THE LONELY STAR (Contd. from BD birthday party)

[mark12_30]

Gamba thought with surprise that the elders were approaching at a very rapid pace. "I've never known any of the elders to run before."

Sure enough, seven white-haired hobbits came puffing and sweating towards the water, led by the Loremaster. They approached Gamba, and Gamba stood (still holding Roka) and led them towards Levanto, waiting quietly in the shadows.

They all unceremoniously mopped their brows and faces with their sleeves, arranged themselves hastily, bowed deeply, and respectfully-- but quickly-- approached Levanto, with polite greetings. During the softly spoken greetings, unseen and unheard behind them, Phura arrived, slipped behind a rock, and waited. Gamba pretended not to have seen anything.

Levanto approved of both their haste and their respect. "I greet you all, " he intoned musically, and they bowed again. "You know that Levanto is my name. I am sent to bring you a message from the Lady Piosenniel; I am to inform you that Nitir and Azra have come."

A ripple of hopeful joy and gleeful expectation ran through the elders and they smiled and thanked him, and listened again. Loremaster fidgeted with delight.

Levanto shifted out of the shadows to the far lefthand side of the lip of the tunnel, placed his hands on the rocks again and with one practiced flip of his flukes, sat on the ledge with his back to the wall so that he could better be heard. The elders assembled around him, and he softly proceeded to outline the initial directions that Piosenniel had given him to give to the elders. He requested schedules, guard movements and information, and told them of further plans to contact them.

Gamba listened, hoping that he would be able to remember it all, but glad that the elders and the Loremaster all had a better memory than he did. He found himself wondering whether little Roka had understood any of it; the child in his arms was rather sharp. And then he thought of Phura hidden behind the rock, and knew he would remember every word.

[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[piosenniel]

When Levanto was satisfied the hobbits had understood what he needed from them, he entered the river once again, saying that he must return to the ship to let the companions know that he had made contact. He bade them meet with him again in two nights.

The elders withdrew for a moment to speak among themselves. They returned saying that two of them would meet with him, at the requested time. Two would be easier to hide, they thought, less likely to attract the attention of the guards. Two days would give them plenty of time to gather the needed information. They bowed deeply to the mer-man and took their leave of him.

Loremaster beckoned to Gamba to come along with them, but he declined, a pleading look on his face, saying that there was one more question he needed answered by Levanto. Loremaster relented, instructing him, though, to come along directly when Levanto had left.

Gamba approached the edge of the river and knelt down to be face to face with the mer-man. His heart beat wildly. 'We were interrupted when the elders came.' he said. 'You never got a chance to answer my question.'

'What question was that?' asked Levanto, tired from the long day's exertions. 'I cannot seem to recall it.' A brief sound of someone moving in the rocks behind Gamba, brought the mer-man to full alert. 'Beware, hobbit! There is something which moves in the darkness behind you.' he said quietly.

Gamba laughed softly, and called to his brother. 'Come out, Phura! He has spied you out!'

A lone figure emerged from his hiding place behind the rocks and sheepishly joined Gamba at the waterside. Bowing, he greeted Levanto courteously, then knelt beside his brother.

Gamba turned once again to face the mer-man, his question burning in his mind, his eyes filled with hope and longing. 'You spoke of her in the present, Sir.' he said. ' You said "She is; she takes; she sings and dances?' I thought she died in Gondolin."

'Yes,' said Phura, leaning forward as eagerly as his brother, 'you speak of her in the present. How can this be?'

Levanto smiled, gauging the longing he saw in the faces of these two young hobbits. He spoke quietly the truth they knew and the truth they hoped to hear.

'She died in Gondolin, a hero just as your song tells it. And now, when our need for her was greatest, she has come back from the West.' He looked fondly at the two who hung on his every word. 'When you are away from here, in some safer place, then tell her of your wishes. Perhaps on a starlit night she will grant them for you. He sang their couplet to them -

Lovely smile in moonlight beaming
Shining hair in starlight gleaming . . .

He bade them fare well until his return, and vanished beneath the waters of the Siril. Gamba watched as the last ripple spread out in circles and disappeared against the rocks on the river's bank.

'She lives!' he said wonderingly to his brother. 'She lives.'

