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Birdland · 06-14-2002, 05:39 AM

Birdie felt the shock of the water, and watched as the top of the waves receded as she sank like a rock to the bottom of the sea. "Oh, no, not again." she thought, as she resigned herself to a briny death.

Then she saw her tail.

"Eeeeeeee! Eeeeeeeee!" she screamed, thrashing frantically. The grey, horizontal tail-fins waved, sending her speeding through the water, 50 feet from the bellies of the ships above her. Birdie braked, rolled, then righted herself as she got the hang of things. She tried to look back over her shoulder, only to discover that she had none.

"I'm a dolphin! A dolphin!" chirped Birdie with delight. "Now how come I never knew I could do this?"

"Perhaps because you never tried, silly skin-changer", and the emerald green face of the Mer-Man appeared before her again, mithril-colored tail waving languidly as he floated in front of her.

"Please," said Birdie, "You helped us before - or at least taught us a very interesting variation on one of Child's most popular ballads. What can we do to defeat the Blue Wizards?"

"You will never defeat them through use of magic, that is certain," said the Mer-Man, eyeing Birdie doubtfully. "You made a good start, calling on my master, Ulmo. However, you hardly invoked him with the respect and honor due him. I suggest you remember your manners, and try again."

"But we were desperate. And I've never been good at extemporizing under pressure. Surely he can understand that."

"There is one among you who understands the proper forms and courtly manners required when addressing the Valar. He may have a better chance at communicating your needs. My master is a very busy Valar, you know. Do you think yours are the only ships foundering on the seas of Middle-Earth right now?"

Perhaps not," said Birdie, slightly miffed, "but I imagine we're the only ships facing down the Blue Wizards. Please, what can we do?"

The coal-colored eyes of the Mer-Man rolled in irritation. "Obviously, you cannot defeat them from afar. You must invite the Wizards back to the ship, where you can face them in their human forms."

"But how do we bring them back to the ships!" Birdie's voice grew higher, and she bobbed in the water with exasperation. Birdie hated Middle-Earthlings who spoke in riddles.

The Mer-Man waited patiently until she had calmed down, then spoke: "How does anyone arrange to face their foe on the field of battle?" He gave a dramatic pause, then said one word:

"Surrender."

"Surrender! That's it? Surrender!" squealed Birdie

"What? Did you expect me to say face them in single combat? You would hardly stand a chance," said the Mer-Man condescendingly.

Suddenly, Birdie heard splashes all around her in the water. She watched in amazement as she saw Mith, then Rose, then Pio dive in the water, and take off in various directions.

"My friends!" said Birdie, "Are the ships going down?"

"Nay" said the Mer-Man matter-of-factly, "They but go to play their own roles in your adventure. They will be fine...except for that one," he tilted his chin at the struggling Rose, valiantly striving to follow the strongly swimming Mith towards the bottom of the sea. "That one will drown like a rat, unless you do something."

Without a further word, Birdie sped towards the struggling Rose. "Rose!" she keened in her high, delphinic voice. "Grab hold of my fin! You'll drown! And we have to get back to Child on the ship." Rose ignored the shape-shifting cetacean, and continued to grimly paddle after Mith.

"Rose! Come on!"

[ June 14, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[ June 14, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

06-14-2002, 05:39 AM	#264
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Birdie felt the shock of the water, and watched as the top of the waves receded as she sank like a rock to the bottom of the sea. "Oh, no, not again." she thought, as she resigned herself to a briny death. Then she saw her tail. "Eeeeeeee! Eeeeeeeee!" she screamed, thrashing frantically. The grey, horizontal tail-fins waved, sending her speeding through the water, 50 feet from the bellies of the ships above her. Birdie braked, rolled, then righted herself as she got the hang of things. She tried to look back over her shoulder, only to discover that she had none. "I'm a dolphin! A dolphin!" chirped Birdie with delight. "Now how come I never knew I could do this?" "Perhaps because you never tried, silly skin-changer", and the emerald green face of the Mer-Man appeared before her again, mithril-colored tail waving languidly as he floated in front of her. "Please," said Birdie, "You helped us before - or at least taught us a very interesting variation on one of Child's most popular ballads. What can we do to defeat the Blue Wizards?" "You will never defeat them through use of magic, that is certain," said the Mer-Man, eyeing Birdie doubtfully. "You made a good start, calling on my master, Ulmo. However, you hardly invoked him with the respect and honor due him. I suggest you remember your manners, and try again." "But we were desperate. And I've never been good at extemporizing under pressure. Surely he can understand that." "There is one among you who understands the proper forms and courtly manners required when addressing the Valar. He may have a better chance at communicating your needs. My master is a very busy Valar, you know. Do you think yours are the only ships foundering on the seas of Middle-Earth right now?" Perhaps not," said Birdie, slightly miffed, "but I imagine we're the only ships facing down the Blue Wizards. Please, what can we do?" The coal-colored eyes of the Mer-Man rolled in irritation. "Obviously, you cannot defeat them from afar. You must invite the Wizards back to the ship, where you can face them in their human forms." "But how do we bring them back to the ships!" Birdie's voice grew higher, and she bobbed in the water with exasperation. Birdie hated Middle-Earthlings who spoke in riddles. The Mer-Man waited patiently until she had calmed down, then spoke: "How does anyone arrange to face their foe on the field of battle?" He gave a dramatic pause, then said one word: "Surrender." "Surrender! That's it? Surrender!" squealed Birdie "What? Did you expect me to say face them in single combat? You would hardly stand a chance," said the Mer-Man condescendingly. Suddenly, Birdie heard splashes all around her in the water. She watched in amazement as she saw Mith, then Rose, then Pio dive in the water, and take off in various directions. "My friends!" said Birdie, "Are the ships going down?" "Nay" said the Mer-Man matter-of-factly, "They but go to play their own roles in your adventure. They will be fine...except for that one," he tilted his chin at the struggling Rose, valiantly striving to follow the strongly swimming Mith towards the bottom of the sea. "That one will drown like a rat, unless you do something." Without a further word, Birdie sped towards the struggling Rose. "Rose!" she keened in her high, delphinic voice. "Grab hold of my fin! You'll drown! And we have to get back to Child on the ship." Rose ignored the shape-shifting cetacean, and continued to grimly paddle after Mith. "Rose! Come on!" [ June 14, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ] [ June 14, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]