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piosenniel · 10-06-2003, 01:09 AM

Berilac

‘Breelanders All!’

Berilac heard the cry go up from someone in the crowd. Someone up front. The mayor, he thought. Darkness had fallen thick and fast. There were not enough torches to keep it from creeping into the square, and most of them were up front where the Big Folk were. What light there was threw the features of the crowd into an eerie relief. Anger, confusion, disbelief, rippled across the faces of the gathering when they turned his way, and the light from the single torch behind him picked out their momentary expressions . . .all these . . . and sometimes fear.

He jumped down from the bench he stood on and asked a few of the Hobbit men to give him a hand to plant a few more torches in the back area where the Hobbits were gathered. One of them, a thin fellow with thinning hair volunteered. The Hobbit seemed eager to be away from the press of people. He excused himself from his wife and son and followed after Berilac.

The fellow introduced himself as Hedgar as they walked to where the small pile of extra torches were stacked. Berilac responded in kind, and asked Hedgar about his family and what did he think about the Men and Hobbits being able to work together. Before Hedgar could reply, Berilac asked him quickly if he could take over organizing putting the torches up at the back of the square. He had seen something that else that needed taking care of.

Threading their way carefully to the front of the crowd were two Hobbits, one a young woman the other a small child. He followed after them, making sure they were not overwhelmed in the crush of Big Folk bodies. They inched their way to the front of the crowd, the freckle faced young Hobbit woman holding tight to the hand of the little one. The little girl buried her face in the older Hobbit’s dress. She was frightened. It was an expression he had seen on many of the Hobbits’ faces, just as anger shadowed with disgust was the expression most seen on the faces of the Men.

Berilac knelt down by the little Hobbit. Lily, he had heard the other call her. ‘Your daughter?’ he asked the older Hobbit as she raised her green eyes to him. ‘She’s lovely.’ He smiled at Lily, saying he had a little girl at home. ‘Will you two be alright up here?’ he asked.

[ October 06, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

10-06-2003, 01:09 AM	#29
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Berilac ‘Breelanders All!’ Berilac heard the cry go up from someone in the crowd. Someone up front. The mayor, he thought. Darkness had fallen thick and fast. There were not enough torches to keep it from creeping into the square, and most of them were up front where the Big Folk were. What light there was threw the features of the crowd into an eerie relief. Anger, confusion, disbelief, rippled across the faces of the gathering when they turned his way, and the light from the single torch behind him picked out their momentary expressions . . .all these . . . and sometimes fear. He jumped down from the bench he stood on and asked a few of the Hobbit men to give him a hand to plant a few more torches in the back area where the Hobbits were gathered. One of them, a thin fellow with thinning hair volunteered. The Hobbit seemed eager to be away from the press of people. He excused himself from his wife and son and followed after Berilac. The fellow introduced himself as Hedgar as they walked to where the small pile of extra torches were stacked. Berilac responded in kind, and asked Hedgar about his family and what did he think about the Men and Hobbits being able to work together. Before Hedgar could reply, Berilac asked him quickly if he could take over organizing putting the torches up at the back of the square. He had seen something that else that needed taking care of. Threading their way carefully to the front of the crowd were two Hobbits, one a young woman the other a small child. He followed after them, making sure they were not overwhelmed in the crush of Big Folk bodies. They inched their way to the front of the crowd, the freckle faced young Hobbit woman holding tight to the hand of the little one. The little girl buried her face in the older Hobbit’s dress. She was frightened. It was an expression he had seen on many of the Hobbits’ faces, just as anger shadowed with disgust was the expression most seen on the faces of the Men. Berilac knelt down by the little Hobbit. Lily, he had heard the other call her. ‘Your daughter?’ he asked the older Hobbit as she raised her green eyes to him. ‘She’s lovely.’ He smiled at Lily, saying he had a little girl at home. ‘Will you two be alright up here?’ he asked. [ October 06, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.