[Birdland]

Kali sat cross-legged on a coil of rope, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Bird sat beside him on a handy barrel, while the rest of the people of the Lonely Star gathered around. No announcement of a song-fest had gone out, but all were there. Even Veritas was listening as she manned the wheel.

Bird thought back on all the songs she had heard from Lindo as the halflings had made their way from Gondolin, to the highlands of Dorthonian. Bird had a good memory for lyric and verse, which was just as well, since she had never but once assumed human form throughout the long, strange quest. She decided to start with one of Lindo’s lullabies.

"Now Kali, this was written by Lindo, a halfling who had spent his entire life in service to the Elf-Folk, whom he loved and admired very much. Lindo was very lost when his world fell apart, but he found another life among his own kind, and I think, he found happiness as well. This is a lullaby that he sang to the babies that were in his care. I always believed it was really about Elbereth."

And Bird began to sing:

Little star that shines so bright, come and peep at me tonight,
For I often think of you in the pretty sky so blue.
Little Star! O, tell me, pray, where you hide yourself all day?
Have you got a home like me, and a mother kind to see?

Kali started, and looked at the singer in confusion. "But Birdee! I already know that song!"

The silence was complete, except for the soft intake of breath from Child. "Kali", said Bird, "you can‘t know that song. You never met the one who wrote it."

"But I do! Listen!":

Little Child, at you I peep, while you lie so fast asleep.
But when dawn begins to break, I my homeward journey take.
For I've many friends on high, living with me in the sky,
And a loving Mother, too, Who commands what I'm to do.

Child pushed herself forward, and knelt in front of the Hobbrim. "Kali, do you know other songs by Lindo?"

Kali gazed into Child’s pain-filled, unhobbit-like gaze. "Yes, Child. I think I do." And he sang in his clear, high voice:

I stand on the hillside and gaze at you
As you quickly recede from my sight
Slipping away (don't leave me, don't go)
Farewell, wait for me, I cry

For a short time we will be apart
in the light of eternity
I'll come to you, hold me in your heart
Remember me, wait for me

I ride on the wind, my eyes drift back
To the receding hill and to you
Hope lies before me, love lies behind
In time, hope will call you too

But love lies before me all the same
Love travels with me, strengthens me
Love waits behind for you, at home
And before me, far beyond the sea

For a short time we will be apart
in the light of eternity
I'll wait for you, hold you in my heart
Remember me, come to me

Beyond our sight, we see by hope
Beyond our vision, we wait in faith
Beyond the circles of the world
We'll find all our loves again

For a short time we will be apart
in the light of eternity
Iluvatar waits, and says in his heart
Remember me, come to me.

"I’ve known that song since I was very little. My mother used to sing...Child? Oh, Child, don’t weep! I’ll stop singing if you like! Please don‘t weep!"

(O.O.C. - The first song is an old Victorian lullaby. The Song of Maura and Niter was written entirely by Mark 12-20.)

[ August 22, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]