at her.
He said softly, "good morning. I was hoping I didn't wake you. Celebrimbor is the one that is making all the noise. It is still early, so you may go back to sleep if you like."
She nodded into his chest and let herself drift into a comfortable daze. It was quiet again in the house for a long while, until a high-pitched giggle woke her again. The giggling continued as the person came down the steps, and stepped into the entryway. As she looked over her shoulder, she could see a woman being led to the front door by Echadron. He was giving her a few kisses while she was swatting his roaming hands away. Kiera only glanced for a moment and then turned back around. Voronwë was watching the scene, but then his eyes found hers, and he smiled at her.
The door opened and then closed, followed by footsteps. Echadron ripped the blanket off them, and she shivered from the cold. "Shame, I was hoping to find you both naked under the covers."
Celebrimbor roared with laughter in the background as she turned her head to glare at Echadron. The look didn't phase him in the slightest as he smirked at them. "What good is a house to yourself if all you two do is sleep together with your clothes on. You might as well, get up and join us for our morning meal. Celebrimbor escorted his women out hours ago, and Harmon came home alone. Are you staying for the meal Voronwë?"
She looked back at him, but he shook his head no. "I would like to go home and get changed for the day. Thank you for the offer."
Echadron nodded at him and joined Celebrimbor at the table. Yawning, she sat up on the couch as Voronwë did the same next to her. He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "thank you for last night. It was wonderful and I loved the movie. Thank you for also answering my questions."
He gave her a quick, soft kiss on the cheek before he stood and left. She sighed wistfully as he left the house and moved to join the boys at the table. All of them were still in their night clothes, so she didn't feel the need to bathe and get ready for the day yet.
Looking over, she noticed that Celebrimbor was sketching. He must have felt her eyes on him as he looked up and caught her eye. He smiled and said, "you two looked so adorable last night when we came back. It reminded me of my first love. I was such a romantic back then, and we would often snuggle together by the fire."
"It was wonderful to cuddle up next to someone," she admitted. "I haven't done that in a while, and it was nice. Voronwë is a sweetheart, and I am glad we spent the evening together."
Celebrimbor chuckled, "it seems like we all got what we wanted last night, except for Harmon. I'm sure he will be down shortly, but you will find out he does not take rejection well."
That comment confused her, as she couldn't imagine quiet and shy Harmon getting too upset, but she could ask him about his night when he came down. It didn't take long before their last housemate came down the stairs in his nightclothes, with his hair ruffled from sleep and his clothes wrinkled. He didn't say a word as he passed them by to the kitchen, where he started smashing pots and pans together. The scowl remained on his face as he cooked, while the other two were watching him, amused.
Curious, she asked him, "so Harmon, how was your evening?"
He shot her a glare and started rattling off in broken elvish. Kiera could only understand a few words, but she picked out, dumb women, time spent, evening, and horrible night.
She glanced over to Celebrimbor who was grinning from ear to ear. He finally told her, "Harmon found a woman early on that he was interested in. She seemed to enjoy his company and responded well to his advances. She flirted back with him and added a few seductive comments herself. Alas, at the end of the evening, she began to giggle uncontrollably. I was too far away to hear what she said, but she left after."
Ah, yeah, that sucked, she thought. Harmon slammed down the breakfast on the table, which was just a bland porridge.
He slumped down in his chair and started speaking in a shrill voice. "Oh Harmon, your arms are so big, you must swing a hammer a lot during your work. You must be very skilled with your hands to be a craftsman. I wonder if it extends to other things. Oh, Harmon, your eyes are so beautiful; I could stare into them for the rest of the night. Harmon, you feel so good wrapped around me; I wish for you to hold me close. Oh, Harmon, I would love to enjoy a more private moment with you. Oh, Harmon, I can't wait to feel you in my hands as you release."
He scrunched up his nose and scowled, "horrible cow. She led me on an entire evening with her words and touches. I could not have left her side even if I wanted to, as she clung to me desperately. I enjoyed the company and figured it would lead to a longer evening later. Then as we were leaving the house, she broke out in a fit of giggles. I had no idea what was so funny until she started telling me that she had no desire to leave with me. She told me it is a great pastime for her to spend the evening leading men on. What a waste of a night."
They all scoped out some porridge and passed it around the table. The other two were holding back grins and snickers, but Kiera said, "we have many women like that in my world. We call them teases, and I think it is a bit stupid and somewhat cruel. Their lives must be dreadfully boring and pathetic that they get off on leading men on. Just remember that she will most likely end up alone."
He huffed, but some of his anger dissipated. "I suppose you are right. There are other parties in the future." He ate the rest of his meal quickly and then left. She took her time eating, but Echadron finished shortly after and left the room.
Celebrimbor was still sketching while he ate, but once Echadron left, he asked, "did you answer Voronwë's questions last night?"
"Yes," she replied as she finished her porridge. I answered a few questions that he had. He told me a little about Lord Rog's parties, and I am curious."
That surprised Celebrimbor as he glanced up sharply and dropped his quill. "Did he now? I am surprised he mentioned it. Rog's parties are a bit more scandalous, as they say. He never holds formal parties like the other houses. His are all about letting loose and finding a companion for a night. The king looks down on it, but he knows that if he does not allow it, it will spill into the other festivals. When his new house was built, he designed an entire floor for the dance hall and more private rooms. His is the largest house in the city, so he could afford to section off one part of his house. Many in his house like that, though, and they hold many parties throughout the year. Typically, they hold them once a month for people outside his house. I will have to talk to Rog to get you invited, perhaps in January."
Kiera frowned, "I have to be invited to his scandalous party?"
He grinned and chuckled."Yes. He has had problems in the past with both ellons and elleths who think they want that sort of thing. When they get there, they become overwhelmed and flee. Many of the other Lords have talked with Rog about inviting people who understand what it is all about. I will speak on your behalf, but I think you will be fine. You will need a few new dresses, as the ones you have are too modest for his parties."
She spluttered, "what?"
He roared with laughter. "The elleth usually wear tight fitted dresses with low cut necklines. The skirts are usually shorter, about knee-length. Some have slits in the side, while others are flowy. The purpose of the parties is to find someone to enjoy the evening with. The dresses you usually wear around the city are too modest for the parties. Voronwë told me when he first met you, your clothing was very form-fitting. I assume you do not have a problem wearing tight and revealing clothes?"
That made her cough. What kind of party was it, she wondered. She shook her head no and said, "you would be shocked at some of the clothes I have worn in my world. I didn't bring any with me, but I wore very revealing clothes when I went to parties and drank. I will be fine, but who do I talk to about getting some dresses made? I can't go back to the palace and ask Aerel."
He laughed loudly, "no, only a few seamstresses make those dresses. I will ask around, and we will find you one. We have some time yet, as you won't be invited to this month's party. We can speak later about it. Your morning lesson will start soon, so I will get you some hot water for your bath."
Satisfied, she went to her room to get ready for the day. After a quick bath, she checked on the clothes and finished the rest of the laundry before noon. Once she was finished, she grabbed her phone and checked how much battery was left. After watching the movie, it had dropped to 30%. That wouldn't be enough to read to Ecthelion, so she grabbed her changer and headed out of the house.