[mark12_30]

As dawn came, Lindo was glad to notice that the orcs were rather quiet, even the guards. Still, aside from comforting the parents of the lost child, he was himself at a loss what to do. He had been a servant all of his adult life, albeit a well-educated and well-cared-for one. Part of him was actually hoping that the orcs would soon put them to work farming the land; the earth, he hoped, would soothe them all. Hobbits loved the earth, the soil; even working as long as he had in Idril's house, whenever he had the chance he had always been refreshed by working in the gardens or the fields. Then he wondered if he was being naive, and supposed that under the orcs, even farming would be quite different.

He sat up, wearily, and thought, and looked around.

What he mostly noticed was not what he saw, but what he felt; there was an opression in the place that he had never felt to this degree. But he was afraid he understood it. If they were within the realm of Morgoth now, then the opression was from him, and it touched the mind and the heart. He sighed. No wonder his dreams had been dark last night. True, he needed to grieve for his parents, but last night's dreams had been relentlessly horrible and bloody and grim. He wondered if the whole camp would be feeling the opression, and how deeply.

He looked across the camp. Many were stirring, carefully, and cautiously. Lindo wondered whether he could approach Maura Tuk.

Suddenly he missed Idril terribly, and wished she was here to give him his morning orders, perhaps housework or barnwork or escorting somebody somewhere or going to see a new horse or taking a message to somebody. But that whole part of his past was over and done; Idril, like his parents, was forever gone out of his life.

Perhaps Maura would be able to put him to a good use. He waited for a chance to go and see him, and when the camp seemed very quiet, trying to be casual, he carefully got up, gathered what belongings he had (which were few), and worked his way over to where Maura's family was camped.

As he approached, he saw Maura and Zira and Azra together, with Abar; and Nitir off to one side. She seemed listless, and sad, and he wondered what her griefs had been; there had been plenty of grief, and he shunned that thought for now.

He approached Maura, and Maura smiled at him, choosing to cheer him, choosing to brace and encourage him. Lindo smiled back, amazed at Maura's strength. They gripped each other's shoulders, and then turned and spoke quietly.

"Maura, it's good to see you. I'm glad you are well."

"Lindo. You carry grief, I see. I have not seen your father and mother; were they, like others their age, shown no mercy?"

"None."

"You are alone, then."

Lindo looked down. He had not expected Maura to ask him that.

Maura continued. "I am sorry, Lindo. Your losses are deep. But do not isolate yourself in your grief. Do not withdraw. Have you spoken to Niphredil's family?"

"I can't."

"You must, Lindo. Come."

"Maura, I'm not ready for that."

"They are. Come." And with that, Maura led Sindo to the Bullroarer's camp, only a short distance away. Tomba saw them coming, and spoke softly to his brother, who stood and met them as they approached. Slender Lindo was engulfed by his sudden embrace. Kemba, Niphredil's father, was almost as massive as his brother.

Lindo was at a loss, but Kemba spoke. "There is much to do; you are needed here. Stay with us, and work with us. As we work, we will remember Niphredil, and we will remember your parents. They would want us to build, and not despair. We will build in their memories even as we grieve their loss. We will build a community here. And you will sing."

Lindo thanked him as best he could, although he was afraid to stay there with Niphredil's family, afraid of the memories it would bring up. But Maura nodded, satisfied, and turned to leave.

"Wait, " Lindo said. "Maura, if you need anything. If there's anything that I can do."

Maura nodded. "Kemba is right. We will build a community; we will pass on our heritage. And yes, Lindo. I will need you for that."

Lindo nodded. But he knew that Maura meant for him to stay with Kemba. He would do it, then, despite his fears.

Maura turned to leave, but then turned back. "Perhaps there is something that you can do today. Nitir is sorrowful. Perhaps if you sang for her."

Lindo nodded. Maura turned to go, and Kemba drew him towards the rest of Niphredil's family. He dreaded seeing them all, but he went in obedience to Maura, and Kemba, and decided that it probably was better to face his grief than bury it.

Later he visited Maura's camp again, and asked Nitir if he could sing for her. Politely she agreed, and listened patiently, and thanked him kindly. But he felt as he left that he had wasted her time; she did not seem any more peaceful than when he had started. He knew that she must miss all her friends, and wondered how many of them had survived the fall of the city and flown away on the dragon. But he could not bring himself to ask her that day.

[ August 12, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]