Roswehn of Mirkwood

At home

"Where is she?...I want to see her ... that vagabond!" Edith shouted, running like a hurricane into Monrose house. Bard and Roswehn had reached the small building where her father and mother lived: her parents nearly fainted when they saw their daughter standing at the front door.

Hannes, after a long moment of confusion, had embraced and held her close, so close that the girl had almost choked. Her mother had burst into tears, as Roswehn had predicted, but they were tears of joy, and disbelief. The couple had covered her with kisses, hugs, and until the arrival of Edith, they had always been around her, excited to have her back there.

Bard had stayed with them, Hannes had invited him to dinner as a thank-you for bringing his daughter back. The grumpy florist from Dale had been informed of Roswehn's return from some citizens who had seen her enter the city on a horse.

"Here you are, little girl! I have been so much in pain for you!" Edith shouted at her with an anger that was only apparent ... she could not hold back the emotion, and she too hugged her with enthusiasm.

"Hey, what's wrong with all of you?" the young woman asked, trying not to suffocate in Edith's fleshy arms, while Yohlande set the big table. "I was only away for two months! Remember I should have stayed out of our realm for a whole year."

"It was the news that you sent that shocked us, Roswehn." her father commented. "Those two letters have thrown us into fear and anguish, had not you imagined it?"

"I do not understand why, I've enjoyed my stay with the Elves, it was a wonderful experience." The girl answered, carefully avoiding to mention the rest. Lórien, Arnor, and what had happened there.

"We'll talk about those creatures later ... Oh, we'll talk about them, I want to know what they did to you!" Edith growled. "And if you tell me that one of those beasts has even just touched you with a finger, I'll go into that wood to kick them right in the..."

"Do not talk like that, they're not animals, please, I have a lot of friends in that community, and...Bard," she turned to her King, who was listening a bit amused, a bit worried. "... you must have noticed that they started to pay our goods a higher price. It was a proposal that I made to the king, and he accepted ... I hope you're happy about this." Roswehn revealed, with a touch of pride.

"Yes, they told me, it remains to understand, how you have convinced him ..." Bard answered. At those words, Roswehn's parents, and Edith, who was helping Yohlande to bring things to the table, turned to look at her. Silence fell.

"I think you all read my second parchment, you know what the situation is." the young woman said calmly. But she could not hide the embarrassment, evident from the blush on her face.

"Yeah, that situation, I do not want to ruin the dinner, so we'll deal with the subject later. And we will talk about it, you can bet." Hannes answered. His face had suddenly turned grey like a stone. Roswehn did not tremble at the hostility which was so evident in her father's eyes. She was determined to defend her love for the Elven King. She would not let anyone, not even her parents, talk bad about him. The feeling for Thranduil was the most precious thing she had ever had.

"What are you speaking of?" Edith asked, as she brought to her mouth a spoon full of Yohlande's excellent rice.

"Oh I forgot, our florist still does not know ..." Bard murmured, rolling his eyes.

Edith turned a questioning look at everyone. "Excuse me, would you mind informing me?"

"Thranduil and I are in love." Roswehn announced, dryly.

At the news, Edith almost choked: she began to cough, while her face turned red. Yohlande handed her a glass of water, and patted her on the back. "Drink, Edith, come on...drink." the woman said, while the other was laboriously trying to breathe.