Her Resurrection

chapter 4

The water grew cold much too soon for my liking. I sighed in annoyance and grabbed a bar of floral smelling soap and quickly lathered my body, washing away the weeks of only taking sponge baths in bed. I scrubbed my skin until it was pink, and then poured a generous amount of what I thought to be shampoo into my hand. A clean and almost minty scent wafted around me as I massaged it into my wet hair. Nearly sighing in contentment at the feeling of clean hair and skin, I rinsed my hair clear of soap. Just then, the door slipped open. I whirled around with my arms crossed over my chest, ready to verbally lash the idiot who opened a bathroom door without knocking. But instead of some peeping-tom, Meril stood in the doorway with her head sticking through the slit in the door.

"Are you finished, Esther?"

"Good grief! You scared me half to death!"

She smiled quizzically, amusement and curiosity shining in her eyes at my lapse into English.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." She slipped through the door and closed it softly behind herself. Picking up a large towel, she held it up for me and shielded her face to allow me some privacy.

"It's okay." I stood from the chilling water, feeling much more limber and refreshed. My side only ached a small bit, but it was getting better every day. A large raised scar was forming in place of the jagged wound. It was something I would carry on my body for the rest of my life.

"Okay?" Meril questioned, the word strange and foreign to her. I had said it a few times before, but they had never really questioned me about my speech. I guess I should have expected them to voice their curiosity st some point.

"Um, alright?" I hesitantly corrected.

Meril wrapped the towel around me and helped me out of the tub. I hopped on my one good leg and gingerly placed the other down, gradually adding weight to it. To my surprise it did not hurt as bad as I thought it would.

"Your ankle, it seems to be much better."

"Yes. It is."

I turned to towel dry my hair, missing the inquisitive look she passed over my visible injuries and my ankle and the small frown that appeared on her face. She helped me dress into a plain white under-dress and a legging style underwear. I expected them to be hot and uncomfortable, but to my delight they were quite soft and cool. After dressing, she led me back to my room, placing me at the vanity and began to dry my hair with a towel and brush. We stayed in silence for a time, but I felt the air was slightly tense, and I suspected there was something she wanted to say. My attention was drawn to the many knick-knacks on the table. A beautiful white feathered quill and a silver ink set sat in one corner, while a hand carved box and a comb lay in the other.

"Esther?"

I looked up from admiring the craft-man ship of the small jewelry box to see her thoughtfully combing my hair, a small crease between her eyebrows.

"We have not asked you something, because you were recovering from your wounds." She spoke slowly and deliberately, trying her best to help me understand her words. "But, now I think it needs to be asked."

I swallowed thickly, knowing what she was going to ask, and at the same time praying she would not. I had no idea how I was going to answer her.

"How did you come to Imladris?" Her hands had stilled, and her eyes softly looked into my own through our reflections.

What was I supposed to tell her? That I came from a small town in Alabama? That I had no idea where I was? That I had never even seen anyone like her and this place before in my life? She would most likely think I had hit my head a little too hard and jumbled my brains. No. At this point it would be best not to mention where I came from, not until I could figure out exactly WHERE I was.