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piosenniel · 01-11-2004, 09:06 PM

Berilac

A covey of frightened parents crowded in around Berilac. He had gone round the crowd as the Hobbits and mayor spoke, contacting each of the parents whose child was now trapped in the cave. Andreth was there, her face grim as she waited for the Ranger to speak. Hedgar and Rosie stood close together, their knuckles white as they clenched the other’s hand. Bettina Butterbur stood near Andreth, gone pale with the worry over her two sons. Mausi was there also, eyes dry, but red rimmed. Mondy and Ella clinging tight to her. To the side stood Everard and Delphina, thin lipped, their faces etched with worry over Pearl and Hamson. Poppy stood with them, holding the drowsing Lily in her arms. And pacing, like a large angry bear, was Alvinac.

Berilac spoke in a low clear voice to the worried parents, explaining what the children had done that night, and where they were now. ‘I have an idea of where the cave is,’ he told them. ‘I’ve seen it when I scouted the area, but I know nothing about it.’ He looked round the small, tense group. ‘Who can tell me more about it?’

The Hobbits all shook their heads. They were relative newcomers to Bree and none had ventured far beyond their own little houses and gardens. None of the Big Folk could add much either. It was Mausi, her head bent low, speaking with her children, who offered a small spark of hope to the dejected group. ‘Go on,’ she gently urged Mondy, leading him by the hand to where Berilac stood. ‘Tell him what you know.’

Berilac crouched down to be eye to eye with the boy, and spoke softly to him. Mondy’s lower lip trembled, and tears threatened at the corners of his eyes. ‘I should have known,’ the boy said in a ragged voice. ‘I . . .’

‘No use going down that road.’ Berilac reached up and wiped away Mondy’s tears. ‘You can help him now. Just tell me about the cave.’

Mondy had been to the cave with his brother. The entrance was low at first but the chamber was wide and the height of the roof increased the farther back one went. There were also two little side chambers not far from the entrance on the left as one entered. Neither of them led back to the outside, but the furthest one had a crack in it, and fresh air flowed into the cave from it. Several tall, large, leafy evergreen bushes grew in front of the cave, obscuring the entrance from anyone passing by. ‘We made a little passage between the bushes and the side of the hill when we first spied it out, so we could get in more easily.’ The boy’s voice grew stronger as Berilac urged him on. No, there were no other ways into the Inn. Yes, Kali would be smart enough to remember the little chamber that had fresh air. No, there was no water in the cave.

A glimmer of hope registered in the Ranger’s expression as Mondy described how the brow of the hill dipped down in the area, and the slight overhang above the entrance to the cave was maybe twice the height of the North Gate. Twenty-five feet, he thought to himself. And better yet, the ground just above the cave had a number of rocky outcroppings. When Mondy had finished, Berilac clapped him on the shoulder, saying he’d been of great help.

He stood up and motioned the group closer. ‘I’ve an idea now how we can get to them,’ he said to the expectant ring of faces. ‘We’ll need four long lengths of rope, two of those big sturdy storage baskets from the granary, four large skins of water, and a large stack of handkerchiefs – or better yet, Andreth – a stack of those big cloth napkins from the Inn.’

The Big and Little Folk were dispatched to fetch the needed items, returning with great speed to the bottom of the path that led up to the top of the Hill from the town. Fear spurred them on as they all hastened up the path and then west along the brim of the hill, pulling along behind them the small cart that carried their equipment. Mondy led the way with Berilac, pointing excitedly as the familiar rocks hove into sight.

The view from this point was frightening and did nothing to bring assurance to the anguished parents. Smoke from the fire hung like a thick blanket over the area, and flames crackled through the limbs of the trees in the area below.

‘Take your places,’ he told the group. ‘Like we discussed on the way up here.’

Andreth pulled out the napkins and began wetting them with water from one of the water skins. She and Mausi handed them round, and all tied them over their mouth and noses. Alvinac, Everard, Bettina,Rosie, and Delphina uncoiled the ropes as he asked. Mondy and Ella dragged one of the baskets to the edge of the hill, while Hedgar brought the other. The Big and Little folk worked together quietly and quickly. When all was assembled to his satisfaction, Berilac gathered them round and went carefully over the final instructions once more . . .

