The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

piosenniel · 09-25-2002, 06:33 PM

Daisy had come seeking Pio and found her talking with Angara. She waited patiently until the dragon had left, and then approached the Elf shyly.

Pio looked at her questioningly. She held her hand out to the hobbit. 'Come, Daisy!' she said gently. 'What troubles you?' The hobbit stood tongue-tied and silent. 'Just blurt it out.' prompted Pio. 'We can sort through it after you've done that.'

'Well, it's about Mithadan . . . and you,' she said in a low voice, 'I suppose you'll be having your own cabin, now, and . . .' Her words trailed off, and she studied her feet as if she found them the most fascinating of subjects.

'And?!' prompted Pio, once again. And then it hit her. She raised Daisy's chin with her fingers and shook her head. 'Of course, . . . and then you'll be lonely!' She grinned and hugged her tightly. 'I'm not giving you up for him! Push that idea right out of your head!' She thought for a moment. 'In fact, I'm sure he would like a whole bed to stretch out in by himself tonight. He'll need all the rest he can get to ride herd on thirty hobbrim and the crew. What say I come to your room tonight and sleep in my old bed? We'll talk, and perhaps I'll tell you more stories to put you to sleep!'

Daisy hugged Pio hard and laid her head against her. 'Oh, would you?!'

'Yes,' returned Pio, 'but first I need you to deliver a message to him. Tell him that I have gone to speak with Levanto. There is something I need to ask him to do.'

She withdrew into the shadows, and left all but her small-clothes folded neatly on the barrel near her. From her boot top she withdrew a small knife and held it in her hand. 'I will be back soon, Daisy. And then will come to your room. If you are sleeping I will wake you. Now go quickly, and tell Mithadan so that he will not worry.' She put the knife between her teeth, and went over the side quietly.

Daisy watched her as she entered the water and then swam strongly to the north. She went down to the deck below and searched for him, but could not find him. She meant to find him in his cabin, but she was distracted, thinking of what story she would like to hear from Pio. She went to her own cabin, and lay down on her bed meaning to tell Mithadan when she heard him going to his cabin. But she was tired. And sleep was so inviting. 'I'll just close my eyes for a moment.' she said to herself, settling her head on her pillow.

The bright sun through the porthole in her room woke her. That and the sound of Mithadan's voice, booming loudly in irritation down the hall.

'Now where has she gone off to?!' she heard him yell. The hobbit sat up quickly and looked toward Pio's bed. She hadn't come!

Daisy ran to her door, and poked her head out just as the man was passing.

'Mithadan?!'

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

09-25-2002, 06:33 PM	#77
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Daisy had come seeking Pio and found her talking with Angara. She waited patiently until the dragon had left, and then approached the Elf shyly. Pio looked at her questioningly. She held her hand out to the hobbit. 'Come, Daisy!' she said gently. 'What troubles you?' The hobbit stood tongue-tied and silent. 'Just blurt it out.' prompted Pio. 'We can sort through it after you've done that.' 'Well, it's about Mithadan . . . and you,' she said in a low voice, 'I suppose you'll be having your own cabin, now, and . . .' Her words trailed off, and she studied her feet as if she found them the most fascinating of subjects. 'And?!' prompted Pio, once again. And then it hit her. She raised Daisy's chin with her fingers and shook her head. 'Of course, . . . and then you'll be lonely!' She grinned and hugged her tightly. 'I'm not giving you up for him! Push that idea right out of your head!' She thought for a moment. 'In fact, I'm sure he would like a whole bed to stretch out in by himself tonight. He'll need all the rest he can get to ride herd on thirty hobbrim and the crew. What say I come to your room tonight and sleep in my old bed? We'll talk, and perhaps I'll tell you more stories to put you to sleep!' Daisy hugged Pio hard and laid her head against her. 'Oh, would you?!' 'Yes,' returned Pio, 'but first I need you to deliver a message to him. Tell him that I have gone to speak with Levanto. There is something I need to ask him to do.' She withdrew into the shadows, and left all but her small-clothes folded neatly on the barrel near her. From her boot top she withdrew a small knife and held it in her hand. 'I will be back soon, Daisy. And then will come to your room. If you are sleeping I will wake you. Now go quickly, and tell Mithadan so that he will not worry.' She put the knife between her teeth, and went over the side quietly. Daisy watched her as she entered the water and then swam strongly to the north. She went down to the deck below and searched for him, but could not find him. She meant to find him in his cabin, but she was distracted, thinking of what story she would like to hear from Pio. She went to her own cabin, and lay down on her bed meaning to tell Mithadan when she heard him going to his cabin. But she was tired. And sleep was so inviting. 'I'll just close my eyes for a moment.' she said to herself, settling her head on her pillow. The bright sun through the porthole in her room woke her. That and the sound of Mithadan's voice, booming loudly in irritation down the hall. 'Now where has she gone off to?!' she heard him yell. The hobbit sat up quickly and looked toward Pio's bed. She hadn't come! Daisy ran to her door, and poked her head out just as the man was passing. 'Mithadan?!' [ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.