[Child of the 7th Age]

Towards evening, the Orcs came back from the lower slopes of the mountain. Child noticed the number of guards seemed to be even smaller then before. Most of them were abominably drunk, with hot tempers and reeking breath. They edged over to the side of the encampment, and fell down in snoring sleep, not even bothering to post a guard.

The hobbits also started to settle for the night. About them, the sky continued its distant rumbles and intermittant flashes of lightning. But the children and adults had somehow learned to block out this show of noise and light. They went about their business as if everything was normal.

With the midnight march and the growing hope for freedom, few of the hobbits had gotten much sleep. Now, that lack of sleep was beginning to tell. Yawning children curled up with their parents. Even the three orphan boys lay down beside Lindo. He was singing a nightime song to them. Child looked about and smiled at the scene. It had been a very long time, since the children had been allowed to stay near their parents this way.

Child walked over to the ledge and studied the distant northern skies. Tired or not, she was determined not to fall asleep, not to lose this final moment of beauty and longing. So much good and so much evil. So much joy and sorrow. She could not sort it out anymore.

She sensed a presence at her shoulder, and turned around to look into the keen eyes of Ancalimon. "Do you think it goes well?" Child asked, nodding at the horizon.

"'Well'? Nothing of this sort goes "well" , but, yes, the Valar seem to be prevailing. Though I believe Morgoth may still have a trick or two."

Child remembered the story of the great winged wyrms. She hoped Angara would not have to come get her and Rose. For that could be painful.

Then she looked up and asked, "Is Rose right? Have our people been forgotten? Does our past mean so little that it can slip beyond the minds of Elves and Men, and even from the hands of the Valar?"

Then she turned to catch a glimse of Maura as he stood talking with the other hobbits. Ancalimon watched as Child's heart fixed upon the man. And she said with aching voice, "Why must this be so?"

And the cloaked grey figure understood what Child was asking, even though she could not find the right words. Ancalimon sighed and responded, "The ways of men are one thing, but those of the Valar are another." He gently chided her, "You have spoken with Lady Nienna. Surely you glimped something of her heart to help you answer this riddle."

Child nodded. Perhaps she did not understand as much of the riddle as Ancalimon thought she should, but she had felt untold compassion pouring towards her from the Lady with the skirts edged in snowflakes.

"And the Elves?" she asked.

"You may find they remember more than they say. For a number of them have reached out to your kin. Have you forgotten the Lady Idril, and how she rescued your friends? Galadriel also holds hobbits dear. Do you think this love will be swept away as if it was a stick caught in the waters of a flood? It will be there while you are alive and far beyond."

"And Andreth, I know you grieve because you fear so many names are lost. But do you believe tales are only recorded in the books of men and hobbits? Perhaps there are other volumes you do not know. And those may preserve the true story of Arda which men and hobbits sometimes forget. And, if such a record exists, Maura will be there, as well as you and your children, even the littlest one who died in your arms."

He gently chuckled at her, "I am afraid you are too fond of words, for not all truth lies in them. There are other ways of reading and understanding the story."

"So when you return to the Star, there is something you can do for me. In fact, not just for me, but for Maura as well."

Child listened intently to hear what he would suggest.

"After your arrival, go to the cabin which belonged to your friend Piosenniel. You'll find her papers still scattered about on the table. You'll see a letter from her which lists several of her belongings and the names of those she wanted to have these things after she departed for Mandos. I think you'll find she's left you a fine book of Elvish history and a small bronze mirror. Take the mirror and gaze into it. Then, look at it, truly look at it, and tell me what you see."

Child tried to prod him with questions about this strange mirror, but he laughed and refused to say any more. When Maura heard this silliness, he came over to join in.

Ancalimon left to tend the pony, and the two hobbits sat on the ledge for several hours, with their arms entwined about each other's waist. Each spoke of their hopes and dreams. Then Maura made Nitir give a solemn promise. She promised always to remember him, but not to grieve so much that the joy would depart from her heart. And they watched the skies light up with strange colors and conflicts, and wondered how it would end.

[ August 21, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]