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 1:39 PM January 12, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

01-11-2004, 09:06 PM	#227
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Berilac A covey of frightened parents crowded in around Berilac. He had gone round the crowd as the Hobbits and mayor spoke, contacting each of the parents whose child was now trapped in the cave. Andreth was there, her face grim as she waited for the Ranger to speak. Hedgar and Rosie stood close together, their knuckles white as they clenched the other’s hand. Bettina Butterbur stood near Andreth, gone pale with the worry over her two sons. Mausi was there also, eyes dry, but red rimmed. Mondy and Ella clinging tight to her. To the side stood Everard and Delphina, thin lipped, their faces etched with worry over Pearl and Hamson. Poppy stood with them, holding the drowsing Lily in her arms. And pacing, like a large angry bear, was Alvinac. Berilac spoke in a low clear voice to the worried parents, explaining what the children had done that night, and where they were now. ‘I have an idea of where the cave is,’ he told them. ‘I’ve seen it when I scouted the area, but I know nothing about it.’ He looked round the small, tense group. ‘Who can tell me more about it?’ The Hobbits all shook their heads. They were relative newcomers to Bree and none had ventured far beyond their own little houses and gardens. None of the Big Folk could add much either. It was Mausi, her head bent low, speaking with her children, who offered a small spark of hope to the dejected group. ‘Go on,’ she gently urged Mondy, leading him by the hand to where Berilac stood. ‘Tell him what you know.’ Berilac crouched down to be eye to eye with the boy, and spoke softly to him. Mondy’s lower lip trembled, and tears threatened at the corners of his eyes. ‘I should have known,’ the boy said in a ragged voice. ‘I . . .’ ‘No use going down that road.’ Berilac reached up and wiped away Mondy’s tears. ‘You can help him now. Just tell me about the cave.’ Mondy had been to the cave with his brother. The entrance was low at first but the chamber was wide and the height of the roof increased the farther back one went. There were also two little side chambers not far from the entrance on the left as one entered. Neither of them led back to the outside, but the furthest one had a crack in it, and fresh air flowed into the cave from it. Several tall, large, leafy evergreen bushes grew in front of the cave, obscuring the entrance from anyone passing by. ‘We made a little passage between the bushes and the side of the hill when we first spied it out, so we could get in more easily.’ The boy’s voice grew stronger as Berilac urged him on. No, there were no other ways into the Inn. Yes, Kali would be smart enough to remember the little chamber that had fresh air. No, there was no water in the cave. A glimmer of hope registered in the Ranger’s expression as Mondy described how the brow of the hill dipped down in the area, and the slight overhang above the entrance to the cave was maybe twice the height of the North Gate. Twenty-five feet, he thought to himself. And better yet, the ground just above the cave had a number of rocky outcroppings. When Mondy had finished, Berilac clapped him on the shoulder, saying he’d been of great help. He stood up and motioned the group closer. ‘I’ve an idea now how we can get to them,’ he said to the expectant ring of faces. ‘We’ll need four long lengths of rope, two of those big sturdy storage baskets from the granary, four large skins of water, and a large stack of handkerchiefs – or better yet, Andreth – a stack of those big cloth napkins from the Inn.’ The Big and Little Folk were dispatched to fetch the needed items, returning with great speed to the bottom of the path that led up to the top of the Hill from the town. Fear spurred them on as they all hastened up the path and then west along the brim of the hill, pulling along behind them the small cart that carried their equipment. Mondy led the way with Berilac, pointing excitedly as the familiar rocks hove into sight. The view from this point was frightening and did nothing to bring assurance to the anguished parents. Smoke from the fire hung like a thick blanket over the area, and flames crackled through the limbs of the trees in the area below. ‘Take your places,’ he told the group. ‘Like we discussed on the way up here.’ Andreth pulled out the napkins and began wetting them with water from one of the water skins. She and Mausi handed them round, and all tied them over their mouth and noses. Alvinac, Everard, Bettina,Rosie, and Delphina uncoiled the ropes as he asked. Mondy and Ella dragged one of the baskets to the edge of the hill, while Hedgar brought the other. The Big and Little folk worked together quietly and quickly. When all was assembled to his satisfaction, Berilac gathered them round and went carefully over the final instructions once more . . . <font size=1 color=339966>[ 1:39 PM January 12, 2004: 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.