[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Rose Cotton]

ooc: If I get this wrong please correct me an I will edit this post::

Child thought for a moment and then decided to tell Rose the whole truth. "If we manage to resue the hobbits there is one more challenge we must face. The hobbits will be going in two seperate directions. Some will decide to dwell in the water, perserving thier lore and heritage and become what we know as hobbrim. The rest will be taken to the Anduin in the early Third Age and forget thier past troubles.

Kali will stay with his oun kind. You, Daisy and I will have the choice of those two paths or the choice of going back to our own time."

"That doesn't seem too bad." Said Rose. "I mean we're gonna go home." But Child was shaking her head.
"It's not that simple for me."
"But don't you want to see the Shire again? The rolling hills, the forests, the streams."
"The Shire is not as welcoming to me. I swore I'd never return there. And when I was with Maura..." She paused and then started again. "Right now I'm not sure what I'm going to decide. But you have a choice too. Whether we go the same way or not we are free to choose. Think hard. But don't let it trouble you yet. We still have time."

Rose went silently to her room remembering her days in the Shire.

[GreatWarg]

Khelek finished polishing his sword, looking at the simple beauty of the gleaming blade. It had long been left in its sheath, hidden away underneath his cloak, and after that, among a few of the possessions that was on the Lonely Star. Though he had learned some swordplay in Imladris, there had been no real need to use it, except, of course, if he were riding out with the Sons of Elrond.

Then resheathing the blade, the Elf abandoned the small room to talk to Mithadan. A slight disquiet he sensed from the Man, despite the fact he was trying hard to block it. Perhaps it was just nervousness of the rescue. Or perhaps it was something else. Yet in truth, Mithadan was admirable for a Man. Ulmo was constantly whispering in his ear, giving him strength and wisdom beyond that of any normal Mortal. Then again, how can anyone be sailing upon the rippling brow of Ulmo and not feel his majesty?

((OOC-Just correct me if I'm wrong about anything. And sorry if I seem to be posting a lot less as of late. Community service and homework are really eating up my time this year.))

[mark12_30]

Phura stood beside his brother, wondering, trying to absorb everything he had seen and heard. Gamba still held the half-forgotten, wide-eyed Roka in his arms.

Gamba began to quietly laugh, and then spoke in a hushed whisper. "Can you believe it? It's incredible. Nitir and Azra have returned. We've just met Levanto. And Piosenniel is alive." He softly laughed again, shaking his head, and turned to face his brother. "Can you believe it?"

"Yes, " Phura agreed. "Yes, it is amazing."

"Can you believe it?" Gamba repeated.

Phura nodded slowly. "I can."

"Everything is coming true. Everything. Levanto even talked about other ships; I'll bet you that's the elven fleet from my dream. Everything is coming true. What more could we ask for?"

Sudden tears started in Phura's eyes and he did not answer.

"What else could we ask for?" Gamba repeated. "Phura? Are you all right? Come on, this is a great day. What's wrong?"

Longing suddenly surfaced on Phura's face, and he turned to his brother. "One more thing, " he whispered, half in longing and half in guilt, and the tears fell. "I could ask for one more thing."

"What?" Gamba asked, amazed. But instead of answering, Phura threw his arms around his brother's neck and wept.

I'd better get him to Loremaster, Gamba thought, baffled. He shifted little Roka to one arm, and held Phura with the other, and let Phura finish crying. Then still carrying Roka, Gamba led Phura up the tunnel. Phura kept one hand on Gamba's shoulder, holding on tightly. Gamba wondered what on earth was going on, and how Phura could possibly consider this day incomplete.

Loremaster, telling Gamba nothing, very tenderly sent him away. Gamba took Roka to his sleeping-place. Roka's father had disappeared two nights before, and his mother a week before that. Gamba suddenly decided that Loremaster could be responsible for three as well as two, and he curled up with Roka and sang him a lullabye, thinking that at last the lullabyes were useful for something.

Loremaster spoke with Phura briefly. Phura was quiet when he came to bed in the middle of Gamba's lullabyes, and Phura and Roka drifted off at about the same time.

But later that night Phura woke with a start, and the tears started afresh. Gamba sat up.

"It's nothing, " Phura said. "I had my dream again." But he wouldn't talk about it.

Gamba sang him several lullabyes, and Phura fell asleep again.

