9Chapter Five: Wisdom and Maturity
"The Jewels of Mira-Mira? Oh, we haven't seen them for years." Old Queen Carola groaned as the warm water sloshed over her wrinkled shoulders. "That feels good, Helga. Oh, that feels good!"
"But surely you've tried to find them!" Arwen frowned, struggling to keep alert in the stifling heat of the steamy underground chamber. In a moment Helga was pouring water over her shoulders too. The ladies soaking in the mineral bath always had a female servant to attend them. They kept the water hot and massaged the ladies after giving them a good long soak. Arwen didn't really see the point of all this luxury, and all the shameless pampering. But it was easier to lie back and let the water soothe her worries away than to make trouble on her first day at Emerald Springs.
"They say that up in the hills there's a waterfall, and a pool of crystal clear water. That's where the jewels were last seen!"
"Huh?" The luxurious mineral bath had ended some time ago. Arwen was lying on a low, soft-cushioned massage table, and Helga was gently rubbing her shoulders with warm, perfumed oils. Old Queen Carola and her sister Claudia were sleeping nearby.
"Listen to them snore!" Princess Cara-Cara giggled. "So which will it be? Do you want to go exploring? Or do you want to relax?"
"I'll go with you." Arwen wanted to find out more about the jewels, but at the moment she wasn't feeling very adventurous. Her eyes were quite heavy, and the scent of the oils had her feeling sleepy.
"Princess Cara-Cara, you are nothing but trouble and more trouble!" Helga the bath attendant scolded the giggling girl with the curly blonde hair. "Do not listen to her, wise Lady Arwen. Up in the hills is where the bad girls go to swim and make trouble and steal ripe fruit from the sacred trees. And to meet boys!"
"Well, I'm certainly not interested in meeting boys," Arwen said, shutting her eyes and sighing as she thought of Aragorn.
"Some adventurer you are! You're just a meek little miss. A goody-two-shoes with pointed ears!" Cara-Cara sounded angry, but her sassy voice turned to a squeal as Helga shooed her away.
"Next time I smack your bare bottom, not just your silly face." Helga's gruff voice gave Arwen gooseflesh. Even with her heavy eyes closed she could tell the bath attendant meant business.
"I'll be waiting by the garden gate," Cara-Cara sniffled, sounding sulky and defeated. Arwen pictured her leaning against one of the massive pillars by the bath entryway and rubbing her sore cheek.
"That is a foolish girl," Helga huffed, after the slim, mischievous blonde had gone slinking off to look for trouble elsewhere. "She never thinks of doing good, only of boys and kisses!"
"I think she's lonely," Arwen murmured sleepily. She felt a bit sorry for Cara-Cara, but she also wanted more of her massage.
"She is lonely," Helga confirmed, flexing her powerful hands and using her strong and yet gently knowing fingers to rub warm, sweet-scented oils deep into Arwen's bare shoulders, and then all the way down her back. "Cara-Cara is lonely because she does not know how to listen, learn and obey the way you do, Lady Arwen. You were not sent here to be punished, but to gain wisdom. In time you will be greater even than the Lady Galadriel."
"Mm." Arwen felt like sticking up for Cara-Cara, but then again, she could also see Helga's point. Having adventures was one thing, but getting into mischief was another. Along with the massage, which felt more and more relaxing, Arwen enjoyed the husky sound of Helga's voice, praising her wisdom and maturity. The elf-maid fell asleep feeling she'd passed a sort of test.
