3. Day 3: All In A Day's Work (Lothiriel, Elfwine, brief cameo by Eomer)
Her day was full of people who needed her, full to bursting with things that needed her attention:
"My lady, are these the right fabric samples for the dresses?"
"My lady, we are fast running out of apples in the kitchen. Should I send for more, or would you like us to make different flavor tarts?"
"My lady, I cannot remember the recipe—how does it go?"
(Elfwine, dear, just wait one second—No, do not climb there!)
"Thiri, is my shirt-collar straight? Yes, I can kiss you in payment of this favor…"
(Elfwine, that is not for eating. Ugh, a bug!)
"My lady, are we to prepare the rooms in the adjoining house as well? How many guests are we talking of, exactly?"
(Are those cobwebs behind that sconce?)
"My lady, here are the lists that you asked for."
"Yes, my lady, kissing under the mistelto is a tradition in The Mark as well. Can we put some more at the entrance to your quarters? The King will be most pleased…"
(No, Elfwine, do not touch the prickly plant. Elfwine!)
"Thiri, Thiri… love? Could you translate this Sindarin fragment for me? I suspect it may be a joke from one of your brothers."
(If I do not finish this hem, Elfwine will have no clothes to wear for Yule)
(If I do not finish that cuff embroidery, Eomer will have no shirt to wear for Yule)
(Oh, the gifts! I have not chosen gifts yet—)
"My lady, how about these flowers for the table? Oh. I was not aware that they attracted worms—no, we most definitely do not want that."
(Elfwine, my child! Please, do not—who would leave swords lying around like this?)
"My lady, I have aired the tapestries like you asked. Should I dust the carvings now?"
"My lady, there is a sudden situation in the kitchens…"
"Elfwine! That is flour you are playing with!"
It is so easy to feel worn when your child creates even more work for you; but, when Lothiriel picks Elfwine up and he snuggles against her and calls, "Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma," all the weariness suddenly disappears (although now she has to clean a baby, change clothes, and send to wash a flour-and-sweat-stained dress).
Notes: Since "mistelto" is the Middle English form of mistletoe, I though it probably was not as far-fetched to think of using mistletoe for this story. I hope you will forgive the stretch of canon.
"My lady, are these the right fabric samples for the dresses?"
"My lady, we are fast running out of apples in the kitchen. Should I send for more, or would you like us to make different flavor tarts?"
"My lady, I cannot remember the recipe—how does it go?"
(Elfwine, dear, just wait one second—No, do not climb there!)
"Thiri, is my shirt-collar straight? Yes, I can kiss you in payment of this favor…"
(Elfwine, that is not for eating. Ugh, a bug!)
"My lady, are we to prepare the rooms in the adjoining house as well? How many guests are we talking of, exactly?"
(Are those cobwebs behind that sconce?)
"My lady, here are the lists that you asked for."
"Yes, my lady, kissing under the mistelto is a tradition in The Mark as well. Can we put some more at the entrance to your quarters? The King will be most pleased…"
(No, Elfwine, do not touch the prickly plant. Elfwine!)
"Thiri, Thiri… love? Could you translate this Sindarin fragment for me? I suspect it may be a joke from one of your brothers."
(If I do not finish this hem, Elfwine will have no clothes to wear for Yule)
(If I do not finish that cuff embroidery, Eomer will have no shirt to wear for Yule)
(Oh, the gifts! I have not chosen gifts yet—)
"My lady, how about these flowers for the table? Oh. I was not aware that they attracted worms—no, we most definitely do not want that."
(Elfwine, my child! Please, do not—who would leave swords lying around like this?)
"My lady, I have aired the tapestries like you asked. Should I dust the carvings now?"
"My lady, there is a sudden situation in the kitchens…"
"Elfwine! That is flour you are playing with!"
It is so easy to feel worn when your child creates even more work for you; but, when Lothiriel picks Elfwine up and he snuggles against her and calls, "Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma," all the weariness suddenly disappears (although now she has to clean a baby, change clothes, and send to wash a flour-and-sweat-stained dress).
Notes: Since "mistelto" is the Middle English form of mistletoe, I though it probably was not as far-fetched to think of using mistletoe for this story. I hope you will forgive the stretch of canon.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