[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[mark12_30]

After that night, Phura spent every spare moment he could by Gamba's side. Gamba wondered at his sudden devotion, but thought it might be because of Roka, and he appreciated the help. Roka stayed with Phura while Gamba went out with the gravediggers.

Each night brought another list of disappearances, and the list of orphans increased. Phura came back from singing lullabyes with two more children tagging behind him, and they made room for them and kept them warm and fed. Loremaster sadly accepted each child, but said little, and Gamba wondered why.

There was one eight-year-old named Kesha, and a six-year-old named Asta. Phura remarked that they were both named after Snowhobbits, but they came from different families. Kesha followed Phura everywhere, but Asta adopted Gamba, and Asta and little Roka soon became inseparable.

[Mithadan]

Later that day, Mithadan presented the knives, oversized jerkins and staves to Child, Rose, Daisy and Kali. Their intitial protestations he rejected with a scowl. "You must be able to defend yourselves. You may find yourselves beyond the hope of aid from myself, Pio or Khelek and I will not have you proceed unarmed," he said, though he had not doubt the debate would continue.

Child, in particular, argued the point, eventually asking where Piosenniel could be found. "How should I know?" he barked angrily, then turned and stalked away leaving the surprised Halflings to stare at his retreating back.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child's search for Piosenniel was unsuccessful. Nowhere could the Elf be found. On Mithadan's strict orders, Child spent the afternoon with Rose and Veritas learning how to wield her newly chosen daggers. By the afternoon, her arms and legs ached. Veritas had told her she might also bring her bow when she went with the landing party. That, at least, was consolation.

Men! Child didn't know if it was the gender or the race. But sometime they could be exasperating. Still, she recognized that Mithadan carried a load of responsibility right now. If he sounded gruff or acted strangely, there must be a reason behind it.

That evening, there was little sleep. The feeling of anticipation ran too high. Mithadan and the Elves remained below deck polishing and honing their weapons. The rest sat above in the moonlight. Then, Child remembered Pio's casual reference to a scouting party with Levanto. After she shared this news, there was much speculation about its meaning.

In an attempt to pass the time, the company listened as Kali sang. To Child, his melody seemed hauntingly familiar. Yet she could no longer recall the words. It was almost as if she was already slipping through another veil of time. Only this was one of goodness and safety, so she was not afraid.

As Kali's final notes faded in the wind, Child asked if Ancalimon could share a tale with them, "But not just the dealings of Elves or Men," she begged. "Teach us something of our own people."

Ancalimon nodded in agreement. "I will tell you a story that touches on Valar and Elves and hobbits, and their caring for one another." As he began, Mithadan rejoined the group followed by Veritas and Khelek.

"Shortly after the kuduk were kidnapped and thrust into the tombs, the news of this sadness found its way to Aman. Although the great ones could not interfere, their hearts grieved. This sorrow lay especially heavy on Nienna, who brings hope to the shores of Arda, and also on Ulmo, ruler of its waters."

"Sensing the grief of the Valar and the hobbits' cries, Tuor came before his master. He pleaded to take many swanships filled with Elves, and sail to Numenor to bring freedom to the tombs. For Tuor and Idril had never forgotten the kuduk, nor the sadness that sprang from Gondolin."

"Mighty Ulmo shook his head, 'The time has not come. What you desire may not take place until a hobbit pleads her cause before a Man, and he listens with compassion. Only then will the Star sail and perhaps bring all to right. For unless Man's heart is gentle enough to hear his smaller neighbors, his dominion will fail before it scarcely begins, and the hobbits will be cast into a watery grave."

"'For now, the kuduk must remain hidden from Sauron. Ar-pharazon alone arranged their capture and knows of their importance. This he discovered by chance, when he came upon the ancient command issued by Morgoth in Beleriand.'"

"Yet Ulmo explained that one thing remained in which Tuor might aid him. For there could be no sailing over seas of time without the shining crystal which can gently part its veil. And this crystal was given first into the hands of Manwe, and then from him to Ulmo."

"Then Ulmo explained how it was now his duty to entrust it to others. And these would be beings new to Arda, hobbits who agreed to be transformed under his staff. And these sea hobbits would become part of Ulmo's own people, and swim back to a safe harbor to wait many years."

