[Child of the 7th Age]

[off topic--Birdland sent me a pm that she had to work early shift and will catch up with us this afternoon; looks like I won't have to "lure" Rose on board. LOL I'll still take that book though. Might prove useful]

Child stared with amazement at the scene that was taking place. One by one, her friends were wandering on to the ship and sinking down into deep sleep. How very strange, she wondered.

Oh, well, let them have their fun. I'm going home, she thought.

Child was loaded down with all the implements and supplies she would need for her trip back to the Shire. Plus she had a small palantir keychain for Birdland that she wanted to give as a gift. Birdie had seemed so upset when she had given the last one to Frodo.

Oh, yes, there was one other thing, she had a travel book she had wanted to give Rose. She knew how depressed Rose had been about the whole affair of the REG. She just wanted to cheer her up. The book was one of Frodo's latest publications:

Your Travel Guide to the Undying Lands,
or How I Went There and Back Again
By Frodo Baggins, Esquire, with
Added Notes by Master Samwise
Gamgee

Rose loved travel books. She hoped she would find this one useful.

But she did want to find out what was going on with that ship. At least it now stood still in the water.

To Child's amazement, a large bearded Elf appeared at the edge of the deck. He carried a very official looking envelope. Actually the envelope looked identical to the one Child had under her arm which she was supposed to deliver to Samwise but had never done so.

Child was amazed. She had never seen an Elf with a beard. The Elf drew out the proclamation and began to read:

To Masters Samwise and Frodo, It has recently come to our attention that both of you have been grievously injured in a battle. As per our earlier agreement, you have unlimited rights of return to the land of the West. We have therefore sent this ship to permit you to sail and receive healing for your wounds. Please indicate as soon as possible whether you wish to comply with this request. Your dearest friend Galadriel, with special kisses and hugs to Frodo!

PS It is possible that we may have a very small and insignificant mission for you after you have rested and received succor. The Masters of Taniquetil, Manwe and Varda

Cirdan glared at Child and stated, "I am not leaving until I receive a response from Sam and Frodo."

Cirdan continued: "Now as to all these sleeping bodies on the deck, the Elves may stay but all these miscellanous hobbits and other beings must immediatly depart."

Now, the worst thing in the world you could do was to tell Child to depart. She generally became very stubborn.

Child glared at Cirdan, "There is no provision against dead souls of hobbits in Elvenhome, only live souls. Now, we all happen to be very dead, so don't act so high and mighty!"

Cirdan snarled back and asked her to produce her papers which she did. She showed him her Barrowdowns visa and passport. He also checked the documents of the other hobbits sleeping on the ship.

"All right," but you better mind your manners. I'm only letting you on because you are friends of the Baggins and Gamgee families who do have special privileges in this realm."

"Special privileges, humph!" Child muttered under her breath. "We'll see about that!"

Child put her foot on the deck and expected to be sawing Z's quite quickly, but she remained wide awake. How could this be?

Cirdan scratched his head: "You wouldn't by any chance have previously voyaged to the West, now, would you? Only those who have seen the halls of the Valar are immune to the sleep draughts here."

Child remembered her brief 30 second trip to Aman which she had experienced in the last adventure. She drew herself up to her full three feet.

"Of course, I am an experienced traveller! Err, and by the way, will you wake up my friends once our voyage starts. I'd like some company."

"Yes, yes," muttered Cirdan. Now all of you unauthorised, dead hobbits will have to act as servants on the ship. You can help the Baggins and Gamgee families and the Elves with their provisions and needs. You, Child, can start by mopping off the deck."

Child stared in misbelief. Mopping the deck? Or waiting on Pio, or on Sam or Frodo???? Child's hair stood straight off her head. She liked her friends very much, but she did NOT want to be their servant.

"We'll see about this," she thought. "And I can imagine what Rose Cotton will say when she hears about this!"

It seemed there was an hierarchical order in Aman, and she wasn't sure she was going to like her place on the chain.

She yelled out to Angara. " The boat won't leave till this Elf talks to Frodo and Sam, but just in case something weird happens, you stay here so you can pick up latecomers. I know Birdie wouldn't miss this for the world, and there may be others."

Child begins mopping deck.

[ June 07, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]