Ost-in-Edhil, Second Age of Middle Earth
Bright sunlight gleamed off the towers of the city, the elegantly ornamented walls fiery with golden inlays forming intricate patterns. Envandiel pulled her gaze from the window, back to where Metime was kneading bread, elbow-deep in the dough.
"Are you going to keep staring out that window, or come help me?" She laughed, tossing a puff of flour at Envandiel.
Envandiel spluttered and coughed, then retaliated by splashing water from the basin in front of her back at Metime.
Right at that moment Tundion walked in, carrying a basket of berries. He paused, his expression dramatically concerned, barely keeping a grin restrained.
"Forgive me if I am intruding on some great battle, o great warriors of the kitchen!"
Both the elleths turned and made faces at him, and he sputtered as flour and water simultaneously hit his face, nearly making him drop the fruit.
"Oh, come on!" He set down the basket and wiped his face, laughing. The other two looked at each other and dissolved into giggles.
Metime gestured to the basket. "Make yourself useful and get those cut for the bread."
He grabbed a knife, passing by where Envandiel was filling up the kettle with water. She went as if to splash him and he brandished the knife like a rapier. She made a face and splashed him anyway, and he sputtered again, laughing as he stumbled back a step.
Metime continued to knead the bread and Tundion began chopping the strawberries. Envandiel put the kettle on the stone hearth to heat while she sorted out dried leaves and mixed them with herbs for the tea. The kitchen was quiet, the only sounds the rhythmic thud of the knife and the cracking of the fire as they worked in rhythm.
Envandiel pulled out a small jar full of dried lavender from a back corner of one shelf. She took a deep sniff, closing her eyes to enjoy the sweet fragrance before adding a small handful to the tea mixture. Metime glanced over.
"Ahh your secret stash?" She laughed, a warm ringing laugh. "Give it here!"
Envandiel clutched it to her chest, the twinkle in her eyes betraying her mock-horrified expression. "You would take my greatest treasure? My precious store of lavender?"
The other elleth laughed and snatched at it and she surrendered the container with a laugh. "Fine, fine, but only because I love you."
Metime laughed again, taking a small handful of the sweet herb and inhaling the scent before crushing it into the dough and kneading it in.
Tundion leaned over her shoulder as he dropped in a few handfuls of strawberries to the dough and wrapped his arms around Metime’s waist. "Don’t I get any?"
Metime swatted him away, blushing, and Envandiel chuckled as she put the jar back in its place behind the rest of the herbs and spices on the small shelf. "I’m sure she’d give it to you if it was hers, but it’s mine." She stuck her tongue out and pointed over to a shelf on the other side of her small kitchen. "Now shush and get me some mugs."
He pouted at her but went to fetch the mugs. The kettle began to whistle and she pulled it off the heat, stirring in the fragrant dried leaves and herbs. Metime shaped the dough into a loaf and placed it into the oven to bake.
In a few minutes the tea was poured and they sat around Envandiel’s table, laughing and talking as the house began to fill with the scent of baking sweet-bread.
"You both seem quite happy, I am glad your life together is treating you so well." Envandiel smiled warmly at the two, as Tundion sat with an arm draped around Metime’s shoulders.
Metime blushed. "It is wonderful, and the future is bright, is it not?"
"It is indeed." She quirked an eyebrow at them. "But I hope Tundion isn’t making too much chaos around your home. With how haphazard he is around the forges I can’t imagine living with him!"
"Pah! I keep things perfectly tidy, thank you very much!" He ducked away from Metime’s playful smack in reply. "Okay, fine, I try at least…"
The three laughed.
"And that is why we are baking at my home instead," Envandiel grinned.
Metime rolled her eyes as she took a sip of the fragrant tea. "I’m pretty sure it’s because you want to keep your precious lavender store safe."
"You know you would use it in everything if you had your way!" Her tone was light and playful. "Have you already depleted the store I gave you for your wedding?"
"You know Metime can’t go without her favorite tea for long," Tundion chuckled, smirking at his beloved, who pretended to ignore him as she drank her tea.
Laughter again filled the little house.
Soon enough the bread was done and as they sat around, discussing baking and tea and the future, the smell of lavender filled the air and the spring sun shone and all was bright and joyous.
