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

piosenniel · 10-24-2002, 10:07 AM

Isil cast a sheen on the waters, a silvery path leading them back to the Star. Pio stood at the helm, guiding the ship downriver. She had sent Levanto ahead to warn of their arrival in the Númenorean ship. Khelek and Veritas would not be pleased to see the approach of an unknown craft, and she did not relish the thought of Ancalimon firing shots across their bow with his pyrotechnics.

Mithadan sat in a chair at the bow, his feet propped on the railing. He had draped a clean blanket about his shoulders to ward off the chill of his damp clothes. He looked so tired, she thought, and weighed down with so many cares. She often longed these days to hold him close and tell him all would turn out well. But her heart misgave her when she thought of what might happen in the next few days, and she knew that he would see it. ‘Better to keep your fears to yourself, he has enough of his own.’ she told herself.

And now a new concern niggled at the back of her mind. He had set his course to set free the remainder of the Faithful in Númenor. He was resolved to do this, and she understood that no reasoning would turn him from it. A sudden laugh escaped her as she turned this worry over in her mind, trying to see her way through it. ‘By the One! The Man is as stubborn as I am!’

Since she could see no way to dissuade him, she thought then to make a plea for his safety to the Valar in the West, but she had always found them to be curiously reluctant to engage themselves for the sake of those in Arda. Their view, of how the affairs of the created should go, were often from a quite different perspective than hers - one which often offered no comfort to those involved.

‘The Valar help those who help themselves.’ had long been one of her favorite sayings. 'What would it take to swing the advantage our way?' she wondered. The Elf drummed her fingers on the wheel as she thought it through.

Slowly, her plan took shape.

************************************************** ***********

Day was just breaking when they reached the their ship. She hailed Veritas as they came up beside the Star and dropped anchor. Mithadan dozed in his chair, and she woke him with a gentle prod to his shoulder and a light kiss.

‘Come! We are back now.’ she urged him. ‘Go rest for a while. You have need of it, and time now for it. I will wake you should we need you.’

A clear elven light shone bright from her eyes as they stepped on the deck of the Lonely Star. And he wondered at it briefly. Then, tired, he went to his bed, and sleep claimed him.

[ October 24, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

10-24-2002, 10:07 AM	#277
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Isil cast a sheen on the waters, a silvery path leading them back to the Star. Pio stood at the helm, guiding the ship downriver. She had sent Levanto ahead to warn of their arrival in the Númenorean ship. Khelek and Veritas would not be pleased to see the approach of an unknown craft, and she did not relish the thought of Ancalimon firing shots across their bow with his pyrotechnics. Mithadan sat in a chair at the bow, his feet propped on the railing. He had draped a clean blanket about his shoulders to ward off the chill of his damp clothes. He looked so tired, she thought, and weighed down with so many cares. She often longed these days to hold him close and tell him all would turn out well. But her heart misgave her when she thought of what might happen in the next few days, and she knew that he would see it. ‘Better to keep your fears to yourself, he has enough of his own.’ she told herself. And now a new concern niggled at the back of her mind. He had set his course to set free the remainder of the Faithful in Númenor. He was resolved to do this, and she understood that no reasoning would turn him from it. A sudden laugh escaped her as she turned this worry over in her mind, trying to see her way through it. ‘By the One! The Man is as stubborn as I am!’ Since she could see no way to dissuade him, she thought then to make a plea for his safety to the Valar in the West, but she had always found them to be curiously reluctant to engage themselves for the sake of those in Arda. Their view, of how the affairs of the created should go, were often from a quite different perspective than hers - one which often offered no comfort to those involved. ‘The Valar help those who help themselves.’ had long been one of her favorite sayings. 'What would it take to swing the advantage our way?' she wondered. The Elf drummed her fingers on the wheel as she thought it through. Slowly, her plan took shape. ************************************************ ********* Day was just breaking when they reached the their ship. She hailed Veritas as they came up beside the Star and dropped anchor. Mithadan dozed in his chair, and she woke him with a gentle prod to his shoulder and a light kiss. ‘Come! We are back now.’ she urged him. ‘Go rest for a while. You have need of it, and time now for it. I will wake you should we need you.’ A clear elven light shone bright from her eyes as they stepped on the deck of the Lonely Star. And he wondered at it briefly. Then, tired, he went to his bed, and sleep claimed him. [ October 24, 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.