[Birdland]

Bird and Kali slipped over the side of the Lonely Star, to take a midnight swim and talk about Pio and all the things that had been seen in their travels through the First Age. But Bird did not change into her dolphin form, and remained on the surface, treading water, with the help of Kali, and waiting for Levanto.

He came, eventually. He was wearing the shell on the mithril chain, which would never corrode in the salt sea. Bird held her arms out to the Mer-Man, and they embraced for the first time. Then she kissed him gently on each cheek, saying "I know it is not from the one you wanted, but she was ever my friend, and would want her gift to be given."

Levanto held Birdie by the shoulders, and smiling, said "Change to your dolphin form, little human. I also have a gift to give you, since I can never hope to give it to Pio. I would have you come as well, Kali."

Bird took dolphin shape, which was a relief after the human struggle against the element of water. She swam around Levanto and Kali, delighting in her return to the sea, and breach the surface, just for the sheer joy of it. Then Levanto said "Come." and led the way, down into the depths.

"Where are we going, Levanto?" asked Kali.

"To my city. The home of the Mer-Folk." Kali stopped in mid-stroke. "But the Hobbrim are never allowed to enter the city under the sea, Levanto! I cannot go there."

"Tonight you are my guests. I would have you both come to a feast, and tell your tales. Perhaps it will move other of my people to aid you in your search."

The trio swam for about an hour, ever deeper and farther from shore. Eventually they swooped over a vast undersea mountaintop, as easily as Thorondor had breasted the peak of Mount Taras. The three floated at the top of the mountains, as Levanto silently gestured down to his city beneath the sea.

All the city was lit with soft, phosphorescent lights of gold and green and silver shining on the ancient walls and illuminating the windows. Of course the Mer-Folk had no real need for doors and stairways, but many had been preserved for their beauty, in honor of those who had crafted them. The streets also had been left in the old familiar patterns, lined with floating curtains of sea-weed, anenome, and those small, beautiful sea creatures whom Ulmo had blessed with still, vegetative lives.

Fountains again graced the gardens and byways, made from dancing columns of bubbles, or warm, wavering currents of volcanic waters that shimmered transparently in the colder atmosphere around them. In the center of all a great open tower, woven from the most delicate, strong buttresses of coral in many shining hues, stood tall and proud. Here the king of the Mer-Folk ruled an watched over his people as they came and went about their endless Kingdom. And around the city, a vast mountain range encircled and sheltered all.

Bird looked down on Levanto's city, and immediately burst into tears, which mingled with the surrounding sea without a trace. "Oh, Levanto, nothing really ever ends, does it?"

"No, I don't believe it does, Birdie. And that will ever be my comfort and hope. Come, the feast will soon begin."

And so the three swam down from the mountaintop, and Bird was allowed to explore the city of Gondolin for one, last time.

[ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]