The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - THE LONELY STAR (Contd. from BD birthday party)

piosenniel · 08-14-2002, 02:41 AM

It was early evening when Daisy awoke. The light in her room had grown dim as the sun moved to the opposite side of the ship. She sat up with a start, wondering how long she had slept, and whether the older folk had gone ahead and made the plans for the trip to Númenor.

Throwing the blankets aside, she raced up stairs to see what she had missed.

She found the deck empty. Angara was still atop the mast, her gentle snores a tell-tale sign of her presence. The ship rocked gently on the waves, at anchor.

Returning below deck, she saw that both Khelek and Veritas were resting in their rooms, their doors ajar to let the cool breezes circulate. Even Kali slumbered on, curled up in a small ball next to Mithadan.

Bird, though, was awake. and she called to Daisy as the hobbit passed by her door.

'Come help me for a moment, Daisy.' said Bird. 'I need to get up and stretch my legs a bit - to get some strength back in them.'

The hobbit came and stood by the bed. She waited for Bird to sit herself up on the bed's edge. And once the woman had done that, and shaken her head to clear the dizziness, she offered her her arm as a support.

'Let's walk to the galley.' suggested Daisy. 'We can find you something to eat and drink as well.' The two walked the short distance slowly, Bird pausing every so often to work a cramp from her still tired muscles.

By the time they reached the table, Bird was glad to sit in a chair while Daisy brought her a plate of herbed mushroom stew which had been on the stove's back burner, a crusty loaf of bread, a crock of sweet butter, and a glass of good red wine.

She ate slowly, but with great relish, enjoying each morsel of food. The last of her bread was used to sop up the remaining gravy from her plate. Once done, she pushed back her chair and sipped the wine.

Daisy sat opposite her, and drank a cup of strong tea with honey. Bird looked much better, she thought to herself, now that she had some food and drink inside her.

When she had finished her wine, Bird leaned across the table and looked closely at the hobbit, taking her measure.

'Daisy, can I trust you?' she asked.

The hobbit was surprised at the question, but did not hesitate in saying 'yes'. 'What do you need of me?' she replied steadily, looking back at Bird.

'I need your help.' said Bird. 'Child and Rose are being held prisoner by Morgoth's orcs, and I need to go to them. Sooner, rather than later. Can I count on you?'

The hobbit considered the request carefully, then answered. 'I will help you, Bird. But you must tell me what I need to do.’

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

08-14-2002, 02:41 AM	#514
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	It was early evening when Daisy awoke. The light in her room had grown dim as the sun moved to the opposite side of the ship. She sat up with a start, wondering how long she had slept, and whether the older folk had gone ahead and made the plans for the trip to Númenor. Throwing the blankets aside, she raced up stairs to see what she had missed. She found the deck empty. Angara was still atop the mast, her gentle snores a tell-tale sign of her presence. The ship rocked gently on the waves, at anchor. Returning below deck, she saw that both Khelek and Veritas were resting in their rooms, their doors ajar to let the cool breezes circulate. Even Kali slumbered on, curled up in a small ball next to Mithadan. Bird, though, was awake. and she called to Daisy as the hobbit passed by her door. 'Come help me for a moment, Daisy.' said Bird. 'I need to get up and stretch my legs a bit - to get some strength back in them.' The hobbit came and stood by the bed. She waited for Bird to sit herself up on the bed's edge. And once the woman had done that, and shaken her head to clear the dizziness, she offered her her arm as a support. 'Let's walk to the galley.' suggested Daisy. 'We can find you something to eat and drink as well.' The two walked the short distance slowly, Bird pausing every so often to work a cramp from her still tired muscles. By the time they reached the table, Bird was glad to sit in a chair while Daisy brought her a plate of herbed mushroom stew which had been on the stove's back burner, a crusty loaf of bread, a crock of sweet butter, and a glass of good red wine. She ate slowly, but with great relish, enjoying each morsel of food. The last of her bread was used to sop up the remaining gravy from her plate. Once done, she pushed back her chair and sipped the wine. Daisy sat opposite her, and drank a cup of strong tea with honey. Bird looked much better, she thought to herself, now that she had some food and drink inside her. When she had finished her wine, Bird leaned across the table and looked closely at the hobbit, taking her measure. 'Daisy, can I trust you?' she asked. The hobbit was surprised at the question, but did not hesitate in saying 'yes'. 'What do you need of me?' she replied steadily, looking back at Bird. 'I need your help.' said Bird. 'Child and Rose are being held prisoner by Morgoth's orcs, and I need to go to them. Sooner, rather than later. Can I count on you?' The hobbit considered the request carefully, then answered. 'I will help you, Bird. But you must tell me what I need to do.’ [ August 14, 2002: 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.