[Child of the 7th Age]

Pio's Post

Pio hugged Bird, and whispered in her ear. 'I have never known you to be cautious with regards to a man who was spoken for, old friend!' She drew back from her friend, and regarded her with a grave and considering look. Bird blanched and fidgeted.

The elf let her twist in the wind for a brief moment, then broke into a big smile. 'It's a joke, you scurvy skin-changer!' Drawing close again, she clapped her on the back and laughed. 'Besides, dragon or no, you are no match for my sword and knives should you offend me!'

Bird's eyes widened at the threat, and she drew back.

'Got you again! That dragon form must have made you slow-witted.' Pio laughed again. 'Now come! Let's haul the rest of the crew from the water. I see you've brought guests - we shall have to get them on board and all sorted out.

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Sharon's post

Still swimming in the waters, Cami wildly raised her hand, "I have Angara. She's on my shoulders. The wyrm told me she couldn't swim, and would drown unless I helped her out."

Mithadan peered over the side of the ship. The hobbit's curls barely remained visible above water, but Angara had shifted to her smallest form and rode neatly on top of Cami's shoulders. The dragon seemed quite comfortable, her hind legs dangling on either side of the woman's neck, her upper body and arms comfortably dry. In her most imperious voice, she commanded Cami to swim this way or that to assure her the most cozy seat and the very best view.

With this heavy burden upon her back, the hobbit again seemed ready to sink into the depths of Ulmo's kingdom. But, this time, it was Mithadan who was her rescuer. He leaned far over the railing and, with a long pole generally used for helping secure the boat to the dock, jabbed Angara in the ribs to force her to topple off.

"By all that is sacred in the waters and the earth, this is a sight to behold. A great dragon so weak that she sits like a queen on the back of a hobbit! What new excuses have you come up with to condone this ruse?" He shook his head and laughed.

But the golden wyrm was not to be outmatched even with words. Her eyes whirled and gleamed, "Look in your own mirror Man! If it were not for your carelessness, I would be flying on wings of ease, instead of cowering under this woman's skirts and sitting on her shoulders. But your stupidity has drawn me into this fix."

Mithadan's glowered, his eyes as dangerous as those of the wyrm. "We will discuss these matters later, my scaly friend. I do not recall this affair as simply as you have stated it."

"But now," he said turning towards the rest of the party, "we wish to welcome our hobbrim friends to the Star, and say how very, very pleased we are to see you."

From below, came many excited exclamations and responses. Bird and Veritas unwound the winch and let down a large basket for the hobbits and hobbrim to climb inside and be raised up onto the deck of the ship. This was repeated several times untill all had come safely aboard.

When noses were counted, the wise woman was pleased to discover that all thirty hobbrim had come safely to the ship. Even the women with young ones, whom Ancalimon had feared wouldn't make it without a boat, had somehow managed to bring themselves and their children safely through the ordeal.

[ September 24, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]