[piosenniel]

Pio perused the wizard who was standing apart from the rest of the group, apparently caught in a different time loop. Veritas was gesturing and pointing and her lips moved as if talking with someone. The problem is, assesed pio, that the wizard dropped her staff on transport. 'This is going to hurt!', thought pio to herself, 'And me more than you!!'

Handling a wizard's staff is always a tricky situation. One can never know how it will react to the touch of someone other than its chosen wielder. Bending close to the staff, pio extended her index finger to within a fraction of an inch of the smooth wood. She could feel the thrill of electricity, like a living current, caress her fingertip as if tasting the intent. 'Mellon', murmured pio, as if incanting a protective spell. The wand extended it's power to engulf the elf and raising itself, positioned itself firmly within her grip. Pio raised the wand and touched Veritas, whose startled expression had just accompanied the word: Mithadan.

Veritas closed her eyes briefly, the power of the wand flowing into her, and then opened the to refocus on the here and now. Pio sttod looking at her own intact hand with amazement, and Birdie, Rose, & Child had gathered near to offer her their support if needed.

'Where are we?', asked the wizard, now fully restored to herself.

'Funny you should asked that question,' came a mellifluous voice from the shadows to their left.'I've been pondering that question for a very long time - a timeless time you might say.' 'But where are my manners. Welcome to my world, such as it is. It's lovely to hear voices, that is, other than my own ringing about in my head. Come tell me of the outer world? And how fares Middle Earth in this Age?'

It was a casually asked question, and Child, being the great elucidator that she was stepped forward to detail a short (for a hobbit, that is) history of events.

Her mouth opened and the wheels of thought were just about to be set in motion for a good long dissertation, when pio, her sword drawn stepped in front of her and hushed her with a shake of her head.

pio's eyes had grown large - to accomodate themselves for the lack of light in this place. She turned to face the Being in the Shadows and motioned the others to stand behind her.

'Give us your name, O Seeming Fair One', she demanded. 'If we are pleased, we will exchange information with you. Come forth and let us see you.'

'Such bravery for so such a small creature', mused the voice drawing nearer. 'But you are intruders in my world, and by courtesy should reveal yourselves to me.'

A dark figure stepped closer into the shading greyness. 'And as for 'choosing' to exchange information, we'll discuss that later. We have all the time we need to learn about each other.'