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26 Reconciliation

         

Before he had left, she promised Lord Glorfindel that she would be fine and assured him that she would get some rest for her journey in the morning. However, as soon as her chamber door had shut, Aerlinniel took to pacing the room. Her mind a bubbling brew of emotion.

"Put to bed like a misbehaved child," she spouted, spinning on her heal with her fists clenched.

The gentle knock upon the door did nothing to deter her from her tirade.

"Oh, what is it?"

"It's me, my lady...May I come in?" Velenya tentatively called from behind the heavy oaken door.

"Of course...,"Aerlinniel mocked. "Orders to tuck me in – have you, Nanny?"

Velenya eased herself into the bedchamber and gravely observed her lady nearly wearing a trodden path into the sandstone floor. "I heard the night did not end well for you and Prince Legolas," she offered in a delicate voice.

"No." Aerlinniel spouted as she swaggered past her lady's maid. "Ada was sure to intervene and garner control of the situation," she said with a sardonic wave of her arm. "Cannot have tipsy ellon traipsing around without their tunics lest it offends the delicate damsels...and Valar- how must it reflect upon him? We must have order in the house, you know," she said with a stern satiric tone that was akin to her father's.

Velenya sighed as she took to the business of turning Aerlinniel's bed covers down. "My lady, tensions are high with all that has happened over the past few days. Perhaps you should give his lordship some slack."

"Slack? I would like for someone to grant me some slack," she scoffed still working her way hither and tither around the room.

"Lady Aerlinniel, I am sure your ada was caught off guard..."

An exasperated sigh escaped Aerlinniel as she circled her pacing to a stop. "We were all caught off guard. That does not give him the right to treat me like a child." She wrung her hands together, remembering his odd behavior and then returned to her pacing. "He seemed angry, Velenya. And...I fear for Legolas... What will he say to him? I can scarcely fathom for Ada is not himself."

"Legolas will be fine," she said as she poured fresh water into the washbasin that sat atop the dressing table. "Perhaps a little wilted after your father gets through with him, but he will be fine." Velenya dried her palms upon her linen apron as she strolled over to Aerlinniel and took hold of her hands, smiling as she did, which remedied Aerlinniel's pacing the room like a nervous captive creature. "Your prince is made of strong stock," she said with a knowing smile. "I suspect he will rally in spite of this latest setback. And besides, how could he not find the challenge- irresistible?" Velenya squeezed her hands to drive her point further.

"I wish I had your confidence," Aerlinniel shrugged. After a brief pause, a smile ghosted her face. "Did you hear how we came upon them?"

"I am piecing it together," Velenya said giving her a playful glance as she led her by the hand to the warmth of the sheepskin rug that lay alongside her four-poster bed. Despite the fire that blazed within the hearth, the bedchamber floor remained briskly cold to bare feet. "Something about your brothers...the prince, miruvor, weaponry, and...bare chests," she said blinking up at Aerlinniel with a waggish expression.

A slow smile unfurled upon Aerlinniel's face and then, in tandem, a giggle escaped them both, followed by a sudden onset of full-fledged laughter. Hysteric quips ensued in earnest gasps as tears streaked their faces until soon their bellies ached, and the pair found themselves grasping each other for stability.