[Child of the 7th Age]

Child sat for several hours outside the little safe where she had put Morgoth's memo about the capture of the Orcs. That had happened just before Daisy had joined the ship's crew. She remembered how her papers and Rose's bag of mushrooms had mysteriously disappeared, and they had put the ancient document here to safeguard it. Child had peered over Mithadan's shoulder as he closed the box, making sure to watch his every move.

The safe was located near the helm. Person after person marched by the area, and Veritas stood in front of the wheel, carefully watching the waters and steering. Finally the Elf asked Child if she felt well enough to keep an eye on things for just a minute. Child nodded yes, and, within a moment, she had burgled her way into the safe. Morgoth's directive was still there, as well as Piosenniel's letter.

She thought that, perhaps, the next time she saw Ancalimon, that directive by the Dark Lord should be returned to him. But, for now, her attention was on Pio's letter. After Veritas returned, Child hobbled back down to where Daisy had barricaded herself in.

What bothered Child most was that the Elf Tule seemed to be taking sides with Daisy without even talking to Mithadan or asking the accused friends for more information. That didn't seem fair. It was easy to excuse Daisy bcause she was young and headstrong. The Elf should have known better, Child thought.

The hobbit tried knocking on the door, and getting Daisy to speak with her. But the girl refused to discuss anything, calling Child a thief. Now Child had to admit that, like most hobbits, she had stolen a mushroom or two out of neighbors' gardens, but she would certainly never steal anything from a friend like Piosenniel. Perhaps, borrow it, and leave a note of explanation, but not sneak away with loot like a burglar.

Child sighed. Then she slid the two notes under the door. One was Pio's letter with some general paragraphs written at the top which Child hadn't even had a chance to look at. There was also a listing of bequests. The other was a note which Child herself had scrawled out, explaining how Ancalmon had told her about the gifts and the letter. She even told Daisy about the mirror and how she was supposed to look into that and find out something about her own people.

Child wondered if Daisy had ever met and talked with Ancalimon. If she had, she might understand why Child felt so strongly about doing what he had told her. Ancalimon seemed to have that effect on many people, particularly hobbits.

There were lovely odors wafting out of Daisy's door, smells of hot cooked foods. Child tried to remember the last time she had eaten such foods. It would have to be in Gondolin when she first met Maura. There had been months and months of hard bread and whatever else they could scavenge. Child sincerely hoped Daisy would relent, and share her lunch with others on the ship.