[alaklondewen]

After the Party…

Pelien faced the tall cherry mirror in her bedroom while Sador was washing up for bed. Her mind raced going over all the events of the evening and the plans for her luncheon the next afternoon. She slowly pulled the pins from her hair, one at a time, as though each one signified some important moment, and placed them into a heart-shaped box on her dresser.

As she picked up her heavy, hand-carved ivory brush, and pulled it slowly through her waist length dark hair, Pelien mulled over her plans for her lunch party. It was going to be an absolutely delightful time where the Ladies of Minas Tirith could speak their minds about the coming of Finduilas and her marriage to their future Steward. She mostly looked forward to consulting Lady Ruiel, who also came from Dol Amroth. The women surely knew one another, and Pelien could not wait to hear how imperfect Finduilas really was.

Pelien was still brushing her hair, when Sador appeared behind her. Her prior thoughts had caused her to unconsciously smile, and as her husband slid his arms around her waist, he whispered, “What are thinking about?”

Startled, Pelien twisted around to face Sador. “I…I was just thinking about luncheon tomorrow. It should be splendid. All of the ladies are coming…even the Steward’s daughters.” Sador smiled and shook his head as pulled away from her and crossed the room to finish getting dressed. “What is so funny?” Pelien’s voice was harsh…she thought he was mocking her.

Pelien positioned herself across from Sador with only their bed between them. Standing with her hand on her hips, she waited for his answer. As he looked up and met her gaze, Sador laughed. Oh, that made Pelien steam, and her expression might have wilted a flower.

“My dear wife, I can’t help but laugh. You’ve thrown probably a hundred of these…parties, and you still judge their worth by whether the Steward’s daughters are coming.” He laugh softly and then continued as he sauntered around the bed and across the room, “Pelien, you’re a wonderful hostess, and a good woman…and it doesn’t matter who comes to lunch tomorrow, because you’ll still be my wonderful wife.”

Pelien’s cold expression melted away at her husband’s words, and she leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Thank you, Sador.” Only her husband knew her soft spots, and she couldn’t help loving the man for it.

“Have you seen Adrama?” Sador asked as Pelien returned to the mirror.

“No, I haven’t seen her, but I heard her come in a little while ago.” Pelien pulled the brush down her hair slowly, thinking about where her daughter might have been. “Maybe I should check on her,” she said as she firmly placed the brush back onto the dresser and spun around to face her husband. She loved Adrama dearly, even if she was harsh with her sometimes. Pelien just wanted her daughter to be respected in the community. “I will return in a few minutes.”

Pelien exited her bedroom and quietly walked down the hallway to her daughter’s room. Taking the handle in her left hand, she tapped lightly with her right and listened for an answer. All was quiet within the room, so Pelien opened the door slowly and looked inside. Adrama had become a beautiful young woman, but as she lay in her bed with the moonlight on her face, she looked like a child. I’ll just have to find out about her evening tomorrow…I do hope she had a nice time, Pelien thought as she closed the door softly.