Chapter 72: Who are you?
The next morning, Tauriel woke from a long and much-needed sleep. Her body felt lighter, her mind clearer, as if the burden of the previous day’s exhaustion had been washed away. She stretched, arching her back, feeling the slight pop of her stiff muscles as she rose from the bed.
She went through her daily routine, methodically tidying her chamber, tucking in the sheets, and ensuring the room remained spotless before making her way to the wash basin. The cold water sent an immediate shock through her system, jolting her fully awake. She welcomed it, as if cleansing herself of the unpleasant thoughts that had been plaguing her mind.
Finally dressed and prepared for the day, Tauriel stepped out of her chamber—only to stop short.
Standing directly outside her door was the well-endowed maid, a hollow yet unnervingly pleasant smile etched onto her face.
Tauriel’s brows furrowed in suspicion. The woman had been acting strangely as of late, even more so than before. There was something about her demeanor, an unnatural smoothness to her movements, an absence of something vital in her expression.
The maid inclined her head ever so slightly, her voice dripping with amusement. "Tauriel, Lord Einar has summoned you. Please make your way to his chamber."
Tauriel blinked. She had not expected that. Einar? Summoning her?
Ever since his return from Duskholm, he had rarely left his quarters. According to Laura, this was his usual behavior—secluding himself away, emerging only when necessary. But this? This felt odd. And the fact that the well-endowed maid was the one delivering the message made it all the more suspicious.
Despite the gnawing unease twisting in her gut, Tauriel eventually nodded.
As they made their way to Einar’s chamber, the maid led with an unsettling grace, her steps perfectly measured, as if rehearsed a thousand times over. Upon reaching the door, she raised a delicate hand and knocked in a slow, rhythmic pattern.
From within, a groggy voice responded. "Come in. It’s open."