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

mark12_30 · 10-27-2002, 06:18 AM

Sharon's post

That morning, Cami was expecting the arrival of Esta who'd promised to pick up breakfast and bring it along with her. The five young boys--Maura, Ban, Asta, Roka, and even Kesha--had spent the night in the children's room when Gamba and Phura had failed to come back. Now, they waited eagerly, thinking they'd see one or both brothers before the start of the day.

But as the minutes went by, none of the three appeared. Cami began to fret, wondering if something had happened to the rescue plans that had detained them all. Her answer soon came in the person of Azraph. The young woman was crying. She stood in the doorway, barely able to talk.

Cami went outside to speak with her. Slowly, the tangled tale came out. With halting words, Azraph told of Esta's torture and death. For a moment, Cami felt the world spin round. Not this, not her. It could not be. They were so close to the rescue. Why now? Why not one day later, so they could have done something to help?

Azraph excused herself to return to her family. Cami gave the young woman a hug and whispered her sorrow and regrets. Before Cami turned back to other duties, Loremaster came into the room, "We can not hide this from the children." he sighed. "It is all over the caverns. The grieving runs deep. Until now, the younger ones were spared from the temple. That is no longer true. People mourn for Este, and they are afraid."

"But what can I tell the children?"

"Tell them what happened in simple words, but tell them with gentleness and love."

She nodded and wondered where the words would come from. She felt no gentleness or love, only anger and grief. But despair would lead nowhere. Whether Esta lived, whether Cami herself survived, these children deserved life and hope.

She spoke first with Gamba's five adopted boys. Kesha insisted on going to see the place where Esta's body was. Cami promised she would take them, after speaking with the other children. There was so much death here, worse than Beleriand. She could find no reason to refuse their request. And she herself wanted to go to the grave. The girl had been such a joyous gift. The five boys pulled apart from the others, sitting by the doorway, waiting for Mistress Cami to come with them.

Cami fought for words to honor Este and explain things in a simple way. She told the children that their friend would not return again. The guards had hurt Esta so badly that she had died. She had loved them very much. They could cry and be sad, but they mustn't forget her love or caring. Not now, not later. Those good things must live in their hearts.

What else could she say? The children were too little, too fragile, to be told the whole truth. But neither could she lie to them.

A moment later, Loremaster returned to be with the children. Some of the older ones were crying. They looked afraid. The youngest had heard the words, but did not understand them. But even they could feel the sadness in the room. Loremaster set two of the little ones on his lap, and began to rock them as Cami and her boys made their sad passage out the door.

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

10-27-2002, 06:18 AM	#309
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Sharon's post That morning, Cami was expecting the arrival of Esta who'd promised to pick up breakfast and bring it along with her. The five young boys--Maura, Ban, Asta, Roka, and even Kesha--had spent the night in the children's room when Gamba and Phura had failed to come back. Now, they waited eagerly, thinking they'd see one or both brothers before the start of the day. But as the minutes went by, none of the three appeared. Cami began to fret, wondering if something had happened to the rescue plans that had detained them all. Her answer soon came in the person of Azraph. The young woman was crying. She stood in the doorway, barely able to talk. Cami went outside to speak with her. Slowly, the tangled tale came out. With halting words, Azraph told of Esta's torture and death. For a moment, Cami felt the world spin round. Not this, not her. It could not be. They were so close to the rescue. Why now? Why not one day later, so they could have done something to help? Azraph excused herself to return to her family. Cami gave the young woman a hug and whispered her sorrow and regrets. Before Cami turned back to other duties, Loremaster came into the room, "We can not hide this from the children." he sighed. "It is all over the caverns. The grieving runs deep. Until now, the younger ones were spared from the temple. That is no longer true. People mourn for Este, and they are afraid." "But what can I tell the children?" "Tell them what happened in simple words, but tell them with gentleness and love." She nodded and wondered where the words would come from. She felt no gentleness or love, only anger and grief. But despair would lead nowhere. Whether Esta lived, whether Cami herself survived, these children deserved life and hope. She spoke first with Gamba's five adopted boys. Kesha insisted on going to see the place where Esta's body was. Cami promised she would take them, after speaking with the other children. There was so much death here, worse than Beleriand. She could find no reason to refuse their request. And she herself wanted to go to the grave. The girl had been such a joyous gift. The five boys pulled apart from the others, sitting by the doorway, waiting for Mistress Cami to come with them. Cami fought for words to honor Este and explain things in a simple way. She told the children that their friend would not return again. The guards had hurt Esta so badly that she had died. She had loved them very much. They could cry and be sad, but they mustn't forget her love or caring. Not now, not later. Those good things must live in their hearts. What else could she say? The children were too little, too fragile, to be told the whole truth. But neither could she lie to them. A moment later, Loremaster returned to be with the children. Some of the older ones were crying. They looked afraid. The youngest had heard the words, but did not understand them. But even they could feel the sadness in the room. Loremaster set two of the little ones on his lap, and began to rock them as Cami and her boys made their sad passage out the door. [ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.