"In obedience to Ulmo, Tuor's single ship slipped quietly into Numenor, and the Elves made their way on a small vessel along the very same stream where tonight Levanto swims. And as Ulmo had directed, Tuor brought a few Stoor families to safety."

There, the hobbits consented to take up this new task. And, they stood in the presence of Ulmo who waved his great staff and transformed them into hobbrim. In Valinor, this is known as the "First Choosing."

"One group was entrusted with Manwe's crytal, and told to keep it hidden. They were to swim east towards a secret spot. Here, they would wait and watch for a ship, flying under the banner of the Lonely Star. And on that ship, a hobbit woman and an Elf, and even one of the free shapechangers, would stand beside the Man, bound in friendship and hope."

The second group remained behind in Numenor and were told not to leave that spot. For, if evil should befall their kin, they would need to swim east to rescue the crystal. And if Kali had died without going upon the Star, this would have happened."

These faithful hobbrim still wait on the southeast coast of Numenor, living in hidden sea caves. And their hearts are such that, even if disaster were to come, they would not leave their posts. For they swore faithfulness to Ulmo, and would rather die than break that trust."

As Ancalimon's tale ended, silence hung over the Star. But Kali's eyes were alight with fire and concern as he reflected on the doom of his missing kin who had proved faithful so many years. Then he went over by Bird and whispered.

Finally, the two stood up and announced to the group, "We will swim through the waters and rescue these hobbrim. For they are not fish with gills. If a great wave comes over the caves, they will surely die." And each of the hobbits--Rose, Daisy, and even Child--ran up to join them, and begged to come along in the boats to help. Ancalimon smiled and was not surprised at their response. But he told them to wait until the next day when Piosenniel returned, and they could speak with her and Mith to see how this could be done.

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

Her afternoon had been spent on the helm deck, going over the calculations with Veritas concerning the ‘when’ of the shift once they had picked up all the hobbits. The Second Age, one year after the sinking, is what they had agreed upon. Only the small island formed by the peak of the Meneltarma would be left in their vicinity, and for all practical purposes, it should be deserted by then. She doubted even birds would have found their way to that lonely, ill-fated place. There they would be able to care for the rescued hobbits who were sick, hungry, and dispirited to the point of despair. That reminded her – she must check once again with Child on the availability of enough foods and medicines.

The next order of business had been to draw up a plan for the placing of the companions on the Telerin ships. She hoped that not all of them would want to be on the first boat, but that they would be willing to be spread out among the twenty ships. She wanted the minds she had already connected with in osanwe to form the easy links for her from the first ship to the Star. Veritas, of course, agreed to remain on the Star, which would be located in the bay just south of the River Siril’s mouths. She would be the one to use the crystal when Pio gave the command. The elf wondered if she could persuade Angara to be on one of the boats nearer to the Star. Though she wondered if the Teleri might object to that or if it might frighten the hobbits.

So much to consider! She stretched, letting the heat of the sun warm her tight muscles and relax them. She caught sight of Mithadan on the deck below, sorting through what appeared to be the contents of the ship’s armory. She smiled, thanking him silently for taking on that task. He had glanced in her direction, and then away when she looked toward him, shaking his head, focused on the task at hand once again. Or so it seemed. Her grey eyes regarded him as he bent to his work. He had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and she could see the sweat as it beaded on his forearms in the hot sun. Her brow furrowed and she shook her head to clear it of a fleeting and unbidden wondering.

Then Veritas called to her, wanting to clarify another question, and she turned away.

[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[mark12_30]

On the afternoon of the second day following Levanto's visit, Gamba's nervous excitement rose to such a pitch that he could not eat. He dug in the graveyards with a grim, fevered ferocity that the guards wondered at, and his companions worried lest he raise their suspicions; one of them whispered to him, and he tried to calm down, but he couldn't.

He looked over to the graves that had been filled in just this morning, and was surprised that he could not cry. Esta's parents, in two of those graves. They had disappeared the same night. That left, as orphans, Esta and her three brothers, Tuka, Kamba, and Barra. Esta was a good friend of Gamba (having frequently been "The Pio" in Gamba's childhood Levanto Ring games) and Tuka and Phura were also good friends.

