On the Way Out

(Sienna's view)

The maid ducked just in time to avoid being hit by the cup I threw at her. "Get out of my sight! Get out of here, all of you! I want to be alone!"

As soon as the door was closed, I pressed my face firmly into one of the soft pillows and shouted out my anger. I didn't care if the servants heard me or not. I had endured this stupid chatter long enough. It had been two weeks since my cousin's coronation and it seemed the whole palace had no other topic of conversation. I hated them for that, all of them! I hated those stupid maids, the guards and my family. Especially my family. More than a month ago, the invitation to the coronation of the new Queen of Rohan had arrived. From that day on, every stone in Minas Tirith had been literally polished. How ridiculous!

The entourage my mother had brought to Edoras had been magnificent, a display of the strength of Gondor. I would have accompanied her and, together with her, shown these peasants clearly how powerful Gondor is. What was she? Her father, Elfwine, had been the King of Rohan, a man who had always kept his word. Well, he had also made mistakes in his life, big mistakes. The young and beautiful princess from Arnor had bewitched his head so much during a visit that he had taken her as his wife. The scandalous thing about this union was by no means the status of this "Princess Alyndra of Arnor", but the fact that Arnor was officially recognised as an independent kingdom. It was known throughout Minas Tirith that Arnor was nothing more than an independently administered part of Gondor.

And now, no sooner was Elfwine dead than his only surviving child, this Celebrian, ascended the throne of Rohan. Thus, the House of Elessar was once again humiliated. A mere 18 year old girl from the farthest reaches of Arnor who, according to rumour, did not even speak the Rohririm language. To hell with it!

As suddenly as the raging anger had come over me, it disappeared again and gave way to an abstract plan that completed itself without my really wanting it to. It was still two weeks until my mother would return from Rohan. This unaccustomed emptiness in the palace could be exploited in various ways. Which one I would choose depended on me alone.

And I had nothing to lose as long as my servants kept their mouths shut. They would, of course. After all, no one wanted to risk being dismissed. The first part of my plan was simple. I needed another dress if I was going to get out of here. I rang the little bell on my desk and didn't have to wait ten seconds before my First Maid entered the room and curtsied somewhat awkwardly to me. "At your service your highness." "Rebekkah, you must help me. I need a simple dress for tonight." The girl's gaze instantly moved to my lavish wardrobe, then back to me. "Do you have more specific requests about the dress? I laced up the dark blue one the quickest."

I waved it off impatiently. "No, that's no good to me. I understand you have your day off tomorrow?" "That's right my mistress. Do you need me to ask tomorrow?" "No, I need you now. Do you have another dress than your Zofentracht?" "Yes. We are not allowed to wear our work clothes when we are not on duty." "Good, then I have a favour to ask of you. Get your dress and bring it to me." The young woman frowned irritably at this order, but immediately regained her composure and, after a quick curtsy, was gone from my dressing room.

Barely an hour later, I followed Rebekkah through the dark alleys of Gondor with my hood low on my face. The change of clothes had taken longer than expected because she was a little shorter and wider built than me. Consequently, it had been a challenge to get the light green dress to fit securely over my corset.

Outside the inn, my maid grabbed me by the elbow and I wheeled around to her irritably. "What is it?"

"Sienna, are you sure you want to do this? What if someone will recognise you?" "I may live in different circumstances to you, but I am well aware of the memory-diminishing effects of beer. Come now!"

No sooner had I opened the door than stuffy air hit me. The room was larger than I had expected, with room for at least twenty tables of various sizes. Waitresses rushed from table to table with large pitchers to top up the men's beers, which they then did at lofty heights. I was so preoccupied with my observations that I winced in shock when a large hand came down on my right shoulder and, without any warning, pushed me aside like a pesky vermin. The man grumbled something about "useless wench" and walked, without paying any further attention to me, to one of the tables where his comrades were sitting.

Rebekkah, who unlike me had not stopped in the doorway, giggled girlishly, and grabbed me by the arm to drag me to one of the empty tables. "I guess there's going to be a gig today, otherwise this place wouldn't be so busy in the middle of the week." I decided not to let my slight from earlier show and took a breath. "Do you come here often?" The maid shrugged. "When my family has had a successful month, we sometimes eat here. My father was a regular here, sometimes just spent the whole week's money here. An incorrigible drunkard, that's what he was."

One of the waitresses interrupted our conversation by putting two mugs of beer on the table and, after we paid, walked back to the counter with the same scowl. //What a work ethic. // I sniffed the beer curiously before sipping it carefully. It tasted bitter, but also refreshing. "And do you expect your father to come here today too?", I asked more out of decency than interest. "No. He passed away a year ago. My brother has been the head of the family since then. He takes good care of us." To this I knew nothing to reply, so we both remained for quite a while without saying anything.

Loud shouts of encouragement rang out from the crowded tables and a group consisting of two men and two women sang a song on a lute. The melody was deep and somehow I felt I had to cover my ears for the first moment.

One of the men sang the song:

"Oh come, beautiful one, bring the wine to me,

Bring the wine to me, I'm dying of thirst here.

Oh come, beautiful one, bring the wine to me,

For I'm in the mood for wine and women!"

//Ah a drinking song. Why am I not surprised? //

The older of the two women turned to him and joined in:

"I'll pour you a drink only if you dance with me,

If you dance with me, then I'll come to you.

I'll pour you a drink only when you dance with me,

Then you'll get wine and women!"

The men hooted enthusiastically, even Rebekkah had a mischievous grin on her face.

The singer seemed pleased with this mood and reached for a mug of beer, which the really indignant looking waitress must have meant for another guest. After a hearty swig of beer, he continued:

"Oh, come on up to the table, you beautiful thing,

Up on the table, let's dance on it

Oh come you beautiful up on the table,

For everyone shall see us!"

His partner played with her long skirt and dropped theatrically onto the nearest vacant chair.

"I come up for a kiss from you,

A kiss from you, that's what I want

I'll come up for a kiss from you,

I'll be up there with you!"

The time passed far too quickly. After the group had taken a break, the last song was announced and everyone present was asked to dance. Most of the men were so drunk by now that they could barely keep their feet. So without further ado I hooked up with my maid and danced along.

"Sin is tempting

And the flesh is weak

So it will always be!

The night is young

And the devil laughs

Come let's pour ourselves a drink now!"

No sooner had the last note faded than Rebekkah hurried to our table to fetch our coats. I followed her only slowly, for the alcohol clouded my vision. The men around me were bawling. I ducked at the last moment to avoid being hit on the head by an over-confidently swung beer mug.

"Watch out!"

The warning came at the same moment as the festival bench landed at my feet and I stumbled over it.