Gamba had become numb to it all, now, and he wondered grimly if he would be able to weep if they took Phura or Loremaster. Then he shook himself, and dismissed the thought. Please, Eru, he thought, spare me that.

Meanwhile, Phura was inconsolable over his friends' misfortune, and Loremaster had his hands full trying to find foster parents for Esta, Tuka, Kamba, and Barra. Phura was uncharacteristically furious that Loremaster would not adopt all four of them himself. Loremaster would not even entertain the possibility, and Phura took it as a personal insult, and stormed out of the cave they used as a library.

Loremaster ordered Kesha to ride herd on Roka and Asta and keep them close to the still-sullen Phura, and he went to find Elder Tura. They spoke for several hours, and Elder Tura took responsibility for the four children.

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[mark12_30]

Gamba returned from digging to find Phura still in a funk, and he went to the Loremaster. "What's wrong? Why is Phura upset?"

Gamba really didn't expect an answer; he hadn't gotten any answers from anybody besides Levanto for several weeks. But to his surprise, Loremaster gently drew him aside, sat him down, and faced him seriously.

"Our people have been in these caves now for many years, haven't we?"

"Yes, sir."

"We've stayed together."

"Yes, sir."

"Why?"

"There's nowhere to go, sir."

Loremaster nodded. "And now, Nitir and Azra have returned for us. They are going to remove us from here, and take us elsewhere. And then, we will not have to stay in this prison, will we?"

"No, sir. We'll be able to do what we want."

"Exactly." Loremaster stepped back, waiting for Gamba to grasp the implications.

Loremaster always did this; Phura usually figured it out, and Gamba was left feeling stupid. Gamba sifted through what Loremaster had told him, looking for clues, but in his eyes, Loremaster's answer didn't answer anything.

Gamba struggled, fidgeting. "I still don't understand what that has to do with Phura, and why Phura is upset."

Loremaster gently placed his hand on Gamba's shoulder. "Sometimes when brothers are free to choose, they choose to live a completely new life of their own. They make their own decisions, they build their own lives. And sometimes that takes them apart from each other."

"But we can always visit each other, " Gamba replied. He couldn't imagine distances much bigger than the caves they worked in or the graveyards they dug in.

"Perhaps, " Loremaster replied. "Perhaps you could. But if not, you must go ahead and live life anyway."

Gamba stood, and looked at Loremaster, and realised that he was finished with what he was saying. Gamba wondered which was worse, no answer at all, or a long complicated answer that didn't tell him anything. He left perplexed, and went to try and cheer up his brother. Phura put on a brave face, and tried to be less miserable, but steadfastly refused to talk about what was bothering him.

Eventually they gathered Kesha, Asta, and Roka, and went to visit the four children and try to comfort them.

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Mithadan]

Mithadan stood with Khelek, Veritas, Piosenniel and Ancalimon near the helm watching the Halflings practice the use of their weapons.

Khelek laughed suddenly. "Such an army!" he chuckled. "Fortunately, we do not go to war but merely to a rescue."

Mithadan scowled and turned to Khelek. "They will have use of their weapons. The Hobbits are, no doubt guarded by men loyal to their King." A grim look appeared on his face. "Understand this! Every guard must be slain! Not one can be permitted to escape. Fair or foul, faithful or faithless, each must die. No report of our rescue can reach Armenelos. The King is not there; he is leading his fleet. But his advisors remain and one is the Dark One. No one can be allowed to escape. And if this makes you unsettled consider that they would all die in a fortnight anyway."

"You are of dark mood, Mithadan," responded Khelek.

"Dark indeed," he replied. "I find myself at the most shameful and disasterous time in the entire history of my people. Not a day passes when we do not think of the fall of Numenor and mourn both the loss as well as our actions." He turned to face Piosenniel. "You revisited a dark day for the Elves when we travelled to Gondolin. This," he said, gesturing to the shadowy outline of the island. "This is my Gondolin."

"Peace!" said Piosenniel and smiling she placed a hand on the shoulder of the scowling Man. "May we fare better here than we did then. And on the day of our triumph, you will rejoice and be at ease as we enjoy the fruits of our labours."

He looked darkly at the Elf and turned abruptly away. His scowl did not abate. "Perhaps," he said.

Ancalimon listened as they spoke. He looked down at the Hobbits laughing and shouting as they practiced with their knives. Then he looked up at the not too distant shore of Numenor. "No one can see all ends..." he muttered under his breath.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose looked up from her practicing and spoke to Mithadan. "Do we really have to kill all of them? Isn't there another way? It just seems reckless somehow."

[GreatWarg]

"Reckless? Reckless!" I'll be the judge of what is reckless, and what is prudent. If you want your people to be safe from the prying eye of Sauron, I would suggest you follow orders."

"It is a sad necessity," Khelek replied quietly so that none could hear.

Elves kept the memory of the Kinslayings at bay. He supposed Men did the same with the folly of Ar-Pharazon and the Fall of Numenor. The Elf's sharp ears had heard Ancalimon's murmer. What exactly had he meant by that? True, things unbidden could befall them, but it was quite unlikely Ar-Pharazon would have any major forces guarding the tombs. After all, he was going to war with the Vala. And he highly doubted any of the Elendili would be tarrying there. Many of them would have heeded Elendil's words and be waiting on the eastern shore, nearest to Middle-earth. Many questions were still unanswered.

Mithadan left, for his cabin, still within his dark thoughts. Rose was staring at his back, dumbstruck at the way Mithadan had reacted as Child went after him.

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: GreatWarg ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

OOC -- GREAT WARG AND I DOUBLE POSTED AND THEN DOUBLE EDITED!! PRETTY TALENTED AREN'T WE! LET'S LEAVE THESE FOR NOW. WE CAN ALWAYS BLEND THEM TOGETHER IN THE FANFICTION EDITING.
_____________________________________________
Mithadan pushed Khelek aside and interjected his thoughts, "Reckless? Reckless!" I'll be the judge of what is reckless, and what is prudent. If you want your people to be safe from the prying eye of Sauron, I would suggest you follow orders."

Rose looked up at Mithadan, a look of anger and exasperation on her face. She held her temper, and walked away, muttering under her breath. Mithadan also scowled and went below returning to his cabin.

Child had watched this entire scene with some trepidation. It was not what Mith had said that alarmed her. It was how he had said it.

She looked over at Piosenniel for help, but the Elf deliberately turned her head and went to busy herself with another task.

Child had seen Mithadan under severe pressure in Gondolin, but he had not reacted in this manner. She found it hard to believe that his anger and discomfort were merely a product of the Star and its quest. Somehow, this seemed far more personal. She decided to follow the Man down to his cabin and let him know she was concerned and that, perhaps, it might help to share his thoughts.

Child figured the worst that could happen was that she would be thrown out on her ear. This didn't seem too terrible a price to pay in order to try and help a friend. She clambored down below deck and knocked loudly on Mithadan's door.

-----------------------------------------

Mithadan felt the stares of the others on his back as he stalked away to his cabin. He threw the door open, rushed through the portal, then slammed it behind him with surprising violence. Unbuckling his belt, he threw it and its weaponry onto the bed and began pacing the confines of his quarters.

Mumbling angrily under his breath, he walked back and forth with fists clenched until he saw his reflection in the mirror hanging on the wall. Stopping in his tracks, he examined the image in the glass; his back ramrod straight, shoulders thrust back and tight, veins standing out on his neck and temples, teeth clenched tightly in a scowl that was nearly a growl.

"If it is possible, you are more foolish even than you look," he said to his reflection. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep, ragged breath. He forced himself to relax, lowering his shoulders, easing the tension in his neck and face and slumping slightly. He opened his eyes and looked again at his image in the mirror. A sheepish smile appeared on his face and he laughed. "Now, idiot, you look a bit more like yourself," he whispered.

He reached for the bottle of wine, then stopped -- no answers there. Instead, he stretched, hearing his neck crackle and pop. "I suppose I must apologize to Rose and Khelek," he said. Just as he turned to the door, he heard a knock. After a moment's hesitation, he opened the door and admitted Cami.

"Cami," he began. "I was just going to..."

"You are going nowhere," she interrupted. "Sit down, please." He opened his mouth to protest, but she scowled and gestured angrily to the chair. "Sit!" With a slight sigh, he obeyed the Hobbit's instruction.

It was her turn to pace. As she strode back and forth, she spoke with an occaisional gesture. "Whatever ails you, Mithadan, I would remind you that we look to you for guidance, and your mood does not sit well with the crew. You owe both Khelek and Rose apologies!" He opened his mouth, but she silenced him with a gesture and continued.
"I know that you are under great pressure, and I think I understand your feelings concerning Numenor, but we are all under pressure and need your leadership. Instead, you mope about and rant like a child. Whatever you have bottled up within you, you must release it!"

"You think I should apologize to Rose and Khelek?" he said with mock surprise. "Well, perhaps I have had a lot on my mind of late and have allowed it to interfere with my duties. You're right, I will speak to Rose and Khelek." He stood and went to the door.

Surprised that the conversation had gone so easily, Cami stopped him again. "Add Piosenniel to your list as well! You go and risk your life, then you call her back to us, then suddenly you begin acting as if you despise her. She does not deserve such treatment."

Mithadan looked gravely at the Hobbit for a moment. Then, though he looked troubled, he smiled. "Aye, little Andreth indeed!" he replied. "I have acted like a fool. I will set matters to rights. Thank you Cami."


[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[ September 17, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[Birdland]

Rose wandered belowdecks, the "game" of sword practice no longer seemed as fun, and Mith's reaction to her doubts had made the reality of the rescue mission sink in even more.

As she stood near the door of the hold, she heard Birdie's voice cooing from the hold. "Good girl! You can do it...c'mon...GOOD GIRL!"

Rose peeked down the ramp, and saw the skin-changer hanging over the edge of the sea-cow tank. The three, great, grey creatures were lined up in front of Birdie, bobbing up and down in the water.

"Hullo, Rose! Come on down. I was just checking on our "herd", so to speak. You know, they're really very smart. Watch!"

Bird held up a succulent piece of seaweed, and one of the "cows" raised her bulk from the water, did a ponderous turn, and flopped back down, overflowing the tank.

"See? She's dancing! Good Girl! I've named them Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles. Come say hello." Then Bird caught the look on Rose's face as her she came down into the hold.

Rose, what's wrong? Is it time to go, yet?"

[piosenniel]

Pio returned to her own cabin. She nodded briefly at Child, who stood knocking on the door to Mithadan's cabin.

'Let her deal with him first.' she thought to herself. 'Let her be the one to prick his darkling thoughts and allow them to be aired and dealt with in a clearer light.' She wished the brave hobbit well.

She entered her cabin, and threw the books and papers from her desk chair. Once seated, her feet propped on the charts on her desk, she took the bottle of wine from the bottom drawer and poured herself a large glass. She was in a strange mood herself, and sought to ease her mind before taking any action.

The fall of Gondolin was not the same as the fall of Númenor, she mused to herself. Unless, that is, one considered the insular mind set of Turgon to have played a large part in it. She preferred to think of it in a less judgmental way - that the elves had been overcome by an overwhelming force of evil, against whose advances there was no recourse. Elenna,Númenor, on the other hand, was a different story. Or was it? Had men really brought all this on themselves, or had they been the unknowing players in another poor attempt by the Valar to be 'nice'. What an interesting set up she thought - give long life with one hand and a land which looks toward the land of Immortality with the other, and then forbid the gifted the possibility of ever setting foot in that Immortal Realm. On the other hand, those were the rules within which the Edain played and they had chosen to ignore them. No wonder Mithadan was in such a foul mood.

She had come to the end of her glass, and poured herself another one. Just half this time, and watered. She needed to think clearly. Mithadan's dark mood must be dealt with in some way. The crew would not function well as a unit for the rescue if one of the key leaders were lost in the deeps of anguish. And what were all the sources for this anger and anguish? She could not see them clearly, but felt they went beyond the failure of the Edain to keep the faith. She only knew there seemed to be a tense feeling between them now, where once there was an easy comradery. She missed that, and did not understand why he pulled away, keeping himself guarded.

The Telerin ships would not arrive soon, which bought her some time to figure out a way to offer her assistance, to shoulder what burden she could to make his lighter.

She sighed, and rearranged herself more comfortably on the chair. 'I can't think about this right now.' she said to the empty room. 'My thoughts are too muddled. There is no light that shines through on anything!'

Frustrated, she took another sip of wine, and took up a clean sheet of vellum on which to distract herself with sketching.

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Rose Cotton]

When Birdie asked what was wrong Rose's anger turned to tears. All the pain she had been dealing with over the past few days came pouring out.
"It's just all so much. I'm so frightened of what happened before. In Gondolin. I'm afraid of what we're going to do. It all seems so sudden. I'm tired of adventures. I'm tired of the sea. The fights. Everyone getting so worked up. We're gonna have to kill all the guards when we go the rescue the hobbits. I don't like the thought of that. And Mithadan..he yelled at me..and I know he's under alot of stress..but.."

Rose could get any more words out over her sobs.

(ooc: a little emotional moment for our young hobbit. Oh, and nice names Bird. I bet you made those up all by yourself
smilies/wink.gif )

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Birdland]

Bird reached out and pulled the sobbing Halfling down on the bench by the tank, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “There, now, Rose,” she said “ I know. I’m afraid, too. Been afraid ever since Gondolin, I guess. And having Pio back, glad as I am about that, has not eased that fear.“

“Killing Orcs was one thing. It’s like killing bugs. But now it’s Men we’re up against. Some of them may be evil. Some just misguided and foolish. But I do know they‘ll fight, And fight hard. I don’t know if their hearts will be in it or not. I know mine‘s not.“

But we made a promise to see this through, and I can‘t go back on that promise. I don’t think you can, either. So we’ll just have to watch out for each other and do our best, until this is all over. I’m no good at all the planning and prepping. I have to leave those things to Mithadan, Child, and Pio. But I’m pretty good at getting myself out of scrapes. So I’ll watch your back, if you watch mine.”

At that moment Buttercup, seeking another seaweed handout, gave Rose a mighty bump with her head, almost knocking the Hobbit off the bench. Rose burst out laughing through her tears, and reached out to scratch the grey, whiskery face.

“Hey, she likes you!“ laughed Birdie. She reached for some more greenery and handed it to the sea-cows. “There’s one thing I have to disagree with you on though, Rose“, said the skin-changer, “I love the 'Lonely Star'. And the Sea. I’ll never be tired of them.“

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[piosenniel]

She heard the soft knock at her door. 'Come!' she called, wondering what was needed now.

Daisy peeked her head in, and smiled. 'It's just me, Pio. I've come to tell you that Levanto has returned and is asking for you.'

'Good news, I hope!' she said, getting up from the chair, and coming to the door. She ruffled the curls on the girl's head, and smiled ar her.

On the way down the hall, they stopped at the man's closed door. Pio rapped lightly, calling clearly. 'Levanto is here, Mithadan. Come hear what report he brings.' She stood for a few moments, waiting for reply, but none came.

'Come, Daisy.' she said to her companion, 'He must have gone above already. He will have to find us.'

Levanto was still in the water when they came on deck. He was too tired, he protested to come on board, and would she please come down to him.

She climbed down to the moored skiff near him and listened as he began the story of his trip upstream.

'Hold! I'm coming down.' came the voice from above. 'I want to hear Levanto's report as well.' Mithadan dropped down to the boat from the rope ladder and sat opposite the elf. His bearing was serious, and he listened closely to all that the mer-man had to say. Pio stopped Levanto many times during his story to review exactly what he had seen and where.

When he had finished, she smiled warmly at him and thanked him for doing this. He told her, then, that he would meet with two of the elders in the coming evening. They would then have more specific information on the guards,their schedules, and how they were armed.

'You must be weary, my sweet friend.' she said to Levanto, placing her hand lightly on his arm. 'Go to your rest now and I will speak with you tomorrow morning before you go back to the caverns.' She stood and made to go up the ladder. 'Can we speak later of what Levanto has told us, Mithadan' I wish to tell Cami and Rose of the two young hobbits, and the Loremaster and the Elders. I think it will bring them some cheer.'

She climbed quickly to the top and disappeared over the railing. Levanto watched as the man's gaze followed her retreating form for a moment then looked far out to sea.

Mithadan, too, thanked Levanto for his report and thought to make his way back up to the deck. Levanto grasped his arm firmly before he could rise from his seat, and regarded him closely before he spoke.

'You will keep her safe this time, Man!'

Then with a small splash, he dropped beneath the water, and was gone.